Review - McPherson College Magazine, Fall 2018

FALL 2018

McPHERSON COLLEGE MAGAZINE

A LIFE SHAPED

BY THE

Arts

Juniors Lillian Oeding and Kento Aizawa are permanent members of the Salina Symphony

Sea of Red

Faculty, staff and families welcome the freshman class through the Sea of Red during Orientation Weekend.

KCAC Champs!

Volleyball went undefeated in the KCAC during the regular season and made the national tournament for the ďŹ rst time in program history.

Bulldog Fall Sports Recap: pg 8

McPHERSON COLLEGE MAGAZINE

Arts SHAPED BY THE

PERMANENT SPOT

After years of practicing, taking lessons, rehearsing, and substituting for others, Kento Aizawa and Lillian Oeding are now permanent members of the Salina Symphony and are no longer identified as “student” musicians.

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AN UNLIKELY ART GALLERY

Mike Michaelis has focused his attention on collecting art done by Kansas artists with more than 3,000 works in his collection on display at Emprise Bank locations across Kansas.

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4 PROGRAM UPDATES

Fall 2018 | Vol. 107, No. 2 McPherson College 1600 E. Euclid PO Box 1402 McPherson, KS 67460 (620) 242-0400 (800) 365-7402 www. mcpherson.edu The Review welcomes and reports the news of our diverse alumni and friends.

Their activities may represent a variety of viewpoints which may or may not be endorsed by the college. McPherson College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or physical or emotional disability. © 2018 McPherson College

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Ann Zerger’s memories of thousands of butterflies rising up while running through pastures on her family’s farm as a child was one inspiration for her art installation on the Kansas prairie.

A look at MC alumni whose lives and careers are continually shaped by the arts.

ART ON THE PRAIRIE

8 ATHLETICS

FINE ARTS ALUMNI

27 HOMECOMING

The Review McPherson College Magazine is published twice a year by the Office of Marketing and Public Relations for the alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the college.

Editor - Tina Goodwin director of public relations Design - Brian Lundberg director of marketing Photography - Colleen Gustafson ‘06 promotions and new media manager Contributing Staff Monica Rice director of alumni and constituent relations Dave Barrett ’90 advancement officer Jeremy Nelson athletic communications director Kendra Flory advancement assistant Deb Wagoner donor relations coordinator

32 ALUMNI NOTES

McPherson College Administration Michael P. Schneider ‘96 president Abbey Archer-Rierson chief of staff Roger Brimmerman vp for advancement Dr. Bruce Clary ’77 vp for academic affairs Khalilah Doss vp for student life & dean of students Andrew Ehling athletic director Amanda Gutierrez vp for automotive restoration Christi Hopkins vp for enrollment management Marty Sigwing director of facilities Brenda Stocklin-Smith director of human resources Rick Tuxhorn vp for finance

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MCPHERSON COLLEGE MAGAZINE

MC a “Great College” again For the fourth year in a row, McPherson College has been named a “Great College to Work For” in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s report on the academic workplace. The college was also recognized on the list’s Honor Roll for the third year in a row.

The Honor Roll is an elite group of institutions that are standouts within their respective enrollment sizes.

McPherson College was the only Kansas college to make the Honor Roll list and the only Kansas college included on the report. Additionally, it was one of only five institutions nationwide to earn top honors in 11 or more of the report’s 12 categories, which include areas like compensation and benefits along with work and life balance.

“One of the things that attracted me to McPherson College was the fact that they were listed on the Great Colleges to Work For Honor Roll,” Khalilah Doss, vice president of student life, said. Dr. Doss oversees student experiences and started working at the college prior to the fall of 2018.

The Chronicle of Higher Education, one of the nation’s top trade publications for colleges and universities, surveyed 253 two-year and four-year institutions nationwide. Only 84 institutions were selected for the Great Colleges to Work For list, and only 10 of those made the Honor Roll in the small-college category.

McPherson College has again been recognized as a College of Distinction and ranked by U.S. News & World Report on its “Best Colleges” list for Regional College Midwest, the top KCAC school on this year’s list.

recognition

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EXPLORE

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Kevin Mokhtarian, executive director of the Office of Career and Experiential Learning, is putting a renewed focus on careers by ensuring McPherson College graduates are placed in their field while broadening the level of student engagement across campus.

“McPherson College’s career placement and graduate school acceptance rates are some of the highest in the country,” President Michael Schneider said. “By elevating the scope and visibility of our career service efforts, our students will have even greater opportunities to explore, experience, and engage in career development.”

Among the McPherson College 2018 EXPER graduates, two-thirds reported having a job or graduate school placement before crossing the stage at commencement, Enterprising which is three times the national MC Student average. Additionally, 100 percent of those who applied were accepted to graduate school programs.

G Mokhtarian will continue to integrate a ENGA new way to counsel students on their career journey, called the “Enterprising MC Student.” The model applies a process where students explore options in their field through research and conversations with industry professionals; experience the actual work through practicums, clinicals, and job shadowing; and engage in internships, projects, and jobs. In addition, areas like service learning, global travel, and entrepreneurship are being included to expand the scope of career development on campus.

“We want to engage more students in career preparation - from those who know specifically what they want to do after they graduate to those who have no idea,” said Schneider.

Before coming to McPherson College, Mokhtarian was associate director of the career center at Kansas State University, and associate director for institutional effectiveness at MidAmerica Nazarene College, where he led the career services department. In addition, he has 23 years of industry experience.

N ATION AL

Renewed Focus on Career

Student Retention at 80%

McPherson College started the 2018-19 academic year with the best enrollment in the history of the college, with total full-time equivalent enrollment just over 800 and overall student retention at 80 percent, the strongest ever.

“The best indicator of quality is when people keep coming back,” Michael Schneider, president of the college, said. “Our students recognize that McPherson College offers high quality academic programs that lead to success after graduation. No other schools in the Midwest report higher placement rates, and in several of our programs students are finding jobs in their field prior to graduation.”

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CLA SS O F

The entire college began focusing on retention more than four years ago when it partnered with the Kansas Leadership Center to find strategic solutions to increasing student retention. Using the framework provided by the KLC, the college began exploring adaptive solutions to its retention challenge. By implementing practices that focus on the needs of students, the college began seeing results.

“We have seen a steady enrollment growth since 2014. Our enrollment this fall has increased by more than one hundred full-time students since that time,” Christi Hopkins, vice president for enrollment management, said. “We have made improvements to freshman orientation and other student support resources that have made a positive impact on our students. Our faculty and staff are focused on student success and it has really made a difference.”

There are other signs of progress on campus too. Financially, the college finished its 2018 fiscal year on budget and experienced one of the best fundraising efforts in many years. The college continues to meet the highest ratio on the U.S. Department of Education’s financial responsibility test when many schools struggle or fail to meet the department’s standards.

Several facility updates were also completed before the beginning of the academic year. Two classrooms were completed in the lower level of Melhorn Hall to accommodate the business department, and the exterior of Dotzour residence hall was repainted and new blinds installed throughout the entire building.

President’s message

ENROLLMENT

Dear McPherson College Alumni, Friends, and Family, McPherson College began the fall semester with one of the best enrollments in the history of the college. This was possible through steady growth of new students but more importantly through the strongest retention of students ever.

High student retention from year to year is one of the best indicators of quality in higher education.

Our students return and complete their education because they see the value in the high placement rates of McPherson College graduates.

Last year, two-thirds of the graduating class had jobs prior to commencement (three times higher than the national average), and 100 percent of the students who applied to graduate school were accepted. And I am excited to report that our post-graduation placement rate is 98%. With a renewed focus on Career Services, McPherson College students are using the MC Enterprising Student framework to explore, experience and engage in opportunities that help them pinpoint their passions and find a career.

This issue of the Review focuses on the arts.

The arts, in all forms, is one of the best examples of educating the whole person at McPherson College. It provides both academic and co-curricular opportunities on our campus. Alumni in professions ranging from education, professional theater, and graphic design illustrate how precision learning developed their skills and turned their passion into successful careers.

With the busy holiday season upon us, I hope you take some time to enjoy this issue of the Review. I also want to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and happiness in the New Year!

Michael P. Schneider President, McPherson College

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P R O G R A M

U P DAT E S

Dr. Kirk MacGregor, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religion

New Opportunities Two new academic programs at McPherson College are preparing students with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully get accepted into graduate school or begin a career at a higher level than many of their peers.

Major: Religion, Politics, and Law A unique new major combines the study of religion, politics, and law to help prepare students for law school. According to Kirk MacGregor, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, data indicates that students of philosophy and religion consistently score high on the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) and possess high rates of admission to law school. The new Religion, Politics, and Law major explores provocative hot-button issues at the heart of current religious, political, and legal discourse in the United States.

The major teaches skills in logical reasoning, analysis and synthesis of texts, inference to the best explanation from a set of data, persuasive public speaking, and constructive writing, all skills at the core of what lawyers do. Along with these skills, students will also carry out individual research on a legal issue of particular interest and applicable to their future career aspirations in law.

The major comprises 48-49 hours of required courses in philosophy and religion including ethics, critical thinking, science and religion, and religion and politics, among others.

Supporting classes may also include U.S. government, political history, business law, and conflict communication, among others.

www.mcpherson.edu/philosophy-religion www.mcpherson.edu/teacher-education

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Accelerated Education Program McPherson College is taking on the challenge of teacher shortages across the state by encouraging high school students to explore teaching as a profession and offering an incentive with a new program that reaches out to the best and brightest high school students.

This fall, the college began offering a fast track to a master’s degree in education with an accelerated program for students interested in obtaining a Bachelor of Elementary Education and Master of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction that can be completed in just four years.

