In the News

Hesston College mourns the loss of Russ Neufeld

The Hesston College community joins a far-flung network of friends and family of Russ Neufeld in celebrating his life and mourning his death. Russ served as director of Information Technology and was well loved on campus. He died Saturday evening, January 21, after a long battle with cancer.

“We join Russ’s extensive community of friends and family in mourning,” commented Vice President of Finance and Auxiliary Services Mark Landes, Neufeld’s supervisor. “We also celebrate a tremendous person and a life well lived. It doesn’t feel like a stretch to say Russ was one of the most well-liked people working at Hesston College. People were drawn to his engaging personality and broad worldview. Russ joined the college’s IT department in June 2010 and was promoted to IT director in April 2014. He will be remembered among the Hesston College community for his caring and calm demeanor, his out-of-the-box thinking and his extensive knowledge. He knew a lot about a lot. Russ had a significant and positive impact during his short time here and will leave a wonderful legacy behind. We will miss him greatly.”

The memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27, at Hesston Mennonite Church. A reception will follow the service. During the reception, there will be an open mic time for sharing stories and memories of Russ.

For now we ask your prayers for Kendra, Ethan and Natalie and the extended Neufeld and Duerksen families in their time of grief. Honor Russ’s memory by continuing to carry out his birthday (Jan. 16) wish, posted to Facebook January 11:

So, thanks very much for your support in the myriad ways you’ve shown it. For my birthday I’d like to steal an idea from a friend and ask you to take all this love you have and share it. It only multiplies and there are so many who could use it. Whether it’s just a random act of kindness, or helping at your local homeless kitchen / shelter, or repairing broken relationships, just spread the love folks – it’s the only thing in this world that endures. We’ve received more than we could have imagined – let’s continue to spread that a little wider.

Andover Organ Series to bring world’s talent to Hesston

During the spring 2017 semester, Hesston College will host talented organists for concerts on the Andover organ at Hesston Mennonite Church. Thanks to funding by the John Ernest Foundation, the concerts, called the Andover Organ Series at Hesston College, will bring another form of fine art to south central Kansas. All concerts are free and open to the public.

The series lineup includes

• Emmanuel Arakélian, Paris, France, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. Born in Avignon, France, Arakélian is a student at the Paris Conservatoire, with emphasis on organ and harpsichord. He is currently on a six-month residency at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, La.
• Kevin J. Vaughn, South Bend, Ind., March 21, at 7 p.m. Vaughn is director of music and organist at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (South Bend), instructor of organ at Goshen (Ind.) College and adjunct professor of piano and organ at the University of Notre Dame (Ind.).
• Shayla Van Hal and Bethan Johnson, April 21, at 7 p.m. Van Hal and Johnson are graduate students at the University of Kansas (Lawrence).

Hesston College announces fall 2016 Dean’s List, Honor Roll

Hesston College announced the names of full-time students whose fall 2016 semester grades earned them a place on the Dean’s List (3.90 to 4.00 GPA) and Honor Roll (3.50 to 3.89 GPA).

Dean’s List – Freshmen

Jenna Boller, Kalona, Iowa
Anna Breckbill, Kidron, Ohio
Kylie Brenneman, Hesston, Kan.
Lucas Comfort, Salina, Kan.
Jeremy Deckinger, Wichita, Kan.
Ashley Doggett, Carlsbad, N.M.
Joy Driver, Rockingham, Va.
Andre Eanes, Harrisburg, Va.
John Ebaugh, Holtwood, Pa.
Elizabeth Eichelberger, Geneva, Neb.
Emma Eitzen, Lititz, Pa.
Shota Funazaki, Japan
Autumn Gehman, Adams, Tenn.
Casey Hertzler, Rockingham, Va.
Luke Hertzler, Harrisonburg, Va.
Kayleigh Johnson, Smithfield, Utah
Katelyn Kilmer, Goshen, Ind.
Levi Litwiller, Hopedale, Ill.
Gaitan Lleshi, Hesston, Kan.
Nicole Loewen, Hutchinson, Kan.
Chloe McNiel, Valley Center, Kan.
Alicen Meysing, Canton, Kan.
Elizabeth Miller, Archbold, Ohio
Mackenzie Miller, Lancaster, Pa.
Sarah Miller, Marion, S.D.
Josie Noll, Atchinson, Kan.
Miho Okuda, Chiba-ken, Japan
Ryan Oostland, Goshen, Ind.
Jasmine Pankratz, Abbyville, Kan.
Monica Plank, Marion, Kan.
Rebecca Reutzel, Topeka, Kan.
Kendall Richardson, Lodi, Calif.
Grace Roth, Goshen, Ind.
Shalee Rowley, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jaelyn Rufenacht, Archbold, Ohio
Mariah Trible, Valley Center, Kan.
Sadie Winter, Newton, Kan.
Noah Yoder, Harrisonburg, Va.

