by Michelle Westlund ’83
merit
A University with
Find out why an increasing number of National Merit Scholars from around the nation are choosing Bethel University for more than academics.
You’re a high school senior. You take a full load of advanced placement classes and have an exceptionally high GPA. Your standardized test scores have earned you National Merit Finalist status. You receive stacks of mail from colleges and universities nationwide, all courting you with promises of a life-changing experience. Where will you go?
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Fall 2009
For a growing number of National Merit students, the answer is Bethel University. Enrollment in 2008-09 included 18 National Merit scholars, with four more enrolling this fall. With all the opportunities available to them, why did these students choose Bethel? Their reasons are as diverse as the scholars themselves.
the university’s many assets when making her choice, too, but she had some help with the final decision. “Why did I choose Bethel?” she reflects. “It has respected academics, professors who take an interest in your life, a fun atmosphere, and a commitment to its students—mentally, physically, and spiritually. But the real reason I chose Bethel? God led me here.”
A clear choice
Since 1955, the National Merit Scholarship program has Academics plus faith served as an academic competition providing recognition The union of faith-based education and strong academics is and scholarships for high school students. Students enter one that Bethel administrators strive to emphasize. “Students the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit and parents are often not aware of the outstanding opportunities Scholarship Qualifying Test, which screens approximately 1.5 they have for an excellent education in a context that will also million entrants each year. Of these, about 15,000 advance to encourage them to grow and thrive in their Christian faith,” finalist standing, and only 8,200 of these eventually receive a says Deb Harless, vice president and dean of Bethel University’s Merit Scholarship award from the National Merit Scholarship College of Arts & Sciences. “Parents don’t need to choose program or participating corporate and college sponsors. between a college with high academic standards and a faithThough not the only means for identifying academically gifted based college. They can have both.” students, the scholarship program certainly spotlights students Most incoming Bethel students cite the institution’s with high academic potential. National Merit scholars are drawn, commitment to spiritual values as the primary reason they chose with good reason, to the nation’s top academic institutions; Bethel, with academic strength coming second, according to about 25 percent of the 2008 entering classes of Harvard and the results of the Higher Education Research Institute survey Yale were made up of these scholars. given in alternate years to freshmen. These results demonstrate On a lesser scale, but an impressive one nonetheless, Bethel that “students who are looking for an academic challenge are too is attracting National Merit scholars for many reasons. hopeful that their lives as Christians will be strengthened and Interviewed for this article, some scholars mention Bethel’s deepened,” explains Rich Sherry, executive assistant to the respected academic reputation or strength of curriculum in the president. “And students who are believers looking for avenues of area of their intended major. Several were recruited for athletics; growth are also seeking to study in a faith-filled context.” others have family ties or completed college courses here during Both Harless and Sherry see the quality and commitment of high school as Post-Secondary Enrollment students. faculty as central to the institution’s mission. “Increasingly, Bethel But the most frequent and passionate reasons for choosing faculty are becoming recognized as scholars who bring a Christian Bethel are spiritual in perspective to their work,” says Sherry. “We’re seeing a nature. Matthew Nelson, “Compared to the other schools I cascade of scholarship that’s new to Bethel: education and a junior studying in visited, the feeling on campus and nursing faculty known internationally for their Fulbright Australia this fall, says, the attitudes of the students really teaching and research; professional presentations and “I was accepted to all the publications across the sciences; literature and writing stood out at Bethel.” schools I applied for and faculty publishing frequently; psychology faculty known as —junior Hannah Parks researchers across a range of fields; biblical studies faculty I chose Bethel. It’s hard to explain, but Bethel felt adding several books a year to their fields; and art faculty right in a way that the other schools didn’t. I wanted a place exhibiting work nationally.” where I could grow in my faith as well as academically.” Bethel faculty members are scholars who are “without Likewise, junior Hannah Parks, a varsity volleyball player, question experts in their fields,” agrees Harless. “But they also visited several schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic really want to work with undergraduate students. They are here Conference (MIAC) before choosing Bethel. She explains, because they want to be with students and explicitly explore and “I knew that I would be challenged in my faith by attending model the integration of faith and learning.” a school like Bethel that is committed to a Christ-centered This commitment to developing and nurturing students community and putting Jesus first in every area of life. holistically creates opportunities for Bethel students that are Compared to the other schools I visited, the feeling on campus more atypical at other institutions. Students compete in national and the attitudes of the students really stood out at Bethel.” mathematics competitions alongside their professors. They And sophomore Christa Rheingans carefully considered participate in research with faculty, often leading to publication Bethel University
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