In the News

Masterworks Remembers Tony Brown with a Tribute Concert

This year’s Masterworks concert presented by the Hesston College music department has a personal significance to the Hesston community. The memory of Hesston College alumnus and former employee Tony Brown will be honored with a concert titled Peacing it Together: A Tribute to Tony Brown. The performance takes place November 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church. A pre-concert life story sharing will be given by former college employees John Sharp and Dallas Stutzman and current music professor Ken Rodgers at 7 p.m.

The concert will honor Brown’s lifelong pursuit of peace building through music. Masterworks chorus and orchestra, along with soloists Dr. Holly Swartzendruber and Keith Harris, will perform compositions Brown held dear to his heart. Selected works include a scene from “Elijah” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Old American Songs” by Aaron Copland and a wide collection of spirituals and art songs.

Swartzendruber, a professor in the Hesston College music department, has performed numerous operatic roles and has sung soprano solos in Handel’s “Messiah,” the Brahms “Requiem” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” In addition to her work at Hesston, Swartzendruber teaches private voice lessons to area high school students, leads voice performance classes and adjudicates regionally and statewide.

Harris, a close personal friend and colleague of Brown, has an impressive list of credits including performances with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Israeli Opera, Teatro Comunale Bolzano, Seattle Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Lyrique en Mer France, Opera Tampa, Toledo Opera and is a frequent soloist at Carnegie Hall and the theaters at Lincoln Center. His album Keep on Climbing, a collection of inspirational and religious music, can be found on iTunes and Amazon and his book “The Odds Against: Finding the advantage in your disadvantage,” also available on Amazon, discusses his journey with dyslexia and becoming a professional singer. Harris is a sought-after voice teacher, choral conductor, voice over artist and jingle singer.

A member of the college’s class of 1969, Brown returned to campus in fall 2000 to teach sociology and anthropology and serve as artist in residence at Hesston. In the nearly 20 years Brown spent at Hesston, he touched the lives of so many people in the community and across the globe. Brown died May 22, 2023 after a brief illness.

College Explores International Partnerships Through Workshops in Indonesia

Hesston College took a step toward expanding its international connections by leading workshops at three Indonesian universities this past summer.

The workshops, led by Heidi Hochstetler, Hesston College education and English for Speakers of Other Languages professor, were arranged with help from Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) staff in Indonesia and the Institute for Indonesian Partnerships.

“The vision was to connect with universities in a different part of the world to find ways that we can help each other through academic partnerships,” says Hochstetler.

Through a year of planning, Hesston College organizers and their connections in Indonesia identified three universities that seemed to have the most interesting connections for Hesston to explore. Hochstetler’s week-long workshops at each of the universities focused on English language instruction, education instruction or a combination of the two areas that the institutions identified as providing the most benefit for their faculty and students. The universities Hochstetler visited were Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana in Salatiga, Central Java; Universitas Kristen Wira Wacana Sumba in Waingapu, Sumba; and Universitas Nusa Cendana in Kupang, Timor.

Hochstetler’s workshops were tailored specifically to the needs the university expressed. At the first university in Central Java, she worked with faculty across multiple disciplines to feel more prepared and confident to teach in English.

“They are already experts in their disciplines, and they primarily teach in Indonesian, but the university has future plans to offer more subjects and even complete degree programs in English,” Hochstetler says. “This workshop was to build the faculty’s confidence and abilities to teach their discipline in English.”

At the second workshop on the island of Sumba, the university was interested in having support for faculty to write and publish in English. The final workshop on the island of Timor was presented to junior- and senior-level university students who are studying to teach English as a profession.

All of the workshops included interactive and collaborative work so attendees could practice with and learn from one another as well as from the instruction presented.

“In the U.S., we know that our students represent many cultural backgrounds, but it’s exponentially larger in Indonesia because growing up on a different island can mean speaking a different language,” Hochstetler says. “The Indonesian universities understand how multicultural their student body is, so it was interesting to see how they navigate providing the necessary support for that.”

