The 91短视频 Washington Semester combines a full-time internship with academic coursework. Students are placed in internships across a wide range of fields, including government, nonprofit organizations, communications, business, and advocacy. These placements are tailored to each student鈥檚 interests and career goals, ensuring that every student gains meaningful, hands-on experience. No matter where they end up working, students develop practical skills that set them apart in a competitive job market.

One of the most impactful aspects of the 91短视频 Washington Semester is the personal growth it fosters. Living in a new city, navigating professional environments, and building a network from the ground up pushes students out of their comfort zones. For many students, this experience opens doors they may not have previously imagined. 

Students live alongside peers who are also pursuing internships, creating a supportive environment where they can share experiences, challenges, and successes. These connections often last well beyond the semester, forming a network of driven individuals across diverse fields.

The 91短视频 Washington Semester is more than just a study away program; it is a launching pad for future careers. By combining academic learning with professional immersion in the nation鈥檚 capital, it equips students with the knowledge, experience, and confidence needed to thrive in their chosen paths.

The Washington Semester is intentionally interdisciplinary, welcoming students from a wide range of majors, and the spring 2026 semester is no exception. Spring 2026 participants span the breadth of majors at 91短视频, pursuing studies in political science, public health, engineering, and recreation and sport management. 

91短视频 Washington Semester Director Ryan Good noted: 鈥淒isciplinary diversity is a hallmark of the 91短视频 Washington Semester and distinguishes us from other D.C.-based study away programs. Over the past two years, 91短视频 Washington Semester students have pursued 31 different majors, hailed from six colleges and universities, and worked at over 40 internship sites around the D.C. region.鈥�

This diversity shapes both internships and classroom learning. Students pursue opportunities aligned with their fields and learn alongside peers with different perspectives, creating a richer, more dynamic experience.

By embracing a wide scope of majors, the 91短视频 Washington Semester ensures that students from all disciplines can gain valuable professional experience while exploring how their field connects to broader societal challenges.

Read on to learn more about the internship experiences of our spring 2026 students.

Leah Cap, from Spotsylvania, Virginia, is a senior majoring in political science. This spring, Leah is an intern at , a D.C.-based nonprofit that supports incarcerated and returning citizens with holistic reentry services. Her main tasks include helping clients find shelters and other programs, scheduling appointments, distributing food to people experiencing homelessness, and making phone calls.

Through her internship, Leah has gained a broader perspective on how systems work and a behind-the-scenes look at how to support at-risk clients. The highlight of her internship experience has been seeing clients come in down on their luck and later seeing them return happier and healthier.

Edwin Rios Sanchez, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a senior majoring in recreation and sport management, with minors in business administration and coaching. This spring, Edwin is working as an equipment manager for and football clubs. His main duties include preparing equipment for coaches, attending trainings, and setting up for games, including steaming players鈥� jerseys and ensuring they have their game-day gear.

One highlight of Edwin鈥檚 internship experience was traveling to Florida for a weeklong away trip with DC Power. During his time in D.C., Edwin has learned to feel more comfortable in a new environment.

Fortie Chipeta, from Mount Jackson, Virginia, is a junior majoring in public health with a minor in environmental science. This spring, Fortie is an intern at , working with its housing and homelessness prevention department. Her main duties include researching local resources and writing helpful tips for a weekly newsletter, handling medical records by scanning and uploading patient documents into eClinicalWorks (eCW), and answering calls and assisting with the patient intake process.

During her time in D.C., Fortie has focused on growing from her experiences rather than striving for perfection. Instead of stressing, she is learning to focus on how to fix problems and do things the right way the next time. One of the biggest highlights of her internship has been taking ownership of the weekly newsletter. She enjoys researching resources for residents and takes pride in ensuring each issue is finalized and sent out on time every Wednesday. 

Alexandre (Zander) Armstrong, from Waynesboro, Virginia, is a senior majoring in engineering. This spring, Zander is interning with the Clinical Engineering Department at .

One of the highlights of his internship has been getting a behind-the-scenes look at a hospital and learning how it operates. Life in the city has been challenging at times, but it has also given Zander the opportunity to navigate public transportation.

In addition to the four Washington Semester students, the Nelson Good House is home to two other students who have been important members of the community this semester.

Morgan Hutchens, a Goshen College senior, is majoring in Deaf Studies, the study of the origins of American Sign Language, Deaf community, and Deaf culture. The goal of the program is to promote awareness, social justice, and accessibility. As part of her program, Morgan is attending Gallaudet University for one semester. Gallaudet University is the only Deaf university in the world and also offers programs for hearing students.

Morgan describes living in the Nelson House as an amazing experience because it has given her the opportunity to build strong connections with others. One of her favorite things to do with her housemates is cook together, which brings her joy through good food and meaningful conversation. Morgan describes her time in D.C. as both challenging and exhilarating. Attending Gallaudet University has been a lifelong dream, and the experience has been eye-opening and deeply meaningful.

Leslie Meja is a graduate student at 91短视频鈥檚 Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). He is completing his CJP practicum at the Kenyan Embassy in D.C. The inclusion of graduate students in the Washington Semester community enriches the experience for everyone and creates additional opportunities for learning and exchange.

Students interested in spending a semester in the nation鈥檚 capital should visit for more information or to apply. Be sure to also check out the 91短视频 Washington Semester to see what our students are up to.

A fall 1981 intercultural to Jerusalem left a lasting impression on the late Christine Good Shenk 鈥�83. 

The accounting grad, who passed away in July 2024, formed friendships that semester that endured long after she graduated from 91短视频. Nine of her fellow students on the intercultural became part of a close-knit circle of friends known as 鈥淭he Gang,鈥� which has continued to gather regularly for decades.

Her widower, Ed Shenk 鈥�83, was not part of the intercultural. At the time, the international agricultural development and biology education major was studying at Pennsylvania State University. Over the years, though, as the Lancaster, Pennsylvania, couple attended biannual reunions in major cities, members鈥� homes, beach houses, and even aboard a Caribbean cruise, he deepened his friendships with members of The Gang.

In her memory, he donated $90,000 to establish 91短视频鈥檚 new Intercultural Programs Alumni Grant Fund and intends to make additional gifts going forward. The fund provides financial support for students who want to participate in intercultural programs but may not have the means to afford them. 

91短视频鈥檚 intercultural programs have impacted thousands of graduates, offering opportunities to engage in different cultures, build global relationships, and experience a new perspective.

鈥淲hen I began to think about the impact of intercultural programs, it was the friends, the experiences, and the exposure to other cultures that really lasted for her,鈥� Ed Shenk said. 鈥淭his is something she would鈥檝e supported.鈥�

His donation marks the largest-ever gift from an alum specifically for intercultural programs, according to Tim Swartzendruber 鈥�95, senior regional advancement director for 91短视频. 

鈥淭his is the first fund, in the 53 years of excellence in crosscultural learning at 91短视频, that will go 100% to undergraduates who need financial support to seize this life-changing opportunity, and stipends for our adventuresome professors who lead interculturals!鈥� he wrote in a recent Facebook post.

Christina Harrison, director of 91短视频 intercultural programs, called the grant fund a 鈥済ame changer鈥� for students. 鈥淭his alumni-funded support will eliminate financial barriers for so many students who may be unable to consider an intercultural travel program due to lack of resources,鈥� she said. 91短视频 leaders said they hope the fund will reach $500,000.

For more information about 91短视频鈥檚 unique experiential intercultural learning opportunities, including future programs, visit .

Note 鈥淚PAGF鈥� when you and you will join alumni like Ed Shenk who are paying it forward in a meaningful way for today鈥檚 students. 

