In the News

Hesston College announces fall enrollment

Official Hesston College enrollment numbers reflect a total enrollment of 447 students from 29 states and 15 countries for the 2012-13 year.

New students number 225, and 46 international students are enrolled for the year.

“We are excited about the increased number of international students and students from the Great Lakes and western territories,” said Rachel Swartzendruber Miller, vice president of Admissions.

The highest percentage of returning students since the 2006-07 year is also encouragement that the conscious efforts faculty and staff make to offer student support and identify and address needs are beneficial.

The advising program was redesigned and requires first-year students to meet with their academic advisors weekly during the first eight weeks of the year.

The First-Year Experience seminar, now in its third year, uses global issues and perspectives, small- and large-group presentations, activities and discussions to help students connect to their community by introducing them to the college, the wider community and the resources available to them. This year’s First-Year Experience seminar is exploring the issue of immigration, including a first-year common read, “Enrique’s Journey” (Random House, 2007) by award-winning journalist and author Sonia Nazario.

“Student retention is an important factor in our enrollment and we are pleased to see increased student engagement in both academics and student life,” said Dr. Sandra Zerger, vice president for Academics.

There are 327 students living in the dorms, or about 73 percent of the total student population, a number that has held consistent for the last several years.

AVDS conference to explore relationships between business professionals and church leaders

Hesston College will host church and business leaders for the Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series conference Oct. 26 to 28.

This year, the annual conference’s theme is “Top Down Servant Leadership: Redefining Leadership for Business and Church.” The event will serve as an resource for both church leaders and Christian business professionals to network with one another and see how relationships between the groups can expand ministry.

“There is a natural relationship between business and church leaders that can easily remain under utilized, but the conference will show how those positive relationships are beneficial to both,” said conference organizer Rachel Swartzendruber Miller.

Dr. John Stahl-Wert, a recognized expert in organizational leadership and an international bestselling author on the topic will be the featured speaker for the weekend. He will speak to the challenges of successful leadership in business and in the church, and developing leadership qualities for oneself and in others.

Dr. Stahl-Wert is a founding partner of SHIP, LLC, which provides training and access to the insights, tools and resources found in the international bestseller he co-authored, “The Serving Leader,” which discusses implementing servant leadership in the workplace and in life. He is also president and CEO of the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Leadership Foundation and Serving Leaders, is a senior fellow for the Center for Executive Leadership and serves as adjunct faculty at Bakke Graduate University in Hong Kong and Geneva College’s (Beaver Falls, Pa.) master of science in organizational leadership program. He is also the author of “With: A True Story” and co-author of “Ten Thousand Horses.”

“Many of our business leaders are church leaders, too,” said Tim Lichti, director of the Hesston College Pastoral Ministries program. “I am excited to have good conversation between pastors and business leaders.”

The idea of servant leadership meets the needs of both the leader and follower, employer and employee, pastor and congregant, in a mutually beneficial and empowering way. With this model, people are able to relate to one another on a comfortable and more personable level.

“Servant leadership takes leadership to another level and requires a serving mindset to find ways to empower employees with the opportunities and skills to do their jobs effectively,” said Hesston business instructor Vickie Andres. “The Millennial generation desires purposeful work, and a serving leader can provide that opportunity with a workplace environment where they can make a difference and experience growth.”

The conference will have large group sessions led by Dr. Stahl-Wert as well as small group breakout sessions led by church and business leaders. Some breakout session presenters include Marion Bontrager, Hesston College Bible and ministry instructor and moderator for the South Central Conference of Mennonite Church USA; Glen Guyton, director for Finance and Convention Planning with Mennonite Church USA; Lee Schmucker, a leading training consultant with Schmucker Training and Consulting, professional speaker and college instructor; Howard Wagler, lead pastor at South Hutchinson (Kan.) Mennonite Church; Diane Zaerr Brenneman, an ordained Mennonite minister and former moderator for the Central Plains Mennonite Conference; and Kristen Zerger, director of education and training with Bethel College’s (North Newton, Kan.) Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.

“There can be a lot to learn from each other and partnerships that need to be recognized,” said Lichti. “We just need to learn to hear each other and find that common vision that moves the church forward.”

The weekend events will also include a celebration of 25 years of the Hesston College Pastoral Ministries program during the Saturday evening meal. Ervin Stutzman, executive director of Mennonite Church USA, will address the group during the program and again during the Sunday morning session.

The Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series was started at Hesston College to help Christians from the Anabaptist tradition and others interested in Anabaptism more fully understand their faith.

A complete schedule, registration information and speaker information are available online. Cost for registration before Oct. 1 is $115 for individuals or $90 per person if registered in groups of three or more. After Oct. 1, individual registration is $135, and the group rate is $100 per person. For more information, contact Rosie Jantz at rosiej@hesston.edu or 620-327-8213.

Hesston College and the University of Kansas sign nursing agreement

above Dr. Sandra Zerger, Vice President of Academics at Hesston College, and Dean of the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Karen Miller, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, sign an articulation agreement for nurses.

Kansas nurses now can advance their careers at home, thanks to an innovative agreement between 18 Kansas two-year colleges, including Hesston College, and the University of Kansas School of Nursing. The agreement allows nurses with an associates degree in nursing from a participating college to easily transition to receive their bachelor of science in nursing through KU’s online RN-to-BSN program.

“Health care today is increasingly demanding bachelor’s-prepared nurses,” said Karen Miller, RN, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of the KU School of Nursing. “We want to ensure that Kansas’ nursing workforce can meet that demand, but that the state’s nurses can earn an affordable bachelor’s degree without having to leave their home community.”

KU has offered an online RN-to-BSN degree since 1996, but the new agreement makes it easier to facilitate the transition. The new agreement guarantees admission to every student who graduates from an associate’s degree nursing program with a 2.5 GPA or higher and passes the licensure exam to become an RN.

The Hesston nursing program has long-standing articulation agreements with other Mennonite colleges across the country, but the agreement with KU will be its first agreement with a public state university.

“We look forward to offering another avenue for students to work toward their BSN,” said Bonnie Sowers, director of Hesston’s nursing program. “We are working to expand articulation agreements with private and public universities to fit our students’ needs and interests, and are very pleased with KU’s program. It is seamless and extremely well-designed for our students.”

“Under this new agreement, two-year college faculty will play a central role in the success of the program and the students,” Miller said. The RN-to-BSN program will employ master’s or doctorally prepared faculty at the two-year colleges to teach many of the courses.

Students choosing to enroll in KU’s RN-to-BSN program will have to earn a total of 120 credit hours, including 60 hours in prerequisites and liberal arts curriculum. The last 30 hours of the program will be completed online through the KU School of Nursing.

“As the University of Kansas, it’s our mission to serve all Kansans,” said Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “We’re making it easier for Kansas nurses to continue their education at KU. That will benefit their careers, as well as help them contribute to the health of their communities.”

Homecoming 2012 to feature exclusive shows

Hesston College will celebrate its annual Hesston College Homecoming: A View From Everywhere Sept. 28 to 30. The weekend will feature alumni professionals, students and faculty in a performing arts showcase, including two original shows – “I Go On Singing” featuring Anthony Brown at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28, and the one-time stage performance of the original radio show “The Fragrant and Velvety Air” at 8 p.m. Sept. 29. Both shows will be in the Hesston Mennonite Church Sanctuary.

“I Go On Singing” is an original tribute to Paul Robeson, all-American athlete, scholar, champion orator, international recording artist and star of the stage and screen during the 1930s and 40s, written for Brown by playwright Andrew Flack. Brown’s telling of Robeson’s story is a 75-minute song-filled, multi-media presentation that reveals him as a towering figure in 20th century American history.

Accompanied by collaborative pianist and Hesston College music faculty member Ken Rodgers, photo projection and a narrator, “I Go On Singing” is equal parts historical documentary and live concert experience. Using Robeson’s own words from his autobiography “Here I Stand” and comments from legendary peace activist and artist Pete Seeger, the show traces Robeson’s humble beginnings as a preacher’s son in Princeton, N.J., to his international celebrity and pioneering activism on the world stage.

Brown is an international promoter of peace, Hesston College sociology faculty member and artist in residence and founder of Peacing It Together Foundation, an organization that serves the global community as a resource for peace and social justice. He uses music and the spoken word to bring people together across the divides of race, culture and religion. His travels have taken him to countries such as Bosnia, Moldova, Northern Ireland, Uganda, Ethiopia, the Philippines, China, Japan, South Korea and Colombia, where he has seen music transform and heal.

