Service Inquiry Program participants selected;

Nine Goshen College students to consider call to service

 

GOSHEN, Ind. – Nine Goshen College students are spending the summer with a faith-based service organization through the college’s Service Inquiry Program (SIP).

The summer 2007 group of Goshen College SIP participants include:

Isaac Beachy, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies and environmental studies major from Harrisonburg, Va., is spending the summer with Samaritan Ministry in Washington, D.C. Beachy, son of Dan and Tina Beachy, is a 2003 graduate of Eastern Mennonite High School and attends Community Mennonite Church.

 

Sarah Buskirk, senior music major from Grove City, Ohio, is spending the summer with Discovering Outreach and Opportunity for Reflection (DOOR) in SanAntonio, Texas. Buskirk, the daughter of Jeffrey and Tammera Buskirk, is a 2003 graduate of Grove City High School and attends Assembly Mennonite Church.

 

Krista Ehst, a junior Bible and religion major from Bally, Pa., will serve at Franconia Mennonite Conference in Souderton, Pa. Ehst, daughter of Tim and Sheryl Ehst, graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School in 2004 and attends Perkasie Mennonite Church.

 

Lindsy Glick, a junior Spanish major from Glenwood, N.M., is spending her summer with Mennonite Central Committee in Nicaragua. Glick, daughter of Al and Marcia Glick, is a 2004 graduate of Reserve High School and attends Glenwood Community Church.

 

Anna Hade, a junior peace, justice and conflict studies major from New York, N.Y., is spending her summer at Emmaus House in Atlanta, Ga. Hade, the daughter of Lynn and Daniel Hade, graduated from State College Area High School in 2003.

 

Matt Harms, a junior physics and history major from Ephrata, Pa., is spending the summer at Habitat for Humanity in the Dominican Republic. Harms, son of Dough and Dawn Harms graduated from Ephrata Senior High School in 2005 and attends Akron Mennonite Church.

 

Emily Swora, a sophomore theater and music major from Shoreview, Minn., is serving at Urban Ventures in Minneapolis, Minn. Swora, the daughter of Mathew and Rebecca Swora, graduated from Mounds View High School in 2005 and attends Emmanuel Mennonite Church.

 

James Weber, a junior communication major from Reading, Pa., is spending his summer with Mennonite Central Committee in Honduras. Weber, son of Nelson and Grace Weber, graduated from Lancaster Mennonite School in 2004 and attends South Seventh Street Mennonite Church.

 

Sarah Zwier, a junior art major from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, is spending the summer with Mennonite Mission Network in Elkhart, Ind. Zwier, a 2004 graduate of Colegio Cristiano Logos, is the daughter of Joel and Patricia Zwier and attends Benton 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 and one for those interested in church ministry. 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 first time this 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 $2,000 toward tuition costs for the next academic year. The scholarships are funded in part by grants and individual donors and are supplemented by contributions from the students’ home congregations and the agencies being served.

 

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.