Because of the international recognition of their work, Dr. Rebecca Dali and her husband Dr. Samuel Dali have become direct targets of the extremist terrorist group Boko Haram and are no longer able to live in their native Nigeria. Dr. Samuel Dali, who is a graduate of McPherson College, along with his wife, will speak in a public lecture at McPherson College’s Mingenback Theatre on Wednesday, November 29 at noon. Their presentation is titled, “A Peaceful Response to the Boko Haram Terror.”

Dr. Samuel Dali is the former president of the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, known locally as Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria, or EYN Church. Many of the families of the more than 200 girls kidnapped in April 2014 in Chibok by the Boko Haram were members of the EYN Church.

Dr. Rebecca Dali is the founder and CEO of the Center for Caring, Empowerment and Peace Initiative, or CCEPI, and received an award from the United Nations in August for her courageous work to reintegrate girls and orphans freed by the Boko Haram back into their local communities.

Boko Haram promotes an extremist version of Islam that forbids Muslims to take part in any aspect of Western society, it initially focused its opposition on Western education. At its height, it fought to overthrow the Nigerian government and create an Islamic state and kidnapped more than 200 girls from their school. The organization was designated a terrorist group by the United States in 2013. After a series of negotiations in 2016, the militants began releasing some of the girls that were kidnapped.

Drs. Samuel and Rebecca Dali’s individual life stories and their work to combat terrorism in Nigeria are testament to the peaceful, nonresistance stance of the Church of the Brethren. They will share their experiences in the free public lecture on November 29 as well as with McPherson College students during classes on November 30. The McPherson College Office of Spiritual Life & Service is hosting this event.

McPherson College is exhibiting the artwork of students from 11 area high schools who have entered the college’s inaugural high school art competition. The exhibit, titled “Art Pop,” is on display now in Friendship Hall until November 30.

The student entries were selected by high school art teachers who submitted the six best pieces from this and last semester. Awards will be presented during a closing reception on November 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

“I think many people will be surprised by the variety of media and the high quality of craftsmanship displayed by these students,” Michaela Groeblacher, assistant professor of art and gallery director at McPherson College, said. “We invite everybody to see the exhibit and celebrate these young, promising artists.”

Student artwork from the following high schools is on display: Buhler, Chase, Derby, Hesston, Inman, Maize, McPherson, Moundridge, Salina Central, Smoky Valley, and Western Plains.

The gallery exhibition can be viewed during regular business hours, Monday through Friday in Friendship Hall at McPherson College.

The McPherson College theatre department will showcase some of its brightest vocal talent in its upcoming production of “Musical Herstory” on November 16-18.

This theatre concert performance will give its audience the opportunity to enjoy live music in a setting much like a jazz club or piano bar, according to Jd. Bowman, associate professor of theatre. “The environment of this production is unlike anything I’ve worked on for our theatre and that’s fun,” he said.

The production highlights women’s roles in musical theatre with songs from such classic musicals as “Les Miserables,” “Wicked,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and “White Christmas” as well as songs from newer works such as “R.R.E.D.,” “Side Show,” and “Jane Eyre.”

The show is the senior project of Bailey Short, who assisted in compiling the music, is the co-director, and performs as part of the ensemble. “I’m really looking forward to what each of these women will bring to this production,” she said.

Each performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre on the McPherson College campus. Reservations can be made by calling the theatre box office at 620-242-0444 or emailing [email protected]. Tickets are $5 for general admission and $3.50 for seniors and students. A First-Nighters meal will be served at 6:15 p.m. prior to each performance. First Nighters is the name of the season-ticket holders who support the theatre productions.

Pianist Ketevan Badridze. Prizewinner at Newport International Piano Competition (UK), The World International Piano Competition, New Orleans International Piano Competition, & the Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition.

Renowned classical pianist, Ketevan Badridze, will open the 2017 Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series on October 29 with a recital in Brown Auditorium at 4 p.m. at McPherson College. A reception to meet the artist will be held immediately after the recital.

Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Badrize, has been performing since the age of 10. As a solo artist and chamber performer, she has taken the stage in the United States, Georgia, France, Austria, Holland, Italy, and Germany performing with Tbilisi National Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Yerevan Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra, and South Bend Symphony Orchestra. Her collaborations include performances with Lisa Batiashvili, Alexander Korsantia, Gregory Fulkerson as well as Euclid and Georgian National Quartets.

She is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions such as Newport International Piano Competition – UK, The World International Piano Competition – Cincinnati, New Orleans International Piano Competition, and the Bartok-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Piano Competition.

She earned a master of music degree in piano performance from Tbilisi State Conservatory and moved to the United States in 2000 to study with Professor Alexander Toradze. She has appeared with renowned Toradze Piano Studio at numerous music venues around Europe and the United States, including Columbia University in New York, Wigmore Hall in London, Academia of Santa Cecilia in Rome, Settimane Musicali di Stresa e del Lago Maggiore and Ravena Festival in Italy, Ruhr Keyboard Festival in Germany, and the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival as part of “World Rising Stars” series broadcast on the National Public Radio (NPR). Since 2005, she has been a senior lecturer of music at Indiana University South Bend.

The Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series was established in 2016 thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Lingenfelter. Her son, Steve Clark, chairman of Clark Investment Group in Wichita, established the fund that supports the two annual music performance events, with special emphasis on piano. Lingenfelter, an alumna of McPherson College, taught piano in McPherson for many years to both college students on campus and younger students at her studio downtown.

Although Lingenfelter passed away in 1962, her son continues to see a long-lasting influence from her lifetime of work. The fund is his way of saying thank you and to support the music and the instrument she loved.

McPherson College will celebrate Homecoming October 13-14 with activities for alumni as well as community members that range from fine arts and lectures to cars and run/walk/bike events.

A complete schedule of events for the weekend is available on the McPherson College website at www.mcpherson.edu/homecoming. In addition to the traditional Homecoming class reunions, football game and royalty coronation, there are several other events that will interest McPherson community members.

On Friday, October 13 the McPherson College CARS Club will host a classic vehicle cruise-in on Main Street beginning at 6 p.m. Students, alumni and community members are encouraged to bring their classic vehicles and be a part of the event, and at 7 p.m., the Rapid Assembly T-Build Team of the automotive restoration department will demonstrate how quickly it can assembly and start-up a Model-T.

Faculty Lectures will take place on Saturday, October 14 at 10 a.m. in Mohler Hall. Joe Dickhudt, associate professor of technology, will present, “Apollo Space Program in Perspective: Looking back 50 years,” in Mohler 231, and Herb Smith, professor of philosophy and religion, will present, “Global Christianity,” in the Mohler 212. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

A new activity this year will take place earlier on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. when alumni and community members are invited to participate in a 1K (Bull)DOG Walk that will begin near the Gazebo. No registration is required for participants and their dogs to take part in this fun walk.

Other public events during Homecoming include:

• Artist Reception for Faculty/Staff Art Show in Friendship Hall – Friday, 3:30-5 p.m.
• Theatre Production – Charley’s Aunt in Brown Auditorium – Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
• Art Ray 5K Run beginning near the Gazebo – Saturday, 8 a.m.
• Pedals for Paul beginning near the Gazebo – Saturday, 9 a.m.
• Choir Concert at Church of the Brethren – Sunday, 2 p.m.