The accelerated education program includes all of the curriculum required for licensure in K-6 elementary education plus added endorsements of either ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) or special education and advanced degree requirements for curriculum and instruction. The prescribed course schedule will allow students to finish in four years the courses that in a traditional program would take five or more years to complete.

“The future of education in Kansas is focal to McPherson College,” President Michael Schneider said. “Students are being bombarded with reasons why not to teach. We wanted to provide a solution that encourages youth to pursue a career in education.

There are many programs already that encourage non-traditional students to teach; we wanted to put our resources toward a program that encourages students to become the next generation of teachers.”

The accelerated program not only allows graduates to enter the work force sooner and at a higher pay level, it also comes with significant cost savings. Students who complete the prescribed program in four years can expect an average savings of at least $10,000 and could enter the profession at a four-step higher entry wage than teachers entering the profession with only a bachelor’s degree.

news

Ferrari Partnership The Automotive Restoration program recently made a big announcement with students the Ferrari Club of America (FCA) McPherson College are recognized on stage at Pebbleabout Beacha new

by Jay Leno and Derek Hill, son ofand Formula One and Le Mans Ferrari partnership between the school the world’s largest championship driver Phil Hill. Students pictured from left are: organization. The college will partner with FCA to provide Abigayle Morgan, Aaron Israel, Dalton Whitfield, and Ben Falconer. scholarship support, internship opportunities, tooling, and student experiences for AR students.

The club comprises 40 chapters with 6,500 members across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It hosts several events including its Annual Meeting, which draws hundreds of Ferrari enthusiasts from around the world to participate in a concours, rally, and other events.

“We are pleased to partner with an organization that understands the importance of encouraging the next generation of auto restoration craftsmen,” Amanda Gutierrez, vice president of automotive restoration, said. “Collaborating with the Ferrari Club of America and its extensive membership base across North America will offer many opportunities for our students.”

This year four students from McPherson College were invited to attend in the FCA Annual Meeting where they participated in judging meetings, seminars, and served as apprentice judges for The Ferrari Club of America International Concours. They also had the opportunity to visit the historic Watkins-Glen racetrack.

In its announcement, the FCA stated it plans to support scholarship through voluntary member contribution as well as club fundraising events, donate tools and foreign cars or engines, and support efforts to establish internships and future employment opportunities for students.

“McPherson College stands alone as the only school to provide a bachelor’s degree in restoration technology, and its students are looking to apply their skills and learn in a real-world setting,” Randy Steyer, FCA National Secretary, said. “Our members know companies that can provide quality learning experiences for these dedicated, passionate, and skilled students.”

Incoming science majors receive lab coats Every student at MC majoring in a Natural Science program receives a lab coat. The program added 50 incoming science majors this fall bringing the total to 121 students in the program. www.mcpherson.edu/natural-sciences

An Evening with AR

Donald Osborne, historian, appraiser, consultant, and writer, will share his expertise at “An Evening with AR” on May 3, 2019, at Mingenback Theatre. Osborne, in his signature bow tie, is a regular contributor on Jay Leno's Garage on CNBC, and lends his considerable knowledge to organizations such as HVA and RM Sotheby's. More details about his appearance will be online in March at www.mcpherson.edu/evening-with-ar. www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration

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Fall Teaching Awards

Two professors were honored with the college’s annual Teaching Awards at the 2018 fall honors convocation. Dr. Manjula Koralegedara, associate professor of chemistry, received the award for tenured teacher and Professor Vicki Schmidt, assistant professor of education, received the award for non-tenured teacher.

Faculty, staff, and students submit nominations for the awards, which are reviewed and determined by a committee consisting of three students and the two recipients of the previous year’s awards. The awards are given each year during the fall convocation at Homecoming.

Professor Koralegedara joined the McPherson College faculty in 2010 after receiving her Ph.D. in chemistry from Wichita State University. She received tenure in 2016. She teaches organic chemistry, introduction to chemistry, green chemistry, and introduction to geology. Professor Koralegedara is also the advisor and founder of the Pre-Health Professions Club at McPherson College.

Professor Schmidt joined the McPherson College faculty in 2015 after teaching in the Salina school district for several years and earning her master’s degree in school leadership from Baker University. Professor Schmidt teaches various courses within the education program and supervises student teachers in the field.

Becki Bowman, professor of communication, attended the National Communication Association Conference (NCA) in Salt Lake City. She presented on a panel titled, "When the Play is Ending: Communication Pedagogy and Act III.” She shared with conference-goers about the senior capstone experience in communication at McPherson College, where students write the life stories (legacy stories) of older adults in the community. The panel included professors who have incorporated service learning that involves working with older adults. While at the conference, she also had the opportunity to attend several short courses on teaching communication classes and examined the role of play in teaching communication.

Luke Chennell, assistant professor of technology, was a judge for the annual Chevron Delo Tractor Restoration competition, evaluating over 20 high-school aged entrants who restored antique tractors over the course of a year. The finals, held in Indianapolis, brought 12 finalists who presented on their knowledge of restoration and mechanical theory. Chennell served as both pre-judge, determining finalists, and worked with the judging team to select the winner, 16-year-old Ricky Schilling, who restored a 1960 John Deere 435 and received the $10,000 grand prize.

Curt Goodwin, associate professor of technology, completed the Automotive Engine Rebuilders Association (AERA) courses for cylinder head machinist and certified engine machinist in April. AERA is the leading association for training and information in the engine rebuild industry. The association has over 3,000 members around the world and is a network of professional engine builders, rebuilders, and installers that has established “Standards of Service” for the industry.

Kyle Hopkins, associate professor of music, has been selected to conduct two Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) high school district honor bands this year. He will conduct the NE District KMEA High School Honor Band in Topeka, and the NW District KMEA High School Honor Band in Hays. Conducting a KMEA high school honor band is an honor for the conductor. Hopkins worked with both groups all day and conducted them in evening concerts. He was also invited to conduct the Oklahoma Baptist University Junior High Honor Band in Shawnee, Oklahoma, and has been invited to clinic and conduct the North Central Activities Association League Honor Band in February. McPherson College will also have the rare opportunity to host this event on campus.

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news Manjula Koralegedara, associate professor of chemistry, presented lectures at the 25th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education held at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Her talks were titled: “Introducing Green Chemistry into a Small College Chemistry Curriculum: Progress so Far” and “Making Students Responsible for Learning: My Method of Blending Classroom Instructions.” After this talk she was contacted by the organizers of the symposium to write a book chapter on the material that was presented. The book will be published in spring 2019 by the American Chemical Society, the professional organization for chemists. Additionally, she participated in a Chemistry Collaboration, Workshops and Communities of Scholars (cCWCS) focus group that discussed the future of cCWCS funding and how the cCWCS material benefits smaller colleges.

Kirk MacGregor, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, published his article, “Federal Stifling of Brethren Opposition to Military Involvement During World War I” in Brethren Life and Thought. At the American Academy of Religion, Evangelical Philosophical Society, and Evangelical Theological Society annual meetings in November, he also presented the papers “The New Being in the Historical Jesus as the Antidote to the Quasi-Religion of White Nationalism,” “In Defense of Molina’s Doctrine of Divine Supercomprehension,” and “The Holy Spirit as God the Evangelist in Latin American Pneumatology,” and moderated the session “Holy Spirit—Systematic Theology.”

Ami Martinez, assistant professor of English, was notified this fall that she was one of 10 runners-up in a contest held by publisher Grove Atlantic for her response to a recently published novel “theMystery.doc.” Readers were asked to submit a writing inspired by the book that could be a poem, prose, criticism, rant, one-liner, or homage. As a runner-up she received a signed, numbered edition of the 1,600-plus-page book. The unusual novel combines photographs, pop-up ads, web chats, and lines of code with Hollywood film stills and passages from literary classics, telling the story of a man who wakes up without any memory of who he is; his only clue is a document on his computer titled “themystery.doc.”

Anne Smith, assistant professor of business, attended the 16th Annual St. Louis Fed Professors Conference in November at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This year's conference focused on addressing the lack of diversity in the field of economics. Professor Smith gave a presentation about her experiences teaching students from diverse backgrounds at McPherson College, focusing on connecting with students on a human level in order to engage them in the study of economics. Some of the methods are the direct result of what she learned at a summer teaching workshop she attended with two other professors from the business department.

Kim Stanley, professor of modern languages, served as an on-site reviewer for the National Endowment of the Humanities review of Colorado Humanities. She led book discussions for Kansas Humanities Council in public libraries in Pratt, Hutchinson, and Augusta, and at Butler County Community College.

New Coordinator of Spiritual Life

McPherson College welcomed Asia Frye as its new coordinator of spiritual life to campus on October 1. Frye is a recent graduate of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and has a background in youth, college, and camp ministries. She is a member of Mennonite Church USA and has helped to lead youth activities at the last few national conventions.

“I love working with people in this stage of life,” Frye said. “So much for them is new and exciting, and I love mentoring people who are trying to figure out ‘who they are.’

What an opportunity to do so in a Christian context. College students are differentiating their lives and their faith as their own, distinct from parents and community, in a way they have not before.”

Frye enjoys the two-pronged approach to faith formation at McPherson College offering a variety of spiritual programming and resources while joining activities to offer a religious voice and perspective.

“I like to think of Spiritual Life as the yeast that works through the whole dough of McPherson College, helping to give the college its distinct Christian flavor,” she said.

Frye lives in Hillsboro, Kansas, where her husband, Tim, is a math professor and her daughters, Abilene and Ellis, attend grade school.

Frye’s passions include leading campus and retreats for youth, watching Oklahoma City Thunder games, playing table top games, and coffee. She is originally from Oklahoma where she received her bachelor’s degree in religious studies from the University of Oklahoma.

