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Trees of Honor 2015: Dr. Glenn Bernet

Published on Sep 2, 2015 by Paul K. Logsdon

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel University Alumni Association will honor Dr. Glenn H. Bernet — retired provost/vice president for academic affairs and professor of mathematics — on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015.

The Trees of Honor ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., during the Homecoming Celebration Luncheon in the University Plaza Convention Center.

He will be recognized along with two other retired members of the Evangel family.

Bernet’s involvement with Evangel goes back 60 years — he was the Boy Scout who played the trumpet at the first flag raising ceremony, on the very first day of classes in 1955. He began his teaching career at Evangel in 1963.

“I am a very fortunate man to have been able to work at my dream job for my entire professional career,” said Bernet, who retired in 2014 following 51 years of service.

Trees of Honor

The Trees of Honor project began as an idea formed by a small group of graduates from the early 1960s and took root following Springfield’s great ice storm of 2007. The idea was to help replace lost trees and restore the natural beauty of the campus.

Trees have been planted on Evangel’s campus in acknowledgement of the legacy of service each of the recipients has provided to the university. An engraved bronze plaque is placed at the base of each tree as a permanent tribute to the person being honored.

A legacy of leadership

For five decades, Bernet was a constant figure in the Evangel community. He joined the Science & Technology Department as a mathematics professor in 1963. In 1977, he was named the department chair, and in 1985 he assumed the role of vice president for academic affairs.

Bernet agreed to accept the V.P. position, but only as long as he was allowed to continue teaching at least one course — a commitment that has continued into his retirement.

During his time of service, Evangel’s enrollment increased nearly four-fold. Under his leadership, the college earned university status and added master’s degree programs, adult degree-completion programs and its first doctoral degree program.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Bernet stayed active in church and community activities. He has served as president of the Southeast Lions Club, vice chairman of the deacon board and treasurer at Central Assembly of God, and as a long-term member of the Springfield Rotary.

The Evangel University Alumni Association honored Bernet with its Distinguished Service Award in 1992.

“There are few more worthy of this Trees of Honor recognition than Dr. Bernet,” said Dr. Linda Wellborn, director of institutional effectiveness & accreditation activities. “He has led by example; he has mentored many Evangel faculty members; and he leaves a legacy which will be a credit to Evangel, his name and our Lord.”

His legacy at Evangel includes the Glenn H. Bernet Faculty Research Fund, which allows faculty to explore research opportunities not previously available to them. This fund has already supported multiple members of the Evangel faculty as they pursue further academic research in their respective fields.

Bernet was married to his childhood sweetheart, Lois (Evans), who passed away in 2014. He has three children, all of whom attended Evangel, and eight grandchildren.

Additional Trees of Honor award recipients for 2015 include:

For more information, contact the Evangel University Alumni Relations Department at (417) 865-2811, ext. 7333.