Bev (Beyler) Wagnerowski ’85 has spent nearly two decades serving students as a financial aid counselor at Bethel University, where she sees her role as far more than helping families navigate numbers and paperwork. It is a ministry of encouragement, care, and faith.
Wagnerowski grew up in South Bend and attended Riley High School before beginning her own Bethel journey, influenced in part by her father’s employment at the university. She graduated in 1985 with a degree in Elementary Education and a kindergarten endorsement, launching a lifelong commitment to working with students.
After college, she met her husband, Tim, and the two have now been married for nearly 39 years. Kristen (Wagnerowski) Nehls ‘15, married to Joe Nehls ‘16, is now a pastor at St. Mark Missionary Church in Mishawaka and serves as a BU-X site director, while Alaina (Wagnerowski) Busse ‘17, married to Ryan Busse ‘16, is a former teacher who now stays home with her two children, Selah (5) and Preston (3).
Before becoming a financial aid counselor, Wagnerowski spent years in education, an experience she credits with shaping her ability to serve students well today.
“Because of my teaching experience, I thrive in financial aid because I can simplify things for students,” she says. “I’ve always enjoyed working with students and families, helping them understand things in a clearer way.”
Now in her 19th year in Bethel’s financial aid office, she supports students through some of their highest highs and most difficult challenges.
“This job is my ministry,” Wagnerowski says. “I work with students who are receiving scholarships and celebrating, and also with students in crisis. I have the opportunity to share Jesus’ love with them, listen to them, and hopefully bring a word of encouragement.”
Her advice to students is practical and grounded in experience: work during the summer and enter college with about $2,000 saved to help cover books and other expenses. She also encourages students to take advantage of tutoring resources and the support systems available on campus.
One of her favorite memories from her time at Bethel dates back to her student years in the 1980s, when she served as a cheerleader during a national championship season, an experience she still recalls with joy. Today, she finds her greatest fulfillment in relationships, especially reconnecting with students long after they graduate.
What she values most about Bethel is its close-knit community, where students are known by name and people work together to support one another while pointing students toward Christ.