Accreditation Update

McPherson College will undergo a peer review visit on February 25-26, 2019, by a team representing The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC). The Commission is one of six accrediting agencies in the United States that provides institutional accreditation on a regular basis. The peer review team will conduct a review of the college to determine if it is making satisfactory progress toward the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation. Reaccreditation affirmation will occur during the next team visit planned for the 2024-25 academic year. The college has been accredited continuously by the Commission since 1940.

As part of the peer review visit, the HLC seeks comments on the college from third-party constituencies such as students, alumni, and community members prior to any review process and is required to publish the notice below: McPherson College is seeking comments from the public about the college in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its regional accrediting agency. The college will host a visit on February 25-26, 2019, from a team of peer reviewers representing the Higher Learning Commission. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet HLC’s Criteria for Accreditation. McPherson College has been accredited by HLC since 1940.

Comments must be in writing and must address substantive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs.

Submit comments to HLC at hlcommission.org/comment or mail them to the address below. All comments must be received by January 24, 2019.

Public comment on McPherson College Higher Learning Commission 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 Chicago, IL 60604-1411

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athletics FALL

Women’s Soccer

It was a rough year for the McPherson College women’s soccer team. Plagued by a rash of season-ending injuries, the Bulldogs (1-15-1, 1-10-1 KCAC) finished tied for 12th in the conference standings with the Sterling College Warriors.

Their lone victory came over the Warriors 2-1 at home.

Despite their struggles the Bulldogs remained positive, and at the end of the season they were rewarded with two team members named to the KCAC All-Conference team.

Both Christie Silber, sophomore from Simi Valley, California, and Madison Hall, freshman from The Colony, Texas, were selected as All-Conference Honorable Mention for their exploits on the pitch this season.

Men’s Soccer

The McPherson College men’s soccer team played one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country, and their toughest on record in recent memory. Their non-conference opponent‘s winning percentage was over 70 percent; that, coupled with some unlucky injuries early in the season (at one point they were playing their fourthstring goal keeper), led to an 0-4-1 start to the season.

After their brutal opening stretch, things began to balance out for the Bulldogs. They went 2-2-2 in their first six games of KCAC play and then finished the regular season with four straight wins, to end the year at 7-7-3 overall and 7-3-2 in conference play. Their play in conference was good enough to secure a five seed in the KCAC tournament.

They opened the tournament on the road at Ottawa and defeated the fourth-seeded Braves 2-1. Unfortunately, their run ended in the conference semi-finals with a 2-1 loss on the road to the top-seeded KWU Coyotes.

Seven Bulldogs were named to the KCAC All-Conference team, highlighted by a First Team selection for Aaron McCready, sophomore from Raphoe, Ireland. Chris Kelly, senior from Glasgow, Scotland, was named to the Second Team, and Sadam Ali, senior from Tucson, Arizona; David Mwinga, senior from Santa Rosa, California; Hernan Maldonado, senior from National City, California; Dennis Schorb, freshman from Malsch, Germany; and Navid Istanbullu, sophomore from Bremen, Germany, were named as Honorable Mention selections.

Football

September was a good month for the McPherson College football team. The Bulldogs went 3-1 during the first month of the season, with wins over intra-county rivals Bethany College, Southwestern College, and Friends University. Unfortunately, the final month and a half of the season was not as kind. In the months of October and November, the Bulldogs lost six straight, to finish the year at 3-7 overall and in the KCAC.

www.macbulldogs.com

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Fifteen Bulldogs and one coach received All-Conference recognition by the KCAC. The Bulldogs placed two on the All-KCAC Second Team: offensive lineman Logan Anderson, senior from Golden, Colorado, and kick returner LaQuaveon Webb, freshman from Tupelo, Mississippi.

The other 13 Bulldogs selected were named to the Honorable Mention team. On the offensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs had quarterback Ed Crouch, junior from Miami Gardens, Florida; running back Armond McCray, senior from Wichita; fullback Xavier Stockard, sophomore from Edmond, Oklahoma; wide receiver Brandt Wolters, senior from Osborne, Kansas; wide receiver Jackson Goodmiller, senior from Saint George, Kansas; and wide receiver Ben Nikkel, freshman from McPherson.

On defense, the Bulldog selections included defensive lineman Joey Hale, senior from Hutchinson, Kansas; linebacker Kollin Goering, freshman from McPherson; defensive back Erick Brown, senior from Houston; defensive back Brett Sykes, junior from Coldspring, Texas; and linebacker Dominic DeLuca, senior from Hutchinson, Kansas.

In addition to the offensive and defensive selections, punter R.J. Garza, senior from McAllen, Texas, who has also received an invitation to an NFL combine later this year, was an Honorable Mention selection to the All-KCAC Special Teams. And finally, rounding out the special awards for the Bulldogs was defensive backs coach, Victor Redd, who was an Assistant Coach of the Year nomination for his work with the Bulldog secondary.

Cross Country

The McPherson College men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in five races this fall, spread out over a two-and-a-half-month period beginning with the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic, hosted by Hutchinson Community College in late August, and culminating in the KCAC championships, hosted by Bethel College on November 3. The teams were originally scheduled to run a sixth race at Haskell University, but it was cancelled due to poor weather.

For the Bulldog men, their best finish of the year came at the KCAC championships where they finished in fourth place out of 13 teams. They also had a strong showing at the NAIA Mid-State Classic hosted by Southwestern College two weeks earlier, finishing 14 in a stacked field.

For the women, they also ran well at the Mid-States, finishing 17 out of 24 teams competing. At the KCAC meet, they ended the season with a 10th-place finish.

The Bulldog men had one runner qualify for the NAIA national meet in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jesse Freeman, senior from Castle Rock, Colorado, got into the nationals field by virtue of his performance at the KCAC championships where he finished in eighth place, running the 8K race in a time of 26:37.2.

news

Lady Bulldogs make NAIA National Tournament!

Team finishes season 34-4 and undefeated in KCAC regular season

Men’s and Women’s Tennis

The McPherson College men’s and women’s tennis teams competed this fall in one dual match and three individual tournaments, gearing up for their main season which is in the spring. The highlight of the season was qualifying four individuals in three events for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Oracle Cup, a national level event, in Rome, Georgia.

The four Bulldogs who qualified - two for the women, and two for the men - were Brittany Zipf, junior from Queensland, Australia; Erica Paradise, freshman from Bakersfield, California; Julien Bodin, sophomore from Cartagena, Spain; and Jacob Turley, sophomore from Milton Keynes, England. All of them qualified for the Oracle Cup by winning the ITA Regional Championships hosted by Southwestern College. Bodin and Turley won the regional double championship as the two seed, as did Zipf and Paradise, who were the top seed in the tournament. Zipf also qualified for the singles tournament at the Oracle Cup by winning the regional tournament as the one seed.

Volleyball

It was a magical season for the McPherson College volleyball team. The Bulldogs, who spent ten weeks in the NAIA top 25 poll and ranked as high as 17, finished the regular season with an overall record of 30 wins, a new best for the program, just one loss, and were a perfect 12-0 in conference play to win the KCAC regular season championship, and earn a berth in the NAIA national tournament, a first for the program.

The Bulldogs opened the KCAC tournament with straight-set wins over Tabor College in the quarterfinals and Saint Mary in the semifinals. In the finals, they squared off against Ottawa University, a team they had beaten twice during the regular season. This time, however, the Braves had the Bulldogs’ number, and they won in four sets to steal the tournament championship away from the MC ladies.

The loss to the Braves resulted in a drop from 17th to 23rd in the rankings, which meant they had to play an opening round game in the NAIA national tournament for a chance to make it into the final 32 team at the final site in Sioux City, Iowa. They hosted the opening round match against Texas Wesleyan University and defeated the Rams in a dramatic, come from behind five set thriller.

At Sioux City, the Bulldogs were placed in pool H with the 8th ranked Northwestern College (Iowa), 9th ranked Rocky Mountain College (Montana), and 27th ranked Marian University (Indiana). The Bulldogs lost in straight sets to Rocky Mountain and Northwestern in their first two pool play matches, but bounced back in their final match of the tournament and defeated Marian University in five sets.

The season ended with the Bulldogs at 34-4 overall.

Highlights for the Bulldogs included Bulldogs celebrate opening round travelling to Florida early in the tournament win against TWU. season for the Royals Labor Day Classic hosted by Warner University.

The Bulldogs won the classic, going a perfect 4-0 and dropping just two sets along the way. They also knocked off Hastings College, who was ranked 11th in the nation at the time, on their home floor, in a thrilling five-set match.

For their amazing run through the conference, the Bulldogs were awarded with numerous postseason awards. Bulldogs placed six players on the All-Conference team including First Team selections Lexi Kite, senior from Thornton, Colorado; Jamie Siess, junior from Tecumseh, Kansas; and Leia Seiler, senior from Fort Lupton, Colorado; Second Team selections Bree Wallace, sophomore from Wichita, and Devrie Sombers, senior from Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Honorable Mention selection Riley Bradbury, sophomore from Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Two Bulldog players and the two coaches received special awards. Kite was named the KCAC Player of the Year; Siess was named Libero of the Year; assistant coach Katie Neira, in her first season, was named Co-Assistant Coach of the Year; and head coach Jessica Cleveland, in her third season, was named the KCAC Coach of the Year.

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support Courtney Weesner '21

Hometown: Hutchinson, Kansas Sophomore, History and Politics

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www.mcpherson.edu/student-referral

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“

THE FACE OF GIVING

To me, McPherson College means family. Many of my family members have gone to college here, and I am so grateful that I get to have that same experience. What I didn’t know when I moved in freshman year is that I would gain a new family at Mac. I love the community I have been able to cultivate here.

I came to McPherson College because when I was on my second visit, there were people who already knew my name. I knew that I wanted personal connections with people who actually cared about my success as a student both in and out of the classroom.

