Regina Shands Stoltzfus, a professor at Goshen (Ind.) College, will address the college’s 139 graduate candidates.
Stoltzfus has taught in the Peacemaking, Justice and Conflict studies and the Bible, Religion and Philosophy departments at Goshen since 2004. She is also an adjunct professor at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Elkhart, Ind.
Prior to her teaching positions, she served as an associate pastor at Lee Heights Community Church in Cleveland, Ohio, as campus pastor at Goshen College, as Minister of Urban Ministries with Mennonite Mission Network in Elkhart and as staff associate for urban peacemaking with Mennonite Conciliation Service in Akron, Pa. She is a co-founder of Damascus Road, an anti-racism education program.
Stoltzfus is a doctoral student in theology, ethics and contemporary culture at Chicago (Ill.) Theologcial Seminary. She also has a B.A. in English from Cleveland (Ohio) State University and an M.A. in biblical studies from Ashland (Ohio) Theological Seminary.
Stoltzfus’ daughter, Rachel Stoltzfus, is a graduate in the 2011 class.
Student speakers for the ceremony are Leah Rittenhouse of Mount Pleasant, Pa., and Alex Roth of Hesston, Kan.
The class of 2011 will be recognized for its accomplishments during Larkfest at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7 in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. A reception will follow in the Community Center.
Individual student groups will be recognized in ceremonies Saturday, May 7. Disaster Management students will be recognized at 9 a.m. in Kropf Center, room 150. A pinning ceremony for nursing students will be at 10 a.m. in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. Steve Kelly, President and CEO of Newton Medical Center, will be the featured speaker. Pastoral Ministries commissioning, with Hesston College President Howard Keim as the featured speaker, will be at 1 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Aviation and Air Traffic Control students will be recognized during a 2:30 p.m. reception in the Bontrager Student Center.
Other weekend events include a sophomore recital at 4 p.m. Friday, May 6 in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. The recital will feature Andy Miller of Marion, S.D., and Perry Andre of Wauseon, Ohio. A tree dedication in memory of Chloe Weaver, class of 2010, will be at 3 p.m. May 7. Bel Canto Singers, under the direction of Bradley Kauffman, will perform a bon voyage concert as a precursor to their extensive west coast tour at 4 p.m. May 7 in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary.
Performances of student-directed one-act plays, “Potholes” and “He’s Having a Baby” will be at 7 p.m. May 6 and 1 p.m. May 7 in the Northlawn Studio Theatre. Tickets are $3 for adults and students. Children ages 6 and younger are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Hesston College Bookstore in person, by calling 620-327-8105 locally or toll-free at 866-437-7866, ext. 8105 or online at www.hesstonbooks.com. Tickets are subject to availability and may also be purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to show time.
For a full weekend schedule or more information, visit the Hesston College website at www.hesston.edu or call Alumni and Church Relations locally at 620-327-8109 or toll-free at 866-437-7866.