In the News

The Steel Wheels to headline homecoming celebration

A widely recognized bluegrass band and Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival favorite, The Steel Wheels, will perform on the Hesston College campus at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, as part of the college and community’s homecoming celebration.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students ages five through high school. All seating is general admission. Doors at the venue, Hesston Mennonite Church, will open at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall, online or call 620-327-8104. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door, although purchasing tickets ahead of time is strongly encouraged.

“We have hoped to bring The Steel Wheels to Hesston College for a long time, and we’re excited to have them as part of our Home Sweet Hesston homecoming activities,” said Dallas Stutzman, director of Alumni and Church Relations.

Hailing from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, The Steel Wheels are surrounded by the bluegrass and folk music tradition, and have established themselves among the lauded of the genre.

A review by Country Standard Time said about the group: “What sets The Steel Wheels…apart from many bands is the combination of their stellar instrumentals, accentuated by the one of a kind lead vocal of [Trent] Wagler, and keenly supported by strong harmonies.”

The group’s home base of Harrisonburg, Va., holds many ties with Hesston College and the wider community, giving many locals a familiarity with the group. Lead singer, Trent Wagler, spent part of his adolescence in Hesston, attending Hesston Middle School, and his father is a graduate of Hesston College’s Pastoral Ministries program.

Formed in 2004, the Steel Wheels have been wildly popular at Winfield’s annual Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival since their debut appearance in 2012. National Public Radio’s Mountain Stage said about them: “Few groups have come as far in such a short period of time as The Steel Wheels.”

“They are well-known with a big following in this area,” said Stutzman. “We anticipate a high energy and enjoyable evening of music.”

New piano instructor brings global opportunities to the community

A new face in Hesston College’s Music Department will bring new opportunities and ideas to the college and an already thriving performing arts department, as well as to the wider community.

Mei Li, D.M.A., joined the Hesston College community just a few weeks ago at the start of the school year as an adjunct piano instructor, and it seems to be a mutually beneficial employment match.

With a Doctor of Musical Arts degree newly minted from the University of Kansas School of Music (Lawrence) in May 2018, Li brings to Hesston a high-level of piano instruction for students of all ages and levels, and a passion for piano pedagogy.

“I enjoy teaching different levels of students,” said Li. “Here at Hesston, I have my college students who take lessons and they have a broad range of skill levels, including some who have never before touched a piano, but I also have availability to take on high school- and elementary-age students.”

The connections Li brings with her also fit the global engagement focus that is coming increasingly to the forefront at Hesston.

Born and raised in China, Li began studying piano at five years old with the renowned Chinese piano pedagogue, Zhaoyi Dan.

“When I was a child in China, not many people had pianos in their homes or knew musicians who could teach their kids piano,” said Li. “But my family is a musical family and I was lucky. My grandfather was a banker and also played the violin. My father is a vocalist and then became a movie producer. My father had a lot of friends who were musicians, and I was able to study with a very good piano teacher.”

After earning a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Sichuan Conservatory of Music and working as a teaching assistant for Professor Dan for four years, Li came to the United States in 2006 with a full scholarship to study at Northern Illinois University (NIU, DeKalb) under Dr. William Goldenberg. She earned a performance certificate and a master’s degree piano performance from NIU.

Li has already begun conversations with connections in China about the possibility of bringing students to Hesston to study.

“I have been talking to schools in China that are interested in working with Hesston College,” said Li. “As a two-year school, I think it’s a great place for international students who want to study in the United States to start. Many Chinese students who want to study in the U.S. just don’t know how to begin finding a place to attend. When they get here, they find a totally different culture and they don’t know how to adapt, but here at Hesston, there are so many resources for international students to help them adapt and adjust.” Also on the international front, besides performing in concert halls around the world, Li is a co-founder of the Chicago International Music Competition and Festival, which held its inaugural event in July 2018 with 70 participants from all over the world.

She will put that festival event planning experience to work in her new role as well, as she helps to plan the Hesston College Keyboard Competition: A Festival of Baroque Music slated for February 23, 2019. The festival and competition will be open to young pianists in the south central Kansas region.

As Li acclimates to her new role, she looks forward to connecting with the campus and wider communities to share her professional work, skills and more.