I also chose McPherson College because of all the different opportunities I knew I would have here.

I have enjoyed getting to work with the amazing faculty, as well as being involved in many clubs and organizations on campus. My freshman year I was convinced to audition for the homecoming play and got cast as the female lead. I had done some theatre as an upperclassman in high school and loved it, so I threw myself into getting really involved with the program here at McPherson College.

I have learned so much by doing theatre, from how to plan and cook meals for 100 people, to learning how to follow costume patterns, and even how to do class presentations better. I know that everything I’m learning and doing is preparing me for life after college, and I feel so lucky to attend a school that is invested in my journey.

”

You can support students like Courtney by giving to the McPherson College Fund at: www.mcpherson.edu/giving

Or contact the development office at (800) 365-7402.

news

College becomes reality for Presidential Scholar recipient Madison Mullen, a 2018 graduate of Maize High School in Wichita, was not sure if college would be a possibility for her when she graduated high school. She participated in one of the four Presidential Scholarship competition days at McPherson College and today is a freshman pursuing a major in art education.

“I knew college wouldn’t be possible financially without a scholarship,” she said. “Now I have the opportunity to express myself creatively and I’m very appreciative, especially when I think about what I might be doing without a college education.”

Mullen was selected from a field of 75 high school seniors to receive the four-year renewable, full-tuition scholarship awarded to one student each year. Students who apply to McPherson College and qualify academically are eligible to compete in the Presidential Scholarship program. Award packages between $13,000-$18,000 are offered to students based on their high school academic record, round table discussion, personal interview, and cognitive ability test.

Artist & Lecture Series The fall semester at McPherson College welcomed renowned artists and a television host to campus as part of two music and lecture series.

Boston Brass brought its one-of-a-kind musical experience to the Brown Auditorium stage on October 6 when it opened the 2018 Fern Lingenfelter artist series. McPherson College, in partnership with the Salina Symphony, hosted Boston Brass for a three-day residency that included a masterclass at McPherson College for area high school students, along with the Saturday evening concert.

“Before I was told that I had received the scholarship, I was leaning toward going to a state school. I was very surprised when I found out that I had received the top scholarship,” Mullen said. “I went home after the Presidential Scholarship day thinking I could have done better.”

Mullen is also taking advantage of a new academic opportunity at McPherson College, the accelerated teacher education program. She has worked with her adviser in creating an academic plan that will allow her to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in just four years.

“I have always wanted to be a teacher and return to teach in Wichita where I grew up,” she said. “Being able to graduate with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree is an amazing opportunity.”

Alexander Heffner, host of “The Open Mind” on PBS, spoke on campus in Mingenback Theater on October 17 as part of the Mohler-Flory Lecture Series. He discussed the effects of divisiveness on discourse and governance and the impact of social media, fake news, and filter bubbles that polarize information intake. Along with a noon presentation that was open to the community, Heffner also spoke throughout the day in various classrooms.

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McPherson College juniors Lillian Oeding and Kento Aizawa are permanent members of the Salina Symphony

PERMANE PERMAN

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NT ENT SPOT Removing an asterisk next to their names made all the difference for two McPherson College musicians.

After years of practicing, taking lessons, rehearsing, and substituting for others, Kento Aizawa and Lillian Oeding are now permanent members of the Salina Symphony and are no longer identified as “student” musicians by the small symbol behind their names in the symphony’s program.

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The students both auditioned for the Salina Symphony

Both had quite a bit of experience prior to auditioning

earlier this year and were selected by a panel of judges in

for the Salina Symphony. They both played in the Wichita

blind auditions. Kento, who is a junior from McPherson

Youth Symphony in high school, had been selected for

majoring in math and hopes to be an actuary, plays the

collegiate honor bands, and have been substituting in the

clarinet, and Lillian, a junior from Wichita majoring in graph-

Salina Symphony for a few years. So when their band direc-

ic design, plays the flute and piccolo.

tor and symphony member, Hopkins, suggested they try

“Kento and Lillian won their spots in the symphony against adult musicians with music degrees,” Kyle Hopkins,

out for permanent spots in the orchestra they decided to give it a try.

associate professor of music and director of bands at

“It was definitely the hardest excerpt I’ve ever had to

McPherson College,

prepare,” Kento said. “My teacher and I had been working

said. “If they want to,

on the piece for months before the audition. I wasn’t too

they can continue to

nervous because I felt prepared. I was more excited about

play with the sympho-

the opportunity.”

They both started, as many

people do, in middle school

walking into a big room filled

with lots of instruments to try.

ny after they graduate.

Kento and his instructor, Chris Johnson, both ended

The positions are

up auditioning for the two clarinet openings in the sympho-

theirs as long as they

ny and fortunately they were both selected.

want. That distinguish-

“Being able to play with my teacher is great,” Kento

es them from the other

said. “Playing alongside somebody of that caliber is a

students who play

blast.”

with the symphony.”

The Salina Symphony performs four regular season

For Kento and

concerts in the Stiefel Theatre as well as special encore

Lillian, playing with a

performances each year, including its annual Symphony at

symphony orchestra

Sunset on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential

was a goal and a level

Library and Museum in Abilene.

of musicianship they

Neither Lillian nor Kento started out thinking that

both hoped to reach.

playing an instrument would be such a large part of their

They are grateful to

lives. They both started, as many people do, in middle

have the opportunity

school walking into a big room filled with lots of instru-

as students.

ments to try. Lillian tried the flute because she had one at

“It had been a

home that had been handed down from a cousin, and

goal of mine, but I

Kento thought the clarinet looked like a recorder, which he

didn’t expect it to

remembered playing in elementary school.

happen in college,” Lillian said. “It’s so competitive but also

For Kento, music and playing an instrument became

very liberating to play in a group where everybody cares

a safe haven for him. He moved to the United States from

so much about the music.”

Ken Hakoda, music director and conductor of the Salina Symphony, welcomes musicians of all ages to perform and especially enjoys what younger musicians can bring to the group.

“We are thankful to have student musicians of Kento and Lillian’s caliber playing with the symphony,” he said.

Kento Aizawa

JR, McPherson, KS Clarinet, Salina Symphony

Japan at age 10 and didn’t know English well. Music class became his favorite class, the one he looked forward to each day. When he started playing the clarinet, he

was not the best player but was pushed by good teachers and realized with practice he could get better.

“Younger players bring a unique energy to the ensemble.

“It was hard. I really had to work at it,” he said. “In

As an educator, it is exciting to me that our orchestra is able

seventh grade, I wanted a professional instrument, which

to feature musicians of the younger generation.”

was very expensive and I talked my family into buying it.

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That’s when I decided that I had to practice and that’s when I started taking lessons.”

Lillian Oeding JR, Wichita, KS

“I like helping them get better by learning notes and fingering and understanding what they are playing. It

Lillian also started taking private

makes it more enjoyable for them,” he said. “I pursued this

lessons in seventh grade and

because as a child I didn’t have a lot of money to pay for

continued through high school

lessons. This is my way of giving back - paying it forward.”

a n d c o l l e g e . A c c o rd i n g t o

Helping others see that music can bring you joy no

Hopkins, it is what sets them apart.

matter what your age is a mission shared by Kento and

“One of my biggest challenges with Kento and Lillian

Lillian’s current band director. Hopkins likes to compare

Piccolo, Salina Symphony

and other really good students is keeping them challenged

the satisfaction he gets from music to sports, of which he

with the music,” he said. “It would be so easy for them to plateau. They both work to improve and continue taking lessons and they don’t have to.”

Continuing improve

and

to be

“

challenged through music is what has shaped her life, according to Lillian. She has learned lessons beyond notes and rhythms from studying music.

“It’s really a discipline that has shaped me as a person,” she said. “I’m thankful for what music has t a u g h t m e . Th e a rt o f

It’s really a discipline that has shaped me as a person. I’m thankful for what music has taught me. The art of practicing and sticking with something has benefitted my personal drive and made me more dedicated to all the things that I do.

practicing and sticking with something has benefitted my personal drive

”

and made me more dedicated to all the things that I do.”

Their love of music and its benefits is something they have each tried to pass on to younger musicians. Both Kento and Lillian have volunteered at the McPherson Middle School teaching band students.

is also a big fan. He points out that his days of participating in sports are now just memories, but he continues to participate and improve his musical abilities.

“I think that is the profoundness of music,” he said.

“Music is a life-long activity that can bring you joy and

“You learn even more when you teach something,”

meaning for all the days of your life. That’s something that

Lillian said. “If you have a talent, you should help others

not every subject can do. And it’s not just music majors that

who are trying to learn.”

participate. It’s the everyday person who makes music part

Kento also likes the idea of making band fun for students just getting started. He has been offering private

of their lives that drives the profoundness. My mission as an educator is to keep people playing music.”

lessons to younger students since his freshman year at McPherson College.

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Arts SHAPED BY THE

It’s hard to imagine that walking in to get a loan or make a deposit at a bank might feel more like wandering through a gallery of an art museum, but that is exactly how you might feel when you visit any Emprise Bank location in Kansas.

And that seems to be just fine with Emprise Bank owner Mike Michaelis.

An unlikely art gallery For the past 20 years, Michaelis has focused his attention on collecting art done by Kansas artists and today has more than 3,000 works in his collection, which is on display in 40 Emprise Bank locations in 20 Kansas communities. The collection is so impressive that Professor Michaela Groeblacher, assistant professor of art, makes it part of all of her advanced art classes and takes students to Wichita every year to tour it.

“It is such a treat to visit the Emprise Bank art collection, especially when Mike leads the group,” Groeblacher said. “His anecdotes add so much to the experience, and to see the sparkle in his eyes when he tells the stories about Kansas art and artists shows the true appreciation of an art patron.”

