Goshen College

Congratulations to alum Katie Sowers ’09, just named to University of Central Missouri's 10 Under 40. From Goshen to the NFL to now coaching women's flag football at the University of Nebraska, Katie's path is one we love celebrating!

https://www.goshen.edu/news/2026/katie-sowers-09-recognized-among-ucms-top-young-alumni/

President Rebecca Stoltzfus welcomed her fellow presidents to Goshen College this week for a gathering of the Mennonite Higher Education Association — six Anabaptist-Mennonite schools working, in partnership with Mennonite Church USA, to build the future of faith-rooted, values-driven education. The gathering, co-hosted by the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) included (left to right) Mark Landes, president of Hesston College , Dr. J. Alexander (Alex) Sider president of Bluffton University , President Stoltzfus, Dave Boshart, president of AMBS, Dr. Shannon Dycus, president of Eastern Mennonite University and Wynn Goering, interim president of Bethel College, North Newton, KS.

🎟️ Beginning today, all Goshen College Box Office sales will transition to a new online ticketing platform powered by PurplePass. While the system will have an updated look and purchasing process, you can still find all upcoming performances and ticketed events at www.goshen.edu/tickets.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
✨ For the General Public: Guest accounts are no longer required! You can complete your ticket purchases through a faster, streamlined checkout process.
✨ For GC Students & Employees: To access free or discounted tickets, look for the "Single Sign-On" (SSO) link on the event page. Simply log in with your standard Goshen College credentials via Okta to unlock your campus discounts.
✨ Interactive Seat Selection: Planning a visit to Sauder Concert Hall or the Umble Center? You'll notice newly designed, interactive seating maps to help you pick your exact seats for reserved seating events.

BOX OFFICE HOURS & KEY DATES:
✨ August 3 (Monday): Individual tickets go on sale on the new ticketing platform.
✨ Box Office Hours (beginning in August): Open in-person Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

If you have questions or need assistance during the transition, please reach out to the Box Office team at [email protected] or (574) 535-7566.

Online presale tickets for Punch Brothers are now available for purchase on the Goshen College Box Office website: https://www.goshen.edu/tickets/

This performance will be the first of 10 in the 2026-27 Performing Arts Series lineup. Individual tickets for all PAS performances will be available online on Monday, Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. EDT.

🌟 Hickory Scholar Spotlight 🌟

Kat Columna recently graduated with an art major and marketing minor. As a Hickory Scholar this summer, Columna completed an artist residency at the Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College. Her faculty research advisor was Sara Method, associate professor of art.

The goal of her residency was to be artistically immersed in Merry Lea’s diverse habitats, learning more about native species, their behavior and environmental changes. Research involved readings by naturalists and scientists like Robin Wall Kimmerer and Gene Stratton-Porter, researching field guides, sketching the environment and learning to build routine in a residency program. Columna’s creative process included plein air watercolor paintings, acrylic paintings, prairie leaf monoprints and embroidery portraits of different animals and plants she saw at Merry Lea.

Ever lost your patience over a self-checkout scanner? President Rebecca Stoltzfus has too... and it led her to a bigger question about staying human in an increasingly automated world.

Read the full blog post: https://www.goshen.edu/news/2026/the-celery-lady-tries-to-be-a-better-human/

🌟 Maple Scholar Spotlight 🌟

Sara Nunez is a junior majoring in biochemistry. Her faculty research advisor was Deana Baker, associate professor of biology. Nunez and Baker developed a reliable laboratory protocol that will be used to measure two saliva-based biomarkers of stress: cortisol, a hormone that rises in response to stress, and salivary alpha-amylase, an enzyme that signals the body's more immediate stress response.

Using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test kits, Nunez refined each step of the process to make it more efficient and reduce the chance of technical error. Her research project produced a versatile, tested method that future Goshen College students can pick up for their own senior research. Beyond individual research, the protocol could also support our future immunology courses, giving students a smoother, more accessible way to practice ELISA in the classroom.

🌟 Maple Scholar Spotlight 🌟

Sophia Yoder is a senior with a double major in film production and art. Her faculty project advisor was Kyle Hufford, professor of communication and department chair. She created a new promotional video for Goshen College’s J.N. Roth Marine Biology Station in the Florida Keys to promote the marine biology program at Goshen College. She and Hufford captured footage of the class over May Term, and used that footage to create the video. Her goal was to create an exciting, engaging and enticing video for prospective students looking to major in marine biology.