Hesston College has long placed importance on intercultural engagement as a vital part of the student and human experience. Since the first international students arrived at Hesston in the mid-1940s the college has built a vibrant international student program. In 2022, international students from 21 countries made up 18 percent of total student enrollment.

Hochstetler was encouraged by the summer workshops, and looks forward to the engagement that could develop between Hesston College and its Indonesian counterparts.

“For Hesston College, this trip felt like a good first step in forming mutually beneficial partnerships between our institutions,” adds Hochstetler. “I think there are some really good options, like having students work on projects together or providing study abroad opportunities.”

School of Nursing Sets Record First Time NCLEX Pass Rate

Hesston College School of Nursing Class of 2023

The Hesston College School of Nursing has consistently been among the top programs in the state of Kansas, and the graduating class of 2023 set the bar even higher. Nursing faculty celebrated with the 33 graduates of the class of 2023 over their 97 percent first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurses or NCLEX.

While the School of Nursing’s first-time pass rates are consistently above the national average, this is the program’s highest first-time pass rate since the first BSN class graduated in 2017. By September, all May graduates had achieved the licensure goal for a 100 percent overall pass rate.

“We celebrate and congratulate our most recent graduates for their great first-time pass rate,” remarked program director Gregg Schroeder. “Their success was not a surprise for us, our students were prepared and worked hard for that success.”

Schroeder and the rest of the faculty spent the year prior adjusting to the new style of NCLEX which was officially rolled out in April 2023.

“We created scenarios, added new test questions and varied techniques to enhance their clinical judgment,” explains Schroeder. “We continue to be committed to the success of our graduates.”

One Generous Donation Meets the Needs of Both Parties

Glenda (Shirk) ’83 Kauffman (second from left) with Hesston College engineering professor Sattar Ali and engineering students Tana Hayworth (Lincoln, Kan.) and Devin Miller (Hesston, Kan.)

A recent request for donations made by the Hesston College engineering department ended up blessing the donor as much as the college.

The engineering department at Hesston College made a request to the community for donations of electric wheelchairs or scooters to be used in student projects, and alumna Glenda (Shirk) ’83 Kauffman was one of the donors who answered the call. After the recent passing of her parents, Kauffman was unsure what she should do with her father’s scooter, but this request made it clear.

“It is really such a blessing,” admits Kauffman. “This is something that has been weighing on my mind for the past 18 months. I just couldn’t in good conscience junk it, but at the same time couldn’t find anyone who needed it or would take it!”

Kauffman attempted to donate the scooter to other causes, but due to liability constraints, the organizations could not accept it.

Program director Johann Reimer and the rest of the engineering department were overwhelmed with the responses they received, including Kauffman’s, and are grateful for how the Hesston College community supports one another.

“The Hesston College School of Engineering is so happy for the support we received from Glenda as well as others who made donations,” says Reimer. “This donation will allow our engineering students to do some hands-on work creating either a remote control lawn mower or some other kind of mobile robotic platform.”

Reimer says the scooter will be taken apart and various parts and components will be stripped off to be used in students’ finished designs as part of the Fundamentals of Mechatronics course, a sophomore-level design course.

New Student Headcount is Up for Fall 2023

Hesston College’s recent release of the 20th-day enrollment numbers shows new student headcount is up for the first time since before the pandemic.

While overall attendance dipped slightly to 308 from 325 last year, the report shows the total number of new students has increased to 151 from 144 in the fall of 2022. This is the first increase Hesston College has experienced since the 2019-20 academic year.

Grant Myers, vice president of enrollment management, is pleased with the uptick in numbers and credits a team effort for the positive shift.

“The enrollment team did a great job contacting students, building relationships and providing guidance through the admissions process,” Myers says. “It was truly a team effort with collaboration between multiple departments that allowed us to take this step in the right direction.”

The number of new students from Kansas rose 17 percent from 57 to 69 this fall while the number of out of state students rose 26 percent from 61 to 82. Hesston also saw an increase in the total number of enrolled students from Kansas reach 134 this fall compared to 122 last year. While the total number of international students did see a decrease from 59 to 50 students this year, Hesston’s retention rate is holding steady at 66 percent.

