In the News

Registration open for AVDS conference focused on spiritual formation

Registration is now open for Hesston College’s annual Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) conference, that will take place on campus Feb. 1 to 3, with the theme “Growing More Like Jesus from the Outside In: Transforming Heart and Mind.” Registrations are due by Monday, Jan. 28.

Featuring keynote speakers Mark and Lisa Scandrette, internationally recognized experts in Christian spirituality, conference participants will offer spiritual formation grounded in community and explore the pursuit of a life that is deeply soulful and connected to real needs and good news in the world.

Mark Scandrette teaches in the doctoral program at Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, Calif.), and is the founder of ReIMAGINE: A Center for Integral Christian Practice. Together, Mark and Lisa Scandrette co-authored FREE: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most.

A primary source of guidance for the weekend will be the Ninefold Path of the Beatitudes, which was created by Mark Scandrette. The Ninefold Path is an experiential journey of blessings Jesus presented in the Sermon on the Mount, exploring the radical life-giving invitation they provide, engaging the dynamic of shared experiments and practices, creating space to rest, connect and refresh and coming away with tools and skills to lead others on the journey.

“What participants will learn at this year’s conference moves away from the concept of an outside speaker coming in, lecturing and expecting that anything can really change within the community from that approach,” said Hesston College Director of Church Relations, Dallas Stutzman, a member of the planning committee. “Instead, Jesus and the event will call us to change in practical, Kingdom ways. From the outside in.”

“Following Jesus in the 21st century is challenging,” said Clayton Gladish of the planning committee and pastor of Hesston Mennonite Church. “Between social isolation and multiple things vying for our time, we need help finding ways to connect with one another for the purpose of practicing our faith. Mark Scandrette give practical advice based on personal experimentation and experience that helps us to embody the call to make disciples.”

The conference is intended to be accessible to church leaders as well as congregants across all Christian denominations and those exploring their faith and spirituality.

“This event is an outstanding opportunity for all area Christians to develop their faith practice to serve in a variety of ways within their context,” said Stutzman.

Find conference registration and information, including notes about suggested advanced reading and further resources from Mark Scandrette.

December 2018 graduates and academic honors recognized

Hesston College recognized students who completed graduation requirements and earned degrees following the Fall 2018 semester.

On December 13, a nursing pinning and graduation ceremony recognized 25 students who completed bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree requirements from the RN to BSN program. A new class of students is set to begin the RN to BSN program with the spring 2019 semester in January, joining another part-time cohort completing the second year of the program.

Ten students, recognized during a December chapel, completed two-year degree requirements and earned associate degrees.

Academic honors

Also recognized were full-time students whose fall 2018 semester grades earned them a place on the Dean’s List (3.90 to 4.00) and Honor Roll (3.50 to 3.89).

Dean’s List – Freshmen

Gabriella Audrey, Semarang, Indonesia
Willow Baer, Marshallville, Ohio
Erin Beachy, Middlebury, Ind.
Sabrina Bellar, Conway Springs, Kan.
Thomas Brown, Valley Center, Kan.
Simone Burgess, Los Angeles, Calif.
Abby Busby, Bandera, Texas
Matthew Byler, Shipshewana, Ind.
Levi Geyer, Oxford, Iowa
Denazia Jeffers, Midwest City, Okla.
Hannah Klusman, Ford, Kan.
Sadie Leatherman, Kouts, Ind.
Brayan Martinez, Soyapango, El Salvador
Rachel Miller, Freeman, S.D.
Jessie Miranda, Turlock, Calif.
Masataka Miyake, Tatebayashi, Japan
Cicely Moody, Bazine, Kan.
Michael Mullet, Lagrange, Ind.
Amber Petrie, Murdock, Kan.
Tobie Plett, East St. Paul, Manitoba, Canada
Kate Ramirez Ingold, Goshen, Ind.
Raelynn Reeves, Abilene, Kan.
Mackenzie Smith, Richmond, Texas
Rei Vuksani, Tirana, Albania
Navy Widyani, Jakarta, Indonesia
Laurine Yeboah-Appiah, Lancaster, Pa.

