Damon Klassen named 2024 Thresher of the Year

The second-ever recipient of the award was announced Friday.

On Friday, The Collegian announced that Damon Klassen, director of theater and Communication Arts professor at Bethel College, has been named the 2024 Thresher of the Year.

Klassen, a Bethel College alumnus and native Kansan, has been a valued member of the Bethel community since his return to North Newton in 2017. For six years, he served the campus as the technical director of theater, before stepping on as the director of theater and becoming a Communication Arts professor this past fall.

The Collegian staff accepted nominations from Bethel faculty, staff, and students from March 3 through March 16 and considered a list of finalists consisting of 20 unique names from these submissions as part of the selection process.

To celebrate Klassen’s dedication to improving Bethel and non-Bethel communities and exemplification of institutional qualities, two stories written by features writers Micah Wenger and Grace Dawes are linked below.

• ‘I get to do the thing that I love’: Klassen reflects on time at Bethel

• Kind and invested: Students, faculty speak on Klassen’s impact at Bethel

Additionally, Klassen graces the front page and center spread of issue 12, where readers can find full Thresher of the Year content. These can be picked up at one of the following locations starting Friday afternoon: the Caf, Thresher Shop, Mantz Library, the Ad Building, the Will Academic Center, or the Fine Arts Center.