Patterson is a special agent with the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). She was one of more than 50 special agents assigned to protect America鈥檚 athletes and teams as they trained, competed, and traveled to media appearances.

The writing studies grad, who excelled as a cross-country and track athlete at 91短视频, worked as a field liaison officer at the ice rinks in Milan, where she safeguarded USA鈥檚 figure skaters, hockey teams, and speed skaters, including gold medalists Ilia Malinin, Alysa Liu, and Jordan Stolz.

鈥淧art of being there is taking time to observe the crowd and ensure everything鈥檚 secure and all set-up,鈥� said Patterson. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 also a lot of sport-watching and cheering on Team USA and hoping the athletes you鈥檝e been with do well.”

鈥淔igure skating was phenomenal. I was in awe of what they鈥檙e able to do. But the crowd with the biggest atmosphere, I think, was probably men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 hockey. It was a very exhilarating environment. It was hard not to get caught up and feel the roar of the crowd cheering on the teams.鈥� 

Hannah Patterson 鈥�14, a special agent with the U.S. Department of State鈥檚 Diplomatic Security Service, worked a 鈥減retty intense schedule鈥� at the 2026 Winter Olympics, often starting her workday at 7 a.m. to protect athletes while they trained and working well past midnight for competitions that ended late.

鈥業t鈥檚 just one big adventure鈥�

Born in Singapore to parents involved in community development work, Patterson moved with her family to Indonesia when she was 12. She attended Mountainview International Christian School. It was there she learned one of her classmates, nursing grad David Jantzi 鈥�13, whose parents were alumni, had his sights set on attending 91短视频.

鈥淚 ended up applying on a whim,鈥� said Patterson, 鈥渁nd I鈥檓 so grateful I did.鈥�

She said one of the major draws to 91短视频 was that its financial aid office was 鈥渟o proactive鈥� in telling her which grants and awards were available. 鈥�91短视频 was such an obviously tight-knit community that cared, even before I showed up, and that just followed through over the next four years,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ooking back now, I wouldn鈥檛 have done as well at a big state school where I would鈥檝e felt like just a number. My professors were always there for me, and I loved that about 91短视频.鈥�

Another draw was its intercultural programs. Patterson immersed herself in the cultures of South Africa and Lesotho for a semester and said she treasures 91短视频鈥檚 global focus.

鈥淚 love the sense of adventure that 91短视频 carries with it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I feel almost every day on the job. It鈥檚 just one big adventure, and every day is a cross-cultural experience.鈥�

Hannah Patterson ’14 (pictured third from left), a cross-country and track athlete at 91短视频, said her coaches ensured she was growing and finding her place in the world. 鈥淚 loved being on a team that was incredibly supportive, and I think my teammates, coaches, and track and cross-country teams really shaped me as a person, pushed me, and helped me grow. In a school that is so community-focused, it was nice to have an even tighter group to grow and dream with.鈥�

Patterson graduated with a writing studies degree in 2014 (right photo). She said her intercultural experiences in South Africa (left photo) and Lesotho, along with the mentorship she received from professors, helped shape her love of adventure. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a huge thing to be able to travel as much as I do and I am very grateful for it,鈥� she said.

Landing the job

After graduating in 2014, Patterson was working at Black Sheep Coffee in Harrisonburg when she mentioned to a coworker she was seeking a career change. Unbeknownst to her, that coworker鈥檚 husband was a DSS agent working at a training center in West Virginia, and she suggested that Patterson would be a good fit for the job, based on her experience growing up overseas and her love of adventure.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted it to be relational,鈥� Patterson said. 鈥淎long with the daily problem-solving and micro-challenges I enjoy, I鈥檓 very grateful this job exists, that I鈥檓 able to do it, and that I had a lot of good mentors at 91短视频 along the way to encourage me.鈥�

Patterson worked at the training center (now known as the ) for a half-decade, before applying and landing a job as a . She began training in July 2021 and, after a rigorous training process, officially became an agent in April 2022.

Since then, she鈥檚 built up an impressive foreign service career. She worked in Kyiv, Ukraine, for three months during the war. She also served at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad for one year.

Last year, Patterson interviewed for her current role as an agent at the Major Events Coordination Office, which secures international events such as the G7 and G20 summits, Pan American Games, and FIFA World Cup, in addition to the Olympics and Paralympics. When she learned she had been selected to join the office, she said she was 鈥渙ut-of-this-world thrilled.鈥�

鈥淚t can be quite competitive, and I was very excited that I get to do this for the next two years (DSS agents typically switch offices every one to three years),鈥� said Patterson. 鈥淣ext year, we鈥檒l have the Pan American Games and the Women鈥檚 World Cup, which will be in Brazil.鈥�

This month, Hannah Patterson 鈥�14 will help protect Team USA鈥檚 athletes as they train and compete at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, held in Milan and Cortina, Italy, from March 6-15.

Patterson, who has been in Italy since Jan. 27, will also keep watch over America鈥檚 athletes during the 2026 Winter Paralympics, held in Milan and Cortina from March 6-15. She鈥檒l serve as one of the special agents staffing a DSS Joint Operations Center at the U.S. Consulate in Milan.

She took advantage of the four-day break in between training for the Olympics and Paralympics to explore the mountains of northern Italy. Inspired by the athletes she watched during the Olympics, she learned to ski for the first time.

鈥淚 never thought of this as a career option when I was going to school,鈥� said Patterson. 鈥淚 remember telling my poetry professor, Michael Ann Courtney, 鈥業鈥檓 going to be a starving artist for the rest of my life,鈥� and she told me, 鈥楴o, Hannah, don鈥檛 worry. The world is so much bigger than that.鈥� And it turns out she was right.鈥�

The 91短视频 Washington Semester program started off in the fall of 1976 as a 鈥渉igh-risk proposition,鈥� recalls Phil Baker-Shenk 鈥�79.  

鈥淚t was a high risk for the college, a high risk for us individual students, and certainly a high risk for (program founder and director) Nelson Good 鈥�68 and Arden Shank, who staffed it,鈥� said Baker-Shenk, one of the first students in the yearlong program (then known as the Washington Study-Service Year or WSSY) from 1976-77. 鈥淚t was a high risk all around, and yet people with good ideas decided to plunge in, take that risk, and make it happen.鈥�

Fifty years later, that big gamble has paid off.

Alumni of the urban studies program鈥攖he only such program offered at Anabaptist-affiliated institutions鈥攃redit it with giving them improved professional confidence, greater clarity about career direction, more comfort in working with people different than they are, and an increased awareness of systemic injustices.

Each semester and summer, students from 91短视频 and partner schools such as Bethel College, Bluffton University, and Goshen College converge at the Nelson Good House in the culturally diverse and multiethnic Brookland neighborhood of Washington D.C. It鈥檚 there that they learn to live in a shared community, cooking and eating meals together, managing a collective budget and household responsibilities, and navigating conflict with maturity.

Students gain real-world professional experience in their chosen field of study through internship placements, study the history and social dynamics of the city, and immerse themselves in the rich culture and vibrancy of the nation鈥檚 capital.

Baker-Shenk was among the 60 alumni and supporters of the 91短视频 Washington Semester, from its beginnings in the 1970s through today, who gathered at the Busboys and Poets restaurant in Brookland on Saturday, Feb. 14, to share their memories and experiences from their time in the program and celebrate its 50-year legacy. The milestone reunion included remarks from Program Director Ryan Good, 91短视频 Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, Provost Dr. Tynisha Willingham, and many students and alumni from the past five decades. 

