Hesston College welcomes students with theme of curiosity and belonging

Hesston College launched the 2025-26 academic year with a weekend full of celebration, connection and community, welcoming approximately 400 students to campus. Opening Weekend began with the annual Opening Celebration on Friday, August 15, where students, their parents, faculty and staff gathered to set the tone for the year through music, theatre and reflection from returning and new students.

A quote attributed to Walt Whitman, “Be curious, not judgmental,” served as a guiding thread throughout the Opening Celebration. It was presented through an original skit that included student stories, as well as a cappella performances by Bel Canto Singers. Students shared their experiences of discovering Hesston unexpectedly, finding a welcoming community and reshaping their expectations about college life, academics and friendship.

“What I have found at Hesston College so far is that people don’t care about what I look like,” shared Rey Tipton, a freshman from Hesston, Kan. “They care about who I am on the inside, because that’s what matters.”

“At first, I thought that everyone was going to be really mean or weren’t going to want to talk to anyone else outside of their group,” admitted Cindy Smith, a freshman from Wichita, Kan. “But I’ve quickly learned that it is the complete opposite.”

Following the skit, President Mark Landes delivered an address echoing the skit’s themes while drawing on his experience as a parent and returning member of the Hesston College community.

“I was going to start by saying my hope and prayer for this school year is that everybody can find meaning and belonging here at Hesston College, and I’m not sure that this could’ve been summed up any better than what just happened,” Landes said. “My main thing that I want to encourage everyone to do is to lean in. Lean in and engage your experience.”

He encouraged students to approach the year with curiosity, humility and intentional listening — traits he believes fosters connection and academic success.

Attendees were also encouraged through this year’s theme verse:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22-23.

The evening concluded with an all-campus ice cream social, followed by a full weekend of activities including registration, orientation sessions, a community picnic and the beloved Nest Olympics — a spirited dorm competition featuring games, costumes and campus camaraderie. As is tradition, President Landes ceremoniously kicked off the games by carrying the Olympic flame (tiki torch) onto Sieber Field. This year’s finale featured a high-energy rock-paper-scissors tournament that crowned a single student victor with campus-wide bragging rights.

Update on Facilities and Classroom Adjustments

While the fall semester began with joy and energy, Hesston College also continues restoration efforts following a fire that affected J.D. Charles Hall of Science and Arts in May. Cleanup is underway, and full restoration of the building is targeted for fall 2026. In the meantime, the college made accommodations to ensure uninterrupted lab instruction:

• Chemistry labs are held at Bethel College on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• A temporary physics lab is set up in Smith Center.
• Biology labs have been relocated to available spaces elsewhere on campus.

Additionally, the Bonnie Sowers Nursing Center restoration was completed prior to the start of classes, featuring new carpet, ceiling tiles and a fresh coat of paint.

Through creativity, resilience and an unwavering commitment to its students, Hesston College begins this new year rooted in faith, community and the invitation to stay curious.