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McPherson College Announces Latest Horizon Fund Grant Recipients

Since 2010 McPherson College has been encouraging the entrepreneurial ideas of its students by awarding mini-grants that help students develop innovative solutions to common problems. With more than 250 grants awarded, the college recently announced the latest recipients of the Horizon Fund Grants.

This fall, the Horizon Fund is providing grants to 10 students with ideas ranging from hand-crafted tools to book publishing. The individual grants range from $100 to $500 and students have the opportunity to reapply for continued funding of an existing Horizon Fund project.

Abbey Archer-Rierson, chief of staff and head of the entrepreneurship program at McPherson College, said, “The Horizon Fund grant is just one of the many ways that McPherson College demonstrates its commitment to entrepreneurship and supporting entrepreneurial students on our campus. The grants have supported a variety of wildly creative ideas and this most recent round of funding is no exception.”

Any McPherson College student, in any major of study is eligible for the grant, whether individually or as part of a team. Grant proposals are considered each semester and evaluated by a team of faculty and staff that interview each applicant.

Recipients of the fall 2018 Horizon Fund grants are:

  • Summer Buckshaw, junior, studio arts, McPherson – Etsy store to make, sell, and repair vintage-inspired clothing – “I am meeting the need for professional quality, custom clothing with vintage designs that are rising in popularity.”
  • Mason Duffey, sophomore, automotive communications, Bellbrook, Ohio – Professional automotive photography – “Eventually, I would like to make a book highlighting the different subcultures of the automobile scene and the different types of people that are in each subculture.”
  • Grayson Henry, freshman, graphic design major, McKinney, Texas – Gray Sun Boutique – “My online boutique philosophy will be to bring uniqueness to a woman’s wardrobe at a price unlike other pricier websites.”
  • Charley Hoehaver, junior automotive restoration technology, Auburn, Alabama – Professional automotive photography – “In the nearly six years of doing this, I’ve seen far greater success with my work than I’d ever imagined and I am motivated to continue to improve in efforts to help achieve my greater goal.”
  • Reed MacDougall, junior, history major from Fort Riley, Kansas – Make and sell homemade potato chips – “I’ve thought since I went to school here that the snack option in the library is lacking variety. Why can’t I make a cheap and tasty snack?”
  • Matthew Miller-Wells, senior, historic automotive technology, Leavenworth, Kansas – Blog dedicated to finding abandoned buildings and monuments in Kansas City and Wichita – “It’s as much an adventure for me as it is for the reader. My blog would serve both as educating those curious of the history while reading about my personal experiences riding a vintage motorcycle on my travels.”
  • Sam Nelson, senior, chemistry, Clearfield, Utah – Food pantry for students with children – “Supply those in need with diapers, formula, or anything else they may need for their kids.”
  • Alex Ramsier, senior, automotive restoration technology, Wooster, Ohio – Automotive shop – “I am taking a different approach by meeting the need of an affordable product, allowing people to enter the car community or bring their pride and joy back to life.”
  • Sean Robinson, freshman, automotive restoration technology, La Grange, Illinois – Make and sell precision hammers – “The hammers are high-quality built combined with brass heads and exotic wood handles custom-turned to balance perfectly in the customer’s hand that look great in any toolbox.”
  • Tomi Simmons, sophomore, history-political science, Las Vegas, Nevada – Publish a creative writing book – “I would represent the school in a great manner that would influence other writers and people to be a part of the growing creative community we have at McPherson College.”

McPherson College Building New Student Health Center

Navigating the complexities of health care can be confusing; particularly for college students who may be dealing with a health crisis alone for the first time. McPherson College will make it easier for its students to access health care and counseling resources on campus with a new student health center that will open in the fall of 2019.

Construction on the new facility will begin before the end of this year on Gordon Street across from Morrison and Metzler residence halls. When completed, the new building will house the health clinic and counseling offices. Currently, the offices are located in converted residence hall rooms in Harter Hall.

“Often cost, convenience, and office hours can prevent students from seeking medical attention off campus,” McPherson College President Michael Schneider said. “We offer our students the most comprehensive health and counseling services among colleges our size in the state. Our new clinic will allow greater access to high quality wellness resources on campus.”

Access to health and counseling services on campus was consistently the top concern on student surveys. In 2014, the college responded to students’concern over the lack of on-campus health services by contracting with Partners In Family Care to provide physical health services to campus. Partners In Family Care, based in Moundridge, Kansas, is a practice run in part by Drs. Paul and Marla Ullom-Minnich, both alumni of McPherson College.

Health services are currently available to students, faculty, staff and community members Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and provided by Ashlee Pauls, P.A., another McPherson College alumni, as well as Dr. Marla Ullom-Minnich. The new clinic building will provide an opportunity for the practice to bring a full-time physician on staff.

The college also works with Client Centered Counseling, a full-licensed practice in McPherson, to provide counseling services on-campus, at its downtown location, and in the event of a crisis. Linda Helmer, a McPherson College graduate, owns the practices and is one of the therapists that works with students.

