Winter 2009 - Lancaster Mennonite School

LANCASTERASTER MENNONITE SCHOOLwww.lancastermennonite.org WINTER 2009Rutt AcademicCenter grandopening, page 2Outdoorclassroom, page 4PreK expanded,page 6Centered in ChristTransforming LivesChanging our WorldAlumni feature,page 15

contents4 Middle schoollife science classutilizes stream6 PreK program expanded7 Open house events8 School update12 Alumni news13 Alumni phonathon15 Jerry Martin, alumnifeatureBridges is the quarterly magazine ofLancaster Mennonite School, sent toalumni, parents and friends. LMSexists to transform students so theycan change our world throughChristlike love, peacemaking andservice. The school welcomes studentswithout regard to sex, race,nationality or ethnic origin.Lancaster Mennonite Schoolhas four campuses:Kraybill, grades PreK–8598 Kraybill Church RoadMount Joy, PA 17552(717) 653-5236Lancaster, grades 6–122176 Lincoln Highway EastLancaster, PA 17602(717) 299-0436Locust Grove, Grades PreK–82257 Old Philadelphia PikeLancaster, PA 17602(717) 394-7107New Danville, grades PreK–6393 Long LaneLancaster, PA 17603(717) 872-2506Address alumni and school news tosprungerdl@lancastermennonite.org.Editor: Fern Clemmerclemmerfe@lancastermennonite.orgVolume 36, No. 3Cover photo: Students change classesDecember 2 after the opening of theschool’s Rutt Academic Center. The newcenter is in the background.MUCH MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTARGrand opening celebratesRutt Academic CenterIt’s like night and day. That’s how JeanForshey, family and consumer scienceteacher, describes the differencebetween teaching in the crowded roomsbeneath Graybill Residence Hall and hernew area in the Rutt Academic Center.“You feel like you are actually teaching,”she said. “You don’t have to fightthe environment, and the lighting—that’s a big difference.”Other improvements, she said,include ample storage resulting in betterorganization; equipment that works;new items such as dish washers,garbage disposals, a large pantry and acommercial refrigerator; and U-shapedwork areas that allow her to see all herstudents at the same time.All the teachers seem to love theSmart Board—even those who wereapprehensive at first.“I was dreading the Smart Boardbecause I’m not very technologicallysavvy,” mathematics teacher KarenDiffenbach said, “but now I love thatI can put all this information on thereand then easily remove it or add it backon for later classes. It really makesteaching easier.”Matthew Spurrier, also a mathteacher, says the boards fit well withstudents, a generation that loves technology.“Student volunteerism is very highright now,” he said, “because they wantto come up and use the Smart Board.”The technology also helps teachersshare lesson plans, and internationalstudents have the advantage of receivingnotes that mirror what was on theSmart Board.For students it was exciting to finallymove into a facility they had watchedbeing constructed for over a year.“I was hoping it would be finishedbefore I graduate,” said senior KaelaLandis. “I love the new lab rooms, thehuge windows, and the overall spaciousfeeling to the rooms.”Senior Darian Harnish also emphasized“the outside light and big openclassrooms.”“I definitely find it easier to payattention to the teachers in the newbuilding,” he said. “With the naturallight and the better air quality, I don'tthink I have even felt tired or yawnedonce while in the new building.“The better technology makes it easierto pay attention, too, instead ofbeing distracted by technical malfunctions.The dorm basement used to bereally loud and distracting; its nice notto have that anymore.”Formal dedicationWhile the students moved into RuttAcademic Center on December 2, thegrand opening and formal dedicationwas saved for Sunday, December 21,to coincide with the annual high schoolChristmas concert. Hundreds, includingmany concert goers, attended an openhouse in the center that included studentPowerPoint projects, green elementpresentations, Smart Boarddemonstrations, tours of the systemoffices, and refreshments provided bystudents and staff.During a 5:30 dedication, SuperintendentRichard Thomas thanked the manyfriends who made the building possible,including Janet and Calvin High whosegift led to ground breaking, and theseven children of Clarence and ElvaRutt whose significant giving resultedin naming the center the Rutt AcademicCenter.Dr. John Rutt, who represented theRutt family during the dedication service,expressed appreciation for all thefamilies who gave, as well as his parentswho sacrificed so he and his sixsiblings could attend and graduate fromLancaster Mennonite School.Other participants in the dedicationincluded New Century Jubilee chairGerald Horst and Director of AdvancementHeidi Stoltzfus who explained thejourney to completion, and High Constructionrepresentative Nevin Cooleywho described the construction as“more than a project”—rather, it wasproviding an academic center for students,he said. LMS board chair DianeUmble concluded the program with aprayer of blessing.The three-story facility houses themath, science, business education, andfamily and consumer science departmentsas well as administrative officesfor all four campuses. ■2 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

PHOTO: SAMANTHA SEIFRIEDCounterclockwise, starting with oval photo at top:ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 2, nighttimephoto by Cornerstone Design • Architects, December21 open house guests examine interactive resonancedevice in physics classroom, math teacherKaren Diffenbach demonstrates the Smart Board,guests and family & consumer science staff chatover refreshments, Superintendent Richard Thomasthanks donors during the formal dedication, Dr.John Rutt shares at dedication, students enjoy newchemistry laboratory, and open house guests andstaff visit in center’s atrium.ABOVE THREE PHOTOS AND ATRIUM PHOTO: JONATHAN CHARLESBRIDGES • WINTER 2009 3

