winter 2008 · winter 2008 centered in christ transforming lives changing our world history comes...

www.lancastermennonite.org WINTER 2008

Centered in Christ Transforming Lives Changing our World

History comesalive for Kraybillstudents, page 2

Come to our openhouse events andlearn about theLMS Difference,page 7

Quiz Bowl a fun learning opportunity, page 4

2 BRIDGES • WINTER 2008

2 Simulations helpstudents understandhistory

4 Quiz Bowl a funopportunity for students

6 New Mennonite SportsOrganization

7 Open house events

8 School update

12 Alumni news

13 Alumni phonathon

15 Ryan Showalter

cont

ents

Lancaster Mennonite Bridges is thequarterly magazine of LancasterMennonite School, sent to alumni,parents and friends. LMS exists totransform students so they canchange our world through Christlikelove, peacemaking and service. Theschool welcomes students withoutregard to sex, race, nationality orethnic origin.

Lancaster Mennonite School has four campuses:

Kraybill, grades PreK–8598 Kraybill Church RoadMount Joy, PA 17552(717) 653-5236

Lancaster, grades 6–122176 Lincoln Highway EastLancaster, PA 17602(717) 299-0436

Locust Grove, Grades PreK–82257 Old Philadelphia PikeLancaster, PA 17602(717) 394-7107

New Danville, grades PreK–5393 Long LaneLancaster, PA 17603(717) 872-2506

Address alumni and school news [email protected].

Editor: Fern Clemmer [email protected]

Volume 35, No. 3

they often ask if I still do the simula-tions.”

Garber, now a ninth grader at theLancaster Campus, says the simulationswere “very effective” in teaching herabout historical injustices, especiallythe immigration simulation.

“The whole experience will be amemory I will never forget,” she said.“To be treated unjustly is always hard,but it was especially hard to know thatthese injustices happened to the immi-grants who came to America.”

That simulation, along with discus-sions at church, have led Garber to look at today’s immigration issue.

“Who is our neighbor?” she asked.“Is it the guy who lives down the streetor is it everyone in the world? .... I findI have a lot of questions, but I plan tolive my life in a way that I can open myheart to everyone, no matter where theyare from. Hopefully God’s love willshine through me and touch other peo-ples’ lives.”

Besides the long-term learning impli-cations, simulations also promoteincreased learning among studentswhose learning styles make it difficultfor them to absorb material presented in a more traditional manner.

LMS ninth grader Jason Sauder sayshe likes it when teachers use interactivegroup activities.

“I seem to learn better,” he said. n

Take a walk in my shoesHISTORY COMES ALIVE FOR STUDENTS

Boni Garber had to carry her back-pack and a whole armful of books

wherever she went, and she couldn’t setthem down without getting yelled at.And, depending on who she asked, shecouldn’t even use the rest room.

“I seemed hardly human ... ,” shesaid. “It was like I was an unwantedpiece of dirt in an immaculate room.”

This was no ordinary school day atthe Kraybill Campus. This was U.S.History class and Garber was taking awalk in the shoes of Natasha Bezuhov,a poor, illiterate Russian mother ofseven who, in the early 1900s, waslooking for a better life in America.

About 15 years ago Kraybill teacherKen Schildt began involving his stu-dents in simulations so they could expe-rience history firsthand. Each fall, hiseighth graders become Native Ameri-cans who are forced to give up theirland acre by acre. Later, during the re-enactment of the Second ContinentalCongress, students debate whether thecolonies should declare independencefrom Great Britain. This lesson is col-laborated with a language class wherethe teacher works with the students inwriting a persuasive essay that theythen use in the simulation.

The immigration simulation, afavorite among students, requires alleighth graders to play the role of immi-grants who have just arrived at EllisIsland. Teachers and parents act as theprocessors. If the immigrantsdon’t make the cut, they aredeported—actually put on abus and taken off-campus fora short ride.

As students take on thecharacters of those who livedmuch earlier, they discoverthat history could have takena different turn. For exam-ple, in the vote on independ-ence, some classes decidenot to break free from GreatBritain after they grapplewith the issues.

“Students definitely remem-ber these experiences morethan some other things I try toteach them,” Schildt said.“When I meet former students

Andrea Melhorn, right, plays the part of a poor Russ-ian immigrant during a U.S. History simulation at theKraybill Campus. Janeth Magiri, who served at Kraybillunder Mennonite Central Committee’s InternationalVolunteer Exchange Program, is the processor who willhelp determine if Melhorn is admitted into the UnitedStates or deported. Magiri spoke her native languageto give students a feel of the language barriers someimmigrants faced. PHOTO: J. DANIEL MARTIN

When Christine Baer, far right, participatedin Kraybill’s immigration simulation, sheplayed the role of a poor, pregnant motherwho was deported when she tried to gainadmittance to the U.S. Not all immigrantswere poor. In top photo, Brent Dimmig andBrandon Kratz play the roles of wealthyimmigrants who were easily accepted intothe United States. Christine is a tenthgrader at LMS this year, and Brentand Brandon are in ninth. PHOTOS: J. DANIEL MARTIN

Ken Schildt, at right, has beenteaching at Kraybill since 1978. Heteaches social studies and literatureand also serves as Kraybill’s athleticdirector.

BRIDGES • WINTER 2008 3

High school musicaland dinner theatre

Lancaster Mennonite High School stu-dents will perform the musical, Les

Miserables, during the school’s 29thannual Arts Festival, Thursday throughSaturday, April 24–26. Times are 7:30nightly and 2 p.m. Saturday.

Originally adapted from VictorHugo’s timeless novel, Les Miserablesis a story about law and grace that hastouched the hearts of millions. It is setin 19th century France. Playwrights forthis School Edition are Alain Boubliland Claude-Michel Schonberg.

Tickets for reserved seating are $8.00for students and $10.00 for adults for allperformances except Saturday’s matineewhen they will be $1.00 less. For ticketscall (717) 299-0436, ext. 340, or sendpayment and a self-addressed envelope to LMH Musical, 2176 Lincoln HighwayEast, Lancaster, Pa., 17602. Reservedtickets need to be claimed at least 30 min-utes before the performance. n

Dinner Theatre to benefit the Annual Fund The annual LMS Dinner Theatre will be held Saturday, April 26. The meal will be catered by LMS Food Services under the direction of Dottie Weber. Tickets, at$40.00 each, include reserved seating in the Fine Arts Center for the 7:30 perform-ance of Les Miserables. For the best seating, send order and payment today.

