In the News

A new look at immigration

During the first half of the semester, Hesston College students have been drawn in to the story of Enrique and his experience as an immigrant in “Enrique’s Journey” by Sonia Nazario. On Oct. 9, they listened, captivated by Nazario’s recounting of her hands-on research for the book when she spoke to the campus and community at Hesston Mennonite Church.

“Enrique’s Journey” is the true story of the dangers and hardships the 17-year-old Honduran boy faced as he tried to reunite with his mother, who left to find work in the United States 11 years earlier. According to Nazario, his story is a familiar one for many Latin American children whose parents leave them behind to try to make a better life for their families.

Immigration is the First-Year Experience seminar theme of study for the year, and “Enrique’s Journey” is the common read, helping students understand the issue from an immigrant’s perspective.

Nazario, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for feature writing, followed Enrique’s path from Honduras to the U.S., traveling the same way he did – on top of trains – and facing the same dangers in her quest to give readers rarely seen insight into the lives of immigrants.

The issue hit her radar when she learned her housekeeper left behind four children in Guatemala, whom she hadn’t seen in 12 years.

“As I listened to her story, I realized that this is incredibly common,” said Nazario. “These parents don’t leave their children because they don’t love them. They leave because they think it is the best way to provide for them.”

The unemployment rate in Honduras is 44 percent, which puts the United States’ eight percent unemployment rate into perspective, she said.

Determination, said Nazario, is the motivating factor behind the tragic issue – parents’ determination to provide for their families and children’s determination to travel alone to an unfamiliar country to search for the parents they haven’t seen in years.

“I came to understand the enormous determination these immigrants have to have,” said Nazario. “I cannot imagine having that kind of determination, but to the children, the obstacles they face along the way are small in comparison to finding their parents.”

Enrique’s journey took 122 days and eight attempts before he was successful. Along the way he was mugged and beaten by gangs, went days without food or water and faced the ever-present threat of being crushed by train wheels.

Nazario followed the same path, traveled the same way and talked to the same people in an attempt to recount his journey as accurately as possible.

“I wanted to see his misery so I could write about it and show people what this journey is like,” said Nazario. “When talking about immigrants, for many people, the first reaction is to demonize them. In telling Enrique’s story, my hope was to humanize them by sharing the inherent struggle for survival.”

Nazario has covered hot button issues, including immigration, from a journalistic standpoint, for 30 years, discussing the subjects with a social justice stance.

“Immigration is not a new subject for me, but there were many things I didn’t understand about immigrants until I made that trip,” she said.

Many students, faculty, staff and community members who read the book also looked at immigration in a new way for the first time.

“Immigration is such a huge issue right now,” said Hesston College freshman Drew Hostetler of Goshen, Ind. “Reading the book and discussing it in class has helped me view the issue in new ways and think critically about it.”

“Reading ‘Enrique’s Journey’ made the immigrant experience more real for me,” said freshman William Wyatt of Rose Hill, Kan. “I feel more sympathetic toward their experiences and view them in a more positive way.”

Students will conduct their own immigration related research to share with the larger community in the annual First-Year Experience symposium at the end of the fall semester.

Other fall First-Year Experience sponsored events include a plenary session with University of Kansas (Lawrence) American Studies professor Ben Chapel; a dialogue with the Director of the Office of Immigration Education for Mennonite Central Committee, Saulo Padilla; a multicultural film festival; and an Immigration and the Arts Week.

Bel Canto Singers to present first concert of the year

The Hesston College Bel Canto Singers will present “Songs of a Wayfarer,” a program of sacred and secular choral music at 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 21, at Hesston Mennonite Church. The concert is free and open to the public, though a free-will offering will be collected to cover program costs.

The program 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 21-voice mixed chamber choir, under the direction of Bradley Kauffman, was selected by competitive auditions during the 2011-12 school year.

