Bethany College Presents the 20th Biennial Business Career Conference

September 23, 2021

LINDSBORG, KAN., Sept. 22 – The Bethany College Business Department will present the 20th biennial Business Conference on Thursday, October 7, 2021, on Bethany College campus. Please join us for a keynote address, starting at 10 am in Burnett Center and a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the renovated Wallerstedt Social Science at 11 am outside the main entrance. The conference will offer presentations for Bethany students in the afternoon. 

The conference’s primary purpose is to give Bethany students more knowledge about career opportunities by providing dialogue with successful alumni from different business fields.  Although focused primarily on business, the conference is open to all interested Bethany students.

Panel presentations will be given by alumni representing businesses such as accounting, banking and finance, human resources, sales, marketing and customer service, small business and entrepreneurship, insurance and investing. Since the first Business Career Conference in 1983, more than 260 alumni volunteers have readily returned to Bethany to speak about their career paths with students.

At 10 a.m. in the Burnett Center, keynote speaker, Roy Applequist, will share his business knowledge and experience in manufacturing businesses. The Applequist family has contributed greatly to the Smoky Hill River Valley; first as immigrant homesteaders in 1868 and machinists, toolmakers, and by 1946 manufacturers of mowers and grain handling equipment. 

After graduating from North Park University in Chicago, Applequist returned to the Salina area to join the family manufacturing business, Roberts Industries, until 1976 when it was sold to Federal Mogul Corp, a Fortune 500 company.  Applequist then founded Great Plains Manufacturing, headquartered in Salina, KS, to make grain drills for area farmers.  With manufacturing plants in eight other central Kansas towns, Great Plains Manufacturing grew into a multi-million dollar international, diversified business with over 1,400 employees in two manufacturing lines, trucking, and a finance division.  In 2016, Great Plains was sold to the Kubota Corporation of Japan.  Ever the entrepreneur, in 2018 Applequist started Applequist Manufacturing in Smith Center, Kansas.


Roy was inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Salina Business Hall of Fame in 2006 and shares his knowledge and experience in service to various boards and organizations. 


The ribbon cutting ceremony at 11am celebrates the completion of Wallerstedt Social Science renovations starting last April and finishing just before classes August 24. Social Science houses the Business Department faculty and business courses. 


Over the years the Applequist family has contributed greatly to Bethany college in various ways, for many different causes; more recently fully funding the ongoing Warner renovation and also contributing to the renovation of Social Science.  Contributions of the Applequist family also provided a foundation for approval of grants Dr. Mauch, President, was awarded last year. The Applequist gifts incentivized the college to pursue other grant funding through the Sunderland and Mabee Foundations in 2020, all which will support the upcoming Path to Your Purpose initiative and ultimately students on their academic journey.


Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service.
At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.

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February 10, 2025
LINDSBORG, KAN., FEB. 5, 2025 — The Bethany Oratorio Society is excited to announce the soloists for the 2025 Messiah Festival of the Arts. Since its founding in 1882, the Oratorio Society has performed Bach’s The Passion According to St. Matthew and Handel’s Messiah every year, and this year’s festival promises another spectacular celebration of these works. Featured soloists for this year’s performances include Claire Herzog, coloratura soprano; Michelle Rice, soprano; Maxwell Ary, tenor; and Ian Schipper, bass-baritone. These talented artists will bring their expertise and passion to the stage in performances of The Passion According to St. Matthew and the Messiah.  Additionally, these soloists will perform a free recital at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2025 , at Messiah Lutheran Church on the campus of Bethany College. They will also perform at the ticketed events: The Passion According to St. Matthew at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 11, and Handel’s Messiah at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, in Presser Hall Auditorium. Tickets for these performances can be purchased at messiahfestival.org or by calling Bethany College at (785) 227-3380, ext. 8235, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Claire Herzog, Coloratura Soprano A versatile coloratura soprano from Springfield, Missouri, Claire Herzog is equally passionate about teaching and performing. She has appeared in operatic roles with the Ozarks Lyric Opera and is an active performer with various choral groups. Herzog holds degrees from Missouri State University and is currently on the vocal music faculty at Evangel University. In addition to her vocal expertise, she enjoys composing and collaborating with other musicians, with recent projects including an album of original songs and Heart on the Wall performances with the Missouri Philharmonic Orchestra. Michelle Rice, Soprano Praised for her “tones of pure gold” (Washington Post), Michelle Rice brings a rich timbre and intense performance to the stage. Throughout her career, Rice has performed a wide range of roles, including Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde and Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw. As the Artistic Director of Seven Sisters Productions, she has premiered new works, including the opera The Queen, My Lord, Is Dead. Rice’s performances span opera, concert, and recital, and she has sung with major ensembles across the U.S., including the Berkeley Symphony and Washington Concert Opera. Maxwell Ary, Tenor A versatile performer and educator based in San Francisco, Maxwell Ary is renowned for his wide-ranging voice, which spans genres from classical to jazz, musical theatre, and pop. Ary, who teaches at the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts, has performed with prestigious ensembles, including Seraphic Fire and Voces8. He has appeared in operas such as The Rake’s Progress, L’elisir d’amore, and recently performed in the baroque opera La Flora with Ars Minerva. Ary’s 2025 performance schedule includes Lamplighters Musical Theater and Pocket Opera engagements. Ian Schipper, Bass-Baritone A dynamic performer known for his commitment to classical and contemporary music, Ian Schipper has appeared in operas such as Die Zauberflöte and Cosi fan tutte. He has sung in choral groups across the U.S., including the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus and the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Schipper is also passionate about new music and has collaborated with composers through his work with St. Olaf College’s Spiritus Novus. He recently performed the role of Cardinal Rottweiler in the world premiere of The Grand Hotel Tartarus. Join us for these unforgettable performances as these talented soloists join the Bethany Oratorio Society in bringing two of the most cherished works in the choral repertoire to life. For more information, including ticket purchases, please visit messiahfestival.org . Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. At Bethany, students join a community of dedicated educators and caring mentors who walk alongside them as they discover, explore, and navigate the path to their purpose. Bethany College is online at bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College Hosts Over 500 Young Men for
January 30, 2025
Bethany College hosted over 500 young men from nearly 40 schools across Kansas on Jan. 30 for the annual Real Men Sing vocal workshop. This celebrated event provides an inspiring opportunity for students in grades 4-12 to explore choral music in a supportive, all-male setting, fostering confidence, camaraderie, and a love for singing.
January 24, 2025
This semester, the department continues its tradition of offering a wide variety of performances, from student and faculty recitals to large-scale ensemble concerts. These events provide opportunities for the Lindsborg community and surrounding areas to experience the vibrant cultural and artistic contributions of the college.
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