In the News

Arizona golf opportunity for student financial aid benefit

Golfers from across the country can take a break from the winter cold in sunny Arizona for Hesston College’s seventh annual National Golf Benefit for Student Scholarships, Saturday, March 12, at The 500 Club in Glendale, Ariz.

Proceeds from the benefit go to student financial aid.

But even if a trip to Arizona doesn’t fit busy schedules or for those who do not golf, exciting raffle prizes are being offered. Raffle tickets are one (1) ticket for $5 or 15 tickets for $50. Winners need not be present to win. All raffle prizes are donated by benefit organizer and Phoenix businessman Steve Yoder. Tickets for participants can be purchased online by Friday, March 11 at hesston.edu/national golf. Raffle prizes include:

• Set of golf clubs, includes a Callaway bag and 4-PW clubs. Value: approximately $900
• Breakfast with a Twist package, includes two nights at L’Auberge de Sedona (Arizona), Pink Jeep Tour and $40 breakfast credit each morning. Value: $900
• Signed Peyton Manning Denver Broncos jersey. Value: $1,200
• Arizona Golf package, includes golf for four at Quintero, Wickenburg Ranch and Estrella Ranch courses. Value: approximately $1,300
• Odyssey White Hot putter. Value: $225
• Restaurant Bundle, includes gift cards to Red Lobster, Texas Roadhouse, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Bobby Q, and Pappadeaux. Value: $650
• Cordless Drill Set, includes DeWalt drill, saw and impact. Value: $600
• Traeger Texas Pro Grill that holds up to 24 burgers, 6 chickens 32 hot dogs and 9 rib racks, plus an extra rack that holds up to 16 burgers and 24 hot dogs. Value: $1,200

To golf, registration is $125 for single entries or $450 for a four-person team. The entry fee includes a golf cart with GPS, access to the driving range, a sleeve of golf balls, two drink tickets, a barbecue meal and door prizes.

Hole sponsorships are available for $250 and green sponsorships are available for $400.

The 500 Club is an 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course that challenges and excited golfers of all abilities. The Brian Whitcomb design is continually rated one of the best recreational values in the Valley of the sun and a true Arizona golf experience.

Contact Sheri Esau with questions at 620-327-8147 or sheri.esau@hesston.edu.

Shane Claiborne to headline AVDS conference

Hesston College’s annual Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series will feature nationally known Christian speaker and author, Shane Claiborne, to explore the theme “Not Just on Sunday” Feb. 19 to 21.

The conference will explore what it looks like to live a vibrant 24/7 faith by discovering spiritual practices that bring transformation. Both youth and adults will benefit, as separate tracks will be offered on Saturday afternoon for congregational life, headlined by Claiborne, and youth ministry, with speaker Nes Espinosa.

A full weekend schedule and registration information can be found online. Registration discounts are available for sponsoring congregations, groups of two or more and youth of all ages.

The Friday evening opening session at 7 p.m., Feb. 19, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus, will be open to the public, and high school and junior high youth groups are especially invited to attend. Claiborne will speak that evening on “Re-imagine the Body of Christ alive in the world today.”

Saturday evening will feature a concert celebration with bluegrass and eclectic music by Hesston College alumnus Dave Miller and local group The Book of Jebb at 7 p.m., Feb. 20, at Hesston Mennonite Church. Tickets are $7.50 for adults and will be available at the Hesston College Bookstore at 620-327-8104 or at the door. Youth of all ages are free.

Now pastor of Bellwood Mennonite Church (Milford, Neb.), Miller has played music professionally with Barbara Mandrel. The Book of Jebb features bluegrass, gospel and folk usic.

Claiborne has written or co-authored seven books that have been translated into more than a dozen languages, and has more than 100 speaking engagements a year, including the Mennonite Church USA 2015 convention in Kansas City this past July. His work has appeared in Esquire, SPIN, Christianity Today and the Wall Street Journal, and he has appeared on Fox News, CNN and NPR.

Claiborne is also the founder of The Simple Way, a radical faith community that lives among and serves the homeless in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. He has also worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, India, the suburbs of Chicago serving at the influential mega-church Willow Creek and several troubled regions of the world, including Rwanda, the West Bank of Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Espinosa serves as the executive director of Timoteo Football Philadelphia, which supports communities by empowering men to mentor youth through athletics and spiritual formation. His years of youth ministry experience come from serving as youth pastor in urban Philadelphia churches and youth programs.

Contact the Hesston College Special Events Office with questions at 800-437-7866.

Students chosen for professional internships

A group of Hesston College students are honing their professional skills as interns with the college’s Marketing and Communications team during the spring semester. The internship is an opportunity for students to expand their skills and creativity and build their professional portfolios as freshmen and sophomores – a step in the process that many students don’t start until their junior and senior year.

The interns for the spring 2016 semester, chosen through a competitive application and interview process are Tori Byler, Belleville, Pa., photography; Christy Kauffman, West Liberty, Ohio, graphic design; Abby Musser, Newport News, Va., news and features writing; Karli Rodriguez, Denver, Colo., graphic design; and Caleb Schrock-Hurst, Harrisonburg, Va., sports information.