CAMPUS STREAM ENHANCES MIDDLE SCHOOL LIFE SCIENCEStewardship taught throughOutdoor classroomIn some senses wateris more importantthen energy. We’retalking about basichuman need here—clean drinking water.- Wayne Lehman,life science teacherBottom photo: Life science classfastens Leaf Pack to a rock so itremains secure during the fourweektesting period when the packwill attract organisms living in thestream. Counterclockwise, beginningat top: Samuel Ortega, EmilyBreneman, Lesly Fernandez,teacher Wayne Lehman andDavid Forte.Photo at bottom right: Classmeasures the clarity of the stream,another indicator of streamhealth. Left to right: Carlos Colon,Lesly Fernandez, Wayne Lehmanand Emily Breneman.Wayne Lehman, middle school scienceteacher at the Lancaster Campus, wasthrilled when he received a grant to attend asummer institute on teaching middle schoolersabout stream health. Clean water is one of ourmost valuable commodities worldwide. Withoutit we perish.Stroud Water Research Center, who conductedthe institute, chose our Lancaster Campus as thesite for the training since Mill Creek runs rightthrough the campus. Four days of the institutewere held on campus, and the fifth was held at theresearch center’s base at Avondale, Pennsylvania.The course was funded through a grant from theWilliam Penn Foundation and a contract with theNew York State Department of EnvironmentalConservation.During the fall semester that followed the institute,Lehman took what he learned to his seventhgrade life science class, using Mill Creek as theperfect hands-on classroom. Because streamsaffect the health of other waterways, stream studyis a good place to begin when looking at the worldwater scene.“What happens upstream has a huge impact onwhat happens downstream,” Lehman said. “Wewant them to learn how to take care of waterwherever they live.” Mill Creek, he explained,eventually runs into the Chesapeake Bay.The Leaf Pack Experiment that Lehman introducedto his students involves creating leaf packs(dry leaves in mesh bags), placing them in thestream for three to four weeks, then examiningthem to discover the number and types of aquaticorganisms that have set up housekeeping amongMiddle school life science teacher Wayne Lehman helpsstudents prepare Leaf Pack for stream study. Studentsare, left to right: Lesly Fernandez, David Forte andSamuel Ortega.the leaves. These findings serve as indicators ofthe stream’s health. The data is then shared onlinethrough The Leaf Pack Network (a network ofteachers and students investigating their localstream ecosystem), shedding light on the importantconnection between streamside forests and theecology of rivers and streams.During the stream unit, the students also conductmeasurements to provide a physical description ofthe stream—how deep and wide it is, rate of flow,condition of banks, and the types of trees growingon the banks. This year Lehman has 56 seventhgraders who are participating in the Leaf project.The clean water issue is “just huge,” saysLehman who is concerned with many others aboutthe availability of water in 10–15 years.“In some senses water is more important thanenergy,” he said. “We’re talking about basichuman need here—clean drinking water.”Lehman also uses the campus’s outdoor classroomfor other middle school science lessons, suchas a bird study and his yearlong “Adopt a Spot”activity where students choose an outdoor spot oncampus and then returnfor a half hour once amonth to study the ecologicalchanges.“We are so blessed tohave a pond, stream andwoodland,” Lehman said.“These natural settingsgive kids the types oflearning experiences theyremember long after theclassroom lectures areforgotten.” ■4 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

The art above shows the proposed track and field facility for theLancaster Campus. The artist rendering at right shows the proposedfront entrance planned for the Kraybill Campus.Investments with good returnsOver the years alumni and friends have been faithful inhelping to provide facilities that allow the school to connectwith the gifts and abilities within each student, helpingto shape the leaders, doctors, salespersons, pastors and manyothers who are our friends and neighbors. For this we aremost grateful. For the school’s mission to continue, we needongoing participation in two new projects.Kraybill Campus improvementsExpanding the PreK/kindergarten program at Kraybill is a prioritythat is shared at the state and national levels. It has beenfound that strong early childhood programs lead to a higherpercentage of students graduating from high school andadvancing to higher education. In addition, we believe thatat this formative age the school’s message of love, care andvalue for each student will find receptive hearts. There is awaiting list at Kraybill of families who want to enroll in PreK.The changes at Kraybill will improve campus security,provide visitor-friendly entrances and lobbies with handicapaccessibility, enhance aesthetics, and create better traffic flowthat will eliminate congestion and a more student friendlyenvironment. Preliminary projections estimate the cost tobe $1.5 million, including endowment that will maintain thefacility. The school’s goal is to break ground as soon as possibleto complete the following:• renovate the school's main entrance• enlarge the lobby• add a classroom for PreK and kindergarten• relocate the offices for greater student security• connect the rear of the elementary building to thegymnasium—reducing student traffic in the mainlobby area and decreasing walking time for studentsgoing to the gym• increase access to the middle school student lockerarea and enlarge middle school hallway space—alleviating student congestion between classesLancaster Campus track and field facilityTrack and field at Lancaster Mennonite High School becamepart of the Lancaster-Lebanon League in the spring of 2005.Because we did not have a track and field facility, our graciousneighbors, Lampeter-Strasburg High School sharedtheir facilities for practices and home meets. Four years later,LMS athletes are still without a track and field facility.According to Athletic Director Mike Yoder, the $1.27 millionfacility goes far beyond interscholastic sports. Yes, itwould add significant credibility to our track program, butthat’s only half the story.“It’s not just an athletic facility,” Yoder said, “It will beused just as much by our student body in gym classes.”Here are some of the things teachers will be able to do:• Accurately measure distances when doing fitnesstraining• Teach various types of runs and interval trainingin weight training class• Train for basketball pre-season• Plan for an all-school track and field day forelementary and middle school studentsEvents like Student Council fundraisers and the IronBridge Run/Walk, along with the gifts of 1,000 donors, havealready raised $500,000 toward the project. ■How can I help?Eighty percent of the cost is needed before ground breakingcan occur. Join us in moving these projects forward bysending your gift today to Lancaster Mennonite School,2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602, or bymaking a gift online at www.lancastermennonite.org.Or, you may contact Director of Advancement HeidiStoltzfus at (717) 299-0436, ext. 308, or stoltzfushe@lancastermennonite.orgto discuss giving opportunities.BRIDGES • WINTER 2009 5

