Mark Trout

Contact numbers and addresses: 800-99-LARKS (800-995-2757) ext. 8228
markt@hesston.edu

Admissions territory: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan

My background: I'm a farm boy from North Dakota. I grew up in a town called Sherwood with a population of about 250, located four miles from the Canadian border. I attended Sherwood High School and graduated in 1999.

Mark's senior photo

Why I chose Hesston: The main reason I chose Hesston was because of its personal, friendly, and welcoming community environment. I came primarily to play baseball. I hadn't heard of Hesston College until about three months remained in my senior year of high school. Coach Art Mullet wrote me a personal letter saying that he was in need of a catcher for next year's team and encouraging me to come down and visit. I had no idea how he received my name; you don't get a lot of national exposure being from North Dakota. I did not grow up with a Mennonite background, so when I heard that Hesston College was owned by the Mennonite Church, I looked up the word "Mennonite" in the dictionary. The thing I remember most about my visit was how everyone on campus said "hi" to me. I was very impressed as well with the quality and beauty of the campus. I knew that Hesston College was a place where I was going to get a chance to play baseball against tough competition and receive a great education. Hesston provided the quality Christian environment that I desired.

My favorite Hesston College memory: My favorite Hesston College memory is sports-related. It occurred during the Regional playoffs against Brown Mackie my freshman year. It was the bottom of the seventh inning in the fifth game of a best-of-five series--the loser would go home, the winner would move on to the District tournament. Tie game. I got up to bat with runners on second and first. I ran the count full and then hit an outside fastball into right field. Base hit. Runner scored. Larks win 2-1 and advance to the Districts.

After Hesston: After Hesston I joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and completed several training schools with them, was a full-time staff member for three years and traveled to the countries of Venezuela, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, and Mexico doing missions work. My Bachelor's degree is still "in process."

How Hesston is the same as when I attended? Hesston College will always feel like and be a community. Hesston College remains a place that I and so many others can call "home." I think one of the greatest things that makes it home is the people; the spirit of the faculty, staff and students who year after year desire that Hesston College remain a Christ-centered community.

How Hesston is better than when I was a student here? There have been a number of significant renovations and physical changes made to the campus: the baseball field is now called Evan Oswald Field, the Larks Nest snack shop, the library, Hesston Mennonite Church and the new construction of the Friesen Center for Visual Arts. It's been six years since I graduated, so there are a number of new faces among the faculty and staff as well.

New and old interests--A venti, non-fat, extra hot, toffee nut misto from Starbucks; the Minnesota Twins; driving John Deere tractors; Macs; recycling; "creation care;" biodiesel; french presses; organic food; soy milk; Indian food; Connecticut; Africa; the music of Sigur Ros...