Review - McPherson College Magazine, Spring 2024

M c PHERSON COLLEGE MAGAZINE

A CLASS OF

Resilience

The Class of '24 began college in a time of uncertainty but persevered to graduation.

HOW FAR THEY HAVE COME SINCE 2020

Dr. Kim Stanley, professor of English at McPherson College, was the commencement speaker at the McPherson College 136th Commencement Ceremo ny on May 18, 2024.. Professor Stanley taught in the MC English department for 36 years and retired at the end of the 2024 academic year. She is among the most beloved and sought-after professors on campus and engaged in impactful ways across campus during her tenure.

In her speech, Dr. Stanley shared quotes from some of the freshman composition papers turned in four years ago by members of the Class of 2024, remind ing them to look for the poetry within themselves.

“In your adult world, you’ll be facing challenges that my generation didn’t have to meet,” she said. “I hope that your time here has helped you develop the virtues of tolerance, fairness, cooperation, kindness, and courage that you’re going to need to face that world.”

Names of the graduating class of 2024 and the commencement video can be found at: www.mcpherson.edu/graduation

On the cover: McPherson College conferred Master of Education, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees on 158 students at the commencement ceremony at McPherson Stadium.

Resilience at McPherson

PERSISTING WITH COMMUNITY

Transitioning to college from high school can be difficult for many first-year students. Being away from home, making new friends, having more freedom and responsibilities can be overwhelming. Because of Covid, that transition was made even more difficult for students who started college in the fall of 2020.

ALUMNI NOTES

McPherson College Administration

Michael P. Schneider ‘96 president

Abbey Archer-Rierson ‘16 chief of staff director of athletics

executive vp and provost vp for admissions

executive vice president

executive director of operations

Brenda Stocklin-Smith ‘16 director of human resources vp for finance vp for advancement

College Receives $2 Million Mabee Foundation Matching Grant

Construction progresses on campus building projects

In January, McPherson College received a $2 million grant from the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation. The grant was directed toward construction of the new Campus Commons. The Mabee Foundation grant comes following last year’s completion of the Building Community comprehensive campaign, which generated $64 million to support campus infrastructure improvements and educational initiatives, such as the Student Debt Project, student scholarships, health sciences, automotive restoration, and other academic growth areas.

The Building Community campaign is the catalyst of the college’s largest-ever investment in new buildings and sets McPherson College on the path of becoming one of the best small colleges in the country.

“This grant represents the generosity of the Mabee Foundation, along with our community of supporters whose gifts enabled the college to secure the funds necessary to achieve the challenge grant,” President Michael Schneider said. “We are extremely grateful to the Mabee Foundation for their dedicated partnership over the years. They have been instrumental in supporting building projects at McPherson College.”

Major gifts from California philanthropists Melanie and Richard Lundquist, Sodexo, the Dalke Charitable Foundation, Peoples Bank and Trust, the Julia J. Mingenback Foundation, and a significant anonymous donor propelled McPherson College to reach the challenge grant goal. Construction is underway on the

new Campus Commons with a completion target of 2025. The new structure will be the most prominent building on the McPherson campus, serving students, employees, and community members. While the 55,000-square-foot building will provide a state-of-the-art event venue, student services hub, and place to grab a bite to eat, other campus building projects are online to further enhance the McPherson College student experience.

The expansion and remodeling Sport Center athletic facility was completed in February. The project included adding over 4,500 square feet to the original facility and renovating another 2,000 square feet of existing space. The expansion includes an additional weight room, athletic training area, and o ces. The renovation consisted of installing new lockers, updating restrooms, and adding storage space.

Work continues on the Boiler House and is expected to be complete by August. The Boiler House is a new café in the middle of campus that will have indoor and outdoor seating and serve as an additional late-night dining option. The project is an imaginative reuse of an existing utility building — a 1940s-era brick structure, which housed McPherson College’s main boilers for over 70 years. When completed, it will create an entirely new campus gathering point providing space for socializing and collaborating.

www.mcpherson.edu/comingsoon

New Residence Hall Added For Fall 2024

Students will have a new housing option in the fall with the addition of Maxwell Hall. The college worked with The Cedars Retirement Community to provide the new student housing located at First and Maxwell Streets.

The college is leasing the two north units of The Cedar Ridge Houses on Maxwell Street to accommodate increased enrollment and its commitment to quality student housing options. Just five blocks from campus, the new residence hall will provide co-ed housing for 50 students. It features two-bed suites with a private bathroom that share a large common area and kitchen. The new hall will offer the same amenities as other residence halls, including key-card access, furniture, security cameras, Wi-Fi, free laundry, and parking. Each room features its own temperature control.

“The new Maxwell Hall provides a living opportunity for students unique to anything else at McPherson College,” said Charles Snyder, resident assistant at Maxwell Hall. “I am honored to help introduce Maxwell Hall to the campus community and help grow our community in the building.”

Alexia Sandoval, another resident assistant at the new hall added, “I’m thrilled to be part of a process helping our community grow. With other big projects happening around campus, like the new Campus Commons and Boiler House, it’s fitting that a new resident hall would be included.”

The new hall is available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors making housing applications for next fall.

“This venture is a win for current Cedars residents because they will receive focused attention from Cedars staff and opportunities for intergenerational interaction,” LaMonte Rothrock ‘80, CEO of The Cedars, said in a statement. “We are excited about this relationship and plan for college students to spend time with our residents to enrich both groups’ lives.”

president’s message

Dear McPherson College Alumni, Friends, and Family,

Bulldog community can mean many things to many people. For students, it can be the safety and acceptance they feel at McPherson College. For alumni, it can mean a network of people across the country they rely on. What we are learning about community is that it is the cornerstone of resiliency and the foundation for the success of our students.

This sense of community brings alumni like Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz ’13 back to campus. Rebecca shared her life experience with faculty and sta to introduce them to trauma-informed practices that will help students build resiliency.

Bulldog community can also be seen among the many alumni mentors who volunteer their time to support current students in the Student Debt Project. Students like Meghan Monroe and Jamichael Turman, recent graduates, benefited from Student Debt Project mentors. Read their stories in the pages of this issue.

We recently celebrated the accomplishments of the Class of 2024. This class, perhaps more than any other in recent history, demonstrated resilience. They began their college journey during a time of uncertainty and barriers, yet they persisted. Today, nearly three-fourths of these graduates had either jobs, graduate school placements, or military service assignments before they crossed the Commencement stage on May 18.

However you experience Bulldog community, whether as an alumni, student, or friend we know it is within this community that we live out our mission of developing whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service. Your presence and support are what make this community thrive.

Michael P. Schneider president

Students Gain Real-world Financial Experience Managing $1 Million of College’s Endowment

Since 2011, students in McPherson College’s Invest ment class have gained real-world financial experience managing a portion of the college’s endowment. What started as a modest $100,000 portfolio has grown to approximately $600,000, and in March, the Board of Trustees approved a motion to expand the students’ portfolio to manage $1 million.

“It’s a vote of confidence in what we do and trust in the class that Rod Gieselman built during his tenure on the business faculty,” said Duke Rogers, associate professor of business, who teaches the course.

The investment class is o ered each spring and is required for business majors with a focus on finance; however, even students not majoring in finance want to take this course. That was the case for Andy Skinner ’12. Skinner started as a pre-med major, but after three years, he decided to look at other options and added a business administration minor to his biochemistry major. He took the investment class in the last semester of his senior year and was part of the first class to manage a portion of the college’s endowment.

importance of long-term investing and staying patient.

Managing real money with real consequences drove his excitement about investing, and today, Skinner is a certified financial planner and a member of the McPherson College Board of Trustees, serving on the financial a airs committee.

“For me, the class was the spark that led me to my future career,” Skinner said. “It was exciting to see it come full circle for me.”

Two students made a presentation to the financial a airs committee, walking it through the process and structure of the class and the portfolio’s performance. At the end of the presentation, the students asked for more money to invest.

“It was exciting to hear the students’ presentation,” Skinner said. “In the end, we decided to give them more money because they’d done a really good job. It’s proof that following long-term investment strategies pays o . I remember the stocks my class recommended, and they were still in the presentation. I still track them myself occasionally.”

The idea for students to manage “real” money was initially supported by Craig Holman and Jim Dodson, who served on the business advisory board at the time, said Rod Gieselman, former business professor who was instrumental in developing the class and its success.

“My favorite part of the class is the real-life aspect of managing money for the college that actually makes an impact,” said Fabio Nickel. Nickel, a senior business administration major from Cologne, West Germany, was one of the students who presented the class portfolio to the financial a airs committee. “Another takeaway from the class is the personal confidence I gained in dealing with stocks. I can see myself doing this as a job, and I have the confidence to invest personally without an advisor.”

