Interviews were conducted with Bethany alumni, inquiring about various aspects such as their interterm experience, most memorable classes, senior trip details, what was the school’s appearance compared to now, and whether they had the opportunity to retest. The alumni in question appear chronologically: Darby Miller, Class of 1983, Mike Schliening, Class of 1984, Correta Chup (Miller), Class of 1985, and Laura Moshier, Class of 1992.
Q1: What was Interterm like as a student?
Laura Moshier Class of 1992: “We went on Dan Bodiker’s famous canoe/camping trip, everybody wanted to go on it . . . It was in Kentucky. There were lots of adventures and some people fell in the water, it was very memorable. . . We went to Canada in a different year. We visited Ontario for their famous Theatre productions. The plays were shocking yet expressive. Loved the Ontario trip, especially going out of the country.”
Mike Schliening Class of 1984: “I went backpacking in Kentucky, I remember canoeing on that trip. Another year I biked in Florida, those two trips were fun.”
Darby Miller Class of 1983: “I remember going to one called ‘Seeing the culture of Chicago’. We went on Dan’s canoeing trip in Kentucky, and another year I biked in Kentucky. It was sunny and 75 on the first day of our canoeing trip. And then it snowed. We were so cold, I remember we built a fire. . . We were standing in the coals because it was so cold, the soles of my tennis shoes melted.”
Correta Chupp (Miller) Class of 1985: “I don’t remember many of my interterms but I enjoyed one called veterinarian teaching. It wasn’t a typical interterm but I asked because it sounded interesting as a substitute for an interterm. I helped deliver a lamb, that was very memorable. . . We also went to Denver, where our groups helped demo buildings. When we had free time at the end of the trip we skied down the mountains nearby.”
Q2: What were your most memorable classes while attending Bethany?
Laura Moshier Class of 1992: “I remember acing my final in economics. . . I find it funny that I use the lessons orchestra taught me most in my adult life. Our orchestra teacher had a group of us compose a piece that we played in the orchestra. I thought it was rather complex for high school but I’m glad he made us try it since what I learned in orchestra I am using in real life. . . I also like that our educators gave us a broad teaching, you never know what you’ll do in the future. . . I loved German, The small class made it much more engaging and I still use what I learned in that class speaking with some residents at Greencroft in my job now.”
Darby Miller Class of 1983: “The class that I remember most clearly was bible class. It hasn’t changed much from the classes today except that I had a different teacher. I don’t remember what classes they taught but I had Jim Buller and Everett Thomas (Past Mayor of Goshen) were a few of my teachers.”
Correta Chup CLass of 1985: “I remember enjoying bible, orchestra, chapel but can’t remember any specifics.”
Q3: Was there an option to retest?
Laura Moshier Class of 1992: “There were never reassessments but I think for me particularly I might’ve gotten extra test time at one point. There were opportunities for extra credit in some of my classes like geometry or chemistry.”
Mike Schliening Class of 1984: “There wasn’t an option to retest, we just had to do well the first time”
Darby Miller Class of 1983: “Retesting wasn’t a thing yet, there might’ve been extra credit but I didn’t need it.”
Correta Chup Class of 1985: “I don’t think there were many retesting opportunities but I was allowed to retest on some of my geometry tests.”
Q4: How was the school’s layout different from now?
Laura Moshier Class of 1992: “The old chapel was where Benji’s room was, some of the taller students would hit their heads on the rafters while on stage because the ceiling was so short . . .The Fish fry was served in the old gym and cafeteria. During the first game of the new gym, the students threw toilet paper at the first basket, it was like a waterfall. . . The track was where the parking lot is now. . . Band and orchestra were combined. . . When it rained the roofs would leak because it was a flat roof.”
Mike Schliening Class of 1984: “I don’t remember anything major being done to the school.”
Darby Miller Class of 1983: ”The layout in the high school wasn’t much different than what it is now except there was no middle school wing and the gym was where the chapel is now.”
Correta Chup CLass of 1985: “I remember they replaced the tile and turned it into carpet.”
Q5: What was your senior trip like?
Laura Moshier Class of 1992: “We went to Toronto, Canada our senior trip. Our group saw Niagara Falls and went boating. We also saw theatre productions, I remember one particularly that was based on the French Revolution. We also went to the famous ‘Spaghetti Factory’.”
Darby Miller Class of 1983: “I thought my senior trip was very entertaining, the class went to Toronto, Canada for roughly a week. We went to the ‘Spaghetti Factory’ and canoed.”
Mike Schliening Class of 1984: “I went to Toronto, Canada. I can’t remember what we did though.”
Correta Chup CLass of 1985: “For our senior trip we went to New York, I can’t remember much but I do remember we went to Niagra Falls.”
In conclusion, the discussion with the alumni offered compelling glimpses into the enriching experiences that define Bethany. Whether through Inteterms, impactful classes, memorable senior trips, and other opportunities, Bethany raises unique journeys of self-discovery. I hope this interview resonates with you, providing valuable insights that shape the Bethany Christian School community. These interviews were conducted by Sorel Miller Class of 2025.