Many things have changed since the campers arrived for that first summer at Michigan's Camp Friedenswald in 1951. But one thing has remained constant through the years-people working diligently to aid in the spiritual formation and growth of the children and young adults in attendance.
Recent years have seen the calling of many Bluffton University students, alumni and faculty and staff members to join those individuals and become a part of the ministry of Friedenswald as permanent staff, volunteers, summer staff or camp pastors.
Bluffton University outfielder Kyle Niermann (Napoleon/Napoleon) recently joined the Lima Locos of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League. The GLSCL is one of the premier collegiate summer baseball leagues in the country, providing many Division I athletes with the opportunity to perform in front of major league scouts on a regular basis.
Bluffton University senior nose tackle Justin Crosier (Columbus/Hamilton Township) was recently named pre-season Second Team All-American by the Consensus Draft Services for the 2011 season. Crosier was First Team All-Heartland Conference in 2010 as well as a Second Team All-North Region selection by D3football.com following his junior campaign.
Karen Brandt, who coached the Bloomsburg (Pa.) University women's cross country team to the NCAA Division II national championship meet in 2007, has been named as Bluffton University's new head coach of men's and women's cross country and track and field.
Two Bluffton University students are serving this summer in churches in Pennsylvania and Kansas as part of Mennonite Church USA's Ministry Inquiry Program (MIP).
Participating in the program are Rachel Harris from Carey, at Neffsville Mennonite Church in Lancaster, Pa., and Shawn Yoder from Plain City, at South Hutchinson (Kan.) Mennonite Church. At the same time, both students-seniors and youth ministry minors at Bluffton-are also completing required internships, earning academic credit for meeting requirements for ministry contact hours, reading and journal writing.
Two incoming students at Bluffton University have been awarded the university's full-tuition Presidential Scholarships, valued at more than $100,000 for four years, while two others have received Dean's Scholarships, worth more than $75,000 over the same period.
Bradley Schlabach of Fredericksburg and Jessica Roth of Rockford, are the Presidential Scholarship recipients. Schlabach, a 2011 graduate of Hiland High School, is the son of Paul and Ruth Schlabach, while Roth, the daughter of David and Julie Roth, is a 2011 Parkway High School graduate.
