“Contagious smiles and infectious laughter” was how many people described Hannah (Grieser) Hochstetler. On Jan. 19, Hochstetler, a 2013 graduate of Goshen College, was traveling through Virginia with her husband, Caleb, when their car was struck head-on. The 72-year-old man, Monte Zuck, who was driving the other vehicle, lost control, crossed over the median and hit the Hochstetlers. Hannah was killed, and Caleb was taken to the hospital. Zuck was charged with reckless driving. The Hochstetlers were on their way back to Jackson, Mississippi where they were leading a Service Adventure unit, a program of Mennonite Mission Network. The loss...

By Jordan Waidelich • January 26, 2017 • News

After helping the Goshen College women’s basketball team make it to the NAIA Fab Four, Tyra Carver graduated in May and headed south for a coaching job in North Carolina in the midst of Hurricane Matthew. After the 12-hour drive, Carver arrived in Louisburg to heavy rain and strong winds. The next day, there was no electricity. On top of that, the residents were ordered to stay inside their homes due to the weather emergency. Several days later, the weather cleared, and Carver was able to start settling into her new home and city. After graduating with a broadcasting major...

By Sandra Camarillo • December 8, 2016 • Features

“Do you all [The Record] still do Inside Outside Voices?” someone asked in the hazy green room under Ignition Garage. “I loved that – we called in all the time. I hope the Record is still that good.” Kansas Bible Company is a seven-person band that started at Goshen College, back in the days when they still prank-called the Record funnies phone line. Their big-band sound has captured a large following, with their new album out on Spotify and making the “America Viral Top 50” playlist. On Monday, Oct. 31, the band came back to Goshen to play at Ignition...

By Hayley Mann • November 3, 2016 • Features

In 1932, Evelyn Kreider hopped on a bus with all of her possessions stuffed in a trunk and made her way to Goshen College. “I was ready for fresh air and broader insights,” said Kreider, who was born and raised in Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania. As a prospective student, Kreider was personally recruited by the academic dean, Harold S. Bender. Kreider, now 101 years old, lives in a cottage on Dogwood Court, part of the Greencroft Goshen campus. Her home is decorated with literature –some news-related, some religious; print sections of The New York Times (which she reads daily) rest on...

By Abby King • October 27, 2016 • Features

This past weekend, GC alumni made their way back to campus. A select four of these alumni were honored for the work they’ve accomplished since they walked across the stage at their own graduations. Ellah Wakatama Allfrey ’88 of London, England, as well as Dr. Doug Schwartzentruber ’78, of Indianapolis received the 2016 Culture for Service Awards. Aletha Stahl, ’89 of Richmond, Indiana received the Dr. Ruth Gunden Champion of Character Award. Meanwhile, James Gingerich ’66 of Albuquerque, New Mexico received the Dr. Roman Gingerich Champion of Character Award. Each of these four awards were presented on Friday morning at...

By Maddie Birky • October 13, 2016 • News

The upcoming Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 7-9, will be full of events for students, parents, grandparents and alumni alike. It will include many traditional activities, along with new opportunities for participants. The weekend will kick off on Friday with convocation in the church-chapel. During this time, various alumni will be receiving awards for outstanding displays of GC’s core values through their professions. Receiving “Culture for Service” awards are Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, ’88 and Doug Swartzendruber, ’78. Allfrey will be recognized for her contribution to the publishing industry and will be the speaker for the convocation.  Swartzendruber will be acknowledged for his...

By Katie Yoder • October 6, 2016 • News

On Wednesday, Sept. 28, over 40 students, faculty and staff, and community members gathered to listen and learn from Indiana Poet Laureate Shari Wagner. The Goshen College alum returned to campus to teach a workshop and read her award-winning poetry. “I love Goshen College, so coming back is always a treat, but it was especially nice this time,” said Wagner. “I hope those who attended my workshop and reading had as much fun as I did.  It was a perfect day, down to the delicious tamales and ice cream at the English department supper.” Ann Hostetler, a professor of English,...

