Homecoming Weekend Sept. 26-28 filled with activities for alumni and friends

More than 500 alumni and friends of Hesston College are expected to attend A Hesston College Homecoming September 26-28.

Friday activities include morning class visits by visiting alumni and prospective students; an 11 a.m. chapel address by 1980 graduate Dave Foncannon, musician, artist, and pastor of Pueblo (Colo.) Mennonite Church; an afternoon Visual Arts department update; and an evening tailgate picnic and festival activities.

Also starting Friday is the eight-team Hesston Invitational Volleyball Tournament, which runs through Saturday. Friday evening is “Think Pink” Night, with players wearing pink and all donations received will be forwarded to Susan B. Komen for the Cure, a foundation for breast cancer awareness and research.

Friday evening events also includes two soccer matches with McPherson (Kan.) College’s junior varsity teams. The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m.; the men’s game starts at 7:30.

The highlight Saturday will be the 2:30 p.m. dedication of the new Friesen Center for the Visual Arts. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be on the lawn near the Friesen Center, named for Paul and Wilma Friesen. Paul Friesen, an emeritus faculty member in visual arts, started the program at Hesston College in 1956.

Other Saturday activities include class reunions, a story-telling session with Hesston College centennial history writer and history faculty member John Sharp, afternoon baseball and softball games and a golf outing, and an evening alumni banquet, featuring Swaziland highlights by chemistry professor Jim Yoder and his wife Phyllis. The evening concludes with the 321 Improv Comedy show at 8 p.m. at Hesston Mennonite Church.

The homecoming weekend ends Sunday with a 9 a.m. morning worship service. Dave Foncannon will speak, with special music provided by the Bel Canto Singers directed by music faculty member Bradley Kauffman.