In the News

LarkFest 2026 honors student leaders, athletes and campus changemakers

Hesston College celebrated student excellence during its annual LarkFest awards ceremony on Friday, May 8, recognizing outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, the arts and campus involvement. Student-athletes were also honored during the college’s annual athletic banquet earlier in the week.

The top honors included the announcement of the 2026 Lark of the Year recipients, the college’s highest student recognition. Taiga Goto (Tokyo, Japan) received the associate degree honor, while Tana Hayworth (Lincoln, Kan.) was recognized as the bachelor’s degree recipient. Nominated by the Hesston Experience team, Goto and Hayworth were selected by a faculty vote for their exceptional leadership, scholarship and service to the Hesston College community.

In athletics, Ashleigh Williams (Eaton, Colo.) was named Female Student Athlete of the Year and Yura Yamazaki (Sagamihara, Japan) earned Male Student Athlete of the Year honors.

“LarkFest is one of our favorite traditions because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways our students contribute to campus life,” said President Mark Landes. “These awards reflect leadership, creativity, service, perseverance and excellence both inside and outside the classroom. We are proud of the impact these students have made on our community.”

Other LarkFest award recipients include:

• Alumni Phonathon Money Bags: Muhammad Hasan (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
• Alumni Phonathon Motor Mouth: Muhammad Hasan (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
• Admissions Student Worker Lead Chaos Coordinator: Celline Raharjo (Semarang, Indonesia)
• Admissions Student Worker Chaos Wrangler: Elsa Rayneau (Malang, Indonesia)
• Admissions Student Ambassador People’s Choice: Audrey Befort (Harper, Kan.)
• Admissions Student Ambassador Rising Star: Muhammad Hasan (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
• Theatre Standing O: Sam Setiawan (Goshen, Ind.)
• Art Best of Show in the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition: Constance Feldt (Wichita, Kan.)
• Nursing Club Leadership Award: Brianna Hicks (Newton, Kan.) and Kyndal Simpson (Hesston, Kan.)
• Peer Educator of the Year: Ethan Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement by an International Student: Blen Tadesse Bezuwork (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and Miyu Fujii (Osaka, Japan)
• Lark Leader Community Assistant of the Year: Anna McIntire (Lawrence, Kan.)
• Lark Leader Ministry Assistant of the Year: Ky Kougl (Edmond, Okla.)
• Lark Leader Wellness Assistant of the Year: Lauren Payne (Geuda Springs, Kan.)
• Yoder/Zaid Chemistry Scholarship: Mariah Hall (Lawton, Okla.)
• Daniel Gerber Peace and Service Award: Lilith Jackson (Newton, Kan.)
• Bill Mason Business Scholars: Gresa Arapi (Cypress, Texas), Luis Jimenez (Dallas, Texas), Anna McIntire (Lawrence, Kan.) and Samuel Vasquez Ortega (Sincelejo, Columbia)

The athletic banquet also recognized outstanding performances and contributions across Hesston College athletics. In addition to Williams and Yamazaki, award recipients include:

Volleyball

• Culture Keeper: Bethanie Haag (Wichita, Kan.)
• Engine: Audrey Garrison (Wiesbaden, Germany)
• Whatever It Takes: Kennedie Esparza (Erie, Colo.)

Men’s Soccer

• MVP: Alexander Radu (London, England)
• Defensive Player of the Year: James Hori (Sevenoaks, England)
• Newcomer of the Year: Harry Morris (Ebbw Vale, Wales)
• Champion of Character: Saul Pineda (Conroe, Texas)

Women’s Soccer

• Offensive Player of the Year: Rena Itoga (Saitama, Japan)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Emilie Romero (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
• Champion of Character: Ashleigh Williams (Eaton, Colo.)

Men’s Basketball

• Stock Riser: Tatum Steinhoff (Wichita, Kan.)
• Energizer Bunny: Brody Smith (Cache, Okla.)
• Keys for Success: Ky Kougl (Edmond, Okla.)