LMS Dinner Theatre • Saturday, April 26

5:00 appetizers • 5:45 dinner—Alumni Dining Hall7:30 musical performance—Fine Arts Center

Name ______________________________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________________________________________________________

Number attending_____ Amount enclosed ($40 ea.) $ _______________________

Consider hosting a table of six or more. To reserve seating for a group, sendyour entire order together and list names of all persons in your party.

Food choice (indicate # of persons per entree): ___Chicken Cordon Bleu ___Carved Ham ___Vegetarian Lasagna

Instructions: Return this form with payment to LMS Dinner Theatre, 2176 Lin-coln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602. Tickets for reserved seats will be for-warded to you upon receipt of payment. Please register by Friday, April 18.

Les Miserables

After a grueling day of quizzing, the two sur-viving teams were down to what amounted

to a sudden death tie breaker. Lancaster Mennonite140. Elizabethtown 135. The team that answeredthe next 10-point question would be the Lancaster-Lebanon League Quiz Bowl Championship win-ner.

“Name the seven colors of the visible spectrumfrom the shortest wavelength to the longest wave-length,” said the moderator. Elizabethtown buzzedfirst.

“Red, orange ...” the player began.Senior Darren Weinhold remembers like it was

yesterday. “I knew right when he said ‘red’ that wewere going to win the League title,” he said. “Ted(Maust) says I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. I probably was.

“The question was rather clever. A lot of peopleknow what ROY G BIV stands for (acronym forcolors), but not nearly as many could identifywhich color has the shortest wavelength.”

With Elizabethtown’s bungled answer, the run-way was clear for LMS. After a brief hesitation,Franklin Peiffer, 2007 graduate, buzzed in.

“All eyes were on me, and I knew if I droppedit, that might be the end for us,” Peiffer said. “Myheart was beating so fast.

“I remember distinctly saying “purple” insteadof “violet” as the first color. I don't know why. Iremember wondering if, for some strange reason,they would call me wrong.

“When I finished, I pretty much knew I wasright, but I couldn’t really breathe freely until Iwas called correct.”

But correct he was and after the team breezedthrough the bonus question, the trophy was theirs.

To get to this historical moment, the LMS team

had just won five straight tournament games inone day, with four of those teams ranked higherthan LMS at the end of regular season.

“It was absolutely exhilarating!” Weinhold said.“Not only was it the first time we won the Leaguetitle, but we were only ranked 11th out of 22teams.”

High school English teacher Kris Horst, whohas been coaching for three years, admits thatwhile repeating the league title this year would bea challenge, “anything can happen.” All QuizBowl teams qualify for post-season play, with sea-son standings determining who plays whom.

LMS began its Quiz Bowl program in 1983 withElwood Yoder as coach. Social studies teacherDaniel Wenger followed, coaching for 21 years.Wenger retired from teaching in 2004 and fromQuiz Bowl coaching in 2005.

The Lancaster-Lebanon Quiz Bowl League wasestablished in 1992, and LMS joined during the1994-95 school year. Although last year’s leaguewin is a first, Wenger’s team won the LebanonValley Tournament in 1999 and the Conestoga Valley Tournament in 2000.

Wenger vividly remembers the Lebanon Valleydrama. To win that tournament, the team had tobreak through a six-year stranglehold by ManheimTownship and then beat Carlisle and Blue Moun-tain. During the championship round, Darren’solder sister, Dayna Weinhold Reidenouer (1999grad), was a player.

“The moderator had a score of music put up onthe screen, and the teams were to identify the pieceand the composer,” Wenger said. “I knew ...Dayna was organist at a Lutheran Church. Undermy breath, I was saying ‘Come on, Dayna.’ Sureenough, she buzzed in before time expired andanswered, ‘Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata No. 8.’I remember a kind of gasp coming from the audi-ence.”

After winning, the team qualified for Nationalswhere they finished 19th out of nearly 200 teamsand were voted rookie team of the year.

How is a match organized?During a Quiz Bowl competition, players answerquestions that cover all academic areas as well ascurrent events, sports and pop culture. Each matchconsists of three rounds with four players perschool per round, meaning a school’s total team inany match can involve four to 12 players.

Questions in the competition are of two types:toss-up and bonus. The first team with a correctanswer to a toss-up question receives 10 pointsand the chance to answer a bonus question worth10 to 20 additional points. Results are printed inthe Lancaster New Era’s Thursday evening Week-ender section.

STUDENTS EXERCISE THEIR BRAINS DURING L-L LEAGUE COMPETITION

Quiz Bowl: fun and challenging educational opportunity

2007-08 team

Varsity Players:Darren Weinhold, 12*Ted Maust, 12*Joel Nofziger, 11Janae Lapp, 12

*co-captains

Top 4 Junior VarsityBen Sprunger, 11Seth Moffett, 10Noah Jemison, 10Molly Stapleton, 9

Other JV players:Suzanne Yocom, 12Logan Ressler, 12John Bomgardner, 10Katie Stapleton, 11Dorothy Mozloom, 12Kyle Bomgardner, 12Aneka Zimmerman, 11Andrea Mast, 10

Test your brain power

Can you compete with high school juniors and seniors? Following are questionsthat were taken from the November quiz bowl match. See answers on page 6.

1. What four-letter word means to incline an airplane laterally or to partially rotateit about its longitudinal axis?

2. The U.S. accepts more legal immigrants as permanent residents than all otherindustrialized nations combined; 52% of these legal immigrants settle in justtwo states. Which two?

3. To which charge did Vice President Spiro T. Agnew plead nolo contendere uponresigning from office in 1973?

4. Snell’s Law governs the angle of refraction of what as it passes from onemedium to another?

5. The end of the Cold War can be traced to Nov. 9, 1989, when what happened?


Who makes up the team? According to Horst, any interested student mayjoin the team, but those who score best, react thequickest, and have the best attendance during practices end up as varsity and top junior varsityplayers.

