In the News

Program explores connections between racial and religious groups

Hesston (Kan.) College faculty members will present, “Common Threads: Anabaptist and African-American Songs and Stories of Suffering and Hope,” an original program that explores the way the historical events of Anabaptist religious persecution and African-American racial segregation intersected will be presented at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 20 at Madison (Wisc.) Mennonite Church, 1501 Gilbert Road. Hesston College will partner with Madison Mennonite Church to present the program, which is free and open to the public. A free will offering will be collected to cover program costs.

“Common Threads” is a program of story and song featuring Hesston College faculty members Tony Brown, John Sharp and Ken Rodgers. They give voices to Anabaptist martyrs and enslaved African-Americans of history by singing their hymns and telling their stories. It offers deeper understanding about the enslaved African-American and Anabaptist Martyr experience of suffering and hope. Youth are especially invited to attend.

“Both groups found strength and consolation in their steadfast faith in God,” Sharp said. “They were utterly confident that God’s purposes would, in the end, prevail. Their stories and songs have not typically been linked, but we believe it is useful to do so. Their witness stands for all who will see and hear.”

“Thinking about how we can connect with others and finding those common threads can offer promise for humanity,” Brown said. “In the end, we as a human species are more profoundly alike than different. It is the idea of difference that formed the basis for racism, persecution and systematic oppression. Humanity needs to find value in difference while at the same time exploring the common threads that bind us together.”

Brown is a professional baritone, artist in residence and sociology professor. Sharp is a history professor, storyteller and author. Rodgers is director of the Chorale and instructs in the music department. Alumni and Church Relations Director Dallas Stutzman will represent the college. A reception and short Hesston College update will follow the program.

The Hesston College group will also present “Songs and Stories of Peace, Hope and Justice” featuring Brown during the Sunday evening worship service at 6 p.m., April 21 at Madison Mennonite Church.

For more information, contact the Hesston College Alumni and Church Relations office toll-free at 866-437-7866.

A vision and a gift

A love for plants and an eye for the Kansas prairie’s beauty were the spark and vision for a treasured Hesston landmark that is left as Evie Dyck’s ongoing legacy with the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains. Evie passed away April 7, at the age of 88.

The Dyck Arboretum was a wheat field on the edge of town when Evie and her husband, Harold, who passed away in 2007, donated its 31 acres to Hesston College in 1981. After being inspired by a trip to the Bartlett Arboretum near Belle Plaine, Kan., the Dycks wanted to create a place in Hesston where people of all ages could enjoy nature, find a peaceful place for reflection and encourage a greater understanding and appreciation of the prairie.

“They started the arboretum because of my mother’s great love of the Kansas prairie and the Great Plains and her spiritual connection to nature and God’s creation,” said Julia (Dyck) Roupp, one of Harold and Evie’s daughters, in a 2007 interview following Harold’s death.

Their vision has been recognized many times over for the thousands of people who visit the arboretum each year for educational events, entertainment or simple enjoyment of nature. Its location next to Schowalter Villa and a block south of the college makes it a convenient place to unify people across the age spectrum.

“Few communities the size of Hesston have a public garden,” said arboretum director Scott Vogt. “Evie had a love and appreciation for the Kansas landscape. The Dyck Arboretum is a tremendous gift to the community and has become a regional attraction. Her legacy is established in the arboretum and will linger as it continues to flourish.”

With many family and personal ties to Hesston College, as Evie and Harold planned to make an arboretum in the community a reality as a non-profit educational facility, gifting it to the college and operating with its business and logistical supervision made sense. “This broadened the scope from enjoyment to education and physical fitness,” Evie said in 1999.

“Evie and Harold’s gift of the arboretum to Hesston College has contributed to student learning in many ways, as well as being an educational and rejuvenating gift to the community,” said Hesston College President Howard Keim. “It has exceeded their dreams of 30 years ago and will always pay tribute to their legacy and the kindness and generosity with which they gave.”

