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Mike and Ruth Bender have also sent six students Consequently, they were interested in the friends
to RBC. Mike echoed Joe’s thought, writing that their siblings made, and the activities they took part
for “a homeschooling family, RBC has been a great in at RBC.
transition for [our children]. It has helped them to
At this point, the explanations for why so many
mature spiritually as well as socially. RBC is a great, large sibling groups attend RBC and the story of
maybe the best, place for a young student to get
their ‘feet wet’ in the college experience.” their RBC experiences converge. Several of the
parents I spoke to mentioned a feeling of involve-
Family preference also played a role in why so ment or even ownership about RBC, similar to that
many siblings chose RBC. In all of the survey re-
sponses I received, at least one parent was an RBC
alum, and each set of parents said they encourage Older siblings have influence
their children to attend RBC. Research indicates
that parents have a significant influence on their of younger siblings anticipating their own Rose-
children’s college choices. Similarly, according to dale experience. Rosy and John Shenk have sent
a study conducted at Harvard University, the col- six children to Rosedale. Rosy says, “Their experi-
legiate choices of older siblings often influence the ences have enriched our family by the new friends
choices of younger siblings. they have made and the things they have learned
All five of Bill and Susan Hochstedler’s children through their classes.”
attended RBC. In response to the email survey Su- Similarly, the way the RBC lays a foundation for
san reflected on the theme of influence from parents adulthood is both an explanation of why large sib-
and older siblings, writing that, “We felt it was im- ling groups attend and a significant part of their
portant [for our children to attend RBC] because we experience. Joe Byler said, “The first child and the
didn’t live in a Mennonite community. We basically last child received a very orthodox…a high view
‘forced’ the first one! After that it was easy!” of scripture.” Mike Bender wrote, “All of our chil-
In large families, older siblings influence on
dren have good memories of RBC and have been
younger siblings’ college choices may be com- able to use the biblical knowledge they gained in
pounded. Speaking on the telephone, Bill and Susan further education as well as the workplace.” Rosy
Hochstedler told me that as their older children at- Shenk added, “RBC was instrumental in ground-
tended RBC, their younger children began to expect
that they would also head to RBC after high school. continued on page 6
Facing page, left: Bill and Susan Hochstedler’s family. RBC alums are Amy (95, 96, 00), in This page, left: Joe and Naomi Byler’s family, l. to r.: Joseph (00, 01, 02), (Renee Miller),
red in center (Dave Yoder), Sumatra; Delton (97, 98), in beige far right, (Fernie Fernandez), Columbus, OH; Lynae (10), fourth from left, San Francisco, CA; April (02), blue dress,
Sao Paulo, Brazil; Collin (00, 01, 02), second male from left, (Debbie Diller), Sioux Lookout, (Randall Weaver), Lancaster, PA; Keith (05, 07), third male from right, (Emily Oxley), Apple
Ontario; Evan (03, 04), second male from right, (Heidi), Sioux Lookout, Ontario; Bethany Creek, OH; Laura (13), beside Keith, Columbus, OH; Philip (12), black shirt, Morocco. Right:
(05, 06), first female from left, (Joshua Foley), Quarryville, PA. Right: John and Rosy Mike and Ruth Bender’s family, l. to r.: Daniel (12); Charity (07); Evie (01), second female
Shenk’s family: from left, Marina (06, 07, 09), (Landon Lehman), South Bend, IN; Lara (10, from left, (Jeremy) Bennett; Stuart (07), blue shirt, (Caitlin); Jordan (14), fourth from
11, 12), (Levi Ziegler), Paynesville, MN; Elisabeth (14, 15), Plain City, OH; Hans (09, 10), right, back row; Marci (99), in front of Jordan, (Adam Darling).