By Abby King • October 6, 2016 • Features

This semester, Goshen College is proud to welcome back one of its own students – this time as a visiting professor of English and communication. Ellah Wakatama Allfrey graduated from GC in 1988 and considers being invited back “a huge honor”. Allfrey currently resides in London and works as an independent editor and publisher.  She was born in Zimbabwe, which Allfrey credits as a significant aspect of her identity, and was educated in the U.S. Living in London has allowed her a broader reach as an independent editor. “[London is] one of the centers for [book editing and publishing],” said...

By Elsa Lantz • September 15, 2016 • Features

Recently, Goshen College experienced a rapid rise in donations. The spike for the 2015-2016 school year adds up to more than just a part of an overall growth trend. It involves both the short-term steps of Goshen’s development department and the long-term relationships they have established. “You could say this is 40 years in the making,” Roger Nafziger, GC’s director of planned giving, said of the $9,071,000 total donations. Forty years is how long Goshen’s development department has fostered a relationship with Milo Albrecht, a perennial donor to Goshen College. Following Albrecht’s passing in the last year, the college received...

By Katie Yoder • September 8, 2016 • News

When she graduated from Goshen College in 1990, Jan Kauffman never saw herself moving back to Goshen. But over the summer, Kauffman started her new role as the registrar. The registrar’s office takes care of student academic records, but that includes a number of different responsibilities that most may not be aware of. Between registering students for classes and handling transcripts, the registrar is also responsible for setting up the master class and exam schedules. Kauffman also deals with the academic progress of each student and addresses any problems if a student isn’t meeting those standards. She works alongside faculty...

By Jordan Waidelich • September 8, 2016 • Features

After graduating from Goshen College in 2015, Caleb Longenecker took a position as an admissions counselor in the very office that accepted him as a student almost five years ago. People who know Longenecker can attest to his love for Goshen College—even as a student, he was recruiting students in a casual, offhand way by simply describing his experience here. Despite being a natural at sharing his love of Goshen College, Longenecker did not immediately foresee his year after graduating in this position. “Last spring I was presented with the opportunity to be an admissions counselor, and I have found...

By Hayley Mann • March 3, 2016 • Features

Jerron Jamerson, a Goshen College graduate and former Maple Leaf basketball player, signed his first professional basketball contract on January 19 with the Moncton Miracles, a charter member of the National Basketball League of Canada. Jamerson said he first picked up a basketball when he was about 6 or 7 and has been playing ever since. He began his collegiate career at Owens Community College where he spent his freshman and sophomore year. Throughout his time at Owens, he received all OCCAC Honorable mention and Most Improved Player before transferring to Goshen. During his career as a Maple Leaf, Jamerson...

By Lexa Magnuson • February 11, 2016 • News

During World War II, Lois Gunden Clemens, a Goshen College graduate, worked in France to smuggle Jewish children out of internment camps. This past Wednesday, she was posthumously honored for her actions. The Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. honored Clemens, a 1936 graduate, as Righteous Among the Nations in partnership with Yad Vashem on Wednesday, January 27. Clemens was the fourth American to be recognized with this honor, and one of four honorees on Wednesday. Righteous Among the Nations is the highest honor the State of Israel bestows on non-Jews in the name of the Jewish people. Clemens, who...

By Elsa Lantz • February 4, 2016 • News

While this might sound like just another variation of the age-old phrase, it is actually the title of a new book, recently published by Goshen alum, Phil Gerigscott. The book is a short autobiography about his journey with Lyme disease and covers the ins and outs of his treatment with humor, optimism and word play. Gerigscott graduated from Goshen in 2014, but his journey with Lyme disease began two years prior. Gerigscott unknowingly contracted Lyme disease through a tick bite during the summer of 2012 and spent the next two years dealing with symptoms and looking for a diagnosis. Originally...

By Lydia Good • December 3, 2015 • Features

Rachel’s Bread opens at 8 o’clock on Saturday morning, but the line has formed long before. Customers wait to order pumpkin swoons, chocolate croissants, quiche and much more. “When I was a student at Goshen College, my friends would always talk about how there was no place to hang out downtown,” said Rachel Shenk, who opened her bakery business 21 years ago. “So in retrospect, it’s interesting that I decided to do this.” Since 1994, Rachel’s Bread has been a staple business in downtown Goshen. Originally born in Belgium, Shenk was never satisfied with the bread selection in the United...

By Sydney Cruz • November 12, 2015 • Features