In the News

Hesston College art gallery showcasing “Investigative Aesthetics”

What does a photograph reveal beyond what the eye can see? Hesston College is showcasing the work of photographer Shreepad Joglekar, whose work explores how art can capture intangible experiences such as memories, emotions, loss and the passage of time. His exhibit titled "Investigative Aesthetics” is on display now through November 30 in HC’s Regier-Friesen Gallery.

Rather than using traditional photography to capture places and moments, Joglekar uses sound to create digital images. By recording sounds or using archived audio recordings, he studies their characteristics and transforms them into three-dimensional digital landscapes.

Each image is created using three elements of sound: time, frequency and intensity. The digital models are then given color, lighting and perspective to create images that resemble maps and landscapes.

The series includes two types of images. The first resembles historic maps, featuring wide views of digital landscapes and legends with additional information. The second features circular images that show different perspectives of the same landscapes.

When displayed together, the images form patterns inspired by Morse code, adding another layer of meaning to the artwork.

Community members are invited to meet Joglekar during an artist reception Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Joglekar will be on campus to share more about his work and the ideas behind the exhibit.

“Investigative Aesthetics” is on display through Nov. 30 in the Regier-Friesen Gallery at HC’s Laban Peachey Center, 325 S. College Dr., Hesston. Admission is free, and the gallery is open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Hesston College alumni reconnect in Goshen through choir tour

A recent Hesston College Bel Canto Singers concert in Goshen, Ind., quickly became more than a casual performance for two Hesston College alumni. It created an opportunity for connection, shared memories and a meaningful reminder of the relationships that extend far beyond the Hesston campus.

Neil Amstutz ’84 is one of three chaplains at Greencroft Goshen, a retirement community in Goshen, and was looking forward to the choir’s spring performance in his community. Growing up near the Hesston College campus, Amstutz was also a member of the first Bel Canto Singers choir during the 1983-84 academic year, so he was especially excited to attend the concert and reconnect with longtime friend and accompanist Ken Rodgers ’85. Little did he know, this would be just a piece of multiple opportunities to reconnect.

Around this time, a fellow Greencroft chaplain visited a new resident who mentioned previously living in Hesston. Recognizing the connection to Amstutz’s hometown, this chaplain encouraged Amstutz to visit her.

The day before the concert, Amstutz met Lavonne Widmer, a 1966 Hesston College graduate who spent several decades in the Hesston area before moving to Goshen to be closer to her daughter.

“I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Lavonne, who remembered me as a child and knew my family,” Amstutz said.

Already planning to attend the Bel Canto Singers concert, Amstutz wondered if Widmer might enjoy attending as well. With the help of Greencroft staff, he arranged for her to join him at the performance.

Widmer was ready to go the next day.

The auditorium was filled for the Bel Canto Singers concert, where Amstutz was able to reconnect with Rodgers and other longtime acquaintances. He soon discovered another Hesston connection: Rodgers had given Widmer’s daughter, Amber (Schroeder) Near, piano lessons decades earlier. Near is also a Hesston College alumna, class of 1997.

For Amstutz and Widmer, the concert became an opportunity to revisit memories of Hesston College and the Hesston community while discovering new connections between their lives in Kansas and Indiana.

“Through the serendipitous timing of a Hesston College choir tour performance, Lavonne and I both relived some of our formative years at Hesston College and living in the Hesston community,” Amstutz explained. “We also got to know one another better and learned even more of the myriad relationship linkages between Hesston, Kansas, and Goshen, Indiana.”

The experience was especially meaningful for Widmer as she adjusted to life in a new community.

“I’m grateful to HC for making possible a meaningful social and cultural activity for someone still adjusting to life in a very new setting,” Amstutz said. The Bel Canto Singers tour continued a long tradition of Hesston College students building relationships through music while carrying the college’s community and connections to audiences far beyond campus.

Hesston College Masterworks concert to feature John Rutter’s “Gloria”

Usher in the holiday season with an evening of music at Hesston College’s annual Masterworks concert Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. Community members are also invited to participate by joining the choir for this special performance, offering an opportunity to share in the joy of making music together.

