Enrollment sees increase in new students
Official fall enrollment numbers show a marked increase in new students for 2014-15. The college welcomed 237 new students, an increase of 10 percent from last year. Total enrollment for the year is 428 students from 33 states and 12 countries. Kansas students make up 46 percent of the total student population while 43 percent of students come from other states and 11 percent are international.
Author brings human rights message
New York Times bestselling author Blaine Harden, author of the campus read Escape from Camp 14, spoke on campus Oct. 16 about his work as a writer and human rights advocate. Harden’s book tells the story of one man’s experience in and escape from a North Korean political prison camp, and is leading First-year Experience with the theme “Power of Choice: Changing Cultures of Oppression.”
Theatre production is community effort
The theatre program presented the American classic Our Town by Thornton Wilder, Oct. 30 to Nov. 2. Set in turn-of-the-century New England, the play is a celebration of small town American life and family values.
“The message of the importance of family and community bonds is relevant to our increasingly fragmented lives,” said director Laura Kraybill. “Our production was an opportunity to broaden our own sense of community as actors from across the city and campus worked together.”
The cast included President Howard Keim ’72 as the Stage Manager, who introduces and narrates the action of the play, as well as students, faculty, staff and community members.
New faculty and staff appointments
Noreen Anderson, Development Office logistics coordinator; Gerard Birkhauser, physics intstructor; Angela (Martin) ’99 Brockmueller ’13, biology instructor; Curtis Denlinger ’11, ’14, flight instructor intern; Myron Diener ’78 mathematics instructor; Tyler Doerksen, biology instructor; George Felix ’14, flight instructor intern; Megan Fowler, athletic trainer; Charlie Hansen ’14, flight instructor intern; Heather (Kyburz) ’00 Hosford, nursing instructor; Kyle Howell, baseball associate head coach; Mary Martin, post office manager; Maxine Martin ’69, development officer; Rachel (Schlegel) ’05 McMaster, grant writer; Gil Oliva ’91, network administrator;Tony Pezzola, director of Food Service; Bruce Plank, art instructor; Rebecca Schloneger, Chamber Orchestra conductor; Gerry Selzer Ac63, ’65, interim registrar; Tomomi Stevenson, food service; Leslie Wheeler, food service; Joy (Smith) ’96 Yoder, nursing instructor.
Alumna joins Development staff
Maxine Martin ’69 joined the Advancement team as a development officer for the western United States in October. She replaces Derek Yoder ’96, who served the territory for two years. She will work from her home in Lakewood, Colo.
Martin earned a B.S. in gerontology/community health from the University of Oregon (Eugene). She worked in the gerontology field for about 10 years and in medical sales and marketing for 22 years.
“I’m very excited to be working at Hesston College,” Martin said. “I see it as a new adventure. I love making new friends, and I’m looking forward to assisting Hesston College in raising funds for student scholarships and future capital projects.”