FIVE-DAY, FULL-DAY PROGRAM OFFEREDSchool increases pre-kindergarten optionsEverything we knowpoints to the factthat early childhoodeducation pays laterdividends in helpingstudents be successfulin school.- J. Richard Thomas,SuperintendentLancaster Mennonite Schoolis offering a five-day fulldaypre-kindergarten programat its New Danville Campusthis year, and the Locust GroveCampus also will offer onenext year. The Kraybill Campushas plans for a new facility(see page 5) that will allow itto expand to five days as well.The five-day program isoffered in addition to two,three and four-day options.Because parents want programsthat will best preparechildren for school, LMS hasbeen a leader in providing fulldayin-school kindergarten andpre-kindergarten experiences.LMS believes that the bestpreparation for elementaryschool is to attend pre-kindergartenand kindergarten in anelementary school setting.Expanding the pre-kindergartenprogram to five days will furtherprepare students for a more challenging kindergartenprogram, as well as first grade.Educational consultant Connie Stauffer believesthe extra full days are beneficial.“Society is now demanding an accelerated pushfor learning,” she said, “and the old-time kindergartenis being pushed to PreK.”Stauffer helped to establish a pre-kindergartenphilosophy and curriculum for Lancaster Mennonitethat is based on a holistic view of the child andmeets students at their level of development. At allthree campuses, the pre-kindergarten program isintegrated into the overall elementary school programso students are exposed to a wider varietyof school experiences, teachers, and role models.Being at school all day like elementary studentsalso reduces the need for a day care center or othercaregiver while parents are at work.LMS parents have supported the school’sapproach to pre-kindergarten. They say PreKstudents move more easily into kindergarten andbeyond and actually do better in school thanbefore pre-kindergarten was available.Lancaster Mennonite Superintendent RichardThomas, who oversees the entire system from prekindergartenthrough high school, believes that theAnne Roth teaches pre-kindergarten full time at the New Danville Campus.PHOTO: JONATHAN CHARLESfive-day full-day pre-kindergarten fits the school’svision to provide educational excellence for childrenof all ages for area families.“Everything we know points to the fact thatearly childhood education pays later dividends inhelping students be successful in school,” he said.Anne Roth, PreK teacher at New Danville, saysthat, in addition to offering a quality academicprogram at the PreK level, it is important to teachsocial skills.“It’s learning how to play and how to get alongwith each other,” she said. “That’s important, too.”Stephanie Kreider teaches PreK at LocustGrove, and Jessica Lloyd at Kraybill.Applications are being accepted for the 2009-10 school year. Go to www.lancastermennonite.orgfor more information about the school’s comprehensivepre-kindergarten to grade 12 program.Scholarships are available. ■6 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

Lancaster Mennonite SchoolOPEN HOUSEEvents for all campusesFebruary 3, 6–8:30 p.m.• Tours and conversations with teachers• Welcome assembly at the Kraybill (6:30)and Lancaster (7:00) campuses• High school course selection• Information about financialaid/scholarships.March 26Prospective Student DayHigh School: 8:05 a.m.–3:05 p.m.Other grades: mornings only.Please call to register.The school’s residence hall is a rich tradition that was established in 1942 to welcome youngpeople living outside Lancaster County—students like Jerry Martin and Jeanette Hertzler Martin,for example (see page 15). Today the residence hall, now called Graybill Hall, continues makingLMS a reality for alumni children and others who want to take advantage of the many opportunitiesat LMS but who live too far away to commute. PHOTOS: JONATHAN CHARLESAn investment that willimpact your child for lifeEnroll now for PreK-12 at four campusesNow is a good time to decide whereyour children will attend school in thefall. Call today and schedule a visit at oneor more of our four campuses. In addition,visit us during our Open House eventwhich is set for Tuesday, February 3, 6-8:30 p.m. Finally, don’t forget to visit ourweb site at www.lancastermennonite.orgwhere you’ll find admissions applicationsas well as applications for scholarships andfinancial aid. We would love to meet you!High school residence hallThe school’s Graybill Hall, with five-dayand seven-day programs, makes it possiblefor high school students living outsideLancaster County to take full advantage ofthe excellent growth opportunities at LMS.This year 45 students live in the residencehall, representing five states, and six countries.For more information about thisopportunity, visit the high school section atwww.lancastermennonite.org and click on“residence hall.”Who are we?• There are 1,500 students enrolled at fourcampuses (PreK–12). Students may transferto LMS at any level.• The school’s goal is to create a culture ofkindness in which students respect eachother’s differences.• Approximately 52 percent of LMS studentsare from Anabaptist denominations, andmore than 20 other denominations andmany non-denominational congregationsare represented.• At the Lancaster Campus, 21 percent of studentsare of under-represented racial/ethnicgroups. At Locust Grove, 26 percent, and atNew Danville, 29 percent.• Students at the Lancaster Campus represent46 school districts, four Pa. counties, sixstates, and six countries.• Students at all levels are encouraged todevelop their gifts and abilities in preparationfor college and career planning. Startingin 2009-10, all seniors will give a seniorpresentation in which they will share theirPreK–12 pilgrimage and post high schoolplans with family and friends.• The high school enjoys SAT scores that arehigher than any Lancaster County publicschool. ■For more informationor to schedule a visit:Kraybill, grades PreK–8Principal John Weber(717) 653-5236Lancaster, grades 6–12(717) 299-0436, ext. 312Locust Grove, grades PreK–8Principal Judi Mollenkof(717) 394-7107New Danville, grades PreK–6Principal Judi Mollenkof(717) 872-2506BRIDGES • WINTER 2009 7