Dean’s List – Sophomores

Louisa Angeline, Semarang, Indonesia
McKenzie Brown, Estes Park, Colo.
Lucas Comfort, Salina, Kan.
Jenna Denlinger, Lancaster, Pa.
Erika Ensz, Hillsboro, Kan.
Will Gaby, Goshen, Ind.
Jade Gleason, Brush, Colo.
Faith Hallmark, El Dorado, Kan.
Annalys Hanna, Fraser, Colo.
Grant Harding, Louisburg, Kan.
Cal Hartley, Benton, Kan.
Jaden Hostetter, Harrisonburg, Va.
Laura Huang, SanMing, China
Leah Huyard, Staunton, Va.
Kylee Kasselman, Claflin, Kan.
Lily Kauffman, Mountain Lake, Minn.
Cassidy King, Cochranville, Pa.
Morgan Lantz, Bristol, Ind.
Ivonne Ledesma, Wichita, Kan.
Taylor Longenecker, Rockingham, Va.
Faith Manickam, Hesston, Kan.
Mariana Martinez Hernandez, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Sophie Miller, Goshen, Ind.
Rio Mori, Osaka, Japan
SungHyoun, Gyounggi-do, South Korea
Jared Oyer, Hubbard, Ore.
Camryn Roth, Canby, Ore.
Zachary Smisor, Valley Center, Kan.
Harune Suzuki, Osaka, Japan
Addie Swartzendruber, Henderson, Neb.
Lilian Trifena, Tangerang, Indonesia

Dean’s List – Upperclassmen

Kristy Bell, Andover, Kan.
Ashley Call, Wichita, Kan.
Autumn Gehman, Adams, Tenn.
Kristi Hill, Newton, Kan.
Kate Kilmer, Goshen, Ind.
Nicole Loewen, Hutchinson, Kan.
Kaitlin McGhee, Wichita, Kan.
Krystan Miller, Inman, Kan.
Sophia Miller, Newton, Kan.
Darrian Mosqueda, Hesston, Kan.
Kallie Provost, Wichita, Kan.
Ashley Rohleder, Salina, Kan.
Alyssa Rostetter, Hesston, Kan.
Kaitlyn Shaw, Newton, Kan.
Vanessa Steckly, Milford, Neb.
Moira Wells, Elbert, Colo.

Honor Roll – Freshmen

Grant Bloyer, Winfield, Kan.
Josiah Brejda, Lincoln, Kan.
Brooke Brenneman, Parnell, Iowa
Muskan Budha Magar, Ghorahi Dang, Nepal
Dimitri Giannakopoulos, Houston, Texas
Ryusei Hando, Sanda, Japan
Alyssa Hershberger, Wellman, Iowa
Kyoya Himori, Yamamoto, Japan
Mio Hirata, Kani, Japan
Emilie Johnson, Canton, Kan.
Disleve Kanku, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo
Ellena Lehman, Sarasota, Fla.
Dane Milburn, Lincoln, Neb.
Reese Nebel, Hesston, Kan.
Jonathan Ortiz, Wichita, Kan.
Alexis Salmans, Bel Aire, Kan.
Hudson Smith, Waukomis, Okla.
Justus Sneary, Harrisonburg, Va.
Yonas Taye, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Jasmine Taylor, Nassau, Bahamas
Sarah Teeter, Hesston, Kan.
Masemo Wakibogo, Hesston, Kan.
Stephen Waltner, Freeman, S.D.
Kaylee Wedel, Moundridge, Kan.
Dalton Woody, Cibolo, Texas
Laura Yeboah-Appiah, Lancaster, Pa.
Ejona Zogu, Lezha, Albania

Honor Roll – Sophomores-Juniors

Alexis Avalos, Yucaipa, Calif.
Erica Baer, Wooster, Ohio
Risa Fukaya, Kanagawa, Japan
Kalen Haynes, Trophy Club, Texas
KaDrea Hulett, Atlanta, Ga.
Lindsey James, Butte, Mont.
Misato Kawamoto, Ibaraki, Japan
Kaylen Lassley, Salina, Kan.
Ian Lecki, Overland Park, Kan.
Lindsay Manwell, Wichita, Kan.
Joel Plank, Syracuse, Ind.
Hannah Rosenbaum, Richmond, Texas
Roe Russey, Richmond, Texas
David Ryan, Tulsa, Okla.
Jenna Schneider, Lodi, Calif.
Dylan Slabach Brubaker, Harrisonburg, Va.
Teo Soler, Orleans, France
Samantha Trejo, Lyons, Kan.
Lily Wait, Parker, Colo.
Mackinzie Weber, Hesston, Kan.