There are approximately 30 stocks that are assigned to students who do research and make recommendations to the entire class. All students in the class vote on whether to buy, sell, or hold in May each year.

“The class gives you a glimpse of what real-life investing is like,” said the other student-presenter, Owen Braxmeyer, a senior business administration accounting and finance major from Manhattan, Kan. “I value that we work with real money; everyone takes it very seriously. It’s also something that the college cares about. The college cares about the success of the students.”

Every stock has a binder passed down to the next class of students. The students have maintained an 11% average annual return on par with professional investors and the S&P 500. And, like any other investment profession, they also earn a modest fee that supports the Business Club activities like trips and the annual protocol dinner.

“The students have always understood that if we aren’t successful, we can be fired just like any other investment professional,” Gieselman said. “It adds seriousness and takes the class to a di erent level. They understand that this is real money, not a simulation.”

Seniors Fabio Nickel and Owen Braxmeyer in the business lab.

C.A.R.S. Club Hosts 24th Annual Motoring Festival

One-of-a-kind classic automobiles were displayed during the 24TH Annual C.A.R.S. Club Motoring Festival at McPherson College on Saturday, May 4, 2024. In addition to the hundreds of remarkable cars, “The Path to Pebble” documentary was shown to audiences in Brown Auditorium.

Some of the unique cars on the field this year, included a 1912 Simplex and a 1939 Alfa Romeo 6C with a fascinating history. The car was owned by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, given to his mistress, and used in an attempted escape in 1945. Other cars included those from the General Motors collection —the 1968 Chevrolet Astro II, the 1972 Silver Arrow III, and the 2025 Cadillac Celestiq Concept.

Each year, the student-run car show attracts rare vehicles from across the country. This year, more than 400 vehicles were displayed throughout the campus grounds. Alongside the rare classic cars, automotive restoration students also present vehicles they are restoring. The Best of Show award went to the 1939 Alfa Romeo brought to campus by Ross Barton ‘06.

“The car show serves as one of the biggest networking and alumni-gathering events for the college,” said Joseph Cyr, car show co-chair. “Every year, hundreds of cars ranging from student projects and local show winners to Pebble Beach best-of-show contenders, converge on the college lawn for a unique day celebrating McPherson's heritage as a leader in the antique automobile industry.”

www.mcpherson.edu/cars

Jay Leno Narrates McPherson College’s Historic Finish at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Legendary television host and comedian Jay Leno narrates “The Path to Pebble,” a documentary that tells the incredible story of McPherson College’s decade-long journey to compete at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the most prestigious car show in the world culminating in a historic podium finish in August 2023.

“Pebble Beach is all about turning heads. And some heads were turned that day. A student entry had never placed in this elite competition. Could they do it? Better yet, how did they even get here? There’s a ten-year long story behind their short drive to the reviewing stand. And it started 47 years ago,” said Leno to kick o the documentary.

The 28-minute documentary premiered at a special events in McPherson and Wichita, KS in February. Future viewing opportunities will be announced later.

In 2023, McPherson College’s 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Cabriolet – restored entirely by students of the college’s Automotive Restoration program – secured second in class at the 72nd Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The victory marked the first time in Concours history that an entirely student-restored car has ranked in the top three in class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

“We’re so appreciative of Jay for lending his time and talent to document our historic journey to Pebble Beach, but especially for his continued support of our Automotive Restoration program, which has helped shape the future of our students,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “We can’t wait to show ‘The Path to Pebble’ and showcase our students, alumni, and faculty that poured their heart and soul into this project to make our lofty, bold, and audacious goal a reality.”

1939 Alfa Romeo 6C owned by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini

faculty

RETIRED

At the end of the 2023-2024 academic year, two long-time McPherson College faculty retired after distinguished teaching careers.

Kim Stanley, professor of English

For most of her 36-year career, Dr. Kim Stanley has been among the handful of McPherson College teachers every student hopes to take a class from before they graduate. One student recently commented, “This was one class I really looked forward to taking. I had heard a lot of wonderful things about Kim, but I had not taken a class with her yet. She is so caring and intelligent, and I learned something new every class. Our discussions were very entertaining and made me think of things in a di erent and new light.”

Dr. Stanley is universally loved and respected by students and colleagues. She has been described as the epitome of grace, dignity, and wisdom—with just the right amount of humor stirred in. Her ability to see her students as individuals and to treat them with dignity, is clearly one of the secrets to her success in the classroom. She has twice been named the Who’s Who Professor of the Year and twice received the Excellence in Teaching Award for a tenured professor.

She has served on more faculty and administrative search committees than any single administrator at McPherson College. Every administration has implicitly trusted her judgment and actively sought her advice and counsel. And every program review committee for three decades has hoped to secure the benefits of her academic acumen and crystal-clear prose. Add to these important contributions her leadership at decisive moments in the college’s history, such as spearheading the faculty response to the 2008 Plan for Sustainability, and Dr. Stanley’s unparalleled impact on the current strength of the college’s academic programs comes into sharp relief.

Dr. Stanley’s greatest passion is inspiring others to furnish their minds with stories and ideas that will enable them to understand themselves and the world better. It’s a passion she shares beyond the confines of McPherson College. For decades, she has been the most frequently requested discussion leader for the book talks sponsored by the Kansas Humanities Council. She has worked with prisoners in the Hutchinson Correctional Facility, encouraging them to read storybooks to their young children.

Ku-Sup Chin, Professor of Sociology

Few faculty have worked as conscientiously as Dr. Chin to incorporate best practices for engaging students in the classroom. He divided his classroom sessions into brief 10- to 15-minute segments, alternating lectures with discussion and learning activities. Students in his classes were entertained— “He dances like a madman!” said one, and he has a “great roundhouse kick! You should see him kick flies out of the air!” said another. Such antics, combined with rock-solid pedagogy, led students to seek out his classes over the past 21 years. Combine Dr. Chin’s excellent teaching with his high energy and sense of humor and the final product is a popular instructor whose classes are characterized by both fun and learning.

Dr. Chin also presented students with serious challenges that often transformed their thinking. His course, Minorities in the U.S., opened students’ minds, widened their horizons, and gave them a context for understanding some of our culture’s dominant issues.

Dr. Chin is a prominent scholar of transnational studies and published two books on the subject. Dr. Chin contributed significantly to the behavioral science department and the faculty at large during his tenure. His work, along with that of his colleagues, is responsible for elevating the quality of the research done by behavioral science majors. He taught the Senior Seminar/Thesis course and advised as many as 10-20 senior research projects each year. Dr. Chin served a term representing the social science division on the Faculty Review Committee, an elected position that indicates the respect and trust his colleagues have for him.

Faculty and Staff attended the 2024 Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference in Chicago. The HLC Annual Conference brings the higher education community together to share ideas and insights on the latest in the field and learn from HLC staff, researchers, and advocates during the multi-day event. Those attending from McPherson College included Sandra Hiebert, director of institutional assessment and academic compliance; Matthew Skillen, vice president for academic affairs; Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration and engineering; Carol Summervill, vice president for finance; Anna Michelson, assistant professor of sociology; Vicki Schmidt, associate professor of education; Jonathan Frye, professor of natural science; Kristie Sojka, director of library services.

Michaela Valli Groeblacher, associate professor of art, exhibited artwork in the 25th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition. The piece "Growing Another Heart" was among 102 works selected from 750 pieces submitted. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts hosts the ceramic competition every two years. It is open to all artists in the United States, Canada, and Mexico and is considered one of the finest ceramic exhibitions in the nation. The San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts already owns one of Professor Groeblacher's earlier works. Her work was also among 84 selected pieces for an international virtual art exhibition, I-SEE-U, and another virtual exhibit called Femina-2024, celebrating International Women’s Day.

Jean Kennedy, adjunct guitar instructor, hosted the inaugural Mid-West Guitar Symposium on April 26-27. The symposium consisted of three events, including a guitar technique class at McPherson College attended by 29 guitar students from four surrounding communities. Bill O'Brien, former Idaho State University adjunct guitar faculty member, performed in concert, and a masterclass with an ensemble showcase rounded out the symposium.

Kirk MacGregor, associate professor of philosophy and religion, published his article "2 Peter: Its Authenticity and the Dead Sea Scrolls" in the Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics 16.1 (2023): 71-91. He also presented it at the International Society of Christian Apologetics Annual Meeting in San Diego in April.

