Top 20 Posts of 2020

The Bell started 2020 with a post on “3 Tips That Will Make You Feel Less Busy and More Balanced in 2020.” Little did we know how prescient that topic would be in the months to come. Since then, we’ve posted more than 80,000 words across more than 125 posts on all that came with navigating college during a pandemic—online learning, relationships and grief over lost experiences. In between, we touched on racial equality, church history, new programs in the Bay Area and with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and exciting updates for the School of Education; the School of Graduate, Professional and Extended Studies; and the Athletics program at Gordon. As we kick off a new year, take a look at The Bell’s 20 most popular stories of 2020.

20. Pandemics, Plagues, Persecution: A History of Easter During Crisis
Easter 2020 (and the church holidays that followed) was not the first time that Christians couldn’t gather for church. In fact, recalling the Church’s tumultuous history reminds us that we can rest in God’s sovereignty.

19. 4 Ways to Live with More Wisdom
Drawing from the words of Dr. Elaine Phillips, who spoke at the Center for Faith and Inquiry’s virtual Wisdom Lecture in February, here are four ways we can go about living wisely and, by extension, encourage others to do the same.

18. From On Campus to Online: 7 Pro Tips for College Students Making the Switch
At the start of the pandemic, Gordon took a week of “pause” to evaluate the situation and chart a course of action. As courses pivoted online, we offered some tips for how to successfully make the transition to online learning.

17. New Initiative Focused on Serving and Learning in Silicon Valley
Gordon announced the Bay Area Project—a three-year initiative founded on the goal of raising up the next generation of Christian leaders in San Francisco’s Bay Area while creating new career opportunities for Gordon students.

16. Why Gordon’s Education Program is in the Top 15 Nationwide For Early Reading Instruction
Last January, Gordon’s School of Education was one of 15 programs in the U.S. to receive an official A+ from the National Council on Teacher Quality for its science-based method for training early childhood and elementary school educators to teach children how to read. 

15. The Most Desirable Majors, According to Future Employers
After 172 employers identified the majors they hire the most, NACE put together a list of the most desirable college majors. Of the top 10, five of them fall under the umbrella of business, and finance and accounting are the most desirable of the set.

14. Gordon Receives Kern Grant to Launch Accelerated Pastoral Degree Pathway Program
With a generous grant from the Kern Family Foundation, Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary launched an accelerated pastoral degree pathway (the Dokes Ministry Scholars program) through which students can earn a B.A. and M.A. or M.Div. in five years.

13. Finding Humility with a “Broken” Mind: Callum Owen ’22
Between eighth and 11^th grade, Owen got four concussions from playing soccer. Each injury was followed by seven days of headaches, confusion and lethargy. By day eight, he was back to normal—until the fourth concussion.

12. Former College President to Lead Gordon Adult Education Program
Gordon College announced the appointment of Dr. Ivan L. Filby, an international higher education administrator and professor, as founding executive director of the Gordon adult education program.

11. Prepping for Move-in Day: 10 Things to Pack, 10 Things to Leave Behind
Moving into college looked a little different this year, but was nonetheless an exciting milestone for many students. As students prepared for the big day, we offered tips on 10 things to pack and 10 things to leave behind.

10. Trading a Cap and Gown for Masks and Gloves
Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Class of 2020 continued taking postgraduate steps, and a few graduates share with The Bell what they’d be up to next.

9. Basketball Seniors Make National Ranks
Three Gordon seniors— Eric Demers ’20, Meghan Foley ’20 and Sarah Gibbs ’20—had a basketball season that launched them to the top of national and conference charts. 

8. Athletics Unveils Fierce Updates to Lion Rampant Logo
Over the summer, Gordon’s Lion Rampant began sporting a competitive, new look thanks to a generous gift from the Kanas family. The update featured layers of cyan and navy, a sharper silhouette, a forward tilt and a more angled eye.

7. The Hopeful Possibility in Sudden Goodbyes
Gordon in Orvieto Resident Assistant Emily Friesen shared about the brief 10 days she had with the spring semester cohort before the global COVID-19 pandemic altered their plans.

6. Females in Coaching: Falzarano’s Game Plan for a Pro Sports Future
From NCAA Division I football to Gordon Men’s Basketball, aspiring NBA coach Brooke Falzarano ’20 talks about forging a path to the big leagues by learning from the best.

5. Gordon’s 12 New Academic Programs
Over the last academic year, the College rolled out several new majors, minors and concentrations to better meet the academic interests and career goals of students.

4. The Redemptive Side of Anger: How Civil Rights Activist Arthur Whitaker ’49 Used His Own Pain to Bring About Healing
In honor of Black History Month, The Bell revisited the inspiring story of Rev. Dr. Arthur L. Whitaker ’49, who worked tirelessly for racial equality and the “brotherhood of all men” during World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and the many decades that followed.

3. Five Professors, 154 Years at Gordon
The 2019–20 year marked the milestone of retirement for several Gordon College faculty, five of whom The Bellcaught up with to glean (more) wisdom, hear their favorite memories and learn what’s next.

2. 25 Questions to Ask When You Need a Break from COVID-19 Conversations
Under stress, it’s hard to find the energy to ask good questions. Here are 25 questions to help you add some depth and flavor to your family and roommate discussions during this season of COVID-19.

1. The Death of Expectancy: A Letter to Our Young Adults
Heidi Forget, MSW, LICSW, of the Gordon College Counseling Center shared a word about expectancy in a time of grief.