BCS alumnus Justin McNally ('06), owner of the Wakarusa Dime Store, has written Oozy, Brown and Stickier, a children's book celebrating the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival.

 

Dan Shenk will tell you that some of the most important lessons he learned at Bethany had nothing to do with a classroom. They happened on the court, in the locker room, in the quiet after a tough loss.

Those lessons never left him. And eventually, he wrote them down.

From Editor to Author

For more than three decades, Dan built a career helping other people tell their stories. As owner-operator of CopyProof, he has edited more than 50 books since 1990. Then in 2022, the roles reversed.

"While I've edited more than 50 books since 1990," he says, "in 2022 I finished writing my own book: You Are More Than Your Score: On Sports and Spirituality—two topics near to my heart."

The book is built around story. As Dan writes in the Introduction: "This book's predominant motif is in fact storytelling—tales of well-known 'household names' inside and occasionally outside the world of sports, as well as accounts of ordinary folks with extraordinary stories." About a third of the book draws on his own life—and Bethany shows up ten times across six different passages.

In fall 2025, Dan completed the second and final edition: a full-color hardcover, softcover, and e-book, with more than 80 new additions since 2022, a narrated audiobook, and a 70-plus-graphic PDF companion.

Back on Campus

Long before the final edition was finished, Bethany called Dan back. In October 2019, while still writing the book, he returned to campus to speak during Chapel—sharing the message that would become the heart of You Are More Than Your Score: that a person's worth is measured by far more than a score, a stat, or a standing.

It's a message that felt right at home here. And one that current students are still hearing.

A Pilgrimage Worth Taking

Dan is candid about what drove him to write the book in the first place.

"I've discovered that a lot of people struggle with balancing and integrating sports and spirituality," he writes, "including me personally. I decided I needed to write this book as part of my own pilgrimage. I hope you find some points of connection and intersection that benefit you on your journey as well."

That spirit of honest seeking — of wrestling with hard questions and inviting others along — feels deeply Bethany. It's what this community has always been about.

You Are More Than Your Score is available in multiple formats, including a personalized inscription option directly from Dan. Reach him at dan@shenkcopyproof.com.

Introduction

Since Indiana launched its Indiana Choice Scholarship (voucher) program in the  2011-12 school year, the educational landscape across the state has shifted significantly. The voucher program is part of a broader ecosystem of school choice policies aimed at expanding educational access and options for families.  Other choice options in Indiana include public school open enrollment, charter schools, and alternative models such as homeschooling and microschools. For Bethany Christian School (BCS), these changes have not been abstract, they have directly shaped who we serve, how we are funded, and how we live into our mission. The following analysis explores how school choice, and vouchers in particular, have influenced access, enrollment patterns, and the long-term sustainability of Bethany.

Access and Affordability

One of the most immediate effects of the voucher program has been increased access to Bethany’s educational program. Voucher amounts vary based on a student’s home public school district and grade level, but they typically cover between roughly one-half the average cost of instruction.  Bethany maintains a graduated tuition model, with rates increasing incrementally from kindergarten through 12th grade; high school tuition is modestly higher than elementary levels due to program costs.

In addition to vouchers, Indiana supports access through Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), which incentivize private donations by offering state tax credits. Families of students with certain learning needs may also access Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which function differently than vouchers by directing public funds to families for approved educational expenses. Together, these mechanisms have broadened the range of families able to consider a Bethany education.

School Choice in the Broader Context

Vouchers are just one part of a larger school choice environment in Indiana. Public school open enrollment now accounts for the largest movement of students statewide. In 2025-26 about 100,000 students attend public schools outside their home districts. Public Charter schools enroll an additional 50,000 students. Private schools participating in the Choice Scholarship Program serve a significant share of students exercising choice, though they represent a smaller portion, about 79,000, compared to public-sector options. 

Locally, these trends are evident in both public school transfers and participation in private school choice programs. Within Goshen Community Schools, in the 2025-26 school year 744 students transferred to other public schools, compared to 444 students who enrolled in private schools through the Choice Scholarship Program. Notably, transfers to a single nearby public district—Fairfield—exceed those to Bethany Christian School, with 275 students choosing Fairfield compared to 204 attending BCS.

It is also important to note that a small percentage of families do not qualify for voucher assistance but still choose private education, often making significant financial sacrifices to do so. However, starting in 2026-27 school the voucher program becomes universal, including all families regardless of income.

Changing Demographics at Bethany

Perhaps the most visible impact of school choice at Bethany has been the diversification of our student body. Over the past two decades, the number of school-age Mennonite families in our region has declined due to a variety of factors, including smaller family sizes and shifting church affiliations. At the same time, Bethany has experienced notable growth in enrollment among Hispanic students, reflecting broader demographic changes in the Goshen community.

Today, fewer than half of Bethany students identify as Mennonite, representing a substantial shift from the early 2000s. Meanwhile, the percentage of Hispanic students has grown steadily, now representing a significant portion of the student body. This growth mirrors the increasing diversity of the surrounding community.

There has also been an increase in the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced lunch, suggesting a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds among families. While this trend overlaps with other demographic changes, it should be interpreted carefully; these indicators are related but not necessarily causal.

Table 1.  Student population of Selected Groups by Percentage

1 the school year just prior to implementation of the voucher program in 2011-12.

Financial Implications

The voucher program has also significantly reshaped Bethany’s financial model. Prior to the introduction of school choice, a substantial portion of tuition support came from Mennonite congregations. In the years since, church contributions have declined both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of the school’s operating budget.

This gap has largely been filled by voucher funding. Over time, the proportion of tuition supported by public funds has increased, while the share supported by churches has decreased. This shift reflects both changing church capacity and the growing role of state-supported access in private education.

Conclusion

In sum, the school voucher program has played a critical role in Bethany Christian School’s evolution. It has expanded access, diversified the student body, and helped stabilize the school’s financial foundation in the face of declining traditional support. Without it, Bethany would likely look very different in both scale and scope.

At the same time, these changes have prompted a deeper understanding of Bethany’s identity. We are no longer simply a Mennonite school serving primarily Mennonite families. Instead, we are increasingly a Mennonite school serving a broader community, extending Anabaptist-centered education to students and families from a wide range of backgrounds. In many ways, this reflects and renews our founding vision as a missional school: rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition, yet oriented outward in service to the world.

Tim Lehman, Ed.D.,
Head of School