The policy has to do with how people working with MCC talk about their host countries when they go overseas. They are to refrain from comments that would offend or jeopardize their local partners and hurt the dignity of the people. MCC also urges its workers to respect the local culture and to refuse to reinforce stereotypes.

“I agree with the intent of the policy,” said Stauffer, a major from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, “but sometimes I think MCC goes too far.”

For two months during the summer of 2013, Stauffer was an intern with MCC in Honduras, which has the highest murder rate in the world. The American media portrays it as a violent country of drug traffickers that sends its children fleeing to the United States.

In Honduras, Stauffer wrote in his blog about the different ways he had noticed violence in that country. He mentioned the dilapidated housing in Honduras, writing that “poverty like this is not unrelated to violent crime.” He also wrote about his direct experiences with violence in the country.

Before posting his blog, Stauffer had MCC staff in Honduras review it. They asked him to remove the references to the houses and the violence. “I understood about the housing because it violated dignity. But I didn’t like that they wanted to censor what I said about violence, because I was trying to relate my experiences with violence in order to break down the dominant narrative of violence,” he said.

A few months later, back on campus, Stauffer signed up for the annual C. Henry Smith Oratorical Contest for students at Mennonite colleges in the United States and Canada. The student was to apply the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in 1,500 words or less, speaking for 8-10 minutes.

Stauffer decided to write and speak about the dangers of avoiding difficult discussions about violence, inspired by his experience in Honduras. He also drew on a TED talk that has been reference frequently by MCC workers. It was by in which she decried the dominant cultural narratives.

In Honduras, MCC wanted to fight the dominant narrative that the country was a violent place. “But in this case, where I couldn’t even talk about violence, MCC had similarly adopted a single story to compensate against the dominant narrative,” Stauffer said.

Stauffer’s speech, titled “,” won first place at 91����Ƶ last March. He received $250. The two runners up for 91����Ƶ were senior major Chris Yoder and senior major Jordan Luther. The other contestants were first-year student Sara Caitlin Neubert and junior Chris Parks.

“I am grateful for students like Seth who not only are willing to serve with MCC but are also then able to begin to process that experience in an academic setting,” said , an 91����Ƶ professor who currently chairs the MCC U.S. board. She and her husband also served previously with MCC in Central America.

Stauffer’s winning speech at 91����Ƶ was videotaped and sent to three judges who work in peace and justice ministries at MCC U.S. and MCC Canada – Sue Eagle, Lorraine Stutzman Amstutz and Ewuare Osayande.

The winners were announced in late August. In addition to Stauffer in second place were Abby Deaton of Goshen College in first place and Mary Schrag of Bluffton University in third place. Stauffer received a $225 cash prize and a $200 scholarship to a peace conference or seminar.

Stauffer plans to graduate from 91����Ƶ in spring 2015. After a “gap year” of work and study in Harrisonburg, he hopes to enroll in law school.

Stauffer, a second-year major from Lebanon, Pa., delved into the dangers of avoiding difficult discussions about violence in some areas where works. “I think it is important for MCC to consider what ability they have to be subversive to violence by communicating about it in a more helpful way,” said Stauffer.

The annual C. Henry Smith Oratorical Contest brings together students from Mennonite and Brethren in Christ colleges and universities in the United States and Canada to speak on contemporary issues from a Christian perspective. Winners at each school move on the intercollegiate portion of the contest for cash awards and conference scholarships.

Stauffer’s speech drew inspiration from ideas put forth in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED talk, “.” In that talk, Adichie speaks of painful experiences she has had coming to terms with others’ perceptions of her, and her perceptions of them based on the dominant cultural narrative. To her, these single stories were fraught with inaccuracy and unhelpful stereotypes; getting beyond them allowed her to more fully experience the world.

Stauffer summarized Adichie’s point by noting that one story is never enough. But ignoring one particular story among many also has its pitfalls. As an example, he cited MCC censorship of a blog post he wrote about violence he witnessed last summer, while volunteering for the organization in Honduras. MCC, he said, didn’t want to reinforce the perception of Honduras as a violent place. “In some ways, just talking about violence will reinforce popular assumptions,” Stauffer said. “But in this case, MCC had similarly adopted a single story to compensate against the dominant narrative.”