Michaelis was honored last spring at McPherson College during ArtKansas, a two-day art forum hosted at the college that celebrated creating, curating, and collecting Kansas art. The two-day forum included two gallery shows, presentations by Kansas artists, and an evening gala featuring the premier of a documentary about Michaelis produced by Larry Hatteberg.

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stop at any piece of art and tell you about the artist, what town they are from, who influenced their art, and interesting details about their life.

Details about Michaelis’ own life do not give a clue about from where his passion for art comes. He describes his early childhood in Russell, Kansas, as almost idyllic – riding bikes through town and visiting the candy store. Later his family moved to Wichita, where he graduated from Wichita East High School and played basketball. He also graduated from the University of Kansas and eventually started working in the family’s banking business.

He thinks perhaps his interest in art started when he was able to begin traveling.

“I had traveled enough and seen that people were proud of the artwork in their area,” he said. “Places like Santa Fe and San Francisco had communities that lifted up their artists. Most

Mike Michaelis

The Michaelis collection began getting serious when the bank moved into its five-story building in downtown Wichita in 1997.

“We had the wall space,” Michaelis says with a grin when explaining why he started collecting art, but it’s apparent that the collection is an important aspect of his life and his company.

“When I first started focusing on Kansas artists, I thought I might find a hundred artists that belong in a collection,” he said.

“Today there are over 800 Kansas artists in the collection. I am really proud of that.”

The collection is a broad survey of Kansas artists that includes nearly every medium, with art dating from 1885 to present. It ranges from up-and-coming artists to rare historical finds. He admits never taking an art course or being artistic himself and relies on his instinct when acquiring art for the collection.

“Mostly, it’s what I like or what I can find,” he said. “If I like something, it brings joy to me. Some pieces are just unique, like the Dwight David Eisenhower painting or a lithograph from the 1880s. The search is always the fun part about it all. It’s like being a detective.”

But Michaelis spends time reading, studying, and searching for art every day. It’s obvious that he is an expert on Kansas artists and recognizes good art. He keeps a file on every artist in his collection and, when giving a tour through the collection, can

AWARDS: - Americans for the Arts, Business Top 10 Award, 2008 - Governor’s Art Award, 2007 SERVED ON THE BOARD OF ART MUSEUMS & INSTITUTIONS: - Wichita Art Museum - Spencer Art Museum at KU - Ulrich Museum of Art at WSU COLLECTION ON LOAN TO: - Museum of Modern Art - U.S. Department of State, “Art in Embassies” program

people don’t even know the names of Kansas artists. I wanted to give our artists a chance and energize their work.”

The collection not only energizes the work of Kansas artists but also energizes the work of the employees at the Emprise Bank locations. Each employee with an office is given the opportunity to select as many pieces from the collection as they want to fill the walls of their office. Some work is even gifted to long-time employees at retirement.

“I’ve heard some of our employees comment about when they go to another bank or hotel or doctor’s office and notice there is no art on the walls,” Michaelis said. “I think it makes a difference to them.”

When touring through the Wichita bank, Michaelis invites his guests to look into offices, and you notice employees knowingly smile at the looks of surprise and wonder. It’s easy to see that the art does make a difference to them.

“Working in a building that I consider an art gallery is something I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to do,” Lora Berry, an Emprise Bank employee, says in the Hatteberg documentary. “I look at it, study it, and learn something new almost every time I look at it. It’s a non-monetary benefit that no one else has. It’s a joy.”

The joy that the art brings to himself and to others, as well as the pride in lifting up artists in our state, seem to be the driving forces behind Michaelis’ passion for collecting.

“I can think of several artists in Kansas who should be considered national treasures. It’s hard to live in Kansas and be a nationally known artist,” he said. “I think about five years ago I realized that this was a collection and we might really have something here. When I look at the aggregate of this work, I have to admit it’s a pretty good collection.”

Although there are no immediate plans for the collection to go anywhere, Michaelis has thought about what might happen to it in the future.

“The collection is part of the bank and the bank is family-owned,” he said. “Some day when we don’t own it, I would like to see the collection go to a museum.”

But until that time, Michaelis plans to continue collecting.

There are works and artists that he wants to add and there are always new artists to watch. Is there a favorite among the many works already in his collection?

“A favorite? Just one? I could maybe narrow it down to about fifty,” he said.

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Why Art? MICHAELA GROEBLACHER

assistant professor of art

FACULTY PERSPECTIVE

Short and to the point, I see art being threefold: − it is a way to “do” things; − it is an end product;

− and it is a way of self-expression.

Humans have an intrinsic drive to create; making art is one way to create. It helps find and push personal boundaries in the quest that artists share with scientists: to find the answers to bigger and

deeper philosophical questions. However, one does not need to paint the Sistine Chapel. Making a “simple” cup from clay already

contains the whole universe: the four elements of fire, water, earth,

and air; and the human touch: the maker's life experience at the point of the making, their state of mind, their choices and decisions in the process.

I am a thinker and a maker. I have the need to touch, both physically

and psychologically. These characteristics drive the choices in my artwork – materials, processes and content.

Teaching was not on my list of career choices until life unfolded. It has come full circle. I embrace the opportunity to “touch” students'

lives for the short moment in time when they come through my classes as I pass on my artistic knowledge and life experiences to

the next generation as a way of life, a way to make a living, or a way to make life more fulfilled by creating awareness.

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KYLE HOPKINS

associate professor of music & director of bands

JAMES BOWYER

associate professor of music

NATHAN POLLARD

assistant professor of digital media

DEE ERWAY-SHERWOOD

professor & program director of graphic design

participating in the event. I teach theatre because it teaches people how to fully come alive in this world around us.

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JD. BOWMAN

ant job market niche for our students. It is our responsibility to teach students to develop a high-quality commercial portfolio that will allow them to be on point with the needs of future

professor of theatre

Art is important because in terms of digital design it surrounds all of us in our daily living. The graphic design and digital media majors we offer at McPherson College reflect an import-

Theatre is the only Fine Art that requires collaboration. A singer or dancer might want an accompanist, but it isn’t necessary for them to produce their art. An instrumentalist, a sculptor, a painter – these all require the right tools but still can be produced without other artists in the room. Theatre teaches us how to be artists, together.

It teaches us working on a deadline in an ultimate ‘group project.’ It is art, so of course it teaches students about their world and their own identity. But of all the arts, theatre also teaches as many life lessons as there are members

JEN POLLARD

I feel art is important as it gives everyone who wants to create something a way to express themselves. Art can be personal, for the masses, or for a very select audience, but whichever it is it should always provoke thought and discussion.

Theatre presents to us the beauty of the world in a digestible form, a glimpse, a reminder, that we are so much more than our daily grind. Think about your everyday and the role art plays. It may be the design on your favorite coffee mug, the song you use to motivate yourself as you walk to class, the Shakespeare quotes that have worked their way into our everyday conversations. For me, art brings joy into the everyday.

assistant professor of theatre

ed through the arts. Musical activities, in particular, are evidenced back to antiquity.

This leads me to believe that the arts are intrinsic to human nature and should, therefore, be considered “core” to a liberal arts curriculum. I am delighted that McPherson College views artistic endeavors as more than mere “enrichment.” The visual and performing arts are threaded in all that we do here, and I am proud to be part of this.

This statement really reflects my own relationship with my audience and my art: “The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself and carry you away. It is the means by which the artist conveys his passion. It is the current which he puts forth, which sweeps you along in his passion.”

- Auguste Renoir

ANN ZERGER

All civilizations in human history have communicat-

employers and to stay current to our society’s needs of digital design-related items. professor of art

Music is profound - it can instruct across curriculums, across cultures, across time and across languages. But ultimately, the main reason I teach music is quite simply for the value of music in and of itself. By studying music, we grow in our own humanity, we grow closer to each other as part of society and we grow closer to the divine.

Arts SHAPED BY THE

Art on the Prairie ECO-ART SPHERES “Art that celebrates the preservation of the native environment by taking either urban or agricultural land permanently out of

production by the use of form, shape, material, resource, earth,

vegetation, found, used and created objects. This art is to be accessible to the public and to serve as an aid in the education of the natural environment incorporating both passive and

active participation. The permanent art installation in the

environment is to serve as an impediment to returning the land to a developed or agricultural use and thereby reduce the impact of global warming.�

ANN ZERGER, PROFESSOR OF ART

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Memories of thousands of butterflies rising up while running through pastures on her family’s farm as a child was one of the inspirations for an art installation in a section of reclaimed prairie northwest of Moundridge, Kansas.

The vision belongs to Ann Zerger, professor of art at McPherson College. It resulted in two 15-foot-tall chairs surrounded by figures of butterflies on stalks of grass created of steel and copper that she calls Eco-Art Spheres.

“I’ve always been an environmentalist and my art has been heading in that direction as well,” Zerger said. “I wanted to create art that would focus on the prairie.”

Zerger and her husband Chip Parker put the section of land back to native pasture about 30 years ago. The pasture is part of their farmstead that has been part of the Zerger family for four generations. When she began her research on the art installation project, there was a great deal of news around the perilous decline in the number of monarch butterflies due to loss of habitat. Zerger wanted to bring back the monarchs that once found refuge on her family’s farm while on their migratory path.

They worked with the University of Kansas’ Monarch Watch program to plant milkweed and develop a monarch way station/habitat on the five acres of prairie. A grant

Zerger said. “They were designed to be imposing through scale but also be approachable and to be sat on. It’s relaxing a way to watch over the prairie.”

All pieces move with the wind, have color and ethereal qualities of the surrounding prairie so that they do not impede on the life cycles of the grasslands, Zerger says.

The installation also includes a completely ephemeral piece made out of only materials found on the prairie. This chair was five times life size and designed by Zerger and Parker’s son, Tim. Over time the chair has begun to decompose and change its form, tipping over onto the prairie.

