When you meet Rebecca Nanney, known to many as “Bug,” it’s clear that creativity and curiosity are at the heart of everything she does. A Bethany College junior from Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, Rebecca is a double major in mathematics and visual arts, finding balance between logic and imagination, solving equations by day and bringing stories to life through painting and theatre.
Bethany was already part of Rebecca’s story long before she arrived on campus. Both of her grandparents and an aunt are alumni, but the decision to attend came sooner than expected. “My dad texted me in the middle of the school day and said, ‘Deposit submitted,’” Rebecca laughed. When asking him to look into more scholarship opportunities, “he thought I meant go ahead and do it [deposit] but honestly, I probably would’ve ended up at Bethany anyways.”
Since coming to Bethany, Rebecca has immersed herself in campus life. She serves as president of Alpha Psi Omega, the campus theatre honor society, and is a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honor society. “It keeps me pretty busy,” she said with a smile. “But I love both areas . . . math challenges how I think, and art lets me express what I feel.”
Over the summer, Rebecca took her artistic passion a step further by working alongside a professional illustrator, helping with a children’s book project and learning the behind-the-scenes details of creative production. She even launched her own art website, where she plans to sell prints and take commissions. 
Rebecca is equally devoted to Bethany’s theatre community. With small class sizes and tight-knit productions, the program has become a home for her. “There’s a lot that’s student-led,” she said. “When our seniors graduated, we had to pick up new roles such as lighting, costumes, and directing. You learn to wear a lot of hats here.” That sense of teamwork has helped Rebecca develop leadership, technical skills, and confidence all while building lasting friendships across campus.
What stands out most to Rebecca about Bethany is the personal connection. “Professors notice when you’re curious or trying something new,” she said. “You wouldn’t get that kind of individual attention at a bigger school.” Between late-night rehearsals, math classes with Dr. Adam Fletcher, and study sessions in the Richardson Hall “fishbowl,” she’s carved out a space that feels both challenging and supportive.
As for the future, Rebecca is still exploring possibilities, perhaps something that merges her love for numbers and art. “I don’t know exactly what’s next,” she admitted. “But I’m learning so much here that I know I’ll find my path.”
From solving complex problems to designing costumes and paintings, Rebecca “Bug” Nanney embodies the best of Bethany’s liberal arts tradition, a blend of intellect and creativity.
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