Locust Grove students catch the visionFor five Locust Grove ChallengeProgram* students, Dharavi, aslum in India, is no longer just a doton a map.It all began when teacher BarbaraJosephian introduced her fifth gradeclass to the unit on cities in whichstudents study how metropolitanareas work and then build a modelcity to illustrate what they havelearned. During the introduction,Josephian gave examples of citiesin third world countries that aren’tworking at all. When the class asked,“What are slums?” and “What is athird world country?” Josephian sawthe teachable moment.Bringing her May 2007 issue ofNational Geographic magazine to the next class period,Josephian shared pictures and stories about Dharavi wherechildren play in sewers, and malnutrition and pollutionabound. The students learned that nearly two billion worldcitizens live in slums, with one million of them in Dharavi’sapproximately one square mile area. It was then thatone student piped up, “Why don’t we rebuild Dharavi?”The four others quickly caught the vision, and before longthey were crawling around on a made-to-scale map ofDharavi, making infrastructure decisions that will createbetter living conditions. For example, their model city willfeature taller apartment buildings so a 200-square-foot livingarea will house 12 persons instead of 24.The students recently talked about how it feels to knowothers have so little when we in the U.S. have so much.“I hate it,” Abbey King said. “I feel, like, glutinous.”“We should try to do something about it,” added JulianBrubaker. Though the students tried to comfort themselvesLeft to right: Abbey King, Julian Brubaker, Seth Weaver, teacher Barbara Josephian,Rebecca Lauver and Emily Peifer.with the knowledge that the slum dwellers have differentexpectations and experience happiness in ways unrelatedto riches, they concluded that slum conditions are unjust.Their enthusiasm spread to the whole Locust GroveCampus. As a result, the March 31 Family Science Nightwill focus on projects that can help citizens of the thirdworld, and Locust Grove’s annual Valentines Project willbenefit orphan children in Zambia, Africa.“It’s wonderful when students grasp a concept likepoverty and world need,” Principal Judi Mollenkof said.“And when they transfer that into something they can do,that’s the school’s mission right there—‘transforming studentsso they can change our world.’ That’s what we’reall about.” ■*Lancaster Mennonite’s Challenge Program is designed to helpmeet the needs of academically gifted students by enriching andextending their education beyond the regular curriculum.■ Mary Anne Garber,who worked infood services at theLancaster Campusfor over three years,died Saturday,November 22,2008, after an automobileaccident.Students and staff Mary Anne Garberat the Lancaster Campus rememberedand celebrated Garber’s life during amemorial service held January 8 duringchapel.■ In December, the Kraybill Campusraised $2,950 for plastic sheeting thatwill allow Mennonite Central Committeeto provide shelter for over 1,000Chinese families who lost their homesduring the May earthquake. In addition,Locust Grove students donated non-perishablefood items for local food banks,and New Danville students collected115 shoebox gifts for Operation ChristmasChild, a program of Samaritan’sPurse. Shoe boxes were filled withschool supplies, small toys, and hygieneitems.New Danville students with some of theshoebox gifts they collected for OperationChristmas Child. Left to right: Emily Rosenfeld,Micaiah Barley, Josiah Sugden andErmisha Wanore. PHOTO: EDIE HESS8 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

Celebratingachievements• Five music students were honored recently. LMS seniorEric Umble was selected to represent Pennsylvania in the2009 Music Educators National Conference (MENC) All-Eastern conference which will be held March 12-15 inProvidence, R.I. Eric will play his clarinet with a selectgroup of musicians made up of the best members fromall the State bands and orchestras on the East Coast. It isthe highest honor a high schooler can receive in thesecompetitions.In addition, four LMS students have been selected toparticipate in the Pa. Music Educator Association (PMEA)District 7 music festivals this winter. Senior Tyler Landis,tenor 1, was selected for the District 7 Chorus Festival.Qualifying for the District 7 Orchestra Festival are sophomoreDawon Suh, junior Andrea Mast, and junior DoyeonKim—all violinists. In photo at right the musicians are,seated, left to right: Andrea Mast and Dawon Suh. Standing,left to right: Doyeon Kim, Eric Umble and Tyler Landis.• Senior Jordon Smucker, shown at right, has been awardedan athletic scholarship for baseball from Binghamton University,a Division 1 program.As announced in the fall issue of Bridges, KatelynVanderhoff has been awarded a full basketball scholarshipfrom University of Maine, also a Division 1 school. InDecember, Vanderhoff reached her 1,000th career pointduring a game with Cocalico that was a 54–22 win for theBlazers. Vanderhoff is shown at far right with parentsCarol, left, and Bob Vanderhoff, along with coachSherri Gorman.• Golf coach Deryl Denlinger, at right, wasnamed Coach of the Year for leading histeam to its fifth straight Section Threetitle and a runner-up finish in the Lancaster-LebanonLeague team competition.Also under his leadership, seniorMatt Burkhart won the L-L Leaguechampionship, and son David Denlinger,also a senior, captured the PIAA title—thefirst Lancaster Countian to do so since 1988.• Other fall sports accomplishments include the field hockeyteam being named a co-section champion, boys crosscountry winning their division championship, and boyssoccer winning their section championship.• Students at the Kraybill, Locust Grove and New Danvillecampuses raised over $112,300 during their annual Racefor Education events, with Kraybill bringing in $90,000.The fund raiser benefits the Annual Fund.New Danville students participate in their Race for Education eventthat was held in the fall. PHOTO: EDIE HESSBRIDGES • WINTER 2009 9

