Hesston College will host Homecoming 2013: A View From Everywhere with an emphasis on nursing and holistic health Sept. 26 to 29.
All alumni and friends are invited to the weekend celebration. Registration for all weekend activities is $10 per adult until Sept. 2, and $15 per adult starting Sept. 3.
The weekend will feature nursing and healthcare alumni professionals in a Holistic Health symposium from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 27, presenting on current trends and practices in the healthcare field. All presentations are free and open to the public.
Lisa Harrelson, a 2009 Hesston College Nursing graduate, will kick off alumni presentations as she shares about her life and nursing career during an 11 a.m. chapel presentation Friday, Sept. 27 at Hesston Mennonite Church.
Gloria (Balzer) Solis, RN, MSN, MBA, a 1980 Hesston College graduate from the nursing program, will present the symposium keynote address, “The future of nursing: It’s in our hands,” at 1:30 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. Solis is Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer at St. Luke’s East Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Other presentation topics include prevention and cure of osteoporosis, end of life care, life lessons from birthing mothers, caring for wound/ostomy patients, travel nursing, caring for trauma patients, epidemiology in a public health practice setting, rewards and pitfalls of medical mission projects, being a model employee and substance abuse, addiction and treatment.
A special continuing nursing education seminar will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 28 at Hesston Mennonite Church. Local nurses may attend for two contact hours. Pam Beitlich, RN, MSN, ARNP of Sarasota, Fla., will present on “Passion and purpose in nursing.” Beitlich is a nationally known speaker with more than 30 years of experience in patient care, medical staff relations and nursing administration. The seminar is $15 and can be paid at the door without weekend registration. Participants registered for Homecoming Weekend may attend for no extra charge.
Hesston College Nursing alumni are invited to a networking session and continental breakfast from 8 to 9:15 a.m. prior to the seminar Sept. 28, at Hesston Mennonite Church, to connect with each other and former and current nursing faculty and staff.
A weekend highlight will be the show Laughter is Sacred Space by Ted & Company TheaterWorks, a comedy team led by veteran actor Ted Swartz (Harrisonburg, Va.) that uses humor and professional storytelling to talk about issues of faith and social justice, at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28 at Hesston Mennonite Church. The show reveals the unique journey of working in theatre and church under the shadow of mental illness while offering hope and humor.
Laughter is Sacred Space will follow the annual Alumni and Friends Banquet featuring Sharay Lee, a 2012 Hesston College Nursing graduate as the presenter, a ticketed event that includes admission to the show. Tickets for the show for those not attending the banquet are $10 and can be purchased at the door or through the Hesston College Bookstore by calling 620-327-8105.
The Homecoming kickoff event will be the Hesston College Student Scholarship Golf Tournament Sept. 26 at Hesston Golf Park sponsored by Excel Industries, Inc. Proceeds from the tournament will support the Jim Boyts Scholarship Fund. The tournament’s registration and fee are separate from other Homecoming registration and fees. Information and registration can be found online.
Other weekend events include a Partner Appreciation Luncheon, a tailgate barbecue picnic and family festival, volleyball matches and men’s and women’s soccer games, class reunions for class years ending in 8 and 3, the annual Alumni and Friends banquet and a Sunday morning alumni worship service with Hesston Mennonite Church with former nursing faculty member Naomi (Kauffman) Lederach bringing the message.
Go to hesston.edu for a complete schedule and registration. Call Alumni and Church Relations with questions at 866-437-7866