After a lengthy discussion, a three-judge panel, including 91����Ƶ professors and , and Jennifer Davis Sensenig, a local Mennonite pastor, deemed Stauffer’s speech the best of the five entered in the contest.

The judges evaluated each speaker on topic, content, conclusion, delivery, introduction and originality. After the speeches, , organizer and emcee of the event, thanked all the student participants for their courage and their insight, and expressed her relief at not having to judge such an outstanding group.

The judges awarded Stauffer the first spot and also recognized two runners up, Chris Yoder, a senior major, and Jordan Luther, a senior majoring in . Yoder spoke about cultural adaptability in the context of cross-cultural experiences, while Luther gave a speech about the challenges and social stigmas associated with accent.

Rounding out the five speakers was first-year Sara Caitlin Neubert, who investigated issues of body image and the role of the church in promoting positive self-image. Chris Parks, a junior, drew the first speaking position of the evening and made an appeal for acceptance and equality titled “Dreaming a New America.”

Stauffer will receive $250 and entry to the intercollegiate portion of the contest.

Last year’s winner of the C. Henry Smith Oratorical Contest at 91����Ƶ was Emily Harnish. She placed third at the binational contest with her speech, “Lessons from the Hymnal in an Election Season.”

Emily Harnish, a senior from Strasburg, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Lessons from the hymnal in an election season.” In her speech, Harnish explains her anger over the non-peaceful manner of politics during the 2012 election and how the hymn, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” made her think about peace in a new way.

“When I remember that my citizenship is in heaven, I am able to look past disagreements about politics,” said Harnish.

“When I take seriously the hymn’s command to give Christ all reverence and honor, I am able to move closer to living in peaceful relationships with my neighbors. This first stanza helped me understand that peacebuilding requires humility, that humans have limits, and that peace and wholeness come from something outside of humanity. It reminded me to keep silence, to be slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

As a first-place winner, she will receive a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Rebekah Enns, a senior from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was one of two runners-up with her speech, “Language as Lived Reality: Developing a Discourse of Peace.” Enns discussed the power of words to “legitimize and delegitimize violence and to build societies of peace.”

“At least 43 percent of American Muslims undergo some form of discrimination or violence because of their religion every year. And while they only make up one percent of the American public, American Muslims are victims of 13 percent of hate crimes in the U.S.

“Through discourse, we, us, everyday people have the power to create systems of peace.”

Josh Kanagy, a senior from Timberville, Va., was the other runner-up with his speech, “Molding Peace Within: Reflections of a Recovering Workaholic.” Kanagy restructured his daily schedule to match his priorities, “refraining from responsibilities that overwhelmed me.”

“There’s nothing heroic about suffering alone. As illustrated by Thomas Merton, ‘This is about more than self-care, this is about molding yourself and your environment to support your capacity to thrive.'”

Kanagy urged those in attendance to, “Seek your passion, your freely chosen task.”

C. Henry Smith Oratorical Contest

The annual oratorical event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of U.S.

Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in an 8-10 minute address.

The contest was established in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton University.

Other 2013 contestants

• Corben Boshart, “Seeking Unity in the Mennonite Church”
• James Souder, “Redistributing Food, An Opportunity for Peace”
• Jossimar Díaz-Castro, “A Christian, Democratic Immigrant Witness & Participation Today”
• Mariah Elliott, “Are You Who You Say You Are?”
• Taylor Waidelich, “Restoring Justice to Educational Discipline”

Byler, who graduated with a degree in social work, was a senior when she gave her speech discussing how her profession can both empower individuals and tackle systemic issues.

“I challenge us to use our gifts to empower individuals, communities and policy making bodies in ways that confront systemic injustice and shift toward sustainable change. We must not forget the end goal,” Byler said.

She was awarded a $150 cash prize from , which sponsors the bi-national contest.