On October 11, 1981, the first of what would become many trees at the arboretum was planted. Since then, the arboretum has matured into one of the largest native plant gardens in the region, featuring more than 1,000 varieties of native and adaptable vegetation. It has also expanded from 13 acres at its inception to include the remaining 18 acres and added a visitors’ center in 1999, a pavilion for events in 2011 and other features to assist in operations and aesthetics.

Evie’s connections and contributions to the college were many. She was a 1952 graduate of Hesston Academy – the private high school that was part of the college for many years – her son, Gary, was a graduate of both Hesston Academy and Hesston College, and two of eleven grandchildren, Kate (Dyck) Brownstone and Connor Dyck, are also Hesston College graduates. The daughter of Elmer (E.D.) and Amy (Erb) Hershberger, her grandfather, T.M. Erb, was Hesston College’s first business manager and several other relatives were longtime Hesston instructors. Evie served on the college board, and she and Harold enjoyed hosting students in their home. They were also members of Hesston Mennonite Church on the edge of the college campus.

In 1985, the Dycks established an endowment fund to help with the upkeep and growth of the arboretum so it can continue to be a gift to the community for years to come. The endowment is supported annually by about 600 patrons through membership.

“Evie’s wishes and vision live on in the plants, landscapes, buildings and educational programs,” said Vogt. “This garden gives visitors a sense of place. We hope visitors will leave this garden with a renewed appreciation of the cultural and natural history of the Great Plains.”

Evie was preceded in death by her husband Harold and is survived by four children and their spouses – Gary and Teresa Dyck (Frankston, Texas), Joycelyn Cooley (Newton, Kan.), Tom and Regina Dyck (Hesston) and Julia and Brad Roupp (Ashland, Ore.) – and 11 grandchildren.

She is also survived by thousands who, through the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, have realized her vision, discovered the beauty of Kansas and love her garden.

Hesston College to host church leader in residence

Longtime Mennonite Mission Network employee and recent retiree John Powell of Elkhart, Ind., will serve as Hesston College church leader in residence April 7 to 10. He will share about his experiences working for inclusion and overcoming racial oppression in the Mennonite church and broader social systems during Hesston College chapel services at 11 a.m., Monday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 10, at Hesston Mennonite Church. The public is invited to attend.

Powell grew up in Alabama experiencing injustices because of his African-American race and heritage. He learned early in life that that kind of treatment was not okay when he saw his father stand up to the Ku Klux Klan.

In high school he met Martin Luther King Jr. who mentored him over the next four years to become a conscientious objector. In looking at peace churches, he was drawn to the Mennonite church because of voluntary service workers with whom he encountered and worked.

Powell served in various capacities in the Mennonite church including pastor of 10th Street Mennonite Church in Wichita, Kan., in 1968. He then served as executive secretary for the Minority Ministries Council in Elkhart for five years, where he worked on ways to empower African-American, Hispanic and Native American congregations within the Mennonite church. In 1974 he left the denomination because of anger he felt toward the racist structures within the church.

Over the years, he began reconciling with the Mennonite church and in 1995 began working as church development consultant with Mennonite Board of Missions, which later became Mennonite Mission Network. He served in various other roles within the Mission Network before he retirement in January 2013.

Powell has experience not only in working against social injustices, but also in teaching, social work, community organization, education and state government administration, organizing labor unions, pastoring, research in urban and regional planning, evangelism and mission advocacy.

Area pastors are invited to attend a complimentary lunch and seminar with Powell at 11:45 a.m., Wednesday, April 10. Powell will speak on “Being an Ally in a Multi-Ethnic/Cultural World.” Pastors interested in attending Wednesday’s activities can contact the Hesston College Church Relations Office at 620-327-8109 or toll free at 866-437-7866.

Intergenerational connections to host concert

A group of college men – the Hesston College Amen Group – and the Hesston Area Senior Center will partner to host an evening of intergenerational connections and music by local group The Jammin’ Biscuits at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 20, at the Hesston Area Senior Center. The concert is open to the public. Admission is a donation to the Hesston Community Free Health Fair.

The Jammin’ Biscuits perform bluegrass, gospel and traditional music with distinctive four-part harmony.

The Hesston College Amen Group seeks to develop the character and personal growth of young men.

