Quick Links: Art, Athletics, Drama, Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts, Music, Recreational Facilities, Special Events, Stutzman Retreat Center, Service Opportunities
Art
The Hesston College Gallery exhibits a rich variety of art in displays that change regularly. Shows feature architectural displays, ceramics, drawings, graphic designs, illustrations, paintings, prints, sculpture, and photographs by established artists. Exhibits often deal with social and religious issues. The featured gallery artist is frequently invited to discuss his or her work and meet with interested students. The Annual Student Art Exhibit is held at the end of the spring term. The gallery is located in Smith Center and is meant for the enrichment and enjoyment of everyone.
The Friesen Center for the Visual Arts has a gallery for student artwork and other exhibitions. The gallery is also equipped for digital media exhibits.
The Hesston College Art Collection, including the Paul A. Friesen Collection, provides a rich visual resource for the campus. The various pieces of sculpture, ceramics, paintings, prints, drawings, and photographs by a variety of artists grace walls throughout the campus and at Dyck Arboretum of the Plains. Many of these works are by Hesston College alumni and faculty, and aim to please the eye as well as encourage reflection regarding life and faith. Maps showing the locations of the works in this collection are located in the displays throughout campus.
Athletics
Intercollegiate and intramural sports are important at Hesston College. Students can get involved in a variety of intramural activities, including indoor soccer, floor hockey, volleyball, basketball, racquetball, softball, and tennis. The Campus Activities Center is the site for most indoor intramural sports.
The more competitive athlete can also try out for intercollegiate sports. ports offered are men’s soccer, basketball, tennis, and baseball and women’s soccer, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and fast pitch softball.
Although each athlete is expected to contribute his or her utmost for the team, Hesston College’s sense of competition focuses as much on learning and working together as it does on winning. Christian coaches who model values of personal development provide important leadership in developing students as athletes and competent individuals.
See the catalog for details on athletic eligibility.
Drama
Experience is the best teacher in the dramatic field. Hesston offers plenty of opportunities to become involved in mainstage performance and student directing. Each year the college offers a variety of theatre productions in which to participate. Recent plays have included Two Rooms and Brigadoon. A Drama for the Church class emphasizes hands-on experience and resource collection. Theatre Appreciation focuses on theater history and aesthetic appreciation. Acting introduces students to basic tools of the art form. Music Theatre Workshop develops skills of the singing actor. Through participation in the productions and theater classes, students learn acting, production, staging, and technical skills of the theater.
Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts
The Hesston-Bethel Performing Arts series is sponsored by Hesston College and Bethel College in cooperation with the cities of Hesston and North Newton. Five events during the year present world-renowned performers. All full-time students are given a free season pass to HBPA events.
The 2007-08 season includes performances by the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Gil Shaham and Akira Eguchi, Opera Kansas, Wailin’ Jennys, and Boston Brass.
Music
Music is an important component of life at Hesston College. The choirs provide a quality experience of musical expression for students interested in continuing their own musical development and involvement. Three choirs perform in various settings for community and church inspiration. Auditions are required for membership in these groups.
Hesston College Chorale is a 35- to 45-voice group that performs as a part of worship services or sings full concerts. Hesston College Chorale tours for 10 to 12 days over spring break.
Bel Canto Singers is a 20- to 22-voice select group that performs a variety of music from classical to contemporary, as dinner entertainment or for worship services. Bel Canto Singers tours on long weekends and for two weeks every other summer. Voice lessons are required for two semesters during the first year of enrollment in Bel Canto Singers.
European Chorale is comprised of 35 to 45 voices and is offered during the summer in even-numbered years. During the four-week tour, students perform about 15 concerts in European Mennonite or related churches and sing informally at cathedrals and town squares. In addition to performing, the chorale attends concerts in various cities and spends approximately half the evenings in Western European homes.
Wind Ensemble is a new music offering for musicians with prior instrumental experience. This instrumental ensemble will provide an outlet for occasional performances on campus, both in concert settings as well as playing at home basketball games. Students with skill in woodwind and brass instruments as well as percussion are invited to participate.
Hesston College also offers applied instruction in piano, voice, and guitar. Beginning-level lessons are taught in class settings. Students are taught fundamental music skills and technique as well as basic music theory. Individual instruction in voice and piano is offered to those students who have had previous instruction in music. Both private piano and voice provide students with opportunities to further develop their skills and participate in various performance settings.
Recreational Facilities
Hesston College has outstanding indoor and outdoor facilities for recreation.
Yost Center houses two hardwood basketball courts, a synthetic jogging track, racquetball courts, and locker rooms. Campus Activities Center provides a second gym space, with two basketball or three volleyball courts and indoor soccer pitch. A weight training room equipped with free weights and a variety of fitness equipment is also housed in this building.
Outdoor facilities include four lighted tennis courts, practice and game soccer fields, baseball diamond, and sand volleyball court. Soccer and baseball game facilities are lighted for night games. The Hesston community has an 18-hole golf course with jogging/biking trails and six additional lighted tennis courts. Students also have easy walking access to the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, which provides walking trails through naturalistic landscaping.
The student lounge in Erb Hall provides pool and Ping Pong tables as well as big screen TV viewing.
With memberships paid by student fees, students also have access to the Hesston Wellness Center at Schowalter Villa and its fitness and strength training equipment and heated indoor pool.
Special Events
Throughout the year, numerous events provide special moments in the life of this community.
- Alumni Homecoming Weekend (fourth weekend in September)
- Students have the opportunity to interact with alumni in various settings. Events for alumni include class reunions, athletic games, concerts, a banquet, and worship time.
- Thanksgiving Weekend
- A time when parents, families, and prospective students are invited to campus. Special weekend events include musical and dramatic performances, athletic events, and plenty of free time to entertain family and friends.
- Christmas
- Christmas festivities peak during the last week before the term ends. Music programs, special meals, special chapels, and mod activities help prepare students to commemorate the birth of Christ.
- Grandparent Days (spring)
- The schedule includes class visits, special seminars, and a banquet.
- Graduates Dinner (April)
- Hesston College's newest alumni are welcomed to the Alumni Association at this special dinner provided by the Advancement Division of the college. Students are strongly encouraged to attend, and college schedules are cleared to enable them to do so.
- Commencement Weekend
- Parents and families of graduates are invited to campus to share in recognizing those who graduate.
Other special events are Mod Olympics, Spring Celebration, and the popular, though not too professional, talent shows.
Stutzman Retreat Center
Stutzman Retreat Center is located eight miles southwest of Hesston. The comfortable log cabin and spacious, shady grounds are available for student groups for overnight retreats, picnics, Bible study, etc. Reservations can be made by contacting Deb Hiebert, Campus Facilities Office, extension 8120.
Service Opportunities
Voluntary service options are available in the area. The Peace and Service Club plans activities related to mission, service, and peace. Other volunteer options include prison and hospital ministries, grandparent adoption, Big Brother/Big Sister program, Mennonite Disaster Service, and Mennonite Housing.