Li still currently resides in Lawrence and the time she spends in Hesston each week is limited to the day or two per week she teaches a class, but she is excited to connect with budding pianists in the area. She welcomes any interested students from the community or college to contact her at mei.li@hesston.edu.

College launches transcultural experience pilot program

“In the early months of my final semester at Hesston College, I sat down to lunch with President Joe Manickam, or Joe as we all call him. And in a noisy cafeteria over loaded baked potatoes he said this: ‘God loves you, Mackenzie, and Joe has a plan for your life.'”

2018 graduate Mackenzie Miller will spend the 2018-19 academic year in China as the first participant in the pilot program the college is exploring to give students more opportunities for global and career-based experiences. Through a partnership established with Mennonite Partners in China, Miller will be studying Mandarin at Nanjing Normal University, and be engaged in an internship at Zhi-mian Institute. Follow along with Mackenzie’s experience on her blog.

Athletic focus of homecoming celebration to include special alumni recognitions and community events

Hesston College’s annual homecoming celebration Sept. 27 to 30 will include a special focus on 60 years of intercollegiate Lark athletics. Along with the traditional homecoming activities, the weekend lineup includes recognitions of distinguished alumni athletes and coaches, events for the campus and wider Hesston communities and musical entertainment by bluegrass band, The Steel Wheels.

A full weekend schedule, registration and information can be found online.

Several recognitions throughout the weekend will be of particular note. At 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, the college will honor Evan Oswald, a 1948 graduate, as the founding father of Hesston College organized athletics. Oswald was instrumental in launching organized intercollegiate sports at Hesston, and served as a coach, faculty member and athletic director for many years. A multi-media presentation will give a glimpse into the athletic program’s history, and current men’s basketball coach, 2004 graduate Dustin Galyon will bring today’s programs into focus.

On Saturday, Sept. 29, the college’s soccer field will be named Sieber Field in honor of longtime coach and 1964 graduate Gerry Sieber for his many contributions to the college and Lark athletics. Sieber retired in December 2017 after more than 30 years of coaching Lark athletes. A new scoreboard bearing the Sieber Field name will be unveiled as part of the event.

Detouring from athletics, joint nursing alumni of Hesston College and Kansas City General Hospital (KCGH) nursing program from the 1950’s and 60’s will be formally recognized with the unveiling of a historical composite picture panel to be placed among the college’s more than 50 other nursing classes. The ceremony and reception will be at 10 a.m., Sept. 29 in the Lemons Center nursing facility.

As has become tradition, the college’s homecoming is held in conjunction with the Hesston community and high school. Home Sweet Hesston activities are planned with the larger community and whole family in mind.

Community-wide homecoming events include:

• Home Sweet Hesston parade, 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26
• Alumni and community art showcase and reception, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, Friesen Center for the Visual Arts
• The Manickam Mosey two-mile run/walk, 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29. Register online.
• Free kids’ festival, 5 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, lawn south of tennis courts, complete with games, bouncy houses and face painting.
• Picnic meal, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, Campus Activities Center, featuring a free Knackies picnic meal with Water’s Edge Restaurant homemade ice cream to top it off.
• The Steel Wheels in concert, 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, Hesston Mennonite Church. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students ages five through high school. All seating is general admission. Doors will open at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets at the Hesston College Bookstore in Erb Hall, online or call 620-327-8104. Any remaining tickets will be available at the door, although purchasing tickets ahead of time is strongly encouraged.

Increased global engagement a priority for new year

Just days before the official kick-off of the 2018-19 year, Hesston College unveiled a new campus feature. The Global Pathway – lightpole banners based on the flags of the 23 countries that make up this year’s student body – line the campus’ center walkway and emphasizes a collective mind toward global engagement.

A global focus is nothing new for Hesston. The college has long held the mindset, welcoming international students from its earliest days 109 years ago and fully embracing them as part of the community. Students also frequently travel to experience different cultures around the country and world, both as learning experiences and service assignments.

The arrival of President Joseph A. Manickam a year ago elevated the campus community’s global thought and action processes to the next level by building on the foundation already in place.

“Being globally engaged is unquestionably what it means to be faithful followers of Jesus, and that’s what we are at Hesston College,” said Dr. Manickam. “We can’t sit unto ourselves, in our own bubble. Hesston College has something to offer the world, and we are being beckoned to engage widely. It’s the missional mandate of following Jesus.”