Honor Roll - Seniors

Anna Baggett, Council Grove, Kan.
Krystal Duerksen, Goessel, Kan.
Darcy Yadon, Council Grove, Kan.

Aviation program finalizes first industry partnership

In an effort to provide a variety of continuing education and career opportunities to students, Hesston College Aviation recently established a partnership with SkyWest Airlines, a passenger airline company that operates in partnership with Delta Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

As an official SkyWest Airlines Partner School, students from Hesston’s aviation program will gain a more streamlined and efficient pathway to transition into a flying career at SkyWest through the Pilot Pathway Program.

“Hesston College Aviation’s partnership with SkyWest Airlines, an established, formidable industry leader with the regional airline market, affords its current and future students with a myriad of professional development and career opportunities,” said Mike Baker, director of Hesston College Aviation. “Through this new partnership, SkyWest Airlines’ Pilot Pathway Program will provide qualified and accepted Hesston College Aviation graduates with essential mentoring and career development opportunities, positioning them well for a future in commercial aviation.”

SkyWest describes the Pilot Pathway Program as providing “a direct path for exceptional pilots with a desire to take control of their aviation careers.” As part of the program, pilots can gain enhanced seniority, guaranteed final interviews and have access to pilot mentors.

Hesston College student pilots have long benefitted from networking with Hesston College Aviation alumni and industry professionals, and the SkyWest partnership is the first of several Baker hopes to put in place for students in the program.

“Hesston College Aviation recognizes the imperativeness of preparing each student for their future aviation endeavors,” said Baker. “Through the establishment of substantive industry partnerships such as that with SkyWest, Hesston College Aviation will be better positioned to facilitate the successful placement of its graduates.”

Benefit run in second year to continue raising money and spreading the love

The Neuf Memorial Run, a 9K and two-mile run, will hold its second annual event at Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) on Saturday, Jan. 12, to honor the memory of Russ Neufeld, a Hesston alumnus, director of Hesston’s Information Technology department and transplanted Canadian who lived his last 15 years in central Kansas. Neufeld passed away on Jan. 21, 2017 after an 18 month fight with non-hodgkin’s lymphoma. The event raises money for the Russ Neufeld Memorial Scholarship at Hesston College and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The race will start at 10 a.m. outside of Mojo’s Coffee Shop (300 E. 27th St.) on the Bethel College campus. The Neuf early entry fee ends at midnight on Dec. 9 and is $40 for the 9K and $30 for the two-mile. The entry fee increases to $45/$35 on Dec. 10, and online registration closes on midnight on Jan. 9. On-site registration will be available on race day for $50/$40.

According to Kendra Neufeld, Russ’ wife, “This race is to remember Russ who encouraged us all to push a little harder when we feel like giving up. He never settled for how the world is, and always strived to make it better.”

The race celebrates Neufeld’s never-give-up spirit. His final Facebook post exemplifies his view on life. “Take all this love you have and share it,” he said. “It only multiplies and there are so many who could use it…just spread the love folks – it’s the only thing in this world that endures.”

The 9K distance is as unique as Neufeld. Neuf, which means nine in French, was a nickname for Neufeld, and his stick shift handle on his car was a 9-ball.

The inaugural Neuf 2018 had more than 200 runners run the races in North Newton along with satellite runners running in 18 locations in the United States as well as in Australia, Colombia and Canada. The Neuf donated $7,000 in race proceeds to its charity recipients, and generous donations brought in additional funds. Race organizers hope to exceed those numbers this year.

All registered runners receive a timing bib, a Neufbeuf (a neck warmer), a Neuf sticker and post-race festivities at Mojo’s which include coffee, hot chocolate, and continental and hot breakfast items. Medals will be awarded to age group winners, and the top three male and female finishers receive handmade pottery wall artwork from Hanna Eastin Pottery. Race day registration closes 15 minutes before the race and may not include a Neufbeuf.

Christmas program to celebrate and support global community

Hesston College will usher in the Christmas season with a performing arts program featuring global traditions. The “Peace on Earth” program will be at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The program is free and open to the public.