“It’s a metaphor for the life cycle of the prairie but also a metaphor of the slowly creeping death of the prairie if preservation does not occur,” Zerger said. “We have plans to add another piece made of all natural materials but not sure yet what it will be.”

Zerger explains that as the prairie changes through the seasons, the sculptures do as well. Sometimes people will drive by without even recognizing them, she said.

“I wanted this to be something that would open people up to the beauty of the prairie and maybe inspire others to set aside places like this,” she said. “I think it has been really successful. The reactions to it have been exactly what I had

SCULPTURE AND ART INSTALLATIONS BY ANN ZERGER

helped fund planting more than 150 milkweed in clusters to make the prairie inviting to monarchs and an excellent setting for Zerger’s sculptures.

The butterfly figures are made of copper at a scale 10 times life size. The copper is used to represent the energy used by civilization and the energy and color present in the monarch butterfly. The grass, also 10 times life size, is made of steel that represents the material humans used in the development of agriculture, which directly impacted the prairie and is suggestive of the steel rails that brought settlers to the area to farm the prairie, Zerger said.

The two chairs are woven out of steel and are three times life size. The over-size scale was meant to bring delight and a sense of play for the viewer.

“The chairs bring a human element into the prairie,”

hoped for and the butterflies are starting to come back.”

After 15 years of teaching in the McPherson College art department, Zerger plans to retire in May. One of her first focuses will be to continue working on the Eco-Art Spheres.

She hopes to add Sandhill crane figures by 2020. She is looking forward to spending more time to work with others, like the Land Institute in Salina, to explore ways people can experience her piece of prairie. Her photography students have used the area for a variety of class projects, and she has plans with other professors to bring creative writing students and natural science students to utilize the space.

“I love the land and I love the Kansas prairie,” Zerger said.

“I’ve never been interested in having my art in a gallery.

That’s not me. I like it out here where it is accessible and where it is able to make change.”

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F

or 100 years McPherson College has given students an opportunity to participate in and experience the thrill of live theatre on its campus.

Alumni joined current MC students for the Homecoming production of Lend Me A Tenor: Justin Dean Biegger ’14 Jd. Bowman ‘98 Jessica Foulke ‘08 Kenyatta Harden ‘13 Drew Hutchinson ’99 Jennifer McCulley ‘05 Glen Snell ‘84 Jenny Williams ’88

Lend Me A Tenor, 2018

The first theatre production by McPherson College dates back to 1918. This milestone has been celebrated all year with a revival of one of the first shows and a gallery retrospective of theatre during the recent Homecoming weekend.

In 1918, the Expression Department of McPherson College presented two religious one-acts, according to information found in the 1918 issue of the Spectator. The first was Maurice Douchor’s “A Christmas Tale” and the other “The Hour Glass,” by W. B. Yeats. Students performed these works at Monitor Church of the Brethren because there was no auditorium or performance space yet on campus.

As part of its 100th Anniversary celebration, the McPherson College Theatre Department opened is 2018 season with the Yeats play. The short but powerful piece looks at what we leave after we are finished with our work in this world. It was directed

by Kathryn Whitacre ’81. It is interesting to note that “The Hour Glass” was first performed at McPherson College just five years after it was written as a student initiative project. According to Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre, McPherson College has a long tradition of hosting Kansas premieres and debuting new works. In the 13 years since Bowman has been a professor in the department, it has presented 11 new works or state premieres.

“When I discovered that one of the first productions had only been written five years prior to it being presented at the college, I was ecstatic,” Bowman said. “Theatre should be topical, relevant and now. I’m excited to know that we are carrying on the tradition of offering newer works to our students.”

Although not much is known about the productions between the late 1920s and early 1940s, Professor Bowman has compiled a list of all shows produced by the college since 1918. In 1968 for the first time the college produced six shows in one season, a model that has been used regularly since the 1980s. In 1977, the season-ticket-holder organization, First Nighters, was introduced and today remains a unique dinner theatre experience for its members.

A variety of instructors have been involved in the theatre productions over the years; however, it wasn’t until the 1950s that one person was hired to teach theatre curriculum. Una Yoder brought stability to the program in the 1970s by offering the first theatre degree at McPherson College. Professor Yoder taught in the program for 15 years and trained another long-time professor, Rick Tyler ‘74, who recently retired from the program after 41 years. The theatre alumni tradition remains strong among the faculty today with Bowman ’98, who began teaching in 2005, and Jen Pollard ’00, who began teaching this fall.

“Theatre, in its various forms, has found its way to our campus for one hundred years and I don’t see it going away any time soon,” Bowman said. “Theatre is a place where each of us come together to sit and share an experience. Unlike sports, there are no sides to take. It is a community-building experience.

That’s just as important now as it has ever been.”

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alumni news Nicholas Griggs ‘06 made a choice during his first tour of McPherson College - a choice that set the direction for his future career.

“I remember touring Melhorn and looking into careers in engineering or computer science,” he said. “My dad knew I had music talent, but didn’t think it could pay the bills. On that tour I knew that wasn’t who I was and I needed to make a choice. I knew I would be cheating myself if I didn’t pursue music.”

Griggs is the choral director at McPherson High School where he directs two auditioned ensembles, two non-audition ensembles, and one jazz and pops ensemble.

He also helps with the middle school choirs each morning and directs the annual high school musical. In 2015, Griggs was named the district’s Teacher of the Year. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he is the director of music for the First United Methodist Church in McPherson.

“I love working with my kids,” he said. “They are funny, talented, and very sharp. I’m fortunate to be around them and watch them do great things.”

Since starting his career in Perry, Kansas, where he spent five years, and now at McPherson High School, Griggs says one of the highlights has been seeing students continue to participate in music after high school. Several students have gone on to major in music and begin careers of their own, while others may not have majored in music but did participate on a collegiate level.

“It is so cool to see them stay involved in music. I think the ones that don’t continue to sing really miss it,” he said.

“It’s great to see the ones who have become teachers give their love and passion of music and choir to other kids in Kansas. It’s also cool when we see each other and talk as professional colleagues now.”

S P OT L I G H T

A career in theatre was always a focus for Jen (Taylor) Pollard ’00, but taking time after graduate school for travel she also realized how transferrable her talents and experience in theatre were in other areas.

“For a while my stage was a motorcoach,” Pollard says about her time spent as a tour guide in Alaska and her travel experience through Australia and the United Kingdom. “I always knew that I would come back to theatre.”

Pollard found her way back to the McPherson College theatre by way of London and is the newest professor in the theatre department. She teaches classes in stagecraft, makeup, and costuming, and is technical director for all of the college productions.

While in London, she worked in nearly all aspects of theatre in three very different venues. At Shakespeare’s Globe, she worked the front of the house as a “glorified receptionist,” she says. But with an “I can do that” attitude supported by her liberal arts background, she quickly took on more responsibilities. She also worked at The Old Vic, and the Southbank Centre, Europe’s largest performing arts complex.

“I wanted to get as much experience in as many different venues as I could,” Pollard said. “There is always something to do in the theatre and I just kept raising my hand.”

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As an instructor, Pollard uses the theatre to teach skills that can easily lead to a career in theatre or transfer to many different careers. She loves teaching about the “how” of things and gives her students situations and challenges that can’t be answered with a Google search. From installing linoleum and fixing plumbing (both of which she has done for theatre productions) to communications and history, Pollard knows from experience that theatre can provide a strong foundation for a career.

“It’s not always about being the smartest person in the room,” she said. “Sometimes it’s about being clever enough to know who to ask for help.”

In a life and career that has taken many turns, the one constant for Rahila Weed ‘95 has been art. Her passion for art is something she can trace back to when she was a student at McPherson College.

“I had taken some art in high school, but I started exploring the idea of art therapy at McPherson College. I decided to major in psychology and art my sophomore year,” she said.

She graduated with a degree in art and psychology but changed her mind about pursuing it as a career. After graduating and working as a social worker for a few years, she realized that she needed art in her life and decided to get her teaching certificate, which led to a master’s degree and Ph.D. “I can say that the two professors at McPherson College, Susan Dodson and Wayne Conyers, really pushed me and showed me that you can have a career in the arts. They planted the seed,” she said.

She taught elementary art for awhile and enjoyed it but thought she could make an even bigger impact if she taught the teachers who teach art. Today she is the assistant school chair of the School of Visual and Performing Arts and head of the art and design area at the University of Central Missouri.

“I wanted my career to advocate for art and to teach others to relate to art,” she said. “I want to encourage people to express themselves and be creative.”

Often the importance of art gets lost in the language of data, she says. Its importance is not easily disseminated in a number or score on a test and can be easily ignored or overlooked.

“People tend to value art as long as it doesn’t cost too much or shock us too much. It’s not the first thing we worry about,” she said. “What I love most about art is that it connects us, and makes us think, process our emotions, helps us communicate. It’s necessary.”

from the director

Dear MC alumni and friends, When you are on the McPherson College campus you have many opportunities to encounter the arts. From Professor Michaela Groeblacher’s muses that welcome guests to the theatre, to the Birger Sandzen piece in the library, and even our mascot Ben the Bulldog, designed by alumnus Evan Hiebert ’14, art surrounds us. Those are just the visual arts. Our band and choir delight our ears. Our natural sciences highlight the beauty of macromolecules represented in graphic form.

And our automotive restoration students create exceptional pieces through metal, textiles, and the inner workings of a classic engine purring.

I am consistently impressed by the creativity of MC alumni, faculty, staff, and students. The college offers courses that teach the technical necessities for creating art. But there is a spark of creativity that comes from within each individual that is necessary to turn classroom learning into inspiration. The sweet spot is where that technical learning converges with the inner spark, and we all know in our bones that what we are experiencing is art.

