In the News

Pianist and vocalist featured in sophomore recital

Hesston College music student Rachelle Adrian (Mountain Lake, Minn.) will perform her sophomore recital at 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 22 in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary on the Hesston College campus.

A pianist and vocalist, Adrian will perform historical piano works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn. Also featured will be the minimalist piece “Changes” by Canadian composer Alexina Louie, “Footsteps in the Snow” by French impressionist composer Claude Debussy and a modernist piece by the Russian/Soviet composer Serge Prokofiev. Adrian will be joined by her piano student, Faith Elliot, for a duet entitled “Coconut Shuffle”.

Vocal selections to be performed include the aria “Blute nur du liebes Herz” from Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, “O Peace Thou Fairest Child of Heaven” by Thomas Arne, and a musical theatre piece, “100 Easy Ways to Lose a Man” from Wonderful Town by Leonard Bernstein. Hesston College faculty member Ken Rodgers will provide accompaniment.

Adrian studies piano with Patty Neufeldt and is a student of Hesston voice instructor Matt Schloneger. She is also a member of the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers, the college’s premiere vocal ensemble. In the fall of 2013, she performed the lead role in the college’s production of the opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors.

Women’s Soccer makes players’ worlds smaller

When Hesston College women’s soccer coach Bryan Kehr recruited midfielder Chihiro Hikita, Hokuto, Japan, he correctly assumed he’d added an unmistakable talent and instant scoring threat. Hikita didn’t disappoint in the fall of 2011, leading Hesston to a then program-best seven wins. What Kehr didn’t realize is that Hikita was the first of many Japanese players who would make an impact for the Larks.

A year after Hikita led the Larks in goals and points scored, Kehr added Myu Kobayashi, Yokosuka, Japan, and Yoshie Ueno, Tokyo, Japan, to the 2012 roster. Kobayashi exploded onto the college soccer scene in her debut, recording a hat-trick in a season-opening Hesston win. Ueno, meanwhile, was becoming a positive leader and role model on the team – a role that Kehr describes as very significant.

Kobayashi, HC’s all-time assist leader and team captain her sophomore year, ranks fifth in career points. Hikita is tied for 8th in that same category, while current freshman Machi Kanematsu, Osaka, Japan, was the Larks’ leading scorer this season and has already cracked the career points top 10.

Looking back, the four players’ time with the Hesston program has made an impact on much more than just the stat sheet. Indeed, Hikita, Ueno, Kobayashi and Kanematsu have shared their culture and friendship, along with their athletic talents, with their teammates in south-central Kansas.

Following her first semester, teammate Jessica Donnelly ’14 hosted Ueno for several weeks at her Gresham, Ore., home, just as she had done for Kobayashi the year before. Now an Oregon State University (Corvallis) student, Ueno’s time on the Hesston soccer team enriched her college experience.

“Playing soccer gave me so many great memories,” Ueno said. “I didn’t have many American friends before I joined the team, but my teammates quickly became like family to me. The relationships I built on the team enhanced my college life a great deal.”

Japanese students have a long and significant international student presence at Hesston, and the recent women’s soccer players from Japan have added to the rich Hesston history of diversity and multiculturalism. Studying in another culture while playing soccer, the Japanese students managed to do some teaching, too.

As part of Kehr’s prescribed monthly team social activity, Ueno and Kobayashi hosted a sushi meal their freshman year. About half the team participated, Kehr remembers, with the other half being a little unsure of Japanese cuisine. A year later, Kehr recalls clean plates and a new-found appreciation for new experiences. This year’s sushi meal has been scheduled for February.

“Coach Kehr taught me so many things through soccer practice and games,” Ueno said. “He gave me a chance to join the team and for that I am grateful. As an international student, playing soccer allowed me to meet many amazing people. Words can’t explain how much I love my former teammates.”

“Through counting in Japanese instead of English, having a Japanese word of the day and learning to make sushi as a team we’ve all enjoyed having international students on our team,” said sophomore Elisabeth Wilder, Hesston, Kan. “It’s been a great way to build relationships across cultural lines.”

Prayer labyrinth dedicated as a campus sacred space

Hesston College and the local community now have a new place to go for quiet contemplation or prayer with the completion of Hesston College’s prayer labyrinth.

With candles lighting the path, the labyrinth was dedicated Oct. 30. Bible and ministry faculty member Michele Hershberger led participants through the labyrinth in prayer while local musician Ben Regier set the mood with guitar and mandolin music.

“The labyrinth provides a place to let go of resentments, worries and emotional hurts while walking towards the center of the labyrinth and then to receive God’s love and peace while walking away from the center,” said Hershberger.

Prayer labyrinths offer a way of praying that brings a person’s whole body into the prayer. Individuals walk toward the center of the labyrinth and back out – a physical action that serves as a reminder of the spiritual action they are taking.