Bryan Midgley, professor of psychology, and two colleagues from Kent State University published Single Cases and the Laws of Subjectivity in Theory & Psychology, Vol. 33. From the Abstract: "[T]his study focuses on what solitude means in individual cases. Two persons reflect on their own experiences under nine conditions of instruction inspired by various laws of subjectivity, and the factor-analytic results are used to illustrate various of the laws as well as the variety in individual lives and to elucidate the importance of the intensive study of single cases."

Tom Hurst, adjunct professor of philosophy & religion, will spend the 2024-25 academic year in Ballycastle, Northern Ireland, working for the Corrymeela Community. The Corrymeela Community is a large, peace-building organization that hosts approximately 7,000 visitors from all over the world each year who come to learn various skills while training to get along with one another in different types of situations.

Norman Hope, professor of business, was installed as the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (KSCPA) chairman at the annual board meeting. The KSCPA is a professional society for CPAs and associates that provides a platform to discuss various accounting, auditing, tax issues, continuing education, and other benefits for its members.

Manjula Koralegedara, professor of chemistry, is the 2024 chair of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Wichita local section and attended the ACS Leadership Institute in Atlanta. The Leadership Institute is an annual invitation-only conference where ACS leaders come together to learn about management and leadership skills that will enable them to be successful leaders within the ACS.

Rick Tuxhorn, director of endowment and special projects, was elected as a Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (KSCPA) Educational Foundation board member at its annual board meeting. The Educational Foundation Board awards scholarships yearly to accounting students attending Kansas colleges and universities.

Wayne Conyers, professor emeritus of art, judged and juried the most recent Great Gulf Coast Art Festival in Pensacola, FL. He assessed and evaluated the work of 206 professional artists from 25 states. Professor Conyers retired from McPherson College in 2018.

Dr. Herb Smith, professor emeritus in philosophy and religion, was asked to serve on the newly formed Great Lakes College Board in Rwanda, East Africa. Besides Rwanda, students also come from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and potentially Burundi, Uganda, and Kenya. Dr. Smith led a McPherson College student trip to Rwanda several years ago.

www.mcpherson.edu/directory

Dr. Aaron Meis Joins McPherson College As Executive Vice President

McPherson College announced Dr. Aaron Meis will join the college as executive vice president, providing leadership for institutional strategy, planning, and execution of the Community by Design 2.0 plan. In addition, Dr. Meis will supervise enrollment and student success, including admissions, student affairs, advising, career services, and the Student Debt Project — a program ensuring students an opportunity to graduate with no student loan debt.

“I am incredibly excited to join the McPherson College family,” Meis said. “I have gotten to know McPherson College and President Schneider over the past decade. I am inspired by the dedicated faculty and staff and the powerful personal connections that students make there. The Community by Design 2.0 plan and the extraordinary success of the Ward-Burkholder Endowment have positioned McPherson for its next 137 years. I’m humbled to be a part of the next stage of the college’s history.”

Dr. Meis has 28 years of higher education experience. During his 15-year career at Xavier University, he led the development and implementation of multiple institutional enrollment strategies in first-year recruitment and undergraduate retention and persistence, serving for more than seven years as the university’s chief enrollment and student success officer. Prior to his service at Xavier, Dr. Meis served as dean of admissions at Converse University in Spartanburg, SC. He began his career at Loyola University Chicago, serving for a decade in various roles in undergraduate admission.

Employees Recognized for Years of Service

The McPherson College community gathered to celebrate 20 employees and trustees for their years of service with a reception, dinner, and awards program at the McPherson Community Building in March. The annual recognition night celebrated the work of faculty, staff, and board of trustee members who have served the college for five to 25 years. Those recognized include:

“We are thrilled to welcome Aaron to McPherson College,” said President Michael Schneider. “His vast experience aligns with many of the college’s strategic goals outlined in the Community by Design 2.0 plan. I look forward to working with him on the college’s expansion and growth, including new academic programs, plans for a modern destination campus, and the Student Debt Project. His expertise will provide an immediate impact on our campus.”

Dr. Meis has a bachelor's degree in political science and a master’s in higher education administration from Loyola University in Chicago. He earned his Doctorate in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he has received certificates in educational management from Harvard University and leadership development from the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C.

He began his role at McPherson College in May.

25 Years Ken Yohn, professor of history

20 Years Shane Kirchner ‘93, professor of education

Chris Paulsen ‘98, associate professor of technology

15 Years Brian Martin ‘06, senior director of automotive restoration

Bonnie Wall, custodian

10 Years Dave Auman, assistant director of facilities

Michael Dudley ‘10, associate professor of technology

Curt Goodwin, associate professor of technology

Patricia Hartshorn, registrar

Andrew Olsen, director of financial aid

Karrie Rathbone, professor of biology

5 Years

Amy Beckman, exec director, career & experiential learning

Cory Cahill, head coach, volleyball

Jeremiah Fiscus ‘08, head coach, football

Kent Freund, head coach, men’s soccer

Johnny Gilkey, building maintenance technician

Kelsy Gossett Dennis, assistant professor of photography

Abigayle Morgan ‘19, asst director, automotive restoration

Carol Summervill, vp for finance, chief financial officer

Board of Trustees Dennis Houghton

President Schneider Receives Distinguished Alumni Award From

University Of Pennsylvania

Dr. Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Higher Education Management Executive Doctoral program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. The award recognizes program alumni who have demonstrated significant and effective leadership and management and have had a substantial impact or influence at an organizational, regional, or national level.

“We were pleased to welcome Michael back to Penn’s campus to receive the executive doctorate in higher education management Distinguished Alumni Award,” said Dr. Diane Eynon, senior fellow and director of the program. “I had the opportunity to work closely with Michael as his dissertation chair and it was clear then that he had a vision for what was possible and a strong sense of what it would take to accomplish it. That vision and commitment to excellence is why his peers choose him as this year’s award recipient.”

President Schneider’s passionate vision to elevate liberal arts through an entrepreneurial mindset has sparked the imagination of an entire campus. Under his leadership in the past year, the college gained recognition for having a student-restored 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet win second in the Post-War Luxury Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance, the most prestigious car show in the world. Additionally, the college achieved a historic milestone by securing a $1 billion endowment commitment, one of the largest philanthropic commitments in the history of higher education.

“The Executive Doctorate program prepared me well for the challenges facing smaller liberal arts institutions,” President Schneider said. “I am grateful to receive this award and fortunate to stay connected with many talented colleagues associated with the program. This award recognizes the work

of an entire college as McPherson College does its part to transform the future of higher education.”

President Schneider, a 1996 graduate of McPherson College, assumed the role of president in 2009, becoming one of the youngest college presidents in the United States. During his tenure, he has solidified the college’s commitment to debt-free education and post-graduation placement rates. The college’s job and placement rates rank among the best in the nation, while the average debt per student at graduation is one of the lowest of any four-year college in Kansas. For the past nine years, McPherson College has been named in the Chronicle of Higher Education as a “Great College to Work For,” with honor roll recognition for the past eight years.

Since becoming president, Schneider has served the higher education community as board chair of the Associated Colleges of Central Kansas, Kansas Campus Compact, and Kansas Independent College Association; as executive committee member of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities; and as national advisory board member for Future Business Leaders of America and Distributive Education Clubs of America.

The award was presented to President Schneider at the Higher Education Leadership Conference in Philadelphia in January.

RETIRED: Rick Tuxhorn, director of endowment and special projects

Before coming to McPherson College in 2012, Rick spent 19 years getting to know the college as an auditor for Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk, and Loyd. When he was hired as vice president for finance, he brought with him 30 years of auditing experience at firms in Colorado and Kansas. He received a degree from Sterling College in 1981 and became a CPA in 1986. He also received a master’s degree from McPherson College in 2016. His wealth of experience in accounting and auditing has been an asset to the college and helped McPherson College remain one of the most financially stable colleges among its peer institutions. His colleagues appreciate his sense of humor that often diffuses tense situations and his willingness to help co-workers. He served McPherson College for 10 years as its vice president for finance and spent the last two years mentoring his successor, Carol Summervill, who said, “Rick is one of the most genuine and nicest people you will ever meet.” Rick is an avid Bulldog athletics fan and attends many athletic events. When he is away from campus, he enjoys fishing, playing basketball, golf, and softball. He loves spending time with his family and enjoys volunteering time to his church and community. He also collects football cards and enjoys painting. He is well-known around campus for the chocolate sheet cakes he makes, which he frequently brings in to celebrate accomplishments with students or fellow employees.

President Michael Schneider with his daughter Hayden and wife Kandee after the awards ceremony.

athletics

WINTER/ SPRING

Women‘s Basketball

The Bulldog women’s basketball team wrapped up the 2023-24 season with an overall record of seven wins and 21 losses and went 3-19 in KCAC play. The Bulldogs knocked off crosstown rival Central Christian College for the 16th consecutive time, 78-58. MC scored a season-high 100 points in a win over Manhattan Christian College, the first time the Bulldogs eclipsed the century mark since the 2020-21 season.