Doors will open for the concert at 6:30 p.m. for any interested people to participate in a jam session. Musicians must bring their own instruments. People of all ages are welcome.

Members of the Jammin’ Biscuits are Gerry Roberts, Tracey Roberts, Gary Roberts, Tom Unruh, Rollin Schmidt and Nick Johnson.

Music students prepare lineup for recitals

The Hesston College Music Department will feature several students in sophomore recitals as the academic year approaches its close.

Ashley Beatty and Alisa Murray will perform a joint violin and voice recital at 4 p.m., Saturday, April 13, in the Northlawn Studio Theatre on the Hesston College campus. Vocalist Broxton Busenitz will perform his recital at 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 16 at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The public is invited to attend.

Beatty, a violinist from Washington, Iowa, studies under adjunct instructor Rebecca Scholoneger. She is the daughter of Mark and Susan Beatty.

Murray, a soprano voice student from Orrville, Ohio, studies under adjunct instructor Holly Swartzendruber. She is the daughter of Randy and Amy Murray.

Beatty and Murray will be accompanied by collaborative pianist and Hesston College music faculty member Ken Rodgers. Selections will include pieces by several classical composers from across the centuries and vocal pieces in their traditional languages.

There will be a reception following the recital in the Northlawn lobby.

Busenitz, a tenor voice student from North Newton, Kan., studies under music faculty member Matthew Schloneger. He is the son of David and Gayle Busenitz.

Busenitz will also be accompanied by Rodgers and selections will include classical and contemporary sacred works as well as a set with the gospel ensemble Hearts 4 Him, of which Busenitz is a member.

Following the recital, there will be a reception in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center.

Award-winning German a cappella group to close out HBPA season

The refined vocal excellence of Calmus, a German a cappella ensemble, will round out the 2012-13 Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts season with a concert entitled “Bright Side of Life” at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 14, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. Following the concert, HBPA will host a dessert reception in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center. Season ticket holders have free admission to the dessert reception and non-season ticket holders can purchase their admission for four dollars at the door.

Calmus presents a unique quintet combination of a pure female soprano voice with four male voices ranging from bass to countertenor, each a graduate of the renowned St. Thomas Church Choir Singing School in Leipzig, Germany. Together they have mastered the art of close harmonies to create a perfect blend of sound and precision, and have earned the honor of one of the most successful vocal groups in Germany. Their repertoire comes from a limitless range of music, from Renaissance and Baroque masters to contemporary choral and popular songs.

“We are excited to cap off our season with one of the world’s most up-and-coming vocal ensembles,” said HBPA director Matthew Schloneger. “Patrons who enjoy a cappella music in the style of The King’s Singers or Chanticleer will fall in love with Calmus.”

The “Bright Side of Life” program is named after Eric Idle’s popular sing-a-long comedy song “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” first featured in the 1979 film “Monty Python’s The Life of Brian.” It features classical works by Heinrich Schultz, Henry Purcell, Robert Schumann, Benjamin Britten and Adriano Banchieri as well as popular a cappella works by Elton John, Leonard Cohen and Bobby McFerrin.

Calmus began as a men’s ensemble in 1999 shaped by the centuries-old tradition of boys’ choirs and rich choral traditions of its hometown of Leipzig’s musical heroes, Bach and Mendelsshon. As the group was forming, they chose to forgo the more recognized quartet arrangement and, inspired by the British “King’s Singers,” added a fifth member in order to sing more complex arrangements. Over time, the group’s membership changed, including adding a female voice in 2001.

The group receives rave reviews from musical critics around the world. Salt Lake City’s “Deseret Morning News” described a local concert as “nothing short of remarkable…they, quite simply, bring whatever they sing to glorious life.”

In 2009 Calmus was the first-prize winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and have won many other international prizes and competitions, including the 2009 ECHO Klassik Award for “Leid: Gut!” an album of treasured German folksongs and first prizes at the fourth annual Robert Schumann Choral Competition, the International Competition for Vocal Ensembles and the 37th Tolosa Choral Contest in Spain. They regularly travel across Europe and North and South America partnering for performances with instrumental groups and commissioning numerous new works from composers.