“I Go On Singing” premiered to inspiring reviews in Princeton, N.J., in 2011 and Wichita, Kan., in 2012.

“The Fragrant and Velvety Air” is an original radio show in the style of Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” written by Hesston College performing arts faculty members Bradley Kauffman and Laura Kraybill. The title is borrowed from a line in the Hesston College song written by Ursula Miller in 1926.

The show parodies Hesston College’s 103-year history and is filled with live music, reader’s theatre pieces, off-beat commercials, audience participation and humor. Primarily a work of fiction, the show draws on genuine characteristics of the college.

“The show is designed to celebrate Hesston College and show the culture of the campus over the years,” said Kauffman. “Our hope is that the college’s personality will come through and that the show will create a space where old and new memories can come together.”

Hesston College alumni, students, faculty and staff will be featured in “The Fragrant and Velvety Air,” including musical acts by Tim Shue, director of music at Central Christian High School (Kidron, Ohio) and member of the high-energy Americana band, Honeytown; Jan Garrett and JD Martin, Colorado-based multi award-winning independent singer-songwriters; and The Sunflower Trio, made up of Rebecca Schloneger on violin, Matthew Schloneger, tenor, and Ken Rodgers on piano and organ.

Advance tickets are available for both shows or can be purchased at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are $15 for “I Go On Singing” and $10 for “The Fragrant and Velvety Air.” To reserve tickets in advance, call Alumni and Church Relations at 866-437-7866.

below Tony Brown, Bradley Kauffman, Laura Kraybill

Hesston College announces new faculty and staff appointments for fall 2012

Hesston College announces the following faculty and staff appointments for the 2012-13 year.

New faculty appointments include:

• Jesse Baer, flight instructor intern, earned a Certified Flight Instructor License from Hesston College.
• Robert Hunter, flight instructor intern, is retired from the United States Air Force, where he received his flight training.
• Daniel Kornfeld, flight instructor intern, earned a Certified Flight Instructor License from Hesston College and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Flight Technology from Thomas Edison State College (Trenton, N.J.). He also has an Airframe and Powerplant Certification through Wichita (Kan.) Area Technical College.
• Paul Regier, science and math instructor, earned a B.A. from Bethel College (North Newton, Kan.) and a M.S. in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Oklahoma (Norman).
• Sharon Wedel, clinical nursing instructor, is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a B.S.N. from Goshen (Ind.) College.

New staff appointments include:

• Michael Armstrong, admissions counselor, is a graduate of Hesston College, earned a B.A. in youth ministry from Southwestern College (Winfield, Kan.) and is working on an M.A. in human services and Christian ministries from Liberty University (Lynchburg, Va.).
• Jeron Baker, interim director of international student services and Student Life Advisor, is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a B.A. in social work from Goshen College. He has served as an admissions counselor and head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Hesston for the last three years, and will continue his role as tennis coach.
• Annali Murray, admissions counselor, is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a B.A. in Bible and religion from Goshen College.
• Kathy Pinson, assistant cook.
• Jill Schlabach, Erb Hall resident director, is a graduate of Bluffton (Ohio) University where she earned a B.A. in youth ministry and recreation.
• Rachel Schlegel, phonathon coordinator, is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a B.A. in English from Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Va.). She has also served as public information officer for the last two years, and will continue in that role.
• Mitchell Stutzman, Kauffman Court resident director, is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a B.A. in liberal arts with a special education licensure from Eastern Mennonite University.
• Scott Sundberg, development officer for the eastern United States and international alumni, earned a B.A. in history from Biola University (La Mirada, Calif.).
• Derek Yoder, development officer for the western United States, is a graduate of Hesston College and earned a B.S. in social work from Eastern Mennonite University and a master’s in social work from Wichita State University.

Hesston College students start the return to campus

Hesston College will welcome students to campus and the start of the academic year with Opening Weekend Aug. 16 to 19.

Resident assistants returned to campus Aug. 9 for training and a weekend retreat. Members of the cross country, soccer and volleyball teams as well as Bel Canto Singers and aviation students arrived Aug. 13 for practices and to begin flight training.

Registration for new and returning off-campus students begins Thursday, Aug. 16.

New and returning on-campus students will move into their dorm rooms, go through registration and attend orientation sessions Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17 and 18.

Opening Weekend activities include Opening Celebration at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, at Hesston Mennonite Church. An ice cream social and Involvement Fair displaying clubs and other activities for student participation will follow the service.