Steel Magnolias Performance Emphasizes the Importance of Strong Relationships

Hesston College Theatre will highlight the resilience of strong relationships in their fall play production of “Steel Magnolias” from Sept. 28 through Oct. 1. With lessons about patience, understanding and love, it is a show that audience members will find emotionally engaging. Please note: While this show is full of laughter and love, it deals with some heavier themes of illness, loss of a child, breakups and breakdowns which may not be appreciated or understood by younger audience members. Performances will be held in the Keim Center Black Box Theater at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Set in a Louisiana beauty shop, “Steel Magnolias” is the story of six wonderful women who share a fierce loyalty to one another through haircuts and hardships. This comedic drama focuses keenly on M’Lynn and the push/pull she has with Shelby, her headstrong, loving daughter. When their family experiences a tragedy, it’s the friendship of Truvy, Annelle, Clairee and Ouiser that helps M’Lynn embrace the hurt and move forward. An award-winning film, “Steel Magnolias” was first a play by Robert Harling, who wrote this as a remembrance of his sister. The show was adapted to film in 1989 with Harling as a cast member before the 2012 remake with an all African American cast which received critical acclaim.

“I think this show is a strong representation of how we begin relationships in our own lives, letting people see only a small portion.” said Director Rachel Jantzi. “It’s when that friendship deepens that most people feel comfortable enough to let others see their pain. ‘Steel Magnolias’ walks us through an evolution of friendship and trust in less than two hours.”

The cast includes Hesston College students Joy Jones, Alyssa Coonce, Hadassa Friesen, Emma Killingsworth, Desirae Rodriguez and Caroline Miller. The stage managers are Josh Fleming and Christian Ryan.

“This cast and crew of students have helped create a kind and supportive rehearsal environment,” said Jantzi. “The process from auditions to opening night has felt much quicker than past years which could be a stressful situation. Rather than grumbling, they are viewing the show as a way to build up their own relationships – which is helpful as it mirrors this sweet story of deepened friendships.”

Ticket prices are $5 for students and $10 for adults and seniors. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the Hesston College Bookstore or by phone at 620-327-8105.

High school students are invited to a matinee performance during the annual Hesston College TheatreFest on Wednesday, September 27. This day-long event is structured to equip actors and tech crew members with skills necessary in the theatre industry, advance their abilities and have fun. Students will have an opportunity to audition and interview for a theatre scholarship after the performance.

College to Celebrate Campus Traditions at Homecoming

Hesston College is gearing up for its annual Homecoming Weekend September 21 to 24.

Homecoming Weekend 2023 will feature long-standing Hesston College programs and traditions and what they look like in 2023. The weekend’s activities will offer events and entertainment for alumni, supporters, the campus community and the wider community. Visit hesston.edu/homecoming for the full weekend schedule and registration form.

“We are excited to bring alumni and community together for a great weekend of homecoming at Hesston College,” says Jen Lehman, alumni coordinator. “It’s always a joy to see everyone gathering for the events. A lot of effort has gone into making sure there is something for everyone over the weekend.”

A highlight of the weekend will be an alumni and Bel Canto Singers choir in celebration of 40 years of Bel Canto Singers that will culminate in a concert on Saturday, September 23 at 3:30 p.m., in Hesston Mennonite Church. Alumni who would like to be part of the choir should register early so music can be distributed ahead of time.

Events kick off on Thursday, September 21, with a Cultures Fair in the Hesston Mennonite Church community center. The event is come-and-go from 6 to 9 p.m., and will feature students representing the 23 countries and U.S. territories from which they hail through music, dance and food samples.

On Friday, September 22, formation gathering at 11 a.m. will feature 2000 alumnus Jeremy Kempf leading a praise and worship time for the campus community and guests. The Golden Gables Luncheon for alumni celebrating 50 year or greater reunions will include a presentation on the History of Music at Hesston College by music faculty member Ken Rodgers. Registration for the Golden Gables Luncheon is required.

