Peace studies: the first program of its kind

At Manchester College, peace studies is far from being a head-in-the-clouds pursuit. Every day, our students grapple with tough, real-world issues of conflict and justice. Many students in other areas of study have had their life’s goals shaped by things they’ve encountered in peace studies courses.

For Mary Cox, Class of 2009, peace studies opened doors to study in Japan and to meet with survivors of the atomic blasts. Back on campus, Mary continued her research and presented a paper on the anti-nuclear movement at the Student Research Symposium.

Then there’s Felix Lohitai, Class of 2008. A refugee from Sudan, Felix was forced into the army as a young boy. Now, he hopes to devote his life to peacemaking work in Africa. Manchester College has given Felix the opportunity to study in the U.S. But even more importantly, Felix has helped raise the consciousness of fellow students by sharing his insights and ideas in the classroom.

Service
Manchester students, faculty and staff have a long tradition of community service. Last year alone, they logged more than 19,250 hours of service in a wide range of activities - from literacy projects to Habitat for Humanity.

Melanie DeGrandchamp, Class of 2009, volunteered every chance she could. From coaching Special Olympics to teaching children with disabilities, Melanie calls all of them “my kids.” Taking children with disabilities to the zoo, the pool and the parks to play and to learn new skills helped her to build a reputation with parents of special needs children, who called on Melanie for help. And when Melanie’s “kids” saw her on campus, they would give her high fives.
“I adore these kids,” Melanie says. “This is exactly what I love doing.”

Faith
Manchester College is one of six colleges of the Church of the Brethren. While about 6 percent of the student body belongs to the denomination, Manchester welcomes students from all faith traditions. Spiritual growth is encouraged as a key part of the personal development that takes place here. Voluntary weekly chapel services bring community members together for worship and reflection, and the campus is home to a number of faith-based student organizations.