Dean’s List – Sophomores

Cheri Baer, Apple Creek, Ohio
Cassidy Bontrager,, Wellman, Iowa
Rachel Brown, McKinney, Texas
Elena Buckwalter, Fulks Run, Va.
Renee Buckwalter, Wellman, Iowa
Tori Byler, Belleville, Pa.
Olivia Copsey, Goshen, Ind.
Tanner Daniel, El Dorado Springs, Mo.
Silas Driver, Harrisonburg, Va.
Nicholas Eichelberger, Geneva, Neb.
Kyle Good, Harrisonburg, Va.
Emily Griffioen, Belmond, Iowa
Brittany Hochstetler, Ogema, Minn.
Jonae Hochstetler, Ogema, Minn.
Adele Hofer, Greenwood Village, Colo.
Chanhee Hwang, Gyeonggi-do, Korea
Allison Jantzi, Newton, Kan.
Jacqueline Jones, Goddard, Kan.
Stasia Majerick, North Liberty, Iowa
Sophia Miller, Newton, Kan.
Jessanna Nebel, Hesston, Kan.
Tyler Nissley, Elizabethtown, Pa.
Curtis Oesch, Caldwell, Idaho
Trever Oyer, Hubbard, Ore.
Ana Penner Heide, Cuauhtemoc, Mexico
Bailyn Piecewicz, Spokane, Wash.
William Calvin Plank, Marion, Kan.
Kathryn Roth, Wauseon, Ohio
Jonah Short-Miller, Bellingham, Wash.
Vanessa Steckly, Milford, Neb.
Lilian Trifena, Hesston, Kan.
Kristin Troyer, Shickley, Neb.
Allyson Vogt, Hesston, Kan.
Naomi Wright, Calhan, Colo.
Yedidiya Zewdu, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dean’s List – Juniors

Brooke Hershberger, Goshen, Ind.
Raven Norris, Maize, Kan.

Dean’s List – Seniors

Kelsey Anderson, McPherson, Kan.
Crystal Burgess, Los Angeles, Calif.
Meredith Burkhart, Newton, Kan.
Samantha McElroy, Wichita, Kan.

Honor Roll – Freshmen

Landon Baer, North Lima, Ohio
Savannah Bontrager, Milford, Neb.
Daisuke Chiba, Aikawa, Japan
Santino Cuellar, Newton, Kan.
Nebiyat Demissie, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tyler Huffman, Goshen, Ind.
James Hunter, Lenexa, Kan.
Jeffrey Kauffman, Hutchinson, Kan.
David Ladwig, Wichita, Kan.
Jose Lezama Mendoza, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Cooper Morgan, Dacula, Ga.
Zachary Neely, Ada, Okla.
Patricia Oliver, Wichita, Kan.
Jacques Palmer, Arlington, Texas
Garrett Roth, Hesston, Kan.
Dylan Schoknecht, Woodstock, Ga.
Carissa Slabach, Newton, Kan.
Kyle Stucky, Moundridge, Kan.
Austin Troyer, Rockingham, Va.
Haley Unruh, Wilmore, Kan.
Jiayi Wang, China
Ashley Yasin, Lake Isabella, Calif.
Payton, Yehnert, Parker, Colo.
Lindsey Yoder, Millersburg, Ohio