Women’s Basketball

• MVP: Akiva Brown (Plano, Texas)
• “Mouse That Roared”: Hanah DeBelle (Castle Rock, Colo.)
• Champion of Character: Keira Pineda (Comanche, Okla.)

Esports

• Lark’d In: Juan Hernandez (Allen, Texas)
• Teammate of the Year: Dominic De La Rosa (Adairsville, Ga.)
• Academic Excellence: Ethan Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla.)

Powerlifting

• Male Lifter of the Year: George Bates (Newton, Kan.)
• Female Lifter of the Year: Beth Whitney (Maize, Kan.)
• Spark Plug: Aiko Keanaaina (Kahuku, Hawaii)
• Iron Lark: Connor Bear (Sequim, Wash.)

Golf

• Most Improved Athlete: Aaron Hartman (Abilene, Kan.)
• Culture Award: Kory Meireis (Kingman, Kan.)

Dance

• Pillar of Leadership: Amy Hunley (Owensboro, Ky.)
• Rookie of the Year: Isabella Milla Orridge (Plano, Texas)

Disc Golf

• Men’s MVP: Devin Miller (Hesston, Kan.)
• Women’s MVP: Lily Corkill (Olsburg, Kan.)
• Field Work: Nolan Gorman (Redmond, Ore.)

Baseball

• Player Development: Camden Stateler (Wichita, Kan.)
• Program Builder: Kaleb Wise (Newton, Kan.)
• Dirtbag: Corbin Broyles (Longview, Texas)
• Heart & Hustle: Kreyton Johnson (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
• Champion of Character: Chris Cammllarie (McKinney, Texas)

Flag Football

• Iron Will: Lauren Payne (Geuda Springs, Kan.)
• Game Changer: Akiva Brown (Plano, Texas)
• Stock Riser: Liliana Espinoza (Galva, Kan.)

Softball

• MVP: Chloe Merjil (Belle Fourche, S.D.)
• Everyday: Serena Hewes (Battle Ground, Wash.)

Cross Country

• Men’s MVP: Jonah Krumme (Wichita, Kan.)
• Men’s Culture Award: Jack Hunter (Abilene, Kan.)
• Women’s MVP: Arissa Cathey (Abilene, Kan.)
• Women’s Culture Award: Maddy Ralph (Colwich, Kan.)

Track and Field

• Men’s MVP: Nathan Lewis (Wichita, Kan.)
• Men’s Culture Award: Landon Lunsford (Newton, Kan.)
• Women’s MVP: Krystina Clemons (Morrilton, Ark.)
• Women’s Culture Award: Ellie Smith (Canon City, Colo.)

Music and Memories: A Concert Celebrating Ken Rodgers’ Four Decades at Hesston College

Join Hesston College and the wider community on Friday, May 15 at 7 p.m. in Hesston Mennonite Church for a special evening honoring longtime music faculty member Ken Rodgers. The concert, "Music and Memories," will feature performances by Bel Canto Singers, organ selections by Rodgers and piano duets, along with opportunities for congregational singing. Rodgers will also share reflections and highlights from his nearly four decades at Hesston College.

Following the concert, attendees are invited to a reception in the church’s community center, including an open mic time to share stories and memories in celebration of Rodgers’ lasting impact.

This event is designed to bring together campus, church, alumni and community members to recognize and celebrate all that Rodgers has contributed through his teaching, musicianship and connections built across generations of students and audiences. Since beginning his career at Hesston in 1988, he has influenced thousands of students and represented the college through choir tours across the U.S. and internationally.

Watch the live stream

For Ken Rodgers, the story of Hesston College is deeply personal.

A Hesston student from 1983 to 1985, Rodgers returned to campus in 1988 as a 23-year-old instructor, stepping into a role that would become a four-decades-long calling. What stood out immediately to him wasn’t just the work, but the people.

“Almost the entire faculty had been my teachers just three years earlier, and just immediately, I was just accepted as one of their colleagues,” he shares. “And that really impressed me.”