New positions, job descriptions and initiatives with a global focus starting in the 2018-19 year will begin providing answers to the “What does the world need from Hesston College?” question President Manickam introduced during his first year in office.

“Many of our job shifts are to ensure we have a coordinated initiative to move all parts of campus in the same direction,” said Manickam. “It helps us better analyze the gaps in what we’re doing and shift to fill those gaps.”

The goal, Manickam noted, is to work toward mutually beneficial outcomes that moves Hesston College and its partners forward.

John Murray, who began as Director of International Admissions in 2017 and coordinated the recruitment of international students for the past year, has moved into an expanded role of Dean of Global Engagement. Murray will work intentionally across all aspects of the student experience to ensure student success. Global engagement is, itself, a new initiative in place for the fall. It goes beyond providing a good experience for international students and places a focus on appreciating the differences that exist in the community for all students – both international and domestic.

“It [global engagement] is our willingness to live in a mutually transforming environment,” wrote Manickam in an email to faculty and staff. “It is about all of us gaining greater understanding about how we interact with and learn from those different from ourselves. It is global – not domestic versus international.”

In that spirit, a new position was created to coordinate transcultural experiences. Student trips to learn and serve in a new country and culture are increasingly becoming part of the Hesston Experience. Having someone to coordinate those efforts will help the college become more effective in offering and carrying out the trips. André Swartley, who has served as director of the English as a Second Language program since 2014, was named to the role.

During the spring of 2018, the college began exploring the feasibility of creating an Intensive English Language program to increase global engagement while providing services and support for English language learners. After much research, the college’s board and administration felt that such a program fit Hesston’s mission, values and abilities well. Chandra Johnson was hired as the Intensive English Program Director and will spend the 2018-19 year developing and launching the program for fall 2019. The program will provide additional English language training to incoming Hesston College students and those attending other schools, and will serve as a resource for immigrants in the region to receive English language assistance.

Perhaps a more tangible way for current students to connect globally during the school year is the International Day of Peace that will be formally celebrated on campus in September. Known also as “Peace Day,” the celebration, established by the United Nations in 1981, is observed around the world every September 21. Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to and build a culture of peace. The college is planning activities beginning on Friday, Sept. 21, and continuing throughout the weekend, including a masterworks concert by the music department of Vaughn Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem.”

It may seem that Hesston College is blazing into territory it had previously unexplored, but Manickam notes that these initiatives are the result of work that has been in process at the college for decades.

“The reason we are able to implement these initiatives so quickly is because the community was primed for them already,” Manickam said. “This kind of global engagement is at the core of who Hesston has been all along.”

Hesston College has a history of producing graduates who serve with empathy and sensitivity. Being more intentional about global engagement will increase students’ understanding of living as global citizens and be an asset to their future careers.

“We want to continue to graduate the highest quality student we can,” said Manickam. “To provide global awareness and engagement, we must be living in that space, offering opportunities for challenge and transformation in every aspect of campus life.”

Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts series announces an eclectic year of music and performance

Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) will bring music and performance of a wide variety from around the world to south central Kansas for its 36th season.

Opening the year’s series on October 23, will be The Cashore Marionettes: Life in Motion. For more than 30 years, Joseph Cashore has designed and performed with his marionettes. The program features the marionettes in everyday scenes dealing with emotions and experiences set to music by famous composers such as Copland, Strauss and Beethoven.

The annual Christmas season performance will feature Sons of Serendip on Dec. 4. Finalists on season nine of NBC’s hit performance show, America’s Got Talent, the quartet blends a unique combination of harp, cello, piano/keyboard and voice.

Well-known and well-loved by HBPA audiences, The King’s Singers will present their “Gold50” program on Feb. 12, in celebration of the group’s 50 years of existence. The program will feature a cappella arrangements of contemporary folk songs, art songs and pop songs, exploring the music through the centuries.

The Berlin-based ensemble, Armida Quartet, will take the stage on March 5 with “Mozart Exploded.” By juxtaposing Mozart pieces with those by contemporary composers, the program re-envisions Mozart as a young, radical and modern composer. Readings of letters written by Mozart help supplement the experience.

