Mennonite Weekly Review

HILLSBORO, Kan. — A record number of former students, faculty and staff are expected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tabor College during its centennial homecoming celebration Oct. 1-5.

Established in 1908 by Mennonite Brethren and Krimmer Mennonite Brethren, Tabor began with just 39 students and three professors.

Since then, about 11,000 students have attended the college.

“Tabor College has meant so much to so many over the past 100 years that we’re inviting the entire community to join us as we celebrate a century of God’s faithfulness to the college,” said Jeremy Jordan, director of alumni and related programs.

The centennial events make Jules Glanzer’s first homecoming as Tabor’s president special.

“One of the highlights for me personally will be having all of the living former presidents on campus at the same time,” Glanzer said. “I’m excited to learn from them and hear their stories.”

The living former presidents — Vernon Janzen, LeVon Balzer, H. David Brandt and Larry Nikkel — will participate in a forum, “Celebrating Tabor’s Centennial: The Past 25 Years,“ at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

All former Tabor presidents will be honored at 11:15 a.m. Saturday at the Centennial Plaza Dedication Ceremony, in which a dramatic new sculpture, “Called to Serve,“ will be dedicated on the campus lawn.

“I view the plaza as sacred space on campus,“ Glanzer said. “Until now, we didn’t have a place where our 100-year mission was featured. Now we have a location on campus where our mission is engraved in bronze for all of the Tabor family and our guests to see and experience the Tabor mission.“

Other highlights of the centennial homecoming celebration include:

n On the stage, Tabor board chairman Lyndon Vix, an attorney from Maize, plays the leading role in a cast of more than 50 performers as Tevye in the campus production of Fiddler on the Roof.

n On the athletic fields, men’s and women’s soccer games against the University of Saint Mary begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, and the homecoming football game against Friends University kicks off at 2 p.m. at Reimer Field.