That sense of belonging — a culture where every voice matters — would shape not only Rodgers’ experience, but the way he approached his own work with students.

Over the next 37 years, Rodgers became a central figure in the life of the college’s music program, working with thousands of students in classrooms, rehearsals and performances. His work also carried him far beyond campus. Through decades of choir tours across the country and around the world, he connected with alumni and congregations in hundreds of settings, becoming a familiar and trusted presence for many who know Hesston College through its music.

“I have probably been on the road, like on choir tours, three to four years of my life,” he says. “And I have loved that so much. You’re connecting with students in a time when they’re not busy with schoolwork. … I cherish those moments.”

Despite that wide-reaching impact, Rodgers reflects on his role with humility.

“What a privilege,” he says. “College is such a formative time … I think it’s a place where students can ask questions and be pushed and yet be in a place where they are loved and supported.”

While the concerts and destinations were meaningful, Rodgers says the heart of those experiences was always something simpler.

“It’s not the places or the concerts,” Rodgers admits, “it’s getting to show students these things that I’ve also enjoyed.”

That focus on people — helping students grow, connect and discover their own abilities — has defined his approach to teaching.

“What I love the most is helping them unlock their own skills and improve them,” he shares.

Along the way, Rodgers built relationships that lasted long after graduation. Notes from former and current students, many kept in what he calls his “happy file,” serve as reminders of the quiet but lasting impact of his work.

“When students send a thank you note, I’m always kind of blown away that they are aware enough to do that,” he says, noting most students, including himself at that age, don’t think about doing something like that until years later.

For Rodgers, staying at Hesston for nearly four decades was never about routine, it was about purpose.

“It’s always felt like a privilege to be able to work here and a calling,” he explains. “I love the people I work with, and I love the students. They keep you young!”

Now as he prepares to step away from his role, Rodgers does so with gratitude and a sense of peace about what comes next. He plans to pursue further study at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, with a desire to explore pastoral ministry.

“It just has felt like the right thing,” admits Rodgers. “Someone else will bring in new energy and new ideas for a new era.”

Even as he looks ahead, Rodgers is clear about what Hesston College has meant to him and what he hopes he leaves behind.

“My main hope is that I have brought joy to people,” he says, “that I have brought a great deal of joy to this place.”

That spirit of joy will be at the center of the May 15 celebration. While the evening honors Rodgers’ career, he hopes it reflects something even broader.

“I hope it is a time of enjoying good music, of enjoying community, of being together and of celebrating not me, but music at Hesston College.”

As the Hesston community gathers for “Music and Memories,” the concert will mark both an ending and a continuation — a chance to celebrate a legacy while looking ahead to what comes next.

And for Rodgers, Hesston will never be far away.

“It’s a special part of who I am, and I will be a strong cheerleader from somewhere else.”

Top honors awarded at 2026 Hesston College juried student art exhibit

Standout student artwork takes center stage at Hesston College as the 2026 Juried Student Art Exhibit celebrates this year’s award-winning artists. The exhibit, on display through May 1 in the Regier-Friesen Gallery in Laban Peachey Center (325 S College Dr, Hesston), invites the community to experience the creativity and vision of Hesston students.

This year’s top honors were awarded to:

• Best of Show — “Tomorrow” by Constance Feldt, freshman from Wichita, Kan. (ceramic tile triptych)
• Merit Award I — “Though I Have Grown Old the Bell Still Rings” by Anna Franco, sophomore from El Paso, Texas (graphite on paper)
• Merit Award II — “Growing Wild” by Elsa Rayneau, junior from Malang, Indonesia (watercolor on paper)
• Juror’s Choice — “Weirdo” by Evelyn Gaertner, sophomore from Newton, Kan. (stoneware teapot)

This year’s exhibit was juried by ceramic artist Zach Tate, an art professor from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, who noted the wide range of mediums and subject matter represented, as well as students’ willingness to pursue their own ideas beyond assigned coursework.

