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Nick Cocalis named Lead Pastor
Gessner takes a photo with her mother following the event with the interactive packet used during the workshop in the Olson Gallery.
Growth through grief
Freshman Laura Hagel gets used to her skates as she skates around the makeshift “rink” for the first time.
Skating to connection
Bethel University senior Hailey Gregg leans in close to her plant as she writes its name down on one of the wooden sticks that have been provided, while Alisha Ochs, one of the organizers of the “get your emotional support plant” event smiles at her, passing more of the wooden sticks down to the end of the table. The event was held in the Brushaber Commons, Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. and was planned by Be Well at Bethel to raise awareness of the importance of mental health.
Mini plants for mental health
Back in the day
Having helped create the BTS lounge this year, senior Grace Johnson loves to spend time in the space hanging out with her fellow missional ministry and biblical and theological studies majors. “A really important part of ministry is having really close brothers and sisters in Christ to walk with you,” Johnson said. “So this space can be a place where those relationships are cultivated.”
Bethel’s not-so-secret student spaces
Q&A with artist M. Gasby Brown
Christian Swenson plays trombone with a 17-piece band, the Bill Simenson Orchestra, at Jazz Central Studios March 5. “Christian is actually filling in for his teacher tonight,” Bill Simenson said. “But he’s doing great.” Simenson created the Bill Simenson Orchestra in 2012, a big band that performs Simenson’s original compositions at Jazz Central Studios the first Tuesday of every month.
The language of swing
As worship played at the beginning of the service, students expressed their praise and gratitude by immersing themselves in the spirit of God. Students take 50 minutes out of their day every Monday and Friday to attend Chapel services.
Gen-Z: The future of the church
Fifth-year Kayla Simacek has been playing softball since childhood. Pitching is Simacek’s passion — she loves the sport because of her coach and the team that’s become her family. Despite a few losses this season, the team still picks each other up and gets right back on track. “I think it was good that it happened in the middle of the season, Simacek said, “Because we can fight through a little bit of adversity and come back stronger.”
Another Bethel comeback
Walk-up song roulette
Bethel University freshman Nainoa Hayashi takes swings off the pitching machine during a Friday night practice in the SRC. When Hayashi tore his shoulder labrum his junior year, it put his chances of playing in college in doubt. “I couldn’t really do a lot of things to get recruited, because I didn’t have anything to show them,” Hayashi said. “I was just thinking, I might not even play baseball in college.”
Embracing the challenge
Doubles partners Emma Thole and Michaella Sullivan practice at the outdoor Ona Orth courts March 7, 2024. They have had impressive performances together all season, helping the women’s team in their 11-0 record. “I play second doubles with Emma and it’s been a lot of fun,” Sullivan said. “She’s a good leader for me and I think we work really well together.”
More than the wins
Royals championship dreams dashed in MIAC final
How to live with a kindergarten teacher
Billy Joel lied to me
I grew up running around the farm with my brother. Six-year old me (right) and my eight-year old brother liked to put wheat in our mouths like “real” farmers.
An a-maize-ing childhood
Letting the past lead me
Letting the past lead me
How to live with an athlete
How to live with an athlete
The Yolk: Sound Effects, Finals and Peanuts
The Yolk: Sound Effects, Finals and Peanuts
The Yolk: Christmas, Pentatonix and B-Ball
The Yolk: Christmas, Pentatonix and B-Ball
TFTB: Whats the most embarrassing thing you wore in middle school?
TFTB: What’s the most embarrassing thing you wore in middle school?
TFTB: Tell us about your first crush
TFTB: Tell us about your first crush
TFTB: Whats something your mom doesnt know about you?
TFTB: What’s something your mom doesn’t know about you?
The Yolk: Sound Effects, Finals and Peanuts
The Yolk: Sound Effects, Finals and Peanuts
The Yolk: Christmas, Pentatonix and B-Ball
The Yolk: Christmas, Pentatonix and B-Ball
The Yolk: Late Skate, Sesame Street and Christmas Tunes
The Yolk: Late Skate, Sesame Street and Christmas Tunes
The Yolk: Playoffs, Exams and Taylor’s Version
The Yolk: Playoffs, Exams and Taylor’s Version
The Yolk: Tripods, Target and Seesaws
The Yolk: Tripods, Target and Seesaws
TFTB: Whats the most embarrassing thing you wore in middle school?
TFTB: What’s the most embarrassing thing you wore in middle school?
TFTB: Tell us about your first crush
TFTB: Tell us about your first crush
TFTB: Whats something your mom doesnt know about you?
TFTB: What’s something your mom doesn’t know about you?
The Student News Site of Bethel University

