Schedule of Presidential Inauguration Events


Signature Events

Inaugural Convocation: “Becoming who we are: Identity formation and transformation”
Friday, Feb. 16 — 10 a.m.
Church-Chapel
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

Campus Celebration: StoltzFest
Friday, Feb. 16 — 7 p.m.
Recreation-Fitness Center
For students, employees, retirees and their families.

10 a.m. — Presidential Inauguration Ceremony: Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus ’83
Saturday, Feb. 17 — 10 a.m.
Sauder Concert Hall, Music Center
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

Full Schedule of Events

Tuesday, Feb. 13

9-10 a.m. — Inauguration Donuts and Books
Good Library
All campus members are invited to attend.

It’s Fat Tuesday and the beginning of inauguration week, so come celebrate! Enjoy Rise’n Roll donut holes, check out President Stoltzfus’ recommended book picks and share what you think is “distinctively Goshen.”


1 p.m. — Afternoon Sabbatical: “Why Quality of Place?” (followed by a reception)
Lecture by Diana Lawson, CEO of the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau
Sauder Concert Hall, Music Center
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

Americans – especially the young and talented – are on the move and they are deciding where to live first and how to make a living second. This has led to  an influx of the young and talented to vibrant communities, while other places are losing out. It’s important that Elkhart County cities and towns create quality places to attract and retain young talented individuals. Come learn about the Vibrant Communities initiative and how you can be engaged in creating the place you want to live.


7 p.m. — C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest
Umble Center
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

The annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest invites students to compete by delivering an 8- to 10-minute speech on their chosen topic relating to peace.

Wednesday, Feb. 14

10 a.m. — Inaugural Chapel
Church-Chapel
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

This Ash Wednesday service will include a personal faith statement by President Stoltzfus.

Friday, Feb. 16

10 a.m. — Inaugural Convocation: “Becoming who we are: Identity formation and transformation”
Church-Chapel
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

President Stoltzfus will lead a panel — Karina Flores, a 2017 alumna from Goshen; Dominique Burgunder-Johnson, director of marketing; Bev Lapp, professor of music; and John D. Roth, professor of history — in a conversation and storytelling about “Becoming who we are.”


7 p.m. — Campus Celebration: StoltzFest
Recreation-Fitness Center
For students, and current and retired faculty and staff and their families.

Join us for a fun evening to celebrate our new president! The carnival-like atmosphere will include food from local restaurants, a stage with performances by students and employees, a charity run around the track, and lots of great games.

Saturday, Feb. 17

Inauguration Preparation (Delegate Information)

  • 9 a.m. — Delegates and ceremony participants: Check-in and robing, Music Center
  • 9:15 a.m. — Faculty: robing and line-up, Music Center
  • 9:30 a.m. — Procession line-up, Music Center

10 a.m. — Presidential Inauguration Ceremony: Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus ’83
Sauder Concert Hall, Music Center
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming

Ceremony is open seating. Doors to Sauder Concert Hall open at 9:15 a.m.; pre-service music begins at 9:30 a.m.


11 a.m. — Inauguration Reception
Music Center Lobby
All are invited and welcome to attend.


12 p.m. — Inauguration Luncheon
Fellowship Hall, College Mennonite Church
By invitation only, reservations required.


1 p.m. — Women’s Basketball Game: vs. Marian University
Gunden Gymnasium, Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center
Donations accepted for Puerto Rico hurricane relief efforts through
Mennonite Disaster Service | Livestreaming


3 p.m. — Men’s Basketball Game: vs. Marian University
Gunden Gymnasium, Roman Gingerich Recreation-Fitness Center
Donations accepted for Puerto Rico hurricane relief efforts through
Mennonite Disaster Service | Livestreaming


7:30 p.m. — 58th Annual Concerto-Aria Concert
Sauder Concert Hall, Music Center
$12, $8 | Buy tickets | Livestreaming

The student winners of the 2018 Goshen College Concerto-Aria Competition will perform arias and individual concerto movements with the Goshen College Symphony Orchestra, directed by José Rocha, associate professor of music.

Sunday, Feb. 18

9:30 a.m. — College Mennonite Church: Sermon by President Stoltzfus
All are invited and welcome to attend. | Livestreaming


2 p.m. — Exhibit reception: “Voices of Conscience: Peace Witness in the Great War”
Good Library Gallery
All are invited and welcome to attend.

A traveling exhibit that remembers the witness of peace-minded people — including men and women, religious believers and secular humanitarians, political protesters and sectarian separatists — against the First World War 1914-1918. This program has been made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities. The exhibit opened on Feb. 16 and runs until April 8.


4 p.m. — Rieth Chamber Series: Bach & Beethoven Ensemble
Rieth Recital Hall, Music Center
$16 | Buy tickets

Founded in 2009, the Bach & Beethoven Ensemble is a Chicago-based ensemble that brings artists from different traditions together to collaborate on cross-genre multidisciplinary projects. Hailed as “thrilling…charming and performed with such grace…joy and sincerity that a watcher and listener had to be won over” (Bloomington Herald Times), the BBE has performed across the Midwest and Northeast including at the Chicago Cultural Center, Early Music Academy in Ann Arbor, 4th Presbyterian series, Boston Early Music Festival fringe series, and the Bloomington Early Music Festival. This BBE trio will feature a countertenor, Baroque violin, and Baroque guitar/violone in songs and fiddle dance music from the British Isles…with an Italian twist! Selections will include arias from ‘The Gentle Shepherd,’ a pastoral comedy by Allan Ramsay considered to be the first Scottish Opera; the best violin hits of the 17th and 18th centuries by Matteis, Geminiani, and Henry Eccles; and drinking songs featured in ‘Calliope, or English Harmony.’