In the News

Explore Kansas! trip to experience the Symphony in the Flint Hills

Hesston College alumni and friends will experience the renowned annual Symphony in the Flint Hills with the Kansas City Symphony during the college’s 13th annual Explore Kansas! trip June 14.

The day trip will depart from Hesston and make a stop in El Dorado for the Flint Hills Art Fest before arriving for an afternoon and evening at Rosalia Ranch in Butler County for the evening symphony concert, presentations on Flint Hills culture, history and ecology, wagon rides, prairie walks and an art exhibit and auction. College faculty member and historian, John Sharp, will join the group to share stories of the Flint Hills.

Symphony in the Flint Hills, now in its ninth year, celebrates the history, ecology and culture of the Tallgrass Prairie. About 7,000 people attend the event every year.

The cost of the trip is $120 per person and is limited to the first 60 people to register. Cost includes van transportation, a box lunch and Symphony in the Flint Hills events and concert. The evening meal and snacks may be purchased from on-site vendors. A limited number of Symphony in the Flint Hills event tickets only are also available at $90 each. This excludes transportation and all the amenities of the full Explore Kansas! trip. Registration and full payment must be received by May 31.

To reserve a spot or for further information, call the Hesston College Alumni Office at 620-327-8109 or 866-437-7866 or email alumni@hesston.edu.

Yoder, Ladwig honored as top student athletes

Nick Yoder, a sophomore baseball player, and Makayla Ladwig, a sophomore women’s basketball player, were named the 2014 male and female Hesston College Student Athletes of the Year.

Yoder, Millersburg, Ohio, a leader among the winningest class in Hesston baseball history, battled injuries his sophomore campaign but still contributed from the shortstop position with award-winning defense and a leadoff position in the batting order. A youth ministry major, Yoder is busy off the field as well, taking the responsibilities of both ministry assistant and resident assistant.

“I was surprised,” Yoder said of the honor. “I’ve put in a lot of work so it’s nice to be recognized. Baseball takes up a lot of my time, but coach Rob’s values and Hesston values have really impacted me. I came here to play baseball, and I’ve really enjoyed my time.”

Ladwig, Wichita, Kan., was a stalwart for the women’s basketball team, both for what shows in the stat sheet and what doesn’t. The forward finished fifteenth on Hesston’s all-time scoring list and played a major leadership role on the team as its captain. Ladwig, who is completing her second year of a three-year nursing degree, is also a resident assistant and was instrumental in the inauguration and maintenance of the Hesston gospel choir.

“I feel very honored,” Ladwig said. “I’m glad I can represent this college well. I definitely think the basketball team has made me a better leader. Being in a sport here became an equal component of my Hesston College experience and it was much better than I could have ever hoped for.”

“It was such a pleasure to coach Makayla,” said Hesston women’s basketball coach Dan Harrison. “She worked hard and was a true servant leader to her teammates.”

Yoder and Ladwig succeed last year’s winners Hayley Gately, Roseville, Calif., and Jacob Landis, Sterling, Ill.

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 soccer team won with a 3.32 in the same year as their first-ever trip to the playoffs.

“They’re a wonderful group,” said Hesston women’s soccer coach Bryan Kehr. “They worked hard and improved on the field, but their character is what I’m most proud of.”

College prepares for leadership transition in Advancement

The Hesston College community will prepare for a leadership transition as Yvonne Sieber, vice president of Advancement, ends her service to the college June 30. Tonya Detweiler will serve as interim vice president of Advancement effective July 1.

“Vonnie has led the Advancement team to many noteworthy accomplishments to support the college’s causes,” said President Howard Keim. “She has been an excellent representative of the college, and I wish her all the best in her new role.”

Sieber has led the departments contained within the Advancement division – Development, Alumni and Church Relations and Marketing and Communications – since 2007. Her dedicated service over the years has resulted in improved marketing presence, consistently meeting Annual Fund goals, an increased number of Partners who give annually to the college and the completion of several capital campaign projects. She has also served as co-chair of the Inclusion and Diversity Council and worked with a variety of campus initiatives.

Sieber has accepted the position of Chief Philanthropy Officer of Bluestem Communities, which includes the Schowalter Villa (Hesston) and Kidron Bethel Village (North Newton, Kan.) retirement communities.

Detweiler has served Hesston College as development officer for Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Florida since November 2008. She is based from her home in Goshen, Ind., and will continue with that arrangement, spending one week per month on campus.