■ When Jimm Derksen traveled to Asiain October, the sixth grade class at NewDanville e-mailed him with a questioneach day since he was traveling throughsome of the countries they were studyingin social studies. When the fatherof sixth grader Helena Derksenreturned, he visited the class anddescribed his experiences, discussingtransportation, housing, education,crops, pets and foods, including thegrilled frogs he was served for breakfastone day. Sixth grader Kerri Ressler saidDerksen made the social studies lessonsseem more real.■ On December 19, a delegation ofeducators associated with the BeijingMunicipal Education Commission visitedthe Lancaster Campus. Among thegroup were personnel directors, schoolcontinued on page 11Top photo: Jimm Derksen, center, whoworks in human resources at Eastern MennoniteMissions, visited the sixth gradeclass at New Danville to share of his experiencesin Asia. With him are, left to right:Emily Spilker, Kerri Ressler, JonathanSchultz, Emily Rosenfeld, Mike Wanore,Micaiah Barley and Helena Derksen.PHOTO: EDIE HESSBottom: In December Chinese guests presentedSuperintendent Richard Thomaswith gifts to the school.Scholarship available for20 incoming ninth gradersTwenty ninth grade merit-based scholarships of $1,000each are available to students applying to LancasterMennonite High School for the 2009-10 academic year. ThisNinth-grade Merit Scholarship will be awarded to the top 20applicants on the basis of academic excellence, exemplarycharacter, and leadership in the school, church and community.Eighth graders transferring from other schools as wellas those already enrolled at LMS are encouraged to apply.Successful applicants must have positive references fromthe principal or guidance counselor of their current schooland from a church leader such as a pastor, youth pastor orSunday School teacher.Applicants must submit a transcript or report card, references,and an application by February 15 to Christy Horst inthe admissions office of Lancaster Mennonite High School.Scholarship applications may be obtained online at www.lancastermennonite.org/formsor through the office of any LancasterMennonite School campus.The Ninth-grade Merit Scholarship will be awarded to thetop 20 applicants, regardless of financial need. Need-basedscholarships are also available. ■LMS summer day camps scheduledBasketballBoys basketball, grades 5–10 ................................July 20–24Girls basketball, grades 5–10 ..................................July 6–10Field HockeyJr. high field hockey, grades 6–8............................June 8–12Sr. high field hockey, grades 9–12...................August 10–14SoccerElem. coed soccer, grades 1–5 .............................June 15–19Jr. high boys soccer, grades 6–8 ..............................July 6–10Sr. high boys soccer, grades 9–12 ...................August 10–14VolleyballJr. high girls volleyball, grades 6–9 .......................July 13–17Other camp opportunitiesSpiritual fitness, grades 10–12.............................June 12–14Intro. to digital photography, grades 6–10 .......June 15 & 16Digital video editing, grades 6–12........................June 17–19Coed culinary arts, grades 4–9..............................July 20–24Youth Choir, grades 3–8........................................July 20–24Middle school drama, grades 6–8.........................July 27–31Other camps being planned are lacrosse, tennis, environmental science,and language. For a brochure and application, please call(717) 299-0436, ext. 310.10 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

continued from page 10principals, curriculum coordinators andcivil servants. Topics discussedincluded possible student or facultyexchanges, summer camps and shorttermprograms. The meetings providedgood opportunities for sharing aboutour Christian faith and values, as wellas our philosophy of education. Thedelegation was impressed by our schooland expressed strong interest in exploringa continued relationship with LMS.In January, 29 Korean educators visited,and in February 30–35 Chinese studentsand adult leaders will visit. ■Mark your calendar!February 22 High School Winter Concert, 3 p.m.February 27–28 Locust Grove Drama, Cheaper by the DozenMarch 15Beyond Ourselves Benefit Concert, 3 p.m., Fine Arts CenterMarch 26–27 LMMS Drama, 7 p.m.April 2All-School MS Fine Arts Festival, Lanc., 6:30 p.m.April 30–May 2 HS musical, Titanic, 7:30 p.m. + 2:00 Sat. matineeMay 8MSC MS Choir Festival Concert, Lanc., 7 p.m.May 12Kraybill Middle School Choral Program, 7 p.m.May 17High School Spring Concert, 3 p.m.Campus Chorale Church Schedule 2008-09fine arts scheduleLMS singers join MCCLfor benefit concertThe LMS Campus Chorale, JuniorChorale, and the Mennonite ChildrensChoir of Lancaster (MCCL)are partnering with the “BeyondOurselves” Chamber Musicians for abenefit concert Sunday, March 15, at3 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center. Theconcert will support Mennonite CentralCommittee and their work inColombia. The concert is free, butan offering will be received.LMS Golf Tournament,Wednesday,April 29:This year’s event at theLancaster Host GolfResort will againinclude morning andafternoon tee times.The fee of $85 per golfer includesgreens fee, cart, light food before theround, a meal afterward, andskill/door prizes. Brochures will besent in March. For more information,contact committee chair Allan Shirk,(717) 299-0436, ext. 382.Spring auctions:Three spring auctions will provide away for families, alumni and otherfriends to support LMS students. Allproceeds will go to the Annual Fundwhich keeps tuition affordable. Theevents are as follows:• New Danville Country Auction—April 17• Locust Grove Chicken Barbecueand Auction—April 24• Kraybill Benefit Auction & PigRoast—May 8 & 9February 1, 9 a.m. ...............................................................................Akron Mennonite ChurchMarch 1, 10:15 a.m. .....................................................................Ridgeview Mennonite ChurchMarch 4, 7 p.m...............................................................................Neffsville Mennonite ChurchMarch 22, 7 p.m. .........................................................................Conestoga Mennonite ChurchMarch 29, 10 a.m.............................................................................Hershey Mennonite ChurchApril 5, 8:30 & 11 a.m...........................................Community Mennonite Church of LancasterApril 26, 7 p.m. .............................................................................Strasburg Mennonite ChurchPastors strengthen relationshipswith their studentsighty-six pastors and youth leadersEvisited the New Danville, LocustGrove and Lancaster campuses duringSeptember, representing Atlantic CoastConference, Lancaster Mennonite Conference,and numerous other local congregations.At New Danville and Locust Grove,the event was an opportunity for pastorsto pray for the new school yearwith individual classes. At Lancaster,pastors attended the high school chapel,visited classes, and ate lunch with theirstudents. The Kraybill Campus willhold a Pastors Lunch on February 18.The goal of having pastors visit ourcampuses is to strengthen the partnershipbetween church and school astogether we invite students to personalfaith, Christlike witness, peacemakingand service. ■Top photo: Cheryl Hollinger, educationdirector at Forest Hills Mennonite Church,enjoys connecting with kindergarten studentsduring the Locust Grove Pastors Day.PHOTO: REBECCA ASHLEYBottom photo: Pastor Jose Jimenez fromChurch of God, Lancaster, attends class witheighth grader Genesis Cubilete during thePastors Day event at the Lancaster Campus.BRIDGES • WINTER 2009 11