Cheer and Dance

The Bulldog competitive cheer and dance teams, under the direction of first-year head coaches Krista Williams (cheer) and Kananda Skinner (dance), opened their season at the Falcon Invite hosted by Friends University. In the KCAC Championships, cheer finished sixth with a final score of 57.94, while dance placed fifth, scoring 41.27. Genesis Thompson was named a second-team All-KCAC performer.

Men‘s Basketball

The Bulldog men’s basketball squad got off to a hot start, winning 11 of their first 14 games, including an 86-83 win over sixth-ranked Southwestern at the Sport Center. However, the Bulldogs faltered down the stretch, finishing with a 12-10 mark in KCAC play and the sixth seed in the KCAC Tournament. The Bulldogs fell to Southwestern in the first round.

MC landed two spots on All-KCAC teams, with Collin Storr picking up a second-team selection and KCAC Newcomer of the Year. Sophomore guard Curtis Rose earned the All-KCAC honors with an honorable mention selection.

Baseball

Things started slow for the Bulldogs in Head Coach Chris Dawson’s first season. MC finished the season with a 25-28 record and a 19-17 mark in the KCAC, securing the fifth seed in the KCAC Tournament. The Bulldogs knocked off Ottawa 5-1 in their first game, then upset the top-seed Kansas Wesleyan 11-9. However, the run would end there, falling to the Coyotes 7-3 and 3-2. The Bulldogs finished the regular season by winning five of their last six games, with the lone loss coming in a rain-shortened game on Senior Day.

MC set a new single-season school record, finishing with 108 stolen bases. Jace Essig also broke the single-season school record, swiping 27 bases.

A pair of Bulldogs were selected for the All-KCAC teams, with Peyton Starr picking up a second-team nod and Essig a third-team selection. www.macbulldogs.com

In April, the McPherson College Shotgun Sports Team took on the ACUI & SCTP Collegiate Clay Target Champion ships. In Sporting Clays, the combined team score (taken from the five highest scores across the team) was 337 out of 500, 56 higher than was shot last year in the event. The shooters included Joey Bellisario – 75, Zachary Hawley – 72, Lindzie Archer – 64, Tate Brewer – 63, and Dominic (Dawson) Leech – 63.

American Trap put smiles across the entire team and the crowd of parents who traveled to support the shooters. The Bulldogs had a combined score of 476 out of 500, 11 higher than last year's. This score was made up by Leech –98, Hawley – 98, Riley Sojka – 96, Laci Turner – 93, and Archer – 91. The score placed the team 9th out of 50 teams in Division III for the event. Six out of the 10 shooters recorded new personal bests in this event, and the five shooters who combined the team score all found themselves in the top ten of their respective classes.

The Shotgun Sports team is led by Pete Brubaker '00, interim coach.

Women’s Tennis

Softball

It was a challenging year for the Bulldogs in Abby Bolton’s second season as head coach. The Bulldogs ended the season with a 17-25 record and were just 9-17 in KCAC play. After a split with Bethel College, MC was 16-14 but closed the season by winning just one of their final 12 games. Jordyn Johnson was selected to the All-KCAC third team in her final season in a Bulldog uniform.

The McPherson College women’s tennis team climbed back to the top of the KCAC, securing the KCAC regular season title for the first time since 2017. In the KCAC Tournament, the top-seeded Bulldogs knocked off Bethel 4-0 in the semifinals, then took down the upset-minded Ottawa Braves 4-2 to win the KCAC championship for the first time since 2019. The Bulldogs advanced to the NAIA Tournament in Mobile, Ala., but fell to Union College (Ky.) 4-0. MC finished 17-5 overall and went 11-0 in conference play.

Following an outstanding sophomore season, Camila Sanchez was named third-team All-American and was first-team All-KCAC for the second consecutive season. Grace Maxey picked up a second-team All-KCAC nod, while Taimi Nashiku secured All-KCAC honorable mention honors.

Men’s Tennis

Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but the Bulldogs men’s tennis team won the KCAC regular season championship for the fourth straight season and the KCAC Tournament title for the ninth consecutive year. MC finished with a perfect 11-0 mark in KCAC play and extended their KCAC winning streak to 45 regular-season matches and 57 regular season and postseason contests. The Bulldogs secured the No. 18 seed in the NAIA Tournament, their highest since 2016, and took on Lindsey Wilson College. However, MC fell to the Blue Raiders 4-1.

The Bulldogs’ success on the court translated to several postseason awards, with Michael Beltran leading the way as a first-team All-American, the only first-teamer in program history. Beltran also added a first-team All-KCAC selection for the fourth consecutive year. Marcus Nardy also picked up first-team selection, while Martin Millos and Arthur Nardy were picked as second-teamers. Daniel Marcano secured an honorable mention selection.

Track & Field

The Bulldogs saw success in Head Coach Damien Brigham’s first season in charge. Mariah Fede punched her ticket to the NAIA National meet in the indoor season and became the Bulldogs’ first KCAC indoor champion since 2020. Her 8.64 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles broke the previous school record and set a new KCAC conference meet record.

The outdoor season saw continued improvement, with many athletes setting new personal bests. Charity Williams qualified for nationals in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing 31st overall with 15.32 seconds.

support

THE FACE OF GIVING

Meghan Monroe didn’t know exactly where she wanted to go during her college search. She did know one thing for sure, though. She set a goal to graduate with the least amount of debt possible. Meghan says, “I didn’t always know I was going to McPherson College but hearing about the Student Debt Project made the decision easier. Tuition cost was always a huge factor.” Learning about McPherson College’s Student Debt Project, a program that pairs financial literacy lessons, mentorship, and a financial match for dollars contributed towards a student’s account, the decision became clear.

Fast forward to this May when Meghan graduated with her bachelor’s degree in healthcare management - completely debt-free. She leveraged the Student Debt Project’s financial match toward her student account by working several part-time jobs as a CNA. Since Meghan doesn’t need to worry about paying back student loans, she has shifted her focus to other financial goals like saving and investing.

With her financial burden lifted, Meghan can fully focus on her career goals. These include positions that help supplement her business acumen, like those in human resources and marketing. Over the past several years, Meghan has focused her work as a CNA to support the elderly, a field she discovered a deep passion for. Ultimately, Meghan hopes to start her own home health service, a dream that is now within reach thanks to her debt-free start.

You can support our students by giving to the McPherson College Fund online at:

Or contact the Advancement office at (800) 365-7402. www.mcpherson.edu/giving

When asked if Meghan would encourage other students to participate in the Student Debt Project, she answered, “One hundred percent! Learning financial literacy skills and taking advantage of the financial match can give you a head start in the future.” Meghan was a peer mentor this year to help other students have the same experience.

Contributions to the Student Debt Project have a lasting impact on students like Meghan by providing the financial match that allows them to start their careers debt-free. This academic year, generous supporters contributed over $300,000 in matching funds that were applied toward student accounts.

Meghan Marie Monroe McPherson, KS Healthcare Management

Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz ‘13 is co-founder of the Resilience Team, a project of ESSDACK.

BEATING THE ODDS

An alumna returns to teach campus about recognizing and building resiliance in students.

Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz ‘13 was in and out of crisis situations for many years growing up and as a young adult. When she found her way to McPherson College as a non-traditional student, she experienced professors who saw her talents and not her crises. She found encouragement and built resilience despite her challenges. She recently returned to campus to share her story and introduce faculty and sta to the concept of trauma-responsive practices that promote social and emotional well-being for students.

Lewis-Pankratz is the co-founder of the Resilience Team, a project of the Educational Services and Sta Development Association of Central Kansas (ESS-

DACK). She is the organization’s director of resilience and student services.

The story she shared with McPherson College sta began when she moved to McPherson from California as a young girl. Her sense of wonder, freedom, and family were encouraged by supportive elementary school educators. Too young to realize how she di ered from her peers, she excelled in school when she first arrived in McPherson. It was in middle school when the di erences became more apparent to her.

“That’s when I realized that I was really poor and that poor was not good,” she said. “I didn’t have supportive teachers, and I found strength in fighting and being in trouble.”

She started working at 13 years old. She liked making money more than attending school and earned enough to move out at 15. She didn’t want to stay in school, and at age 16, she quit. It’s worth noting, she says, that there were some high school educators whose influence made a lifelong impact —specifically, her English teacher and art teacher.

“There were a couple of teachers I would walk across town to attend their classes,” she said. “They had a pull on me.”