The concert will feature John Rutter’s “Gloria,” a celebrated choral work performed with brass choir, organ and percussion. The combination of voices and instruments will bring a dynamic sound to the performance, highlighting the richness and energy of Rutter’s composition.

Greg Bontrager, HC director of choral activities, will conduct the concert, with David Perez, HC music professor, serving as organist. The performance will showcase the talents of the Masterworks musicians and offer community members an opportunity to experience a collaborative musical performance in a local setting.

The annual Masterworks concert brings together local musicians to share the power of choral and instrumental music with Hesston and surrounding communities. Community members of all experience levels are invited to participate in the chorus and share in this meaningful musical collaboration. Rehearsals begin November 9. To sign up or learn more, visit hesston.edu/masterworks.

Celebrate diversity at Hesston College with annual Cultures Fair

Hesston College will celebrate the many cultures represented on campus with its annual Cultures Fair on Tuesday, November 3, in Bontrager Student Center dining hall. The event features international foods to showcase the diversity of the Hesston College community. Admission is $11 per person and open to the public. RSVPs are requested by Nov. 1 at hesston.edu/culturesfair2026.

Guests are invited to taste, learn and celebrate the variety of global traditions that make Hesston College unique. A mild chicken curry main dish will be served by Pioneer College Caterers from 5:30 to 7 p.m., while international sides, desserts and drinks will be available from 6 to 7 p.m. Students will share flavors and wear traditional clothing from their cultures, reflecting Hesston’s global connections and welcoming spirit.

“We’re really looking forward to a night of internationalization,” says Kyle Timmermeyer, international student support coordinator. “We’re grateful to Hesston College and the Hesston community for their warm embrace of international students and the cultures they represent.”

This year’s event continues to build on Hesston College’s commitment to cultivating a Christ-centered community that values peace, justice, equity and inclusion. With students representing 30 countries on campus, the Cultures Fair provides an opportunity to connect across many of those borders and foster understanding in a joyful, welcoming setting.

Hesston College Softball invites community to Larktoberfest for free fall fun

Larktoberfest is still ON, but due to potential weather, the softball game is canceled. 

Come out and join us for the trunk-or-treat, face painting, games, costume contest and the bounce house in the CAC.

Food trucks will be in the Yost parking lot, just outside the CAC.

Hesston College is inviting families and community members of all ages to enjoy an evening of fall festivities at Larktoberfest: Fall Fun at the Diamond on Friday, October 30, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Bess Mullet Field on the Hesston College campus.

Hosted by the Hesston College Softball team, the event brings together fall-themed activities, family entertainment and Lark softball for an evening of community fun. Admission and activities are free and open to the public.

Guests can enjoy trunk-or-treat, a bounce house, face painting, a costume contest, music and a variety of games and activities throughout the evening. Food trucks will also be on site with food available for purchase.

The idea for Larktoberfest grew out of the softball program's desire to create a new campus tradition that brings Hesston College and the surrounding community together.

“Our goal is to build something that grows each year and becomes an event that students, families, alumni and members of the Hesston community look forward to every October,” says Alex Butterfield, Hesston College softball head coach.

Adding to the festivities, the Hesston College softball team will take the field against Fort Hays Tech Northwest in a fall matchup beginning at 5 p.m. Community members are encouraged to cheer on the Larks while enjoying the activities surrounding the field.

Whether stopping by for trunk-or-treat, spending the evening with family or catching some Lark softball, Larktoberfest offers something for everyone.

Admission and all activities are free, and no registration is required. Hesston College welcomes the greater Hesston community to join the celebration and enjoy an evening of fall fun at the ballpark.

Hesston College receives grants totaling nearly $4 million for tech, student experience upgrades

The Hesston College campus looks forward to upgrades after learning they will receive three grants for a combined total of nearly $4 million. These include a FEMA grant for $149,999, a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) grant for $800,000 and a Title III grant for $2.9 million.

With Hesston College’s strategic plan shift in fall 2023 to focusing on bachelor’s degree programs, the need to make larger technology investments became apparent. The college later enlisted the help of a consultant to aid in establishing a grant-writing culture, and that investment is paying off.

“We knew this transition toward four-year professional degree programs would require investment beyond our own capacity,” shares President Mark Landes. “We now have funding to upgrade our entire technology infrastructure, which will serve to transform Hesston College over the next five years. This is an investment in our students whose experiences will see direct improvement as a result of our grant funding.”