Detweiler is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Goshen College and a master’s in business administration from Bluffton (Ohio) University.

“Tonya has been a highly successful development officer in an important region,” said Keim. “Her previous experience in leading groups and bringing change position her well to lead the Advancement team to reach its goals.”

Students commissioned for summer service

During Hesston College chapel April 30, 40 students were commissioned for Christian ministry and service for summer and fall placements.

“These students 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 High River, Alberta, are Disaster Management Program students Megan Baumgartner (Hesston, Kan.), Davis Cook (Goessel, Kan.), Philip Horning (Ephrata, Pa.), Rachel Jantzi (Hendersonville, N.C.), Cynnandra Luttrell (Tiskilwa, Ill.), Ben Rush (Quakertown, Pa.), Travis Splechter (Coffeyville, Kan.), Aimee Stein (Hesston, Kan.), Elisabeth Wilder (Hesston, Kan.), Steven Yoder (McVeytown, Pa.) and Simon Zehr (Tiskilwa, Ill.).

Students serving at Camp Mennoscah (Murdock, Kan.), are Kayla Kauffman (Hutchinson, Kan.) and Robin Morris (Hutchinson, Kan.).

Students serving at Camp Keola (Big Creek, Calif.) are Emma Cloud (Chandler, Ariz.), Makenna Grow (Logan, Utah) and Dennis Marcellino (Van Nuys, Calif.).

Students serving at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp (Divide, Colo.) are Kendrik Mast (Harrisonburg, Va.), David Penner (Moundridge, Kan.) and Kendal Slabach Brubaker (Harrisonburg, Va.). Kendrik Mast

Students serving at Camp Friedenswald (Cassopolis Mich.) are Marissa Hochstetler (Strang, Neb.) and Wesley Wilder (Hesston, Kan.).

Students serving at Discovering Opportunities for Outreach (DOOR) (Denver, Colo.) are JD Hershberger (Hesston, Kan.) and Cameron Ponce (Elkhart, Ind.).

• Heather Dussinger (New Holland, Pa.) will serve at Greenview Bible Camp (Denver, Pa.).
• Maria Diener of (Meridian, Miss.) will work as a counselor a Pine Lake Fellowship Camp (Meridian).
• Bryce Elder (Ottawa, Kan.) will serve at Silver State Camp (Sedalia, Colo.).
• Brett Fair (Topeka, Kan.) will be going on a mission trip with Wanamaker Woods Church of the Nazarene (Topeka).
• Christina Hershey (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), will serve at Camp Hebron (Halifax, Pa.).
• Makayla Ladwig (Wichita, Kan.) will work as a Legacy Intern at Legacy Ministries (Wichita).
• Joshua Landis (Sterling, Ill.), will serve at Wilderness Wind (Ely, Minn.).
• Spencer Miller of (Milford, Neb.), will be part of service team from Bellwood Mennonite Church (Milford), to Sharing With Appalachian People (SWAP) in Kentucky.
• Megan Redd (Castle Rock, Colo.) will be work with the youth group at Creekside Bible Church (Castle Rock).
• Nathanael Ressler (Mount Vernon, Ill.) will serve at Silverwood Mennonite Church (Goshen, Ind.) as part of the Ministry Intern Program.
• Becca Slabaugh of Goshen, Ind., will serve at North Main Street Mennonite Church (Nappanee, Ind.).
• Jeffrey Smoker (Harrisonburg, Va.) will intern with Mennonite Disaster Service’s Projects Logistics Coordinator for eight weeks.
• Josh Thomas (Johnstown, Pa.) will work as an intern at Kaufman Mennonite Church (Conemaugh, Pa.).
• Hannah Weaver (Inola, Okla.) will serve with Bible Memory Camp programs (Goshen, Ind.) across the country.
• Garrett Woelk (Goessel, Kan.) will serve at Swan Lake Christian Camp (Viborg, S.D.).
• Nick Yoder (Millersburg, Ohio) will work at a school in Uganda with Grace Mennonite Church (Berlin, Ohio).
• Taylor Zehr (Archbold, Ohio) will serve at Little Eden Camp (Onekama, Mich.).

Located 30 miles north of Wichita, Hesston College is the two-year liberal arts college of Mennonite Church USA.

Students recognized for achievements during LarkFest 2014

Hesston College students were recognized for their academic and extracurricular achievements during the 2013-14 year at Larkfest May 2. Larkfest is an annual end-of-the-year event that recognizes students for their academic, extracurricular, service and leadership accomplishments throughout the academic year.

