In the News

Students, faculty and staff commissioned for service at late April chapel

During an April 29, Hesston College chapel, 52 students, faculty and staff members were commissioned for Christian ministry and service for summer and fall placements.

“These individuals are going to make a difference in someone’s life because they are willing to join with and participate in Jesus’ ministry that is already taking place in all of these different settings,” said Todd Lehman, Hesston College campus pastor.

The students will serve around the world in positions from camp counselor to supervisors at disaster sites.

Doing an eight-week field experience in Crisfield, Md., are Disaster Management Program students Austin Braddock, Baldwin City, Kan.; Jeremy Delly, Francklin, N.J.; Jonathon Gonzalez, Goshen, Ind.; Uriah Sauder, Lititz, Pa.; Lane Schrock, Parnell, Iowa; Quintin Selzer, Thomas, Okla.; and Garrett Woelk, Goessel, Kan. Program director Russ Gaeddert, Hutchinson, Kan.; and volunteers Don and Rachel Horst, Newton, Kan., will serve alongside the students.

Several students, faculty and staff will serve at the Mennonite Church USA convention in Kansas City June 30 to July 5:

• Students Christy Swartzendruber, Shickley, Neb.; and Ali Zuercher, Phoenix, Ariz., will serve as service project leaders.
• Faculty member Gary Oyer, Hesston, Kan.; staff member Russ Neufeld, Newton, Kan.; and students Spencer Miller, Milford, Neb.; and Michael Kilmer, Glendale, Ariz., will work with audio visual support.
• Staff member Phyllis Weaver, Hesston, Kan., will work in the information booth.
• Staff members Brent Brockmueller, Stephanie Swartzendruber and Kevin Wilder, all of Hesston, will serve with Community Life.
• Staff member Simon Zehr, Tiskilwa, Ill., will be serving throughout the week.
• Faculty member Laura Kraybill, Hesston, Kan., will serve as Adult Worship Coordinator, as well as serve on the writing team at Mennonite World Conference in Harrisburg, Pa., July 21 to 26.
• Student Laura Blosser, Hesston, Kan., will serve as a nursery worker.

Several students will serve at church camps:

• Laura Blosser will serve at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp, Divide, Colo., as Cook Staff for two weeks.
• Faculty member Rita Peters, Hesston, Kan. will volunteer at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp for two weeks.
• Molly Cherveny, Topeka, Kan., and Robin Morris, Hutchinson, Kan., will serve at Camp Mennoscah, Murdock, Kan. Morris will also serve at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp.
• Megan Baumgartner, Hesston, Kan., will serve at Camp Friedenswald, Cassopolis, Mich.
• Colton Eby, Fisher, Ill., and Catie Kauffman, Goshen, Ind., will serve at Camp Amigo, Sturgis, Mich.
• Mary Bender and Andry Stutzman, both of Harrisonburg, Va., will serve at Choral Camp at Rosedale Bible College, Irwin, Ohio.
• Hannah Hostetter, Nairoibi, Kenya, and Rachel Shenk, Waynesboro, Va., will serve at Highland Retreat, Bergton, Va.
• Caroline Kauffman, Sarasota, Fla., and Cyannandra Luttrell, Tiskilwa, Ill., will serve at Camp Menno Haven, Tiskilwa.
• Christina Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pa., will serve at Camp Hebron.
• Johanna Burkholder, Warden, Wash., will serve at Camp Camrec, Leavenworth, Wash.
• Bree Flowers, Pinto, Md., will serve at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center, Mt. Pleasant, Pa.
• Steven Yoder, McVeytown, Pa., will serve at Gator Wilderness Camp, Punta Gorda, Fla.
• Emma Roth, Goshen, Ind., will serve at Crooked Creek Christian Camp, Washington, Iowa.
• Travis Splechter, Coffeyville, Kan., and Phillip Horning, Ephrata, Pa., will serve at the Mennonite Disaster Service youth project site at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp. Horning will also serve at Wilderness Wind Camp, Ely, Minn.
• Elisabeth Wilder, Hesston, Kan., will serve at Wilderness Wind Camp and will also teach at a school in Honduras through Bilingual Education for Central America.
• Sarah Hoover, Elbing, Kan., will serve at Camp Hiawatha, Wichita, Kan.