“These are students who love Hesston College,” said Communications faculty advisor Kendra Burkey. “Of course, they see these internships as a launching pad for their futures, but they also want to give something back. They get to support Hesston’s mission using their own unique talents and creativity. That’s pretty fun to see.”

The partnership between the Communications program and the Marketing and Communications department is now in its third year and gives students hands-on, real world experience in their chosen professional field. Interns have opportunities to brainstorm and create their own projects that benefit the college, as well as work on assigned projects alongside the college’s staff.

“Watching the interns work alongside professionals, I see them building real, relevant skills every week,” said Burkey. “But what I also see is that they feel valued and cared for by the staff. They understand that their ideas matter, and that those ideas will shape the story we tell about Hesston College.”

New scholarship opportunity for science and math students

Students studying science, math or computer science at Hesston College have a new scholarship option to pursue to help offset the cost of their education.

The Habegger-Harder Science/Math Scholarship will award one scholarship each year through a competitive application process to students who demonstrate high academic achievement and a passion for a major in science, math or computer science. Applications for the scholarship are due by January 31 for a March 1 decision. For an application, contact admissions@hesston.edu.

A scholarship for science and math students was long envisioned by program faculty, and the Habegger-Harder Scholarship Fund was finally realized when a significant initiating amount was donated by the estate of the father of Environmental Biology faculty member Lorna Harder, who retired in 2014 after 25 years of service to the college. Contributions from math and science faculty members and other donors have also supported the fund.

German string ensemble and pianist to merge talents in HBPA performance

One of the most internationally sought-after string quartets, Minguet Quartet, will join with dynamic pianist Andreas Klein for the third concert in the Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts Series (HBPA) 2015-16 season at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 1, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

Minguet Quartet, a German group comprised of two violins, a viola and violoncello, was founded in 1988 and has since played in many of the great concert halls of the world. The ensemble’s repertoire focuses on both Classical-Romantic and modern music, and has been hailed by the Washington Post for its “virtuosity and passion” and “flawless ensemble interplay.”

The quartet’s namesake is Pablo Minguet, an 18th century Spanish philosopher who, through his writings, strived to facilitate access to the fine arts for all sectors of the population.

Aside from their south central Kansas concert, the ensemble’s 2015-16 season also includes appearances at world-famous music festivals and concert tours in Great Britain, Finland and the United States.

Minguet Quartet regularly partners with other artists, including vocalists, pianist, fellow string musicians, actors and orchestra. Their HBPA performance will also feature guest pianist Andreas Klein.

Klein, who also hails from Germany, was lauded by the New York Times as “a fascinating artist with all the indispensable qualities: temperament, taste, touch, tone, the four T’s of pianism” and “a pianist who makes silences sound like music.”

Klein’s storied career as an orchestra soloist and recitalist has taken him to the world’s most prestigious venues. As a chamber musician, his collaborations include some of the world’s greatest ensembles.

Reserved seating and general admission tickets for Minguet Quartet are available online or by calling 620-327-8158. Ticket prices range from $17 to $20 with discounts available for students and senior citizens.

Remaining concerts in the 2015-16 HBPA lineup include the Grammy Award-winning men’s a cappella ensemble Chanticleer on Feb. 23; and London-based vocal ensemble The Swingles on April 3.

Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts 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, Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, and award from the National Endowment for the Arts and KMUW Wichita Public Radio.

Presidential Search Committee meets with campus community

The Hesston College Presidential Search Committee met on campus Jan. 15 and 16 to work through the process of determining the best candidate for the college’s next president. President Howard Keim, the college’s eighth president, announced his resignation in October, to be effective June 30, after 11 years of service.

The search committee facilitated listening sessions on Friday where students, faculty and staff were able to share their experiences as part of the community and their thoughts on the future of Hesston College.

“The committee is grateful for the significant and thoughtful responses that we received as part of the listening process,” said Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency (MEA) and ex-officio member of the search committee. “The responses from the various groups will be carefully considered and help to inform the next steps.”

Involving students and hearing about their experience is an effective way for the committee to understand the campus climate and what is important to students both on campus and as they make their decision to start here.

“Students were involved in the past searches, and their voices helped make good decisions,” said Ken G Kabira (Naperville, Ill.), Presidential Search Committee chair and Hesston College Board of Directors member. “I believe current students can make a difference for future students by helping this committee.”

Faculty and staff discussed in small groups before sharing their ideas with the larger group. Looking to the future of Hesston College, some common themes that emerged for the next president were an understanding of Hesston College’s unique strengths as a two-year private college and a creative spirit to help the college thrive, passion for the college’s mission and values as well as those of the Anabaptist/Mennonite faith, experience in higher education and an ability to help navigate the current denominational and social climate with compassion and grace.

