Bethel hosts first Thresher Leadership Awards
Bethel hosts first Thresher Leadership Awards
The event is designed to recognize student clubs.
Last Friday, Bethel College hosted the first ever Thresher Leadership Awards in Krehbiel Auditorium.
The ceremony was created by Samantha Bond, coordinator of student activities and engagement. Bond wanted to create an event to recognize all of the great things Bethel students do outside of the classroom, off the field, out of the concert hall, and so on.
“The ‘Bethel Busy’ is a very real thing, and it doesn’t go unseen,” Bond said. “About two months ago, I sent out the initial email, social media post, and flier about the event asking for students, faculty, and staff to submit nominations.”
2023 Thresher Leadership Awards results
Social Justice Advocate: the Bethel College Community for Justice and Peace (BCCJP)
Bridge Builder: the Student Activities Council (SAC)
Commitment to Service: the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT)
CA of the Year: Jesse “Bear” McMichael
Emerging Leader: Ashley SaJous
Established Leader: Logan DeMond
Student Supporter of the Year: Allen Jantz
Student Ambassador of the Year: Sophie Girtz
Student Organization of the Year: the Diversity Council (DivCo)
Seth Dunn Memorial Award: Denzel Dixon
Program of the Year Award: DivCo’s Black Excellence Celebration
Advisor of the Year Award: Samantha Bond
The Seth Dunn Memorial Award is given in memory of Seth Dunn, a senior Bethel student from Fresno, Calif. who died on Aug. 1, 2011 as the result of an accident while on vacation with his family. He was 20 years old.
Seth was a well-known and a beloved student on the Bethel campus, actively involved in several stage productions, working with IMS, co-hosting a popular weekly radio show on KBCU, starting a coffee shop on campus, and making a difference in the lives of his family and friends through his “kindness, irreverent wit, and infectious laughter.”
The award is given to a junior student who has made the most significant overall contribution to community life at Bethel. This year’s recipient is junior Denzel Dixon from Newark, Del.
“Honestly, I’m still just lost for words,” Dixon said. “I do things for others just because that’s who I am. This award means a lot to me for the significance that it holds alone.”
Dixon explained that he immediately asked faculty members if there was any way for him to get in touch with the Dunn family to send his condolences and convey his gratitude and appreciation for the award.
“I’m just very grateful and still at a loss for words, but I’m truly thankful to God for this opportunity, the Dunn family, and those who voted for me,” Dixon added.
Dixon was not the only student excited to express and share their gratitude. Ashley SaJous, a freshman from Columbus, Ga. and president of DivCo, shared her thoughts on the awards taken home by her club.
“These awards mean a lot to DivCo,” SaJous said. “I took over this semester as leader of the Diversity Council. It was a very stressful task to take on, but my members were very supportive. Therefore, being able to win these awards shows that all of the hard work we put in was not for no reason, other people noticed it as well.”
As for DivCo’s plans for next year, they’ll look to continue bringing a variety of new events to campus as well as making current events “bigger and better.” Their priority is to bring awareness to the diversity on campus while also creating fun experiences for everyone.