Weinhold says those who score well on aptitude-based tests and receive good grades in school are“usually, but not always” the best quiz bowlers.And, Maust says, they must be eager to learn, canretain facts, and are confident enough to use thebuzzer. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt to excel in subjectslike French or calculus.

Of the three seniors on varsity, two are NationalMerit Commended Students, and one is a NationalMerit Semi-finalist.

The gender factorAlthough Quiz Bowl has traditionally attractedmostly males, at LMS nearly half—seven of 16—are female.

Senior Janae Lapp, a varsity player, says shewould like to see even more females come out.

“Don't be intimidated by anything,” she says,“whether it is being in the minority, fear of lookingdumb, or being afraid that others will stereotypeyou as nerdy. If you have interest in Quiz Bowl, gofor it!”

For Maust, a senior, the gender factor is a bit ofa math problem. “Approximately half of ourschool is female and if they are uninterested, thatcuts our pool of potential recruits by half,” he said.

Advice for prospective quiz bowlers“Read. A lot!” says Weinhold. “History books andShakespeare are probably the most helpful, butanything is useful.”

“Watch Jeopardy and pay attention in class,”adds Maust.

Lapp says prospective quiz bowlers should havea love for learning. “They are seekers of knowl-edge,” she said. “They don't just sit and wait for itto come to them.”

What’s in it for the students?“It is just a lot of fun,” says Weinhold, summing itup for his team members who say they enjoy hang-ing out with teammates and meeting new people.In addition, Maust says he likes those “randomnerdy/quirky conversations that spring up atmatches and tournaments.”

Then there’s the practical side. Students claim itlooks great on college applications, keeps one’sbrain sharp in other classes, and, some hope, mayeven help ward off Alzheimer’s.

Horst says additional benefits include leadershipdevelopment, increased confidence, learning howto think quickly, and adding to one’s generalknowledge.

“Plus, you can crush your friends and family inTrivial Pursuit and (TV’s) Jeopardy for the rest ofyour life!” Horst quipped.

On March 1 the team will make their secondappearance (for this school year) on WGAL’sBrainBusters when their January match with Her-shey is aired at 12:30 p.m. n

Remaining QuizBowl schedule,beginning at 4 p.m.

January 28:Pequea Valley at LMS

February 11: McCaskey at LMS

In larger photo, LMS QuizBowl co-captain DarrenWeinhold, right, buzzes into answer a question pre-sented by coach Kris Horstduring a practice session.Classmates with Weinholdare, left to right: JanaeLapp, Joel Nofziger, and co-captain Ted Maust. Insmaller photo, the 2006-07Quiz Bowl team displaystheir L-L League trophy.They are front, left to right:Jason Sprunger and DarrenWeinhold. Back: JonathanNofziger (alternate), TedMaust, Frank Peiffer, andCoach Kris Horst. PHOTO:JAMES SENFT


Lancaster MennoniteSchool, working closely

with a parent-run committee,recently established the newMennonite Sports Organiza-tion (MSO) to provideChrist-centered sports oppor-tunities for children in grades1–6, with the possibility ofadding pre-kindergarten andkindergarten.

In its first year, the MSOplans to offer boys and girls soc-cer, boys and girls basketball, andgirls field hockey. Starting datesfor each will be announced soon.

The MSO focus is not on winning,but on learning the game, developingteam unity and building friendships—allwithin a nurturing environment that pro-motes good sportsmanship and fun. By work-ing closely with congregations, the program willalso encourage students to remain in the commu-nity of faith.

Affordable cost The registration fee is just $25 per player; addi-tional players in a family are $20 each, up to amaximum of $85 per family. A team shirt is pro-vided in the price.

Practice and play facilitiesFor practices, youth will have the opportunity touse the fine facilities of Lancaster MennoniteSchool’s three elementary campuses:

• Kraybill Campus, near Mount Joy in northwestLancaster County

• Locust Grove Campus, east of Lancaster nearthe Lancaster Campus

• New Danville Campus, just east of NewDanville

Games will be played at the Lancaster Campus’sfirst-class high school facilities.

Practice and game schedule• Practice times and locations will be deter-

mined by coaches after the teams are set up. • Practice will be held one afternoon or evening

per week. • Games will likely be held Saturday mornings.

Organizing teams The MSO provides the opportunity for studentsfrom the same geographic area to play together.We will do our best to organize teams in a waythat reduces travel time.

Get in on the ground floor!Pastors, youth leaders, Sunday School teachers,parents and others are invited to start thinkingabout how the MSO can bond children from theircongregation, Sunday School class or youth min-istry. Registration materials will be available soonto distribute through congregations and schools.

For more informationPlease contact Jeff Shank at (717) 394-7107. n


Mennonite Sports Organization is formed

COMMUNITY PROGRAM FOR GRADES 1–6

MSO Mission

Providing Christ-centeredopportunities for childrento play sports in a nurtur-ing environment that pro-motes sportsmanship, fun,knowledge and enjoymentof the game.

Answers to Quiz Bowl questions on page 4

1. Bank2. Texas and California3. Tax evasion4. Light5. The fall of the Berlin Wall


Visit our four campuses over the next weeks and monthsand learn more about the many exciting growth oppor-

tunities at Lancaster Mennonite School. Come during ascheduled event or call to arrange a separate visit. Also,check out our web site at www.lancastermennonite.org.

OPEN HOUSEPre-kindergarten Kraybill & Locust Grove: January 29, 9–11:30 a.m. New Danville: January 30, 9–11:30 a.m.

Kindergarten: January 30, 9–11:30 a.m. Kraybill, Locust Grove & New Danville

All Campuses: February 4, 6–8:30 p.m.The evening will include tours and conversations with teach-ers. A 7:00 welcome assembly will be held at the Kraybill andLancaster Campuses. The Lancaster campus will also includehigh school course selection for the 2008-09 year, and infor-mation about financial aid/scholarships.

Prospective Student DaysJanuary 24 and March 27High School: 8:05 a.m.–3:05 p.m. Other grades: mornings only Please call to register.

Do you know childrenand youth who wouldbenefit from a Christ-centered education?

