In the News

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.

Thanksgiving concert, “A Downton Abbey Christmas,” to kick off holiday season

A Hesston Thanksgiving tradition, Hesston College Music and Theatre will present the annual masterworks concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 24, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The program, “A Downton Abbey Christmas,” will feature holiday music by English composers themed around the popular British television show.

Hesston College music faculty member, Dr. Russell Adrian, will conduct the chorus made up of three Hesston College choirs and community participants, along with full orchestra accompaniment. Hesston theatre students will act out short scenes under the direction of Rachel Jantzi, theatre faculty member.

Prior to the concert, at 6:40 p.m., there will be a viewing of a Christmas episode of Downton Abbey.

Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and can be purchased at the door or in advance at the Hesston College Bookstore, 620-327-8104.

Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts holiday concert to feature premier men’s vocal ensemble

Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts (HBPA) will welcome Cantus to the stage for a performance in celebration of the Christmas season at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

The program, “Christmas with Cantus,” draws on traditions passed from parent to child or friend to friend. A description of the holiday program states, “While they [traditions] may seem timeless, we are reminded that our loved ones are not. With holiday favorites, Biebl’s beloved “Ave Maria,” and music from across five centuries, Cantus explores the meaning behind traditions and discovers the wonder anew in those experiencing it for the first time.”

Lauded by Fanfare as the “premier men’s vocal ensemble in the United States,” Cantus is one of only two professional male choruses in the country, the other being another HBPA favorite, Chanticleer.

The eight-voice ensemble, based in Minneapolis-St.Paul, Minn., is known worldwide for its trademark warmth in a repertoire spanning the Renaissance to the 21st century. The group’s hometown Star Tribune identifies the ensemble as “intellectually, emotionally and musically rich.”

Cantus performs more than 60 concerts a year in national and international venues, including some of the country’s biggest stages, such as Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, Atlanta’s Spivey Hall and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. The group also has released 17 albums on its self-titled label.

Founded on the ideals of collaborative music-making, the group strives in its performances to engage the audience and give voice to the shared human experience. Likewise, the musicians are committed to ensuring the future of ensemble singing by mentoring young singers and educators and engaging with students at every stage of their musical development through master classes, lecture demonstrations and guided performances.

HBPA reserved seating and general admission tickets for Cantus’ Dec. 3 performance are available online, by calling 620-327-8158 or in the Hesston College bookstore in Erb Hall or in Bethel College’s (North Newton, Kan.) Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center during regular business hours. Prices range from $23 to $27 with discounts available for students and senior citizens.

Remaining concerts in the 2016-17 HBPA season are South Africa’s a cappella men’s group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Feb. 7, in Bethel College’s Memorial Hall; Montréal Guitare Trio, March 4, in Bethel’s Krehbiel Auditorium; and string quintet Sybarite5, April 20, at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Cantus’ HBPA performance is funded in part by the cities of Hesston and North Newton, Excel Industries and Hustler Turf Equipment (Hesston), the Hesston Community Foundation, the North Newton Community Foundation and area businesses and patrons.

Voice students finish among top at singing competition

Hesston College voice students competed among the best collegiate vocalists in a four-state region at the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) West Central Region Vocal Competition Nov. 5 to 6, at Wichita (Kan.) State University. Nine students represented Hesston College during the weekend competition with four advancing to the semifinal round.

More than 400 student auditions were part of the competition in classical and musical theatre divisions. Students from colleges and universities of all sizes in Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming compete against one another in the same class level and gender.

Two Hesston students placed in their divisions. Freshman Mackenzie Miller, Lancaster, Pa., placed fourth in Freshman/Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre. Sophomore Billy Bass, Yoder, Kan., placed fourth in Freshman Men’s Classical.

Four students advanced out of preliminary rounds to the semifinal round, including McKenzie Miller, Freshman Women’s Classical; sophomore Morgan Leavy, Telford, Pa., Freshman/Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre; and freshman Shalee Rowley, Colorado Springs, Colo., Freshman/Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre.

Miller and Leavy were selected to sing in master classes for Classical and Musical Theater respectively.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, Bass, Miller and freshman Anna Breckbill (Kidron, Ohio) competed at the second annual Tabor College (Hillsboro, Kan.) Voice Festival and Competition. Miller placed first in the Collegiate Musical Theater Division, and Bass was a top three finalist in the same division.

Free Lark basketball and activities as part of fall 2016 Alumni/Community Basketball Night

The Hesston College campus community invites alumni and the public to Alumni/Community Basketball Night, Thursday, Nov. 17, at Yost Center on the Hesston College campus. The event will feature Lark women’s and men’s basketball games, activities, entertainment and fun for the whole family. Admission is free.

The evening will begin at 5:30 p.m., when the Lark women take on Washburn University JV. The Washburn Ichabod JV squad is coached by 2006 Hesston High School and 2008 Hesston College alumnus Todd Stutzman. The men’s game will follow at 7:30 p.m. against Northern Oklahoma-Enid at 7:30 p.m.

Activities include Lark tattoos, candy treats and pop-a-shot fun for kids, concession specials for all and gifts and prizes for high school students from Hesston College Admissions. The Lark women and first-year coach Jeff Jacobs will also be signing team posters.

Nursing program ranked #11 in the country

The Hesston College Nursing program has been named one of the country’s top nursing schools, coming in at number 11, among vocational, career and community colleges in the NursingSchoolsAlmanc.com’s inaugural rankings.

The ranking places Hesston College Nursing in the top one percent of more than 3,200 schools considered, 1,900 of which fall into the vocational, career and community college category. Only four percent of schools considered made the list. Hesston also received the highest ranking of any private or public, two-year or four-year Kansas college or university on the nation-wide lists.

“This ranking confirms the internal strengths of our Associate Degree Nursing program, which have been noted by faculty, graduates and our healthcare community over time,” said Bonnie Sowers, director of Nursing Education.

NursingSchoolsAlmanac.com provides the web’s most comprehensive and analytical resource for aspiring nurses to select their nursing school. The criteria used to determine the rankings included the institution’s academic prestige and perceived value, the breadth and depth of nursing programs offered and student success, particularly on the NCLEX-RN national licensure exam. Hesston College offers several tracks and degree options for nursing students, including an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) and RN to BSN degree completion program that will begin in January 2017.

The college first launched the ADN program in 1966, and over the last 50 years, more than 1,600 students have graduated, with 98 percent of graduates passing the NCLEX-RN and becoming registered nurses. Due to industry demand, the BSN program was added in fall 2015.

“When developing our new BSN program, faculty were determined to retain the central strengths of the ADN program and then to build upon those strengths with additional competencies expected of BSN graduates,” said Sowers. “Faculty and students are excited that the new BSN program has been built on such a strong tradition that has served our nursing students and the healthcare community so well for the past 50 years.”