Friday afternoon presentations in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary include “New Faces Rooted in Tradition” at 2 p.m., featuring longtime and new faculty and staff members sharing how Hesston College traditions continue even as new employees join the community. At 3:30 p.m., Bible faculty members Michele Hershberger and Nick Ladd will present “Biblical Literature in a Modern World,” highlighting the impact of the Hesston College staple course on students in today’s world.

An international dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Bontrager Student Center will start the evening’s activities, with a menu featuring campus favorites tikka masala and options for the whole family. Payment will be accepted at the door. Other evening activities will be a Larks volleyball game at 6:30 p.m. in Yost Center and alumni softball game and intrasquad baseball game at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, September 23, activities will include class reunions, a disc golf tournament, Athletic Hall of Fame induction for several athletes, coaches and administrators, and more. In the evening, the annual Homecoming Family Festival will feature food trucks, kids activities and Lark soccer. The day will wrap up with campus worship led by Kempf at 10 p.m. in the Campus Activities Center.

The weekend will culminate on Sunday, September 24, with a 10:30 a.m. service at Hesston Mennonite Church and a softball doubleheader at Bess Mullet Field beginning at 1 p.m.

Aviation Program Adds New Aircraft to Fleet

Just in time for the start of the new academic year, Hesston College School of Aviation added another aircraft to its fleet.

The Piper PA-28-181 Archer II becomes the fourth in the program’s fleet and satisfies the program’s current demands while allowing consideration for future student enrollment expansion, according to Mike Baker, director of Hesston College School of Aviation.

“We purchased this plane so we can expand our scheduling options for our students,” says Baker. “Commonality is important when you are training future pilots. Everything within the aircraft we’ve purchased is almost identical to what we currently operate, so it allows for flexibility in scheduling while providing the students with a common platform.”

The plane was acquired through Tomahawk Aero Services, LLC, an aircraft broker who performed a national search for about two years to find an aircraft that best fit the program’s needs and criteria. It arrived turnkey – both resembling and operating like the rest of the fleet – with no need for avionics modifications or maintenance. This provides the college a significant savings in both dollars and aircraft downtime.

“Over the past five years, we’ve been working at keeping a consistent fleet that is safe and of high quality,” adds Hesston College President Dr. Joseph A. Manickam. “I appreciate Mike’s [Baker] attention to detail when meeting the criteria for the fleet and not compromising on those elements.”

The new Hesston College aviation aircraft was purchased in part through a gift from the Laban and Helen Peachey Endowment Fund. Laban Peachey served as president of Hesston College from 1968 to 1980 and was instrumental in launching the aviation program in 1970. Peachey passed away in April 2021, at which time the endowment fund for the aviation program was established in Laban and Helen Peachey’s name. Other donor gifts also contributed to the purchase of the new Archer.

“This plane met all the criteria we established when we began the search for an aircraft – the avionics platform, time on the airframe and time on the engine,” explains Baker. “With the maintenance that we provide our aircraft, this plane has the ability to provide flight training for students for many years to come.”

Hesston College aviation program offers both a four-year Bachelor of Science degree with a major in aviation-professional pilot and a two-year associate degree in aviation-professional pilot. The program also operates a two-year associate degree for air traffic control. Hesston College aviation is one of five FAA-approved flight schools in the state of Kansas and the only FAA-approved Collegiate Training Initiative program for air traffic control in the state.

“The purchase of this aircraft assures students that we are dedicated to managing their education and time effectively,” Baker says. “It displays that the college is continually investing in a program that is a staple and a distinctive for the institution.”

College Announces Inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame Class

Hesston College is thrilled to announce the inaugural class of the Hesston College Sports Hall of Fame. The 2023 inductees include administrators and coaches Evan Oswald, Liz Hunsberger and Gerry Sieber and athletes Abner Kisare, Beth (Yoder) Hostetler, Solomon Abebe, Brent Eichelberger and Lisa (Schmidt) Graber . The inaugural class will be inducted during Homecoming weekend, Saturday, September 23 at 11 a.m. in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. A meet and greet will follow in the Yost Center foyer at 2:30 p.m.