Health and counseling services at the college are highly utilized by students and staff members, according to the clinic records. Student fees will include unlimited health care office visits for full-time students, as well as four visits with the counseling office at no charge. Clinical services, like laboratory work, are also available, but will be submitted to insurances.

MC Student Leads Effort to Collect Toys for Christmas

McPherson College student, Junior Mendez, is sharing a Marine Corps Reserve holiday tradition with his college community this Christmas by heading up a Toys for Tots toy drive on campus.

Mendez, who is from Wichita and a graduate of Campus High School, is a junior in the Automotive Restoration program and a member of the Marine Corps Reserve serving with a unit in Oklahoma City. Each year, his unit’s master sergeant asks for volunteers to collect toys for the drive and while many of his peers take up posts at places like Walmart around Oklahoma City, Mendez wanted to be involved while attending school in Kansas.

“We are always pushed to be our best and our unit is asked to volunteer to help with the toy drive,” he said. “I was looking for a way that I could get my community here to help out.”

Working with the campus service organization, Gamma Beta Phi, Mendez decided to set up a collection box in the Hoffman Student Union. He is asking all members of the campus community to donate toys and fill the box. All toys must be new, unwrapped, and in their original packaging. The drive will continue through the end of finals week on December 6.

“I am hoping that students will understand that not all kids are as fortunate,” Mendez said. “And, that donating a toy can make you feel really good.”

Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve that distributes toys to less fortunate children at Christmas. The program started in 1947 and to date has distributed 548 million toys.

Mendez hopes the annual toy drive will catch on at McPherson College and already has ideas for next year that might include a 5K event to help collect toys.

McPherson College Celebrates 130th Commencement Ceremony

With wise words delivered from a long-time faculty member, McPherson College conferred bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees on 125 seniors in its 130th Commencement Ceremony, Sunday, May 21, 2018.

Dr. Rick Tyler, professor and chair of the performing arts department, who retires this year after 41 years at McPherson College, delivered the commencement address. Knowing a little something about commencements, after attending the very first one held in Brown Auditorium at the age 8, Dr. Tyler said despite their age difference, he and the members of the graduating class of 2018 were both starting out on new paths in their lives.

He drew his words of advice to the students from a quote by Maya Angelou that says, “If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present…gratefully.”

Dr. Tyler spoke to the students about finding out what they are good at and getting better at it and not to forget there is life outside of work.

“Appreciate being present gratefully and be thankful to those who have helped you get this far,” he said. “As you experience the rest of today do so with the same anticipation as that eight-year-old boy in back of this auditorium who so much just wanted to be on this stage, because he got so much more than he dreamed of. I have the same hope for you today that you get so much more than you ever dreamed possible.”

Whitney Murray, senior class representative, also spoke to the graduating class. She shared her experience studying abroad in Spain while attending McPherson College and encouraged students to “embrace change” and find opportunities to learn more about themselves.

A bachelor of science degree was also given posthumously to Braden Lee Bush, who would have graduated on Sunday. Bush was a member of the football team and passed away on June 16, 2017. A moment of silence was recognized in his honor.

The commencement ceremony concluded with Dr. Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, reminding the students of words he shared with them as freshmen – show up, and ask for help. He added one more piece of advice before sending them out.

“Use your education to take risks. There is a world full of people who will tell you no,” he said. “Put yourself out there and remember that McPherson College told you yes.”

Names of the graduating class of 2018, the commencement video, and photos of the day can be found at: www.mcpherson.edu/graduation.

McPherson College Adds eSports

For the newest sport at McPherson College you need to have quick reactions and make smart decisions, but not on a field or court. This sport is played on a computer keyboard.

McPherson College is introducing eSports to its co-curricular activities in fall 2018 and is currently recruiting students for the team. Richard Martin, co-owner of VillageGeek in McPherson, is the team coach. The college will field two teams that will compete in some of the largest games in eSports and anticipates 15 matches per year. A club team is being formed this spring to assist with tryouts and begin practicing for competition.

Joshua Hoerner, a freshman from Lindsborg, Kansas, who has been playing competitive video games since elementary school will compete on the new team. Hoerner said eSports was an important factor when looking for a college and is excited about being part of the new program at McPherson College.

“Like any team, one of the main benefits from joining is meeting new people and bonding together,” Hoerner said. “I’m also looking forward to watching the program grow. We have so much potential to be an amazing eSports program.”

The college team is a member of the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE), the equivalent of a sports conference like NAIA. The NACE develops the structure and tools needed to advance collegiate eSports at a varsity level. The association is laying the groundwork in areas such as eligibility, competition and scholarship. It is the only association for varsity eSports programs at the college level in the United States.

The McPherson College team will compete in the two largest games in eSports – Overwatch and League of Legends. Competition will be very similar to other sports with scheduled matches, seasons, and league standings. There is no travel required for this sport; all matches and practices will be held at the VillageGeek in a space that includes computers and a spectator area with four big screens for viewing.

“Last year at the Intel finals in Poland nearly 200,000 people attended to watch and 46 million people watched online,” Coach Martin said. “We hope our venue downtown will draw in people to watch the McPherson College team compete. Maybe not as many as the Intel finals, but hopefully the team will get a good fan following.”