A parent breakfast will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, along with parent orientation sessions. The day’s festivities include a Performing Arts open house in Northlawn 109 from 11 a.m. to noon for students and parents wanting to learn what the music and theatre departments offer, a women’s soccer scrimmage versus Bethel College (North Newton) at 5 p.m. at Thresher Stadium on the Bethel College campus, a volleyball vs. alumni scrimmage at 6 p.m. in Yost Center and a men’s soccer intra-squad game at 7:30 p.m. on the Hesston College soccer field.

Sunday’s schedule features a 10:30 a.m. worship service with Hesston Mennonite Church. Other Sunday activities include Freshmen Games, a picnic for the campus community at 6 p.m. and the annual Mod Olympics at 7 p.m. on the soccer field.

Annual conference to benefit church and business leaders

Hesston College’s 13th annual Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series with the theme Top-down Servant Leadership: Redefining Leadership for Business and the Church, will feature Dr. John Stahl-Wert, a recognized expert in organizational leadership and international bestselling author on the topic. The conference, which will benefit both church leaders and business professionals, will be Oct. 26 to 28 on the Hesston College campus.

“Building relationships between leaders in business and leaders in ministry is John’s specialty and passion,” said Rachel Swartzendruber Miller, conference organizer and Hesston College vice president of Admissions.

Dr. Stahl-Wert is a founding partner of SHIP, LLC, which provides training and access to the insights, tools and resources found in “The Serving Leader,” an international bestseller on implementing servant leadership in the workplace and life co-authored by Stahl-Wert. He is also president and CEO of the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Leadership Foundation and Serving Leaders, is a senior fellow for the Center for Executive Leadership and serves as adjunct faculty at Bakke Graduate University in Hong Kong and Geneva College’s (Beaver Falls, Pa.) master of science in organizational leadership program.

A gifted story teller who also co-authored “Ten Thousand Horses” and authored “With: A True Story,” Stahl-Wert will speak to the challenges of successful leadership in business and in the church, and developing qualities of a leader for oneself and in others.

Conference participants will have the opportunity to glean Stahl-Wert’s professional knowledge and methods and meet in breakout sessions to discuss issues that arise around leadership in the church and in business.

Breakout session leaders include Lee Schmucker, one of the country’s leading training consultants with Schmucker Training and Consulting, professional speakers and college instructors, and Glen Guyton, associate executive director for Finance and Convention Planning with Mennonite Church USA. Other breakout session leaders will be added as confirmed.

The weekend will also include a celebration of 25 years of the Hesston College Pastoral Ministries program during the Saturday evening meal. Ervin Stutzman, director of Mennonite Church USA, will address the group during the program and during the Sunday morning session.

The Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series was started at Hesston College to help Christians from the Anabaptist tradition and others interested in Anabaptism more fully understand their faith. The conference is designed for any interested person, not just pastors and congregational leaders.

A complete schedule, registration information and speaker information are available at www.hesston.edu/events/avds. Cost for registration before Oct. 1 is $115 for individuals or $90 per person if registered in groups of three or more. After Oct. 1, individual registration is $135, and the group rate is $100 per person. For more information, contact Rosie Jantz at rosiej@hesston.edu or 620-327-8213.

Hesston College celebrates positive financial news

Hesston College celebrated the achievement of several financial goals with the close of the fiscal year in June. The college exceeded the $1.24 million Annual Fund goal for student scholarships by $10,000, completed fundraising for the Erb Hall dormitory renovations and ended the year with a positive operating balance.

The 2011-12 year marks the fifth straight year the college has met its Annual Fund goal, and the seventh straight year it’s operations have ended the year in the black. Between the Annual Fund and campaign, the Development staff brought in more than $3.3 million for the year, the greatest amount of funds raised in a single year since 2005.

“We are grateful to our Partners, alumni and friends for this very positive outcome,” said President Howard Keim. “Our Development team, led by Yvonne Sieber, has worked well to share the Hesston College story and develop relationships with people who have contributed financially.”

The Annual Fund’s sole purpose is to provide institutional scholarships and grants as financial aid for students. The average student receives more than $8,000 in institutional aid from the Annual Fund each year, with 80 percent of the total Annual Fund amount coming from Partner gifts.

