One of Hesston College’s own, faculty member Kevin Wilder, will deliver the commencement address during the May 8 ceremony in Yost Center.
Wilder has served in various roles at Hesston College since 1998. He currently teaches psychology and Bible and ministry courses and serves as an academic advisor. He previously served as the campus pastor for 10 years.
Wilder says it’s most energizing for him to see when his students can take material from his courses and apply it to their lives. He loves engaging in activities and discussion with his students and utilizing student’s ideas for assignments and ways to make the courses he teaches better.
“Kevin is recognized as an excellent teacher by his peers, a caring advisor, and a mentor to many students,” said President Howard Keim.
Wilder, who is a doctoral student in marriage and family counseling at Denver (Colo.) Seminary, is also an ordained minister with South Central Mennonite Conference and a student member of The Association of Christian Counselors and American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Taylor University (Upland, Ind.) and a master’s degree from Friends University (Wichita, Kan.).
“Kevin is the quintessential relational person and minister,” said Hesston College Bible faculty member Michele Hershberger. “He gets it. He understands how important it is to be with people in an authentic, caring way.”
Other events honoring students and their achievements will take place May 7 during Commencement Weekend.
The Disaster Management Program will honor six graduating students at an 8:30 a.m. recognition in the Campus Worship Center in the lower level of the Northlawn Center for Performing Arts Education. Brett Troyer, a 2006 graduate, and the first graduate to earn a certificate from the program, will be the featured speaker. Troyer is Project Logistics Coordinator for Mennonite Disaster Service, based out of the Bi-national Office in Lititz, Pa.
The featured speaker at Nursing Pinning at 10 a.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church, will be Lisa Harrelson, RN, a 2009 Hesston College Nursing graduate. Harrelson is a critical care nurse at Wesley Medical Center (Wichita, Kan.), and was named the 2015 Kansas Hospital Association Health Care Worker of the Year.