For more information or to schedule a visit:

Kraybill, grades PreK–8Principal John Weber, (717) 653-5236

Lancaster, grades 6–12(717) 299-0436, ext. 311

Locust Grove, grades PreK–8Principal Judi Mollenkof, (717) 394-7107

New Danville, grades PreK–5Principal Judi Mollenkof, (717) 872-2506

School facts• There are 1,513 students enrolled at four campuses

(PreK–12).

• Approximately 52 percent of LMS students are fromAnabaptist denominations, and more than 20 otherdenominations and many non-denominational congre-gations are represented.

• At the Lancaster Campus, 21 percent of students are ofunder-represented racial/ethnic groups. At Locust Grove, 26 percent, and at New Danville, 29 percent.

• Students at the Lancaster Campus represent 47 schooldistricts, four Pa. counties, six states, and six countries.

• Thanks to Graybill Hall (high school residence hall),there are 55 international students at the LancasterCampus. Sixty students live in Graybill Hall.

• Five high school fall sports teams won section titles andadvanced to playoffs.

LANCASTER MENNONITE SCHOOLCentered in Christ • Transforming Lives • Changing our World

PHOTOS: JEREMY HESS PHOTOGRAPHY

In addition to integrating faith intodaily classes and setting aside regular

times for Bible study and worship, theschool periodically schedules eventswith specific emphases. In early Octo-ber, for example, the Missions Inspira-tion and Education Week broughtspeakers to the Lancaster Campus fromEastern Mennonite Missions, Mennon-ite Mission Network, and MennoniteCentral Committee. Guests shared sto-ries of times when, in service to others,they ended up being served. They alsodescribed service opportunities andchallenged students to examine theirattitudes toward those they may serve.

Several weeks later, Sue Conrad,associate pastor at East Chestnut StreetMennonite Church, led daily chapels atLancaster during the high school’sannual Commitment Week. Her theme


was “Telling ourstories withJesus at thecore.”

“Sue con-nected energeti-cally andrealistically withstudents,” Cam-pus Pastor Dor-cas Lehmansaid.

During her daily messages, Conradused biblical and personal stories tocommunicate that God has a story totell the world through each of us. Shealso said that Jesus offers healing andhope when we are hurting; God neverabandons us, even if it seems everyoneelse has; if we mess up like Peter, Jesusis there to forgive us and use us in new

ways; and as salt of the earth (Matthew5) we need to remember who we areand whose we are, even in our privatelives and relationships.

During Career and Faith Week, setfor the last week of January at the Lan-caster Campus, guest speakers willshare how their faith has affected careerchoices, how they carry out their work,and how they relate to co-workers andclients. The speakers will also beinvited to share in classes.

Career and Faith Week grew out ofthe school’s educational strategic actionplan that calls for additional emphasison helping students identify gifts andabilities and learn about various careeroptions. n

In December the LMS community celebrated Jesus’ birth during Christmas programs at each of the four campuses. Above, high schoolCampus Chorale students are joined by alumni and friends for a moving performance of Handel’s Messiah, which was held at the Lan-caster Campus. The four guest soloists were international opera singer and 1989 LMS alumna Madeline Bender; Madeline’s husband,international opera singer Paul Whelan; local soprano Amy Yovanovich; and international singer Timothy Bentch. This was Director John Miller’s sixth and final Messiah performance at LMS since he plans to retire at the end of the school year. PHOTOS: JONATHAN CHARLES

Inviting students to personal faith

Sue ConradPHOTO: GALEN SAUDER

Celebrating studentaccomplishments• In the fall, the LMS boys cross country team won its first

district team title in class AA. Other fall winnings includefield hockey with section and league titles; girls crosscountry, section title; girls volleyball, section title; andboys soccer, section title. The golf team qualified five play-ers for district competition.

• Nine seniors received Keystone Degrees, the state’s high-est FFA award, during the Pa. FFA Association’s 79th Mid-Winter Convention.

• Five high school musicians were selected toparticipate in the Pa. Music Educators Associa-tion (PMEA) District 7 music festivals. Junior Eric Umble earned first in clarinet for District Band and also qualified for District Orchestra, along with junior Devin Troy, violin, and sopho-more Andrea Mast, violin. Junior Maggie Nicholas, first in soprano 1, and senior Hana Grosh qualified for District Chorus.

• AP Scholars: Senior Darren Weinhold earned the AP Scholar with Distinction honor from theCollege Board in recognition of exceptionalachievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams. In addition, seniors Seth Charles, Erika Christopher, RachealErb, and Serena Jeblee were named AP Scholars.

• Three 2006-07 high school publications tookhonors. The yearbook, the Laurel Wreath,received a Gold Medalist rating from the Colum-bia Scholastic Press Association for the 14thconsecutive year. The book also received All-Columbian recognition for concept, coverage and photography. In addition, the Silhouette, theschool literary magazine, and the Millstream, theschool newspaper, received silver ratings from the Pa. School Press Association.

• The average SAT score for the top half of the2007 graduating class, including math and ver-bal, is 1238.

• Kraybill students raised over $100,000 for theKraybill Campus during their annual Race forEducation fund raiser.

• Sophomore Bryant Betancourt won the Lan-caster County Health Care Hero writer’s con-test. His essay, written in Janet Banks’ WritingSkills class, was forwarded to the State competi-tion.

• Senior Erika Christopher has been cited as a win-ner in the 2007 National Council of Teachers ofEnglish Awards in Writing. n

Cross country photo attop: front, left to right—Chris Root, Seth Charles,Nigel Anjiri, Ryan Schlo-neger. Middle—ErichEitzen, Zach Zook.Back—Head CoachWeston Shertzer, JohnFueyo, Coach LeeThurber, Keith Mast.PHOTO: LINDA WINGARD.

FFA photo, above: front,left to right—LindsayLapp, Kandace Hershey,Derek Nissley, Katie Zim-merman. Back—AngelaBecker, Charise Garber,Chris Root, SuzanneYocom and Ann Ntari.PHOTO: RYAN KING.

PMEA photo (thirddown), left to right:Maggie Nicholas, DevinTroy, Andrea Mast andEric Umble. (Hana Groshis missing from picture.)