Two students, sophomores Rebecca Eichelberger (Geneva, Neb.) and Hannah Weaver (Inola, Okla.), received the Lark of the Year Award for demonstrating excellence in academics, leadership and service. Lark of the Year nominees were selected through grade-point average and involvement in leadership and service opportunities on campus, and the faculty chose the winners.

Receiving the Ambassador of the Year awards from Admissions were Josh Booth (Newton, Kan.), Myles Cardenas (Conyers, Ga.), Jason Oyer (Hubbard, Ore.), Taylor Wright (Salem, Ore.) and Carley Wyse (Archbold, Ohio).

Receiving the Resident Assistant of the Year awards from Student Life were sophomores Morgan Martin (New Holland, Pa.) and Tyler Roth (Canby, Ore.).

Named as Male and Female Athletes of the year based on athletic and academic achievement were sophomore women’s basketball player Makayla Ladwig (Wichita, Kan.) and sophomore short stop for the baseball team Nick Yoder (Millersburg, Ohio).

Receiving the Hesston College Business Department Award were sophomores Alyssa Becker (North Newton, Kan.), Mitchell Denlinger (Denver, Pa.) and Mitchell Martin (Milford, Neb.).

Receiving the Bill Mason Business Scholarship were freshmen Eric Cender (Valparaiso, Ind.), Jordan Tanner (Houston, Texas) and Grant Walker (North Newton, Kan.). The scholarship was established in honor of longtime business instructor, Bill Mason, Hesston, Kan., and awards a $2,500 scholarship to business students during their sophomore year.

Receiving the Behavioral Science Department Award were sophomores Taylor Wright (Salem, Ore.) and Wesley Wilder (Hesston, Kan.).

Receiving the Clayton V. Beyler Award from the Bible department were sophomores Becca Slabaugh (Goshen, Ind.) and Nick Yoder (Millersburg, Ohio).

Receiving the Daniel Gerber Peace and Service Award from the Bible department was sophomore Josh Landis (Sterling, Ill.).

Receiving the Science and Math Department Achievement Award was sophomore Kelvin Ferbianto (Jakarta, Indonesia).

Receiving the Teacher Preparation Award was sophomore Samantha Aeschliman (Lindsborg, Kan.).

Receiving the Service Leader Award for 60 or more hours of community service logged during the academic year were sophomores Jeffrey Smoker (Harrisonburg, Va.) and Simon Zehr (Tiskilwa, Ill.) and freshman Elisabeth Wilder (Hesston, Kan.).

International Chorale to present bon voyage concert

The Hesston College International Chorale will present a bon voyage concert as a precursor to a three-week European tour at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 10, in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary on the Hesston College campus. The concert is free and open to the public, though a free-will offering will be collected to cover program costs.

The program, entitled “Songs of a Wayfarer,” features music of sojourn, isolation and solace, and is inspired by the campus-wide study of immigration during the 2012-13 year and the First-Year Experience seminar common read “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario.

The group will depart for its cross-cultural tour May 13 and return June 3. They will visit, perform concerts and study country and cultural history in the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

The 30-voice mixed chamber choir is under the direction of Bradley Kauffman and accompanied by Ken Rodgers, both Hesston College music faculty members. Holly Swartzendruber, adjunct voice instructor, will travel with the choir as well.

Members of the International Chorale include Rachelle Adrian, Mountain Lake, Minn.; Laura Baker, Protection, Kan.; Joshua Booth, Newton, Kan.; Eric Cender, Valparaiso, Ind.; Emma Cloud, Chandler, Ariz.; Isaac Dahl, Archbold, Ohio; Mischa De Jesus, Kalona, Iowa; Dusti Diener, Harrisoville, Mo.; Jessica Donnelly, Woodvillage, Ore.; Rebecca Eichelberger, Geneva, Neb.; Hannah Fenton, Hesston, Kan.; Rachelle Haarer, Goshen, Ind.; Christina Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Marissa Hochstetler, Strang, Neb.; Galed Krisjayanta, Sukarta, Indonesia; Joshua Landis, Sterling, Ill.; Matthew Lind, Harrisonburg, Va.; Cris Lopez Maldonado, Quito, Ecuador; Morgan Martin, New Holland, Pa.; Karli Mast, Hubbard, Ore.; Savannah Mitchell, Groveland, Ill.; Jake Rhine, Indianapolis, Ind.; Rebecca Rhodes, Arthur, Ill.; Eyan Roth, Hesston, Kan.; Jason Schroeder, Anthony, Kan.; Rachel Short-Miller, Belingham, Wash.; Jeffrey Smoker, Harrisonburg, Va.; Hannah Weaver, Inola, Okla.; Elisabeth Wilder, Hesston, Kan.; and Steven Yoder, McVeytown, Pa.

