In the News

Musical ensembles to present 2015 spring concert

Hesston College will showcase its long and continuing tradition of outstanding musical ensembles with a concert at 7 p.m., Thursday March 19 at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus.

The program will feature the college’s Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Rebecca Schloneger, the Hesston College Chorale under the direction of Ken Rodgers and the Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Bradley Kauffman.

The concert, which is a chance for the community and college to connect through the sharing of music, is free and open to the public.

Little Women to allow audience to reconsider the definition of success

Hesston College Theatre will present three showings of the musical Little Women March 27 to 29 at Hesston Mennonite Church. The show will be at 7 p.m., March 27 and 28, and 3 p.m., March 29.

Based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel, Little Women is the well-known tale of the four imaginative March sisters and their mother who struggle through the Civil War while their father is absent as an army chaplain. The sisters each have unique personalities, and the show centers on aspiring writer Jo as she pursues her dream, is rejected and realizes what true success looks like.

“It has been a total delight to see the show growing and growing,” said director Laura Kraybill. “The consistent energy around the show has been a huge gift.”

Kraybill, Hesston College Theatre faculty member is co-directing the show with music director and music faculty member Matt Schloneger.

Little Women is a tale of family togetherness and perseverance that is wonderful for all ages. Kraybill hopes the show will allow the audience to “re-evaluate what success looks like and how much success has to do with the love given and received in life.”

Tickets are $15 for adults and seniors, $8 for students and $5 for Hesston College students. They can be purchased online or by calling 620-327-8105.

A cast of 19 students will be featured, as well as a live orchestra made up of students and community members.

Little Women cast:
Jo March – Taylor Zehr, Wauseon, Ohio
Professor Bhaer – Galed Krisjayanta, Sukarta, Indonesia
Amy March – Emma Roth, Goshen, Ind.
Meg March – Meredith Spicher, Belleville, Pa.
Beth March – Eleya Raim, Oxford, Iowa
Marmee March – Anna Martin, Harleysville, Pa.
Mr. Laurence – Micah Raber, Millersburg, Ohio
Laurie Laurence – Nathan Patron, North Newton, Kan.
Aunt March – Abbie DeWild, Kalona, Iowa
Mr. John Brooke – Ben Helmuth, Goshen, Ind.
Mrs. Kirk – Savannah Sizer, Littleton, Colo.
Clarissa/ensemble – Kiara Boettger, Harrisonburg, Va.
Braxton/ensemble – Elliot Liechty, Harrisonburg, Va.
Rodrigo – Caleb Schrock-Hurst, Harrisonburg, Va.
Knight/ensemble – Jared Hurst, Sharon, Pa.
Hag/ensemble – Kristy Clouse, Kalona, Iowa
Troll/ensemble – Charissa Graham, Tiskilwa, Ill.
Rodrigo 2/ensemble – Irena Xhari, Lezhe, Albania
Ensemble – Jeremy Delly, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti

Little Women is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International.

Kansas Poet Laureate to present on “home”

Hesston College will host Wyatt Townley, Kansas Poet Laureate, on campus Friday, March 20. Townley will read her poetry at an 11 a.m. forum and lead a 3 p.m. workshop for select Hesston College students. Her presentation and workshop center around the theme “home.”

Forum will focus on Townley’s work and the work of other poets that “invites us to come home to the poetry that underlies our lives in an age of distraction.” Recognizing home as a long-held Kansas value, Townley reflects on poetry, saying, “ Poetry is a place we can return to in all kinds of weather, with its innate power to heal and comfort, transform and inspire. Its porch light is always on.”

The theme of home will extend to Townley’s workshop, entitled “HomeWords.” The short poem, the “American Cinquain,” will be used to discuss large themes, in accordance to the state poetry project.

Townley has published three poetry books. Her work has been featured in settings such as National Public Radio, Ted Kooser’s “American Life in Poetry” column, The Paris Review and Newsweek, and has been twice nominated for The Pushcart Prize.