Since its inception, more than 1,000 students have called the program home for a season of their lives, said Dycus. They鈥檝e taken courses at and built relationships with institutions such as Catholic University of America and Howard University. And students have learned to live with difference, practice shared leadership, and carry conviction into real work.

鈥淲e鈥檙e celebrating a living, evolving experiment in education,鈥� Dycus told the crowd. 鈥淥ne that has asked generations of students to take learning seriously enough to put it to work. Since 1976, this program has woven together community living, academic study, and vocational reflection right in the complexity of our nation鈥檚 capital.鈥�

As the story鈥檚 been told, shared Dycus, Nelson Good came to D.C. as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War era. 鈥淎nd, out of that experience, he helped build a program committed to servant leadership and social justice, and an education shaped by peace, responsibility, and courage to see the city as it is.鈥�

Nelson Good directed the program until his retirement in 1987, mentoring it through major transitions. When the time came to find a new home closer to public transportation and academic partners, he personally helped find and secure the building at 836 Taylor Street that became the Nelson Good House. 

鈥淗e did that work even while facing a cancer diagnosis and died a few months before the facility鈥檚 dedication (on Aug. 20, 2005),鈥� Dycus said.

Alumni of the 91短视频 Washington Semester gather to celebrate the program’s 50-year legacy.

The 91短视频 Washington Semester offers a built-in social and professional network for its alumni, many of whom find long-term careers in D.C., thanks to the web of connections and relationships they build through the program.

Aerlande Wontamo 鈥�06 was among the first cohort of 15 students to live at the Nelson Good House during the spring of 2006. She interned at the Ethiopian Community Development Council while taking classes at Howard University.

鈥淚t was such a meaningful experience for me because I got on (Howard’s) campus and I looked like everybody else,鈥� said Wontamo, who is originally from Ethiopia. 鈥淭here was another person in our group, I think from Goshen, who was also at Howard, and she was white. We would go to school, and that was the first time she felt like a minority. It was this wonderful experience for both of us.鈥�

Like many alumni of the 91短视频 Washington Semester (it was known as the Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center or WCSC after 2002), Wontamo stayed in the city. Twenty years later, the economic development grad is still working in the refugee and immigrant services field as senior vice president of U.S. programs for World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization.

鈥淚t was my internship that was such a meaningful experience for me and led me through all of the steps to get to where I am,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, I鈥檓 a huge fan of the program.鈥�

Anisa Leonard 鈥�21, a social work grad originally from Kenya, interned at Voices for a Second Chance, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals returning home from incarceration, during her spring 2021 semester in the program.

鈥淭he WCSC program was absolutely foundational in getting me to where I am now,鈥� said the social worker. 鈥淚t sparked my interest in working with people who are marginalized in so many ways, especially in a city so impacted by race and gentrification.鈥�

Genesis Figueroa joined Ryan Good on stage for a conversation, reflecting on her experiences in the program during spring 2025. The 91短视频 senior, who is double majoring in political science and Spanish, interned at Catholic Charities in its immigration legal services department, where she provided translation, interpretation, and administrative work. She said she hopes to become an immigration lawyer.

鈥淚t definitely solidified what I want to do after college and what type of work I want to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t solidified my passion for it.鈥�

Another 91短视频 senior, Dia Mekonnen, remembered living at the Nelson Good House with 13 other students during summer 2025. 鈥淚t was really packed,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it was really nice to connect with them. It was nice to cook together, to be able to share our perspectives, and we still hang out.鈥�

Baker-Shenk credited Nelson Good, along with many other heroes, with the courage and vision to implement and sustain the idea of the D.C. program over the years.

鈥淥ne of the many things he taught me, and it was a little hard for me to take back in the 鈥�70s, was that institutions deserve our love and our commitment and our care,鈥� he said. 鈥淔ifty years later, here鈥檚 an institution that has carried each of us in this room in one way or another, and it happened because it was nourished and encouraged.鈥�

Kirk Shisler 鈥�81, vice president for advancement, is a proud member of the third cohort of students in the program (1978-79). He told guests there were many ways to support the program. One such opportunity is through the Dr. Kimberly Schmidt Endowed Scholarship, which was dedicated during the program鈥檚 on-campus reunion at Homecoming 2025.

鈥淔inancial aid is such a critical part of the story for every student, and it鈥檚 an obstacle,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an obstacle to participation in this program and others. And so what we can do to mitigate that through donor-funded aid is an opportunity we want to focus on.鈥�

Learn more about the 91短视频 Washington Semester at .

Read more:

• Sept. 2025: Rebranded 91短视频 Washington Semester celebrates 50 years of career-building and community
• Nov. 2016: Forty years of service and learning celebrated at WCSC鈥檚 Nelson Good House
• Aug. 2015: Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center celebrates 10 years at the Nelson Good House in Brookland
• March 2014: The history of the Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center

Yoder, who retired from 91短视频 in 2004, died on July 17, 2025, at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community in Harrisonburg, following a long journey with Parkinson鈥檚 disease. He was 86 years old. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Eastern Mennonite School auditorium, 801 Parkwood Drive, Harrisonburg. 

鈥淗is love for travel was only surpassed by his love for people and he formed lasting relationships in the classroom, his community and around the world,鈥� states an obituary written by his family.

You can read the obituary .

From Iowa to Africa

Born on April 17, 1939, Yoder was raised in a Mennonite family in Wellman, Iowa, a rural farming community about 25 miles from Iowa City. He was the oldest of five brothers and was the first in his family to attend college, majoring in English and history at 91短视频 and earning a BA in 1962. 

鈥淗e was not about to be a farmer,鈥� said Nancy Myers Yoder 鈥�66, his wife of 55 years. 鈥淗e loved to read and he read voraciously, and so he was more of an academic.鈥�

鈥淗e definitely was an academic,鈥� agreed their youngest son, Joel Yoder 鈥�97. 鈥淕rowing up, he would be reading poetry or literature while working on the tiling machine in the summers for his uncle to pay for college.鈥�

After graduating from college, Carroll left for Brussels to study French for a year and then taught in the French language in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as a conscientious objector through Mennonite Central Committee鈥檚 . In the fall of 1971, he was hired to teach French at 91短视频, while a PhD candidate at the University of Iowa, and Nancy was hired at the school to teach nursing. Carroll would earn his doctorate in French African Literature from the University of Iowa in 1974.

From 1983-1984, during a two-year leave from 91短视频, Carroll returned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo with his wife and two sons to serve as a Fulbright lecturer in French. It wouldn鈥檛 be the last time their travels would take them to the continent.

An 鈥榠ntellectual force鈥�

Over the years, Carroll and Nancy led a total of 121 students on five semesterlong intercultural programs to France (1974 and 1989) and to France and Ivory Coast (1994, 1997, and 2001). He also led 16 students as a solo leader on two summerlong intercultural programs to Quebec (1987) and France and Ivory Coast (1992), according to a list from 91短视频 Intercultural Programs. 

鈥淭hey were such a good team,鈥� said Joel, who joined the 1989 and 1994 trips. 鈥淭hey needed each other to make it all work. Every time they鈥檇 come back from a cross-cultural, they鈥檇 say, 鈥楧on鈥檛 let us do that again.鈥� And then a little while later, they鈥檇 say, 鈥極h, we need to do another cross-cultural.鈥欌��

鈥淗e was a real people person,鈥� Nancy said about Carroll. 鈥淗e could communicate and make contacts with people in French-speaking countries and find opportunities to get speakers or find families for students to live with. He had a gift for reaching out and contacting people and seeing what might work out.鈥�

Many of Carroll鈥檚 colleagues and former students, including those on his intercultural programs, have written tributes following his death to express their gratitude. 