Evan Oswald ʼ48 – Known as the founding father of Hesston College athletics, Evan Oswald was instrumental in the implementation of varsity athletics at Hesston. After graduating from Hesston in 1948 and finishing his education at the University of Illinois, he returned in 1951 to begin building the program. In 1956, men’s basketball became the first varsity sport offered at Hesston, followed by baseball in 1958 and golf and tennis soon after, all of which were coached by Oswald. Oswald is best known as a baseball coach as he compiled three league championships in a 10-year stint. His 1969 team still holds the best season record at Hesston at 15-3. He also holds the best season record in basketball at 16-2. In total, Oswald coached for 20 years at Hesston, from 1951 to 1971. During this time, he also acted as the athletic director. To honor his legacy, Hesston College named the baseball field after Oswald in 1996.

Liz Hunsberger – A former faculty member of the Hesston College physical education department, Liz Hunsberger was instrumental to the introduction of women’s athletics to Hesston. She is best known for helping implement a varsity volleyball program at Hesston, but was also essential to the creation and success of the women’s basketball and softball programs. She became the first volleyball coach in school history in 1973 and the following year led Hesston to a 30-0 regular season record on their way to a third-place finish at the national tournament. Hunsberger coached the Larks volleyball team until 1976.

Gerry Sieber ʼ64 – Sieber coached at Hesston from 1968 to 1994, including basketball, cross country, track and field and most notably, men’s soccer. He acted as the men’s soccer head coach for 23 years tallying 247 wins, the most in program history, 10 region titles and eight coach of the year awards. He returned to Hesston College in 2009 to revive the cross country program. In 2015, Sieber was inducted into the NJCAA Soccer Hall of Fame. Sieber retired following the 2017 cross country season. Hesston College named the soccer field after Sieber in 2018 to honor his legacy.

Abner Kisare ʼ74 – Kisare was a member of the most successful men’s soccer team in Hesston College history. He achieved NJCAA All-American status and ranks fourth in Lark soccer history in career points with 58 – 47 goals and 11 assists. After finishing his time at Hesston, Kisare attended Goshen (Ind.) College where he was a part of their national qualifying team in 1975 and was named an NAIA All-American. He also earned an honorable mention spot on the All-Midwest Soccer Team.

Beth (Yoder) Hostetler ʼ76 – Hostetler was a well rounded multi-sport athlete at Hesston College who competed in volleyball and track and field. She was a member of the 1974 volleyball team that capped a 30-0 regular season with a third-place finish at the national tournament and was named to the all-tournament team. She also achieved NJCAA All-American status in track and field, tying for second in the 100 meter hurdles and placing third in the long jump in 1976. She still holds school records in the 100-yard hurdles, 440-yard relay team, long jump and javelin. After her time at Hesston, Hostetler went on to play volleyball and run track at Division I Wichita (Kan.) State University.

Solomon Abebe ʼ78 – Abebe might just be the fastest athlete to ever walk on the Hesston College campus. He was a dominant member of the track and field team and he still owns part of four school records. He has the record in the mile (4:18.8), two mile (9:33.1) and three mile (15:08.2) races while also being part of the record-holding 4 x 880 yard relay team (8:20.4).

Brent Eichelberger ʼ85 – Eichelberger set the standard for men’s basketball at Hesston College as he still owns 12 school records nearly 40 years later. Some of his records include single season points per game (31) and rebounds per game (16.2), single season and career blocks (75, 133) and rebounds (420, 822), as well as field goals made in a game (19) and in a season (350).

Lisa (Schmidt) Graber ʼ97 – Graber was one of the most successful women’s basketball players to lace it up for Hesston College. She holds the school record for career blocks and held season and career scoring and career rebounding records but now sits in second on the season scoring (596) and career rebounding (542) lists and third on the career scoring list (1,041). She was a member of the 1997 team that qualified for the national tournament and set three tournament records putting up 36 points, 15 rebounds and shot nine-for-nine from the free throw line.