Students will serve in a variety of other settings as well:

• Cayla Bromlow, Winfield, Kan., will serve at Winfield First Presbyterian Church as a youth and nursery intern.
• Quinn Kathrineberg, Salina, Kan., will serve as a teacher at Memphis (Tenn.) Teacher Residency.
• Caroline Riggenbach, Lafayette, Ind., will intern at Shepard Community Center, Indianapolis, Ind.
• MaKenna Grow, Logan, Utah, will fulfill missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
• Jared Hague, Marion, Kan., will serve with Aulne United Methodist Church, Marion, to rebuild homes in San Marcos, Texas.
• Oliver Denlinger, Denver, Pa., and Karli Mast, Hubbard, Ore., will serve with Youth With a Mission in New Zealand.
• Taylor Zehr, Wauseon, Ohio, will serve with Youth With A Mission in Austin, Texas.
• Ben Rush, Quakertown, Pa., will serve with Eastern Mennonite Missions’ YES program in either Southeast Asia or Kenya.
• Nick Yoder, Wellman, Iowa, will serve with Mennonite Central Committee’s Serving and Learning Together (SALT) program in Bolivia.

Music students to be featured in sophomore recitals during Commencement Weekend

Hesston College music students will be featured in sophomore recitals as part of Commencement Weekend activities. Recitals will be at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

Havela Lehman, Keizer, Ore., will present a recital in violin and voice at 7 p.m., Thursday, May 7. Mary Bender, Harrisonburg, Va., and Taylor Zehr, Wauseon, Ohio, will present a joint vocal and piano recital at 4 p.m., Friday, May 8.

Lehman will showcase contrasting violin works including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Spring, Allegro and D. Kabalewski’s Concerto for Violin and Orchestra Op. 48. Her vocal repertoire includes If Music be the Food of Love by Henry Purcell, as well as works by Caccini, Handel and Gilbert and Sullivan.

Vocalists Bender and Zehr will perform music that ranges from classical to modern. The classical end includes Domine Deus from Vivaldi’s Gloria and il pleure dans mon coeur by Claude Debussy. Modern selections include Broadway showtunes like I’ll Show Him from Plain and Fancy and Taylor the Latte Boy by Marcy Heiser and Zina Goldrich.

Bender and Zehr will also perform several duets: They Shall Hunger No More from The Holy City by Alfred Robert Gaul and The Call by singer/songwriter Regina Spektor. The I Love You Song from The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by William Finn will be performed as a trio with 2014 graduate and current Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) student, tenor Cameron Ponce.

Bender will also perform piano pieces featuring Beethoven and Mendelssohn.

All three students study voice with Dr. Matthew Schloneger. Bender is a piano student of Patricia Neufeldt, and Lehman is a violin student of Rebecca Schloneger. The students have all been members of the Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Bradley Kauffman for two years. Lehman was concertmaster of the Hesston College Chamber Orchestra, directed by Rebecca Schloneger, during the 2014-15 year. Zehr was also involved with theatre at Hesston, and performed the lead role of Jo March in the March production of the musical “Little Women.”

Criminal and restorative justice being added as program of study

Criminal and restorative justice will join Hesston College’s list of more than 50 programs of study for transfer beginning with the 2015-16 academic year.

The program of study is designed to fulfill the first two years of a four-year degree in either criminal justice or restorative justice career fields. Course work will focus on the sociology of the field – the culture, history and philosophy of careers within the fields. Students will also have opportunities to observe and have hands-on experiences with professionals working in their areas of interest.

Career paths for students in the program could include human services for the criminal and the victim, law enforcement, corrections, paralegal, public safety and disaster preparedness, forensic science, security studies and technology and cyber crime.

The decision to add the program came after observing a clear increase in interest from students and prospective students.

Faculty members also note the program is being launched at a time when society is calling the efficiency of established systems into question.

“Recent incidents across the country show us that there are flaws within the system that could be changed,” said faculty member Dan Harrison. “We hope this program will help students recognize the ways in which they can positively and responsibly impact those systems and the people within them.”

Mann, Rimann honored as Hesston College’s top student athletes

Malcolm Mann, a sophomore men’s basketball player, and Samantha Rimann, a sophomore volleyball player, were named 2015 male and female Hesston College Student Athletes of the Year at the school’s annual Athletic Banquet April 28.

Mann, Plano, Texas, was one of the sophomore leaders to charge the way to a Region VI title and a berth to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time in 25 years. This two-year captain for the men’s basketball team now sits on the top ten list of career steals in Hesston College history. To add to all of the team’s success this year, Mann received Honorable Mention all-region.