Lauren Treiber, a junior at Goshen College, won first prize  for her speech, “The Real Occupy Movement: Understanding Capitalism in a Christian Context.” The second-place winner in the contest was Katie Wineland, a senior at Bluffton University, for her speech, “Speaking a Wor(l)d of Truth: Proclamation as Peacebuilding.”

Treiber collected a $300 cash prize while Wineland was awarded a $225.

91����Ƶ the contest

The annual oratorical event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of MCC.

Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in an 8-10 minute address.

91����Ƶ has participated in the event since 2003, with 91����Ƶ students winning the in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2011. The contest is sponsored by 91����Ƶ’s , , and programs.

The contest was established in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen and Bluffton.

Cattell Noll, a conservation technician, works within the at the . Her work focuses on the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay watershed – specifically, implementing community-based wetland restoration projects.

“The projects are ‘community-based’ because we engage volunteers from the local area in the actual planting of the sites,” said Cattell Noll. “The idea is community members who help restore a wetland become invested in that site and want to protect it.”

Life after 91����Ƶ

After graduating with a degree in environmental science, Cattell Noll began working with , assisting with several National Aquarium projects. When her two-year commitment was finished, Cattell Noll started an internship at the aquarium, which eventually led to a full-time position.

“When I talk to kids and other community members about environmental issues, I try to offer concrete steps that people can take in their everyday lives.”

Cattell Noll says she tries to not focus too much on “doom and gloom” concepts because people will not be motivated to make changes. Instead, she takes lessons learned from her time at 91����Ƶ and weaves them into her presentations.

“At 91����Ƶ I learned a lot about the day-to-day changes that I as an individual can make to improve our environment,” said Cattell Noll, . “I regularly encourage students to learn about and try recycling, composting, gardening and biking – ideas that I became intimately familiar with as a student.”

An outdoor classroom

Cattell Noll works specifically with students from the Terrapins in the Classroom and the Wetland Nursery Programs. In both programs, students are involved from start-to-finish in the project, raising fish and/or grasses in their schoolyard or feeding and measuring terrapins.

“The terrapin project is part of a larger research initiative to see if this ‘head start’ year helps increase survival rates of the diamondback terrapin,” said Cattell Noll.

Cattell Noll said her team monitors the sites for months and sometimes years after the initial project is finished.

“It’s really rewarding when a student or community volunteer has an ‘aha’ moment about the environment,” said Cattell Noll. “We hope the act of giving back to their local ecosystem inspires a personal shift towards stewardship of the environment.”

Not a typical job

When Cattell Noll is not visiting classrooms or leading initiatives, she’s involved in seasonal projects – planning for terrapin release and large-scale community restoration and plantings in upstate New York, Maryland’s eastern shore and Virginia Beach, among others.

“There is no such thing as a ‘routine’ day for me!”

While the manual labor and extensive work out of state can wear on anyone, Cattell Noll finds her most satisfying moments are when “the students become the teachers.”

“When we explained to one group of students that rainwater washes trash into the storm drains and then into the Bay, they were astounded,” said Cattell Noll. “A few months later, when we were planting grasses one student wondered aloud how all the trash got there. Before I could answer, all the kids were yelling, ‘Don’t you remember? It comes from the storm drains!’

“It’s rewarding to know that the message is getting through.”

Rose Byler, a senior major from Goshen, Ind., won first place with her speech, “Living into the Tension: Social Services and Systemic Change.” Byler discussed how her profession can both empower individuals and tackle systemic issues.

“I challenge us to use our gifts to empower individuals, communities and policy making bodies in ways that confront systemic injustice and shift toward sustainable change. We must not forget the end goal,” Byler said.

As first-place winner, Byler receives a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite-rooted colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The bi-national winner will be announced in the fall.

Julia Schmidt, a junior from Pandora, Ohio, who is majoring in in addition to , was first runner-up with her speech, “Holding Dignity in the Community of Faith.” Her speech focused on responses to difference and conflict in the church, articulating “how the concept of dignity can transform the way we live in relationship as a community of faith.”