This edition of the Review magazine introduces you to several of the exceptional artists associated with the college. Alumni Nicholas Griggs ’06, Jen Pollard ’00, and Rahila Weed ’95 have each found their way to capture and reflect their own inner spark. The MC Theatre Department has been sharing their craft for 100 years, and our faculty constantly inspire lives of creativity in generation after generation of MC students.

What sparks your own creative life? And how has McPherson College inspired you to use that creativity in your career and your community? I anticipate hearing many more stories of inspiration from across our MC family of alumni and friends.

Monica Rice director of alumni & constituent relations

www.mcpherson.edu/alumni

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October 19-21

Bulldog Selfies

Merlin Grady ’65, Larry Blair, Jr., ’65, Dr. Irvin Wagner ’59 at the 50th reunion banquet in 2015.

John Smith ’69, Eastport, ME

Jessica Foulke ‘08 in the Mental Notes Quartet, an SAI barbershop quartet that placed 8th in the Great Gulf Coast region in 2018, Photo credit Laura DeGraw Photography.

John Zinn ‘70, with his carving, Oleander Doodle, at the 2018 juried regional art show in Fountain Hills, AZ.

Dee Ann German Davis '93, coin jewelery.

Caroline Harnly ‘73 is the director of two handbell choirs in addition to being a handbell soloist.

Roxane Ayres ‘11 Graphic Designer at Home Communications, Galva, KS

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CLASS OF 58

CLASS OF 63

CLASS OF 68

CLASS OF 78

CLASS OF 88

CLASS OF 83

CLASS OF 03

CLASS OF 08

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alumni news T E A C H E R E D U C AT I O N R E U N I O N

RICK TYLER RECEPTION

Check out the complete Homecoming photo gallery on our MC facebook page at: https://bit.ly/2rqxUlQ

Mark Your Calendars!

HOMECOMING 2019 McPherson College will celebrate Homecoming weekend October 12, 2019!

Class reunions will include the classes of 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019.

If your class would like a gathering, please contact the alumni oďŹƒce so we can start planning together.

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honors YO U N G A LU M N I

Each year we recognize the accomplishments of our young alumni during the Honors Convocation at Homecoming.

This year three alumni – Myron Stine ’94, Rahila Weed ’95, and Joseph-Vincent V. Blas ’05 – were presented Young Alumni Awards on October 19.

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M

yron Stine, Adel, Iowa, graduated in 1994 with a degree in crop science. Stine proudly supports the family business by providing direction in marketing strategies and sales force infrastructure for Stine Seed Company. He understands the importance of working hard and developing relationships.

With a background in crop science, sales, and marketing, Stine has worked his way up through the organization, starting his career on the family farm, serving as a district sales manager, regional sales manager, national sales director, vice president of sales and marketing, and now as president of Stine Seed Company.

He has served McPherson College as a member of the board of trustees for four years and is currently serving as a member of the Auto Restoration National Advisory Board. He also serves on the Iowa State University executive MBA advisory board. Stine shares his agriculture expertise as a committee member of the FFA Stine Seed Enrichment Center at Des Moines Area Community College and served as a director on the Cultivation Corridor Board. He pursues his interest in cars as a trustee on the Iowa Automotive Heritage Foundation Board and has served as committee chair of the Des Moines Concours d’Elegance.

R

ahila Weed, Warrensburg, Missouri, graduated in 1995 with a degree in art and psychology. Dr. Weed is a professor of art education and serves as the assistant chair of the School of Visual and Performing Arts and division head of art and design at the University of Central Missouri. She received her teaching certificate, master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. She has been honored as the Missouri Art Education Association Higher Education Art Educator of the Year and was nominated for the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Education. She shares her passion for art education through involvement and collaborations such as presenting at the statewide Girl’s STEAM event.

Dr. Weed lends her expertise to the Marilyn Zurmuehlen Working Papers in Art on its education editorial review board. She has served on the Missouri Art Education Association as a council member, district representative, and web editor and is a member of several international, national, and state professional and academic associations. She is a frequent presenter at the National Art Education Association and has been published in several scholarly journals.

MCPHERSON COLLEGE MAGAZINE

alumni news AT H L E T I C H A L L O F FA M E

J

oseph-Vincent V. Blas, Greenville, South Carolina, graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2005 with a degree in biochemistry. As a member of the vascular surgery faculty at Greenville Health System of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Greenville, Dr. Blas is an assistant clinical professor of surgery. He received his medical degree from Creighton University in Omaha and completed his general surgery residency at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

As an undergraduate at McPherson College, he received the Burkholder Research Award for outstanding undergraduate research.

He remains active in research and publications as author of several chapters in vascular surgery textbooks and as a presenter at vascular surgery conferences. He is one of the co-directors of the Aortic Center at the Greenville Health System and serves on several quality assurance committees for the health system as well as the diversity committee for the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery. Dr. Blas is also assistant fellowship program director for the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery.

As part of the 2018 homecoming festivities, the McPherson College Athletics department, in conjunction with the Champions Club, inducted four new members into the Bulldog Hall of Fame.

The 2018 class, is made up of Silas O'Neal, class of 1963, a member of the Bulldog football team (accepting on behalf of O'Neal was his youngest son, Byron O'Neal), Lela (Ball) Beam, class of 1984, a former Bulldog track and ďŹ eld and cross county athlete, Don Cameron, class of 1973, who played basketball for the Bulldogs, and Glen Gayer, class of 1954, who was on the Bulldog basketball and baseball teams, and later coached both Bulldog basketball programs.

Nominate a fellow alum for a McPherson College award: Citation of Merit Young Alumni Dayton Rothrock Teacher Education Alumni Fellow Athletic Hall of Fame www.mcpherson.edu/alumni-awards

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why I give

W

hen it was time for me to go to college, I knew I wanted to go to a school that was not in Kansas City, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to a big school. I was accepted into KU and K-State, but the class sizes scared me.

At a college fair, I met Dave Barrett. He helped me realize that McPherson College, with its smaller class sizes and attention to individual students, was the place to be. I was still skeptical when I arrived on campus but quickly realized I felt comfortable. I joined the choir and became involved with the theater department. I have never met more loving and accepting people.

Whitney Murray ‘18 Washburn Rural High School Topeka, Kansas

My time at McPherson College was full of eye-opening experiences, from traveling to Europe with my choir to putting on thought-provoking plays (For Colored Girls . . . ). I was given opportunities to grow as a person and as a future educator. The professors and staff at McPherson College helped me in ways that bigger schools would not have been able to.

I give back so future students have the opportunities to grow. Without the support of alumni, I wouldn’t have been able to do half the things at the college that I did. I wouldn’t have been able to participate in programs without alumni contributions. So I feel obligated to help others have the opportunity I had.

McPherson College will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am so grateful for the opportunities I had while I was there.

Go Bulldogs!

support our students ONLINE:

www.mcpherson.edu/giving

or BY MAIL: McPherson College

Be sure to ask your employer about their matching gift program.

My gift to the McPherson College Fund

Enclosed is a gift of:

$1,000

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Advancement Office 1600 E. Euclid St. PO Box 1402 McPherson, KS 67460

$100

Other $

Name Address Please charge my credit card: Card#

Discover

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Signature I would like to speak with someone who can provide additional information on estate planning.

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alumni notes A N N O U N C E M E N T S

Matt Fuqua ’07, McPherson, was recently hired by Prairie View, Inc. as chief financial officer.

Members of the class of 1956 continue friendships through a college circle letter started 62 years ago. Class members still participating in the letter include Eula Mae Murrey Goodfellow, Lyons, Kansas; Jean Walker Jones, Amarillo, Texas; and Beverly Schechter Petefish, Fair Oaks, California.

Katie Hill ’07, Jackson, Missouri, was hired this August as the library director at Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Robert Wise ’56, McPherson, received the Pillars of the Community Award from the Kansas Bar Association at its annual meeting this past June.

Whitney Williams, ’09, Wichita, Kansas, received her medical degree this spring from Touro University Nevada and has entered her first year at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Family Medicine Residency Program at Wesley Medical Center.

Craig ’70 and Joanna Dell Little ’72, Grand Junction, Colorado, show off their future Bulldog granddaughter Lennox.

Craig is a member of the McPherson College Board of Trustees.

Kip Wedel ’87, North Newton, Kansas, is the 2018 recipient of Bethel College’s Ralph P. Schrag Distinguished Teaching Award, which was presented at commencement last May. Wedel has finished his sixth year at Bethel, where he is associate professor of history and peace studies.

Will Posey ’00 and John Viviani ’00, Gadsden, Alabama and Hoover, Alabama respectively, co-host a weekly audio podcast together about collector cars called “No Driving Gloves.”

Jodi Good ’03, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, graduated with a Masters in Social Work in 2017 and is currently working toward a clinical license. She is employed as a neurorehabilitation specialist providing rehabilitation therapy for adults diagnosed with traumatic brain injury.

Juli Greep ’04, Dover, Delaware, was named assistant athletic director at Wesley College this summer.

Brett Hatfield ’04, Overland Park, Kansas, recently started hosting the Kansas City talk show “Road Muscle Radio.”

Peter Phillips ’05, Leonard, Texas, was invited to the America’s Concourse d’Elegance in Plymouth, Michigan this summer to show his 1958 Rambler Ambassador station wagon. This rare model is one of only three known in existence.

Jeremy Hoffman ’09, Gardena, California, is assistant principal at Alliance Judy I. Burton Technology Academy High School in Los Angeles.

Ben Coffey ’12, McPherson, has been appointed as higher education representative to the McPherson Opioid Task Force, which is working to reduce pain reliever addiction and abuse across Kansas. He was also appointed as co-chair of the Kansas Student Affairs Conference 2018. Ben is associate dean of students and director of residence life and student conduct at McPherson College.

