WHERE BETHANY LEADS
Real Paths. Real Outcomes.
What does life look like after Bethany?
The graduates in these pages were sitting where you are not long ago. Same questions. Same ambitions. Same uncertainty about what comes next. They found that direction at Bethany, where a liberal arts education and the support of engaged faculty and a close-knit community helped them build the skills to adapt, think, and move forward with purpose. Now they are building careers, finding their footing, and doing work that matters to them.
These are real stories from graduates who turned their Bethany experience into something tangible. Not perfect paths. Not overnight success. Just momentum, direction, and opportunity shaped by the relationships and experiences you will see throughout these stories.
RILEYFELTON’23,M.ED.’25
From Star Player to Head Coach at 23
Atjust23yearsold,RileyFelton’23,M.Ed.’25,wasnamed headcoachofBethany’swomen’svolleyballprogram, makinghertheyoungestheadcoachinanysportwithinthe Presidents’AthleticConference(PAC) Atwo-timePAC champion,four-timeAll-PACselection,and2023PAC TournamentMVPherself,Rileyhasquicklytransitioned fromstandoutstudent-athletetoconfidentleader
“MytimeatBethanywastrulytransformative,”Rileysaid. “BeingapartoftheBethanyCollegewomen’svolleyball teamwasoneofthemostrewardingexperiencesofmy collegecareer Servingasteamcaptainandhelpingleadour teamtoaPACChampionshiptaughtmethevalueof leadership,teamwork,andperseverance”
Beyondthecourt,Rileyworkedcloselywithprofessorsin thePsychologyDepartmentandparticipatedinprograms suchastheNCAACareerinSportsForum.“Those opportunitieshelpedmegrowbothpersonallyand professionally,”sheshared.“Bethany’ssupportiveandcloseknitcommunityshapedmeintotheconfidentpersonIam today I’mproudtobeaBethanygraduateandwillalways carrywithmethesenseofcommunity,purpose,and determinationthatBethanyinstilledinme”
RileynowleadsthenextgenerationofBisonwiththatsame passionandpride “I’mincrediblyhonoredtostepintothis roleataplaceIproudlycallhome,”shesaid.“Ourprogram hasshapedmeincountlessways,andI’mcommittedto buildingonitslegacyofpride,passion,andcompetitive excellence”
“MytimeatBethanywastruly transformative.Beingapartofthe BethanyCollegewomen’s volleyballteamwasoneofthe mostrewardingexperiencesofmy collegecareer.Servingasteam captainandhelpingleadourteam toaPACChampionshiptaughtme thevalueofleadership,teamwork, andperseverance.”-Riley
JOSEPHGRESCHNER’13
From Bethany to the Operating Room
JosephGreschner’13graduatedfromBethanyCollegeasa biologymajor,andcreditsBethanywithlayingthefoundation foranimpressiveandhighlyspecializedmedicalcareer.After graduatingin2013,hewentontopodiatryschool,followedby oneofthenation’stopfootandanklesurgeryresidenciesin Columbus,Ohio,andanorthopedicfootandanklefellowship inSarasota,Florida.
Hiscareerhassincetakenhimacrossthecountryandback hometoWestVirginia,wherehefoundedandchairedthe podiatrydepartmentatLakelandRegionalMedicalCenter beforebecomingtheprimaryfootandanklespecialistfor MountainstateOrthopedicAssociatesinMorgantown.Today, JosephistheownerofGreschnerFoot&AnkleSpecialists, providingbothsurgicalandnonsurgicalcaretopatients throughoutNorthCentralWestVirginiaandsurroundingareas.
