Tabor College

Centennial Plaza and Sculpture Dedication Highlight Centennial Homecoming

October 06, 2008

Categories: General News

The dedication of a new focal point on campus – Centennial Plaza containing a dramatic sculpture, “Called to Serve”—was the highlight of the Tabor College Centennial Homecoming Celebration this past weekend.

“The Centennial Plaza is in a perfect location, where everyone can see and experience the mission of Tabor College,” said President Jules Glanzer. “The ‘Called to Serve’ sculpture is inspiring, contemplative, moving, and one cannot help but be touched by its message.”

Living former presidents and representatives of additional presidents where honored at the Tabor College Centennial Plaza dedication ceremony during the college’s Centennial Homecoming Celebration. Front row, from left: Lucy McAllister, Ron Braun, Evelyn (Janzen) Ediger, Richard Schellenberg, Phyllis Martens, Will Johnson, and Marvin Kroeker. Middle row: Judy (Prieb) Harder, Jeanne (Just) Janzen, former president Vernon Janzen, and Rebena (Wiens) Wiebe. Back row: former president LeVon Balzer, Ferne (Kornelsen) Hiebert, former president David Brandt, president emeritus Larry Nikkel, and current president Jules Glanzer.

Former presidents Vernon Janzen, Dr. LeVon Balzer, Dr. H. David Brandt, and Larry Nikkel were in attendance at the dedication ceremony, as were representatives of the college’s additional presidents.

Former Tabor College presidents, from left, Vernon Janzen and LeVon Balzer, “Called to Serve” sculptor Sandra Storm, current president Jules Glanzer, and former presidents Larry Nikkel and David Brandt pose at the Centennial Plaza Dedication Ceremony, held Oct. 4, as a highlight of the college’s Centennial Homecoming Celebration.

They joined scores of alumni and friends on the campus lawn, which was transformed into a garden of engraved pavestones and flowers. At its center is the new sculpture created by Sandra Storm, a world-renown artist and Tabor alumnus.

“For many years to come, this plaza will convey to both the campus community and to visitors that Tabor College is place where service to God and to others is nurtured and cherished,” said Board Chairman Lyndon Vix.

The college also received a Centennial Poem, entitled “Seed for the World,” written by Mennonite author and poet Jean Janzen, of Fresno, Calif.

In addition to receiving a new sculpture during its Centennial Homecoming Celebration, the college also received a Centennial Poem, entitled “Seed for the World,” written by Mennonite author and poet Jean Janzen, of Fresno, Calif., and a Centennial Quilt, created by Karen Hauff, of Shoreview, Minn. Hauff, a 1966 graduate, is a member of the college’s board of directors.

Two graduates of the college were honored during the Centennial Homecoming Celebration. Andrew Owen, a 1994 graduate serving as a missionary in Thailand with Mennonite Brethren Mission Service International, received the Alumni Medallion Award. Jonah Kliewer, a 1955 graduate and Emeritus Professor of Voice and Choral Music, received the Alumni Merit Award. Kliewer died July 12 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, at 75.

The Centennial Plaza was conceived by Nikkel, who began the project before his retirement as president last year. He led the project to completion as the first President Emeritus in the history of the college.

“The story of Tabor is a story of God’s faithfulness to a faithful people,” Nikkel said. “It is entirely appropriate for Tabor to mark this milestone with the dedication of a plaza upon which the core values of Tabor College are presented with such clarity and power.

“I would suggest that, not only has Sandra Storm captured this spirit of service in her sculptures, she has also given us the visual symbols of the Gospel itself.”

For Glanzer, the dedication ceremony marked the highlight of an unforgettable weekend.

“For the past 100 years, God has led Tabor College through the hands of the presidents listed on the plaza,” Glanzer said. “They have shepherded Tabor with integrity of heart and with skillful hands.

“I am standing on the shoulders of many great men who have led Tabor,” Glanzer added. “Their commitment, sacrifice, and service have been extraordinary.”

A Centennial Quilt was presented by Karen Hauff, of Shoreview, Minn. Hauff, a 1966 graduate, is a member of the college’s board of directors.

In attendance at the ceremony were the following past-presidents or representatives:

• The first president of Tabor College, serving from 1908 until 1931 was Henry W. Lohrenz. Representing H.W. Lohrenz was his granddaughter, Lucy McAllwaster from Afton, Minnesota.

• The second president was Peter C. Hiebert serving from 1932 to 1934. Representing P.C. Hiebert was Ron Braun of North Newton, Kansas. P. C. Hiebert served as chair of the Mennonite Central Committee for 42 years. Ron Braun served in the same organization for 20 years.

• The third president was Abraham E. Janzen who served from 1935 to 1942. Representing A. E. Janzen was his niece, Evelyn Ediger from Topeka, Kan.

• The fourth president was Peter E. Schellenberg who served from 1942 to 1951. Representing P. E. Schellenberg was his son Richard from Wichita, Kan.

• The fifth president was John N. C. Hiebert who served from 1951 to 1953. Representing J. N. C. Hiebert was his daughter Phyllis Martens from Fresno, Calif.

• The sixth president was Leonard J. Franz who served from 1953 to 1954 and again from 1956 to 1962. Representing L. J. Franz was Marvin Kroeker of Ada, Okla., who served as a member of the history faculty with L. J. Franz.

• The seventh president was Frank C. Peters who served from 1954 to 1956. Representing F.C. Peters was William Johnson of Hillsboro, Kan., who was a member of the faculty during the Peters’ presidency.

• Wesley J. Prieb served as interim president from 1962 to 1963. Representing Wes Prieb was his daughter Judy Harder from Hillsboro, Kan.

• The eighth president was Roy Just who served from 1963 to 1980. Representing Roy Just was his daughter Jeanne Janzen from Fresno, Calif.

• The ninth president was Vernon Janzen now living in Fresno, Calif., who served from 1980 to 1987.

• Vernon Wiebe served as interim president from 1987 to 1988. He was represented by his wife Rubena of Hillsboro, Kan.

• The tenth president was LeVon Balzer now living in Bella Vista, Ark., who served from 1988 to 1994.

• Clarence Hiebert served as interim president in 1994 and 1995. He was represented by his wife Ferne of Hillsboro, Kan.

• The eleventh president was David Brandt, now living in Mechanicsburg, Pa., who served from 1995 to 1998.

• The twelfth president was Larry Nikkel who still lives in Hillsboro, Kan., and who served from 1998 to 2007.

• Jules Glanzer is the thirteenth and present president of Tabor College. He was inaugurated in May.