“By bringing in an outside juror we give our students the opportunity to have their work evaluated by an unfamiliar set of eyes as well as have our art program identify trends in the works and interests of our students that may be missed when you work closely with the same students on a daily basis,” shares Joshua Cross, Hesston College art professor.

The annual exhibit features two-dimensional and three-dimensional works submitted by students from across all majors, offering a glimpse into the depth of artistic exploration happening on campus.

The exhibit is open to the public through May 1. Admission is free, and visitors are encouraged to stop by and celebrate the work of these award-winning student artists.

below 2026 juried student art exhibit winners: (top) Best of Show — “Tomorrow” by Constance Feldt; (bottom left) Merit Award I — “Though I Have Grown Old the Bell Still Rings” by Anna Franco; (bottom center) Merit Award II — “Growing Wild” by Elsa Rayneau; (bottom right) Juror’s Choice — “Weirdo” by Evelyn Gaertner

Rooted in Hesston, growing through generations - The Mininger family legacy

Hesston College’s story is shaped by generations of students, families and faculty whose connections to the college stretch across decades. The Mininger family legacy spans nearly a century, reflecting this legacy quite clearly.

In his own words, Jim Mininger Ac61 reflects on the ways Hesston College shaped his family across three generations.

• Paul Mininger Ac25, 1928 - his father
• Mary (Erb) Ac24, 1926 Mininger - his mother
• Grace (Mininger) Ac53 Bartel - his sister
• Jim Mininger Ac61 - self
• JD Mininger ’95 - his son
• Matt Mininger ’96 - his son

My Family and Hesston College
by Jim Mininger Ac61

In the 1920s, both my mother and father attended Hesston College. My mother took part in the relationship with the LaJunta nursing program and received her RN. Her experience of music at Hesston instilled a love of singing and playing the piano. The home in which I grew up had much singing, a reed organ that my mother played daily and an “hi-fi” set on which classical music dominated.

A little research in the HC archives would show that my father received five different diplomas from Hesston College. Included were a high school diploma, a two-year degree, a three-year Bible degree, a four-year teaching degree and an advanced Bible degree. Although Paul Mininger went on to a Lutheran Seminary in Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in Religious Education, it is fair to say that his Hesston College years rooted firm in him a devotion to the Mennonite Church and its educational institutions and thus, set the direction of his life.

When my sister Grace was 16, she left Goshen and spent her junior and senior year of high school at Hesston Academy. Her boyfriend and future husband, Herm Weaver, came with her. She made friends at Hesston that she stayed in touch with throughout her life.

I followed in my eight-years older’s footsteps by attending Hesston Academy for my junior and senior year in high school. Little did I know that I and my several classmates would be faculty and staff members in our adult lives.

When I was finishing graduate school and beginning to think about universities where I might teach, I said several times that “I would go anywhere except Kansas.” Fateful words! Virginia and I spent 21 years at Hesston College. Virginia taught voice in the music department and took part often as a soloist in Hesston music productions. I taught history and served as academic dean for 17 of those years. I also spent two and a half years as interim president.

During our 21 years at Hesston, we had two sons who later attended Hesston College. Thirty years after they graduated, their adult friends include many friends, not just from Hesston, Kansas, but also from Hesston College. Our elder son, JD, now a university president in Bulgaria, has frequently said that considering that he attended Hesston College (A.A.), Goshen College (B.A.) and University of Minnesota (Ph.D.), the most formative classes in his shaping his character and his concept of education took place in some of his Hesston College classes. He would reference Jim Yoder’s Astronomy course, Marion Bontrager’s Biblical Literature and his father’s infamous Foundies IV.  That is quite a tribute to this little college on the prairie!

Local playwriting festival “Pen to Paper to Performance” takes the stage

Original stories written by local playwrights will come to life on stage as Hesston College presents its local playwriting showcase, “Pen to Paper to Performance,” May 1 and 2 at 7 p.m. in Keim Center Black Box Theater. Ten 10-minute plays were selected from dozens of submissions to be produced and performed by Hesston College Theatre Department.