“Townley’s presentations and workshop will build on themes of ‘home’ explored as last year’s First-year Experience theme and offer a rare opportunity for students to learn firsthand from a nationally lauded poet,” said Karen LeVan, Hesston College English faculty member.

The Kansas Humanities Council, a group that supports community humanities programs, makes the Kansas Poet Laureate position possible. To learn more about the council, visit kansashumanities.org.

Showalter Villa will also host Townley at 3:30 p.m., Thursday Mar 19. Question and answer sessions and book signings will follow both Townley’s Hesston College and Showalter Villa presentations. The forum is open to the public and will be in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary.

English faculty to participate in Mennonite Writing Conference

Hesston College, along with Fresno (Calif.) Pacific University, will co-sponsor the seventh in a series of Mennonite writing conferences in the United States and Canada at Fresno Pacific University March 12 to 15.

The conference focus on the theme of Movement, Transformation and Place and will include readings, scholarly paper presentations, panels, writing workshops, performances, storytelling, book signings, excursions, an open microphone and conversations.

Keynote speakers to be featured during the conference include Peter Everwine, a Fulbright senior lecturer in American Poetry at the University of Haifa, Israel. David Mas Masumoto, an organic fruit farmer south of Fresno and author of nine books will also present. In 2013, Masumoto was appointed to the National Council on the Arts, the board for the National Endowment for the Arts, by President Obama. Robert Zacharias, Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Waterloo and Visiting Scholar at the University of Toronto, will also be featured.

Karen Sheriff LeVan, Hesston College English faculty, is part of the planning committee for the conference, while other members of the English faculty, André Swartley and Donovan Tann, will present at the event.

Swartley’s presentation titled “The Importance of Place: Even in Fiction, Travel Leads to Growth” covers the importance of place in storytelling and independent publishing.

Swartley is the English as a Second Language program director at Hesston College. He is the author of The Island of Misfit Toys (2005, Bound to Excel), Americanus Rex (2009, Workplay Publishing) and Leon Martin and the Fantasy Girl (2012, Workplay Publishing). His fourth novel will be released in October 2015.

Tann’s presentation titled “Little Gidding: Transforming Religious Space in the Early Modern World” will present some of his research that focuses on the religious writings of an early seventeenth century English family.

“The Ferrar family’s intentional religious community played an important role in the period’s complicated religious politics,” Tann said. “In my presentation, I will explain how this family’s transformation of space illuminates contemporary ideas about the definition and boundaries of religion itself.”

Academic team gives scholarly presentation

A team of Hesston College academics presented on direct assessment at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Network for Academic Renewal Conference in Kansas City, Mo., Feb. 19 to 21. The team was comprised of Dr. Brent Yoder of Hesston, vice president of Academics, education instructor Marissa King of Newton and business instructor David LeVan of Newton.

Using experience as a guide, the Hesston College presentation, “Getting Started: Implementing Direct Assessment through a Summer Assessment Workshop,” highlighted the conference theme of “From Mission to Evidence: Empowering and Inclusive General Education Programs.” The presentation described Hesston’s experience with assessing student work in classes and how to use the data to make improvements.

Inspired in part by a challenge from the Higher Learning Commission accrediting agency following full reaccreditation in 2010, the college began researching and incorporating direct assessment tools to assess student learning outcomes. After revising institutional learning outcomes, the college revised the general education curriculum to closely align with those outcomes. Each general education class created an assessment assignment focused on institutional outcomes which serve as artifacts for the summer assessment workshop. The college has now completed two annual assessment cycles, and the data from the annual workshops informs teaching and learning in several ways.

“We have begun to use the results from summer assessment and the CLA+, an exam that directly assesses student work in a number of our learning outcome areas, to inform our work during faculty in-service days prior to the start of each semester, especially as it relates to working with students to improve their written communication skills,” said Yoder.

The presentation offered advice in implementing similar programs and processes for effectively obtaining and using data and make continuous improvements.

Instructor presents at Japanese conference

André Swartley, English as a Second Language program director at Hesston College, presented at the After JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) conference in Chiba, Japan, Feb. 9 and 10.

