Camping Inquiry Program participants selected;

Eight Goshen College students to learn and seek at Mennonite camps and retreat centers

GOSHEN, Ind. – Eight Goshen College students will spend their summers pursuing an interest in outdoor ministry at a church-related camp or retreat center through the college’s Camping Inquiry Program (CIP).

The summer 2006 group of CIP participants includes:

Amanda Beachy, a sophomore Bible and religion major from Kalona, Iowa, will spend her summer at Crooked Creek Camp in Washington, Iowa. Beachy is the daughter of Merle and Marlinda Beachy. She is a 2003 graduate of Iowa Mennonite School and attends Kalona Mennonite Church.

Sara Becker-Hoover, a first-year social work major from Goshen will spend her summer at Camp Hebron in Halifax, Pa. Becker-Hoover is the daughter of Merlin and Eileen Becker-Hoover. She is a 2005 graduate of Bethany Christian High School and attends College Mennonite Church.

Ashley Ervin, a first-year Bible and religion major from Frazer, Pa., will be serving at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Mich. Ervin is the daughter of James and Pam Ervin. She graduated from Great Valley Senior High School in 2005.

Sami Fulton, a junior molecular biology major from Shreve, Ohio, will be serving at Camp Luz in Orrville, Ohio. Fulton is the daughter of Jeff Fulton of Wooster, Ohio, and Suzanne Miller of Shreve, Ohio. She graduated from Triway High School in 2004.

Andrew Horst, a junior elementary education major from Evanston, Ill., will spend his summer at Menno Haven Camp in Tiskilwa, Ill. He is the son of Doug and Karen Horst. Horst graduated from Evanston Township High School in 2003 and attends Evanston Mennonite Church.

Peter Koontz, a first-year history major from Goshen, will be serving at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Mich. Koontz is the son of Ted and Gayle Koontz. He is a 2004 graduate of Bethany Christian High School and attends Assembly Mennonite Church.

Scott Lehman, a junior music major from Elkhart, Ind., will spend his summer at Beaver Camp in Lowville, N.Y. Lehman is the son of Dick and Jolene Lehman. He graduated from Concord High School in 2003 and attends Southside Fellowship.

Anna Mast, a junior art major from Scottdale, Pa., will be serving at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant, Pa. Mast is the daughter of Conrad and Donna Mast. She graduated from Southmoreland Senior High School in 2004 and attends Scottdale Mennonite Church.

Now in its fifth year, CIP involves a collaborative effort by Goshen College, students’ home congregations and the host camps. With the support of the United Service Foundation of New Holland, Pa., CIP enables students to participate in a leadership internship and receive a $2,000 scholarship toward their return to college in the fall.

CIP grew from a donor couple’s life-long interest in camping. Larry and Janet Newswanger, former residents of Goshen and friends of Goshen College, envisioned a camping internship program that would parallel existing programs in congregational ministry (Ministry Inquiry Program) and church-sponsored voluntary service (Service Inquiry Program).

CIP provides students with the opportunity to spend three months interning at one of several camps and retreat centers affiliated with the Mennonite Camping Association. According to Jason Harrison, assistant campus pastor at Goshen College, the program “provides opportunities for students to be able to be a part of what happens behind the scenes, and to serve on this larger scale.”

The CIP program is coordinated by Harrison, with help from Mennonite camp and retreat center administrators.

Editors: For more information about this release, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.