After receiving more submissions than ever before, the following plays were selected to move from page to stage:

• “6 Down” by Mitch Stutzman, Hesston, Kan.
• ​“The Visit” by Caitlin Waits, Derby, Kan.
• “December 1, 1990” by David Wiebe, Newton, Kan.
• “Psycho Killers” by Mia Krebs, North Newton, Kan.
• “To Be or Not To Be Lynched” by Lois Preheim, Newton, Kan.
• “Fascist Times at Ridgemont High” by Travis Duerksen, North Newton, Kan.
• “Rush” by Patricia Middleton, Newton, Kan.
• “3 Guys Walk Into a Bar” by Johann Reimer, Hesston, Kan.
• “Full Stop” by Cassie Balzer, Wichita, Kan.
• “If I Were Peter” by Chad Frey, Newton, Kan.

With 10 different playwrights, including four first-timers, these short plays offer a wide variety of genres like drama, comedy and historical events, as well as equally diverse tones and subject matter. There’s something for everyone to enjoy. If you’re like Rachel Jantzi, director of theater at Hesston College and creator of Pen to Paper to Performance, you’ll find something special about each one, making it hard to pick a favorite.

“I may love how the dialogue flows in one, and be really excited about the staging potential of another, and then I may be fascinated with what a different script has taught me,” Jantzi shares.

Another unique aspect of these performances is the talk backs with playwrights following the show. Jantzi believes it’s one of the best parts of the experience.

“Learning what the playwright's motivation was for writing their story and then what possessed them to actually hand it over to us — that's always eye opening,” she explains.

An ensemble of 22 actors will portray various roles in the performances. This includes Hesston College students Brody Hutto, Bel Aire, Kan.; Rey Tipton, Hesston, Kan.; Sam Setiawan, Goshen, Ind.; Angel Sinnett, McPherson, Kan.; Alyssa Coonce, Hutchinson, Kan.; Chloe Robinson, Moore, Okla.; Jaden Watson, Clayton, Del.; Cindy Smith, Park City, Kan.; Ashleigh Williams, Eaton, Colo.; Evelyn Gaertner, Newton, Kan.; Sebastian Pavlovich, Lindsborg, Kan.; Nolan Gorman, Redmond, Ore.; Adam Wonser, Goessel, Kan.; Abby Hamm, Coldwater, Kan.; Dominic De La Rosa, Adairsville, Ga.; Anja Martinez, Topeka, Kan.; and Ava Huyhn, Lam Dong, Vietnam. The cast also features community members Mitch Stutzman of Hesston; Angela Tipton of Hesston and Kelly Smith of Newton, along with HC employees Johann Reimer of Newton and Josh Fleming of Hesston. Crew members are students Constance Feldt, Wichita, Kan., and Arlynn Smith, Newcastle, Okla.

Join Hesston College at this festival celebrating local storytelling and experience brand-new works brought to life on stage. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults and seniors with each playwright receiving a portion of the box office earnings. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. The production is appropriate for ages 10 and up, but some topics may be heavier. Seating is limited, so early arrival is encouraged. Learn more at hesston.edu/theatre.

Urban Life and Culture class explores history, justice and community during Tulsa trip

above: Hesston College students pose in front of the Black Wall Street mural in Tulsa’s Greenwood District during their Urban Life and Culture spring break trip, where they learned about the history, resilience and ongoing legacy of the Greenwood community. Back row: Peter Lehman, Jacob Buller, Jaden Watson, Justin Young. Front row: Lilith Jackson, Margaret Brewer, Priscilla Spiker

During spring break, Hesston College’s Urban Life and Culture class spent nine days in Tulsa, Oklahoma, immersing themselves in the history, culture and community of the city while exploring themes of race, justice and urban life. The course was team-taught by Bible professor Michele Hershberger and history professor Peter Lehman and included five students and one community member.

Throughout the week, the group visited historic sites, museums, churches and community organizations, while also participating in service opportunities and group discussions designed to help students process what they were learning and experiencing.