“I learned the importance of solid relationships within the team and how that can translate to success on the court,” said Mann. “This award shows that who I’m striving to be is worth it.”

Mann is also involved in various ways on campus including activities like First-Year Experience Scholar, campus worship team, and the Hesston College Gospel Choir.

“I believe that Malcolm Mann is a model recipient for the athlete of the year honor,” said coach Dustin Galyon. “Malcolm is an incredible athlete and leader. His athletic accomplishments are historic, but small in measure to his impact and involvement on our campus and student body.”

Rimann, Liberty Hill, Texas, was a defensive phenomenon for the volleyball team, shattering numermous Hesston College records. The sophomore now sits first in three categories for the volleyball team. She holds the single season record for digs (550), single season record for digs per game (5.24) and career record for digs (899). Along with all these records, Rimann received a spot on the all-tournament team at the Vernon Community College (Texas) tournament.

“This year was all about redemption for our team,” said Rimann. “We had a good season with good teammates. It was satisfying and refreshing. Postseason participation was a highlight to this year. It represented a complete turnaround from last season.”

“Sam Rimann is well deserving of Hesston College female athlete of the year,” said coach Jessica Cleveland. “She was a major factor in our success this year. We changed our defense to give her more area of the court defensively and she stepped up to the challenge and excelled at it. She was consistent all year and was the foundation of our team. It was fun watching her grow as a student-athlete at Hesston College.”

Mann and Rimann succeed last year’s winners Makayla Ladwig, Wichita, Kansas, and Nick Yoder, Millersburg, Ohio.

The awards were revealed at the annual Hesston Athletics Banquet. The other major honor of the night was the highest team GPA which the women’s tennis team won with a 3.69.

Music and theatre performances part of Commencement Weekend 2015

Arts enthusiasts can enjoy several performances to close out the 2014-15 academic year during Hesston College’s Commencement Weekend May 8 to 10.

Students in the college’s Directing class will direct one-act plays in two performances during the weekend – at 7 p.m., Friday, May 8 and at 1 p.m., Saturday, May 9. Both performances will be at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains Prairie Pavilion. Admission is free. The performances are rated PG due to some language.

Freshman Erika Byler, Shipshewana, Ind., will direct The True Story of Cinderella by Richard Conlon, which looks at the familiar fairytale from a new perspective. Freshman RaeLee Hightower, Tulsa, Okla., will direct Sure Thing and English Made Simple by David Ives, which are commentaries on second chances and the complexity of human nature.

The Bel Canto Singers, under the direction of Bradley Kauffman, will present the “Asylum: worth, beauty and refuge” program at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 9, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The concert is a sendoff for their tour to the Northwestern United States following graduation, May 13 to 19.

The concert draws inspiration from Hesston College’s 2014 common read Escape from Camp 14, a New York Times bestseller by Blaine Harden. The program champions the cause of human rights and celebrates refuge in its many forms with music ranging from renaissance motet to South African and African-American freedom songs and recent works.

Bel Canto members are: Rachelle Adrian (Mt. Lake, Minn.), Erika Byler (Shipshewana, Ind.), Alaina Beatty (Washington, Iowa), Mary Bender (Harrisonburg, Va.), Brady Bilderback (Caldwell, Idaho), Kiara Boettger (Harrisonburg, Va.), Zachary Headings (Haven, Kan.), Ben Helmuth (Goshen, Ind.), Galed Krisjayanta (Surakarta, Indonesia), Havela Lehman (Keizer, Ore.), Elliott Leichty (Harrisonburg, Va.), Matt Lind (Harrisonburg, Va.), Jay Marston (Murpheysboro, Ill.), Anna Martin (Harleysville, Pa.), Karli Mast (Hubbard, Ore.), John Miller (Partridge, Kan.), Lorren Oesch (Caldwell, Idaho), Casey Perez (Kalona, Iowa), Eleya Raim (Oxford, Iowa), Emma Roth (Goshen, Ind.), Caleb Schrock-Hurst (Harrisonburg, Va.), Rachel Shenk (Waynesboro, Va.), Andry Stutzman (Harrisonburg, Va.) and Taylor Zehr (Archbold, Ohio).

