Royalty Crowned, Fund-raising Goal Surpassed at Homecoming

BETHANY, W.Va. – Bethany College crowned its royalty and announced the achievement of a major fund-raising goal during its Homecoming weekend festivities at Bison Stadium.

Homecoming Queen Logan Mayhew, a psychology major from Morgantown, W.Va., and Daniel Gibson, a social work major from Pittsburgh, were announced during halftime of the Bison’s football game Saturday, Sept. 28, against Westminster. The king and queen are selected by a student vote.

Mayhew was crowned by 2018 Queen Mariah Forsythe during the halftime ceremony. Gibson, a defensive lineman for the Bison football team, remained in the locker room.

Joseph Fiasco, the 2018 Homecoming king, tipped the crown toward the Hummel Field House in acknowledgment of Gibson and escorted Mayhew from the field.

The 2019 Homecoming court was made up of Reilly Parker, of North Huntingdon, Pa., Abby McDonald, of Uniontown, Pa., Lauren Maichle, of Newark, Del., Erica Amoroso, of Belle Veron, Pa., Reed Long, of Carmichaels, Pa., Issiah Gossett, of Parkersburg, W.Va., Kerry Kerr, of Atlanta, and Mark Tichenor, of Pittsburgh.

During early afternoon tailgating, the class of 1979 was notified that it surpassed its goal of raising $79,000 in honor of its 40th reunion.

Some of the funds have already been put to use, renovating a classroom in Old Main in honor of Robert A. Sandercox, a 1954 graduate of Bethany who, over a 40-year career, served the college in many roles, including dean of students, director of alumni relations, and senior vice president for institutional research and planning. In retirement, he served on the college’s Board of Trustees.

The classroom is undergoing the finishing touches, but the class of 1979 received a sneak peek during a Saturday breakfast at which Sandercox’s widow, Nancy, was the guest of honor.

Those interested in contributing to Bethany through the class of 1979’s fund raising effort may do so by contacting the college’s Office of Advancement, 31 E. Campus Drive, Bethany, WV, 26302-3002 or online.

Thunderstorms put some of the celebrating on hold Saturday evening, but many students, alumni, and fans stuck around to cheer the Bison on as they faced the Westminster Titans. Kickoff was delayed by about an hour.

The Bison ultimately fell 45-9.

On Sunday, Sept. 29, Bethany hosted a Scroll Society breakfast at Oglebay Resort for the class of 1969 and all other alumni who have already celebrated their 50th reunions.

A graduate automatically becomes a Scroll Society member upon the 50th anniversary of his or her graduation from Bethany.

About half dozen individuals from the class of 1969 added their names to the Scroll.

The Scroll Society can be traced to the 1960s when Maynard Patton, then-chairman of the Bethany Board of Trustees, invited several alumni of the 1910s and 1920s to a Commencement Day dinner at Wilson Lodge.

ABOUT BETHANY COLLEGE

Bethany College, founded in 1840, is the oldest private college in West Virginia. The Bethany experience focuses on academic excellence in the area of liberal arts and prepares students for a lifetime of work and a life of significance.