Honor Roll – Sophomores

Meron Ageze, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Heath Agnew, Mountain City, Texas
Wyatt Baer, Marshallville, Ohio
Madeline Black, Hesston, Kan.
Sarah Booth, Newton, Kan.
Alyssa Booton, Lehigh, Kan.
Erin Brubaker, Goessel, Kan.
Christian Buerge, Garden City, Kan.
Aby Byler, Harrisonburg, Va.
Christina Kauffman, West Liberty, Ohio
Jeffrey Kauffman, Hutchinson, Kan.
Jimmy Kim, Gunpo, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Cierra King, Cochranville, Pa.
Riley Kingsley, North Newton, Kan.
Myrella Lopez, Newton, Kan.
Nelson Martinez, Port Saint Lucie, Fla.
Emily McMichael, Fort Worth, Texas
Marianna Meza, Valley Center, Kan.
Anna Miller, Millersburg, Ohio
Hannah Miller, Parnell, Iowa
April Newfield, Peabody, Kan.
Madison Roberts, Valley Center, Kan.
Guershon Safari, Boise, Idaho
Emma Schrock, Lakewood, Colo.
Kaitlyn Shaw, Newton, Kan.
Graham Stauffer, Hesston, Kan.
Allyson Steiner, Peoria, Ariz.
Taryn Wallace, Hesston, Kan.
Madison Wedel, Newton, Kan.
Moira Wells, Elbert, Colo.
Gabriela Willis, Rusk, Texas
 

Honor Roll – Juniors

Jaren Allen, Cheney, Kan.
Geoffrey Bell, Andover, Kan.
Jaymee Bowers, Goshen, Ind.
Megan Coon, Inman, Kan.
Brianna Gouvion, Newton, Kan.
Alyssa Graber, Wolford, N.D.
Kendra Honeycutt, Lincoln, Calif.
Hannah Howe, Bel Aire, Kan.
Nicole Janssen, McPherson, Kan.
Ciara Kroeker, Hutchinson, Kan.
Dakoda Lee, Boise, Idaho
Katelyn McFarland, Clearwater, Kan.
Desiree Newman, Archbold, Ohio
Michelle Nguyen, Wichita, Kan.
Gretchen Nisly, Hutchinson, Kan.
Bailey Osborn, Valley Center, Kan.
Amber Partin, Derby, Kan.
Alicia Ramirez, Albuquerque, N.M.
Frank Reese, Bel Aire, Kan.
Chase Spencer, Ochelata, Okla.
Kendra Stang, Wichita, Kan.
 

Honor Roll – Seniors

Kelly Ahne, Maize, Kan.
Rebekah Bell, Wichita, Kan.
Laura Blosser, Hesston, Kan.
Lisa Brady, Wichita, Kan.
Rebecca Engberg, Wichita, Kan.
Amie Geist, Wichita, Kan.
Lauren Guhr, Newton, Kan.
Ashley Herrman, Park City, Kan.
Manisa Howell, Park City, Kan.
Samantha Jones, Wichita, Kan.
Ann Nguyen, Wichita, Kan.
Kezia Peterson-Sommer, Sterling, Kan.
Kristen Rimer, Bel Aire, Kan.
Beth Schurz, Phillipsburg, Kan.
Paige Winget, Wichita, Kan.

First RN to BSN class marks a new start in college’s history

Aside from the start of spring semester classes for all students, Wednesday, January 11, 2017, marked a historic day at Hesston College as 27 students gathered in Lemons Center 1 as the first group of nurses in the college’s new RN to BSN program.

“We as faculty and staff are very excited about officially launching our RN to BSN program today,” said Bonnie Sowers, director of Nursing Education. “The start of this program is a historic moment for Hesston College Nursing and the college in general as we are able to serve students in new ways.”

None of the students are new to Hesston College – all 27 just happen to have previously graduated from Hesston’s associate degree nursing program (ADN) and have returned to take the next step in their education and professional development.

“Today truly feels like a family reunion – with new opportunities to reconnect with our amazing nursing alumni,” said Sowers. “The spirit in our department is positive and our graduates’ excitement about starting this next step in their professional journey is palpable. We are grateful for God’s continual leading and presence within our nursing program.”

While most of the students are local to south central Kansas, one student believes so much in Hesston’s nursing program that she will make a monthly three-hour commute from the Kansas City area.

“Bonnie and the rest of the faculty take a genuine interest in their students and go the extra mile to make sure we have everything we need,” said Amy Jantz, who graduated from Hesston with her ADN in 2006 and now works as an RN at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. “My experience here the first time was wonderful, so when I heard I could finish my bachelor’s here as well, it was an easy decision.”