CLASS NOTESNoah Martin. PHOTO: CHUCK MAMULANoah S. Martin, 1958, Johnstown,recently completed his sixth book,What to Do While You Wait For theWorld to End. The book explores thegreat expectations of many failed endtimeprophecies of Christ’s return andthe end of the world. He says: “Mybook is not a dramatic portrayal of cataclysmicevents that are to come. Rather,my take is that we are always living inour end times. … My emphasis is tolive now in the presence of the Christwho has already come and allow Himto live His life through us.” Martin hasserved as a pastor, teacher, and counselorfor 40 years and is the founderand director of New Day, Inc., a Christian-basedfaith ministry to at-risk childrenand youth in four locations inWestern Pennsylvania. He holdsdegrees from Eastern Mennonite University,Eastern Baptist TheologicalSeminary, Princeton Theological Seminaryand Lancaster Theological Seminary(where he received his doctorate).For more information go towww.noahsbooks.org or to the alumnisection of www.lancastermennonite.org.Noah’s book will eventually be availableat the Berean Bookstores in theLancaster area.Jennifer Wenger, 1990, King, Brownstown,earned her designation as a CertifiedResidential Specialist (CRS), adesignation which less than four percentof all licensed realtors have earned.In addition, Jennifer earned her associatebroker’s license in 2008, and isaffiliated with RE/MAX Associatesof Lancaster.Wendell Zeiset, 1991, East Earl, hasfinished a two-year term as chief at theBald Eagle Boys Camp in ClintonCounty. The camp is an alternative educationalfacility for teenage boys 9–16whose behavior is out of control. Theboys live outdoors year-round, guidedby young men.Jen Kooker, 1992, Peifer, Myersville,Md., and Krista Ebersole, 1994,Sensenig, East Petersburg, wereinducted into the Eastern Mennoniteathletics Hall of Honor on October 11.They were members of the 1995 fieldhockey team which reached the nationalCollegiate Athletics Association FinalFour. Both graduated from EMU withoutstanding career scores.Lydia Troncale, 2002, Moscow, Russia,works for Moscow ProtestantChaplaincy as the development director.The organization runs 12 social serviceprograms including two soup kitchensand several initiatives to help the largeAfrican and Afghani refugee communities.Troncale graduated from EasternUniversity with a master’s in internationaldevelopment.Julie Denlinger, 2005, Lancaster, wasrecently named to the Virginia SportsInformation Directors All-State Team.An All-ODAC Second Team recipient,she was named to the team after tallying11 goals and eight assists for 30points. She ends her Eastern MennoniteCLASS REUNIONS1973Class of 1973 classmates (left to right) Bob Hess, Joan Yoder Mills and Doris WitmerFahnestock visit at their class reunion that was held in Alumni Dining Hall in October.The Class of 1973 held their 35th classreunion in the LMS Alumni DiningHall on October 11. Fifty classmatesplus 37 spouses met for an evening ofinformal fellowship and a buffet dinner.During sharing, classmate Bob Petersheimreflected on the frequently heardcomment, “You haven’t changed atbit,” and said change might not be abad thing after checking out the yearbookpictures. On a more serious note,Petersheim referred to the myriad ofexperiences that classmates have experiencedsince graduation and challengedthe class to hold onto the schoolmotto, “Teach Me Thy Way, O Lord.”The evening also included a testwhere classmates and spouses tried toidentify early school pictures of classmatesand faculty members; 1970smusic that included clips from TheChoraleers, Daybreak (a local band thatinvolved three of the class’s members),and secular songs of the day; and a continuousPowerPoint slide presentationthat showed recent pictures of classmatesand their involvements today. ■For the complete report, submitted byWayne and Debbie Bechtold, and Arnoldand Esther Petersheim, go to www.lancastermennonite.organd click on “Alumni.”12 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

University career with 23 goals scored,20 assists and 66 points, placing her22nd on the all-time points list.From January to July, JonathanSpicher, 2006, Mountville, and friendLars Akerson. are participating in an8,500-mile bike trip from Harrisonburg,Virginia, to the Global Youth Summitand Mennonite World ConferenceAssembly in Asunción, Paraguay.Working with AMIGOS (the world conferenceyouth committee), BikeMovementAmericas hopes to raise $30,000through the bike trip to help emergingyoung leaders from around the worldattend the summit in Paraguay. To followthe trip, go to americas.bikemovement.org.Spicher is a junior at EasternMennonite University.MARRIAGESJulie Gish, 1994, and Andrew Gingrich,May 10, 2008. They live in Lancaster.Neal R. Martin, 1994, and Stacey Martin,March 15, 2008. They live in NewHolland.Eric M. Grosh, 2004, and LindsayZesiger, September 20, 2008. They livein Red Lion.Ramona Hurst, 2004, and Brent Martin,August 23, 2008. They live inReamstown.Jennifer Garber, 2005, and LinfordHershey, 2006, July 5, 2008. They livein Christiana.Clinton Simmons, 2003, and ChristinaYoder, April 19, 2008. They live inNew York City.BIRTHSKris and Patrick Leaman, 1988, SinkingSprings, a daughter, Ryan Elizabeth,November 27, 2008. She joins brothersCole and Jake.Jonathan Bollinger, 1990, and JanBollinger-Good, 1990, Lexena, Kan.,a son, Markus Alan, December 1, 2008.He joins siblings Madeline Marie, 5,and Joel Howard, 3.Adam and Dawn Gochnauer, 1993,Harnish, Millersville, first child,Marissa Dawn, August 7, 2008.Tom and Rebecca Interrante, 1995,Carroll, Spring City, twin daughters,Alanah Hope and Chiara Faith, April 5,2006. Rebecca owns an entertainmentand photography company specializingin weddings.Rodney, 1998, and Jodi Gehman,Kalona, Iowa, third child, Stella Milan,October 27, 2008, joining JacksonEugene, 4, and Alana Grace, 2.Ranae Miller, 2001, and Ryan Wintsch,Ronks, first child, Katelyn ElizabethMiller, October 10, 2008.Todd and Mandie Holloway, 2004,Denlinger, Lancaster, first child,Mason James, March 18, 2007; secondchild, Bayley Marie, October 14, 2008.DEATHSEli Lewis Miller, Sr., 1945, Harrisonburg,Va., July 7, 2008.Naaman L. Eberly, 1968, Lancaster,January 12, 2009.Marianne Beth Stutzman Williams,1981, Oley, December 6, 2008, as theresult of a traffic accident.Victoria LeAnne Heisey, 2008, Manheim,November 12, 2008, due to complicationsof acute leukemia. ■Challenge fund to provide 2 for 1 matchAlumni and other LMS friends are providingleadership gifts as a way to encourageincreased giving during the Alumni Phonathonthat will be held in February and March.According to Executive Director of Development/AlumniRelations Jeff Shank, the2009 Challenge Fund will add $2 for every $1given, as long as the total gift is increased byat least $10 over last year.During 2008 the phonathon raised close to$160,000 for the Annual Fund which helpskeep tuition affordable and provides studentscholarships. The event played an importantrole in helping the school balance its operatingbudget.For more information about the ChallengeFund or alumni phonathon, please call Shankat (717) 299-0436, ext. 706. ■Getting to talk with LMS alumni was a fun opportunity for students like AlannaHiller, 2008, who helped make phonathon calls last year.BRIDGES • WINTER 2009 13