She left McPherson for a few years and was in an abusive marriage for 13 years but found the courage to leave it at 29 years old and pregnant with her first son. She knew she had to do something di erent. She worked and enrolled in a community college.

“I started a degree and started dreaming,” she said. “I loved art, and back in high school, Mrs. Liligren told me I was good, so that’s where I started.”

Six years after starting her journey to a degree, she returned to McPherson. With two sons and pregnant with her third, she found her way to McPherson College. It would take her 10 years to attain her degree, and during that time, there were many people she credits for holding her together. From professors in the art department and business o ce sta to a campus custodian, each played an essential role in her educational journey.

“Some weren’t afraid to have di cult conversations and tell me what I needed to hear,” Lewis-Pankratz said. “People at McPherson College never treated me in accordance with what I was living but with who they saw I was becoming.”

Lewis-Pankratz believes many people on college campuses have the power to shape students and help build their resilience. Her presentation to campus introduced concepts that she knows will support faculty and sta in that important work.

“Walking through adversity with students can be

really hard,” she said. “I was in my 30s and had some tools to navigate it in an adult way, but most students are much younger and not equipped yet. Many are running from something to something but don’t know what it is yet.”

Lewis-Pankratz’s research about how trauma impacts brain development started in 2015 while she was working with STEP MC, an organization in McPherson dedicated to ending poverty through building supportive relationships. She began studying, attending conferences, and learning from experts about how trauma can significantly impact our ability to learn, form memories, regulate emotions, and how trauma a ects our ability to be calm, think, reflect, and respond flexibly and in planned ways.

“My story articulates the truth of the science,” she said. “I’m proof that safe, supportive adult relationships can help a person build resilience. I wanted the McPherson College sta to know that there are many di erent types of brains on campus and understand that not all need the same things. Brains shaped by survival take time and intentionality before they can be in planning, problem-solving, and organized ways to experience college.”

Throughout her career, Lewis-Pankratz has started 17 poverty projects in Kansas and Illinois, working with 500 families, helping them get out of financial poverty, and forming community around relationships. She sees the impact of trauma caused by poverty and how it a ects student achievement.

Her introduction of trauma-informed practices is the first of several trainings the McPherson College faculty and sta will participate in while working with the ESSDACK Resilience Team.

“I thank God for the many McPherson College sta who sat beside me while I was a student there,” she said. “Without their support and direction, I would not be where I am today. I wanted to remind faculty that how they show up matters, and through connected experiences with their students, they can change a life course. This is how we build resilience.”

ESSDACK was founded in 1983 by educators committed to providing quality educational services to their students. They recognized that not all students’ needs could be met individually and came together to create a positive solution to provide various educational services to school districts. ESSDACK serves the Buhler, McPherson, Sterling, Pretty Prairie, and Nickerson school districts.

Persisting With Help From Community

Transitioning to college from high school can be di cult for many first-year students. Being away from home, making new friends, having more freedom and responsibilities can be overwhelming. Because of Covid, that transition was made even more di cult for students who started college in the fall of 2020.

Jamichael Turman was a freshman in 2020. He is from Tyler, Texas, and the oldest of five children. He played football as a running back and eventually served as team captain during his senior season. Despite challenges as a freshman and even greater challenges later, he built resilience, persisted, and graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in mathematics.

Many students, Jamichael included, reported feeling isolated during the fall of 2020 due to precautions in place to slow the spread of the virus. Students were physically distanced, masked, tested regularly, and sometimes quarantined. Athletic practices looked much di erent for the incoming student-athletes, with split practices to keep group sizes small.

This situation was not unique to McPherson College. However, the college’s response to this situation and retention challenges, in general, may be unique. In 2014, the college partnered with the Kansas Leadership Center, training in its leadership competencies. The college began to look at retention as an adaptive rather than a technical challenge. The campus learned from working with KLC that retaining students is everyone’s responsibility. The college’s work on retention continues today with its partnership with the ESSDACK Resilience Team.

“We didn’t get the full college experience because of Covid,” Turman said. “It was hard to make friends freshman year, but I always knew I had brothers on the football team that I could fall back on and talk to when things felt hard.”

Head Football Coach Jeremiah Fiscus understood that during this unusual time, he would need to be intentional about building a culture among the football team. During the fall of 2020, he paired new players with older team members, players from rural areas with players from bigger cities, and put players together who didn’t seem to have much in common. Their assignment was to ask a list of assigned questions to get to know each other.

“They were assigned homework every weekend,” Coach Fiscus said. “They had to find a place and time to meet and talk to each other. The coaches decided that culture had to be focused on as much as talent. We intentionally made a reason for the connections to happen, but those connections continued, and the players truly found reasons to talk with each other. Leaders emerged from those conversations.”

It became easier for Jamichael to enlarge his circle of friends after sophomore year, and he took advantage of campus activities to find friends outside of the football team. But it was during his junior year when his mother passed away, that he felt the deep support from his community.

“I called Coach Fiscus when I found out. It was late, and he answered right away. He stayed on the phone, texting me all night,” Turman said. “He told me to take care of my family and not to worry about school.”

Jamichael said he felt everyone he knew on campus was closer to him going through that loss. Faculty members helped him make up his missed classwork and tests. Coaches and teammates cared for him with support and prayers. Even the lady in the cafeteria who greeted him

“It really helped knowing I had family here,” he said. “I wanted to come back and finish my degree because I knew that was what my mom wanted me to do.”

Attending a college in a smaller community was important to Jamichael, who wanted to get away from the tra c and feel of a big city. It was one of the reasons he decided to attend McPherson College. He made connections in the community by staying over the summer and earning money for his education through the Student Debt Project. Dave Barrett, McPherson College advancement o cer and a mentor in the debt project, helped him find employment with the McPherson summer basketball league.

“I reached out to Jamichael to o er support at whatever level I could,” Barrett said. “He was willing to work evenings after finishing his full-time job. He’s a person that wants to do good things and wants to honor his mom.”

The McPherson College community support extended to Turman’s hometown in Texas with alumni raising

bachelor's degree in mathematics.

money for the family after his mom’s passing. And Barrett’s support has continued with conversations about the future and encouraging Turman to think big. After graduating Turman is hoping to seek further education to become an accountant.

With an entire campus committed to supporting students and learning more about how to help students build resilience, Turman advises future Bulldogs to lean into the resources available on campus, both academic and social.

“It’s easy to make friends and be successful, especially with all of the resources the college o ers,” Turman said. “I would tell future students not to be scared to join the community. Don’t isolate yourself and trust the process.”

Resilience Training at MC

Even for self-aware and emotionally intelligent people, sudden change, failure, loss, or other challenges can be difficult to manage. Now imagine how a young adult, far from home and navigating college life, might respond to struggle. McPherson College faculty and staff are learning about resiliency practices to support students and help them cope with the challenges they might encounter at college.

With guidance from the Resilience Team at the Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK), McPherson College faculty and staff are learning about building resilience and the science that supports it. This spring, campus members participated in an introductory presentation by Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz ’13, ESSDACK’s director of resilience and student services, who shared her story of struggle and resilience. Faculty and staff members were given the book, “What Happened to You?” by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and Oprah Winfrey and participated in campus-wide conversations on trauma, resiliency, and healing. Training will continue throughout the next academic year.

Resilience training is the most recent example of the college community’s commitment to student success. It is not the first time the entire campus has participated in training to help identify ways to improve student experience. In 2014, the college began working with the Kansas Leadership Center, introducing its leadership practices to address freshman retention. KLC competencies inspiring collective purpose, working across factions, testing multiple interpretations and points of view, and creating a trustworthy process are still practiced today.

The college focuses on retention to gauge student resilience. Retention is the number of students returning to campus each fall. Students choose not to return to campus for various reasons. The college can influence some of those reasons.

“Retaining students is hard work,” Brandi P. Jones, Ph.D., said. “It absolutely takes a holistic approach, but what makes it so challenging is that every student is different.”

Dr. Jones is a vice president at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. She serves as a special advisor to President

Michael Schneider and consults in various areas at McPherson College. She has worked in research and leadership in higher education at institutions such as the University of Southern California, Princeton University, Occidental College, and California Institute of Technology. At Trinity University, she directs and oversees campus-wide initiatives related to belonging and strengthening community relations.

“The responsibility for retention never sits in only one operation on campus,” Dr. Jones said. “There may be a committee tracking or looking for patterns, but you need to have leaders from across campus on that committee responding to what their areas can do to support student success.”

At McPherson College, the Student Success Leadership Team consists of cabinet-level leaders from academics, athletics, facilities, finance, student affairs, automotive restoration, and the president’s office. Christi Hopkins, vice president for enrollment, leads the committee.