Bel Canto members include Kaedi LeFevre and Levi Miller, Hesston; Joshua Booth, Newton; Broxton Busenitz, North Newton; Neal Brubaker, Goessel; Deni Brummer and Kayla Kauffman, Hutchinson; Emily Taylor, Buhler; Alex Bargerstock, Masillon, Ohio; Cory Bowman, Millersburg, Ind.; Kaci Diener, Harrisonville, Mo.; Emerencia Dudas, Walbridge, Ohio; Rebecca Eichelberger, Geneva, Neb.; Bonita Garber, Bainbridge, Pa.; Janae King, Gordonville, Pa.; Morgan Martin, New Holland, Pa.; Alisa Murray, Orrville, Ohio; Cameron Ponce, Elkhart, Ind.; Rebecca Rhodes, Arthur, Ill.; Redfa Titihalawa, Papua, Indonesia; and Jeffrey Smoker, Harrisonburg, Va.

Generations to celebrate changing education

Community people of all ages are invited to come together for a week-long celebration and exploration of education and learning during the annual Festival of Creativity Oct. 22 to 26.

The week’s events are sponsored by Schowalter Villa, Hesston Intergenerational Child Care, the Hesston Area Senior Center, Hesston College and U.S.D. 460. All events are free and open to the public.

The week’s focus is on changing educational philosophies methods and technologies between 1850 and today. Events and presentations will cover all aspects of education from classroom teaching and learning styles to traditions, practices, food and dress.

“We live in such a dynamic community where people across generations at Schowalter Villa, Hesston College and the child care center are all in close proximity to one another and connected by the Journey of Life Walk Way,” said Schowalter Villa Director of Volunteer Services Megan Kelley. “We are fortunate that we can celebrate those relationships and learn from one another with this event.”

The week will begin at 10 a.m., Oct. 22, with a parade displaying fashions from 1860 to 1912. Villa residents and Hesston College students will model clothing typical of the time period as they proceed down the Journey of Life Walk Way connecting the campuses.

At 1 p.m., Oct. 22 Beverly Baumgartner will present “Education: Rethinking Everything,” in the Hesston College Smith Center, room 15.

Jim Yoder, Hesston College chemistry instructor, will lead opening exercises and a simulated classroom experience typical of a given time period including a thought for the day, the Lord’s Prayer, Bible verses and the Pledge of Allegiance at 10 a.m. on Oct. 23 and 24.

At 3 p.m., Oct. 23, college students and Villa residents will participate in a Spelling Bee competition in the Schowalter Villa chapel.

At 7 p.m., Oct. 24, Hesston College faculty member and artist in residence Tony Brown will lead community-wide singing of American folk songs at Schowalter Villa.

Following Opening Exercises on Oct. 24, a traditional school lunch will be served at the Hesston Area Senior Center. The meal is free, but reservations are required. Email dwightr@hesston.edu to make reservations.

Senior citizens will share their stories from their elementary school days at 9 a.m., Oct. 25 at the Hesston Area Senior Center.

The concluding event will be from 1 to 3 p.m., Oct. 26 at the Hesston Area Senior Center when Jack Hobbs, Cecil Banning and Gary Price will present “The Development of Computerized/Electronic Education in the Hesston Public School System.” Hobbs will introduce the session including his thoughts on “From the One-room School to the World Wide Web.”

Museum displays with school items over the years will be set up at both Schowalter Villa and the Hesston Area Senior Center throughout the week.

Go to svilla.org for more information.

“The Hesston community as a whole is supportive of the projects and events that happen within different organizations throughout the community, and we hope people of all ages will take part in this celebration of education,” said Kelley.

Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts prepares for a season of variety

The 2012-13 Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts season will bring five exciting performances from a wide variety of traditions, cultures, eras and mediums to venues at Hesston College and Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.).

“We have a fantastic season lined up,” said Director Matthew Schloneger. “I’m particularly excited that we will be welcoming Sweet Honey In The Rock and the Turtle Island Quartet, two of the top ensembles in the world in their respective genres, to our series for the first time.”

The season kicks off with string chamber ensemble Turtle Island Quartet at 3 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 11, at Hesston College’s Hesston Mennonite Church. By fusing the classical aesthetic with contemporary American styles, the quartet won a Grammy Award in 2006 and 2008 for Best Classical Crossover Album.

Highly acclaimed baritone David Adam Moore will perform a multi-media seasonal concert of Franz Schubert’s song cycle “Die Winterreise” (“A Winter Journey”) at 3 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2, at Hesston Mennonite Church.

Grammy-winning women’s a capella ensemble, Sweet Honey In The Rock, will grace the Bethel College Memorial Hall stage with their rich sounds of African-American legacy and traditions at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2.