For several participants, learning about the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the Greenwood District was one of the most impactful parts of the trip.

Justin Young, a sophomore from Richardson, Texas, said the Greenwood walking tour stood out most to him “because it opened my eyes to the actual genocide that happened in Greenwood and how it was covered up for over 100 years.”

The group also visited the Greenwood Rising Museum, which left a strong impression on Lehman.

“There was a section with audio accounts by survivors themselves. The massacre happened when they were kids! It was harrowing and very emotionally impactful, even though I had known the ‘facts’ about the massacre for years,” Lehman said.

Community member Margaret Brewer also pointed to the Greenwood area as a highlight of the trip, saying the Real Black Wall Street walking tour was especially meaningful.

The trip concluded with the group attending worship at Historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, a congregation that survived the destruction of the 1921 massacre. For Hershberger, the experience was a powerful conclusion to the week.

“So many experiences shook me to my core. But my best experience was our final one,” Hershberger said. “We worshipped with the Historic Vernon AME Church on our last day in Tulsa. This church survived the fires of the 1921 massacre, and they have not forgotten their history. Now, over one hundred years later, I heard hope and resiliency. Because of this experience, I am more deeply committed to working for racial and economic justice.”

The Urban Life and Culture course is part of Hesston College’s intercultural experiences program and is designed to help students engage with communities different from their own, learn from lived experiences and better understand issues related to culture, race, poverty and justice.

Through site visits, conversations, service work and shared reflection, the Tulsa trip challenged students to think critically, listen carefully and consider how their faith and education can shape the way they engage with the world.

The group returned from Tulsa on March 22, bringing with them new perspectives, deeper understanding and experiences that will continue to shape their lives beyond the classroom.

photos below: (left) Chief Egunwale Amusan, left, leads Hesston College Urban Life and Culture students on a walking tour of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, sharing the history of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and recounting events at several historic locations during the group’s spring break trip to Tulsa, Okla. Also pictured are Jacob Buller and Justin Young. (right) Students and instructors from Hesston College’s Urban Life and Culture class prepare more than 100 sandwiches for Tulsa Food Not Bombs during their spring break trip to Tulsa, Okla., where they spent nine days learning about urban life, community organizations and issues of justice while participating in service opportunities across the city. Pictured clockwise: Priscilla Spiker, Jacob Buller, Margaret Brewer, Peter Lehman and Michele Hershberger.

Hesston College to host Spring Community Day April 18

Hesston College will host its Spring Community Day on Saturday, April 18, inviting the community to campus for a free day of baseball and Lark spirit at Oswald Field.

The Hesston College baseball team will face Kansas Christian College in a doubleheader at 1 and 4 p.m. Admission is free, and community members are encouraged to come for a game or stay for the entire afternoon.

In addition to the baseball games, Community Day will feature family-friendly activities including a Little Larks Dance Clinic performance between games, photos with Clark the Lark and free rally towels for the first 100 fans in attendance. Food will also be available for purchase from Meat Rubbers food truck and Salted Creamery Ice Cream.

Sponsored by IdeaTek®, Community Days at Hesston College are designed to bring friends, alumni, families and neighbors together on campus to enjoy Lark athletics and spend time in community.

“Community Day is a great opportunity for people of all ages to come to campus, enjoy a ballgame and experience the Hesston College community,” shares Lisa Longacher, vice president of advancement. “We love opening campus to the community and creating a fun, welcoming environment for everyone.”

Stay up-to-date on the day’s activities by visiting hesston.edu/communityday.

Rising to the challenge - four-year Lark athletics

above: first NAIA win - This fall the Larks took to the fields and courts for the first time as a four-year college, and the women’s soccer team brought home the first victory, 2-1, in an August 23, 2025 match with McPherson (Kan.) College. Photo by Nolan Gorman

Hesston College began a new era of athletics in 2025 as they began their first year competing as a four-year institution in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) after nearly 70 years of competing as a junior college. 