“Peace on Earth is a collaboration between music and theatre students that connects us with our global community,” said Dr. Russell Adrian, Hesston College music professor and choir director.

The program will feature carols from diverse cultures by Hesston College choirs and instrumentalists woven together with theatre scenes that connect the story of Jesus’ birth to stories of peace and conflict around the world. Theatre professor Carla Lahey will direct the scenes.

Continuing with the theme of global community, a free-will offering will be collected for Mennonite Central Committee hygiene kits. Monetary donations or donations of hygiene kit items are welcome. Following the program, audience members will be invited to help pack the kits.

Hygiene kit items should be new and in original packaging:

• adult-sized toothbrush
• bar of bath soap
• nail clipper
• hand towel (approximately 16” x 26”, medium-weight in dark or bright colors)
• wide-toothed comb (6” to 8” in length)

Capital campaign secures challenge grant

Hesston College met its fundraising goal of $5.25 million to secure a $750,000 challenge grant from The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation for The Be Greater capital campaign, which will provide facility renovations and additions for the college’s nursing and athletics programs. The challenge grant fundraising was completed ahead of the late-December 2018 timeline.

“We are so grateful to the supporters who gave gifts to this campaign to provide quality facilities in the college’s two largest programs,” said President Dr. Joseph A. Manickam.

Fundraising for the campaign opened in a quiet phase in the summer of 2016, during which administrators and development officers worked to secure lead gifts. In May 2017, the campaign moved into a public phase after securing about $2.4 million in formal pledges and gifts.

In addition to the building campaign goal, a second fundraising goal was also met by fulfilling an $800,000 endowed scholarship component. With more than $200,000 in the endowed scholarship fund prior to the campaign, the addition raises the total above $1 million and will provide $50,000 of annual awards to students. It also creates the opportunity for the first ever full scholarship to potentially be awarded for the 2019-20 academic year.

“Our alumni and partners believe in Hesston College and the work being done to prepare students for careers while also offering them opportunities to grow personally and spiritually,” said Manickam.

While groundbreaking is being planned for early December, the college needs to secure an additional $200,000 to ensure all of the plans can be carried forward to completion.

“While we have met our initial $6 million goal, the reality is that prices on building materials and labor have increased since that time, increasing the amount we now need to complete these projects as planned,” said Manickam. “In short, that means we’re not quite finished with our fundraising. But we’re determined to reach that additional amount so we don’t have to take any of the planned amenities and spaces away from the students and faculty who will benefit from them now and in the future.”

With about 41 percent of student population enrolled in the college’s nursing and pre-nursing programs, and 36 percent who are athletes, nursing students and athletes comprise the two largest student populations on campus. The campaign will improve on and add to facilities within these areas, as the current spaces are not sufficient to accommodate program needs and inhibit the full student experience. Each portion of the campaign carries a $3 million price tag.

A building completed in 1952, last renovated and added to in 1996, is what has been the home of Hesston College Nursing for more than 20 years. The success of the nursing program and its continued growth over many years has rendered the current space inadequate to properly fit the program and address the needs of aspiring nurses.

Campaign improvements for nursing include a 9,740 square foot addition to be named the Bonnie Sowers Nursing Center in honor of the program’s director for 37 year who retired in 2018. Also part of the improvements are new simulation labs, student practice rooms, a fundamentals lab, an administrative suite an faculty offices, a student lounge, study spaces and new restrooms.

Lark Athletics headquarters from Yost Center, which was built in 1982 at a time when the college fielded six intercollegiate teams with about 80 student-athletes. Today, student-athletes number more than 150 across 14 teams, and the need for additional space to accommodate the programs is important.

Campaign improvements for athletics include the addition of an approximately 3,000 square foot weight room on the southwest side of Yost Center that will serve student-athletes and all students, a new on-campus softball diamond, the addition of a new lobby on the northwest side of Yost Center that is a more direct and welcoming entrance for campus guests, a coaches office suite that will accommodate all coaches in one area, and the renovation of the main gym, including updated bleachers, flooring and a fresh interior.