“Our physical bodies and spiritual beings are interconnected,” said Clay Stauffer, Hesston College exercise science faculty and labyrinth committee member. “The labyrinth, with its walking and praying, activates this interconnectedness.”

The idea for a prayer labyrinth on the Hesston College campus started in 2002 when former physical education instructor Jen LeFevre returned from a sabbatical where she experienced a prayer labyrinth and thought it would fit well with campus values. LeFevre taught a physical education class called prayer walking where students walked around the campus and town focusing on contemplation, meditation and prayer.

By chance, at a meeting of Hesston College Partners, LeFevre was approached and given a donation that became seed money to build a labyrinth. Over the years, LeFevre and students in the recreational leadership class also channeled proceeds from the annual class-organized Thanksgiving Weekend Howard Hustle Two-mile Run/Walk for the project as well.

As funds were raised, a committee of faculty and staff including Hershberger, LeFevre, Stauffer, physical education instructor and women’s soccer coach Bryan Kehr, Campus Facilities Director Jim Mason and psychology instructor Kevin Wilder was formed to manage the planning and construction.

In 2013, the committee found materials at a reasonable rate to finally begin the process of constructing a campus labyrinth. In the spring of 2014, the location behind Northlawn was selected and construction took place in September during the college’s First-year Experience Service Week. First-year Experience students and the Hesston College women’s soccer team built the labyrinth under the supervision of Miller Construction, owned by Hesston graduate Jordan Miller.

The committee chose a variation of the Santa Rosa labyrinth design. The design is a seven-circuit labyrinth divided into four quadrants including a unique space called the “heart space,” which is an area not walked but serving as a sacred vessel for holding symbols of an individual’s issues, needs or celebrations.

The Hesston College prayer labyrinth is open for the college community, local residents and visitors to use at any time.

“We hope that this labyrinth will be a sacred space to be used for prayer by the college community and the larger Hesston community,” said Kehr.

College thanks local community with free event

Hesston College will host its annual Community Night during early season home basketball games on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The teams will face Region VI foe Labette Community College, Parsons, Kan., with women’s tip off at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m. in Yost Center. Admission is free for all.

The evening will include performances from the Hesston High School dance teams, and pep bands from Hesston High and Hesston College. Free basic haircuts by 2003 Hesston College alumna Christy Pickerill of Snip n’ Clip Hair Shop, Newton, Kan., a pop-a-shot game for kids, halftime contests and Larks tattoos will add to the fun.

“We have a great evening of entertainment and athletic competition lined up,” said Director of Alumni and Church Relations Dallas Stutzman. “We hope this free event is a small way to say thanks for the support that is given to the college and its athletic programs from alumni and the community each year.”

In addition, the Admissions office will host high school students for a Faith and Sports devotional and pizza supper led by men’s basketball coach Dustin Galyon at 6:30 p.m. in Bontrager Student Center on the Hesston campus. All Hesston area youth are invited, either with their church youth group or individually. RSVP to the Admissions office by Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 620-327-4221 or admissions@hesston.edu.

Hesston College talent among singers to perform with Broadway stars

Local singers, including three from the Hesston College community, will perform with five Broadway stars on stage when Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts features Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7 at Bethel College’s Memorial Hall (North Newton, Kan.).

The two winners and six runners up were chosen through video audition by a panel of industry professionals for the show’s Singing with the Broadway Stars promotion.

Three of the runners up – Bethany Miller (Hesston), Nathan Patron (North Newton) and Eleya Raim (Oxford, Iowa) – represent Hesston College. Miller is an Admissions Counselor. Patron and Raim are both freshman and members of the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Bradley Kauffman and voice students of Matthew Schloneger.

Winners are Kate Freeland, a senior interdisciplinary studies major at Emporia (Kan.) State University, and Michael Parker (Salina, Kan.), an educator and performer with degrees in secondary education and theatre performance from Kansas State University (Manhattan). Freeland and Parker will both sing a solo in the show finale.

Other runners up are Da’Merius Ford, a sophomore musical theatre major at Wichita (Kan.) State University; Elizabeth Fulcher, a sophomore at Goodland (Kan.) High School; and Maili Kee, a sophomore music and theatre major at Barton County Community College (Great Bend). The runners up will join the stars on stage to sing “Seasons of Love” from Rent.

Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway features Broadway stars from shows including Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Jekyll and Hyde, Fiddler on the Roof, Wonderful Town, Tarzan, Cats, The Woman in White and It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues singing the finest hit songs of the last 100 years of Broadway musicals.

Tickets for the show can be purchased by calling 620-327-8158 or at hesstonbethel.org.

Simulation exercise to explore Native American experiences

Hesston College will offer an opportunity to learn about the history of Native American tribes from the surrounding area and across the country through a simulation exercise called “The Loss of Turtle Island” at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10 in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center on the Hesston College campus.