Patricia King 鈥�89, a former student of his who taught in 91短视频鈥檚 Language and Literature Department from 2000 to 2003 and is now an author living in Durham, England, reflected on Carroll鈥檚 love of laughter and language: 鈥淗e was someone who clearly took joy in his work and who loved the French language with a passion he transferred to his students.鈥�

Novelist Christine Benner Dixon 鈥�04, author of The Height of Land, said that Carroll had a 鈥渉uge impact鈥� on her development as a writer. 鈥淚 am so grateful to have had him as my teacher,鈥� she wrote. 鈥淚n his classes, I deepened my interest in the craft of reading, teaching, and writing literature.鈥�

Tim Swartzendruber 鈥�95, a student on the 1994 intercultural group that traveled to France and Ivory Coast, remembered Carroll for his adventuresome spirit and keen intellect. 鈥淗e had a reputation among faculty for having probably the most gifted mind,鈥� said the English literature major and French minor. 鈥淗e was the intellectual force on the faculty at that time. He was a real expert in literary criticism and taught us, at a high level, to analyze what we were reading and apply it to our lives.鈥� Swartzendruber, who now serves as senior regional advancement director at 91短视频, will be one of the speakers sharing their remembrances of Carroll at the Aug. 23 memorial service.

As an English major at 91短视频, Joel took several of his father鈥檚 English and French classes. 鈥淗e was known as one of the tougher professors, in terms of courseload,鈥� he said. 鈥淗e would have these daily quizzes. They weren鈥檛 worth a ton, but that was his way of seeing how many classes you actually attended.鈥�

Carroll mentored many aspiring teachers and was also known for his successful track record in hiring and retaining qualified and dedicated faculty members while he was chair of the Language and Literature Department.聽

Dr. Marti Eads, professor of English, was hired by Carroll to come teach at 91短视频 starting in the fall of 2003. 鈥淐arroll was the kind of person I aspired to be,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e was a very humble person and was always looking for ways to encourage others. He was always ready to sing other people鈥檚 praises.鈥� Eads would chair the department for the next three years after Carroll retired and said that he supported her in that role. Carroll also helped start the Writers Read event that continues to draw authors to campus. 

Each year, the Carroll Yoder Award for Teaching Excellence honors an 91短视频 student who has demonstrated academic excellence in both literary studies and education courses and has shown a clear call to the teaching profession.

Later years

In a 2004 Weather Vane article about his retirement, Carroll is quoted as saying he will miss the 鈥渄aily contact with students and colleagues,鈥� and has most valued 鈥渢he opportunity to integrate my Christian/Mennonite faith with my professional and service goals.鈥�

Carroll was deeply engaged in the life of the church. The Yoders were one of the founding families of Shalom Mennonite Congregation in 1988. The church began meeting in Strite Auditorium in Campus Center and now meets at Eastern Mennonite School.

Carroll enjoyed attending concerts on campus and spectating basketball games. He also appreciated catching up with other retired 91短视频 faculty members at VMRC. 鈥淗e kept physically fit,鈥� Nancy said. 鈥淗e would walk, he would bike, and he played tennis regularly.鈥�

Carroll is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons Eric (Karina) and Joel (Chia-Chi/Judy 鈥�98); and six grandchildren: Carrie (Jansen Miller), Elliott, Sophia, Bryn, Leah, and Lilly. He is also survived by his brothers Wilbur, Milford, and Galen, and was preceded in death by his brother Marcus.

One final testament to his love for 91短视频 was the many nephews, nieces, and other relatives he helped bring to the school. 鈥淚 counted the number of students who came here, who I think were influenced by Carroll, and it totaled about 25,鈥� said Nancy.

“This renaming is more than a cosmetic change; it’s a strategic move that enhances clarity and reinforces the direct connection between this transformative experience and 91短视频’s mission,” said Provost Tynisha Willingham. “The 91短视频 Washington Semester is a vital extension of our campus, embodying our commitment to preparing students for purposeful lives through experiential learning, critical thinking, and ethical leadership. This new name clearly signals that this immersive experience is unequivocally 91短视频.”

The rebranding follows two years of work by 91短视频 Washington Semester staff, engaging campus faculty and staff stakeholders, program alums, and current students. The new name aims to support effective marketing by communicating more transparently that the program is a credit-earning academic term run by a university. It additionally aligns with common naming conventions used by other universities鈥� D.C.-based programs, making it more recognizable within the region.

Launched in 1976, the program originally operated as the Washington Study Service Year (WSSY) until 2002, when it was renamed the Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center (WCSC) as part of a shift from a year-long format to three shorter terms per year

For the past 50 years, the program has been a cornerstone of experiential learning, offering students opportunities to live, learn, and intern in the nation鈥檚 capital. Washington, D.C. serves as a dynamic living laboratory where students engage with policy, advocacy, community development, and justice initiatives, directly applying classroom theory to real-world challenges.

Open to students from 91短视频 and colleges and universities around the world, the 91短视频 Washington Semester offers a full-semester or 10-week summer experience that combines internships, urban studies coursework, career development, and community living in the Nelson Good House in the heart of Washington, D.C. 

The 91短视频 Washington Semester will continue to provide a unique educational experience, empowering students to engage with complex societal issues, develop professional competencies, and cultivate a deeper understanding of their role in contributing to a more just聽world.

For more information about the program, visit or follow the experiences of current students at .

Cornelius, a sophomore, was one of 17 students from 91短视频 who participated in the spring semester intercultural trip to Guatemala and Mexico. Professor Wendell Shank, who teaches Spanish and linguistics, and Liz Miller, from Intercultural Programs, led the group in exploring history, culture, and language within the context of colonization. They spent eight weeks living with host families in Guatemala City, followed by some free travel time, and then two weeks of community learning in various Guatemalan organizations before traveling to Mexico City.

Zoe Clymer, a junior at 91短视频, described her two weeks of community service at a private clinic on the outskirts of Guatemala City as 鈥渆ye-opening.鈥� She shadowed various positions in the clinic, prompting her to consider her role in health care and how she wants to help people stay healthy. Several other students worked in a clinic in San Juan. Ivy Miller, a sophomore, helped take patients鈥� vitals and sorted through piles of medicine for the pharmacy. She described the two weeks as 鈥渘erve-racking at some points,鈥� but also appreciated the opportunity to 鈥渂e helping hands to the clinic staff and expand our knowledge one day at a time.鈥�

Another group of students worked with the Community Cloud Forest Conservation, an organization that teaches leadership skills and environmentally friendly agricultural practices. Nathan Miller, a junior, reported that he and other students helped harvest vegetables, prepare soil at the tree nursery, and cook meals for the group, all while being surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

Besides community service, students spent the semester learning about migration, economics, human rights, health and education systems, and Mayan history and culture. They visited museums, refugee shelters, schools, and nonprofit organizations, but also got to relax at the ocean, take hikes, and explore volcanoes.

Caleb Metzler said he鈥檚 not sure how to compare his level of learning from this past semester with an ordinary one on campus. 鈥淲hile I haven鈥檛 been sitting in a classroom for three to six hours every day cranking out scholarly papers until my hands feel numb, I鈥檝e had opportunities to learn every time I leave the confines of wherever we are staying,鈥� the 91短视频 junior said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost as if this semester has been a test-run on what life is like, and I feel as though I鈥檝e learned quite a lot about what I want for my future.鈥澛�

Metzler, a triple major, is still thinking about what he wants to do after graduation. Several key experiences on this intercultural trip made him say, 鈥淗ey, I think I could enjoy doing this for my career.鈥� These experiences included a presentation from a Guatemalan sociologist, a conversation about legal advocacy surrounding environmental health, and a volunteer experience at a migrant house in Mexico City.

