Hesston College’s 100th commencement to be May 9

Anthony Brown and Dustin GalyonHesston College’s 100th commencement ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 9. Tony Brown and Dustin Galyon will address the college’s 138 graduate candidates on the theme “We Must Be the Change.” The title is taken from Gandhi’s quote “We must be the change we want to see in the world.”

Brown is a member of the faculty and artist in residence, and Galyon is an assistant director of Admissions and men’s basketball coach for the college. Brown is a promoter of peace and goodwill around the world. A licensed psychotherapist with a master of social work degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Goshen (Ind.) College, he uses music to promote peace and reconciliation in countries where peoples’ lives are torn by war and civil strife. Brown’s peace work has taken him to political hot spots such as Bosnia, Northern Ireland, China, Japan, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia, Uganda, South Korea and Ethiopia.

A 2004 graduate of Hesston College, Galyon holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, with a concentration in journalism and public relations from Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Va. Galyon has worked with the Admissions office at Hesston College since May 2006. In addition to his coaching and working with the Admissions team, Galyon also is a gifted keynote speaker who has presented to thousands of people on a variety of topics. He’s spoken at youth events, leadership seminars, sports camps, churches, businesses and more.

Other weekend activities planned Saturday, May 8, include recognition for Disaster Management graduates at 9 a.m. in Hess Hall (Room 150) in Kropf Center; a pinning ceremony for nursing graduates at 10 a.m. in Hesston Mennonite Church (HMC); a commissioning service and reception for Pastoral Ministries graduates at 1 p.m. at HMC; a reception for aviation graduates at 2:30 p.m. in the Bontrager Student Center; a concert by the European Chorale and Hesston College Wind Ensemble at 4 p.m. at HMC; and the annual Larkfest awards and recognition ceremony for sophomores at 7 p.m. at HMC.

A Stage reading of A Hat for Ivan will be presented by the Hesston College Theater Department at 4 p.m. May 7 at HMC. Music for A Hat for Ivan was composed by Sam Kauffman, sophomore, Mountain Lake, Minn., lyrics by Sheralynn Neff, freshman, North Newton, Kan., and book by Tiffany Hochstetler ’08. Meanwhile, Matt Lehman, sophomore, Kidron, Ohio, will direct the one-act play called Doubt: A Parable at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 6 and 7 and 1p.m. Saturday, May 8.

Performances will be in Northlawn Room 109 on the college campus. Tickets are $5 for adults and students; children ages 6 and younger are free. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Hesston College Bookstore in person, by calling 620-327-8105 locally or toll-free at 866-437-7866, ext. 8105, or by going online at www.hesstonbooks.com.

Tickets, subject to availability, may also be purchased at the door one hour before show time.

For more information, contact the Special Events Office, toll-free at 866-437-7866 (866-HESSTON), locally at 620-327-8109.