“We approach retention from a campus-wide viewpoint,” Hopkins said. “Tools such as student surveys, early warning alerts, and advising help us to identify patterns and take action to ensure students are engaging in all the campus resources and are ultimately graduating and pursuing careers.”

Overall retention for fall 2022 to fall 2023 was 71.5%, and first-year retention was 63.5%. The committee anticipates that numbers will increase by 2-3% for this past academic year.

According to Dr. Jones, there is hardly an aspect of campus that does not contribute to the student experience. McPherson College concentrates on many aspects of campus life that impact students. Recently, student advising transitioned from primarily department advisors to academic advisors for new students, eventually handed off to faculty. The new advising model helps new students academically and emotionally by answering questions about college life and provides a safety net for struggling students.

Another vital program contributing to student success is the Student Debt Project. Although more than 400 students participated in the program last academic year, efforts are in place to include even more students, especially those needing the most financial assistance. Besides the matching funds offered to students in the program, it also provides financial literacy education and mentorship. Nearly one-third of the participants had zero debt at graduation.

Academic support services, including tutoring, the writing center, and counseling services, have helped decrease the number of academic suspensions. The Early Warning team, a tactical group of leadership from advising, academic support, financial services, student affairs, and athletics, meets regularly to identify at-risk students and find ways to support them. Other retention best practices at McPherson College include student surveys, wellness resources, various activities, especially at the start of the fall semester, and campus facilities upgrades.

“To really understand what it takes to keep a student on campus, we have to be willing to really listen and look at what changes might need to happen on campus,” Dr. Jones said. “It’s challenging but maybe a little easier for smaller institutions that can see commonalities and patterns quickly and actually be able to talk to students.”

alumni news

Citation of Merit Award Recipients Honored

The McPherson College Citation of Merit award recipients for 2024 are Ron ’60 and Rita (Smallwood) ’61 Harden; Larry ’65 and Sandee (Hoover) ’65 Kitzel; and Sigrid Wagner Horner ‘70. These recipients exemplify the college’s mission of Scholarship, Participation and Service through their lifelong commitment to the values they developed as students at McPherson College. The college honored them at a dinner on April 26 at the Community Building in McPherson.

Ron ’60 and Rita (Smallwood) ’61 Harden

Ron and Rita (Smallwood) Harden met at McPherson College and will be married 64 years in August. They spent most of their married life in Loveland, Colo., where Ron practiced dentistry from 1968 until he retired in 2005, and Rita was an elementary school teacher for more than 34 years. They have two daughters, Kristin and Kit.

Both Ron and Rita have been active volunteers. Ron’s interest in ornithology led to 50 years of volunteer service in local, state, and National Audubon Society chapters. He conducted annual breeding bird surveys for the United States Geological Service for 50 years. He was a volunteer member of the Interpretive Sta at Rocky Mountain National Park, where his duties included guiding nature walks, environmental education, the Junior Ranger program, and working at the visitor’s center information desk. He also served on the Boy Scouts of America

regional council’s Committee on Eagle Advancement for over 20 years. Rita was active in the Philo Club, a local women’s service organization, for 54 years, serving as treasurer, president, and on many committees. She was active in local school board elections and served on various boards during her daughters’ school years. They are 56-year members of the First Baptist Church of Loveland, where Rita was active in the junior high youth group and children’s education for 40 years. She serves on the governing board, is a choir member, and was part of the pastor search team, and past moderator. Ron has also been involved in the music and worship committee, board of deacons, and was a moderator, and liaison to the church’s Korean Baptist Church.

Ron graduated from McPherson College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration. He earned his DDS in 1967 from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Rita graduated from McPherson College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

Larry ’65 and Sandee (Hoover) ’65 Kitzel

After long and successful careers, Larry and Sandee Kitzel spent their first year of retirement serving in Virginia, Nebraska, and Ohio as part of the Brethren Volunteer Service. They then spent another 11 years in locations across the country, serving in the Brethren Disaster Ministries a week to a month at a time. Today, their volunteerism is focused around Arriba, a small town in Eastern Colorado, near their daughter, Erika (Kitzel)

Sa er ’95 and her family Kevin ’94, Nate ’23, and Kendyl ’24. After graduating from McPherson College in 1965, Larry began teaching band and choir, and Sandee taught math in Bruning, Neb., and later in Tecumseh, Neb. In 1970, they moved to McPherson, where Sandee worked as an accountant, and Larry taught in the music department at McPherson College. He completed a Master of Music degree in 1973 at Wichita State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1985 at the University of Oklahoma. He taught large and small ensembles, instrumental methods, conducting, music history, and music appreciation at McPherson College for 34 years before retiring in 2004. Sandee graduated from the Brethren Academy of Ministerial Leadership in 1994 and served as the Monitor Church of the Brethren pastor for 10 years before retiring.

While in McPherson, Sandee served on The Cedars board of directors for eight years, the Western Plains Church of the Brethren District Board for six years, was a member of Music Club, and played bassoon in the community orchestra. She also o ered private music lessons in piano, bassoon, and oboe. She recalls hosting many McPherson College students in their home and altering many band uniforms. Larry, with the Kitzel Brothers Summer Band, played for service organizations in the community and performed and conducted a community orchestra and brass choir. He helped with Mac Sprokettiers, the community bike club, and with Mac Trax, a model train club. He also o ered private lessons and tuned and moved pianos and pipe organs in Central Kansas. At the college, Larry directed the college community bulletin board cable channel for nine years. His students filmed and edited May Day parade videos for the channel. He also booked and hosted o -campus programs in Brown Auditorium for 10 years. He served as a KSHSAA adjudicator.

Sigrid (Wagner) Horner ‘70

Sigrid (Wagner) Horner served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2001 and was on the Alumni Board for seven years, serving as president for one year. She also served as class agent for the Class of 1970.

Larry’s involvement in music continues today with the Eastern Colorado Trombones and High Plains Brass ensembles that perform in parks, nursing homes, at Memorial Day programs, and at the annual Colorado Trombone Festival in Colorado Springs. Sandee leads a community Bible study group, coordinates the Sunrise Service, o ers piano lessons, and volunteers with the after-school program in Arriba. They are both active in the Bethel church of the Brethren near Arriba.

Sigrid graduated from McPherson College with a bachelor’s degree in German and earned a master’s in German Studies from the University of New Mexico in 1997. She taught German and English to high school students in Kansas and Colorado and was a substitute teacher, including two long-term German class assignments, for 13 years in the Lincoln School District in Nebraska. She volunteers at Ten Thousand Villages in Lincoln and serves as the volunteer language director of the German-American Society in Omaha, overseeing programming to further German language and culture and substitute teaching in the adult and children’s German classes. She received the Joseph Meschede Award of Excellence for service to the German-American Society in 2023.

With her husband, Charles ’66, they managed Camp Colorado and helped direct camp, counsel, and cook for Camp Mount Hermon and Camp Colorado. She retained membership in the Church of Brethren even when there were no churches nearby and remains active today at the Antelope Church of the Brethren as a Sunday School teacher, singing in the choir, and serving on various boards, including serving as chair of the church board. She was a delegate to the Annual Conference several times and served on the Western Plains District nominating committee. She and Charles served as Brethren Ministries leadership from 2007-2011 and worked on a project in 2022.

Sigrid was born in Herford, Germany, and moved to the United States in 1956 with her parents through the Church World Service’s refugee resettlement program. They were sponsored by the Ullom family and the Church of the Brethren in Wiley, Colo. She became a U.S. citizen in 1968.

Power Day 2024

This year’s Power Day was one of the most successful online giving days ever. All match challenges were met along with a record $350,000 donated by 403 donors for the benefit of MC students and programs. Thank you alumni and friends for your support!

March 14, 2024 also marked the 10th annual Power Day. The milestone was celebrated with advancement officer Dave Barrett hosting a Power Day "Top Ten" list and special guest appearances throughout the day.

View the giving details and watch the videos from Power Day at: www.mcpherson.edu/power

Bulldog Meet-ups!

from the director

Join fellow alumni for food, fun, and Bulldog spirit this year at Bulldog Meet-Ups across the country. You can expect updates from the advancement office, Bulldog swag, and a chance to reconnect with fellow alumni. Meet-ups will be hosted by the alumni office at Wichita Wind Surge baseball games this summer. Free tickets can be ordered through the alumni web page and information is also on the Alumni Facebook page.

Dear MC alumni and friends,

In my role, I have the privilege to connect with many alumni and constituents of McPherson College. Whether through a phone call, e-mail, or hosted event, I have heard countless testimonies of how McPherson College set the foundation for where they are today.