“Workhard,stayfocused,and enjoyit.Theclichéistrue: College(especiallyatBethany) areamongstsomeofthegreatest yearsofyourlife.Bethany Collegeisawonderful opportunityinsuchabeautiful place.Ifyouallowit,Bethanycan takeyouanywhereintheworld youwouldliketogo.” -Joseph
Thoughhisprofessionalpathhastakenhimfarbeyond Bethany’scampus,Josephremainscloselyconnectedtothe Collegethroughthefriendshipshebuiltthere.Hestaysin regularcontactwithhisPhiKappaTaufraternitybrothers, sharingcareerupdates,lifemilestones,andplentyofhumor, andmakeshiswaybacktocampusforHomecomingwhenever hecan.
WhenhereminiscesabouthistimeatBethany,onememory standsoutabovetherest,“Snowmageddon.”Duringawinter blizzardthatshutdowncampus,Josephandhisfraternity brothersmadethemostofanunexpectedpauseinclasses,an experiencethatcapturestheclose-knitcommunityand unforgettablemomentsthatdefinetheBethanyexperience.
ForcurrentBethanystudents,Josephofferssimplebut meaningfuladvice:“Workhard,stayfocused,andenjoyit.The clichéistrue:College(especiallyatBethany)areamongst someofthegreatestyearsofyourlife.”Reflectingonhis journey,headds,“BethanyCollegeisawonderfulopportunity insuchabeautifulplace.Ifyouallowit,Bethanycantakeyou anywhereintheworldyouwouldliketogo.”
From First-Generation
Student to Senior Accountant
BorninElSalvador,JoseIraheta’21movedtoVirginiain 2013,wherehewouldeventuallybeginhisjourneytoward BethanyCollege.HefirstheardaboutBethanythroughclose friends.“IwaspersuadedtogotoBethanybythreeofmybest friends,”Irahetasaid.“TheyweregoingtoBethanytoplay lacrosse,soIdecidedtojointhem.”
Asafirst-generationcollegestudentpreparingtoliveonhis ownforthefirsttime,Josewasn’tsurewhattoexpect.He recallsthetransitionbeingchallengingatfirstbutstrengthened bythepeoplearoundhim.“AtthebeginningIstruggledabit, butthankfullyatBethanyyoucanfindalotofsupportnotjust fromfriendsbutalsothefacultyaswell,”hesaid.
Josemajoredinaccountingwithminorsinfinanceand Spanish,ultimatelygraduatingin2021.Hewasdeeply involvedoncampus,servingasamemberofPhiKappaTau, presidentoftheSpanishclub,andaparticipantinboththe businessandhistoryclubs.Healsoservedasthemen’s lacrosseteammanagerduringhisearlyyearsatBethany
ForJose,Bethanybecamefarmorethanaplacetostudy. “BethanywasafoundationtowhoIamtoday,”hesaid. “Comingfromanimmigrantbackground,Bethanygavemeso muchmorethanjustaneducation;itgavemeaclose communitythatpushedmetogrow,thinkcritically,and believeinmyself.”
OnemomentinparticularstandsoutinhismemoryAfter completinghiscomprehensiveexamsinOldMain,hewalked outtofindhisfriendswaitingincelebration.“Comingoutof room03fromOldMaintomyfriendschanting‘Jose,Jose, Jose’wastrulyaspecialmomentformeandIwishIcould reliveit,”hesaid.
Althoughhiscareerpathisrootedinaccounting,he creditsBethanywithpreparinghimwellbeyondthe technicalaspectsofhisfield.Hepointstocommunication, criticalthinking,andaccountabilityascorestrengths developedduringhistimeoncampus,allofwhichremain essentialinhisworktoday.
Forcurrentstudents,especiallythosenavigating uncertaintyaroundcareersormajors,Joseoffers perspectiveshapedbyexperience.“Don’tbeafraidtoask forhelp,”hesaid.“Don’tstressifyoudonothave everythingfiguredoutandfocusmoreonbuildingstrong fundamentals.Beconfidentthatyouaregoingtolanda roleaftergraduationthatdoesnothavetobeperfect,but ratheraplacewhereyoucanlearn,askquestions,and developasaprofessional.Alsobeopentofeedback,find goodmentorsandbepatientwithyourself.Rememberthat yourcareerisalong-termjourney.”
