Hesston College will celebrate homecoming 2016, “Home Sweet Hesston,” Sept. 29 to Oct. 2, along with Hesston High School and the larger community. Homecoming 2016 marks Hesston High School USD 460’s 50th anniversary, which transitioned from the former Hesston Academy. Dual alumni that attended both Hesston High School and Hesston College will resource the weekend as presenters and performers. Many events throughout the weekend are shared events and open to the community.
Guests participating in Hesston College’s full weekend scheduled events, Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, are asked to register for the weekend for planning purposes. Registration is open through Sept. 23. A full schedule is also available.
The keynote presenter will be John Paul Lederach, a 1973 HHS and 1975 Hesston College graduate. Lederach is a noted conflict transformation and mediation author and professor of international peacebuilding at the University of Notre Dame’s (Ind.) Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies. Lederach will speak at Hesston College forum at 11 a.m., Friday, Sept. 30 at Hesston Mennonite Church, and his keynote presentation will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hesston Mennonite Church, with a question and answer time to follow.
A HHS/HC dual alumni art show will be open throughout the weekend in the Regier Friesen Gallery in the Hesston College Friesen Center for the Visual Arts. A reception and chance to talk with the artists who are able to attend will be from 4 to 5:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30. Featured artists in the show include Steve and Jane (Kaufman) Fry, who own and operate Elk Falls (Kan.) Pottery, potter Royce Yoder (Lederach, Pa.), whose work is sold in shops and galleries around the country, Don Duane Hershberger (Clark, Wyo.), who works with bronze western art, Phil Hershberger (Topeka, Kan.), an encaustic painter (hot wax painting) and potter Lynn Lais (Grantsville, Md.).
Other presenters during college presentations from 1:30 to 4 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church include:
Aviation
• Troy Jantz (Hesston), pilot with Executive AirShare
• John Reimer (Hesston), demonstration pilot for Citation product line at Textron Aviation
• Amy (Bachman) Birdsell (Hesston), Hesston College aviation instructor
• Zach Roth (Pittsburg, Pa.), regional sales associate at Textron Aviation – Cessna Citation
Medical
• Dr. Greg Sawin (Medford, Mass.), program director for the Tufts University Family Medicine Residency at Cambridge Health Alliance
• Dr. Josh Suderman (Grand Rapids, Mich.), who specializes in pain management.
• Dr. Andrea (Weaver) Herrera (McPherson, Kan.), family practice doctor at Great Plains Family Medicine
Psychology/Social work
• Blake Buhrman (Hesston), counselor with EMPAC, an employee assistance provider in Wichita.
• Angela (Swartzendruber) Hackman (Harleysville, Pa.), director of integrated health services with Penn Foundation Behavioral Health Services.
The kickoff for Homecoming 2016 will be a parade at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, along Main Street, preceded by a meal from 5 to 6 p.m., at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The meal is $5 and can be paid at the door. Hesston College will provide refreshments along the parade route.
On Thursday, Sept. 29, Excel Industries will host the fourth annual Hesston College Golf Benefit at 1 p.m., at the Hesston Golf Park. Hesston College will honor the Excel family for their many years of support of the college. Click here for more information and to register.
Other weekend highlights include:
• A barbecue chicken meal from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m., prior to the HHS football game, Friday, Sept. 30, in the Hesston High School parking lot. Cost is $5 per person and can be paid at the event.
• A Student/Alumni coffeehouse and entertainment beginning at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30, at Northlawn. Also on hand to sign copies of their newest books will be Hesston College faculty members Michele Hershberger and John Sharp and former faculty member Marion Bontrager with the new first edition Biblical Literature book, “The Bible as Story,” and “peace pastor” Marty Troyer (Houston, Texas), author of “The Gospel Next Door.”
• A renaming ceremony for Northlawn Center for Performing Arts Education to Keim Center for Performing Arts Education, in honor of former president Howard Keim and his wife Tami, at 9 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Northlawn.
• A kids’ festival, beginning at 5 p.m., and free tailgate picnic for everyone from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at the college’s Campus Activities Center and on the lawn south of the tennis courts. Festival activities include bouncy houses and barrel train rides for children, as well as women’s and men’s soccer games at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively.
• High school and college students and dual alumni will be showcased in choral and instrumental performances at the “Promise of Living” Gala concert at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1, at Hesston Mennonite Church. The event is free and open to the public.
• The college will share in a joint worship service with alumni and the Hesston Mennonite church congregation at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 2, at Hesston Mennonite Church. Former Hesston Mennonite Church youth pastor Marty Troyer will bring the message.