Alums are ready to engage with the MC that gave them their start in life. And that aligns perfectly with our #BulldogPride strategic initiative to increase meaningful alumni engagement.

One important engagement effort the alumni and constituent relations office leads is enlisting mentors for the Student Debt Project. Mentors are a vital piece to the success of the debt project. Students reap the benefits of navigating work, athletics, and academics with the help of a mentor. Alumni mentors play a crucial role in building student resilience.

This year’s mentor group totaled 45 alumni, faculty/staff, and community members who mentored over 400 students. With almost 500 students projected in the program next school year, we continue seeking enthusiastic mentors to participate in the debt project.

Many of you have already met fellow alumni and friends this year at Bulldog Meet-Ups in Kansas City, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, and Denver. The alumni office will host four Wichita Wind Surge baseball game nights this summer.

We are planning more events for later in 2024, including gatherings in Pennsylvania and Des Moines. Bulldog Meet-ups will continue nationwide so our MC family can connect, even if they cannot do so on campus.

Lastly, I am very thankful to the alumni board of directors for its dedication and vision for McPherson College. The alumni board has increased in numbers and taken on added roles for Homecoming, our biggest event of the year. The board’s goal is to steadily increase the number of alumni attending Homecoming annually.

To do this for Homecoming 2024, we are ramping up reunions, socials, and other activities to draw alumni and their families from all eras under our theme of “Welcome Back to MAC.”

I want to continue to reach out and connect with as many of you as possible. If you have news to share, let us know. The alumni website has an "Update Your Info" form, events calendar, and news for the MC family. We also enjoy sharing alumni accomplishments on the McPherson College Alumni Facebook page.

Hope to see you at Homecoming 2024, October 18-20, or when we are hosting a Bulldog Meet-up on the road.

Billy Jamison director of alumni & constituent relations

why I give

Previous estate gifts and future estate gift commitments will continue to have a transformational impact on McPherson College.

For the 2024 Evening of Recognition Banquet, new Heritage Roll of Honor members expressed their desire to benefit MC through their estate gift.

“We want our gift to support the Annual Fund, that way our money can be used however the college needs.”

Dave & Leslie Auman

To receive estate planning information, sign-up for the bi-weekly MC Gift Planning e-newsletter at www.mclegacy.com

“We hope that our gift gives the chance for someone to attend McPherson College who might otherwise be unable to afford to attend.”

Carley Sharp Hittle ‘10 & Kerry Hittle

“We were recipients of generous scholarships when students at MC. We hope the college will continue to provide scholarships, even more of them, to future students who really want to be at MC and need the financial support.”

Bruce ’75 & Geneva ’75 Krehbiel

“We would like to see McPherson College continue to minister to those students who are the first in their family to attend college and continue to see service as a part of the college mission.”

Dan ’76 & Lynne ’73 Lichty

“We are happy to be able to continue to build the Flory Family Scholarship Endowment, established to honor Charlotte’s grandfather Glen Flory, and to assist students in reaching their educational goals at McPherson College.”

Stan & Charlotte ‘80 Loewen

that can be brought back to enhance or put classroom learning into perspective.”

Brian Martin '06

“We’d like for our family scholarship to help Elementary Education students with similar backgrounds as ours. Now it’s our turn to develop a legacy of estate giving for McPherson College, as they gave so much to us. Our hope is that the students of today and tomorrow will continue to be proud of their MC experience!”

Gene ’72 & Sheryl ’73 Railsback

“It is our desire that our estate gift go towards supporting student services.”

LaMonte ’80 & Brenda ’80 Rothrock

“We would like our gift to benefit a McPherson College student by making their college experience more affordable. One of Dave’s passions is Track and Field/Cross Country and we would like to benefit athletes in one or both of those sports.”

Dave ’70 & Marcia ’71 Smith

“I have chosen to support Mac College financially so the college continues to be a very special place in students and former students’ hearts and instills a desire for life-long learning in the students.”

Pam Tucker '82

Please let us know if you have included McPherson College in your estate. We want to recognize you now for your future gift to MC.

Visit www.mclegacy.com for more information or contact the MC Advancement Office at vogele@mcpherson.edu.

2024 Evening of Recognition Banquet

Gary Wilson ’66, Chicago, Ill., has won the Book of the Year Award for Indie Fiction from the Chicago Writers Association for his collection of short stories “For Those Who Favor Fire.”

Five 1976 graduates celebrated their 70th birthdays together this past January with a reunion. Left to right: Steve Vincent, Kent Trimmell, Steve Fulmer, Rick Doll, Russ Hunt. Gayle Appel Doll ’76 organized the gathering.

Gary Martin ’84, Des Moines, Iowa, owner of Trim and Upholstery LLC, recovered the seats for a 1908 Mitchell Model G that won the 2024 Zenith Award from the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) on April 4.

Craig Henderson ’91, Fruita, Colo., has been appointed by Governor Polis to Colorado’s 21st Judicial District Court beginning June 1. Since 2006 he served as a Mesa County Court Judge in the 21st Judicial District.

Ted Bray ’92, Colorado Springs, Colo., began a new position last fall as chief growth officer at NaviStone.

Julie Gillaspie Huber ’92, Wichita, Kan. has been promoted to chief operating officer at Equity Bank. Julie has served in a variety of leadership roles since joining the bank in 2003. Most recently, she was executive vice president of strategic initiatives.

Ben ’98 and Valerie Huber Brubaker ’98, Hershey, Pa., completed a year of Brethren Volunteer service in October 2023 and recently moved to Hershey to be houseparents at Milton Hershey School. They are responsible for 12 children when they are not at school and manage one of the 180 student homes on the campus.

Amy Levinski ’99, Darwin, Minn., graduated recently from Vanderbilt Divinity School with a Doctor of Ministry degree in integrative chaplaincy. Her focus was on psychosis-induced moral injury and spiritual interventions that can be utilized to promote healing and integrate the morally injurious event into a person's life. Amy is a chaplain at Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center in Anoka, Minn.

Emily Tyler ’03, Bloomingdale, Ill., is the director of development at Food for Great Elgin, a non-profit working to remove barriers to food security in the greater Elgin, Ill. area.

Brett Hatfield ’04, Olathe, Kan., was recently named automotive historian for GM Authority.

America Patton ’06, Kansas City, Kan., completed a masters degree in elementary education from Emporia State University in December.

Christina McPherson Beaird ’07, Wichita, Kan., completed a Master of Business Administration from Emporia State University in December.

Amber Wright ’07, Cushing, Okla., exhibited a yearling mare named Miss Winnie in the American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show in November and was named Level 2 champion.

Jessica Foulke ’08, Pflugerville, Texas, works at the Texas Education Agency as High Quality Instructional Materials Adoption Strategy and Operations Lead. She helps school districts across the state gain access to the best education materials for classrooms.

Todd Flory ’10, Wichita, Kan., was selected as one of Andover Public Schools’ district nominees for Kansas Teacher of the Year award. He teaches 4th grade at Wheatland Elementary School and will be among other teachers from across the state being considered for the Kansas Teacher of the Year title.

Jillian Overstake Forsberg ’10, Wichita, Kan., has signed a publishing contract with Minnesota-based company History Through Fiction for her first novel “The Rhino Keeper,” which will be published in the fall of 2024. Jillian is also the new owner of Dress Gallery in Wichita.

Sonia Hicks ’10, Little River, Kan., has been named by Forbes magazine as one of their 2024 Best-in-State Women Wealth Advisors.

Brittney Regier Jennings ’11, McPherson, has been hired by USD 419 as the new Canton-Galva Elementary School principal, a role she begins in July. This past year Brittney taught first grade at Lincoln Elementary School.

Michelle Haley Nelson ’11, Limon, Colo., recently received a promotion to lieutenant specialist volunteer coordinator at the Colorado Department of Corrections. She coordinates religious programs and services along with all volunteers who come to the facility.

Katie Naccarato Davidson ’13, Valley Center, Kan., is the director of Student Outreach and Support at Wichita State University.

Colby Patton ’15, Oxford, Kan., was recently recognized by Winfield USD 465 as a Guiding Star award recipient. She was nominated by her peers as one who exemplifies district goals in her interactions with staff and students. Colby just completed her first year as counselor at Winfield High School.

Ivanna Moyer Morton ’18, Salina, Kan., was awarded last fall with the USD 305 You Make A Difference award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to her school community. Ivanna teaches 4th grade at Heusner Elementary School.

Naomi Cartmell ’20, Hutchinson, Kan., graduated in December with a Master of Special Education from Emporia State University. She will teach 8th grade special education at Prairie Hills Middle School starting in the fall.

Charity Davis ’20, Mill Creek, Wash., works as an anatomic pathology technician at University of Washington Medical Center.