Hesston College performing arts to close year with music theatre showcase

Performing arts students in Hesston College’s Music Theatre Workshop will present a music theatre showcase at 7 p.m., Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, in the college’s Northlawn Studio Theatre. The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a seat.

Six students and three staff members will present scenes and songs from West Side Story, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Sweet Charity, 110 In the Shade, Edges, The Frogs, Plain and Fancy, I Love You Because, Whoop Dee Doo!, Chicago and A Chorus Line.

Music direction is provided by Hesston College voice instructor Matt Schloneger, direction by Hesston College theatre director Laura Kraybill, piano accompaniment by Hesston College music faculty member Ken Rodgers and choreography by Dannika Bielek, executive director of the Bethel College Academy of Performing Arts (Newton, Kan.).

Art students’ award-winning work featured in gallery

Hesston College students are the featured artists in the college’s Regier Friesen Art Gallery through May 10. The student work features a variety of art media from both fall and spring semesters of the 2013-14 academic year. All exhibits are free and open to the public.

Included in the gallery are the winners of the annual juried art show. David Long, professor of art at Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.), served as juror for the show.

Students receiving awards were:

Drawing:

• Cheryl Hershberger, Hesston, Kan., first place for “Trees.” Hershberger’s piece was also selected by art faculty for the Hesston College Collection Purchase Award.
• Quinn Kathrineberg, Salina, Kan., second place
• Trevor Natalini, Oronogo, Mo., third place

Painting:

• Soichiro Nakamura, Tokyo, Japan, first place
• Ryan Miller, Arthur, Ill., second place for “Splash”
• Carley Wyse, Archbold, Ohio, third place

Photography:

• Laken Richer, New Paris, Ind., first place for “Black and White Bicycle”
• Alex Leff, Andover, Kan., second place for “Sunset at the Arb”
• George Felix, Wichita, Kan., third place for “Untitled”

Graphic Design/Design:

• Marissa Hochstetler, Strang, Neb., first place for catalog design
• Carley Wyse, Archbold, Ohio, second place for catalog design
• Courtney Wengerd, Goshen, Ind., third place for card design “Joy”

Floral Foam Scultures for Art Appreciation course:

• Leandra Daniels, Johnson City, Kan., first place
• Anastasia Delgado, Hutchinson, Kan., second place
• Guanjoo Kim, Gunpo, South Korea, third place

Ceramics:

• Drew Hostetler, Goshen, Ind., first place with mugs
• Kendal Slabach Brubaker, Harrisonburg, Va., second place with brown bowl
• Nick Ladd, Hesston, Kan., third place with teapot
• Hanna Fenton, Hesston, Kan., received the Juror’s Choice Award with a photography piece, “Church Montage.”

Art students studied under Lois Misegadis, who teaches drawing, painting, graphic design, photography, design and color theory, and Hanna Eastin, who teaches ceramics.

The Regier Friesen Gallery is located in the Friesen Center for the Visual Arts on the Hesston College campus and is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Summer clay camp to help shape young artists

Middle school and high school-aged students can expand their creativity and learning with Hesston College’s week-long summer clay camp June 16 to 20 on the Hesston College campus. Hesston College ceramics instructor and local artist Hanna Eastin will lead the camp.

The camp will be a beginner’s level introduction into handbuiling ceramics and raku firing. The projects are designed to begin and advance vocabulary for talking about and understanding ideas in art and finding tools in self-expression.

“Art is an important part of life, a tool for learning how we all relate to each other and a way of seeing the world differently,” said Eastin. “This camp will be an opportunity for local kids to explore and advance clay skills, no matter their current knowledge base.”

Eastin, a local artist known for her clay tile pieces, teaches ceramics classes at Hesston College. She earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Principia College (Elash, Ill.) and did graduate studies in ceramics at Fort Hays (Kan.) State University.

The daily workshops will run from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Registration cost is $100 and includes necessary tools, clay, glaze, kiln firings and lunch on Friday.

The camp is limited to 12 participants and registration is due by May 16. To register, contact Hanna Eastin at 316-284-4817 or hannae@hesston.edu.