Hesston (Kansas) College inaugurated their ninth president, Dr. Joseph A. Manickam, in an inauguration ceremony on Sept. 23 at Hesston Mennonite Church. Manickam’s presidential address, titled “One World to Share,” spoke for peace and community-building across cultural differences. The event took place during homecoming weekend at the college with the theme, “Grounded in Community, Globally Engaged.”

Five hundred and seventy-five people registered for a weekend that included activities such as alumni and past president events, international-themed music concerts and a culminating Sunday worship service.

Photo: The Manickam family, center (l to r): Faith, Joe, Wanda and Matthew, is surrounded in prayer. The people surrounding the Manickam family are (l to r): Amy Nissley Stauffer (pastor, Hesston Mennonite Church), Koyuki Sakamoto (sophomore, Osaka, Japan), Stephanie Yoder (Alumni Association President, Weatherford, Okla.), Kelvin Friesen (Board of Directors chair, Archbold, Ohio), Carlos Romero (Mennonite Education Agency Executive Director, Goshen, Ind.), Brent Yoder (Vice President of Academics), Cindy Loucks (President’s Administrative Assistant), Michelle Armster (Mennonite Central Committee Central States Office Executive Director, North Newton, Kan.), Amy Bragg Carey (President, Friends University, Wichita, Kan.)

Watch the full inauguration ceremony online:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64d4rW_NEKk