Students on the intercultural trip sometimes felt overwhelmed with their immersion in a different language, but Spanish classes and placement with host families boosted their language skills. Still, with 22 indigenous Mayan languages spoken in Guatemala, students found themselves in situations where they couldn鈥檛 understand the language people around them were speaking. Malia Bauman, a sophomore, worked with the organization in an area that spoke Tz鈥檜tujil; she said it was sometimes difficult to find her place since she didn鈥檛 know the language. But she still appreciated hearing their native language since it 鈥渉elped me see authentic interactions between my family, teachers, students, and community.鈥� 

Similarly, Clymer reported that even though it was challenging to express herself in Spanish, one of her highlights from the trip was living with host families 鈥渂ecause I got to form meaningful connections with people that live very differently from me.鈥�

Students on the trip included Malia Bauman, Noah Buckwalter, Zoe Clymer, Malachi Cornelius, Lily Gusler, Claire Hurst, Emae Klompenhouwer, Esme Martin, Caleb Metzler, Ivy Miller, Nathan Miller, Samuel Myers, Kaylin Ozuna, Rose Short, Payton Simmons, Sarah Wheeler, and Amanda Yoder.

Members of the group shared their experiences and stories from the trip at Convocation on Wednesday, April 30. Watch a recording of their presentation .

鈥淗ow do you mark the ending of one part of your life journey, while anticipating the next,鈥� he wrote in a journal entry from that day. 

Roughly an hour after seeing his students off, he was on his bicycle pedaling toward a ferry that would begin an 1,800-kilometer (1,118-mile) journey across three countries in 22 days. Photographs from his ride along the EuroVelo 10/13 bike route, which follows the coast of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as journal entries he logged during the trek, are the featured exhibition on display at the Margaret Martin Gehman Gallery. An opening reception for Holsopple and his collection of photos, paintings and writings was held at the gallery on Friday, Feb. 21. The exhibition will remain on display through March 21.

Holsopple, who joined the 91短视频 faculty in 2000 (he taught the school鈥檚 first digital media classes as a part-time instructor starting in 1998), is retiring this year. His contributions to 91短视频 throughout the past 25 years are too numerous to name, but include the creation of the communication major within the Language and Literature Department in 2000. 

鈥淗e actually built the communications department,鈥� VACA Professor Steven Johnson said in introductory remarks at the reception. 鈥淚t eventually merged with the art department to become the present-day Visual and Communication Arts department that you all know and love. 鈥� VACA majors look to Jerry for honest feedback and wise mentoring.鈥�

Holsopple spent the 2009-2010 academic year as a Fulbright scholar at LCC International University in Klaipeda, Lithuania. His Into the Window exhibition, featuring icons he painted during his year there, was the first exhibition held at the Gehman Gallery when it opened in 2010.

The title of his latest exhibition, Finding Water, relates to the route he and his biking partner, Glyn Jones, took along the Baltic Sea coastline. 鈥淓very day we would see the water, from sandy windswept beaches to large rock boulders left by the glacier centuries ago,鈥� a journal entry states. But, it also relates to how the metaphorical river of life carries us along our journeys. 鈥淚 wanted this to be a show that鈥檚 not about remembering what I鈥檝e done for 30 years or whatever, but about embracing the mystery of what is yet to come,鈥� he shared at the reception. 鈥淎nd, what each day on a bike trip brings you that you don鈥檛 know is going to come your way.鈥�

鈥淲hy did I take this bike trip?鈥� Holsopple asked the crowd gathered at Friday鈥檚 reception. 鈥淏ecause I was looking for a way to process what it meant to say goodbye to these people. I stopped to visit people along the way that I had known all these years. It was like giving all three countries a big hug.鈥�

The exhibition features several grids of photographs, each related to a theme. One grid shows Holocaust sites in the capital city of Riga, Latvia. Another is a collection of photos of churches that he passed by on his route. A grid of coffee shops includes his favorite cafe in Estonia, Kehrweider, 鈥渨ith its underground feel, good coffee and snacks, and an attitude,鈥� he wrote in his journal. 鈥淚n the early days of bringing students on these trips, you couldn鈥檛 get a carry-out coffee anywhere. Now, coffee shops are everywhere and people carry their paper cups down the sidewalks in hordes.鈥�

Referencing a large photograph of trees along a shore, Holsopple recounted his experience capturing the moment. 鈥淚t was about 6 a.m. when we went down the hill and I saw this reflection and I jammed on my brakes,鈥� Holsopple said. 鈥淚 was not going to pass up that reflection. I鈥檓 always fascinated by reflections because I think it plays with this idea of reality and what we imagine and what we see if we really pay attention to what鈥檚 happening in life.鈥�

Finding Water also includes a pair of icons that Holsopple painted. One of them is inspired by an icon that Maria Skobtsova, a Russian poet, nun, and member of the French Resistance during World War II, was working on before she died at the Ravensbr眉ck concentration camp in Germany. Holsopple and 91短视频 Theater Director Justin Poole created a musical theater production based on her life聽that opens at the MainStage Theater in March. The other icon is a stylized self-portrait that he created in 2016.聽

Cassidy Walker, an 91短视频 senior majoring in art, photography, and digital media, attends every gallery opening through her work for the VACA department, but said Holsopple鈥檚 was special to her. 

鈥淛erry鈥檚 the reason I ended up coming to 91短视频 in the first place,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had gotten into some big art schools, and he convinced me that I would get a great education here and that I鈥檇 get to be one of the Lithuania kids.鈥� 

Walker was part of Holsopple鈥檚 final intercultural trip to Lithuania in 2023. She spoke about his guidance in helping her figure out her goals for the future. 鈥淚 was nervous about becoming a triple-major and he鈥檚 been this person I鈥檝e been able to lean on,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 always been there for me.鈥�

Rachel Holderman 鈥�18, who graduated from 91短视频鈥檚 VACA department with degrees in Photography and Art, now works as a photographer for James Madison University. She took several classes taught by Holsopple and said she likes staying connected with those who helped develop her skills. At the opening reception, she said she was drawn to Holsopple鈥檚 use of reflections and unique angles. 鈥淚t鈥檚 mirrored so perfectly that it鈥檚 hard to tell where the surface is, like where reality meets reflection,鈥� she said about the photo of trees on a glassy lake.

Holsopple is an artist, photographer and renowned videographer who teaches photography and digital media-related courses in 91短视频鈥檚 VACA department. He has a BS degree in Bible from 91短视频, an MDiv from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, and a PhD in Media & Communication from European Graduate School. He led undergraduate intercultural trips to the Baltics in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021 and 2023.聽

A 2013 trip to the country resulted in the photography exhibit and book, Traces of a Social Movement: The Baltic Way, about people who participated in a 630-kilometer-long human chain, formed in August 1989 across Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 when things went wrong,鈥� he recounted during a Suter Science Seminar on Friday morning. 鈥淭he bus had no brakes.鈥�

Loaded full of Eastern Mennonite students and their luggage, the bus barreled over sidewalks and hurtled through intersections without control, said Zapanta, reading aloud from a letter he sent his parents at the time. The driver pulled to a stop several times to fix the brakes, but they would soon malfunction again, sending them careening into danger. Eventually, the group of students piled out and waited along the side of the road for another bus to transport them.