Single tickets for the Calmus concert are available for $17 or $20 with discounts available for students and senior citizens.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 620-327-8158 (Hesston College) or 316-284-5205 (Bethel College) or visit the HBPA website at hesstonbethel.org.

HBPA is funded in part by Excel Industries and Hustler Turf Equipment (Hesston), the cities of Hesston and North Newton and area patrons.

Photo release - Sharing culture

Hesston College sophomore Victoria Gunawan (Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia) describes the Indonesian food she and freshman Kelvin Ferbianto (Jakarta, Indonesia) share with staff members Brenda Wenger and Michael Smalley at the Cultures Fair. International students and students from non-dominant North American cultures shared their customs and culture with the rest of the campus community during the celebration complete with food and performances of global music and dances. In past years, the college has hosted an International Festival for international students to share their culture with the campus. This year’s Cultures Fair was in place of that celebration and offered a more interactive atmosphere for participants.

Scholarship supports journey toward inclusion

The changing profile of race and ethnicity within Mennonite Church USA is the inspiration for the newly established Hesston College Inclusion Scholarship in support of the college’s ongoing work with inclusion and diversity.

As membership and participation within Mennonite Church USA continues to expand beyond traditional Swiss-German and Russian Mennonites, it is important for Hesston College, as the two-year college of Mennonite Church USA, to recognize, accept and embrace the experiences students bring from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.

“Society is changing around us, and so are the demographics within Mennonite Church USA,” said 1983 Hesston College alumna Annette (Steider) Brown of Frisco, Texas, who initiated the scholarship with her husband, Greg. “Hispanics will account for 95 percent of the U.S. teen population growth through 2020. To support the church of the future, Hesston College must recruit students from all our diverse Mennonite congregations while finding new ways to help those in financial need.”

Annette Brown is a former Hesston College admissions staff member and Board of Directors member since 2007. She and Greg are both employees of PepsiCo. and have been part of the company’s two-decade long inclusion journey. The new scholarship’s purpose is to improve diversity at Hesston by mirroring the diversity of students within the denomination, and to support the efforts Hesston is making in being a welcoming campus to all students. Students from underrepresented groups within Mennonite Church USA will be priority recipients.

“Being a diverse campus is not enough,” said Brown. “Inclusion is the goal and it means embracing differences and accepting unique contributions.

As a campus that is home to students from 27 states, 15 countries and more than 20 religious backgrounds, Hesston College has been intentional in taking steps toward increasing inclusion and diversity on campus. Members of the Hesston College Inclusion and Diversity Initiative are working to identify areas the college can be more welcoming of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

“In order to fulfill our mission to be a Christ-centered community, we must do as Christ did in reaching out to persons and groups in minority positions and who may not have the same opportunities as others,” said Hesston College President Howard Keim. “We also recognize the demographics of our region and the church are changing, and that we have an opportunity to include persons that will enrich the experience of all students on our campus.”

The Inclusion and Diversity Initiative council is comprised of Hesston administrators, faculty, staff, students and board members, and their goal is to educate the rest of campus about becoming a truly inclusive community and to help establish new policies and procedures to achieve those goals.

“We are so thankful for this new scholarship and how it can assist in supporting under-represented students who are currently on our campus and in bringing new students to Hesston,” said faculty member and Inclusion and Diversity Council member Tony Brown.

Anyone who supports the scholarship’s mission of inclusion is welcome to make contributions toward its intended purposes by contacting the Hesston College Development Office at 620-327-8147.

Hesston College and American Guild of Organists to sponsor Easter Hymn Festival

Hesston College and the Hutchinson Chapter of the American Guild of Organists will sponsor an Easter Hymn Festival at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 4, at Hesston Mennonite Church on the Hesston College campus. The program is free and open to the public.

The program will feature music for the Easter season by organist Ken Rodgers, the Hesston College Bel Canto Singers under the direction of Bradley Kauffman, Hesston College Chorale under the direction of Rodgers and the Hesston Mennonite Church Handbell Choir. The congregation will also have an opportunity to join in singing traditional Easter hymns.

Hesston Mennonite Church is located at 309 South Main Street in Hesston.