JET is a one-and-a-half-year teaching fellowship through the Japanese government where native speakers of other languages, especially English, teach in Japanese public schools. The After JET conference seeks to expose JET teachers in their last year to options in education after their term expires. This year, the conference hosted about 450 attendees. Swartley was an assistant language teacher in the JET program from 2012 to 2014, preceding his work at Hesston College.

Swartley’s presentation focused on paths of study that could lead to various teaching careers in English-speaking countries. Covering areas including teaching certification, teaching fellowships and non-teaching education jobs, the presentation outlined career options and how assistant language teachers can pursue them.

Swartley was one of about 15 speakers and consultants selected to speak at the conference from several countries and fields of expertise.

In addition to presenting, Swartley, who is also an editor and fiction author, provided one-on-one consultations to conference attendees who wished to discuss careers in education, writing or publishing.

Swartley is the author of The Island of Misfit Toys (2005, Bound to Excel), Americanus Rex (2009, Workplay Publishing) and Leon Martin and the Fantasy Girl (2012, Workplay Publishing). His fourth novel will be released in October 2015.

AVDS conference motivates nonviolent action

How do followers of Jesus Christ pursue nonviolence in a world full of violence? That was the question explored by the 170 participants at Hesston College’s Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series weekend Feb. 13 to 15.

The weekend’s theme, “Overcoming Evil: Ordinary People Making a Difference,” featured Father John Dear, a peace activist and 2008 and 2015 Nobel Peace Prize nominee.

Dear emphasized nonviolence as the “vision of the heart that sees every human being as your brother and sister.” Dear, an active peacemaker himself, shared stories of the numerous times he publicly acted for nonviolence, including more than 75 arrests for acts of civil disobedience.

“In a country and world filled with evil, the conference provided an opportunity for participants to name their fears and seek tangible ways to fulfill Christ’s command to love our enemies and return love for hate,” said organizer Dallas Stutzman, director of Alumni and Church Relations. “This is the only response that will actually change life’s difficult circumstances, both in our neighborhoods or across the globe in international conflicts.”

Participants were invited to take action towards nonviolence in several ways, including writing letters to elected officials and/or local media outlets and taking a Vow of Nonviolence.

“The invitation is to be nonviolent to ourselves, to all others and creation, and to be part of the global movement of nonviolence,” said Dear. “This is an on-going journey towards the fullness of life, where every outcome can be healing and transformative.”

Breakout sessions gave participants the chance to hear about peace in different contexts and a variety of backgrounds and faith traditions. Among the breakout presenters was David Works, author of Gone in a Heartbeat, which chronicles his and his wife’s journey to finding forgiveness in the tragedy of losing their two teenage daughters to a gunman’s attack on their Colorado Springs Church. Jason Boone (Raleigh, North Car.), coordinating minister for the Peace and Justice Support Network (PJSN) of Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Network, presented on helping returning veterans from the wounds of war. Hesston College Mennonite John Murray joined Sohaib Mohiuddin (Wichita, Kan.), a member of the Islamic Society of Wichita, for reflection on how interfaith efforts can make a difference. Michelle Armster (North Newton, Kan.), transitional executive director of Mennonite Central Committee Central States, raised the question of what justice looks like. Mary Herr (Hesston, Kan.), co-founder of The Hermitage Retreat Community (Three Rivers, Mich.) led a time of silent reflection.

Hesston College faculty members Ken Rodgers and Tony Brown led worship in the Taizé tradition, a style created by a monastic community in Taizé, France. Participants were guided through a service of scripture reading, music, and times of silence and reflection.

Ted Swartz and Tim Ruebke of Ted & Company TheaterWorks (Harrisonburg, Va.) presented the satirical drama I’d Like to Buy an Enemy Feb. 14. The drama spoke of peace, conflict resolution and justice in a world focused on military presence.

The weekend conference doubled as the Intercollegiate Peace Fellowship meeting with 51 participants from Hesston College, Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.), Bluffton (Ohio University and Goshen (Ind.) College.

