News
November 3, 2022
New MBA program expands options for undergrad students
Goshen College’s teaching faculty approved 4+1, a new MBA program, on Oct. 21, which will permit undergraduate students to enroll in MBA courses during their junior year. The current program was created for full-time mid-career professionals who could only take one course. Still, Michelle Horning, chair of the business department, explained that the department is noticing different trends. “Over the last ten years, we’ve noticed the average age of our MBA students has gone down and younger professionals, earlier in their careers, were expressing interest in the program,” said Horning. She explained that 4+1s often indicate that undergraduate students can...
November 3, 2022
Halloweekend at GC
Many events took place on Goshen College’s campus over Halloween weekend, including the Haunted Ball, Día de Los Muertos and Howell-een. These events were open to everyone on campus, and their organizers noted high attendance. The Haunted Ball was hosted by the Role-Playing Game Club and the Campus Activities Council. The event encouraged “goth, period, prom and bridesmaid garb” and gave students the opportunity to decorate Halloween masks. “It was great to see students express their creativity through their costumes,” said Abby King, student activities coordinator. According to King, they plan to continue this event and are considering “reviving haunted...
November 3, 2022
GC student launches new organization
“You gotta meet Rob. He’s so great!” This is usually how Jesse Loewen, assistant director of the academic success center, describes Robert Sanders to those who have never met him. “He’s a perfect example of a student-athlete who knows they are more than just that,” he said. Sanders is a fifth-year sports management major with a minor in psychology who launched his new organization, Vessel of Honor, in September. “Our mission and vision is to equip, prepare and motivate the youth to do whatever they want to do with character, honor and integrity,” Sanders said. He founded the idea in...
November 3, 2022
Campus pantry opens to support students
Goshen College administers the Higher Education Research Institute survey to graduating seniors every other spring. The survey asks: “In the past year, how often have you felt hungry but didn’t eat because you didn’t have enough money for food?” In 2018, 13% of GC students reported “occasionally” or “frequently.” 2020 cited a sharp increase to 24% amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the number sits at 28%. “This is not a perfect measure because it only looks at students who have made it … through to graduation … since economic insecurity can be a barrier to academic success,” said...
October 28, 2022
GC looks ahead to 2023 summer camps
Goshen College is rapidly expanding its selection of summer camps for children and youth, bolstered by a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. last spring. The College’s Center for Community Engagement is taking the lead in developing and managing the camps. This past summer 145 students attended the six camps. CCE anticipates having as many as 16 camps in operation next summer, bringing hundreds of children and youth to campus during June and July. “[The camps] help us build relationships with the community.” Said Ann Venderly, academic dean. “We want families to know about the college.” The summer...
October 28, 2022
Fly and Drive weekend to bring prospective students to campus
Fly and Drive Weekend is an event hosted by the Goshen College Admissions Office to give current high school junior and prospective senior students a chance to travel over 100 miles to visit campus. Students may receive partial reimbursement for their travel costs. For one official individual visit or one official visit event, GC will reimburse half of the transportation costs up to a maximum of $200. “This year, we have students visiting from the greater Midwest as well as Georgia, New Jersey, Oregon and many more states,” said Madison Swartzendruber, enrollment coordinator. In 2020, Fly and Drive Weekend was...
October 28, 2022
Learning comes to life at Merry Lea’s Enchanted Forest event
Goshen College’s environmental learning center, Merry Lea, hosted a community event titled Enchanted Forest at their Farmstead site from Friday, Oct. 21 to Saturday, Oct. 22. The initial Enchanted Forest took place in 1990 and has been held annually thereafter, including through COVID-19. They celebrated their 32nd anniversary last weekend. “For many families and members of the public, this is an annual event to look forward to. They anticipate it as part of their regular Autumn season,” Marcos Stoltzfus said, director of Environmental Education Outreach at Merry Lea. The event garnered approximately 200 people in previous years, but Stolzfuz says,...