“Looking back on my two experiences [in Ohio and Texas], I believe that dignity was the difference,” said Schmidt. “Now, I don’t think people in (my first church example) were bad people, or they meant to harm each other in the way they did. However, the church did not understand dignity, and how dignity is essential to all humans, and especially when attempting to be a community of Christ.”

Taylor Weidman, a junior from Chambersburg, Pa., who is triple-majoring in , and , was second runner-up with his speech, “Dissimilarity is Hope.” Weidman spoke about his story of dyslexia and the recognition of dissimilarities in the world.

“As a community dedicated to peace, we must not use or internalize the methods of measurement or conformity,” Weidman said. “As a community of learners and teachers, we cannot let ourselves become reduced to merely cogs in a system of compulsion…”

The annual oratorical event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of U.S.

Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in an 8-10 minute address.

The contest was established in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton University.

Other 2012 contestants

• Thomas Millary, “A Pluralistic Realm: Towards a Theology of Peace”
• Joel Nofziger, “Confession as a Restorative Practice in the Church”
• Sarah Schoenhals, “Justice from Generation to Generation”
• Jamila Witmer, “His Dream is our Command: Breaking Stereotypes through Integration”

Each speaker applied the Christian peace position to a contemporary concern in an 8-10 minute address of 1,500 words or less.

Jessica Sarriot, a senior peacebuilding and Development major originally from Paris, France, took first place with her speech, “Hold on, Together.” Her speech examined the difficulties persons have in hearing each other,
often springing from a disparate sense of urgency and priority, and what needs to happen for genuine communication to occur.

“No matter their age, stance on war, mental health or the Establishment, people are brought together by their willingness to be moved, physically and figuratively, by the cry of another. When we do that, when we live
awake and responsive to others, seeing allies and opportunities, taking mad leaps at the light barely seen through the darkness, we are rewarded,”  Sarriott declared.

Jossimar Diaz-Castro, a sophomore philosophy and theology major from Mexico City, Mexico was first runner-up with his speech, “Unwanted Aliens: the Jewish and Hispanic Story.” Drawing on similarities between the Jewish people of Bible times and contemporary society, he urged his audience to “develop relationships with your Hispanic brothers and sisters. Invite them and visit each others’ congregations and set your tables for them.”

Megan Brauckmann, a senior peacebuilding and development major from Baltimore, Md., was second runner-up with her speech, “An Embodied Faith.”

“Being the body of Christ means allowing the model of the incarnation to challenge us radically to an embodied faith, a faith that wrestles with what the incarnation of the Word of God means and the role of the body in our theology – a faith that approaches each person barefoot, encountering holy ground,” Bruackmann stated.

As first-place winner, Ms. Sarriott receives a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. The bi-national winner will be announced in late September/early October.

Following graduation this spring, Sarriott plans to join nine other people in SEED, a two-year peacebuilding program in Colombia with Mennonite Central Committee.

The annual oratorical event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S.

The contest was established in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton University.

Jessica Sarriot, a senior development and peacebuilding major with minors in pre-law, political studies, history and social sciences, was honored for her speech, “,” in the C. Henry Smith Smith Oratorical Contest.  She received a $225 cash prize.

In her address, Sarriot called members of Mennonite Church USA to support the Palestinian church’s call voiced through the Kairos Document as well as Palestinian civil society and Israeli peace groups for selective divestment from the Israeli Occupation. Leaning on the stance of the Mennonite Church and its affiliated institutions of supporting peace as well as the concept of “first do no harm,” she asserted that removing stocks from companies which help to enable and entrench the oppression of Palestinians was a moral mandate.

“This call comes from a deep love for both Israelis and Palestinians and an understanding that love speaks the truth and holds its subjects accountable as well as a recognition that doing nothing is not a neutral act but a support for the status quo,” Ms. Sarriot declared.

She ended with a call to action for all members of Mennonite congregations, institutions or stock holders with Everence (formerly Mennonite Mutual Aid) that they speak up in support of divestment. “This is our Kairos, our opportune moment to work for justice,” she stated.