“Returning to Hesston College for the AVDS conference was a rejuvenating and gratifying experience,” said Timothy Bixler, Indianapolis, a 2013 Hesston graduate and Goshen (Ind.) College Student. “John Dear’s stimulating call towards an active approach to peacemaking is one that will hopefully remain forever embedded within the hearts and minds of the citizens of God’s eternal kingdom.”

Golfers invited to Arizona for sixth annual National Golf Benefit for Student Scholarships

Golfers and non-golfers alike are invited to participate in Hesston College’s sixth annual National Golf Benefit for Student Scholarships. Golfers can enjoy a break from the winter cold and golf in the four-person scramble at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at The 500 Club in Glendale, Ariz. Non-golfers are invited to join the fun by purchasing raffle tickets for exciting prizes valued at more than $20,000.

Proceeds from the benefit go to the Hesston College Student Scholarship Fund, which provides financial aid in the form of institutional scholarships and grants. Each year, Hesston College awards more than $2.5 million in student tuition assistance.

Steve Yoder, a Phoenix businessman and benefit organizer, has collected an impressive selection of raffle items. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $5 a piece. Tickets for non-golfers must be purchased by March 27. You do not have to be present to win. Raffle prizes include:

• Two-day training at Bob Bondurant School of Driving (Chandler Ariz.). Training is based on the High Performance Driving Platform and gets you behind the wheel of the 460hp Corvette Z51 C7 Stingray for timed autocross, lead and follow, accident avoidance scenarios, skid car time and other maneuvers.
• Set of new golf clubs and bag
• Arizona Coyotes (professional ice hockey) 12-seat suite for April 4 game vs. San Jose Sharks
• Construction package consisting of a bag of cordless Dewalt power tools, including an Impact drill, Sawzall and flashlight
• Sonoran Desert Hot Air Balloon ride and full catered breakfast for two
• Coffee basket
• Date night package, including two tickets to the Aug. 29, performance of the musical “Wicked” at Arizona State University’s (Tempe) Gammage Auditorium and a $100 gift card to P.F. Chang’s for dinner before the show
• Picture/fine art package to have a favorite picture enlarged and printed on canvas or photo paper and mounted in a custom frame
• Kennedy Space Center Astronaut Training Experience (Florida), including a four-night stay and airfare for two
• Sports Pro Package including a baseball signed by Hank Aaron, Pittsburg Steeler’s football helmet signed by Terry Bradshaw, Arizona Coyotes jersey signed by the team and a Phoenix Suns signed Eric Bledsoe jersey

Registration to golf 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, the barbecue meal and door prizes.

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

See more information online and register. Contact Sheri Esau with questions at 620-327-8147 or sheri.esau@hesston.edu.

Friendship leads to collaborative concert

Three college choirs – Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, Doane College Choir (Crete, Neb.) and McPherson (Kan.) College Choir will present a collaborative concert at 7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21 at Whitestone Mennonite Church in Hesston. The concert is free and open to the public.

The special concert is part of Doane’s annual tour, and the 50-member choir under the direction of Dr. Kurt Runestad, will be featured for about half of the concert. The Hesston College and McPherson College choirs will perform individually as well, and the concert will conclude with two numbers by the combined singers.

The connection between Hesston College and Doane College stems from the friendship of Runestad and Bradley Kauffman, Bel Canto Singers’ conductor, that began while they were graduate students at the University of Iowa (Iowa City). Dr. Joshua Norris, director of the McPherson College Choir, was a colleague of Runestad’s in Nebraska. Close proximity of Hesston and McPherson made a collaboration between all three college’s possible.

This will not be the first meeting of the Hesston and Doane choirs. A year ago, the Bel Canto Singers visited the Doane campus while on tour where they enjoyed an exchange with Runestad’s choir.

While no explicit theme can be named for the concert, Kauffman notes the bond of friendship present.

“Implicitly, for me, it is about friendship and the power of music to connect people and forge friendship,” said Kauffman. “I look forward to offering a warm Hesston welcome to both of these great choirs.”