(Courtney Miller), Resaca, OH; back row, last male: Daniel (05, 06), (Emily Everett), Plain
City; Katie (coming this fall!), Plain City; Alisha (13, 14), Columbus, OH.
summer 2016 | MIRROR 5
to RBC. Mike echoed Joe’s thought, writing that their siblings made, and the activities they took part
for “a homeschooling family, RBC has been a great in at RBC.
transition for [our children]. It has helped them to
At this point, the explanations for why so many
mature spiritually as well as socially. RBC is a great, large sibling groups attend RBC and the story of
maybe the best, place for a young student to get
their ‘feet wet’ in the college experience.” their RBC experiences converge. Several of the
parents I spoke to mentioned a feeling of involve-
Family preference also played a role in why so ment or even ownership about RBC, similar to that
many siblings chose RBC. In all of the survey re-
sponses I received, at least one parent was an RBC
alum, and each set of parents said they encourage Older siblings have influence
their children to attend RBC. Research indicates
that parents have a significant influence on their of younger siblings anticipating their own Rose-
children’s college choices. Similarly, according to dale experience. Rosy and John Shenk have sent
a study conducted at Harvard University, the col- six children to Rosedale. Rosy says, “Their experi-
legiate choices of older siblings often influence the ences have enriched our family by the new friends
choices of younger siblings. they have made and the things they have learned
All five of Bill and Susan Hochstedler’s children through their classes.”
attended RBC. In response to the email survey Su- Similarly, the way the RBC lays a foundation for
san reflected on the theme of influence from parents adulthood is both an explanation of why large sib-
and older siblings, writing that, “We felt it was im- ling groups attend and a significant part of their
portant [for our children to attend RBC] because we experience. Joe Byler said, “The first child and the
didn’t live in a Mennonite community. We basically last child received a very orthodox…a high view
‘forced’ the first one! After that it was easy!” of scripture.” Mike Bender wrote, “All of our chil-
In large families, older siblings influence on
dren have good memories of RBC and have been
younger siblings’ college choices may be com- able to use the biblical knowledge they gained in
pounded. Speaking on the telephone, Bill and Susan further education as well as the workplace.” Rosy
Hochstedler told me that as their older children at- Shenk added, “RBC was instrumental in ground-
tended RBC, their younger children began to expect
that they would also head to RBC after high school. continued on page 6
Facing page, left: Bill and Susan Hochstedler’s family. RBC alums are Amy (95, 96, 00), in This page, left: Joe and Naomi Byler’s family, l. to r.: Joseph (00, 01, 02), (Renee Miller),
red in center (Dave Yoder), Sumatra; Delton (97, 98), in beige far right, (Fernie Fernandez), Columbus, OH; Lynae (10), fourth from left, San Francisco, CA; April (02), blue dress,
Sao Paulo, Brazil; Collin (00, 01, 02), second male from left, (Debbie Diller), Sioux Lookout, (Randall Weaver), Lancaster, PA; Keith (05, 07), third male from right, (Emily Oxley), Apple
Ontario; Evan (03, 04), second male from right, (Heidi), Sioux Lookout, Ontario; Bethany Creek, OH; Laura (13), beside Keith, Columbus, OH; Philip (12), black shirt, Morocco. Right:
(05, 06), first female from left, (Joshua Foley), Quarryville, PA. Right: John and Rosy Mike and Ruth Bender’s family, l. to r.: Daniel (12); Charity (07); Evie (01), second female
Shenk’s family: from left, Marina (06, 07, 09), (Landon Lehman), South Bend, IN; Lara (10, from left, (Jeremy) Bennett; Stuart (07), blue shirt, (Caitlin); Jordan (14), fourth from
11, 12), (Levi Ziegler), Paynesville, MN; Elisabeth (14, 15), Plain City, OH; Hans (09, 10), right, back row; Marci (99), in front of Jordan, (Adam Darling).
(Courtney Miller), Resaca, OH; back row, last male: Daniel (05, 06), (Emily Everett), Plain
City; Katie (coming this fall!), Plain City; Alisha (13, 14), Columbus, OH.
summer 2016 | MIRROR 5