Sarriot is a native of Paris, France currently living in Harrisonburg. Following graduation this spring, she plans to join nine other people in SEED, a two-year peacebuilding program in Colombia with Mennonite Central Committee.

The annual event, open to students in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges in Canada and the United States, is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) U.S.  The top three speakers receive scholarships to attend a peace-related conference or seminar as well as cash prizes, with $300 awarded for first place.

First place award went to John Wray, a 2010 alumnus of Conrad Grebel University, Waterloo, Ont., for his presentation, “Seeing the Human in the Human.”

Other 91����Ƶ contestants included:

Jossimar Diaz-Castro, a sophomore philosophy and theology major from Mexico City, Mexico was first runner-up with his speech, “.”

Megan Brauckmann, a senior peacebuilding and development major from Baltimore, MD was second runner-up with her speech, “.”

• Chrissy Kreider, a senior biology major, spoke about “Connecting for Compassion”
• Larisa Zehr, a senior peacebuilding and development major, spoke on “Tell me a Story”
• Jakob zumFelde, a senior environmental science and chemistry major, spoke on “Separated from Creation by Asphalt”

91����Ƶ the peace oratorical contest

Directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust established the contest in 1974 in honor of the late C. Henry Smith, a Mennonite historian and professor at Goshen College and Bluffton College (now University). Participating colleges host a contest with student speeches on the general theme of applying the Christian peace position to contemporary concerns. These individual campus contests usually take place during the spring semester of the academic year.

Judges for the 2010 contest were Michelle Armster, co-director of the MCC U.S. Office on Justice and Peacebuilding; Prem Dick, personnel placement coordinator in Human Resources for MCC; and Doug Pritchard, co-director of Christian Peacemaker Teams.

More information on MCC’s peace education work, including resources for youth and young adults on conscientious objection and alternatives to military enlistment, can be found at .

Laura C. Cattell

Laura C. Cattell, an environmental science and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Honey Brook, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System.”

Listen to the podcast of Laura’s speech as she gave it during chapel on April 3, 2009.

In the bi-national contest she competed against winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Building a more just world

In describing structural violence, she presented a case study of two high schools in the Philadelphia area, one in a wealthy suburb and another in a nearby economically-distressed area in the city. As persons and organizations worked within the system for a more equitable distribution of resources and program funds, the formula used to allocate federal funds was changed to include parameters such as poverty and ESL and consequently provide more resources to communities with little indigenous wealth.

“If we are to do true peacebuilding, we must address structural violence,” Cattell said in her speech. “Service and individual change are needed, but without advocacy it is short-sighted. As Christians, we must continue to serve those around us, but must also embrace the role of advocacy in building a more just world.

Challenging and engaging coursework at 91����Ƶ

“Challenging and engaging coursework at 91����Ƶ promoted me to speak about the power differentials that maintain and entrench structural violence, I chose to speak specifically about the education system because in theory it gives all kids the same chance at success,” Cattell said.

“I am grateful for such a wonderful opportunity to articulate the problem of structural violence in the education system and to [91����Ƶ] professor Gloria Rhodes for her guidance and encouragement on this project,” she added.

In April 2009, Cattell was among 10 recipients of the annual “Cords of Distinction” award. The students were selected for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the university and on student life, for their contributions to developing the institution’s positive image, for substantial contributions to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County area and beyond, for their high academic and social standing and their embodiment of 91����Ƶ’s shared values of Christian discipleship, community, service and peacebuilding.

Cattell will begin working in October with the Maryland Conservation Corps at the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary (). This award-winning AmeriCorps program engages young adults in extensive natural resource management and park conservation projects. The program has been managed by the Maryland Park Service since 1984.

She is a member of Frazer Mennonite Church, Malvern, Pa.

Nick Stoddard winner in 2007

91����Ƶ has participated in the oratorical competition for the last seven out of eight years, with Nicholas L. (Nick) Detweiler-Stoddard of Harrisonburg winning the grand prize at the bi-national level in 2007 with his speech, “Connect the Dots.”