Natasha Chaney ’13, Edgerton, Kansas, was featured in an article in the magazine IN Kansas City, which highlights what’s happening in the metro area. The article featured Natasha’s new business, inDOUGHlgence, selling original recipe gourmet cookie dough treats.

Michelle Crook Iko ’13, Topeka, Kansas, was recognized as Outstanding Secondary Mathematics Teacher by Pittsburg State University. Micki teaches math at Highland Park High School.

Sarah Neher ’13, Prairie Village, Kansas, is program and development manager at Youthrive, a non-profit focused on empowering and supporting foster youth.

Jacob Patrick ’14, Odessa, Texas, began work this past June as assistant director of student life for the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

John Regier ’14, Derby, Kansas, was hired this summer as business finance manager at Derby Public Schools.

Reagan McClellan ’16, Allen, Kansas, became animal control officer for the Emporia Police Department this past summer. Reagan and her new position were featured in an Emporia Gazette article on June 2.

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Josh Hall ’17, McPherson, was recently hired as office manager and events coordinator at the McPherson Opera House.

M A R R I AG E S

Ethan Winter ’17, Wichita, Kansas, is a graduate student in the Department of Physical Therapy at Wichita State University.

Austin ’18 and Samantha Cotell Dowler ’18, Rodeo, California, began work at Cobra Performance after graduation. Austin works in the restoration side of the business and Samantha is in charge of retail parts sales.

Seamus Hnat ’18, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, is automotive collections technician at Stahls Automotive Foundation.

Seamus interned at Stahls as a student.

Dalton Whitfield ’18, originally from Georgia, opened his own business in McPherson after graduating in May. Last Century Automotive specializes in fabrication, design, upholstery, leading, and acetylene welding projects.

Joel Flory ’94 to Rhea Shetty Novato, California, Aug. 20, 2018.

Tim Bremerman ’08 to Stephanie Lindsay

Brookville, Kansas, July 28, 2018.

Jacob Cooper ’13 to Shelby Thompson

Corey Long ‘17 to Jessie Neher ’17

Logan Schrag ’18 to Madison Hoffman ’18

Danielle Lucore ’05 to Steven Jackson

Michelle Crook ’13 to Robert Iko

Joshua Kelly ’17 to Jordyn Lipe‘17

Hutchinson, Kansas, Aug. 12, 2018.

McPherson, Mar. 24, 2018.

Young Alumni Mingles Do you have a group of Young Alumni in your area who would like to reconnect casually at a great local place with some fun MC door prizes?

Be in touch with the alumni office about planning a mingle for your area?

These alumni are enjoying time together at Blue Skye Brewery in Salina, KS: Lane Allison ‘12, Mat Ayers ‘08, Pete Brubaker ‘00, Ashley Carlson ‘13, Alicia Chennell ‘07, and Luke Chennell ‘03.

McPherson, June 23, 2018.

Topeka, Kansas, July 20, 2018.

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Springfield, Missouri, June 16, 2018.

Raleigh, North Carolina, June 22, 2018.

alumni notes B I RT H S

A N N I V E R S A R I E S 60 YEARS

Donald ‘59 and Ivadelle Wisler Cotton ‘59 Scott City, Kansas, Aug. 23, 2018.

I N

M E M O R I A M

Opal Brubaker Goodrich ’40, West Union, Iowa, Jan. 27, 2018.

Ava Rae to Amy and Eric Putnam ’99

Rocklin, California, July 22, 2018.

Oliver Richard to Aaron and Sarah Taylor Knolla ’13 Wichita, Kansas, Aug. 2, 2018.

Ethan Holderread to Patrick and Becky Ullom Naugle ’01, Gilberts, Illinois, Nov. 9, 2018.

Henrik Alan to Kara and Mark Hallowell ’06, Ponca

City, Oklahoma, June 7, 2018.

Sadie Louise to David and Denise Norsworthy Biring ’01 West Plains, Missouri, Sept. 21, 2018.

Quinn Elaine to Katie and Brendan Netherton ’08 Denver, Colorado, July 18, 2018.

Reed William to William ’11 and Haley Cook Powers ’11, Colorado Springs, Colorado, July 27, 2018.

Gryffin Kathleen to Joseph and Emily Donell Buchanan ’12, Wichita,

Carter Wayne to Eric and Amanda LeClair Jones ’09 Newton, Kansas, May 20, 2018.

Lena Belle Olwin Mullen ’42, Greenville, Ohio, July 4, 2018.

Marion Frantz ’49, Lincoln, Nebraska, July 30, 2018.

LaVona Thralls Schnaithman ’49, Enid, Oklahoma, Oct. 14, 2018.

Vance Carlson ’50, Hays, Kansas, Sept. 17, 2018.

Beverly Smeltzer Lewallen ’50, Cando, North Dakota, Oct. 16, 2018.

Letha Miller McKinnell ’51, York, Pennsylvania, May 30, 2018.

Betty Ann Murrey Porter ’53, Quinter, Kansas, June 17, 2018.

Keith Rickner ’53, McPherson, Sept. 12, 2018.

Adrian Sayler ’53, Saint John, Kansas, Aug. 6, 2018.

Glen Edward “Eddie” Ball, Jr. ’54, McPherson, Nov. 22, 2018.

Joan Pinther Shows ’54, Parkville, Maryland, Oct. 21, 2017.

Robert Pittman ’58, Astoria, Illinois, Oct. 12, 2018.

Carl Harris ’59, Santa Barbara, California, May 14, 2018.

Donald E. Christensen '60, McPherson, Nov. 24, 2018.

Mildred Jacobson Guthals ’61, Arvada, Colorado, Dec. 24, 2017.

Galen Huffman ’63, Quinter, Kansas, Aug. 6, 2018.

Patricia Hoover Rolfs ’63, Flora, Indiana, June 23, 2018.

Roger Emmert ’64, Perry, Iowa, July 20, 2018.

Dennis A. Miller ’68, Lanark, Illinois, Mar. 21, 2018.

Michael R. Johnston ’70, Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, Oct. 2, 2017.

Thea Ladell Boeckner ‘77, Hays, Kansas, Sept. 19, 2018

Kendall Jane to Samantha and Dustin Hague ’13

Charles “Eddie” Sumners ‘88, Salina, Kansas, Sept. 26, 2018.

Doug Gayer ’81, McPherson, Aug. 9, 2018.

Cheney, Kansas, July 26, 2018.

Kansas, Jan. 9 and Jan. 10, 2018.

Azeon James to Ridglea Hearne and Jordan Windholz ’18 Lubbock, Texas, Nov. 19, 2018.

Correction from previous issue

Lone Tree, Colorado, July 2, 2018.

Ruth Stump Hoover ’41, Plattsburg, Missouri, Oct. 10, 2018.

Kansas, July 11, 2018.

Aurora Opal and Aria Lynn to Gisell and Bobby Robertson ’18, Windom,

Thiago Antonio to Eddie ’11 and Ana Calderon Rodriguez ’11

Mildred “Mickey” Miller Chisholm ’41, McPherson, Nov. 20, 2018.

Knox Alex to Kasey ’13 and Courtney Shald Miller ’12

Connect to MC!

Access our social media channels and website to keep in touch. www.mcpherson.edu/alumni/update www.facebook.com/MCalumni www.linkedin.com/school/mcpherson-college

Derby, Kansas, Apr. 14, 2018.

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then

1968 Homecoming Court from the 1969 MC Yearbook

Jacqueline Troutman-Raile ’72, Phoenix, NY Diana (Merrifield) Stauffer ’70, Kansas City, MO Virginia ‘Ginny’ (Yingst) Ostberg ’71, Dayton, OH

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& now

2018 Homecoming Court

Parkes Wolters, Osborne, KS - Biochemistry Rianne Richard, Wichita, KS - Elementary Education King: Grant Barrett, McPherson, KS - Physical Education: Sports Management Queen: Amanda Lolling, Wichita, KS - Business Management Greg Elvin, Marquette, KS - Automotive Restoration Zoe Bouwmeester, Zutphen, Netherlands - Business Management, Marketing Accompanied by President Michael and Kandee Schneider

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Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit #1148 Wichita, KS

McPherson College 1600 East Euclid PO Box 1402 McPherson, KS 67460

Snowy semester!

Power Day www.mcpherson.edu/power

Join us for Power Day on March 14, 2019 as we power the future of our students through our annual day of giving.

CALENDAR Ventures: Biblical Hospitality Jan 26, 2019

Presidential Scholarship Competition Day Mar 30, 2019

Spring Choir Concert May 5, 2019 Church of the Brethren

Theatre: The Clean House” Jan 31, Feb 1-2, 2019 Brown Auditorium

Ventures: Healthy and Safe Congregations Apr 13, 2019

Spring Band Concert May 6, 2019 Brown Auditorium

Presidential Scholarship Competition Day Feb 8, 2019

Awards Convocation May 3, 2019 Brown Auditorium

Commencement Ceremony 2019 May 19, 2019 Brown Auditorium

Auto Restoration Visit Day Mar 8, 2019

Evening with AR: Donald Osborne May 3, 2019

Auto Restoration Summer Institute Jun 3-7, 10-14, 17-21, 2019

Power Day Mar 14, 2019

Bulldog Visit Day May 4, 2019

Church of the Brethren Annual Conference Jul 3-7, 2019

Theatre: “Oliver!”

Mar 8-9, 2019 Brown Auditorium

Auto Restoration Visit Day May 4, 2019

Ventures: Growing More of an Inclusive Multicultural Church Mar 2, 2019

C.A.R.S. Club Car Show May 4, 2019

www.mcpherson.edu/calendar

A portion of the publication cost for the Review comes from Docuplex in Wichita, Kan. - www.docuplex.com