October 28, 2022
Remembering Ezra Kipruto Kogei
Goshen College student Ezra Kipruto Kogei died at South Bend Memorial Hospital on Saturday after sustaining serious injuries in a car accident earlier that week. Kogei was a sophomore nursing major from Eldoret, Kenya, and a member of the men’s cross-country team. Those who knew and loved Ezra share memories of his life and the ways in which he impacted them: Jo-Ann Brant (with Joe Springer), Ezra’s host parents — “Soon after Ezra moved into our home, he mentioned that ours was the first American home into which he had entered even though he had been in the United States...
October 13, 2022
Goshen College to become a Hispanic Serving Institute
Goshen College is poised to become only the third college in Indiana to earn the designation Hispanic Serving Institution, which requires that Latinos make up at least 25% of the undergraduate student body. The designation, which Goshen College would share with Calumet College of St. Joseph and Indiana University Northwest, is expected to happen next year when the college submits a final key application form. “I feel a lot of pride,” said Gilberto Perez Jr., the vice president for Student Life and dean of students. “We have become a place where we all learn more about Latino culture. We’re all...
October 13, 2022
Meet Dash: GC’s new mascot
Goshen College unveiled its first-ever official mascot — Dash the black squirrel — at the Homecoming convocation Friday. Excitement was high on campus after the announcement. Erica Albertin, athletic director and chair of the mascot committee, felt a sense of relief at having a finalized campus representation. “You wouldn’t believe how much time went into bringing Dash to life,” she said. Rustin Nyce, a member of the mascot committee and head cross country coach, agreed with the sentiment, stating that “choosing the mascot, the outfit, name and coordinating details took a little more than a year.” This lengthy process did...
October 13, 2022
Alumni recognized during Homecoming
Five alumni were presented with awards for their commitment to “Culture for Service” and the core values of the college on Friday, Oct. 7. The annual awards were initiated to honor GC graduates who have made lifelong contributions to their communities, churches, colleges, or the world. “These awards are a way for us to recognize and honor our alumni who have lived our core values through their lives and their careers,” said Dan Koop Liechty, director of alumni engagement. There are three tracks in which recipients are nominated: The Culture for Service, The Young Alumni Servant, and The Champion of...
October 13, 2022
Alumni come home, rekindle relationships
Goshen College alumni returned to campus last weekend for Homecoming, celebrating their class reunions and catching up with old friends. It was a full weekend, with over 45 possible events on the official Homecoming schedule. Dan Koop Liechty, director of alumni engagement and international student advisor, said that “planning started intensifying in March … so that we can send out a paper brochure and registration form by July 1.” The main goals of the weekend, said Koop Liechty, are to facilitate “meaningful and fun experiences” that connect alumni “to each other and the college.” He thought the goals were achieved...
October 7, 2022
Mennonite writers convene at conference
Goshen College hosted the Mennonite/s Writing Conference from Thursday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Oct. 2, for the third year since 1990. The theme, “Celebrating 30 Years: Looking Back, Looking Forward,” featured several writers who shared works ranging from poetry to novels. This conference celebrated collective history and heritage while looking into the future of what Mennonite writing holds. “Before the conference, Mennonite writers often felt at the margins of Mennonite life or were alienated from the church,” said Ann Hostetler, professor emerita of English at GC and chair of the conference planning committee. “Once the conference took place,” she continued,...
October 7, 2022
Electric vehicles on the rise as gas prices soar
The shift toward electric vehicles is accelerating locally, as more options become available to the everyday consumer. The City of Goshen purchased three new Ford F-150 Lightning all-electric trucks this past summer as a trial to work towards the city’s goal of being carbon neutral by the year 2035. One truck arrived on Aug. 30 and is already in use, while the city is waiting for delivery of the other two trucks, which are on back-order. The current truck is on a weekly rotation through each of the city’s departments, so each one can test the truck and compare it...
October 7, 2022
Restorative changes in residence life
Although Goshen College is retaining its status as a dry campus, the Residence Life (ResLife) team is taking a new approach to campus discipline, shifting the focus towards reconciliation rather than punishment. “Misconduct and violations of the Standards have historically been seen as this ‘Thing’ that’s bad and shameful,” said Kevin Schultz, residence director for Romero Apartments and Intentional Living Communities (both of which serve mostly juniors and seniors). “Now, these situations are an opportunity to figure out where the gap is between the student and the community.” The new, more restorative approach will attempt to reconnect students who have...