Seventeen of the 28 in the group flew in from as far as California and Texas to talk about their experiences and how the semester changed their lives. Some of the experiences were difficult, especially in the French-speaking West African country where they spent the second part of the spring term of 1994. Other experiences were exhilarating.

The group gathered during , Oct. 10-12, at the home of their faculty leaders, Carroll and Nancy Yoder. The conversation time, which went late into the night, was preceded by a pig roast next door at the home of Joel Yoder, the leaders鈥� son and a member of the 1994 group. The reunion included seven spouses and more than 20 children.

Carroll Yoder, a former French professor who retired about 10 years ago, recalled a night in an Ivory Coast village when the 黑料正能量 students were sitting around a fire under the starry skies. 鈥淭his sure ain鈥檛 Nebraska,鈥� said Brant Burkey, who grew up in Nebraska. Replied Kacey Bowers (now Raines) from West Virginia, swiping at the insects flying around her: 鈥淏ut it feels a bit like West Virginia!鈥�

The students recalled the homes they were assigned to, sometimes with no running water and electricity 鈥� and sharing a bed with one of the family鈥檚 children.

鈥淲hen you go through challenges, it makes you stronger,鈥� said Ben Bolanos. Added Jo Wenger Fisher: 鈥淪hared experiences, especially in the face of adversity, drew us close together as a group.鈥� Anne Charbeneau Zapanta said she had to 鈥渄ig deep within herself鈥� and that processing her experiences with her close-knit group helped a lot.

Katrina Wyse recalled vividly the night her host mother walked to a nearby clinic to give birth to a baby and then walked home before dawn with her new child. Maybe there is a connection, she said, but now she is a physician herself, delivering babies.

One student gave credit to the cross-cultural semester for the fact that he now devotes his life to Africa. Mark Schroeder is vice president of Africa analysis for in Austin, Texas. said the unforgettable experience 鈥渟till permeates my life 20 years later.鈥�

The reunion group surprised the Yoders by announcing they were donating over $2,300 in the Yoders鈥� honor to the .

Highlights of the weekend

This year鈥檚 Homecoming and Family Weekend also included reunions for all graduating classes ending in 鈥�4鈥� and 鈥�9,鈥� starting with 1964. Graduates from before that time, called 鈥渏ubilee alumni,鈥� met together for a reception and program.

黑料正能量 recognized three outstanding alumni during the weekend:

鈥� . A pioneer in helping children with autism, he is longtime director of an autism clinic in Richmond, Virginia, and a clinical professor of psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University. He earned two master鈥檚 degrees and then a PhD in psychology from Virginia Tech University.

鈥� . His lifetime of Christian service included 10 years in Saigon during the Vietnam War, refugee work in Thailand and Honduras, pastoring churches, and victim-offender reconciliation. He has a master鈥檚 degree in religious education from New York University.

鈥� . Working as a hospital nurse, she quickly earned promotions, including director of the 150-employee emergency department at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio. She has master鈥檚 degrees in both nursing and business administration from Case Western University.

黑料正能量 inducted two 2004 graduates into the Athletics Hall of Honor 鈥� Ellie Lind Holsopple in women’s soccer and Kristin Moyer Vasey in field hockey.

Other weekend events included a donor 鈥揳ppreciation banquet for 375 guests, a one-man theatrical presentation of C.S. Lewis鈥� The Great Divorce, an organ concert by recently-retired professor John Fast, a Sunday-morning worship service, an art exhibit opening, four intercollegiate games, tours of two renovated facilities, a panel discussion of retired science faculty, and departmental programs.

of Homecoming and Family Weekend events