Bluffton University - Prepared for life and vocation
Grasping opportunities
Aaron Yost, class of 2011
Communication major
Pinetop, Ariz.
Family ties
Aaron has a lot of interests being that he is a communication major with a theatre
concentration and a minor in English. He enjoys being able to pursue all of his passions
while at Bluffton. Coming from a small town in Arizona to Bluffton, Ohio, some may
wonder what it was that brought him such a great distance. But for Aaron, coming to
Bluffton seemed like a natural choice. Aaron s parents are Bluffton graduates who
told Aaron stories about how they met here on campus. While Aaron came to Bluffton
at his family s encouragement, he says he stayed because of all the opportunities
he has been offered.
Performer at heart
Aaron is very involved in theatre at Bluffton. He played one of the leads in the fall
play Whatever Kindles, a story about Christian Peacemaker Teams. It was really interesting playing that
character, says Aaron of 60-year old Bill whom he portrayed as serving in Hebron.
Bill was so torn over tough issues. That play got people thinking about important
things. Aaron sees acting as a form of service as it brings a message to an audience
that they might not otherwise hear. He is also a member of the Improv Troupe, a group
that performs spontaneously off of audience suggestions.
Urban semester
To fulfill Bluffton s cross-cultural requirement, Aaron is spending the fall 2009
semester in Washington, D.C., taking classes and working an internship. The city offers
many venues to work in theatre during the week, as well as service opportunities on
the weekends. Aaron is looking forward to his first long-term urban experience and
is grateful to have the chance to go and learn more about his interests. I ve never
lived in a big city, and this is a great chance to do that, says Aaron.
Staying connected
Aaron is a part of Camerata Singers and BASIC (Brothers and Sisters in Christ). Camerata
Singers is a select-member choir. During spring break, Camerata Singers traveled through
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, singing at churches and nursing homes.
I enjoy Camerata because choir has always been a constant in my life, says Aaron.
I have been in choir since elementary school, and so being a part of Camerata provided
something familiar to me in a new setting. BASIC is something Aaron looks forward
to every week. A student-sponsored organization for students, faculty and staff to
meet informally on a weekly basis, BASIC groups provide personal support, fellowship
and growth in the context of Christian community. BASIC provides a great intimate
setting in which I ve gotten to know some people I would otherwise not have interacted
with, says Aaron. And, it's nice to have someone open his home to me, especially
since I do not go home too often.
