The weekend included a reception to honor Hesston College’s living presidents and interim presidents (Laban Peachey, Kirk Alliman, Jim Mininger, Loren Swartzendruber, Peter Wiebe, and Howard Keim).

Roger ’62 and LouAnne (Jantz) Ac61, ’63 Eichelberger visit with Kathy Goering at the reunion for current and former faculty and staff members.

A 1909 International tractor owned by Jerry Toews of Goessel, Kan., was on display, along with several antique cars.

Chemistry faculty member Jim Yoder ’62 presents a dramatic monologue as T.M. Erb, one of the college’s founders and its first business manager, from the porch of 300 S. Main in Hesston, Erb’s former home. A self-guided walking tour along local streets offered alumni and friends an opportunity to learn about the homes of individuals and families that played key roles in the college’s history. Front Porch Narratives by Yoder and Gerald Brunk of Harrisonburg, Va., offered additional insight into the college’s history and the context in which it was founded in 1909.

Hesston College students, alumni, friends, and faculty gather to bless a house framed by students, faculty, and staff. The frame was taken apart in sections and trucked to Picayune, Miss., where Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) volunteers reassembled the pieces and finished the house over the ensuing six weeks. The framing project, a cooperative effort of MDS and the college’s Disaster Management program, was completed in the week leading up to Centennial Homecoming Weekend. Visit the Disaster Management page at www.hesston.edu for photos of the project as it progressed.

Minerva Yoder Ac48 and former Food Service directors Emil Yoder and Bob Nunemacher ’69 arrived early in the week before homecoming and baked more than 900 cinnamon rolls. The rolls were available for purchase at the heritage auction and served for breakfast Sunday morning.

Lynette (Slagell) ’78 Duerksen and Elaine (Slagell) ’82 Unruh find classmates on the college’s new History Center touch-screen kiosk. A gift of the Academy class of 1956, the kiosk also includes photos and history of Erb Hall and Kauffman Court.

below, right Cast members for the musical Quilters rehearse a scene (left to right): Megan Leatherman (freshman, Hesston, Kan.), Kristen Horst (sophomore, Orrville, Ohio), Lisa (Swartzendruber) ’97 Yoder (Hesston), Holly Swartzendruber (faculty, Hillsboro, Kan.), Ana Loucks (sophomore, Hesston, Kan., obscured by Swartzendruber), Laura Unruh (freshman, Newton, Kan., foreground, in pink), Amy Brubaker (freshman, Goessel, Kan.), and DJ (Franz) ’78 Freeman (Goessel, Kan.). The Theatre and Music departments presented three performances of Quilters during Centennial Homecoming Weekend.

The quilt, created by Martha (Buckwalter) Ac46, ’48 Hershberger and her daughter, Faith (Hershberger) ’74 Penner, represents Hesston College’s past, present, and future. Its design was inspired by Nancy Miller’s centennial event logo.

Quilters cast members helped unveil the college’s centennial quilt following the first performance Friday evening. The centennial quilt hangs in the Bontrager Student Center entry.

Hesston College faculty photo, Sept. 22, 2009