LarkFest 2026 honors student leaders, athletes and campus changemakers

Hesston College celebrated student excellence during its annual LarkFest awards ceremony on Friday, May 8, recognizing outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, the arts and campus involvement. Student-athletes were also honored during the college’s annual athletic banquet earlier in the week.

The top honors included the announcement of the 2026 Lark of the Year recipients, the college’s highest student recognition. Taiga Goto (Tokyo, Japan) received the associate degree honor, while Tana Hayworth (Lincoln, Kan.) was recognized as the bachelor’s degree recipient. Nominated by the Hesston Experience team, Goto and Hayworth were selected by a faculty vote for their exceptional leadership, scholarship and service to the Hesston College community.

In athletics, Ashleigh Williams (Eaton, Colo.) was named Female Student Athlete of the Year and Yura Yamazaki (Sagamihara, Japan) earned Male Student Athlete of the Year honors.

“LarkFest is one of our favorite traditions because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways our students contribute to campus life,” said President Mark Landes. “These awards reflect leadership, creativity, service, perseverance and excellence both inside and outside the classroom. We are proud of the impact these students have made on our community.”

Other LarkFest award recipients include:

• Alumni Phonathon Money Bags: Muhammad Hasan (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
• Alumni Phonathon Motor Mouth: Muhammad Hasan (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
• Admissions Student Worker Lead Chaos Coordinator: Celline Raharjo (Semarang, Indonesia)
• Admissions Student Worker Chaos Wrangler: Elsa Rayneau (Malang, Indonesia)
• Admissions Student Ambassador People’s Choice: Audrey Befort (Harper, Kan.)
• Admissions Student Ambassador Rising Star: Muhammad Hasan (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic)
• Theatre Standing O: Sam Setiawan (Goshen, Ind.)
• Art Best of Show in the Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition: Constance Feldt (Wichita, Kan.)
• Nursing Club Leadership Award: Brianna Hicks (Newton, Kan.) and Kyndal Simpson (Hesston, Kan.)
• Peer Educator of the Year: Ethan Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement by an International Student: Blen Tadesse Bezuwork (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and Miyu Fujii (Osaka, Japan)
• Lark Leader Community Assistant of the Year: Anna McIntire (Lawrence, Kan.)
• Lark Leader Ministry Assistant of the Year: Ky Kougl (Edmond, Okla.)
• Lark Leader Wellness Assistant of the Year: Lauren Payne (Geuda Springs, Kan.)
• Yoder/Zaid Chemistry Scholarship: Mariah Hall (Lawton, Okla.)
• Daniel Gerber Peace and Service Award: Lilith Jackson (Newton, Kan.)
• Bill Mason Business Scholars: Gresa Arapi (Cypress, Texas), Luis Jimenez (Dallas, Texas), Anna McIntire (Lawrence, Kan.) and Samuel Vasquez Ortega (Sincelejo, Columbia)

The athletic banquet also recognized outstanding performances and contributions across Hesston College athletics. In addition to Williams and Yamazaki, award recipients include:

Volleyball

• Culture Keeper: Bethanie Haag (Wichita, Kan.)
• Engine: Audrey Garrison (Wiesbaden, Germany)
• Whatever It Takes: Kennedie Esparza (Erie, Colo.)

Men’s Soccer

• MVP: Alexander Radu (London, England)
• Defensive Player of the Year: James Hori (Sevenoaks, England)
• Newcomer of the Year: Harry Morris (Ebbw Vale, Wales)
• Champion of Character: Saul Pineda (Conroe, Texas)

Women’s Soccer

• Offensive Player of the Year: Rena Itoga (Saitama, Japan)
• Defensive Player of the Year: Emilie Romero (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
• Champion of Character: Ashleigh Williams (Eaton, Colo.)

Men’s Basketball

• Stock Riser: Tatum Steinhoff (Wichita, Kan.)
• Energizer Bunny: Brody Smith (Cache, Okla.)
• Keys for Success: Ky Kougl (Edmond, Okla.)

Women’s Basketball

• MVP: Akiva Brown (Plano, Texas)
• “Mouse That Roared”: Hanah DeBelle (Castle Rock, Colo.)
• Champion of Character: Keira Pineda (Comanche, Okla.)

Esports

• Lark’d In: Juan Hernandez (Allen, Texas)
• Teammate of the Year: Dominic De La Rosa (Adairsville, Ga.)
• Academic Excellence: Ethan Connelly (Oklahoma City, Okla.)

Powerlifting

• Male Lifter of the Year: George Bates (Newton, Kan.)
• Female Lifter of the Year: Beth Whitney (Maize, Kan.)
• Spark Plug: Aiko Keanaaina (Kahuku, Hawaii)
• Iron Lark: Connor Bear (Sequim, Wash.)

Golf

• Most Improved Athlete: Aaron Hartman (Abilene, Kan.)
• Culture Award: Kory Meireis (Kingman, Kan.)

Dance

• Pillar of Leadership: Amy Hunley (Owensboro, Ky.)
• Rookie of the Year: Isabella Milla Orridge (Plano, Texas)

Disc Golf

• Men’s MVP: Devin Miller (Hesston, Kan.)
• Women’s MVP: Lily Corkill (Olsburg, Kan.)
• Field Work: Nolan Gorman (Redmond, Ore.)

Baseball

• Player Development: Camden Stateler (Wichita, Kan.)
• Program Builder: Kaleb Wise (Newton, Kan.)
• Dirtbag: Corbin Broyles (Longview, Texas)
• Heart & Hustle: Kreyton Johnson (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
• Champion of Character: Chris Cammllarie (McKinney, Texas)

Flag Football

• Iron Will: Lauren Payne (Geuda Springs, Kan.)
• Game Changer: Akiva Brown (Plano, Texas)
• Stock Riser: Liliana Espinoza (Galva, Kan.)

Softball

• MVP: Chloe Merjil (Belle Fourche, S.D.)
• Everyday: Serena Hewes (Battle Ground, Wash.)

Cross Country

• Men’s MVP: Jonah Krumme (Wichita, Kan.)
• Men’s Culture Award: Jack Hunter (Abilene, Kan.)
• Women’s MVP: Arissa Cathey (Abilene, Kan.)
• Women’s Culture Award: Maddy Ralph (Colwich, Kan.)

Track and Field

• Men’s MVP: Nathan Lewis (Wichita, Kan.)
• Men’s Culture Award: Landon Lunsford (Newton, Kan.)
• Women’s MVP: Krystina Clemons (Morrilton, Ark.)
• Women’s Culture Award: Ellie Smith (Canon City, Colo.)