Students serve, celebrate and showcase at Larkfest 2016

Students Weston Schroeder (Harper, Kan.) and Daulton Horton (Denton, Texas), paint at the Mennonite Central Committee Central States office (North Newton, Kan.) as part of their Larkfest service project. All on-campus students participated, with about 275 students at 35 service assignments.
Posted on by Rachel McMaster

Hesston College took a day off from classes April 14, to instead focus on college values of service and student academic and leadership excellence during the annual Larkfest celebration.

The day started with on-campus students doing service projects around the Hesston and Harvey County communities. About 275 students participated in 35 service projects from pulling weeds to reading to elementary students.

Freshman Trevor Oyer (Hubbard, Ore.) said, “Taking a morning to do service is a good example of the importance of service to us and was a good learning experience for everyone.”

Emily, 2015-16 Lark of the Year Award recipient
Emily, 2015-16 Lark of the Year Award recipient

Service was followed by the Larkfest awards ceremony where students were recognized for their achievements in academics and leadership. The top award, the Lark of the Year award, went to sophomore Emily Kauffman (Pettisville, Ohio) for excellence in leadership, academics and service. Students are nominated for Lark of the Year by faculty and the recipient is chosen by a faculty vote.

Other award winners include:

Ambassador of the Year, sophomore Kiara Boettger (Harrisonburg, Va.) and freshman Wyatt Baer (Marshallville, Ohio).

Behavioral Science Award, sophomore Hannah Hostetter (Harrisonburg, Va.).

Bill Mason Business Scholarship recipients to receive a $2,500 scholarship for their sophomore year, Cheri Baer (Apple Creek, Ohio), Wyatt Baer (Marshallville, Ohio), ChanHee Hwang (Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) and Riley Kingsley (North Newton, Kan.).

Business Award, sophomores Alaina Beatty (Washington, Iowa), Desiree Corona (Newton, Kan.), Johanna Burkholder (Warden,Wash.), Chinatsu Hanada (Saitama-ken, Japan), Bryce Nitzsche (Lincoln, Neb.), Christy Swartzendruber (Shickley, Neb.) and Rose Yoder (Bellefontaine, Ohio).

Student Development Officer Awards for students who call alumni during Phonathon, freshman Emily Griffioen (Belmond, Iowa) for the most money brought in, and freshman Cheri Baer (Apple Creek, Ohio) for the most completed calls.

Education Award, sophomores Catie Kauffman (Goshen, Ind.) and Caroline Riggenbach (Lafayette, Ind.).

Peer Educator Award, sophomore Nicole de Jesus-Roetlin (Kalona, Iowa).

Clayton V. Beyler Award for Bible and Ministry students, sophomores Gracie Tijerina (Brownsville, Texas.) and Colton Eby (Fisher, Ill.).
Daniel Gerber Peace and Service Award, sophomores Emily Kauffman (Pettisville, Ohio) and Caleb Schrock-Hurst (Harrisonburg, Va.).

Ministry Assistant of the Year, sophomore Molly Bruner (Wauseon, Ohio).

Ceramics Award, sophomores Miyu Fukuda (Hokkaido, Japan) and Catie Kauffman (Goshen, Ind.).

Music Award, sophomore Andry Stutzman (Harrisonburg, Va.).

Mariann Martin Theatre Award, sophomore Emma Roth (Goshen, Ind.).

Standing “O” Theatre Award, sophomore RaeLee Hightower (Tulsa, Ok.).

Nursing Award, sophomore Linda Miller (Hutchinson, Kan.).

Service Leader Awards for students who log a minimum of 60 hours of service learning hours during the year, sophomores Austin Braddock(Baldwin City, Kan.), Jessica Fahrenthold (Solomon, Kan.), Sarah Hoover (Elbing, Kan.) and Emily Kauffman (Pettisville, Ohio).

Science and Math Award, sophomore Ali Zuercher (Phoenix, Ariz).

Yoder/Zaid Chemistry Scholarships for students during their sophomore year, freshmen Bailyn Piecewicz (Spokane, Wash.) and Jonah Short-Miller (Bellingham, Wash.).

Resident Assistants of the Year, sophomores Rachel Shenk (Waynesboro, Va.) and Micah Raber (Millersburg, Ohio).

Distinguished Faculty Award, Marissa King, education and English faculty member.

During the afternoon, students showcased their academic work. Presentations included music recitals, directing skills at a short film festival, chemistry and physics demonstrations, speeches and more.

 

 

by Abby Musser