Environment in spotlight for college's Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 2-4

GOSHEN, Ind. – Goshen College alumni and friends are warmly invited back to campus for Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 2-4.

This year's theme is "Going Green at Goshen" and includes a number of special opportunities focused around environmental sustainability. In addition to class reunions, other highlights of the weekend are One-Act plays, kids' activities, athletic events, a hymn sing, environmental issue seminars by professors, art exhibits, a field trip to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center, an alumni picnic with local produce and the Music Gala.

The following is a schedule for Homecoming Weekend events. All are free unless indicated otherwise.

Friday, Oct. 2
8:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Goshen College Nursing Alumni Conference – Transcultural Nursing, Rieth Recital Hall
Dula F. Pacquaio, Ed.D., R.N. and certified transcultural nurse, is the associate professor of nursing at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark, N.J. She is also the director of the Stanley Bergen Center for Multicultural Education and Research and Practice, and is the senior editor of the Journal of Transcultural Nursing. She will discuss health care reform and health care disparities from a global perspective and within the U.S. health care system.
Cost: $25. For more information, contact the Nursing Department at (574) 535-7370.

10 a.m., Chapel: Alumni Faith Story, Church-Chapel
John L. Martin '74, director of the Department of Disabilities for the state of Ohio, and winner of the Culture for Service award.

Other 2009 award recipients: Culture for Service (Galen D. Miller '74) and Champions of Character (Marty Hess Kelley '71 and Lynn I. Williams '60).

10:30 a.m., Reception for Award Recipients, Church-Chapel Gathering Rooms

3:30-4:30 p.m., Reception and book signing for Practices, GC Bookstore
How do the practices, habits and routines of worship form Christian – and specifically Mennonite – identity? Goshen College Professor of History John D. Roth explores these questions in his new book "Practices: Mennonite Worship and Witness," (Herald Press, 2009). "Practices" is the final book in his three-volume series on Mennonite identity in the 21^st century.

4-7 p.m., Class of 1959 – 50^th Anniversary Banquet, Greencroft Senior Center
Reservations required, $20.

5-9 p.m., First Friday – Activities in downtown Goshen
Meet GC's student athletes, see the work of GC art faculty at the Eyedart Studio, listen to the Lavender Jazz Band, watch the GC salsa dancing group and take lessons from the GC swing club.

5:30-7:30 p.m., Reception for exhibit: New Art Faculty, Hershberger Art Gallery, Music Center
Reception for the new art faculty Anne Berry, Kristi Glick and Randy Horst whose work is currently being exhibited in the gallery. The exhibit will be up until Oct. 25.

8 p.m., One Acts, Umble Center
Two One Acts and one original Achilles' Heel following this season's theme of "Think For Yourself."
$3 at the door

9:30 p.m., Lavender Jazz Hour After, downtown First Friday

Saturday, Oct. 3
7:45 a.m., Fall Classic 3K Walk, Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center
$12 in advance ($15 on site)

8 a.m.,Fall Classic 5K Run, Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center
$12 in advance ($15 on site)

7:45-11:30 a.m., Infant-Preschool Childcare, Church-Chapel Nursery Room
$10

7:45-11:30 a.m., K-6^th grade swimming and activities, Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center
$10

8-9:15 a.m., Alumni Breakfast, Church Fellowship Hall
All alumni are invited to start the day with breakfast and a message from President Jim Brenneman. The alumni awardees will be honored as well.
$12, reservations required.

9:30-11:30 a.m., Class Reunions
The classes of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 will have reunions around campus.

10 a.m., Volleyball vs. Marygrove College, Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center

10 a.m., Alumni Baseball Scrimmage, baseball field

1-4:30 p.m., Field Trip to Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center
Board bus at the Union Building south entrance. Reservations required.

1-2 p.m., Making Peace with the Environment Workshops
• Tallgrass Prairies: Restoring our connection to the land – Ryan Sensenig, assistant professor of biology, Newcomer Center 17
• Writing About Nature for All Ages – Jessica Baldanzi and Kyle Schlabach, assistant professors of English, College Cabin
• Conserving Energy on the Goshen College Campus – Glenn Gilbert, sustainability officer and utilities manager, and Steven Shantz, systems operating technician, Recreation-Fitness Center 104-105

1:30-3 p.m., Book Signing for A Hundred Camels, GC Bookstore
Gerald L. Miller '59 and Shari Miller Wagner '80, co-authors of Dr. Miller's story of his experience as a Mennonite mission doctor tried for a patient's murder in Somalia.

2 p.m., Men's soccer vs. St. Francis, GC soccer fields

2-4 p.m., Reception for exhibit: Orus Eash Architecture, Good Library Gallery
This exhibition commemorates the architectural works of Orus Eash (1915-2008) who attended GC and studied architecture at the University of Michigan. The exhibition features selected designs and renderings from 500-plus buildings he designed, including nine GC structures. Linda Kreane, a mentee of Orus Eash and professor of architecture, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, will discuss his work at the reception. Abner Hershberger, curator.

2:30-3:30 p.m., Making Peace with the Environment Workshops
• The Many Faces of Environmental Education Throughout the World and at Goshen College – David Ostergren, director of the graduate program in environmental education, Newcomer Center 17
• Faith and Global Warming – Paul Steury, Merry Lea K-12 education coordinator, and Bob Yoder, campus pastor, Administration Building Room 28
• People and Parks: How people who live on the borders of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania feel about conservation – Jan Bender Shetler, professor of history, Recreation-Fitness Center 104-105

4 p.m., Ultimate Frisbee – Alumni vs. GC
Immediately following soccer game.

4-5 p.m., One Acts, Umble Center
Two One Acts and one original Achilles' Heel following this season's theme of "Think For Yourself."
$3 at the door

5-6:45 p.m., Alumni Picnic, tent by the Kratz-Miller-Yoder Connector
All alumni, their families, students and faculty are welcome to enjoy a picnic featuring locally grown produce.
$12 adults, $6 children 5-10, $2 for children under 5.

7:30-8:30 p.m., Homecoming Music Gala, Sauder Concert Hall
The Music Department presents its annual showcase of students and faculty. Performing are the Goshen College Chorale, Chamber Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's World Music Choir and Orchestra. The Choirs and Orchestra will combine to perform one selection from Mendelssohn's oratorio Christus. Also performing is Professor of Music and solo pianist Matthew Hill.
$8 for all seats.

Sunday, Oct. 4
11 a.m.-noon, Homecoming Hymn Sing, Church-Chapel
Enjoy hymn singing at its finest, led by Scott Hochstetler, assistant professor of music.

2-3 p.m., One Acts, Umble Center
Two One Acts and one original Achilles' Heel following this season's theme of "Think For Yourself." American Sign Language interpreting available.
$3 at the door

For more information about Homecoming Weekend, to order event tickets or to register, call the Alumni Office at (574) 535-7565 or visit www.goshen.edu/alumni/Homecoming.

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.