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University. Smith is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate. At 91����Ƶ, the contest is sponsored by the departments of Bible and religion, language and literature and justice, peace and conflict studies.

Laura Cattell (r.), first-place winner in the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest with first runner-up Brianna Oelschlager. Absent: Second runner-up Barry Weixler-Landis.

Laura Cattell, a senior environmental science and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Honey Brook, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System.”

Brianna Oelschlager, a sophomore biochemistry major from Sellersville, Pa., was first runner-up with her speech, “Basic Needs as the Basis for Peace.”

Barry Weixler-Landis, a junior economics and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Harrisonburg, Va., was second runner-up with his speech, “Your Piece of Peace.”

Other contestants were: Nathan Kauffman, junior history and social science major, Goshen, Ind.; Grant Sprunger, junior business administration major, Dalton, Ohio; John Tyson, senior biblical studies major, Lansdale, Pa.; and Ethan Zook, senior biology and secondary education major, Harrisonburg, Va.

Winner addresses violence in education system

Ms. Cattell gave her award-winning speech in university chapel Friday, Apr. 3. (Click to listen to the podcast of ‘Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System’)

In describing structural violence, she presented a case study of two high schools in the Philadelphia area, one in a wealthy suburb and another in a nearby economically-distressed area in the city. As persons and organizations worked within the system for a more equitable distribution of resources and program funds, students’ performance in the lower-income school began to improve, she reported.

“If we are to do true peacebuilding, we must address structural violence,” Cattell said in her speech. “Service and individual change are needed, but without advocacy it is short-sighted. As Christians, we must continue to serve those around us, but must also embrace the role of advocacy in building a more just world.”

Cattell received a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

2007 winner represented 91����Ƶ nationally

91����Ƶ has participated in the event for the last seven out of eight years, with Nicholas L. (Nick) Stoddard winning the grand prize at the bi-national level in 2007 with his speech, “Connect the Dots.”

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University. Smith is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate. At 91����Ƶ, the contest is sponsored by the departments of Bible and religion, language and literature and justice, peace and conflict studies.

Six 91����Ƶ students took part in the annual C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest held March 28 on campus.

Anna Engle, a freshman history & social science education major with a TESL endorsement from Streetsboro, Ohio, won the grand prize award of $250 with her speech, "Called to True Pacifism." A hard copy and video of Engle’s speech will be entered in the bi-national competition. The deadline for entries at that level is mid-May.

Participating 91����Ƶ students were: Emily Derstine, a junior justice, peace and conflict studies (JPCS) major from Souderton, Pa.; Matthew Pearson, a senior theater major from Suffolk, Va.; Kristen Swartley, a senior music performance/liberal arts major from Cedar Falls, Iowa; Diana Terry, a junior JPCS major from Staunton, Va.; and Ethan Zook, a junior biology major with Secondary Education licensure from Harrisonburg.

The full text of the speeches is available online. Sponsoring departments are Bible and religion, language and literature and justice, peace and conflict studies.

91����Ƶ Grad Won ’07 Nationals

91����Ƶ has participated in the event for the past five out of six years, with Nicholas L. (Nick) Stoddard winning the grand prize at the bi-national level in 2007.

Stoddard, a 2007 biblical studies graduate from Wellman, Iowa, won a cash gift and a scholarship to attend a peace-related conference for his speech, "Connect the Dots." His oration focused on developing a mindset that sees how one’s actions have a direct effect on other people, even those at great geographic distance.

"This contest is a great opportunity for 91����Ƶ students to speak in their own words to how they apply the Christian peace witness to specific issues they care about," said Nancy R. Heisey, chair of 91����Ƶ’s Bible and religion department.

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate.

An 91����Ƶ student has received first prize in the bi-national C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest.

Nicholas L. (Nick) Stoddard, a senior biblical studies major from Wellman, Iowa, won a cash gift and a scholarship to attend a peace-related conference for his speech, “Connect the Dots.”

