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| LOUIS T. BENEZET AWARD RECIPIENT
1998 |
The Rev. Dr. Elizabeth C. ("Betsy") Alden '64
Perhaps creating new worlds is in her blood. After all, she's a direct
descendent of Mayflower pilgrims John Alden and Priscilla Mullens. Even
when Betsy Alden transferred from Duke University to CC in 1962 as a married
20-year-old (most alumni will remember her as Betsy Turecky), she realized
she was a rarity, an "odd creature" in those days. After taking
20-24 hours each semester (in order to coincide an early graduation with
her husband's leaving Fort Carson) and graduating Phi Beta Kappa, Betsy
went on to get her master's degree at Indiana University, then moved with
her family to Dallas, Texas. It was there, while teaching in community
colleges, that she encountered Vietnam veterans and returning women students
who asked theological questions about their literature readings. Betsy
found her calling to ministry in higher education and decided to take
courses at Perkins Seminary at SMU while parenting three pre-schoolers.
In 1974 Betsy was ordained to the United Methodist ministry - only the
third clergy woman in the Dallas area. She founded and directed an ecumenical
ministry with the seven community colleges in Dallas and served on numerous
national boards involved in ministry in higher education. In 1980 she
created the Praxis Project, a model for service-learning nationwide and
an effort for which she received the Outstanding Volunteer Award in Dallas.
After completing her doctorate on "vocation and career" in 1982,
Betsy served as national communications coordinator for the ecumenical
United Ministries in Education, consulting and providing resources for
over 1,700 campus ministries across the country. Becky moved to New Mexico,
but continued to work with Praxis while serving simultaneously as continuing
education coordinator for the New Mexico Conference of Churches and as
full-time English faculty at Albuquerque TVI Community College. She taught
in the general honors program at the University of New Mexico, creating
a popular course called "Verses and Reverses: New Perspectives on
Women and the Bible." In 1966, Betsy was honored with the Outstanding
Woman of New Mexico Governor's Award. Then, with her husband, Mark Rutledge,
a United Church of Christ minister, Betsy moved across country to North
Carolina and joined the religious life staff of Duke Chapel at Duke University.
Today, Betsy is Service-Learning Coordinator for the Kenan Ethics Program
at Duke, working with faculty, students, community agencies, and public
schools to promote the academic integration of ethical reflection and
service experiences into the undergraduate curriculum.
Colorado College is proud to honor Betsy Alden with the Benezet Award
in recognition of her outstanding achievements and dedication to serving
others.
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