Art

Hesston College’s art program offers a series of 2D, 3D, digital and studio courses to prepare students to pursue a variety of art careers, further their education and build a life filled with creativity. In addition to core courses in drawing and design, students will find ample opportunities to explore their own ideas and curiosities in photography, mixed media, graphic design and ceramics. The Hesston College community supports creative exploration and the ability for students to pursue multiple outlets for their creative endeavors. Students will have opportunities to participate in workshops, attend visiting artist lectures, display their work, apply for internships and collaborate with other programs across campus and within the community.

The Paul A. Friesen Art Collection consists of more than 120 artworks and provides a rich visual resource for the campus. The various pieces of sculpture, ceramics, paintings, prints, drawings and photography grace walls throughout the campus and at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains. Many of these works are by Hesston College alumni and faculty and are designed to encourage reflection on aesthetics, life and faith.

Intramural Sports

Intramural sports provide opportunities for active play on campus. Activities include traditional sports, disc golf, poker or card games like Dutch Blitz. Students are able to suggest activities to the intramural coordinator, Kae Mitchell. The Campus Activities Center is the site for many of the events.

Athletics

Hesston College offers 16 varsity and five junior varsity sports. Sports offered are powerlifting/olympic weightlifting and esports as well as women’s and men’s soccer, cross country, basketball, indoor track and track; women’s volleyball, flag football and softball; and men’s golf and baseball. The Larks compete in the KJCCC of the NJCAA. In addition the college offers club sports for disc golf (Mid American Disc Golf Conference) and dance club, a non-competitive club activity that performs at campus events.

The athletic experience at Hesston College goes beyond the field or court as Christian coaches who model values of personal development provide important leadership in developing students as athletes and competent individuals.

See the course catalog for details on athletic eligibility.

Theatre

Whether students choose to pursue theatre performance, technical theatre or theatre education as a career, or if they hope to participate while majoring in another area, Hesston College Theatre offers many opportunities for all. The department produces four mainstage performances each year and offers stage managing, technical and directing opportunities. Hesston’s mainstage shows include a fall production, a collaborative performance with the music program in the winter and a musical in early spring. The final show alternates between a theatre for young audiences performance and the popular 10-minute play writing event Pen to Paper to Performance. The department ends the semester during commencement weekend with a theatre showcase that celebrates the work of student actors and directors.

Additional theatre participation opportunities beyond the scheduled shows include numerous theatre courses including Acting I and II, Theatrical Design and Stage Makeup. Open to all, the HC Theatre Company course features community engagement with a weekend or longer excursion to tour regional and professional theaters and places of significance in surrounding states. Theatre also offers many opportunities to represent the program in Formation, on social media and during special events like homecoming.

The theatre program also offers an overnight, weeklong summer camp for middle and high school and middle school students with paid internships for Hesston College students who want to gain experience in leadership and organizational opportunities. Experience is the best teacher in the field of theatre and Hesston College has many opportunities from which to choose.

Music

For more than a century, music has been an important component of campus life at Hesston. The music department offers students unique and varied performance opportunities. Two Hesston College choirs – Bel Canto Singers and Global Voices – offer students an artistic outlet and a place to advance singing skills. The college offers a variety of instrumental opportunities. Auditions are required for membership in each ensemble.

Bel Canto Singers is a select mixed ensemble that performs a variety of music from Renaissance to 21st century works encompassing sacred and secular idioms with an emphasis on mainstream college-level literature. Bel Canto Singers tours each academic year and for two weeks during summer in odd-numbered years in addition to providing music for regional worship services, civic events, home concerts each semester and a choral masterworks concert. Voice lessons are required during the first year of enrollment in Bel Canto Singers. This ensemble is selected by competitive audition. Final selections are made by mid April for the next academic year.

Global Voices is a mixed vocal ensemble which focuses on music from around the world in a variety of styles, from Gospel to folk to traditional choral literature. Emphasis is placed on peace and cross-cultural understanding through music. The choir performs on and off campus throughout the year. Global Voices often collaborates with Bel Canto Singers to perform a choral masterwork or for special events on campus. Membership is selected by audition at the beginning of each semester.

International Chorale is comprised of 30 to 40 voices and is offered during the summer in even-numbered years. During the three-week tour, students perform roughly 10 concerts in European Mennonite or related churches and sing informally in cathedrals and civic venues. In addition to performing, choir members are engaged in studying the history and culture and attending concerts in various cities. Comprising about half of the overnight accommodations, home stays are a highlight of this tour. Humanities credit available.

Hesston College offers applied instruction in piano, organ, voice, guitar and all orchestral instruments. Beginning-level lessons are taught in class settings. Students are taught fundamental music skills and technique as well as basic music theory. Both private instrumental and voice lessons offer students opportunities to further develop their skills and gain experience in various performance settings.

Recreational Facilities

Hesston College has outstanding indoor and outdoor facilities for recreation.

Yost Center houses two basketball courts, two volleyball courts and locker rooms. Campus Activities Center provides a second gym space, with two basketball or three volleyball courts and indoor soccer pitch.

Outdoor facilities include four lighted tennis courts, a soccer and flag football field, baseball and softball diamonds, disc golf course and sand volleyball court. Soccer and flag football, softball and baseball game facilities are lit for night games. The Hesston community has an 18-hole golf course with jogging/biking trails and six additional lighted tennis courts. Students also have easy walking access to Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, which provides walking trails through naturalistic landscaping.

The student lounges in Erb Hall and Kauffman Court provide pool and Ping Pong tables as well as big-screen TV viewing.

The Fitness Room of Yost Center provides cardio machines and weight lifting equipment. The Hesston Wellness Center at Schowalter Villa is located within walking distance and offers additional fitness training equipment, classes, a pool and hot tub. Hesston College students may purchase a membership for a discounted rate of $50 per semester.

Handbook 2024-25