Jules Yanez ’20, Wichita, Kan., is assistant men’s volleyball coach at Kansas Wesleyan University.

Francisco Montoya ’21, Ayer, Mass., works at Paul Russell & Company as a body and paint technician.

Tomi Simmons ’21, Huntington Beach, Calif., is devel opment coordinator at Irvine Public Schools Founda tion.

Antonio Snyder ’21, Columbia, Mo., director of Owl Spirit at William Woods University, received the 2024 Coach of the Year award for the American Midwest Conference (AMC) / Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Competitive Cheer Qualifier. He also received the university’s employee of the month award in May.

Myriah Webster ’21, Valley Center, Kan., graduated from Emporia State University with a Master of Business Administration, emphasis in accounting.

MiRan “Ronnie” Jacoby ’98 has established the Jeanne Jacoby Smith Energy, Love & Light Foundation in honor of her mother, Dr. Jeanne Smith, who died on March 13, 2023. Dr. Smith was the director of publicity and a professor of English at McPherson College and the wife of Dr. Herb Smith, emeritus professor of philosophy and religion.

The foundation presents an opportunity for individuals and organizations to make a tangible difference by supporting causes that are meaningful and impactful in their lives.

“I saw my mom’s unconditional, undying love for the well-being of others. Her essence was not tainted or reserved. She wholeheartedly believed in the teachings of Jesus and lived her life as such. She loved working with established entities such as Habitat for Humanity, Church World Service, and Heifer Project International. She also knew there were other ways to serve, such as through her writings or working with new organizations. I would like this foundation to encourage others to discover how they can serve,” Jacoby said.

The foundation recently supported the McPherson College Interdisciplinary Ecological Restoration Endowed Scholarship.

Those interested in starting to champion a cause or who have done so within the last three years are encouraged to apply for funding by contacting Jacoby at ronjacoby@msn.com.

Donations to support the foundation are being accepted by the McPherson County Community Foundation, https://mccf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=3620.

www.mcpherson.edu/alumni-update

Tori Voyles ’20 to Harry Hefner III

Kan., November 3, 2023.

Elle Barrett ’22 to Jacob Alexander

Park, Kan., April 20, 2024.

to Jonathan Collins, Sapulpa, Okla., May 13, 2024.

ANNIVERSARIES

50 YEARS

Ray ’73 & Donna Yorkston ’72 Eustice, Moore, Okla., July 14, 2023.

IN MEMORIAM

Mildred Fries Linville ’43, Fountain Hills, Ariz., February 27, 2024.

Wilma Geis Regier ’49, Marion, Kan., May 30, 2024.

Gloria Tillman McMurray ’50, McPherson, May 27, 2024.

Eula Witmore Frantz ’51, Lincoln, Neb., December 14, 2023.

Betty Jane Byers Cooper ’53, Hagerstown, Md., February 5, 2024.

Paul Hodson ’53, Wichita, Kan., March 27, 2024.

Robert V. Powell ’54, Kingsley, Iowa, March 5, 2024.

Adalu “Lu” Carpenter Bro ’55, Walla Walla, Wash., September 29, 2023.

Sonja Mark Smith ’57, McPherson, February 18, 2024.

Janice Loeckle Bastin ’58, Orange, Calif., December 29, 2023.

Marlin L. Sittner ’58, Bushton, Kan., February 17, 2024.

Emilie Rowland Dell ’60, McPherson, February 2, 2024.

W. LeRoy Hayes ’60, Little River, Kan., February 13, 2024.

Larry K. Dresher ’61, Prineville, Ore., February 27, 2024.

Delores Evans Lakin ’61, Junction City, Kan., February 17, 2024.

Richard L. Landrum ’61, Huntingdon, Pa., August 9, 2023.

Garland J. Wampler ’61, Sebring, Fla., November 27, 2023.

Donald A. Elliott ’62, Greeley, Colo., January 1, 2024.

Kenneth Goering ’63, Galva, Kan., April 11, 2024.

Arthur A. “Art” Hoch ’63, McPherson, March 27, 2024.

Rodney C. Eisenbise ’64, El Dorado, Kan., April 30, 2023.

Janet Tobias Grossnickle ’64, Laurens, Iowa, March 8, 2024.

John E. Beckwith ’65, Tulsa, Okla., January 21, 2024.

Nancy Hovis Grimes ’65, Waynesboro, Pa., May 11, 2024.

Dale “Earl” Saffer ’65, Arriba, Colo., May 23, 2024.

Larry G. “Sox” Myers ’67, Little River, Kan., January 5, 2024.

Gloria Votaw Kazmaier ’68, Raymore, Mo., January 8, 2024.

G. Stephen Nettleton ’68, Louisville, Ky., April 2, 2024.

Richard G. Wagner ’69, Lyndon, Kan., February 11, 2024.

Donald Reinhold ’70, McPherson, March 27, 2024.

Jackie L. “Jack” Canning ’73, Hutchinson, Kan., January 26, 2024.

Faith Roop Ginn ’73, New Port Richey, Fla., December 20, 2023.

Gary N. Haster ’74, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, December 2, 2023.

Mark O. Heefner ’73, Adel, Iowa, January 3, 2024.

Terry M. Fisher ’79, Hutchinson, Kan., May 31, 2024.

Brenda Ragsdale Ciummo ’84, Topeka, Kan., December 25, 2023.

Judy Fleming Holloway ’90, McPherson, April 11, 2024.

Earl W. Young ’90, Moore, Okla., December 26, 2023.

Beverly Yokley Hawkins ’93, Joplin, Mo., April 24, 2024.

Lenexa,

Overland

Galva, Kan., August 29, 2023.

Kylee Martin ’20 Falconer Hortonville, Wis., October 6, 2023.

Gary A. Dill

Gary A. Dill, 77, died in San Antonio, Texas, on March 20, 2024. He served as the 12th president of McPherson College from 1996 to 2001. Dr. Dill spent much of his life as a pastor in the Baptist, Church of the Brethren, Lutheran, and Presbyterian churches. He worked to foster inter-faith dialogue and discovered a passion for teaching, which led him into academics. He was a member of the faculty of St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, a senior vice president of Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, and president of the University of Southwest in Hobbs, N. M., besides serving at McPherson College. In retirement, he became an Airbnb host, a pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Marfa, Texas, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of the Ozarks.

Robert “Bob” Powell

Robert “Bob” Powell, 91, died in Kingsley, Iowa, on March 5, 2024. He served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees from 1981 to 2005. He graduated from McPherson College in 1954 with a biology degree and from the Iowa State University School of Medicine in 1958. He and his wife, Phyllis, began a family practice in Kingsley in 1959. He later joined a medical practice with two other physicians and formed a medical group that continues today. Dr. Powell and his wife enjoyed traveling and chaperoned many student groups traveling around the world. A childhood experience at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago sparked an interest in rocks, minerals, and fossils that continued for more than 70 years and developed into a collection that rivals many museums.

Eugene Maclin

Eugene Maclin, 74, died in Oklahoma City on February 12, 2024. He served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees from 2000 to 2005. His daughter, Dr. ShaRhonda Maclin ‘00, currently serves as a trustee for the college. Maclin was the first in his family to graduate from college and earned a degree in civil engineering in 1972 from Tennessee State University. He started his career as the first Black engineer-in-training for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and was the first Black certified professional engineer in Oklahoma. He worked briefly as a structural design engineer with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Knoxville. In 1980, he started his own engineering company, Brown & Maclin Consultants, Inc., and led the company for 38 years until retiring in 2018.

Marilyn J. Koehler

Marilyn Joyce Koehler, 86, died at her home in Marion, Kan., on March 20, 2024. She served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2007. Dr. Koehler was a lifelong learner. After being a wife and mother of three, she returned to school and earned teaching credentials from Northeast Missouri State University. She was a teacher at Bloomfield, Iowa, and continued her education, eventually earning a master’s degree in administration and later a Ph.D. from Drake University. During her 34-year career, she was a superintendent at Moulton-Udell and a principal at Kirksville, Mo. In both positions, she successfully secured bond levies for school improvement. She became an ordained Church of the Brethren minister in 2013.

McPherson College 1600 East Euclid PO Box 1402

McPherson, KS 67460

HOMECOMING

SAVE THE DATE:

OCTOBER 18-20, 2024

• 25th Anniversary Athletic Hall of Fame Social and induction ceremony

• Class of 1974 50th Reunion

• Academic Program Reunions connect with faculty and alumni classmates from your major

• Campus Tour of new construction

• 5th Quarter Party following football

• Saturday night Young Alumni Social at the new Boiler House

• Theatre production, choir concert and more!