Bryant Betancourt Erika ChristopherPHOTO: GALEN SAUDER



LMS summer day camps scheduled

Basketball

Boys basketball, grades 5–10..................................July 21–25

Field HockeyJr. high field hockey, grades 6–8..............................June 9–13Sr. high field hockey, grades 9–12 ........................August 4–8

SoccerSr. high boys soccer, grades 9–12 .........................August 4–8

TennisIntermediate tennis, grades 4–8 ......................July 28–Aug. 1Advanced tennis, grades 9–12 ..................................Aug. 4–8

Other camp opportunities Spiritual fitness, grades 10–12 ..................................June 6–8Coed culinary arts, grades 4–9 ...............................July 14–18Intro. to Stop-motion animation, grades 6–10 ......July 15–17Intro. to video production (iMovie), gr. 7–10 ........July 14–18Intro. to digital photography, grades 6–10 ..........July 21 & 22Digital video editing, grades 6–12...........................July 23–25

Other camps being planned: drama, volleyball, girls soccer, boysjunior high and elementary co-ed soccer, girls basketball andlacrosse. For a brochure and application, please call (717) 299-0436, ext. 310.

Mark your calendar!Quilting bee at Lancaster CampusFebruary 25–29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Alumni Dining Hall lobby: The noonmeal will be provided. Quilters can alsohelp by donating a top, finishing a top,donating a completed quilt, or by mak-ing a special quilt or wall hanging. CallGary Hiller at (717) 653-5236.

Day trip to the Big Apple for alumni and friends, Satur-day, March 22: LMS has 40 seats available for a day trip toNew York City. Executive Coach will leave the LancasterCampus at 6 a.m. and return around 11:30 p.m. The day isyours to shop, sightsee, or attend a matinee performance.Cost: $40 a person. Contact Deborah Sprunger at (717) 394-7107 or [email protected].

LMS Golf Tournament, Wednesday, April 30, at TheHost: This year’s event will again include morning andafternoon tee times. The fee of $85 per golfer includesgreens fee, cart, light food before the round, a meal after-ward, and skill/door prizes. Brochures will be sent inMarch. For more information, contact committee chair

Allan Shirk, (717) 299-0436, ext. 382. n

School auctions are a fun way for families, alumniand other friends to support LMS students. All

proceeds go to the LMS Annual Fund which keepstuition affordable. For more information call the NewDanville Campus at (717) 872-2506, Locust Grove at (717) 394-7107, and Kraybill at (717) 653-5236.Also, go to www.lancastermennonite.org.

New Danville Country Auction, Friday, April 18:Food starts at 4:00 and the sale begins at 5:00. Saleitems will include quilts and wall hangings, artwork,quality crafts, tools and power equipment, classroombaskets, gift certificates, new items from area busi-nesses, delicious food and baked goods, and a sepa-rate plant and shrubbery auction. To donate, pleasecall John Mattilio at (717) 917-4682.

Locust Grove Country Auction and Chicken Barbe-cue, Friday, April 25: The event will include a Chicken Barbecue from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The auc-tion, beginning in the afternoon, will feature specialtyitems, art and handcrafted items, lawn and gardenitems, gift certificates, collectibles, and more.

Kraybill Benefit Auction & Pig Roast, Friday andSaturday, May 9 & 10: Big change for Friday—Asusual the all-you-can-eat “southern style” Pig Roastwill run from 4:30–7:30 p.m. But the 6:30 p.m. auc-tion has been changed to an event that will specializein items of interest to three groups—children (toys,

Spring auctions to benefit annual fund

PHOTO: GARY HILLER

games, etc.), women (tea parties, massages, health and beautyproducts, etc.), and men (hunting and sports gear, sports tick-ets, tools, etc.). Visitors can also preview the outstandingquilt collection and general merchandise to be sold Saturday,starting at 8:30 a.m.

Quilts will be sold at 1 p.m. Saturday, and a wide variety of food and children’s activities will be available throughoutthe event. See www.kraybillmennonite.org/auction.htm. n


January 24–26 High School Winter Drama, The Robe, 7 p.m.

February 22–23 Locust Grove Drama, Charlotte’s Web, 7 p.m.

February 24 High School Winter Concert, 3 p.m.

February 29 MSC High School Band/Orchestra Concert, 7 p.m.

March 27–28 LMMS Drama, Anne of Green Gables, 7 p.m.

April 4 All-School MS Fine Arts Festival, Lanc., 6:30 p.m.

April 24–26 HS musical, Les Miserables, 7:30 p.m. + 2:00 Sat. matinee

May 2 MSC MS Choir Festival Concert, Lanc., 7 p.m.

May 18 High School Spring Concert, 3 p.m.

May 20 Kraybill Middle School Choral Program, 7 p.m.

May 20 Lanc. Campus Middle School Spring Concert, 7 p.m.

May 30 Campus Chorale, 6:30 p.m./Sr. Class Dedication, 7:30

fine arts schedulen Superintendent Richard Thomas hasbeen named moderator of AtlanticCoast Conference (ACC) of MennoniteChurch USA, effective January 1. Themoderator chairs the executive commit-tee and, with the moderator-elect, mod-erates the spring and fall conferenceassembly celebrations. ACC is an asso-ciation of 33 con-gregations andagencies such asLancaster Mennon-ite School. JohnWeber, principal ofthe Kraybill Cam-pus, is moderator-elect.

n Director ofAdvancement HeidiStoltzfus wasrecently named vicechair of AtlanticCoast Conference(ACC) MennoniteWomen, an organi-zation that helps toplan and direct con-ference-wide eventsfor ACC women,sometimes holding joint events withLancaster Mennonite Conference. Shewill serve as vice chair for two yearsand then become chair.

n In December about 20 LMS juniorshad a chance to visit and interview Lan-dis Homes residents and learn, first-hand, how ordinary folks lived a longtime ago. The intergenerational visitwas the fulfillment of a U.S. Historyassignment and part of an ongoing rela-tionship between Landis Homes andLMS that provides intergenerationalopportunities for both.

During the interviews, students askedquestions such as: What was it like tolive before computers? Who was themost important person in your life?What was most rewarding about yourcareer? and What was the church likeduring that time and how is it differentnow? According to Landis HomesDirector of Activities Marva Godin, itwas a terrific experience for the resi-dents.