Jantz said the nursing industry’s shift to requiring RNs to have a bachelor’s degree is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Kansas City metro area. While she could have had her choice of RN to BSN programs in closer proximity or programs that operate completely online, Jantz decided Hesston’s value-added program was worth the commute.

“People here truly care,” said Jantz. “They know your name and your story and they are committed to seeing you succeed. It’s also good to be able to integrate with the rest of the class face-to-face on a regular basis – to get to know them. It’s harder to have online discussions or do group work when you don’t know the other people or even what they look like.”

Hesston’s RN to BSN program is a hybrid that meets both online and on campus. Students who are enrolled full time meet on campus for a full day twice a month, and part-time students meet one full day on campus each month. Full-time students are on a one year completion track, while part time students will complete the program in two years.

Hesston launched the bachelor of science in nursing program in Fall 2015 in response to industry goals that 80 percent of RNs have a BSN by 2020. New RN to BSN classes will start at Hesston every January.

Recital to showcase faculty talent

Hesston College music faculty members will showcase their talents in a recital at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The recital is free and open to the public.

Recital performers include:

• Seth Girton, cello
• Howard Glanton and Excier Rodriquez, guitar duo
• Ken Rodgers, organ
• Matthew Schloneger, tenor
• Rebecca Schloneger, violin
• Kristin Shaffer, flute
• The Sunflower Trio (Ken Rodgers and Matthew and Rebecca Schloneger)

Since Hesston College’s founding in 1909, music has been an important part of the campus culture, and the college consistently produces outstanding ensembles and musicians. The music academic division includes four full-time faculty members – Rodgers, Matthew Schloneger, Rebecca Schloneger and Russell Adrian – and ten adjunct faculty members who teach specific instruments.

Hesston College student music ensembles include the Bel Canto Singers, Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Orchestra and the Screaming Larks Pep Band.

AVDS conference to focus on resilience and healing in the face of trauma

A Hesston College conference will tackle the difficult and painful reality of dealing with trauma in its many forms in church and community settings. The annual Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) conference will be Feb. 17 to 19, on the Hesston College campus. The theme, “When the Unthinkable Happens,” will address a congregational and community response to situations that span natural disasters to domestic or sexual abuse to a mass shooting or other traumas.

Following the conference on Monday, Feb. 20, Hesston College and Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Central States will co-sponsor a STAR-Lite (Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience) training event.

“We are very pleased at Hesston College, along with our partner sponsors, to bring this important and timely conference to the area and to serve churches and communities across the country” said Dallas Stutzman, director of Alumni and Church Relations.

Keynote presenters for the weekend are Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe, founder and director of the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth (Santa Barbara, Calif.), Dr. Donna Minter, founder and executive director of the Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute (Minneapolis), and Kevin King, executive director of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). Personal stories of facing the unthinkable will be part of the weekend as well as an outstanding list of “Facing the unthinkable with resiliency” seminars from local and national presenters.

The focus of the weekend will be to prepare all people – pastors, laypersons, community leaders, emergency responders and others – for any kind of traumatic event. Participants will learn key principles and practices for responding to the trauma with resiliency, hope and healing.

“Through processes of preparing for trauma, individuals and groups practice skills to sustain capacities for health and build relationships they can truly rely on when they need them most,” said Dr. Wiebe. “In a troubled world, these practices are critical.”

In advance of the conference, attendees are encouraged to read The Little Book of Trauma Healing: When Violence Strikes and Community Security is Threatened, by Carolyn Yoder, founding STAR director. The book is available for purchase through Amazon.com at a nominal price. Books will also be available at no cost locally through Hesston College and the Hesston Public Library thanks to a grant from the Hesston Community Foundation. A variety of other preparatory reads will be suggested through the college and library websites.

Ted & Company TheaterWorks, led by veteran actor Ted Swartz, will show how humor and laughter can aid the healing process in a 7 p.m. show, Saturday, Feb. 18, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. “Just Give ’Em the News” is the theater company’s Christmas show, with a common analogy of dark to light during the Advent season also being applicable in the case of trauma events – from trauma to resilience. Non-conference attendees can purchase show tickets for $12 per adult at the door or at the Hesston College Bookstore. Youth through high school-age are free.