Bel Canto Singers May 2015 tour

May 2015

Saturday, May 9, 4 p.m., Hesston (Kan.) Mennonite Church
Wednesday, May 13, 9:30 a.m., Western Mennonite High School, Salem, Oregon
Wednesday, May 13, 7:30 p.m., Salem (Ore.) Mennonite Church
Thursday, May 14, 11 a.m., Newberg (Ore.) High School
Thursday, May 14, 7:30 p.m., Zion Mennonite Church, Hubbard, Oregon
Friday, May 15, 7:30 p.m., Bend (Ore.) Mennonite Church
Sunday, May 17, 10:40 a.m., Evergreen Heights Mennonite Church, Caldwell, Idaho
Sunday, May 17, 4 p.m., St. Michael’s Episcopal Cathedral, Boise, Idaho
Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 p.m., Kirkland (Wash.) Congregational Church (hosted by Evergreen Mennonite Church)

Tenors to collaborate for vocal recital

Hesston College music students Bryce Elder (Ottawa, Kan.) and Galed Krisjayanta (Surakarta, Indonesia), will perform a joint sophomore voice recital at 8 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

Elder and Kristjayanta, both tenors and voice students of Matt Schloneger, will perform from the classical, sacred and musical theatre genres. They will combine for a duet on Mendelssohn’s oratorio “I Waited for the Lord.”

Elder’s formal voice training started at Hesston College, where he was also a member of the Hesston College Chorale under the direction of Ken Rodgers for two years. He competed at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Central West region in 2013 and 2014, qualifying for semifinals in his performance categories both years.

Krisjayanta has been a member of the Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Bradley Kauffman both of his years at Hesston. He is also a frequent solo performer at formal and informal events across campus and in the community. Krisjayanta placed at the annual NATS competition in 2013 and 2014. As a freshman, he won first place in the Freshman Men’s Classical Division and was the first Hesston College student to bring home a first place win since 2003. He earned second place in the Sophomore Men’s Classical Division in 2014. He also starred as Professor Bhaer in the college’s spring 2015 production of the musical “Little Women.”

Mentoring relationship creates music with a message of peace and hope: Instructor and student to take musical talent to Indonesia

When an earthquake devastated Galed Krisjayanta’s home on the south coast of Java Island, Indonesia, in 2006, he didn’t respond as most 10-year-olds might have. While many children would understandably stand by as their parents managed survival and recovery efforts, Krisjayanta took the first steps toward his future pursuits of music performance and humanitarian work.

In the face of the devastation, Krisjayanta, supported by one of Indonesia’s largest Christian non-governmental organizations, recorded a music album titled Alam Sisa, which translates to “our nature and what’s left of it,” encouraging resilience, survival and a refusal to give up because a brighter future awaits those who work for it. The album’s proceeds were directed for charity in the recovery process.

“That was the first time I realized music could have a life-changing impact in society,” said Krisjayanta.

Seven years later, Krisjayanta arrived at Hesston College where he met Tony Brown – an instructor, mentor and friend with whom he shares many commonalities. Brown, a Hesston College social science instructor, artist in residence and internationally recognized baritone, uses his music to spread messages of peace and social justice across the world through his organization, Peacing It Together Foundation.

The two men have developed a close bond during Krisjayanta’s two years at Hesston, and this May, following Krisjayanta’s graduation, they will travel together to Indonesia along with accompanist and Hesston music faculty member Ken Rodgers, for a two-week Interfaith Concert Tour May 23 to June 8.

A concert tour is nothing new for Brown who frequently travels around the globe using music to draw people together across the divides of race, culture and religion. But for Krisjayanta, the opportunity to perform with and learn from a seasoned professional like Brown, is another step toward realizing the dreams of his 10-year-old self.

“The tour will give us the opportunity to deliver words of peace and humanity to the people of Indonesia, as well as introduce audiences to classical and African-American music that is not as familiar to them,” said Krisjayanta.

Since his arrival at Hesston, Krisjayanta has been well known on campus and in the community for his outstanding vocal talent. He is a member of the premier vocal ensemble, Bel Canto Singers, as well as a solo performer at formal and informal events across campus and in the community, including singing regularly at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston. Krisjayanta placed at the annual National Association of Teachers of Singing Regional Vocal Competition both of his years at Hesston. As a freshman, he won first place in the Freshman Men’s Classical Division and was the first Hesston College student to bring home a first place win since 2003. He earned second place in the Sophomore Men’s Classical Division in 2014. He also starred as Professor Bhaer in the college’s spring 2015 production of the musical Little Women.