The Hesston College Partner Program is made up of about 800 individuals from 40 states and three countries who earn their Partner status based on their annual giving commitments to the college.

“Our Partners are the core of our Annual Fund and Erb Hall campaign success,” said Sieber. “They care about our students and the mission of Hesston College. We are grateful for the generous gifts from Partners and other friends and donors, and for their commitment and belief in what we do.”

Fundraising for the Annual Fund presented added challenges during the 2011-12 year as Development staff also worked toward raising money for the completion of the Erb Hall dormitory renovation. The money for the dorm project was successfully raised, and work on the final phase of renovations began this summer with the construction of lounges and an elevator. The lounges will be completed in early August, and the elevator is expected to be ready for use for the spring 2013 semester.

Positive news from the financial end has set a tone of excitement for the new academic year which begins August 20 and kicks off with Opening Weekend August 17 to 19.

“Faculty, student life and all staff work every day to make this a great place for students to start,” said Keim. “Because every person at Hesston College is involved in some way in the lives of the students, we have a great story to tell.”

Hesston College to celebrate Homecoming 2012 through music and drama

Hesston College will showcase the musical and theatrical talents of alumni and students during A Hesston College Homecoming: A View From Everywhere Sept. 28 to 30.

Weekend events will focus on performing arts featuring concerts, performances, presentations, panel discussions, a jam session and live radio show by alumni, students and former and current faculty.

“We’ve put together an outstanding group of alumni and events for the Performing Arts Showcase that goes along with our regular Homecoming lineup of family, sports and class reunion activities,” said Dallas Stutzman, director of Alumni and Church Relations. “There will be something for everyone over the weekend, and we want our alumni, friends and the local community to come enjoy connecting with each other and the college.”

All Hesston College alumni and friends are invited to the weekend celebration. Special class reunions will be for years ending in 2 and 7.

Highlights of the weekend include “I Go On Singing,” Hesston faculty member and artist in residence Tony Brown’s acclaimed tribute to Paul Robeson, all-American athlete, scholar, champion orator, international recording artist and star of the stage and screen during the 1930s and 40s. The song-filled show, written especially for Brown by playwright and personal friend Andrew Flack, will be at 8:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28 in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. Advance tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling 866-437-7866 or at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The Fragrant and Velvety Air,” an original radio show in the style of “A Prairie Home Companion,” written by music faculty member Bradley Kauffman and theatre director Laura Kraybill will be at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary. Advance tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 866-437-7866 or at the door.

The Performing Arts Showcase Sept. 28 and 29 will include a songwriting workshop with Jerry Derstine Martin, Jan Garrett and Tim Shue; a PASSION theatre performance with Robert Hostetter, Jim Mininger and Don Clymer; a theatre education seminar with Talashia (Keim) Yoder; a music therapy workshop with Beth (Kaufman) Eriksen; and a panel discussion titled “You’re Majoring in What?!” with alumni professionals in the performing arts industry.

Alumni can also reconnect with former performing arts faculty members during a reception at 7:45 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28, in the Hesston Mennonite Church Community Center. An alumni and student choir will also perform under the direction of father-son duo Ron Garber, 1966 graduate, and Joel Garber, 2004 graduate.

Weekend guests’ children in kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in children’s theatre activities led by 2006 graduate Tara Hershberger from 2 to 5 p.m., Sept. 29.

In addition to performing arts activities and events, A Hesston College Homecoming will include Friday morning chapel; a Partner Appreciation Luncheon; a Golden Gables luncheon for alumni and college classes who graduated 50 years ago or more; Hesston College volleyball matches and men’s and women’s soccer games; alumni vs. varsity baseball and softball games; a tailgate barbecue picnic and family festival; a Friday evening worship service; jam session; class reunions; a performing arts open house to tour campus performing arts facilities and hear about renovation plans; Saturday evening alumni banquet; and a Sunday morning campus community worship service with Hesston Mennonite Church featuring mother-daughter duo Michele (Schrock) Hershberger, a 1981 graduate, and Tara Hershberger.

Registration for the weekend is free until Sept. 7, and $10 between Sept. 8 and 21. For those wishing to attend only the Sept. 29 Alumni Banquet, they may do so without paying the registration fee. Reservations are required for the banquet.

Call Alumni and Church Relations with questions at 866-437-7866 or go to www.hesston.edu for a complete schedule and registration.