Bethel College - Graymaroon Yearbook (North Newton, KS)

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i CHn ;Ti6ri S«nn l«nl blKlAld IVrsimiil S«H l) + economic problems DE Calculus LOG DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY TODAY Second EdU,on Some of the early Mennonite pioneers, sur- veying the windswept Kansas prairies and imagining fields of waving wheat, had yet an- other vision. They saw in their young people another potentially valuable harvest: their minds offered fertile soil in which could be planted and cultivated the seeds of knowl- edge. Almost immediately after their arrival in Kansas, the Mennonites established German elementary schools for their children. In or- der to prepare capable young men for teaching in these schools, the Kansas Con- ference of the Mennonites began in 187 7 to make plans for the establishment of a Men- nonitische Fortbildings-schule (Mennonite Continuation school). In 1882 the Emmatal school opened near Goessel with twenty-one male pupils. To se- cure more room and better opportunities, one year later it moved to Halstead--and opened its doors to -women. The Halstead Mennonite Seminary remained in operation for ten years. Its curriculum was essentially just a continuation of elementary school, since the preparation of most of its pupils was relatively meager . By 1887, however, the educational aspira- tions of Mennonite youth were increasing. A movement was begun towards the establish- ment of an institution of full-college rank. An offer of cash and real estate by the city of Newton, by that time a prosperous and pro- gressive young town, precipitated action on the issue. In May 1887, under the leadership of David Goerz, Bernhard Warkentin, and J.J. Krehbiel, the Bethel College corporation was formed. Tn September 1893 classes fi- nally commenced in a stately limestone structure which had been erected on the open prairie north of Newton. By this time the Halstead Seminary had closed its doors, and the new Bethel College assumed its responsibilities. During the first year, course offerings at Bethel were limited to preparatory and academy work, although a three-year college course was announced. Plans for a Biblical Theological Institute were also revealed, but they never materialized. Twenty years passed before a full college course was offered, and some additional fif- teen years went by before all preparatory work was discontinued. The first A.B. de- grees were granted in 1912. Since 1893 over 7000 alumni have attended Bethel College. Just as the Kansas grain de- scended from Turkey Red Wheat has been shipped throughout the world. Bethel ' s influ- ence has been felt all over the globe through the work and service of her alumni. The pioneer founders of Bethel College could not have imagined what it would be- come. A nationally accredited liberal arts college with 638 students (official fall 1976 enrollment). Bethel offers courses in twenty- nine different departments which are orga- nized within six divisions of knowledge. Ten major buildings form the campus pro- file, including the newest of the academic buildings, the Fine Arts Center, which was finished in 1966. A new gymnasiusm is ex- pected to be completed by the end of 1977. The pages that follow reveal part of the story of Bethel College today-- during the school year of 1976-77. 4