Technology updates are the common thread between the three grants.

The FEMA grant for $149,999 will be awarded over three years to improve campus safety. This grant allows for key card entry to be set up at both of HC’s dorms, Erb Hall and Kauffman Court, replacing the need for physical keys. The upgrade provides added safety functionality with the ability to centrally lock down exterior dorm doors in case of an emergency. The project is set to begin before the end of the calendar year with hopes for completion by the start of the fall 2027 academic year.

The CDS grant for $800,000 will also be awarded over a three year period. The primary goal of this grant is to launch a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program, a program that Vice President of Academics Ross Peterson-Veatch believes is the expression of Hesston’s new academic model and will allow the college to serve the community in a way that participates in cultural and economic development of this region.

“In our new model, we want to ensure that students gain real world experience in all of our academic programs,” Peterson-Veatch explains. “The technology infrastructure improvements built into this program’s launch will make it possible for us to provide actual services to community partners. This foundation will help us create future programs that will support broader community aims.”

In addition to hiring a program director, the CDS funds include a large technology investment which will go toward new computers for the computer lab, new fiber optic cables in several campus buildings and establishment of a community-facing Security Operations Center.

The $2.9 million Title III grant will be awarded over a five year period to further advance the college’s four-year academic vision and IT roadmap, strengthening career pathways and institutional capacity. A portion of funding is designated to create the Pathways Center for Career and Vocation within the already existing Smith Center. This center will serve as a centralized hub connecting students, academic programs, employers and other workforce partners.

“The director of the Pathways Center will coordinate internships, work-based learning experiences, employer engagement, career coaching, mock interviews, networking opportunities and other workforce readiness activities,” says Landes. “By embedding career development into the student experience, the college will strengthen student retention, increase career readiness and improve employment outcomes after graduation.”

The grant also includes significant investment into technology modernization of the campus management platform, wireless infrastructure and classroom technology, among other items.

“These investments in Hesston’s technology infrastructure will clearly strengthen our foundation, but equally important is how we will create stronger connections between our students’ experiences and the job market,” Landes shares. “It’s critical that we are creating new pathways for our students into the job market and that we are equipping them the best we can for the careers that lie ahead as they leave Hesston College.”

Recognizing the resource challenges with technology investment over the past several years, Landes says the college was fortunate to have a local alum, Don Weaver, volunteer to lead a task force beginning last year to establish a technology roadmap for HC. While funding proved to be the biggest hurdle in reaching the desired technology outcomes, this roadmap is now fully achievable with funding in place.

“Providing an attractive environment for our students and employees requires significant investment in technology. With plenty of other strategic initiatives in motion and needing to be successful, our technology needs to facilitate and enhance our strategic efforts, not limit them,” Landes explains. “Implementation of the Title III Grant over the next several years will provide a much stronger foundation from which Hesston College can operate efficiently and launch new initiatives.”

Hesston College features ‘Color Ingrained’ exhibit and free workshop with Susan Fox

Hesston College is showcasing the work of Newton, Kan., printmaker and mixed media artist Susan Fox in “Color Ingrained - Hand-Pulled Prints by Susan Fox,” on display Oct. 1 to 30 in Laban Peachey Center’s Regier-Friesen Gallery.

Fox’s work explores the textures, light and color found in nature through relief prints, collagraphs, monoprints and mixed media. Her artwork draws inspiration from naturally occurring textures and the way light reflects across the world.

The community is invited to meet Fox during an artist reception Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Regier-Friesen Gallery. Following the reception, Fox will lead a hands-on printmaking workshop from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

The workshop is free and open to all, providing participants an opportunity to learn more about Fox’s creative process and try their hand at printmaking. Space is limited.

“Color Ingrained” will be open for viewing throughout October during regular gallery hours 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

For more information about upcoming Hesston College arts events, visit hesston.edu/paschedule.

Hesston College enrollment climbs for third consecutive year

For the third straight year, Hesston College is excited to celebrate enrollment growth as fall 2026 census numbers continue to climb, demonstrating positive momentum in recruitment and improved retention.