It was harrowing moments of chaos like this one that proved formative for the 91短视频 alumnus, who is now a highly accomplished otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) with Sovah Health in Danville, Virginia. After graduating from 91短视频, Zapanta earned his MD from the University of Virginia and completed his residency at George Washington University (GWU). He spent 16 years in academics, running the GWU otolaryngology residency program and teaching at the medical school. The doctor, who specializes in facial trauma and sleep apnea surgery, also is a U.S. Army colonel and has numerous awards through his deployments and mobilizations.聽

Returning to campus to dispense some life lessons for today鈥檚 health science students, Zapanta shared the importance of intercultural experiences at 91短视频. Before his semester spent abroad, which took him to France in addition to the Ivory Coast, Zapanta said he was an introvert. Through 鈥渢he power of immersion鈥� and having to navigate conversations with his host families, he said 鈥渟peaking in a second language tricked my mind into not being shy鈥� and he broke out of his introverted bubble. Through the 鈥渙rganized chaos鈥� of the Ivory Coast, he learned to be flexible and embrace the moment. All of these things, he said, taught him how to comfortably talk to his patients and to 鈥渂e comfortable with the uncomfortable.鈥�

In addition to stories from his time in the West African country鈥攐ne other lesson: don鈥檛 rely on a photocopy of your passport鈥擹apanta spoke about his Christian faith, shared photos and tales of memorable trauma patients he operated on, and explained why he chose to leave Washington, D.C., to live and work in rural Danville.聽

鈥淚 wanted to work in an underserved area,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 wanted to work somewhere I felt appreciated.鈥�

Zapanta also spoke to students about the science of sleep apnea and introduced them to a new treatment called the Inspire device that protrudes and stiffens the tongue while asleep.

At the end of his lecture, in response to a student who asked what advice he would give his younger self, Zapanta said, 鈥淚 would tell myself, 鈥業t will all work out. God has a plan.鈥欌��

Zapanta and his wife, 91短视频 alumna Anne Charbeneau Zapanta 鈥�97, have two adult kids and 鈥渁 very naughty husky.鈥�

There are two more Suter Science seminars scheduled for this semester! For more information on those, visit: emu.edu/science-seminars

鈥淭he transportation systems and traffic in Guatemala City are terrible, and any Guatemalan will tell you that,鈥� said student Eli Ours, recounting his experiences from a spring intercultural trip to the Central American country. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crowded, it鈥檚 hot, you鈥檙e often standing with an armpit in your face, you鈥檙e inhaling black diesel fumes, and it can take an hour to go five miles. While living with host families for eight weeks, myself along with the others experienced this on a daily basis while commuting to Spanish classes.鈥�

鈥淥ver half of the group had an hour-and-a-half bus ride each way, which meant a total of at least three hours of bus time every day,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut again, remember, this is the reality for many Guatemalans.鈥�

As the members of his intercultural group grew more comfortable with their commutes, they began competing to see who could get to school or home the quickest.聽

鈥淭his led to things like sprinting to catch a bus, getting on the wrong bus, or getting off the bus to walk the last mile home,鈥� Ours said.

Ours, along with 16 other 91短视频 students, shared stories from their semester-long intercultural trip to Guatemala and Cuba during Convocation on Wednesday morning. They returned to the U.S. and to campus this week with a deeper understanding of trauma awareness and resilience and a spirited desire to share about the lives of those they encountered on their trip.

The students lived with host families in Guatemala City for eight weeks. Each morning, said student Kate Krabill, they attended four hours of Spanish classes with an afternoon activity that helped them understand the rich history and culture of Guatemala.聽

鈥淚n class, we read books, cooked traditional Guatemalan foods, sang Spanish songs and played games of memory,鈥� Krabill said.

The group also spent five weeks traveling to other parts of the country. They spent the last two weeks of the semester in Cuba, splitting time between Havana and three other towns: Cienaga de Zapata, Santa Clara and Varadero. They were led by group leaders Elaine Zook Barge and Nathan Barge.

Miranda Beidler, who said a highlight of her trip was the time spent with host families, shared a poem she wrote for them:

鈥溾� found a home in rice and beans and tortillas, dogs barking around the clock, chickens waking me up, bucket showers, talks on the patio, laughing at the dinner table, and the sounds of La Brigada. 鈥� Thank you for expanding my world, for patiently listening to my Spanish, for teaching me your culture, for your open hearts, and most of all, for showing me to love and to be loved in ways that I never could have imagined.鈥�

Throughout the semester, students learned about the role and history of religion in the two countries. From witnessing a Mayan ceremony in a cave to experiencing the bustling streets of Antigua Guatemala during Holy Week, as Allysen Welty Peachey shared, they learned about how deeply rooted religion is in society.

Students in the group spoke about Guatemala鈥檚 incredible natural beauty 鈥� they climbed a volcano, explored the ancient Mayan city of Tikal and visited a lush cloud forest 鈥� as well as its destruction and exploitation. They talked about the access to education and health care in the two countries and the difficulty in obtaining medication in Cuba due to the U.S. embargo against it. And, students reflected on the impact of the tourism industry and migration on Guatemala and Cuba.  

.

Joshua Stucky spoke about the United States鈥� involvement in both countries. In 1954, the CIA successfully carried out a plot in Guatemala to overthrow the democratically elected President Jacobo 脕rbenz, who passed policy that favored the people instead of the United Fruit Company, Stucky said.聽

鈥淲hat followed was a genocide of the Mayan people across Guatemala, made possible only by U.S.-supplied arms and intelligence,鈥� he said.

In Cuba, for more than 60 years, the U.S. government has continued to 鈥渆nforce a repressive blockade that makes life there exceptionally difficult,” he added.

鈥淚f I were a Guatemalan or a Cuban, I would hate us,鈥� Stucky said. 鈥淚 would hate every American citizen for their complacency and the oppression of my people, for allowing their money to be used to buy the bullet that killed my son, for their comfortable lives of ignorant bliss, and for the power that we Americans have to better the lives of others that we do not use. And yet, at the end of every talk, every organization visit, every Coke I buy from the tienda on the corner, they thank us for being there, and ask us not to forget them. Not forgetting is the least we can do.鈥�

Students on the trip included: Mana Acosta, Sophia Armato, Leah Beachy, Miranda Beidler, Ella Brubaker, Lane Burkholder, Kate Krabill, Naomi Kratzer, Nathan Lehman, Maria Longenecker, Arelys Martinez Fabian, Hollyn Miller, Eli Ours, Marianne Short, Marie Spaulding, Joshua Stucky and Allysen Welty Peachey.

Read journal entries written by the students during their trip on the 91短视频 intercultural blog.

Read about students鈥� experiences in South Africa from the 91短视频 intercultural blog below.

Learn more about future interculturals on 91短视频鈥檚 website, and keep an eye out for updates on 91短视频鈥檚 other spring intercultural at the Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center.

Molly Piwonka writes about the group鈥檚 visit to Soweto:

As we drove through the streets and made a few stops such as the Hector Pieterson memorial, we learned about the unfortunate circumstances the people living in this area were dealt with. Small houses, made in cheap ways, which also contain very little resources cover the neighborhoods. These houses might be small, but as Andrew Suderman says: the homes within are large because of the warmth and hospitable spirit of the people. There might not be much space, but those that live in Soweto are very welcoming and hospitable; happily willing to add another to their compacted living spaces. This community also radiates hope. These streets are painted with streams of colors. Blue, red, green, yellow, purple, orange. Those living in Soweto contain a good deal of creativity. From advertisements painted on walls to street vendors to full-out murals, every corner contains something interesting. This street art helps to keep the atmosphere alive and shows how it can uplift those around it with its bright and colorful nature. Art is culture and even though those in Soweto have dealt with many harsh realities and pain, they seem to show up day in and day out with welcoming spaces and creative spirits that no one can ever take away.

