Thursday, June 12, 2008

Seven Goshen College students consider call to service in summer program

GOSHEN, Ind. – Through Goshen College’s Service Inquiry Program (SIP), seven Goshen students will be doing service work around the country, and one will be located in Israel. The participating SIP students include:

Charlotte Barnett, a first-year psychology major from Goshen, is working with the Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR) program in Chicago. Barnett, the daughter of Carl and Laura Barnett, is a 2007 graduate of Goshen High School and attends St. John of the Cross Episcopal Church.

Sara Becker-Hoover, a junior social work major from Goshen, is working with the Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR) program in San Antonio, Texas. Becker-Hoover, the daughter of Merlin and Eileen Becker-Hoover, is a 2005 graduate of Bethany Christian Schools and attends College Mennonite Church.

Charity Grimes, a junior environmental studies major from Goshen, is working with Joshua Farm in Harrisburg, Pa. Grimes, the daughter of Daniel and Brenda Grimes, is a 2005 graduate of Bethany Christian Schools and attends Berkey Avenue Mennonite Church.

Elena Histand, a sophomore mathematics major from Telford, Pa., is working with Mennonite Central Committee’s Sharing with Appalachian People (SWAP) program in Kentucky. Histand, the daughter of Steven and Bronwyn Histand, is a 2006 graduate of Christopher Dock Mennonite High School and attends Blooming Glen Mennonite Church.

Morgan Kraybill, a senior social work major from Harrisonburg, Va., is working at the Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, Israel. Kraybill, the daughter of Ron Kraybill and Meribeth Kraybill, is a 2005 graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School and attends Community Mennonite Church.

Josh Miller, a first-year peace, justice and conflict studies major from Fishersville, Va., is working with Discovering Opportunities for Outreach and Reflection (DOOR) in Chicago. Miller, the son of Howard and Calyon Miller, is a 2006 graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School and attends Lindale Mennonite Church.

Jonathan Stuckey, a sophomore business information systems major from West Unity, Ohio, is working with Mennonite Central Committee’s Sharing with Appalachian People (SWAP) program in West Virginia. Stuckey, the son of Randy and Karen Stuckey, is a 2006 graduate of Hilltop High School and attends Zion Mennonite Church.

Participants in SIP engage in a three-month term of direct, meaningful service for others while testing their fit for future long-term service. Students applied for assignments and were matched with opportunities available with service agencies.

Goshen College also offers two other inquiry programs, one for those interested in camping ministry (CIP) and one for those interested in church ministry (MIP). Bob Yoder, campus pastor and director of the inquiry programs sees many benefits for students involved. Among them he lists, “personal discernment of vocation as they test out some areas of interests, developing their leadership skills, growing in their faith and connecting with the broader church through a ministry organization.”

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.

At the end of the summer, each volunteer will receive a scholarship of up to $1,500 toward tuition costs for the next academic year, along with a $500 stipend from the agencies being served.

Participants continue to find the program essential to vocational exploration. “This summer was an amazing learning experience for me as I was able to discern more about my vocational desires, hone my leadership skills and encounter a world quite different from my own,” said Matt Harms, a 2007 SIP participant. There have been 53 SIP participants since the program began in 2001.

– By Tyler Falk

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 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.