In the News

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.

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