2009 Class reunions1959 June 27, 20091974 July 18, 2009For more reunion information go towww.lancastermennonite.org.If you are a contact person for a2009 class reunion: Consider planningyour reunion around Homecoming2009 which will be heldNovember 20 and 21. The weekendwill include an alumni art exhibit,alumni reception, barbecue, specialtyauction, basketball tournamentand the Iron Bridge Run/Walk.Share your reunion date withExecutive Director of Development/Alumni Relations Jeff Shank at(717) 299-0436, ext. 706, orshankja@lancastermennonite.orgas soon as possible. For great planningtips, go to www.lancastermennonite.organd click on “alumni,”“class reunions,” and “informationfor reunion contact persons.”Appalachian Trail aplace for reflectionAlumni will remember him as TedHouser, 1994, but the “thru hikers”on the Appalachian Trail this past summerknew him by Spider, the trail namegiven to him by another hiker.From May 2 to September 2, theLMS alum hiked the entire 2,176 milesof the Appalachian Trail from Georgiato Maine. He went through 14 fourteenstates, five pairs of shoes and two backpacks.To make the trek, the Lancaster residentleft his job as a manager of a technologyintegration firm. He used thetrail as a place to prepare to transitionback to a career with non-profit organizations.“I want to focus on what I do in theworld rather than on the wealth Iamass,” he said.Houser says that the mental challengewas more difficult than the physicaleffort required to complete the journey.“At the halfway point, I was tired ofTasha Clemmer, 1993, left, and Ted Houser,1994. Clemmer teaches high school mathin New York City.living away from friends, family andconveniences,” he said. “It took a lot ofdiscipline to buckle down and committo another two months in the woods.”But having family and friends meethim along the trail occasionally didhelp, he says. Several even hiked withhim for a few days. Tasha Clemmer,also an LMS graduate, joined him forone week of his four-month trek.“Hiking with Tasha was a highlightof my trip,” he said. “It’s hard to beatthe camaraderie of old friends.” ■Ted Houser can be reached atted.houser@gmail.com or on Facebook.Called finest and most important new American musicalLancaster Mennonite High School studentswill perform the musical versionof Titanic during the school’s 30th annualArts Festival, Thursday through Saturday,April 30–May 2. Times are 7:30 nightlyand 2 p.m. Saturday.Called the finest and most importantmusical in over a decade, Yeston andStone’s Titanic examines the causes,conditions and characters involved inthis ever-fascinating drama. This factualstory—of her officers, crew and passengers—givesa porthole into the hopesand dreams of a few of the 2,200 soulswho boarded the Titanic for her maidenvoyage in 1912.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 envelopeto LMS Musical, 2176 Lincoln HighwayEast, Lancaster, Pa., 17602. Reservedtickets need to be claimed at least 30minutes before the performance.Dinner TheatreThe annual LMS Dinner Theatre, whichbenefits the Annual Fund, will be heldSaturday, May 2. The meal willbe catered by LMS Food Services underthe direction of Dottie Weber. Tickets,at $40.00 each, include reserved seating5:00 appetizers5:45 dinnerin AlumniDining HallLMS Dinner Theatre • Saturday, May 2Name ______________________________________________________________________________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):in the Fine Arts Center for the 7:30 performanceof Titanic. For the best seating,send order and payment today. ■7:30 musicalperformance inFine Arts Center___Boneless Pork Cutlet ___Stuffed Chicken Breast ___Vegetarian (call 299-0436 ext. 701)Instructions: Return this form with payment to LMS Dinner Theatre, 2176 LincolnHighway East, Lancaster, PA 17602. Tickets for reserved seats will be forwardedto you upon receipt of payment. Please register by Friday, April 24.14 BRIDGES • WINTER 2009