Wrapping up the season will be singer/songwriter Ruth Moody on April 9. A member of the all-female folk group The Wailin’ Jennys, Moody’s voice and impressive multi-instrumentalism is highlighted by a talented band, providing an enchanting evening of musicianship.

HBPA season tickets are available from $80 to $90 for adults. Single tickets can also be purchased for individual performances. Discounts are available for students and senior citizens.

Performances are held on the Hesston College and Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) campuses. More information about the season and individual performances, as well as ticket information can be found online.

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, the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Area businesses and patrons provide additional funding for the HBPA series.

Area singers invited to join mass choir for Peace Day masterworks performance

Area singers are invited to join a mass choir for Hesston College’s Masterworks concert Saturday, Sept. 22. The concert, entitled “Grant Us Peace,” will be a performance of Vaughan William’s “Dona Nobis Pacem” in celebration of the International Day of Peace.

Community singers will join students and professional orchestra members for four weeks of rehearsal leading up to the concert. The rehearsal schedule and information can be found online. Choir members are requested to make a $20 donation if possible to help cover the cost of music.

Contact russell.adrian@hesston.edu or 620-327-8143 to join the choir or for questions.

The International Day of Peace (‘Peace Day” is observed around the world each year on September 21. Established in 1981 by the United Nations, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to and build a culture of peace. The 2018 Peace Day theme is “The Right to Peace,” which celebrate the 70th year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

At Hesston College, the masterworks concert will be the capstone event in a weekend of activities uniting the campus community, wider community and people everywhere.

Nachtigall to serve as athletic director

Hesston College announces the hiring of Chris Nachtigall as the Larks’ new athletic director. A 2001 graduate of Hesston College, Nachtigall holds a bachelor’s degree in sports management from Iowa Wesleyan College (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) and a master’s in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University (Irvine, Calif.).

While at Hesston, Nachtigall played baseball and soccer. “One thing I loved about my experience as an athlete at Hesston was that I could also be involved in many other things,” said Nachtigall. “I got to lead as a resident assistant and be involved in campus worship and intramurals. The experience helped shape me into a well-rounded leader on and off the field. It is what excites me about being back at Hesston – giving unique opportunities to develop young people into leaders.”

Nachtigall’s professional journey includes work as a program director, physical education teacher and high school basketball and softball coach. In 2007, he became the athletic director at Iowa Mennonite School (Kalona), overseeing the school’s 12 varsity sports while also coaching. In 2011 he moved to Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa) to become the head softball coach. During his tenure, the Red Raiders won three conference championships and Nachtigall earned a Great Plains Athletic Conference Coach of the Year award.

Nachtigall brings a family with him to Hesston – wife Marena, also a 2001 Hesston College graduate, and their three kids – son Cohen (9), and daughters Eden (6) and Ayla (3).

“Hesston College holds a special place in our families’ hearts,” said Nachtigall. “Hesston helped to mold and shape both Marena and me. We are thrilled to be moving back to a place we hold dearly.

“I am humbled for the opportunity to be the next Hesston College athletic director,” Nachtigall said. “We want to continue what has been started by building a culture of excellence that encompasses all of Hesston College Athletics. I am looking forward to stepping into those shoes.”

Hesston College is a college of the Mennonite Church USA. The Larks compete in 14 intercollegiate sports as part of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Annual race tradition to feature a participant challenge for 2018 event

Hesston College will host its annual two-mile run/walk, The Manickam Mosey, at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, during a weekend of community-wide homecoming events. The 2018 event will feature an Alumni/Community vs. Students Challenge, with the group producing the largest number of race participants laying claim to the first Manickam Mosey Challenge Trophy Cup.

The Manickam Mosey, which is named in honor of Hesston College President Dr. Joseph A. Manickam, is a tradition in its twenty-seventh year. The event gives alumni visiting the college for homecoming weekend an opportunity to be active along with students and community members while enjoying the picturesque Hesston College campus and neighboring Dyck Arboretum of the Plains.

Participants who register by Sept. 20 will pay an early entry fee of $16, which includes a race shirt and number. Starting Sept. 21, registration will be $22. Registration can be completed online.

Medals will be given to overall and age group winners, along with a chance to win door prizes.