Nathan Oostland writes about visiting Marikana:

On Thursday we visited Marikana, a mining town that was the site of a massacre where miners protesting for more livable pay were answered with bullets. This event from 2012 is still raw in the community and we were honored to visit the community and site in which it took place. Napoleon, a local activist, welcomed us into his four-room home to watch a documentary of the event entitled Miners Shot Down. He was a gracious host who pushed us just outside our comfort zones physically and emotionally. We learned the power of the everyday person in a fight for justice and the importance of sharing stories together. A beautiful moment from the day was sitting on top of the hill where miners sat on strike against the mining companies. The view over the landscape was stunning but hindered by smokestacks and huge industrial buildings. The domination these companies have over the community and land was apparent. But Napoleon didn鈥檛 let us leave with the idea that the people lost. They hadn鈥檛, wages increased and the movement displayed the resilience of the community.

Read more student stories from South Africa: the first weeks in Washington D.C., the first days in South Africa, and more recent adventures on 91短视频鈥檚 intercultural blog.

As the summer comes to a close, students at 91短视频 reflect on their summer 2022 intercultural experiences in Spain and Ghana. 

The current trip to Spain and the past trips to Ghana and Spain are only three of six intercultural experiences this summer. The others include a 3-week seminar to the U.S West entitled 鈥淎 Women鈥檚 West,鈥� a local context 3-week seminar highlighting diverse histories and cultures in Harrisonburg, and the Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center (WCSC).

Fall interculturals travel to Peru and WCSC. Learn more about future interculturals.

Read about students’ experiences in Spain and Ghana from the 91短视频 intercultural blog below:

Spain II

Coming up on their last week abroad, the 4-week summer Spain intercultural program has seen everything from bullfighting in Valencia to the Royal Palace of Madrid. Led by Deanna Durham, the group of 16 91短视频 students will travel across Spain from July 6 – Aug. 1.

Junior Ashley Mellinger reflects on culture shock and community:

We have been totally immersed in the Spanish culture here in Valencia. From the heat and lack of air conditioners to different foods and paying for water, the culture shock is real. We found comfort in the small things and stuck together to get through the uncomfortable feelings. Just two weeks ago, a lot of us were strangers to each other, but now it feels like we鈥檝e known each other for a lifetime. 

Read more reflections from Spain on the intercultural blog.

Ghana

The Ghana Year of Return trip is a unique intercultural experience: the theme is connected to the 1619 project which is honoring the 鈥淵ear of Return鈥� in Ghana and the 400-year anniversary since the first documented captured African was brought to Virginia. 

From the intercultural desecriptions: 鈥淭his journey to Ghana is intended to be a healing trip for students of color at 91短视频 who have historical and ancestral connection to the legacy of slavery. Our learning will explore and honor both the pain and the resilience of our identity.鈥�

Aliyyah Haggard and Rayn Robinson reflect on their first day in Ghana:

Monday was our first official full day in Ghana. We started off the day around 8 in the morning and had our first couple of lectures at the University of Ghana. The focus today was on the slave trade (from an African perspective) and religion and human rights. After class we went to a local restaurant for lunch then drove to the DuBois museum for a tour of DuBois鈥� Ghanaian home and burial site. Then we returned to our hotel for some dinner, and discussion time.

The rest of their week included learning about Child Rights and Protection and mental health concerns in Ghana, experiencing Ghanian theater and dance, volunteering, visiting a former Ghanian President, and much more.

Read more about Ghana on the intercultural blog.

Spain

Led by Deanna Durham and Byron Peachey, the 6-week summer Spain intercultural program saw 22 91短视频 students travel across Spain from May 9-June 20. The group explored several of the diverse regions of Spain: Valencia on the Mediterranean Sea, the central capital Madrid, Andalucia in the south and Asturias along the northern coast. Students stayed with host families, learned Spanish in an immersive program, and learned about the culture, history, and contrasts of Spain.

Junior Olivia Beiler reflects on her host family experience:

As we begin our last week with our host families, I鈥檝e done some reflecting on how I鈥檝e appreciated the relationships we鈥檝e built with them. From our conversations every evening about our days to playing with our host dog Luna, I am so thankful for every moment of it. Two ways we really connected with our host family were through food and Lord of the Rings. Our host mom loves to cook and has made us many delicious traditional Spanish dishes for dinner. She has also expressed to us how much it means to her that we always eat all of the food she鈥檚 made and are not picky eaters. As for Lord of the Rings, one of our first nights here our host dad invited us to watch Lord of the Rings with him鈥攍ittle did he know Elizabeth is an avid Lord of the Rings fan. We picked up a little ways into the second movie with the audio in Spanish and English subtitles. Since Laura and I have never seen Lord of the Rings this was a bit confusing for us, but we have loved this special time to bond with our host dad. Now we are working through the third movie in bits every few nights and it makes our host dad thrilled every time we ask if he wants to watch some more.

Senior Jacob Durren reflects on trying new things:

Throughout this trip I have taken a lot of time to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. From trying exotic foods like octopus and raw squid to even just exploring the cities by myself, I feel as though I have definitely achieved that goal that I had set for myself. One specific example that sticks out to me is when a group of us decided to surf at the Beach of Rodilles. Although it was harsher conditions and the waves were quite powerful, I found the courage to put on a wetsuit and try to tame the ocean with my rented surfboard. While I fell almost every single time I tried to stand during the first hour, I still persevered and had some great encouragement from my friends on the trip. For the last hour of surfing I felt much more confident and was able to consistently catch a wave and then stand up for at least a few seconds. While I will not be attending any competitions soon, I certainly feel as though surfing could be something I would enjoy doing from time to time when I have the chance to. If anything, this trip has taught me the importance of trying new things even when at first they might seem to be too overwhelming.

Read more reflections from Spain on the intercultural blog.

Students traveling in Guatemala for 91短视频鈥檚 semester intercultural program are just passing the one-month mark. Between settling into host families, starting language classes at CASAS, navigating public transportation and new surroundings, and digging into issues such as privilege, sustainability, and wealth disparities, the first leg of their journey has been full of rich learning experiences.

Junior Emma Hochstetler speaks to her experience so far:

The honeymoon phase is a thing of the past and some days feel harder than others.

Some days consist of Valentine鈥檚 Day card-making in the beautiful garden at CASAS, followed by cookies and chocolates, and a group sleepover before boarding our sunrise flight to Northern Guatemala.

Some days consist of language barriers, frustrating cultural differences, noticeable machismo, group dynamic challenges, upset stomachs, and complete physical/mental/emotional exhaustion.

But most days, it鈥檚 all intertwined.

Read more from Hochstetler on 91短视频鈥檚 intercultural program blog.

Led by nursing program director and professor Laura Glick Yoder, the group of 16 students are learning more about cultural, religious, and societal issues within a Central American context. The focus of this intercultural experience is for students to explore the meaning, purposes, and impacts of borders (both literal and figurative), by asking two questions:

• What might it mean to see and experience the world without borders, a place of boundless opportunity for peaceful human relationships and flourishing for all?
• How can we integrate our faith into responses to cultural differences and the presence of borders?

In addition to the Guatemala intercultural experience, 91短视频鈥檚 Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center has continued programming. Read about the 15 students completing internships in DC this semester. Visit the intercultural program homepage to see summer 2022 trips, including Spain with Deanna Durham and Byron Peachey, and the West, with Kimberly Schmidt.

When the news of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu鈥檚 death was announced the day after Christmas 2021 Eastern Mennonite Seminary associate director Sarah Bixler reminded 91短视频 News that the most recent intercultural group that traveled to South Africa had been fortunate enough to spend time with the legendary peacebuilder.