Total student headcount this fall surpassed 400 for the first time since 2018 with 407 students, up from 394 in fall 2025. Residential life continues to experience strong growth as well, with 362 students living on campus. An increase from 338 in fall 2025, this marks the college’s highest on-campus student count since 1989.

International student enrollment is back up with 62 students representing 28 different countries on campus this semester. The fall 2025 count dipped to 54 international students primarily from federal visa approval delays during that recruitment cycle.

Another highlight from this year’s census is the retention rate increasing by 13 percentage points, a huge jump in one year. After identifying this as an area for improvement last year, the college is grateful to see the investments made into the student experience and overall student success quantified through this uptick in retention.

“As part of our shift from a two-year to four-year model, we anticipated some early challenges with retention as we narrowed our academic focus to four-year professional degree programs and shifted athletics from the two-year NJCAA [National Junior College Athletic Association] to the four-year model with NAIA [National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics],” President Mark Landes explains. “Entering our second year with clarity in our model and more investments in the four-year student experience, we are excited to see this retention improvement as a key indication our students value their experience at Hesston College.”

Not only are more students choosing to stay at HC, but a recent partnership with USD 460 is allowing Hesston High School (HHS) students opportunities to get their foot in the door at Hesston College now through a dual credit agreement that began this semester.

“We have 45 dual credit students from HHS taking math courses this fall and expect a similar number in the spring,” shares Landes. “We greatly appreciate this partnership opportunity with HHS and see more potential in the future as we both look to serve our students and community well.”

Hesston College theatre director celebrates 50th production

Theatre has a way of meeting people in the middle of life — celebrating, grieving, connecting and telling stories that matter. For Hesston College Director of Theatre Rachel Jantzi, those moments have been at the heart of the numerous productions she has directed at Hesston College over the years. Her 50th production, “The Children’s Hour,” will take the stage October 1 to 4.

A Newton, Kan., resident, Jantzi has spent 17 years helping Hesston students bring stories to life on stage. Along the way, some productions have become deeply personal.

Two weeks before Hesston’s production of “Working” opened in 2016, the Hesston community was shaken by the shooting at Excel Industries. Jantzi changed the concept of the musical, turning it into a tribute to working people and first responders of Hesston.

“It was a way to give thanks for this small community,” she shares.

Another production, “Silent Sky,” followed the story of 19th-century astronomer Henrietta Leavitt and ended with the entire theatre illuminated with stars. Jantzi dedicated the show to her uncle Jim who worked as a senior systems engineer for the International Space Station before passing away that same month.

Those productions are just two of the many memories Rachel carries from her 50 shows at Hesston.

Jantzi’s Hesston theatre journey began in 2009 when she was asked to step in as a favor to the director at the time for “Forever Plaid.” The four-person production was small, but it quickly became a memorable experience. Jantzi also choreographed the show, working with four talented young men who were not natural dancers.

“They worked so hard and were practically a quartet of Fred Astaires by the time we opened,” Jantzi recalls. “I was so proud of their work.”

For Jantzi, the most meaningful part of 50 productions isn’t necessarily the shows themselves. It’s the students.

She remains connected with many of her former students. Some still text her with life updates, send wedding invitations and birth announcements or call to tell her about a show or film they are working on.

“I have taught some truly amazing humans,” Jantzi says. “My students have taught me many things, but mostly to be present, to not undervalue our impact and to have fun.”

Those relationships have also found their way back to Hesston. Former students have returned to work with Jantzi as choreographers, designers, technicians, guest presenters and summer counselors.

“I hope they always feel at home in our space,” she says.

After 50 shows, Jantzi still sees theatre as a blessing passed from one person to another.

“I think of a show as a gift that has traveled through many hands; from the playwright, to the director, to the cast and crew and finally to the audience,” she explains. “I enjoy passing that show on to my actors through rehearsals, and I’m excited to see the result of their work as they hand it off to the public.”

And while 50 productions is a major milestone, Jantzi isn’t taking much time to celebrate.

She’s looking forward to sleeping, making it to some of her husband Scott’s soccer games, returning to Thursday night trivia at Moxie’s and then beginning rehearsals October 19 for HC’s Christmas show — production number 51 is already on the horizon.