Living Out a Different Story
June 4, 2020
A message from Pres. Elizabeth Mauch on the current state of the country, June 4th, 2020, 10:15 a.m.
Editors Note: With an outpouring of support from Bethany College Alumni and Friends a special fund has been created to support our BASS (Black Association of Student Scholars) student organization and collaborative educational activities facilitating diversity and inclusion training for students, faculty, and staff beginning with the 20/21 academic year.
You can donate here.
Dear Campus Community
With many of you, I have watched in horror as the murder of George Floyd and the response to this act have unfolded. I am sorry to say that I have not watched in disbelief. This violence has happened over and over in our country. We see George Floyd, but we also remember acts of fear and hatred against Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and many others, still fresh in our national consciousness. And, of course we can all point to events farther back in our history as well. What came to my mind was the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia 35 years ago: when American civilians in a Black liberation group were aerially bombed. There is a clear trajectory we can see in connecting these events of racist violence that we must recognize as a devastating part of our story as a nation. We are the ones who can ensure that, in Lindsborg, we will live out a different story.
In an open letter with the ELCA Conference of Bishops, our Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton condemned “the white supremacy that has led to the deaths of so many unarmed Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color in our country.” These leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America are united in calling on all of us to “grieve with, pray for and stand in solidarity with the families and friends of all whose loved ones have been and continue to be victims of injustices run amok, racist violence and the insidious venom of white supremacy.”
As an institution of higher education affiliated with the ELCA, Bethany College is constantly striving to determine how we live into this complex calling. In our mission, we strive to help students lead lives of service; and in our values, we are committed to advocating for the dignity of everyone in our community as a child of God. It is this dedication to our mission and values that makes us keenly aware that knowledge is not morally neutral and that institutional silence in the face of the continuing murder of black Americans is a tacit consent of our national status quo.
I am proud to be the president of Bethany College where we really do believe in these ideals rooted in our Lutheran heritage. We must strive together, as one community, to achieve them each and every day. Since coming to Bethany, I have been proud to work closely with our local police department, local administrators and our campus community to ensure that students are safe and welcome in Lindsborg. Forming these sorts of relationships is paramount to ensuring the continued health and welfare of our entire Bethany College family. Our best hope for preventing and overcoming the violence faced by directly-affected people and communities is to learn and work together in broader partnerships.
I have always been a person who believes in action. We must respond to this moment with a thoughtful and informed evaluation of the kind of true and lasting change necessary for Bethany College to be a place where our students, faculty, and staff become servant leaders for a more just and equitable future. I am calling for volunteers to sit on a task force focused on examining diversity and inclusion on our campus that Dr. Adam Pryor will help facilitate. We must foster study and discourse that equips all of us in the Bethany community to recognize and resist ideologies of hatred. We need to support learning and take action at the intersection of politics and human dignity. If we cannot have these sorts of interactions here, wherein our society do we hope they will fruitfully occur? This is our calling as a college.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mauch
Grant Provides Critical Resources to Enhance the Student Experience and Institutional Growth
Lindsborg, Kan. – Bethany College is proud to announce the 2026 Hall of Honor award recipients, recognizing eight individuals whose achievements and service have made a lasting impact on Swede Athletics. "The Athletics Hall of Honor celebrates those who exemplify excellence, leadership, and commitment in sport,” shared Laura Moreno, Dean of Athletics. The 2026 class embodies those attributes and much more. From memorable performances in five different sports, to remarkable coaching careers in nearby communities, to local business owners who support our current Swedes students and staff, this entire group has elevated our programs and department and embodied the very best of our institution. We look forward to honoring and celebrating their extraordinary achievements this October.” The annual Bethany College Hall of Honor Award Ceremony celebrates former student-athletes, coaches, and supporters whose excellence, leadership, and dedication have shaped Bethany College athletics. This year's honorees include four Hall of Honor inductees, two Coach of the Year recipients, and two Bethany Athletic Association (BAA) Award of Merit recipients. Bethany College Hall of Honor award winners include: • Sven Delin, a 2001 graduate, was a captain of the golf team that won four consecutive conference championships, leading to four national championship appearances. He won the conference tournament individually...twice! Delin was also a four-year all-conference academic athlete. • Vinny Butka, a 1982 graduate, was a three-time KCAC shot put champion, District 10 indoor shot put champion in 1981, ACCK champion in 1980 and 1982, three-time outdoor national qualifier, and ranks second in Bethany College history for shot put distance. • Tim Leaf, awarded posthumously, a 1981 graduate, was the KCAC Individual Champion in cross country in 1979 and 1980. In 1979, Leaf was the lead runner on Bethany College’s only KCAC championship team. He placed 33rd in the national cross country meet and remains the highest finishing individual in Bethany College history. In track, Leaf won the 1980 5,000-meter race and set the current school record with a time of 15:18.64. • Amy (Yonally) Wilson, a 1999 graduate, was a dual-sport athlete playing softball and volleyball. In volleyball, she was named to an all-conference volleyball team. In softball, Wilson was a four-time all-conference softball player, all-region softball award winner, and made the All-American Farm Team. Bethany College Coach of the Year award winners include: • Kent Teeter, a 1987 graduate, has had many successes over the last 39 years from his time at Hays High School and his current position at Holcomb High School. While coaching football, Teeter has won two state championships and four league titles. He has also been named the Sports in Kansas Coach of the Year twice, KFBCA Coach of the Year in 2015, and KFBCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2024. Along with coaching football, Teeter has also been successful in coaching track and field as he led his Holcomb boys' teams to three consecutive state titles (looking to make it four next year), seven league titles (currently on a four-year streak), and six top three finishes in the state track meet. He has coached over 25 different individual state titles in track and field as well. • Greg Maxwell, a 1997 graduate, coaches both volleyball and girls' basketball at Ellinwood High School. In volleyball, he has over 230 career wins and won the 2025 2A State Championship with a perfect 47-0 record. In girls' basketball, Maxwell led his team to the 2026 2A State Championship, finishing as the runner-up. These were the first ever state tournament wins for Ellinwood who were also the Central Prairie League champions. Maxwell holds a 2A state runner up finish in girls' golf as well. Bethany Athletic Association Award of Merit award winners include: • Danielle (DuMars) Greene and Spencer Greene. Danielle, a 2013 graduate, and her husband have made an immediate impact on Bethany College Athletics. They are a host family for Women’s Basketball, providing numerous meals for the team as well. The Greenes are also the owners of the Ol’ Stuga which hosts the Coaches Radio Show and is a valued partner for both Athletics and Bethany College as a whole. • Brandi Swenson, owner of the Crown & Rye, has also hosted the Coaches Radio Show while also hosting many Swedes Athletics celebrations and playoff sendoff events. In addition, Crown and Rye provided food for the 2026 All Swede Awards, the annual Athletic Department celebration for all teams and student-athletes. The Crown & Rye is a valued partner of Bethany College Athletics. All recipients will be honored during a special ceremony during Homecoming/Inauguration Weekend on Sunday, October 25. About Bethany College Bethany College (bethanylb.edu) is a higher educational institution located in Lindsborg, Kansas. Bethany College was established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881. For more than 140 years, Bethany College has been dedicated to educating, developing, and challenging individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany College, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who support them as they discover, explore, and navigate their purpose. Bethany College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. CONTACT: Christie Denniston, APR Vice President of Strategic Engagement 303-827-5164 Bethany College 335 East Swensson Street Lindsborg, KS 67456
Recipients Embody the Spirit of Bethany Through Lifelong Service, Generosity, Leadership, and Advocacy