“There seems to be something magi-cal about teenagers and elders gettingtogether,” she said. “The younger gen-eration learns so much, and they (stu-dents) seem to represent hope to theresidents.” n

Top photo: Construction of the new aca-demic building at the Lancaster Campusis well underway. About $1 million is stillneeded to dedicate the facility debt freeand provide endowment for its mainte-nance.

Directly above is Kraybill’s nearly com-pleted Kristin L. Palazzo Gallery andlobby. A dedication service will be heldSunday, February 10, at 2 p.m. It willinclude a ribbon-cutting ceremony andthe unveiling of a commemorativeplaque in the auditorium/gymnasiumlobby adjacent to the Kristin L. PalazzoGallery. The public is invited. PHOTO: GARY HILLER.

At left, junior David Denlinger interviewsLandis Homes resident Harry Eager.PHOTO: DEBORAH LAWS-LANDIS

Richard Thomas

Heidi Stoltzfus

CLASS NOTES

In July, John Shertzer, 1961, Lancaster,became executive director of BlackRock Retreat, Quarryville. He attendedCornell University School of HotelAdministration in New York and spent18 years working in hospitality. Beforethat he was president of The OfficeWorks, an office supply store.

Kevin and Sharon Witmer, 1980,Yoder returned from Kenya, EastAfrica, in June. They live in Elkhart,Ind., where they are co-pastors of OliveMennonite Church.

Heidi A. Wenger, 1982, Lancaster, isteaching English to kindergartners inSeoul, South Korea until July 2008.

Paul Sadaphal, 2001, Reading, gradu-ated from Alvernia College and isemployed at Alvernia while pursuinghis master’s in political science atLehigh University.

Jed Burkholder and Tim Hoover, both2002, have opened The Infantree artgallery on Prince Street, Lancaster.Hoover, a Messiah College graduate, isa graphic designer for Mennonite Cen-tral Committee. Burkholder is a barista

at Prince Street Cafe and does somewriting and photography.

Stephen Edwards, 2003, Daytona,Fla., was a summer intern for NASA, inlaunch control and ground operations atthe Kennedy Space Center. He has alsoserved as ministry leader with CampusOutreach at Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity. He will graduate in May2008 with a degree in EngineeringPhysics.

Jocelyn R. Engle, 2004, Lancaster, isdirector of marketing for Engle Printingand Publishing, Mount Joy. She gradu-ated from Eastern University withdegrees in marketing and management.

Katelyn Rutt, 2005, Lancaster, servedwith Virginia Mennonite Missions inOrange Walk Town, Belize, this sum-mer. She was involved in deaf min-istries, including a vacation Bibleschool for deaf children.

Jin Heindel, 2007, York, left in Novem-ber for a six-month assignment withYouth Evangelism Service (YES) inThe Balkans. She is sponsored by East-ern Mennonite Missions, Salunga.

Three 2007 alumni were named APScholars for exceptional achievement

on the college-level Advanced Place-ment Program exams. They are PeterHorst, Brian Martin and Ben Ritten-house.

MARRIAGES

Steve Nissley, 1987, and GraceDodzweit, July 7, 2007. They live inElizabethtown.

Madeline Bender, 1989, and PaulWhelan, June 30, 2007. Madeline grad-uated from Manhattan School of MusicOpera Theater and has performed inmany major opera houses in the U.S.and Europe.

Dorcas (Dori) Steckbeck, 1993, andMarvin Landis, 1992, September 23,2007. They live in Lancaster.

Jonathan R. King, 1993, and MeganLynne Kelly, May 24, 2003. They livein Wyomissing where Jon is employedby Alvernia College as sports informa-tion director and head golf coach.

Jessica E. Landes, 1995, and DavidSpieser, August 25, 2007. They live inWilliamsport where Jessica is housemanager for the theatre department ofLycoming College. She also plays vio-


1957

Sixty-three classmates and spousesfrom the class of 1957 enjoyed a won-derful time of getting re-acquainted atthe Finger Lakes in New York, accord-ing to reunion planner Maddie Sollen-berger. Participants visited SonnenbergGardens and Watkins Glen, took a boatcruise on the lake at Watkins Glen, andenjoyed a delicious banquet dinner atThe Inn on the Lake, Canandaigua. Theplanning committee also prepared amemory book for their classmates.

1977

On November 17, ten 1977 classmatesparticipated in the 5K Walk/Run thatwas part of the Fall Gathering & Auc-tion. Then at 10:30 am 55 alumni/spouses gathered in Alumni DiningHall for a brunch and sharing (mealcatered by T Burk Deli, Smoketown).In the evening, 40 met at Edward RuthGalleries for a dessert reception. n

CLA

SS R

EUN

ION

S

Classmates from the class of 1957 posefor a picture during their 50th yearreunion in October.

At right, class of 1977 classmates LindenShowalter, left, and Bill Umble visit attheir class reunion brunch that was heldin Alumni Dining Hall in November. PHOTO: LAMAR WEAVER

They live in Lancaster where Joel is anonline journalist at Lancaster Newspa-pers and Stephanie is a chemist at Lan-caster Laboratories.

Eric Martin, 2005, and Rita Weaver,2005, August 4, 2007. Eric is amechanic for C.B. Hoober of Inter-course. Rita graduated from the Lan-caster General College of Nursing inMay and is a registered nurse at Lan-caster General. They live in Blue Ball.

BIRTHS

Heather Rodenberger, 1979, Spokane,Wash., a daughter, Madeleine Mei, “DaiDai,” January 5, 2003, arriving fromChina October 15, 2007. Heather isworking in the field of clinical researchand drug development.

Gary, 1991, and Kelly Blank, Alexan-dria, Va., first child, a son, SamuelRalph, September 4, 2007.

Zack, 1991, and Kristin Samuel, Levit-town, triplets Nicholas John, Noah Judeand Chance Charles, June 5, 2007.

Tom and Rochelle Breneman, 1993,Jones, Marietta, third and fourth chil-

dren, twin daughters, Ainsley Pearl andAspen Paige, March 8, 2007.

Brent, 1993, and Jennifer Roland,Mechanicsburg, a daughter, Alana Grace,October 24, 2007.

