Thursday, June 12, 2008

Eight Goshen College students participate in summer Camping Inquiry Program

GOSHEN, Ind. – This summer, eight Goshen College students are serving with the college’s Camping Inquiry Program (CIP). The students will spend the summer at faith-based summer camps throughout the United States. The participants:

Asher Fast, a junior elementary education from Boulder, Colo., is spending the summer at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in Divide, Colo. Fast, the son of Bruce and Michelene Fast, is a 2005 graduate of Fairview High School and attends Boulder Mennonite Church.

Nathan Graber, a junior history major from Elkhart, Ind., is spending the summer working at Drift Creek Camp in Lincoln City, Ore. Graber, the son of Peter and Mary Graber, is a 2004 graduate of Elkhart Central High School and attends Sunnyside Mennonite Church.

Betsy Houser, a sophomore peace, justice and conflict studies major from Phoenix, Ariz., is spending the summer at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in Divide, Colo. Houser, the daughter of David and Wendy Houser, is a 2006 graduate of Shadow Mountain High School and attends Sunnyslope Mennonite Church.

Jake Miller, a sophomore elementary education major from Goshen, is spending the summer at Camp Friedenswald in Cassopolis, Mich. Miller, the son of Pete Miller and Marilyn Graber, is a 2006 graduate of Goshen High School and attends College Mennonite Church.

Darin Schwartzentruber, an environmental studies major transferring from Hesston (Kan.) College, is spending the summer at the Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Mich. Schwartzentruber is from Goshen and attends Yellow Creek Mennonite Church.

Michelle Smith, a first-year American Sign Language Interpreting major from Fairdealing, Mo., is spending the summer at Logan Valley Christian Retreat in Ellington, Mo. Smith is the daughter of Michael and Georgia Smith and attends Pilgrims Rest Church.

Hillary Watson, a senior Bible and religion major from Seattle, Wash., is spending the summer at Camp Deerpark in Westbrookville, N.Y. Watson, the daughter of Jill Watson, is a 2005 graduate of Roosevelt High School and attends Seattle Mennonite Church.

Greg Yoder, a senior music major from Perkasie, Pa., is spending the summer at Bethany Birches Camp in Plymouth, Vt. Yoder, the son of Jerry and Beth Yoder, is a 2005 graduate of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Perkasie Mennonite Church.

Now in its seventh year, CIP is a collaborative effort by Goshen College, students’ home congregations and the host camps. With the help of endowments, CIP enables students to participate in a leadership internship and receive a $1,500 scholarship toward their return to college in the fall and a $500 summer stipend. Goshen College has had a total of 49 students take part in CIP since it began in 2002.

“Being given the opportunity to be a leader in larger settings was a blessing for me,” said Charity Grimes, a 2007 CIP participant. “Camp proved to be just the kind of setting I needed to take initiative and utilize my gifts.”

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 (MIP) and church-sponsored voluntary service (SIP).

Also, for the second year, participation in the inquiry programs included the opportunity to take a one credit-hour May term course that explored vocation, goals for the summer, prayer methods and a blessing ceremony with President James Brenneman.

– By Tyler Falk

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, 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 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.