HBPA holiday concert to feature America’s Got Talent finalists

Sons of Serendip, finalists in season nine of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, will ring in the Christmas season for Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) with their unique combination of harp, cello, piano/keyboard and voice at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 4 at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

As graduate students in a variety of fields at Boston University – law, cello performance, harp and theology – the men met through a series of serendipitous events. Though music had been a part of each man’s life since childhood, music was not the primary focus for all of them. After graduating and working for a couple of years, vocalist Micah Christian, was presented the opportunity to audition for America’s Got Talent. He invited his friends to join him, forming Sons of Serendip and shifting each man’s plan for his career and life.

The quartet appeared on America’s Got Talent in May 2014 for season nine, finishing in fourth place later that fall and gaining national attention. The end of the show was beginning of a musical journey for the newly-formed group.

Now with three albums to their name, including a Christmas album, Christmas: Beyond the Lights (October 2015), the group continues to grow in popularity, with recordings used in several performance-based reality television shows, touring nationally and collaborating with orchestras and other musicians.

Sons of Serendip features Micah Christian, who earned a master of divinity and spent time serving overseas prior to launching the group. Christian became interested in music as a child and spent his undergraduate years following his passion for music and spending summers performing with an a cappella group, Hyannis Sound.

Kendall Ramseur is the group’s cellist, and is also a singer-songwriter and composer. His history with the cello dates back to the age of 10, and his studies and career have all involved cello.

Featured on harp with Sons of Serendip is Mason Morton. After accepting a free offer to learn the harp as a child, Mason continued to play and teach others, eventually taking him to Boston University to learn from the teacher of his undergraduate instructor.

Cordaro Rodriguez, pianist, began teaching himself piano at the age of 10. After completing an undergraduate degree in psychology, he spent a year volunteering as an English teacher in Ecuador before earning his juris doctorate degree from Boston University. Rodriguez has also produced music for several well-known international artists.

Reserved seating and general admission tickets for Sons of Serendip are available through the HBPA website or by calling 620-327-8105. Single tickets are for sale at the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall or Bethel College’s Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center during regular business hours. Reserved seating is $27 for adults and senior citizens, and general admission seating ranges from $18 to $23. Discounts are available for students and senior citizens.

Started in 1982 as Hesston Performing Arts, the series expanded in 1998 when Hesston College joined forces with Bethel College for The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts series. The series presents five performances by world-renowned or regionally acclaimed artists each year. HBPA is funded in part by the city of North Newton, Excel Industries and Hustler Turf Equipment (Hesston), the North Newton Community Foundation and the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Area businesses and patrons provide additional funding for the HBPA series.

Night of entertainment with talent show

Hesston College students will showcase a wide array of talents at the annual talent show at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 9, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

Hosted by the Bills and Normas, a group of students known for ridiculous antics and entertainment value, and a Hesston College tradition dating back to the 1980s, the talent show will feature skits, humor, music and talents of all kinds.

Cookies and other refreshments will be served as a pre-show snack from 7:15 to 7:45 p.m. in the church’s community center.

The Hesston College talent show is free, open to the public and fun for the whole family.

Celebration and gratitude themes of annual Alumni/Community Basketball Night

The local community and alumni of Hesston College are invited to campus on Wednesday night, Nov. 7, for Alumni/Community Basketball Night, a free event featuring varsity basketball games, entertainment and fun for the whole family.

The Larks will take on Butler County Community College in Yost Center, with the women’s game scheduled for 6 p.m. and the men’s game following at 8 p.m. The evening will be filled with games, prizes, snacks and entertainment.

“Alumni/Community Night allows us to thank alumni and the wider community for all the ways they are involved with and support the college,” said Dallas Stutzman, director of Alumni and Church Relations. “It’s a way Hesston College can give back.”

In addition to the basketball games, the lineup for the evening includes free haircuts by CC’s Family Hair, Lark megaphones and free popcorn, Lark tattoos, the Hesston High School pep band and halftime entertainment.

High school students are invited to a pre-game devotional at 6:30 p.m. led by men’s basketball coach Dustin Galyon. Students who wish to attend the devotional session should RSVP to brandy.quinn@hesston.edu by Friday, Nov. 2. Devotional participants will meet in Yost Center at 6:20 p.m. to walk together to Kropf Center for the meditation. Following the devotional, participants will be treated to free pizza.