Nathan and Laura Mellinger, 1994,Beach, Virginia Beach, Va., secondchild, first son, Samuel Alexander, July18, 2007.

Joel, 1996, and Shelley Wissler Lea-man, Ronks, second son, Zachary Joel,May 18, 2007.

Aaron and Lisa Smoker, 1996,Underwood, Quarryville, secondchild, first daughter, Audrey Jane,August 23, 2007.

Brian and Jennifer Milich, 1996,Redding, Glenmoore, first daughter,Skylar Anne, September 27, 2007.

Joel and Monica Rohrer, 1996,Lederman, Marshall, Mich., firstchild, Caleb John, November 6, 2007.

Derrick and Jessica Rohrer, 1998,Weaver, Elizabethtown, first child,Andrew Scott, August 31, 2007.

Dave and Deb Charles, 1999, Bear-den, Lancaster, first son, ChaseWilliam, August 10, 2007.


lin in the Williamsport SymphonyOrchestra. Earlier she volunteered for ayear as an activity aid at L’AssociationServir in Valdoie, France.

Tim Godshall, 1995, and VirginiaShowalter, May 27, 2007. They are vol-unteers at Jubilee Partners, an inten-tional community near Athens, Ga.

Kirk Landes, 2000, and Dorothy But-ler, July 13, 2007. They live in Lees-burg, Va. Kirk graduated from EasternMennonite University in 2004 and isemployed by TARGET as a receivingspecialist. Gabriel, Dorothy’s son, com-pletes their new family.

Gina Weaver, 2002, and Robert Lusk,November 17, 2007. They live inStevens.

Janelle Engle, 2002, and Joel Benner,2003, June 16, 2007. They live in Lan-caster. Janelle is employed by ManheimCentral School District as a middleschool teacher and head coach of thevarsity field hockey team. Joel is com-pleting a biology degree with a concen-tration in respiratory therapy atLancaster Regional.

Joel Lehman, 2002, and StephanieMiller, 2001, November 10, 2007.

Numerous alumni and other friends are pro-viding leadership gifts as a way to

encourage increased giving during the LMSAlumni Phonathon which will be held in Feb-ruary and March.

According to Director of Alumni RelationsJeff Shank, the 2008 Challenge Fund willmatch each gift that is increased by $25 ormore.

During 2007 the phonathon raised $162,000for the Annual Fund which helps keep tuitionaffordable and provides student scholarships.The event played an important role in helpingthe school balance its operating budget.

For more information about the ChallengeFund or alumni phonathon, please call Shankat (717) 394-7107. n

Kathy Martin, 1979, enjoys chatting with an alumnus during a recent phonathon.Each year 150 callers are needed for the 10-night event.

Increased phonathon giving to be matched


Thanks to all whohelped raise over$160,000 during theFall Gathering &Auction weekend that was held at theLancaster Campus November 15–17.

The Iron Bridge Run/Walk raised$40,000 toward a new track, the BrentNauman Memorial 3v3 tournamentbrought in $60,000 to support an

Jeremiah, 1999, and Kristine WiddersDenlinger, Newark, Dela., first child, a son, Isaac Widders Denlinger,November 28, 2007.

Zach, 2001, and Megan Hostetter,2001, Kennel, Lancaster, second son,Asher David, April 25, 2007.

Nathan and Jena Moyer, 2002,Umbrell, Elizabethtown, second child,first son, Lane Travis, October 23, 2007.

DEATHS

Dorothy Peifer Metzler, 1957, Lan-caster, December 20, 2007.

Phoebe Mae Blank Mellinger, Lan-caster, December 5, 2007. Attended1949-50 with class of 1953.

Doris Charles Weaver, 1970, Lititz,October 30, 2007.

James Nissley, 1979, Elizabethtown,January 28, 2005. n

Correction: Emmett Murphy, 1962,lives in Troy, New York, not Connecticut.

Class reunionsFor more information go to www.lancastermennonite.org

1948 September 27, 2008

1953 April 19, 2008

1958 June 28, 2008

1963 September 19-20, 2008

1973 October 11, 2008

1978 September 20, 2008

1987 June 7, 2008

Class of 1959 will hold a reunion May 1–2, 2009.

If you are a contact person for a 2008 class reunion:Please consider planning your reunion around Homecom-ing 2008. Give your date to Director of Alumni RelationsJeff Shank at [email protected] or (717)394-7107 as soon as possible so families can plan ahead.Your information will be posted in Bridges and on ourweb site. For help with planning, go to www.lancaster-mennonite.org and click on “alumni,” “class reunions,”and “information for reunion contact persons.”

Time to set that date!

For November 17 Iron Bridge Run/Walk results, go to www.lan-castermennonite.org. The winning team for the basketball tour-nament is, left to right: Chris Peterson, Steve Leaman, GeoffGroff, and Trevor Ranck.

Homecoming 2008 Great opportunity for your class reunion!

LMS will hold Homecoming 2008 September 26 and 27 atthe Lancaster Campus in conjunction with the school’s FallGathering & Auction. For more information contact JeffShank at (717) 394-7107 or [email protected]. Tentative schedule includes activities listed below. Details to follow.

• Linda Ebersole Memorial Golf Tournament• Pig roast & chicken barbecue*• Athletic games on new turf field • Campus Chorale Reunion & Concert • Alumni Reception• Blazers Fun Bike Ride • 3 v 3 Brent Nauman Endowment Basketball Tournament*• Iron Bridge Benefit Run/Walk* • Specialty Auction to benefit Annual Fund*• Informal class drop-in and/or class reunions

*These events are part of the Fall Gathering & Auction, heldeach year at the Lancaster Campus.

athletic trainer, and the auction/barbecue raised $60,000 for the Annual Fund.

Next year’s Fall Gathering, set forSeptember 26–27, will be a home-coming event for alumni and friends. n

Fundraisersupportsstudents

ALUMNI FEATURE

ties of the gospel and communicatethem in a way that youth understand.

What did you value most at LMS?(1) the spiritual environment thatallowed for diversity in beliefs, (2) thefact that the high school was a biggerChristian school with more opportuni-ties, and (3) having more racial/ethnicdiversity than most local publicschools—something that I think helpedme develop a cultural view of theworld.