Today,JoseservesasasenioraccountantatGreatMinds,a publicbenefitcorporationdedicatedtocreatinghigh-quality educationalmaterialsforK–12studentsacrossthecountry.In additiontohisprofessionalrole,heservesasaboardmember anddirectoratglobalaidprojects,anonprofitfocusedon humanitarianinitiatives.
“Bethanywasafoundationtowho Iamtoday.Comingfroman immigrantbackground,Bethany gavemesomuchmorethanjust aneducation,itgavemeaclose communitythatpushedmeto grow,thinkcritically,andbelieve inmyself.”-Jose
OLIVIAZINN’24
On Air Before Graduation
WhenOliviaZinn’24signedofffromherfinalsemester atBethanyCollege,shewasalreadypreparingforher nexton-airmoment.Justweeksaftergraduation,Olivia steppedintothespotlightasthemorninganchorand reporterforWTOV9inSteubenville-Wheeling,coanchoring“News9Sunrise”onNBCandFOXalongside BillPhillips.
“Idealwithbreakingnews,hardnews,andstoriesthat affectrealpeople,”shesaid.“Everymorning,Ico-anchor theshow,andafterwewrap,Igrabtwoorthreestoriesto turnthatday.It’sfast-paced,butIloveit.”
Olivia’scareertookoffbeforesheevenreceivedher diploma.Asajunior,shebeganworkingpart-timeat WTOV9fornearly30hoursaweekwhilebalancing classes,organizations,andcampuslife.“Thatexperience changedeverything,”shesaid.“Istartedpart-timewhileI wasstillinschoolandcontinueduntilIgraduated.When thetimecame,theysignedmeonfull-time,andit’sbeen anenjoyablelearningcurveeversince.”
AsadoublemajorincommunicationsandSpanish, OliviafoundBethanytobetheperfectenvironmentto pursuebothpassions.“Iimmediatelylovedthenatural beautyofBethany,butwhatreallydrewmetoattendwas thestudent-to-professorratio,”sheshared.“Thereis nothinglikehavingacloserelationshipwithyour educators,andthat’sexactlywhatBethanybrings.The College’sflexibilityallowedmetocompletetwomajors infouryears.”
Herdualfocuswasn’tjustacademic;itwasstrategic.“I knewIwantedacareerincommunicationsassoonasI graduated,butSpanishwasanaddedbonus,”shesaid. “WiththegrowingHispanicpopulationintheU.S.,I thoughtitwouldbeextremelybeneficialinthe professionalworld.”
DuringhertimeatBethany,Oliviawasdeeplyinvolved acrosscampus.ShewasamemberofPhiMu,the BethanyCollegeEquestrianTeam,PRSSA,andSpanish Club,allexperiencesthathelpedherbuildleadership skillsandmeaningfulconnections.
Lookingback,OliviacreditsBethanyanditsfaculty withhelpinghermakethoseearlyindustry connectionsthatsethercareerinmotion. “NETWORK,NETWORK,NETWORK!”she emphasized.“Theindustryisconstantlychanging, andsometimesitcomesdowntowhoyouknow,not justwhatyouknow.Ifyoucanlandaninternshipor apart-timejobincollege,doitassoonasyoucan, evenifit’sjustforacoupleofmonths.Professorsat Bethanyareincrediblysupportive,butinTVnews, sometimesyouhavetoberightinthemiddleof breakingnewstoreallylearntheprofession.”
ForOlivia,everyearlymorningandbreakingstoryis anotherchancetoliveoutthelessonsshelearnedat Bethany.“Youmightnotstayatthatstationafter yourinternship,”sheadded,“butthatnewsdirector knowsothernewsdirectorsandcanhelpimmensely It’salwaysgoodtoputyourbestfootforwardand showinitiativeearly.”