Erica Littlewolf, coordinator of Mennonite Central Committee’s Central States Indigenous Vision Center, will lead the exercise. The event is free and open to the public.

The exercise interactively explores the historic relationship between Europeans – specifically Mennonites in the Central States region – and the indigenous nations who inhabit what is now the United States of America.

“The Loss of Turtle Island exercise is designed to educate people about their connection with the history of Native Americans,” said Littlewolf.

Since its formation two years ago, the Indigenous Vision Center has been focusing on building relationships with and among indigenous people for the purpose of addressing systematic injustices.

Littlewolf is from the Northern Cheyenne tribe of southeastern Montana and lives in Albuquerque, N.M. She has bachelor’s degrees in psychology and American Indian studies and applies her schooling to social justice issues and how they affect indigenous people. Littlewolf is a member of White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church (Busby, Mont.). She serves on Mennonite Church USA’s Women in Leadership Steering Committee, Peace and Justice Support Network and Roots of Justice Accountability Circle.

Howard Hustle offers day-after-Thanksgiving exercise

Instead of remaining sedentary on the sofa, Hesston College offers an opportunity for exercise and fun with the 23rd annual Thanksgiving Weekend Howard Hustle Two-Mile Run/Walk at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 28.

The event has become a tradition both of Hesston College’s Thanksgiving Weekend celebration and also within the local community, offering a scenic tour through and around the Hesston College campus and Dyck Arboretum of the Plains.

Early entry until Nov. 20 is $20. Entry after Nov. 20 is $25. The entry fee includes a long-sleeved tech shirt and race number. Race proceeds will be donated to Hesston College’s Exercise Science Equipment Project in support of the new exercise science program of study.

Medals will be awarded to overall and age group winners. Participants will also have several chances to win door prizes. Registration can be found here.

The day of the race, race packets may be picked up and on-site registration completed from 9 to 10:45 a.m. in front of Hesston College’s Bontrager Student Center.

For questions or more information, contact Clay Stauffer at 620-327-8260 or clays@hesston.edu.

El Cerrito partners with college for preschool fundraiser

Every Tuesday in November, El Cerrito Mexican Restaurant in Hesston will donate 15 percent of daily meal proceeds to the Hesston College Preschool Scholarship Fund.

“This event came about because I was looking for a creative way to keep our preschool scholarship fund replenished,” said Larisa Miller Lawrence, the Hesston College Preschool Director.

“I thought of El Cerrito because owner, Juan Gomez, has had a relationship with the preschool for some time,” Miller Lawrence said. “We discussed different options and he generously offered to donate part of meal proceeds. I was very excited about his offer and knew this would be a great way to raise money for the preschool and benefit his business.”

This is the preschool’s first year to offer a scholarship to families who would like quality early education experiences for their child, but may not be able to pay the full tuition cost. Last spring the preschool received a one-time grant for scholarships from the Hesston Community Foundation. The foundation encouraged Hesston College preschool to collaborate with others in the community to keep the fund going.

“Our hope at Hesston College Preschool is that all young children will have the opportunity to attend preschool allowing them to get a good start in life,” said Miller Lawrence.

Students place at 2014 NATS regional 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 Oct. 24 to 25 in Denver. Thirteen students represented Hesston College during the weekend competition with five advancing to at least the semifinal round and three placing.

Earning second place finishes were Galed Krisjayanta (Sukarta, Indonesia) in the Sophomore Men’s Classical Division, Taylor Zehr (Archbold, Ohio) in the Freshman and Sophomore Women’s Musical Theatre Division and Nathan Patron (North Newton, Kan.) in the Freshman Men’s Classical Division. The top three places in each division are eligible to compete in the NATS National Competition at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, in July.

Krisjayanta, Zehr and Patron were also selected to sing in master classes at the convention.

Students who advanced to the semifinal round were sophomore Bryce Elder (Ottawa, Kan.) in the Sophomore Men’s Classical Division and freshman Lorren Oesch (Caldwell, Idaho) in the Freshman Women’s Classical Division.

Other Hesston College students who competed were Rachelle Adrian (Mountain Lake, Minn.), Mary Bender (Harrisonburg, Va.), Molly Bruner (Wauseon, Ohio), Havela Lehman (Keizer, Ore.), Elliott Leichty (Harrisonburg, Va.), Anna Martin (Harleysville, Pa.), Casey Perez (Kalona, Iowa), Caleb Schrock-Hurst (Harrisonburg, Va.) and Andry Stutzman (Harrisonburg, Va.).

All of the Hesston College participants are voice students of faculty member Matthew Schloneger or adjunct faculty member Holly Swartzendruber. Schloneger was also a clinician for the convention’s high school master class.

Hesston College music faculty member Ken Rodgers and staff member Karen Unruh provided accompaniment for competing students.

The NATS Vocal Competition pits students against one another based on their age level and gender in either classical or musical theatre. Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming compete with students from colleges and universities of all sizes.