The Feb. 20 STAR-Lite training is a research- and practice-supported peacebuilding training led by Dr. Minter. STAR integrates neuropsychology, trauma healing and resilience, restorative justice, non-violent conflict transformation and broadly defined spirituality for the healing and empowerment of lives and communities.

The training is eligible for 6.5 continuing education units (CEUs) for all categories of mental health providers, teachers and nurses and 5.5 CLEs for attorneys, as well as public continuing education. Prairie View, Inc. (Newton, Kan.) will provide certification for the STAR-Lite training.

Full schedules and registration information for the Feb. 17 to 19 AVDS conference and the Feb. 20 STAR-Lite training can be found at hesston.edu/avds. Individual registration for the weekend is $100 with discounts available for groups of two or more from the same church or organization. STAR-Lite training registration is $85 per person. Registrations are due by Friday, Feb. 10.

Call the Hesston College Church Relations Office with questions at 620-327-8109 or toll-free at 866-437-7866.

Sponsors for the AVDS weekend include Hesston Mennonite Church, Whitestone Mennonite Church, South Central Mennonite Conference, Western District Mennonite Conference, Everence, Mennonite Church USA Peace and Justice Support Network, Mennonite Disaster Service and the Hesston Community Foundation.

College’s Sexual Misconduct and Interpersonal Safety Task Force assembled

Hesston College announced that its Sexual Misconduct and Interpersonal Safety Task Force has been assembled and will have its first meeting and begin its work in December.

The task force, which is independent of board and administrative control or oversight, is being led by facilitator Dr. Jeanette Harder, a social work professor at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and a researcher, author and trainer in violence prevention. She is also the co-founder and board president for Dove’s Nest, a faith-based organization whose mission is to keep children and youth safe in faith communities. Other members of the task force include three members at arms’ length from Hesston College, and three Hesston College faculty or staff members.

“I am pleased to play a part in making Hesston College a safer campus for all,” said Dr. Harder. “Campus leaders have been very forthcoming with needed information for this work, and I anticipate a positive and healthy process.”

The task force’s responsibilities as outlined in the group’s purpose statement is to “conduct an independent objective assessment upon which to make recommendations to Hesston College’s Administrative Council and Board of Directors for policies and procedures that, when implemented, will create a healthy culture of interpersonal safety at Hesston College.”

Hesston College’s work toward establishing an outside task force for work with sexual misconduct policies and procedures began in April 2016 with discussions on the need to assess strengths and areas for growth. In May, the Hesston College Board of Directors authorized the establishment of the task force and college administrators and board members began conversations with organizations and individuals that could provide insight and assistance to the work at hand.

Assessments will include conducting a review of Hesston College history, policies, and past and current practices, examining other institutions’ work in this area, opening a safe and confidential path for hearing stories and ensuring access to services for those in need.

In addition to the task force, safehope will operate as a separate, safe, confidential and professional group to listen and respond to victims who may come forward during the process. Safehope is a local advocacy and assistant organization for sexual assault victims in Harvey, McPherson and Marion counties of Kansas.

Hesston College has partnered with safehope for a little more than a year in providing a 24-hour crisis hotline, individual counseling, support, information and referrals. Safehope staff hold office hours on campus one day per week.

The task force will meet with faculty, staff and students in spring 2017 as part of the collection and assessment period. The task force anticipates making its final recommendations to Hesston College by October 2017.

Questions or feedback for the task force may be directed to Dr. Harder at HesstonCollegeTaskForce@gmail.com. Safehope can be contacted to hear and respond to victims at 316-283-0350.

Dr. Joseph Manickam named ninth president of Hesston College

Dr. Joseph Manickam has been appointed as the ninth president of Hesston College following a unanimous vote from the Hesston College Board of Directors and the Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) board. He will assume office on July 1, 2017.

Dr. Manickam, currently director of the Institute of Religion, Culture and Peace and faculty member for peace studies at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, previously served in Thailand for three years with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) Canada as director of the Central-Southern and Northeast Asia Program. Earlier in his career, he was director of the MCC Asia Program and associate director of the Center for Anabaptist Leadership in California.

His selection culminates a year-long process led by a 12-member presidential search committee composed of board members, faculty, staff, alumni and others, and chaired by Hesston College Board of Directors vice chair Ken G Kabira.