Learn more about that trip at the 91短视频 Intercultural Blog and on the intercultural website.

That group was led by Andrew G. Suderman, professor of Bible, theology and religion, and his wife, Karen, then director of 91短视频鈥檚 Intensive English Program (currently a teacher at Eastern Mennonite High School). That was the fifth time the Suderman family had met Tutu. 

The first occasion was in 2014 when the couple, representing Mennonite Church Canada, helped to coordinate the Anabaptist Network in South Africa (ANiSA).

With children Samantha and James, they had gone to an early morning Eucharist service at the historic St. George鈥檚 Cathedral in Cape Town. When 9-month-old James became fussy, Karen started to take him to the back of the chapel. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not taking the baby away, are you?鈥� Tutu asked, after he concluded the prayer. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not running away, are you? You must stay; we like his voice.鈥� 

We鈥檙e grateful that Andrew took some time to share reflections on meeting and learning from Archbishop Tutu. And some wonderful family photos, too.

***

December 26, 2021, was a sad day. That was the day the world learned of Desmond Mpilo Tutu鈥檚 death. The world lost a giant moral figure in a very small physical frame.

My family and I had the privilege of meeting Tata (Father) Tutu five times; four times while we lived in South Africa and once while we took a class of U.S. students to South Africa to learn about its story. Each of our children were touched and blessed by the Arch. (He often spent a considerable amount of time playing peek-a-boo with our children!)

Tata Tutu will rightly be remembered for his faithful and steadfast witness to God鈥檚 desire for justice, peace, and reconciliation in our world. Although this work and his witness emerged in the struggle against apartheid and its racially segregated social engineering project, it did not end there. He campaigned for peace, justice, and reconciliation in many other areas. He spoke   out against the Iraq war; he called into question the ongoing dynamics in the middle east and the neo-apartheid reality that Israel has created; he challenged internal church-related issues such as LGBTQ inclusion; and much more. Much can be (and will be!) said about all of this. I want to focus on three particular lessons that I gleaned from Tata Tutu.

 1) 鈥淚f you want peace, you don鈥檛 talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.鈥� 

Tutu became renowned for the way in which he challenged the apartheid regime and its system of hatred and violence. And yet his prophetic challenge was consistently invitational. In calling out the apartheid regime and its violent and hate-filled policies, he would always invite the actors that enacted apartheid鈥檚 policies to step away from its policies and join the struggle against apartheid鈥檚 dehumanizing ways.

鈥淵ou may have the guns,鈥� he would say; 鈥測ou may have all this power, but you have already lost. Come: join the winning side.鈥�

Tutu recognized that the apartheid system did not only dehumanize those which it subjugated, but it dehumanized those who perpetuated apartheid鈥檚 policies as well.

2) We are all interconnected. 

Tutu was perhaps one of the greatest proponents of ubuntu, a concept that highlights one鈥檚 interconnectedness with everything and everyone. It originates from the Nguni group of languages and has become short form for umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, which means 鈥渁 person is a person because of other people.鈥� Tutu recognized and helped us recognize the ways in which we are interconnected. Throughout the struggle against apartheid and the early years of South Africa鈥檚 democracy, the concept of ubuntu highlighted the way in which apartheid and its separation and exclusion attacked not only one鈥檚 dignity, but one鈥檚 humanity!

Tutu regularly referenced the notion of ubuntu as he challenged the logic and separating practice of apartheid. 鈥淢y humanity,鈥� he would remind people, 鈥渋s bound up, is inextricably bound, with yours; and yours with mine鈥� (No Future without Forgiveness, 31). It was precisely this understanding of interconnection that motivated Tutu鈥檚 work to not only free those that the apartheid system described as 鈥渘ot-white,鈥� but free the oppressor as well!

Ubuntu means that in a real sense even the supporters of apartheid were victims of the vicious system which they implemented and which they supported so enthusiastically. Our humanity was intertwined. The humanity of the perpetrator of apartheid鈥檚 atrocities was caught up and bound up in that of his victim whether he liked it or not. In the process of dehumanising another, in inflicting untold harm and suffering, the perpetrator was inexorably being dehumanised as well.鈥� (No Future without Forgiveness, 35)

3) Reconciliation, therefore, becomes central.

 If working for peace means confronting and talking with your enemies, and if this is done because we are all interconnected, then reconciliation is both necessary and a logical outcome. Tutu reminded people that reconciliation means to work at restoring right relationships. Wherever injustice and oppression exist, relationships are not right, things are not as they should be. Thus, reconciliation should not become equated with some form of 鈥渟oft鈥� attempt to try to find middle ground.

Tutu was unequivocal that God was found among those who are oppressed, exploited, and dehumanized. Reconciliation was not an effort to find or negotiate some kind of middle ground. Rather, the work towards reconciliation recognizes that relationships with fellow humans, with creation, and with God are broken. Reconciliation, therefore, was an active way by which to envision and live into a new reality that was not determined by past brokenness. Reconciliation sought to imagine and establish new relationships that could offer a better expression of God鈥檚 desired justice and peace now in this world.

 Not only will I miss Tutu鈥檚 infectious laugh, I will miss Tutu鈥檚 tireless pursuit toward a better and life-giving future. We have lost not only an incredible role model; we have lost one of God鈥檚 champions for a more just and reconciled world.

 Rest well, Tata. May we seek to embody the many lessons you have provided  in our quest to make God鈥檚 kingdom a reality on earth as it is in heaven.

See below for a comment from retired 91短视频 professor Harlan de Brun about several other crosscultural* groups that met with then-Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

* 91短视频’s cross-cultural program was renamed Intercultural Programs, a title that more accurately reflects the experience, in 2021.

91短视频’s fall intercultural group returned from their southeast Asia travels. Watch a recording of their Dec. 15 convocation presentation on . [You do not need a Facebook account to view.]

. Read more at the intercultural program blog.

The group is co-led by Daniel Showalter, professor of mathematics, and Myrrl Byler, executive director of Mennonite Partners in China. Among other travels, the group based at the Chiang Mai YMCA for a month and trekked out from there to visit villages, natural areas, historic sites and even an elephant sanctuary.

Lindsey White writes about feeling a cosmic connection with a “familiar stranger” as she passes by and grapples with the question of how to “bring adventure with us” when back in the familiar context of the Shenandoah Valley.

Kate Szambecki synthesizes learnings and what it means to make a new place into “home”:

We’ve now been at the YMCA for exactly a month. We have visited a myriad of temples, a couple of villages, elephants, museums and MANY restaurants. We’ve learned about Thai cooking, Thai language, issues of deforestation, human trafficking, gender and sexuality, Thai ethnic groups and culture, and Chinese history (thanks, Myrrl!). Tomorrow we learn about Thai boxing… This place is beginning to feel like a kind of home. I feel comfortable going out in our free time to explore, and I have familiar places that I have already grown to love…

Though the pandemic has caused challenges and a brief hiatus, 91短视频’s overseas intercultural programs resumed with summer travel in Lithuania. The Washington Community Scholars’ Center has continued programming; read about their fall internships.

Spring 2022 schedules include Guatemala with Laura Glick Yoder and Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center.

Summer 2022 has groups going to New Zealand, with Jim and Kathy Yoder; Spain with Deanna Durham and Byron Peachey; Ghana Year of Return with Talibah Aquil and Celeste Thomas; A Women’s West with Kimberly Schmidt and Su Flickinger; Washington Community Scholars鈥� Center; and Local Context with Debbi DeGennaro.

91短视频’s Alumni and Friends Travel is also starting up again with spring and summer 2022 trips to Cuba, Ireland, and more on the schedule.