Ballet Folklorico “Quetzalli” de Veracruz will mix music and folklore featuring regional dances of Old Mexico with music performed live on authentic stringed instruments at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, at Bethel’s Memorial Hall.

The final performance of the season brings to the stage the first prize winner of the 2009 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Calmus, at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 14, at Hesston Mennonite Church. The vocal ensemble performs a range of music from Renaissance to contemporary choral repertoire and popular songs.

Season tickets are available from $75 to $85 for adults. Single tickets can also be purchased across price ranges for individual performances. Discounts are 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), email hbpa@hesston.edu or visit the HBPA website at www.hesston.edu/hbpa.

The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts Series, now in its 31st year, is a collaborative effort of Hesston College and Bethel College, presenting five performances by world-renowned or regionally acclaimed artists each year. HBPA is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency which believes a great nation deserves great Art, Excel Industries and Hustler Turf Equipment (Hesston), the cities of Hesston and North Newton and area patrons.

Photo release - An expressive weekend

Members of the class of 2002 see changes and updates on a campus tour. More than 500 alumni and friends were on campus for the weekend.

Hesston College students and prospective students scramble to pick up a clue sheet for the Homecoming Weekend scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt sent the students to places around campus that will soon receive updates as part of a capital campaign, and also allowed them to learn about less familiar spots on campus.

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author to speak at Hesston College

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author Sonia Nazario will speak at Hesston College at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 9 in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. The event is free and open to the public.

Nazario is the author of Hesston College’s 2012-13 common read for first-year students, “Enrique’s Journey” (Random House, 2006). The book chronicles the true story of Enrique, a Honduran boy, and his journey and struggle to reunite with his mother in the United States.

“It is an honor to have such an accomplished writer interact with Hesston College students and the community,” said First-Year Experience organizer and education instructor Marissa King.

Nazario will discuss immigration issues in the United States as well as her research for the book. Following the presentation, she will participate in a question and answer time and a book signing. For additional information about Nazario’s presentation, contact King at marissak@hesston.edu.

Nazario has spent more than 20 years reporting and writing about social issues for major newspapers including “The Los Angeles Times.”

Hesston College’s First-Year Experience courses share immigration as a common area of study, and “Enrique’s Journey” is required reading for students enrolled in the courses. Students will conduct their own immigration related research to share with the larger community in the annual First-Year Experience Symposium event at the end of the fall semester.

“‘Enrique’s Journey’ is a narrative that increases understanding of the language and cultural context of the Latin immigrant, enabling students to participate in a variety of contexts and in culturally appropriate ways,” said Hesston Spanish instructor, Maria Day. “The opportunity to interact with Nazario will allow her narrative, as well as her personal story, to connect to each individual’s journey.”

Other fall First-Year Experience sponsored events include a plenary session with University of Kansas (Lawrence) American Studies professor Ben Chapel; a dialogue with the Director of the Office of Immigration Education for Mennonite Central Committee, Saulo Padilla; a multicultural film festival; and an Immigration and the Arts Week.

Photo release - Homecoming 2012

More than 500 Hesston College alumni and friends came together Sept. 28 to 30 for Homecoming Weekend 2012. Nearly 300 alumni reconnected with classmates at 13 class reunions.

The weekend celebrated the performing arts and included a Performing Arts Showcase with performances, presentations and concerts by alumni professionals, students and faculty. A highlight of the weekend was the original radio show The Fragrant and Velvety Air, written by performing arts faculty members Bradley Kauffman and Laura Kraybill. The show was a parody on the college’s 103-year history complete with humor, live music, reader’s theatre pieces, off-beat commercials and audience participation.

Other events included the annual alumni banquet, Partner luncheon, athletic events, children’s theatre activities, a barbecue picnic and family festival, jam session, student and alumni choir under the direction of father-son duo Ron, class of 1966, and Joel, class of 2004, Garber and Sunday worship service featuring mother-daughter duo Michele (Schrock), class of 1981, and Tara, class of 2006, Hershberger.

JD Martin performs “Start Here,” Hesston College’s new school song; Members of the class of 1972 share updates with classmates during their reunion on Saturday. About 300 alumni gathered for 13 class reunions and alumni banquet.

