HESSTON COLLEGE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SUMMER 2019 todaytodaymagazine VOCATION IN FLIGHT Now boarding: HOMECOMING 2019 page 10 Vision 2025 page 29 VISION FOR THE FUTURE Even through this year’s “summer lull,” activity at Hesston College hasn’t slowed. We’ve been working full-steam on preparing for the August launch of the new bachelor’s todaymagazine degree in aviation, starting research and development for other four-year degree programs, watching daily construction Hesston College Today is the official publication for alumni and progress on the nursing and athletics friends of Hesston College, published twice yearly at Hesston, Kan. projects, and taking groups around the world Address correspondence to Hesston College Today, Box 3000, Hesston, KS 67062, or email [email protected]. on trips meant to expand global awareness, engagement and growth. EDITOR Rachel (Schlegel) ’05 McMaster GRAPHIC DESIGN Marissa (Hochstetler) ’14 Unruh These trips are especially significant as they are transformative for PHOTOGRAPHY Larry Bartel participants whose eyes are opened to the realities of the broader world PRINTING Mennonite Press and different cultures and contexts. Following the 2018-19 academic year V.P. OF ADVANCEMENT Rachel Swartzendruber ’00 Miller in mid-May, groups from the campus community traveled to the U.S. DIR. OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Rachel McMaster Pacific Northwest, Japan and Thailand. ALUMNI DIRECTOR Dallas Stutzman ’76 I was fortunate to co-lead the trip to Thailand and share the country HESSTON COLLEGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ken G Kabira ’81, Chicago, Ill., Chair of my birth and my home for many years with Hesston College students, Luke Roth-Mullet ’99, Harrisonburg, Va., Vice chair faculty, staff and constituents. For some, this trip was a first experience Anita Stalter, Goshen, Ind., Secretary out of the United States. Others had experienced the world in many Steve Ropp ’80, Iowa City, Iowa, Treasurer ways and in many places. But for every single person – including me for Dorothy Gathungu ’89 McPherson, Wichita, Kan. Dwight Gingerich, Kalona, Iowa whom Thailand has been home – it was a transforming experience. We Barth Hague ’76, Newton, Kan. experienced the culture and food, but also connected with people desiring Grace Tijerina ’16, Brownsville, Texas to live in right relationship with one another. We spent time in a refugee Jeff Wright, Riverside, Calif. Roger Yoder ’79, Goshen, Ind. camp hearing stories from people who have been displaced for generations. We made interfaith connections and visited with artists expressing their ALUMNI OFFICERS realities, pain and hope through their craft. I was impacted by this journey Steve Martin ’04, Hesston, Kan., President we had together, and I am so grateful for the opportunity of experiencing ALUMNI ADVISORY COUNCIL and witnessing the transformation and understanding that happened for Jim ’59 and Janet (Schrock) Ac57, ’59 Zook, Hesston, Kan. each one of us. Jerre Bontrager ’70, Milford, Neb. Cheryl (Stutzman) ’70 Hostetler, Milford, Neb. The trip reminded me of what the world needs from Hesston College Steve ’74 and Bonnie (Thomas) ’74 Heatwole, Archbold, Ohio and why it must exist for years to come. Hesston College is a place where Tim ’81 and Becky (Steider) ’81 Hochstetler, Strang, Neb. community is built among diverse groups of people. It is a place that LuAnne (Yoder) ’81 Southern, Austin, Texas Josh ’97 and Lori (Birkey) ’97 Horning, Hopedale, Ill. introduces new perspectives, new ideas and appreciation of our common Amanuel Wondimu ’16, Wichita, Kan. humanity. Yet we can’t get to the place of understanding one another without intentional engagement. It’s why these trips and experiences are critical to the learning and growing process, and why we’re working diligently to make opportunities like this possible for every student who starts here. CONTRIBUTORS Stories by Rachel McMaster and photos by Larry Bartel As you read through this issue, you’ll hear in more detail about the unless otherwise noted. exciting ways Hesston College is working toward future growth and relevance. Be assured that even as new programs and initiatives come, at the core Hesston College will continue its legacy as a strong place to start. We will continue to provide our students a foundation and network, encourage faith formation, give involvement and leadership opportunities, and remain committed to the Christ-centered roots from which Hesston College was born and has built upon for the last 110 years. Peace, Dr. Joseph A. Manickam ’87, President IN THIS ISSUE 20 16 FEATURE STORIES 8 A pilot’s life Dan Good ’90 recounts how his career as a pilot unfolded and the global experiences that came with it. 10 Vocation in flight Lois Maust ’80 shares the joy and adventure in her career 4 ON THE COVER CONTENT 4 Now boarding: Vision 2025 12 Student and alumnus profiles 21 Continuing the Hesston The college’s new strategic plan will move Meet Ellie Yoder ’22 and catch up with Experience Hesston into the future. Curtis Denlinger ’11. Outstanding training and a strong experience is bringing new graduate Chris 14 Athletics news Lichti ’19, ’21 back for more. Catch the latest highlights from Lark 23 Alumni news updates Athletics. Read about the lives and accomplishments 16 Commencement Weekend of friends and classmates See photos celebrating that Class of 2019. 