The committee also met with civic leaders as well as church and Mennonite Church USA conference leaders from the area and solicited views on Hesston College’s priorities as well as advice regarding the search.

The 12-person committee is made up of Hesston College Board of Directors members, MEA board members, Hesston College faculty and staff and church and educational leaders. Their next tasks include conversations with other identified groups, conduct an online survey of Hesston College stakeholders, assemble a profile of the ideal candidate and begin accepting nominations and applications for the role.

The Hesston College Presidential Search Committee: Addie Banks (Bronx, N.Y.), Marie Morris (Anderson, Ind.), Ramiro Hernandez (Washington, Iowa), Carlos Romero (Goshen, Ind.), Carlota Ponds (Hesston), Barth Hague (Newton, Kan.), Ken G Kabira (Naperville, Ill.), Kendra Burkey (North Newton, Kan.), Luke Roth-Mullet (Hesston), Tim Burkholder (Goshen, Ind.) and Lynette Bontrager (Archbold, Ohio). Not pictured: Tony Brown (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Chuck Neufeld (North Newton, Kan.).

AVDS conference to feature Nobel Peace Prize nominee

Internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence Father John Dear, will be featured at Hesston College’s Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship series conference Feb. 13 to 15.

The conference will center on the theme “Overcoming Evil: Ordinary People Making a Difference,” Stories of peace from people locally and around the globe will focus on and encourage to follow Jesus on the path of overcoming evil with good. The 2015 Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship Conference, an organization of Mennonite Church USA for Mennonite and affiliated college peace organizations, will be held in conjunction with AVDS and sponsored by Hesston College’s Bible and Ministry Program.

Dear has spent more than three decades as a peace activist, popular lecturer and movement organizer, and has been arrested more than 75 times in acts of civil disobedience against war. In 2008, Archbishop Desmond Tutu nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He is the author of 30 books, including his autobiography “A Persistent Peace,” that have been translated into 10 languages.

In his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, Archbishop Tutu wrote of Dear: “John Dear is the embodiment of a peacemaker. He believes that peace is not something static, but rather to make peace is to be engaged, mind, body and spirit.”

Dear serves as a coordinator for CampaignNonviolence.org and as Outreach Coordinator for Pace e Bene, a group working with individuals, organizations and movements to strengthen efforts to abolish war, protect human rights, end poverty, challenge injustice, heal the planet and build a more just, peaceful and nonviolent world. He has also held many other service positions, including Red Cross chaplain coordinator following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, where he counseled thousands of relatives and rescue workers.

Dear has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” For eight years he wrote a weekly blog for the National Catholic Reporter and is regularly featured on the radio show “Democracy Now!” and The Huffington Post. He is the subject of the DVD documentary The Narrow Path.

Dear has two masters degrees in theology from the Graduate Theological Union (Berkley, Calif.) and has taught theology at Fordham University (New York City).

See AVDS information and online registration.

Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) is an annual conference designed to address current topics in church and congregational leadership experience from an Anabaptist/Mennonite perspective. Audiences who should especially consider participating are youth and young adults as well as pastors and congregational leaders.

Leadership initiative receives funding

Hesston College’s new leadership program was recently awarded a $10,000 Leadership Transformation Grant from the Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) (Wichita) for 15 participants to attend KLC programs for leadership development in 2016.

Hesston’s program was one of 15 institutions selected at the $10,000 level. The funding will be used to allow students, faculty and staff from the college to participate in KLC training programs alongside representatives from the other institutions.

The leadership program at Hesston is currently being developed to be launched in fall 2016. It will help students develop their own leadership capacities as they lead and serve in the church, community and world.

Seminar to allow participants to engage in civil rights education

For the second year in a row, Hesston College is offering any interested participants the opportunity to learn the history and dynamics of the civil rights movement of the 1960s in a weeklong Civil Rights Seminar during the college’s spring break, March 4 to 13.

The seminar, led by Hesston College faculty member John Sharp as well as 1972 alumni Bruce and Joy Rogers (Goshen, Ind.) and former Hesston College faculty member Tony Brown, will engage with historical sites and activities in Alabama and Mississippi.

Participants will have the opportunity to walk from Brown Chapel across the Edmund Petus Bridge in Selma, Ala., where on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, peaceful marchers were attacked. Most significant of all will be conversations with people on the ground – or “foot soldiers” as President Barack Obama called them – people deeply involved in the movement from Selma to Birmingham, Ala., to Merdian, Miss., whose stories are provocative and inspirational.

The seminar will include worshipping at the Sixteenth Baptist Church, Birmingham, Ala., visiting the Civil Rights Institute (Birmingham), the Rosa Parks Library/Interpretive Center (Montgomery, Ala.) and the National Civil Rights Museum (Memphis, Tenn.) where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was murdered in 1968.

Along with students and faculty, the general public is invited to participate. The cost of the seminar is $450 plus meals, which includes transportation, lodging, and museum entrance fees. The deadline for registering is January 15.

Contact John Sharp for more information at 620-327-8248 or john.sharp@hesston.edu.