Students, faculty and staff perform during the original radio show The Fragrant and Velvety Air, written by performing arts faculty members Bradley Kauffman and Laura Kraybill; Reader’s theatre members perform PASSION, stories of Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers based on recorded dialogues written by former theatre instructor Robert Hostetter, as part of the Performing Arts Showcase.

Mother-daughter duo Michele (Schrock) ’81, faculty and Tara ’06 Hershberger delivered the Sunday worship service message through drama. Tara also led children’s theatre activities Saturday afternoon; JD Martin ’68, Jan Garrett and Molly Simmering, former staff, perform a concert of original songs by JD and Jan, who are multi-award winning singer-songwriters. JD wrote a new college song Start Here, which he introduced at Friday chapel with Garrett, Simmering and students. Garrett wrote the choral piece I Dreamed of Rain, performed by the Alumni/Student Choir under the direction of Joel Garber ’04 at the worship service.

Zach ’02 and Mary (Wittmer) ’02 Kooker visit with other Partners at the Saturday Partner luncheon; Talashia Keim ’02 Yoder lights candles as part of the Evensong worship service. The service included music and dramatic elements for congregation participation as well as pieces performed by Bel Canto Singers; Joel Garber ’04 directs the Alumni/Student Choir at the Sunday worship service. Joel shared directing duties with his father, Ron Garber ’66.

Art gallery features Dodge City artist

Dodge City Community College Instructor of Art and professional sculptor and jeweler Jennifer Nolan is the featured artist in the Hesston College Regier Friesen Gallery in the Friesen Center for Visual Arts through Oct. 26.

Nolan’s art reflects images, moods and ideas from the 1940s and 50s to portray narratives of the atomic age. The hand-built sculptures and wall tiles mix the idea of the “American Dream” with the realities of war and destruction for a powerful critique of society’s ideals.

Nolan earned her bachelor of fine arts degree with a Kansas teacher’s certificate in K-12 art and her masters of fine arts degree in ceramics with a minor in jewelry design from Fort Hays State University (Hays, Kan.). Her work has been exhibited in several state, regional and national juried exhibitions and publications. She is an active board member of the Kansas Artist and Craftsman Association, the 2nd Ave Art Guild of Dodge City and an active member of the National Council on the Education of the Ceramic Arts as well as the International Society of Glass Beadmakers.

A closing reception and chance to meet the artist will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 26 in the gallery.

The gallery is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Hole-in-one earns generous prize

above Tom West (left) shakes hands with Phil Nightingale, general manager of Mel Hambleton Ford, as he receives his hole-in-one prize of a 2013 Roush Stage 3 Ford Mustang at the Hesston College Kansas Golf Benefit at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson.

One lucky golfer at Hesston College’s 25th annual Kansas Golf Benefit at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kan., on Sept. 18, may not have had the best score of all 60 golfers, but he walked away with the most exciting prize.

Tom West of Wichita was participating in the benefit to raise money for student scholarships when he connected perfectly with the ball on hole 10 and sunk a hole-in-one. That once-in-a-lifetime shot won him a victory red 2013 Roush Stage 3 Ford Mustang, donated by Mel Hambleton Ford of Wichita.

For car lovers, the car is something special. Named for Jack Roush Motorsports, owner of several NASCAR cars, the Mustang has special Roush suspension, an engine with more than 500 horsepower and is one of only four made.

Every year for the past 25 years, the golf benefit has offered a car as a prize for a hole-in-one, but this was the first time anyone won the car.

This year also marked the 25th and final year that the golf benefit was organized by Hesston alumni Orvin and Peggy Miller of Hutchinson. They have recruited golfers, sponsors and prize donations with all proceeds raised going to their alma mater for the Hesston College Annual Fund, 100 percent of which provides institutional grants and scholarships as financial aid.

Hesston College alumni, Bob Mullet, vice president, and Paul Mullet, president and CEO of Excel Industries (Hesston), will assume responsibility for organizing the 2013 golf benefit.

Caption: Tom West (left) shakes hands with Phil Nightingale, general manager of Mel Hambleton Ford, as he receives his hole-in-one prize of a 2013 Roush Stage 3 Ford Mustang at the Hesston College Kansas Golf Benefit at Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson.