Bethany College held its academic convocation Friday morning, welcoming new and returning students to campus.
Bethany President Dr. Edward Leonard noted that the average freshman would have been born in 1992, and touched on their upbringing in a humorous speech.
“Parents feared that Beavis and Butthead would be the voice of this generation,” Leonard quipped. “Having hundreds of channels and nothing on is routine.”
Leonard said that students coming to Bethany this year came as far away as England and Kyrgyzstan, and the freshman class comes from 12 states.
The convocation speaker, 1992 Bethany graduate Marcus Newsome, was someone Leonard instantly though of to give the convocation speech.
Newsome is currently the Head Track and Field Coach at Wartburg College in Iowa. He also serves as Wartburg’s Assistant Athletics Director and Director of Diversity Issues. Coming back, Newsome said, was an emotional experience.
Addressing Leonard, Newsome said he couldn’t believe he was asked to give the address.
“The morning I received your E-mail asking to be the convocation speaker, I read it a couple dozen times,” Newsome said. “Then I got my Blackberry to see if it was still there.”
Newsome said that during his 19 years in higher education, he sat in convocations, reading the biographies of the speakers and being impressed with their experience and achievements.
“I just didn’t think it would be this soon (for me),” Newsome joked.
Newsome told the story of how he came to Bethany, and the influence the college, and the City of Lindsborg had on him. He also related the story of his election as homecoming king, after believing he was a token nomination because of his race.
“There were maybe 12 or 15 minority students here at the time,” Newsome said. “I was smart enough to think ‘Wow, my fellow students see something in me’.”
Newsome expressed his gratitude for everything the college helped him find in an emotional speech, and left students with a challenge to live every single day with passion.
“When I left Bethany, a piece of you left with me. Every accomplishment I’ve achieved, you’ve been a part of. You allowed me to find my calling,” Newsome said. “My challenge to you for 2010 and 2011 is to live a life of passion. Make a difference. Make an impact. Don’t give up.”
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Bethany College held its academic convocation Friday morning, welcoming new and returning students to campus.
Bethany President Dr. Edward Leonard noted that the average freshman would have been born in 1992, and touched on their upbringing in a humorous speech.
“Parents feared that Beavis and Butthead would be the voice of this generation,” Leonard quipped. “Having hundreds of channels and nothing on is routine.”
Leonard said that students coming to Bethany this year came as far away as England and Kyrgyzstan, and the freshman class comes from 12 states.
The convocation speaker, 1992 Bethany graduate Marcus Newsome, was someone Leonard instantly though of to give the convocation speech.
Newsome is currently the Head Track and Field Coach at Wartburg College in Iowa. He also serves as Wartburg’s Assistant Athletics Director and Director of Diversity Issues. Coming back, Newsome said, was an emotional experience.
Addressing Leonard, Newsome said he couldn’t believe he was asked to give the address.
“The morning I received your E-mail asking to be the convocation speaker, I read it a couple dozen times,” Newsome said. “Then I got my Blackberry to see if it was still there.”
Newsome said that during his 19 years in higher education, he sat in convocations, reading the biographies of the speakers and being impressed with their experience and achievements.
“I just didn’t think it would be this soon (for me),” Newsome joked.
Newsome told the story of how he came to Bethany, and the influence the college, and the City of Lindsborg had on him. He also related the story of his election as homecoming king, after believing he was a token nomination because of his race.
“There were maybe 12 or 15 minority students here at the time,” Newsome said. “I was smart enough to think ‘Wow, my fellow students see something in me’.”
Newsome expressed his gratitude for everything the college helped him find in an emotional speech, and left students with a challenge to live every single day with passion.
“When I left Bethany, a piece of you left with me. Every accomplishment I’ve achieved, you’ve been a part of. You allowed me to find my calling,” Newsome said. “My challenge to you for 2010 and 2011 is to live a life of passion. Make a difference. Make an impact. Don’t give up.”