The Clarion
The Student News Site of Bethel University

The Clarion

Aiden Penner, Staff Reporter

Aiden Penner, 19, is a freshman journalism major. His favorite activities are snatching every rebound in pickup basketball, driving the combine during harvest on his farm and researching obscure statistics on Baseball-Reference. His biggest flex is that he met Carl Azuz.

[email protected] | 507.621.4619

All content by Aiden Penner

Information Technology Services outsourced

Aiden Penner
May 3, 2024

Walk-up song roulette

Aiden Penner and Christopher Wrzesien
April 3, 2024
I grew up running around the farm with my brother. Six-year old me (right) and my eight-year old brother liked to put wheat in our mouths like “real” farmers.

An a-maize-ing childhood

Aiden Penner
April 3, 2024
Christian Swenson plays trombone with a 17-piece band, the Bill Simenson Orchestra, at Jazz Central Studios March 5. “Christian is actually filling in for his teacher tonight,” Bill Simenson said. “But he’s doing great.” Simenson created the Bill Simenson Orchestra in 2012, a big band that performs Simenson’s original compositions at Jazz Central Studios the first Tuesday of every month.

The language of swing

Anna Pearson and Aiden Penner
April 2, 2024
Mike McElroy observes a pregame drill. McElroy’s impact on the defense has been evident throughout his tenure at Bethel, especially in the secondary, where sophomore cornerback Devin Williams plays. “If you do something wrong, he’ll call it out,” Williams said. “Hell address it and make sure you fix it because … small details make a big impact.”

Football, family and C.S. Lewis

Aiden Penner
February 22, 2024
Junior forward Abbie DeLong carries the puck into the Marian defensive zone. While she didn’t find the scoresheet, DeLong recorded four of the Royals’ 38 shots on goal in the 3-1 victory over Marian. | Photo by Sarah Bakeman

Royals’ hockey earns sweep at the ROC

Aiden Penner, Ella Roberts, and Cj Wrzesien
December 10, 2023
Aaron Smallman plucks his bass guitar Nov. 10 at Bethel’s Friday chapel service. Smallman has been a United leader for the Vespers team for two years and appreciates the way worship and music intersect. “I [used to] listen to explicit, harsh, very earthly stuff that would bring me down and physically change my demeanor,” Smallman said. “I thought [it] was mind-blowing, to be able to listen to music and appoint it towards the Lord.”

A faith found outside the home

Sarah Bomhoff and Aiden Penner
December 4, 2023
Bethel University Head Football Coach Steve Johnson says goodbye to junior kicker Hugo Cifuentes after the last game of his coaching career. After the Royals’ loss, the team huddled around its coach, exchanging hugs with Johnson and each other, many of them crying.

Johnson’s final game epitomizes legacy

Aiden Penner and CJ Wrzesien
November 20, 2023
Royals’ season survives, Johnson’s legacy kept alive

Royals’ season survives, Johnson’s legacy kept alive

Aiden Penner and CJ Wrzesien
November 6, 2023
Head Athletic Trainer for Men’s Soccer Annie Hinnenkamp sits at a practice talking to player Matthias Caspara. In the six years Hinnenkamp has worked at Bethel as a trainer, she’s come to know the teams she works with like a family, saying she has “the best job in the world.”

A lost season: An athlete’s road to recovery

Makenzi Johnson and Aiden Penner
October 10, 2023
Running back Aaron Ellingson runs a play during Bethel University’s second home game of the season. Ellingson scored two of the five touchdowns during the game.

A Royal Homecoming victory

Aiden Penner
October 2, 2023
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