His oration focused on developing a mindset that sees how one’s actions have a direct effect on other people, even those at great geographic distance.

The winning speech can be viewed at http://www.emu.edu/news/nicholas_stoddard.pdf

Stoddard is co-leader of 91����Ƶ Peace Fellowship with Katrina Alger and Michelle Kennel. He is married to Erika Detweiler Stoddard, a 2007 91����Ƶ graduate, and is a member of Kalona (Iowa) Mennonite Church.

“This contest is a great opportunity for 91����Ƶ students to speak in their own words to how they apply the Christian peace witness to specific issues they care about,” said Nancy R. Heisey, chair of 91����Ƶ’s Bible and religion department. “It’s exciting to see Nicholas’ challenge to us at 91����Ƶ to choose just lifestyle options being recognized as central to the peace witness of Mennonites throughout the U.S. and Canada.”

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate.

While the contest ran in conjunction with the “Micah Think Tank” festivities this year, 91����Ƶ has taken part in the competition for the past four out of five years. The grand prize winner will move on to compete at the bi-national level.

Nicholas L. (Nick) Stoddard, a junior biblical studies major from Wellman, Iowa, won the grand prize award of $250 with his speech, “Connect the Dots.” His oration explored how individual choices add up to affect others on a global level.

Matthew A. (Matt) Pearson, a junior from Suffolk, Va., and John P. Stephens, a junior from Harrisonburg, also competed, bringing stimulating ideas to the table regarding contemporary peace issues. A video of Stoddard’s speech and a written copy will be entered in the bi-national competition.

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate.

The weekend of sharing dreams and visions is the result of a year-long "Micah Think Tank" process, referring to the call in Micah 6:8 to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God." These words, which provide the core of 91����Ƶ

Sharon E. Kniss of Harrisonburg takes seriously the mission statement of 91����Ƶ: "to experience Christ and follow His call to witness faithfully, serve compassionately and walk boldly in the way of nonviolence and peace."

Ms. Kniss, a rising senior major, lives out this aspiration at 91����Ƶ several ways.

In mid-March this year, she took first place in the held on campus with her address, "Engaging the Terrorists: A Discourse on Living with the Other." She received a cash award.

In her presentation, Kniss asked what needs to happen to purposely engage "the other" – to begin to communicate with those of differing persuasions and viewpoints, noting that applying handy labels like "conservative" or "liberal" aren’t helpful in that process.

She used Christ’s parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 to support her points, arguing that "how we learn to live with each other forms the basis of peacebuilding in society."

Immediately after second semester, Kniss plunged into a whirl of responsibilities as lodging coordinator and community advisor (CA) in Parkwoods Apartments for the annual (SPI) held May 9-June 21. The event brought some 200 persons from more than 50 countries to campus for intensive training in peacebuilding skills, restorative justice and trauma healing.

"I loved doing it," she said of the SPI experience. "The staff was easy to work with, and I got to meet and interact with everyone who came through the program." She also took an SPI class, "Indigenous Peacemaking Processes."

No sooner did this assignment end than Kniss was off to Harlan, Ky., to spend the rest of the summer working with a Mennonite Central Committee program there. She served as site coordinator for groups coming to do home repair and rebuilding projects in that Appalachian community.

Being an honors student and a dean’s list regular hasn’t kept Kniss from a host of extracurricular pursuits. She’s a member of the 91����Ƶ Chamber Singers and the varsity and helped form a student lecture committee to bring noted speakers to campus.

She was co-president of the Young People’s Christian Association (YPCA) her freshman and sophomore years and presently coordinates the Y-church program, which she cites as "one of the highlights of my time at 91����Ƶ." She is deeply involved at Crossroads Mennonite Church near Timberville, leading music and worship and playing piano there.

After 91����Ƶ? Kniss isn’t sure yet, but she’s considering a service assignment – Colombia, South America is a first choice – or "some form of church work."

This article will appear in the August 2005 issue of "Connections," a publication of Virginia Mennonite Conference.