“The transition to four-year athletics was a necessary step for the growth of Hesston College,” says Athletic Director Bryan Kehr. “It allows us to more fully execute our mission statement and to see our student-athletes all of the way through their development both on and off the field.”

When this transition was announced, it brought a sense of excitement and hope for the future of Hesston College athletics.

“My initial thoughts were very positive,” recalls Brian Allen, cross country and track head coach. “I loved the idea of getting to work with the same athletes for four years to help them develop athletically and to help them become the young men and women God created them to be.”

Volleyball Head Coach Kassidy Roberts saw this transition as a new beginning for her team.

“Moving up to four-year competition brought on an exciting challenge,” Roberts says. “We would have a chance to play against teams we had never faced before, and we had a chance to make our mark as newcomers.”

Though the junior college era at Hesston has come to a close, the history and tradition formed by nearly seven decades of highly competitive athletics will stand the test of time. Former women’s basketball player and 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Christy (Walker) ’91 Cornell was thrilled to learn about the transition.

“I was honestly jealous,” admits Cornell. “I would have loved to stay at Hesston College for another two years with a higher level of competition and more teams to play.”

Along with all of the positive outcomes of transitioning to a four-year model, there are some immediate, short term struggles that institutions undergoing this change face. Growing rosters, longer road trips and competing against older and more experienced teams are not simple tasks.

“Our lack of experience definitely showed early on in the season, just not having many games played at this level or in college at all,” says Men’s Soccer Head Coach Dante Texeira. “The speed of play going from high school or club soccer to the NAIA is a huge jump. I had hoped we could rise to the challenge of being so young and playing against older and tougher competition, but the guys went above and beyond this fall.”

Expectations for Hesston’s fall sports were not particularly high as they faced tough competition right out of the gate, but success was not as far away as some might’ve thought.

The Lark women’s soccer team started their season with a 2-1 win over McPherson College on Aug. 23, earning Hesston’s first win as an NAIA institution.

Ashleigh Williams, junior goalkeeper and lone upperclassmen on the women’s soccer team, reflects on what this meant to her and how it influences the future.

“It felt very rewarding,” Williams remembers. “The women's soccer program has come so far since I first started. I have always been proud to be a Lark, and now our team is laying the foundation for the program to truly become great.”

The men’s soccer team and the volleyball team followed soon after with their first wins of the season, and the cross country team made strong strides competing against NAIA opponents.

In mid-September, it seemed that all of the fall teams had found their pace as the men’s soccer team would go on to win 10 of their last 12 regular season games to finish 11-7-1, locking in the best overall record for a Hesston men’s soccer team since 1992 and qualifying for the Continental Athletic Conference (CAC) tournament.

Texeira gave all of the credit to his players and their ability to step up to the challenge.

“I credit the players’ resilience and their trust in the process of what was happening to our program,” Texeira says. “We had a rough start, but most of our guys were playing in their first collegiate games ever, while we were up against teams that had been playing together for years. It would have been easy for our guys to quit, say we were too young to be successful and try again next year, but that's not what they did. They kept showing up, learning and improving everyday which eventually led to wins on the field.”

The women’s soccer team also shattered expectations, earning their bid to the CAC tournament with their best season in almost ten years. The Larks lost in the first round in heartbreaking fashion in a penalty shootout that went seven rounds.

“Playing in the conference tournament was a goal at the beginning of the season, and while it wasn’t the outcome we ultimately wanted, it showed not only our team, but the nation, that we have a competitive program,” says Williams.

The volleyball team found success in streaks, posting two separate four-game win streaks to reach a 9-13 overall record, the best program record since 2017. The most impressive win of the season came in their final game against conference opponent Haskell Indian Nations University. The Larks pulled off a reverse sweep of the Indians in Yost Gym, winning 3-2 in front of a roaring home crowd and avenging a loss to Haskell earlier in the season.

“They amazed me with their grit and ambition, demonstrating that we can overcome any challenge together,” Roberts remarks. “As their playing maturity increased, I was proud of them for continuing to push themselves. We had a slow start, but they picked it up quickly, and we began to see on-court success.”