Church work apriority for 1977alumnusALUMNI FEATUREGrowing up in southern Floridawhere Mennonites are a minoritymay have a lot to do with why JerryMartin, 1977, is attracted to churchwork in areas less familiar withAnabaptists. Jerry is moderator ofMountain States Mennonite Conference(MSMC) which includes 21 churches innorthwestern Texas, New Mexico andColorado.“As individual churches and as aconference, we are forced to define whowe are in the context of a world thatknows very little about us,” Jerry said.“It is easy to be overly dependent ontradition or generations of families whogrew up Mennonite to energize andgrow the church.“People who don’t know the Mennoniteexperience require us to examineand verbalize our faith in new and differentways.”As conference moderator, Martinchairs the conference Leadership Boardand works closely with ConferenceMinister Herm Weaver. Jerry says heenjoys his role of organizing their leadershipgroup, helping to envision theconference’s future, and supportingHerm in his demanding task of overseeing21 churches.Jerry and his wife, Jeanette, also a1977 LMS graduate, are very active inLiving in the dorm ... was awonderful experience. I learned... that it is much more interestingto live with others than it isto live alone, which has becomea model for my life.- Jerry Martin, 1977their home congregation, Beth-El MennoniteChurch, near their ColoradoSprings home.“Participation in all aspects of churchlife is important to both of us,” he said.“We learned that from our parents andhave chosen it as a value for ourselves.The church needs active lay leaders.”Jerry’s involvement in his congregationhas included teaching, worshipleading, choir, servingas congregationalchair, andserving on thebuilding committee.Jeanette hasworked as administrativeassistant inthe Beth-El officefor 10 years. Jerrysays she also “isone of Beth-El’swelcoming gurus”who has led thechurch’s WelcomingMinistry formany years.For familyincome, Jerryworks from hishome as an independentsales representative for SauderManufacturing in Archbold, Ohio. Hecovers five states in his work—NorthernNew Mexico, Colorado, Utah,Wyoming and Montana.He received an associate degree inBible from Hesston College and a B.A.in organizational communication fromUniversity of Colorado.Although Jerry and Jeanette met atLancaster Mennonite, it wasn’t until sixyears after graduation that they discoveredthe spark that led to their marriagein 1985. They have a daughter, Chloe(a student at Hesston College), and ason, Jacob.ServiceJerry and Jeanette taught two years inAswan, Egypt, as English as a SecondLanguage teachers and served threeyears in Amman, Jordan, as countryrepresentatives—both assignmentsunder Mennonite Central Committee.LMS influence on church workGoing to LMH for my junior and senioryears provided an integration of faithand education that I hadn’t experiencedbefore. I think it provided a model thathas helped me balance a working careerand service as a church leader.Jerry Martin and Jeanette Hertzler Martin, both 1977Best things about LMSI have lifelong friendships that began atLMH, including the most important onein my life (Jeanette). In addition, CampusChorale and Choraleers were veryimportant experiences for both of us.LMS residence hallLiving in the dorm as a senior was awonderful experience. Dick Thomaswas a great dorm advisor. I learned inthe dorm that it is much more interestingto live with others than it is to livealone, which has become a model formy life. The dorm was a highlight forJeanette as well (she lived in Mechanicsburg).Jeanette and I love ...The wide open spaces and the outdoorlife of the mountainous west. From thetime we moved to Colorado more than20 years ago, camping, hiking, bicyclingand skiing have been an importantpart of our lives. While we live in anurban area, the recent rural history ofthis part of the country still permeatesthe pace of life and relationships. ■BRIDGES • WINTER 2009 15

from the superintendentCenter a reminder of Christian faithfulnessChristmas seemed to come early tothe Lancaster Campus when, onDecember 2, students moved into RuttAcademic Center.The center is named in honor ofClarence and Elva Rutt because of anaming gift that was given by their children,led by sons Clarence Jr. and John.Clarence Sr., along with some of hischildren, participated in the campusclean-up that prepared Lancaster MennoniteHigh School for its opening inSeptember of 1942.Clarence and Elva sent their sevenchildren through LMS, and Clarenceserved on the school board and later inthe maintenance department. Son Johnserved on the LMS board, Clarence onthe LMS alumni board, and the followingas faculty members: daughter JoyceRutt Eby, son-in-law Charles Longenecker,and grandchildren C.J. Rutt andLynn Longenecker. Grandson RogerRutt serves on the school board, andmany grandchildren are LMS alumni.We celebrate the involvement of thisfamily in the life of the school and theircommitment to the difference made bya Christian education. We celebrate thesacrifice Clarence and Elva made to paytuition for their seven children and theirvision that this was a way to securetheir children’s futures.In many ways Clarence and Elva areheroes of faith, a story that continues toinspire others to support Christ-centerededucation. Clarence and Elva didnot set out to have a building named forthem; they simply were faithful to whatthey believed God was calling them todo. They became witnesses to God'sfaithfulness as they took seriously the“first great commission” to pass onfaith to our sons and daughters. TheRutt Academic Center will serve as areminder of that Christian faithfulness.It has been said that we shape ourbuildings and then they shape us. Thetechnology included in the center willhelp faculty communicate concepts andempower students to discover knowledgethrough work in science labs.We believe the green aspects of thebuilding will call all of us to more fullyfollow the biblical command to bestewards of all creation and that thecenter’s gathering areas will build communityamong students and betweenstudents and staff.The Rutt Academic Center is a signaturestructure that communicates academicstrength in a holistic settingwhere faith is both caught and taught.In these challenging times, LancasterJ. Richard ThomasMennonite School exists as a missionalcenter of the church, serving the greaterLancaster area. For the new facility,which enhances that service, we thankthe Rutt family who provided a naminggift, Calvin and Janet High who provideda matching gift that took us togroundbreaking, and the many otherfriends who helped us complete fundingfor the center. Most of all, we praiseGod who sustains us in this vision andjourney in Christian education. To Godbe the glory.—jrt2176 Lincoln Highway EastLancaster, PA 17602Non-ProfitU.S. PostagePAIDLancaster, PAPermit No. 280POSTMASTER: Time Sensitive Material. Requested in Home Dates Jan. 23 - Jan. 27Parents: If this is addressed to a son or daughterwho has established a separate residence, pleasegive us the new address. Call (717) 299-0436, ext.701, or e-mail sprungerdl@lancastermennonite.org.Centered in Christ • Transforming Lives • Changing our World