Who or what at LMS helped you themost in who you are today?Mrs. Garman, the coaches, and keychapels. I vividly remember when highschool student Jason Forshey (1995) wasin a serious car accident. We took time topray in chapel and later in the classroom.The message here was: “Academics areimportant but right now we need to bethe body of Christ in caring for others.”

Favorite teachersAt Kraybill, Jim Baer, and at the highschool, Myron Dietz. Baer had a lot ofknowledge and wisdom but knew howto apply it in a practical way. At LMH Iremember the debate chapels betweenDietz and young Bible teacher PeteDula—representing two different worldviews but the same Christian faith. Iliked that.

Your passionsI’m passionate about helping youngadults learn to know God and experi-ence God in other cultures, and aboutproviding opportunities to serve thechurch and “the least of these.”

Future plansTo finish graduate school and serve inoverseas missions with Jennifer. n

Discipleship Ministries includes four short-term programs: Kingdom Teams, providingthree to five-day inner city assignments foryouth groups; GO! which trains intergenera-tional mission teams for assignments of oneweek to a year; Summer Training Action Teams(STAT), eight-week cross-cultural assignmentfor ages 15-18; and Youth Evangelism Service(YES), six to 11-month cross cultural opportu-nity for ages 18-30. For more information go toemm.org/short-term.


If, as a young student with a learningdisability, Ryan Showalter had been

told he’d someday become the youngestever director of Discipleship Ministriesat Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM),he likely would have said, “No way.”

But today Showalter oversees adepartment of seven, including thosewho direct Discipleship Ministries’ fourshort-term programs.

It’s been a journey, Showalter says,describing his struggle with readingduring his first years of school. Hecredits Kraybill Campus tutor SandraGarman for patiently teaching him howto read by grade two. Later he discov-ered that, to qualify for the high schoolsports he loved, he had to do well aca-demically.

“I learned early that I had to havediscipline and work hard,” he said. AsShowalter grew academically, he alsogrew spiritually. The summer of 1997he attended Mennonite Youth Conven-tion in Orlando, Florida, where speakerTony Campolo delivered a “fireballmessage” on tithing one’s time. Thatexperience, coupled with Friday morn-ing Bible studies and prayer meetingswith friends during his senior year atLMS, resulted in Showalter becomingmore serious about his walk with God.

After high school, he went immedi-ately into EMM’s Youth EvangelismService (YES) program during whichhe spent eight months in youth ministryin Wales.

“It was a life changing experience forme,” he said. “I realized God wanted all

of my life, not just Sundaymornings.”

After YES, Showalteraccepted a full-time ministryposition with Harrisburg Youthfor Christ, soon adding full-time classes at Harrisburg AreaCommunity College. In 2001 heleft both to begin classes atEastern University, St. David’s,Pa., and graduated from there in2003 with a degree in youthministry.

“I felt like God was saying,‘This is payday for all that hard

work,’” he said, recalling how his momproudly reported back to Mrs. Garmanthat her son not only completed collegebut did it cum laude.

Two years later, after another YESassignment (church planting in Water-bury, Connecticut) and during a master’sof divinity program at Gordon-ConwellTheological Seminary, Showalter said“Yes” to the director position at Disci-pleship Ministries.

Showalter is married to Jennifer Wal-dron-Showalter, an MRI technologistfor the MRI Group. They live in Lan-caster and attend Mount Joy MennoniteChurch where Showalter was creden-tialed as a pastor. Showalter also serveson the board of Mennonite CentralCommittee. Today he continues hisseminary studies at Eastern MennoniteSeminary (EMS), Lancaster campus.

What does your work involve?Making sure short-term efforts runsmoothly with EMM’s long-termefforts. We want to be strategic so thatthe assignments impact the world andfit into our long-term vision. We hopemany short-termers will become long-termers and the experiences will pre-pare many for church leadership.

What is the best part of your job?I love working with young people. Ilove their passion to follow God ... andhow they allow that passion to affecthow they love their neighbor and theirworld.

The most challengingFinding ways to take the timeless reali-

From learning disability to directing DiscipleshipMinistries program

Ryan Showalter, 1998, attended the Kraybill Campusfor kindergarten through grade eight and the Lan-caster Campus for grades 9–12.

This fall my wife, Joyce, and I wereprivileged to accompany the seniors

and other staff and parents during thesenior class trip to Washington, D.C. Iwas gratified to hear so many compli-ments about this fine group of studentsas they had fun together, strengthenedfriendships, built faith, and participatedin educational experiences. In manyways these two days in Washington area microcosm of the differences studentsenjoy at LMS.

Each year I have the opportunity toshare the LMS Difference with familiesand students who are considering Lan-caster Mennonite. I tell them about howLMS provides students like RyanShowalter with an excellent educationthat develops their gifts and abilities sothey can engage our world with faith,hope and God’s love.

In this issue, Showalter, a 1998 alum-nus, expresses gratitude for the school’sracial/ethnic diversity that helped pre-pare him for his current work as director

of Eastern Mennonite Missions’ Disci-pleship Ministries. Ryan says the diver-sity of LMS—which is greater than thatat many Lancaster County publicschools—enhanced his ability to minis-ter in our increasingly diverse countryas well as around the world.

Offering a planned PreK-12 programthat includes elementary and middleschool education at three campuses plusa separate high school is another LMSDifference to celebrate. This plannedprogram is already showing positiveresults through improved standardizedtest scores that are used to measure ourperformance and progress.

Other differences include denomina-tional diversity, a high school residencehall, and 60 international students. Withthe LMS Difference empowering stu-dents for a lifetime, it is not surprisingto me that friendships formed here alsofrequently last for a lifetime.

As you consider an elementary, mid-dle or high school education for your

children, I invite you to visit the fourcampuses of Lancaster MennoniteSchool or check out our website atwww.lancastermennonite.org.—jrt

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDLancaster, PA

Permit No. 2802176 Lincoln Highway EastLancaster, PA 17602

Centered in Christ • Transforming Lives • Changing our World

from

the

supe

rint

ende

nt LMS: a difference to celebrate

J. Richard Thomas

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

winter 2008 · winter 2008 centered in christ transforming lives changing our world history comes...

Documents