The Larks would fall just short of an appearance in the conference tournament, but Roberts was encouraged by the progress they made in their first season.

“It was a starting point that I am proud of,” she shares. “To have the success we did with a team as young as ours was very encouraging. I am proud of where we started and excited to bring in more classes of girls to grow the program and make it more competitive.”

The cross country team finished the year with multiple honors as they had four runners earn CAC all-conference honors with Arissa Cathey (freshman, Abilene, Kan.) earning first-team honors and Jonah Krumme (freshman, Wichita, Kan.), Nathan Lewis (freshman, Wichita, Kan.) and Maddy Ralph (sophomore, Colwich, Kan.) being named to the second team. Cathey, Krumme and Lewis were all selected to compete at the NAIA national meet in Florida.

Coach Allen believes this will help prospective students see Hesston as a place where they can flourish.

“I think it was important for morale and for recruiting,” explains Allen. “The team celebrated those who succeeded, and with recruiting it helped athletes see that our program is a place where they can come to grow and improve.”

The first season of competition in the NAIA is in the books for these programs, and the future looks bright for HC athletics.

Cornell, the alumna basketball player we spoke to previously, hopes the coming generations of student-athletes at Hesston understand the legacy left by those that came before them.

“I want each of these players to seriously understand and know they are part of something so special and live it and enjoy it,” Cornell says. “We should all be excited for what Hesston College is doing, because now we can spread the joy and excitement of a four-year Hesston experience. We used to say ‘Start Here, Go Everywhere’ and now we have it all.”

Hesston College names Andrew Sharp as new athletic director

Hesston College has announced Andrew Sharp will serve as the institution’s next athletic director, bringing more than two decades of experience at the college into the leadership role.

Sharp has spent his entire professional career at Hesston College, serving in a variety of roles including admissions counselor, sports information director, adjunct faculty member, softball head coach, assistant athletic director and, most recently, development officer for the past seven years.

President Mark Landes says Sharp’s long-standing connection to the college and passion for student success made him a natural choice for the position.

“I am pleased to announce that Andy Sharp has accepted our offer to be Hesston College’s next athletic director,” Landes shares. “Andy can articulate the Hesston Experience as well as anyone I have met and has a true passion for seeing students succeed at Hesston College.”

Sharp is a graduate of Hesston College and later earned a bachelor’s degree from Millersville (Pa.) University. He also holds a Master of Education in sports administration from Wichita State University and a master’s degree in history from the University of Nebraska Kearney.

As athletic director, Sharp will guide the continued growth of the Larks’ athletic programs as HC grows into its new normal in four-year athletics.

“I look forward to working across campus as we all seek to uphold our mission statement,” Sharp says. “HC has long identified itself as a student-centered institution, and I am excited for the chance to advocate for our students, and our coaches, who are significant stakeholders in the student experience.”

Sharp says the college’s move to NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) competition presents opportunities for stronger relationships with peer institutions and continued development of the athletic program.

“The move to NAIA is a ‘coming home’ moment in many ways for Hesston College,” Sharp says. “We have always been a small, private, faith-based institution, and the NAIA includes many schools with similar size and mission. Competing in that environment feels like a natural fit for HC athletics.”

Sharp will begin transitioning into the role immediately as current athletic director Bryan Kehr prepares to retire at the end of the academic year.

Kehr has served Hesston College since 2010 in numerous roles including women’s soccer head coach, physical education instructor and intramurals director, while also assisting with softball and contributing to the classroom as a biblical literature group leader and grader.

He stepped into the role of interim athletic director in 2020 and was named athletic director in 2021, guiding Lark athletics through a significant period of growth and transformation. During his tenure, Hesston expanded its athletic offerings with the addition of powerlifting, esports and club sports including disc golf and dance, while also launching junior varsity teams in men’s soccer, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball. Kehr also played a key role in leading the department’s transition from NJCAA competition to membership in the NAIA and the move to four-year athletics, positioning Lark athletics for continued growth in the years ahead.