Year One, 1909: Vision Becomes Reality
The vision for a school in the "West" was affirmed by the Kansas-Nebraska Conference in session at Chiraw, Colorado in October 1907, and endorsed by the Mennonite Board of Education a month later. Hesston was chosen from six possible locations. "Commenced excavating for the College today," T. M. Erb noted in his diary for March 24. After supper on September 17, the Erbs drove to campus to see a grand sight: for the first time the "Academy [was] all lit up." The new lighting system was in operation, and Green Gables was nearly complete.
Decade One, 1909-1919: Building on the Vision
With a faculty of four and a student body of 21, President Bender called classes to order for the first time on September 22. Bender and the executive committee worked tirelessly to recruit more students, raise money and promote the mission of the academy. By 1918 Hesston had a four-year college curriculum, in addition to academy and Bible school, and its enrollment was higher than either Goshen or Eastern Mennonite. The Administration Building, begun in 1916 was completed in 1918.
Decade Two, 1920-1929: Expanding the Vision
Decade Three, 1930-1939: Rethinking the Vision