Hustler mower among prizes at Excel-sponsored golf benefit for Hesston College

Dave and Sena Osborne

A top-of-the-line Hustler mower donated by Excel Industries is one of the prizes up for grabs at the second annual Hesston College Student Scholarship Golf Benefit at 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25, at Hesston Golf Park.

For the second year in a row, longtime Hesston College supporter Excel Industries is sponsoring the tournament, whose proceeds benefit a Hesston College scholarship. Proceeds from the 2014 benefit will go toward the Dave and Sena Osborne Scholarship Fund. The benefit, which kicks off A Hesston College Homecoming 2014, is a shamble and is open to teams of four golfers or individuals to be placed on a team. Registration and information is available here.

The newly established Dave and Sena Osborne Scholarship Fund honors the Osbornes for their many years of support and passion for multicultural diversity at the college. The scholarship will provide two $1,000 scholarships to international Hesston College sophomores in the first year and will be endowed for future scholarships when earnings reach $20,000.

Dave and Sena Osborne are both Hesston College graduates and have served at the college for a combined 59 years to date – Sena as manager of the post office, from which she retired in June 2014, and Dave in a variety of roles, including director of international student services, English as a Second Language instructor and currently as director of international admissions.

Dave’s work with international student admissions has been key in Hesston College being home to dozens of international students every year.  For the fall 2014 semester, 48 international students represent 12 countries.

The Osbornes have a passion for helping and learning from others’ experiences of moving across cultures and languages that stems from their own experiences of living in five countries. They value the richness that diversity brings to the Hesston College campus and want to see it continue. They often host international students in their home throughout the year and during college breaks, and assist them in learning and adjusting to a new culture.

Registration for the benefit is $500 for a four-person team or $125 for individual golfers and includes a 5 p.m. prime rib dinner. Individuals or businesses can also sponsor a hole for $200. Golfers must register by Sept. 22.