“I never really believed I would be a music performance major, but Hesston College and the city of Hesston have been my stage to start my singing career in the United States,” said Krisjayanta. “I realize that God gave me the talent to sing for a reason – to spread good music and to serve people through my singing.”

Krisjayanta recalls the idea for collaboration with Brown in Indonesia starting as early as his first year at Hesston. Following a Social Welfare class session, Brown engaged Krisjayanta in his goals for vocal performance and proposed the idea of working together.

“I told Tony about my passion for singing and helping people, and he said, ‘Then we are on the same page, Galed,’” recalled Krisjayanta. “Tony started as just my teacher, and now he is my singing partner and brother.”

With the help of Krisjayanta’s father, Sigit, a humanitarian social worker who works in the public health, social work and disaster management arenas, the tour plans were set into motion. Their program will be shared with various faith congregations, choirs and others.

“We hope this venture will bring people together across divides and help them find common ground,” said Brown. “In keeping with the mission of Peacing It Together Foundation, we will use our music in Indonesia as a catalyst for peace and social justice.”

Hesston College hosted a benefit concert for the Indonesia tour on April 11, which featured Krisjayanta and Brown, as well as other Hesston College ensembles. Financial gifts of support for the performers and trip expenses continue to be welcomed. Gifts may be sent to Hesston College Alumni and Church Relations, Box 3000, Hesston, KS 67062.

Mennonite Disaster Service executive director to speak at Commencement 2015

Hesston College will celebrate the class of 2015 during Commencement Weekend May 8 to 10.

The commencement ceremony will be at 9 a.m., Sunday, May 10, in Yost Center. Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) Executive Director Kevin King will present the commencement address.

King, Lititz, Pa., has served MDS since February 2004. MDS has worked closely with Hesston College in the formation and operation of the Disaster Management Program (DMP) and provides summer internships for Hesston’s Disaster Management students. King has been a regular on the Hesston campus during the last 10 years because of this partnership. Before serving MDS, King was the material resources manager of Mennonite Central Committee’s Akron, Pa., office.

Selected by their fellow graduates and faculty as student speakers will be graduates Malcolm Mann, Plano, Texas, and Jordan Waidelich, Stryker, Ohio.

Individual student groups will be recognized in ceremonies during the weekend.

Pastoral Ministries commissioning will be at 7 p.m., Fri. May 8, at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains Visitor and Education Center, 177 W. Hickory Street. Ron Moyo, Saturday Night Worship Pastor at Whitestone Mennonite Church (Hesston) and a 2012 graduate of the Pastoral Ministries program, will deliver the address.

Disaster Management students will be acknowledged for completion of the program at 8:30 a.m., May 9, in the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains Prairie Pavillion. Paul Unruh, a 1958 graduate of Hesston Academy and 1960 graduate of Hesston College will be the featured speaker. Unruh is a longtime MDS volunteer and a member of the bi-national MDS Board of Directors.

A pinning ceremony for nursing graduates will be at 10 a.m., May 9, in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary. A reception honoring the graduates will follow in the church’s Community Center. Speakers will be graduate Makayla Ladwig, Wichita, Kan., and faculty member Joyce Huber.

Aviation and Air Traffic Control graduates will be recognized during a 2:30 p.m. reception, May 9, in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center.

Other weekend events include student-directed one-act plays at 7 p.m., May 8, and 1 p.m., May 9 at the Dyck Arboretum Prairie Pavilion. Freshman RaeLee Hightower, Tulsa, Okla., will direct Sure Thing and English Made Simple by David Ives. Freshman Erika Byler, Shipshewana, Ind., will direct The True Story of Cinderella by Richard Conlon. The performances are free and open to the public.

Sophomore music students will showcase their talent in vocal recitals. Students performing include Havela Lehman at 7:30 p.m., May 7, in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary, and Taylor Zehr and Mary Bender in a joint recital at 4 p.m., May 8, in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary.

The Bel Canto Singers will present the Asylum concert at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 9, in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary as a precursor to their Northwest Coast tour May 11 to 20. The program is based on the fall common read book, Escape from Camp 14 by Blaine Harden.

An informal come-and-go “Go Everywhere” reception for all students, families, faculty and staff will be from 8 to 9 p.m., May 9 in the Larks Nest in Erb Hall.

See the full weekend schedule here. For more information, call the Special Events Office at 620-327-8109 or toll free at 866-437-7866.