Withherbrightenergyandrelentlessworkethic, OliviaZinnrepresentsthenextgenerationof journalists,groundedinexperience,drivenby passion,andproudtocallBethanyCollegeher foundation.
“Iimmediatelylovedthenatural beautyofBethany,butwhatreally drewmetoattendwasthe student-to-professorratio.There isnothinglikehavingaclose relationshipwithyoureducators, andthat’sexactlywhatBethany brings.TheCollege’sflexibility allowedmetocompletetwo majorsinfouryears.”-Olivia
Coaching with Character and Purpose
ForNateMarko’19,BethanyCollegewasmorethanaplaceto earnadegree;itwasaplacewherehediscoveredhispassion forleadership,teamwork,andpersonalgrowth.Natefoundthe perfectbalanceofacademicsandathleticsthatsetthestagefor hisfuturecareer.
“IwasdrawntoBethanybecauseofitssmall-townatmosphere, tight-knitcommunity,andsmallclasssizesthatallowedfor genuinerelationshipswithprofessorsandclassmates,”hesaid. “Beingclosetohomeandhavingtheopportunitytocontinue mybaseballcareeratthecollegiatelevelmadeBethanythe perfectfitbothacademicallyandathletically.”
Asastudent,Natedouble-majoredinsportmanagementand businessmanagementwhilefullyimmersinghimselfincampus life.HewasamemberoftheBethanybaseballteam,BetaTheta Pifraternity,andthebusinessandsportsmanagementclubs, andevencompetedonBethany’sdragonboatracingteamin 2018and2019.
Today,NateservesasthecollegehittingcoachatYoungstown StateUniversityinYoungstown,Ohio,arolethatcombineshis lifelongloveofbaseballwithhisdrivetomentoryoung athletes.“Bethanyplayedamajorroleinpreparingmeforthis careerbyprovidinghands-onlearningopportunities, internships,andleadershipexperiencesthattranslateddirectly tomyworkincollegeathletics,”hesaid.“Mytimeasastudentathletetaughtmediscipline,accountability,andhowtowork effectivelywithotherstowardacommongoal.ThelessonsI learnedbothonandoffthefieldatBethanyarethesame principlesIstrivetopassontomyplayerstoday,emphasizing personalgrowth,character,andarelentlessworkethic.”
Reflectingonhisjourney,Natesharedthatpatienceand persistencehavebeenkeytohissuccess.“Breakingintothe coachingprofessiontakestime,andyouwon’tlandyour dreamjobrightaway,”hesaid.“Youhavetobewillingto takerolesthatpushyououtsideyourcomfortzone,because thoseexperiencesoftenleadtothemostgrowth.”Healso believesthatnotaskistoosmalltomakeadifference. “Everytaskmatters,”headded.“Howyouapproachthe smallthingssaysalotaboutyourprofessionalismand attitude,peoplewillnotice.”
Equallyimportant,Natevaluestheconnectionshe’sbuilt throughouthiscareer.“Networkingandbuilding relationshipsareessential,”hesaid.“Talktoasmany peopleasyoucanintheindustry,becauseyouneverknow whomightopenadoorforyoudowntheline.”
Aboveall,heremindshimselftoenjoyeverystepofthe process.“Coachingbaseballisablessingandaprivilege,” hereflected.“Evenonthelongestdays,Itakeastepback andappreciatethatIgettomakeanimpactdoingsomething Ilove;somethingnoteveryonegetstodo.”
FromhisdaysonthediamondatBethanytomentoring playersnationwide,NateMarkocontinuestoupholdthe valueshelearnedasaBison:hardwork,humility,anda deepappreciationfortheopportunitiesthatcomefrom pursuingone’spassion.
“Bethanyplayedamajorrolein
preparingmeforthiscareerby providinghands-onlearning opportunities,internships,and leadershipexperiencesthat translateddirectlytomyworkin collegeathletics.”-Nate