29 Homecoming Weekend Plan to attend A Hesston College 18 Plans for everywhere Homecoming 2019 and the celebration of Some of the Class of 2019 share the next new campus additions. step of their everywhere journeys. 20 Finding faith and direction: A new graduate’s story For Risa Fukaya ’19, the Hesston Experience was transformative and unexpected. HESSTON COLLEGE TODAY | SUMMER 2019 | 3 now boarding: isionFirst it was a bachelor’s degree 2025in nursing. Now it’s aviation. V And that’s not where the growth stops. now boarding: isionFirst it was a bachelor’s degree 2025in nursing. Now it’s aviation. And that’s not where the growth stops. HESSTON COLLEGE TODAY | SUMMER 2019 | 5 arly in 2019, Hesston College administrators began As a popular and thriving program, nursing was the first to unveiling a growth plan that gives the Hesston College take the plunge into four-year in 2015. The nursing industry had of the future some distinct differences from the Hesston issued a vision for 80 percent of the workforce to have a bach- ECollege of the last 110 years. elor’s degree by 2020. With only an associate degree program to speak of, faculty and administrators knew they would have to Namely, four-year bachelor degree programs in a handful of make a change to remain relevant. carefully selected academic programs by the year 2025. Four years later, the college is adding nearly 10,000 square The plan is called Vision 2025. It’s a future-looking strategy feet of physical space to accommodate the program that has that offers experiences and degrees “infused with global, experi- continued to thrive despite being the only four-year option on a ential and applied learning opportunities through industry and two-year campus. church-affiliated partners.” In January, the aviation program received approval from the “Our intent is to continue to add key four-year programs Higher Learning Commission accrediting agency to join nursing focused on careers and giving students viable job options,” said in the four-year ranks with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation- President Joe Manickam ’87. “Right now, we’re exploring what Professional Pilot this August. those areas may be. We don’t intend to become a fully four-year institu- “It’s the first two years with the same When Manickam took the tion. We will continue our current Hesston College leadership reins two-year model that equips students relationship-focused, nurturing, supportive in August 2017, he spent the first with a strong liberal arts founda- environment we’re known for, year of his presidency exploring tion and life skills and helps them be followed by two years of a career-focused the college at its core and what it better informed in making decisions professional program.” meant for program offerings and for their final two years of an under- – President Joseph A. Manickam ’87 student opportunities. The four- graduate program. This is a way for year nursing program was already Hesston College to remain relevant in in place and plans were circulating the ever changing landscape of higher education and in the job for aviation as well. But in considering the question “What does market for students.” the world need from Hesston College?” Manickam recognized the possibility for even more bachelor’s degree offerings. The seeds for Vision 2025 were planted sometime in the last decade when administrators, faculty and board members began “The foundation of Hesston College is intentional commu- to take a careful look at trends in industry, employer and student nity, Christ-centered discipleship and living out our Anabaptist demands, and consider them in relation to academic programs values by looking globally, having a respect for everyone’s back- and overall growth in student numbers. ground and offering students relevant opportunities, support and direction so they can thrive,” said Manickam. COVER STORY The development of any future bachelor’s degree program known for with involvement opportunities for first- and second- includes, in part, focus on applied work experiences, global year students, followed by two years of a career-focused profes- engagement through transcultural experiences, and connections sional