“The search committee is delighted that Dr. Manickam received a very strong affirmation from Hesston College’s campus community,” Kabira said. “He received a 98 percent ‘yes’ vote on the question about his candidacy. Since its formation in November 2015 and the kickoff meeting in January 2016, the search committee has spent many hours prayerfully vetting candidates’ strengths, Dr. Joseph Manickamfit and motivation to serve as Hesston College’s next president. As his predecessors have done, we are convinced that Dr. Manickam will strengthen Hesston College’s Christ-centered Anabaptist education. We are thankful for the Lord who has led us to this outcome.”

In its search process, the committee said it prioritized finding an “imaginative innovator” and “collaborative leader” and someone with “an astute financial mindset” along with a deep faith and sense of call.

Dr. Manickam had been announced in late October as the college’s candidate of choice for its presidency. He visited the campus Nov. 7 and 8 and met with faculty, staff, students, board members and local church and community leaders. The search committee gathered feedback from the various groups following the visit before making its final recommendation.

“Following a very positive visit to Hesston College, the Hesston College Board of Directors voted unanimously to recommend the appointment of Dr. Joe Manickam as the ninth president of Hesston College,” Hesston College Board of Directors chair Kelvin Friesen said. “We are thankful to the presidential search committee for their work over the past year, and we are very thankful that Joe and his wife, Wanda, have accepted this call. We look forward to their arrival.”

MEA Board chair Dr. Judy Miller likewise thanked the search committee and Kabira for their dedication and thoroughness.

“Their excellent work and discernment has led to an ideal candidate to build on a strong foundation at Hesston College,” Miller said.

Dr. Manickam succeeds Dr. Howard Keim, who concluded more than 11 years as president in June. Dr. Benjamin E. Sprunger has been serving as interim president for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Dr. Manickam comes with a strong knowledge of Hesston College and the broader community, as he is a 1987 Hesston College alumnus and served five years as associate director of admissions.

He earned a bachelor’s in communications from Goshen (Ind.) College and an M.A. and Ph.D. in intercultural studies from Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, Calif.). He has also previously served on the boards of The Mennonite and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (Elkhart, Ind.).

The search committee praised Dr. Manickam’s relational abilities and his strong intercultural competency, which have been common threads in his work. His doctoral dissertation at Fuller focused on “A Study of Race, Culture and Ethnicity in Mennonite Church USA.”

“The value of Mennonite education is recognized across faiths and in the broader world community,” said Carlos Romero, MEA executive director. “Dr. Manickam’s commitment to provide a quality Anabaptist education for all and his significant international, cross-cultural and interfaith experience will help Hesston College as it faces the challenges of the future.”

Dr. Manickam noted that the coming year marks the 30th anniversary of his graduation from Hesston College, but he found many of the school’s hallmarks unchanged.

“Hesston College has evolved during these past 30 years while remaining true to its core values—values that strive to shape students, staff and faculty into fluent translators of Christ’s love. It is for this reason that I am excited about my return to Hesston College,” Dr. Manickam said. “I am truly humbled and grateful for the trust the board of directors has expressed in inviting me to this position.”

Photo release - Giving thanks at Hesston College

Hesston College celebrated its 49th annual Thanksgiving Weekend on campus Nov. 24 to 26. The weekend was full of activities and entertainment for the whole family, many of which have become beloved traditions.

Featured photo: The Thanksgiving evening Masterworks concert was “A Downton Abbey Christmas,” featuring holiday music by British composers themed around the popular British television series. The 61-voice choir and full orchestra made up of Hesston College students and community musicians, was directed by Dr. Russell Adrian, Hesston College music faculty member.

photos - (left) A group of 217 runners, walkers and joggers ranging in age from 3 to 91 begin the 25th two-mile run/walk on the day after Thanksgiving, named the Benjamin Bolt for 2016 in honor of interim president Ben Sprunger. Richmond Stoltzfus, a prospective student from Shipshewana, Ind., won the race with a time of 10:30; (right) Deb Roth, Dean of Student Success (right), talks through a two-year plan of study with prospective students and admissions counselor Carley Wyse (left) during a Friday Experience Expo, highlighting academic and extracurricular opportunities at Hesston.