NORTH NEWTON, Kan. — As Bethel College moves ahead with its Engage the Future capital campaign, a significant gift from two Baldwin City alumni has boosted the effort.

The Dick Living Trust has made a commitment of $1.5 million toward the campaign, which is focused on student wellness (physical, spiritual, emotional), information technology upgrades, academic program initiatives and annual giving.

“This is the type of commitment that is transformational to our institution’s present and its future,” said Bethel vice president for institutional advancement Brad Kohlman.

Becki and Gary Dick are the trustees of the Dick Living Trust.

The tangible centerpiece of the campaign is construction of a campus activity and wellness center.

One of the reasons for their financial commitment, said Becki Dick, is that the center “will enhance recruitment of student-athletes and the experience for everyone at Bethel.”

“It shows Bethel’s commitment to students’ physical health and the role that plays in students’ mental health and quest for knowledge — in short, to nurturing the needs of the whole student,” she said.

Gary Dick added that the proposed new wellness center is a facility that can be used by all.

“We both believe access to a facility that promotes physical health is an important part of a well-rounded college experience, as reflected in the capital campaign’s goal of ‘strengthening minds, bodies and communities,’ ” he said.

Becki Dick was raised in the Newton area. Her father, Robert Schmidt, taught chemistry at Bethel. Gary grew up in the Buhler area.

Becki is a 1978 Bethel graduate, and Gary attended Bethel for three years, finishing his degree at Kansas State University. Both were members of Bethel’s tennis teams, as was their son, Nathan Dick, who graduated from Bethel in 2011.

They also have two daughters — Nathan’s twin, Tessa, and Jena.

The Dicks moved to Lawrence in 1984. In 1993, Gary realized his goal of starting his own manufacturing company, Custom Mobile Equipment Inc., which makes Versa-Lift forklifts.

Custom Mobile Equipment is located in Baldwin City, where the Dicks have lived since 1998.

“A gift of this size will positively impact students for generations to come,” Kohlman said, “as Bethel prepares them for meaningful lives of work and service through faith formation, the liberal arts and practical experience in career pathways.”