Just like other sports, players will try-out for positions on the team and have the opportunity to receive scholarships. Martin anticipates recruiting 10 players for the first year. The only other college in the surrounding area to offer eSports is Kansas Wesleyan University. However, there are 45 colleges and universities competing in the NACE.

See more at: www.mcpherson.edu/esports

McPherson College Student Leads Alzheimer’s Awareness Effort

Alzheimer’s advocate Taylor Hutton a junior at MC

Taylor Hutton (left) with her mom before a Walk to End Alzheimer’s event in Wichita.

Despite just being 19 years old, Taylor Hutton, a junior from Wichita studying finance at McPherson College, has been an advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness for years. She hopes to raise awareness of the deadly disease on the McPherson College campus during Alzheimer’s Awareness Month in November.

Hutton will share Alzheimer’s facts with campus and collect signatures on cards of support that she will deliver to state and national lawmakers. Campus organizations will also raise funds through events like Pie the President and Holiday Bingo and plan on covering the campus with purple Alzheimer Awareness items. The primary goal of the activities will be to raise awareness and spread education about the disease.

“I seem to do this everywhere I go,” she said about her advocacy. After seeing all the efforts during October to raise awareness for cancer, Hutton reached out to sponsors of several campus organizations to see if there would be an interest in recognizing Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. She has coordinated awareness events at her high school, junior college, and now at McPherson College.

Hutton’s interest in Alzheimer’s is personal. Her grandmother was diagnosed at the age of 47 and passed away in 2002. Of her grandmother’s five children, four are affected by Alzheimer’s, including Hutton’s mother who was diagnosed at 49 years old. Hutton’s mother has been in long-term care for three years and was just recently put in hospice care.

“It’s very dominant in my family,” Hutton said. “I work to raise awareness at all levels so that my kids won’t have to go through what I did when I was 12 years old.”

Her advocacy was sparked in high school by people’s misperception and insensitivity about the disease. She started noticing jokes on social media and hearing classmates say things like only old people can get Alzheimer’s. But when she heard misinformation shared in a health class, she decided it was time to take action.

She started by designing and selling t-shirts and giving the proceeds to the local Walk to End Alzheimer’s event. Today she serves as an Ambassador for the Central and Western Kansas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and has attended two National Alzheimer’s Conferences in Washington, D.C. where she meets with lawmakers to share her story and advocate for increased funding for Alzheimer’s research. The first time she attended the National Conference, she had to acquire special permission because it was only open to people 18 years and older and she was just 17. She will attend her third conference this April and is scheduled to speak at the state conference in November where she will talk about support for caregivers.

“At twelve, no child should have to start parenting their parent and at nineteen nobody should have to look at their mom and see Alzheimer’s,” Hutton said.

She and one of her sisters also participate in a clinical study by the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network and has undergone a spinal tap, MRI, CAT scan, memory and motor skill tests to help researchers learn more about the disease.

Hutton hopes that her efforts to share her story and information about Alzheimer’s at McPherson College will encourage others to be better informed.

“Everybody will have a connection to this disease,” she said. “Even if it’s just through knowing me.”

McPherson College Welcomes Students From Congo

An initiative that seemed spontaneous a little more than a year ago has blossomed into a rewarding partnership for McPherson College and students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This fall 11 new students, all originally from the Congo, began classes at McPherson College joining five others who started classes last spring.

The effort to bring students from the Congo to McPherson College began in 2016 when Matondo Filawo visited the college. Mr. Matondo became acquainted with the college when he met President Michael Schneider while attending the University of Pennsylvania.

“Matondo was passionate about getting Congolese students into a small Christian school and he liked our career-focused approach. He showed up on campus one day and we started talking about how this might work,” President Schneider said.

A team of staff members assists the students through the McPherson College application process, the federal government visa process for students, as well as offers mentoring to help the students feel at home and to make connections with other students and alumni. The new partnership seems to be working so well that 10 more students are expected for the spring semester.

“It’s been a very positive experience for the college,” Christi Hopkins, vice president of enrollment services, said. “The Congolese students bring international diversity to our campus and give all of us an opportunity to learn about another culture.”

In return, McPherson College offers the students access to an education that would be difficult to obtain in their homeland, in a safe community, with the hope that the students will make a difference in the world after leaving McPherson College.

“I’ve come here for an education and to make my family proud,” Lionel Ibonga, a math and business major, said. “Our families have worked hard to get us here and we want to do well. That’s no different from other students.”

There are some challenges for the students, according to Jen Pollard who serves as a mentor for the students. Among them are the lack of travel and transportation options for the students, housing during break times and not having parents around to help get settled in.

“Definitely not having a car is a challenge,” Joyce Muhizi, a history and political science major, said. “Coming here and not having all the stuff you need to set up a dorm room can be hard. But everybody here was so welcoming and wanted to help. It’s nerve-racking coming to a place you’ve never even heard of, but the support from the college has been great.”

One thing that has not been a challenge has been the students’ interest in getting involved on campus. For example, Joyce served as a Student Engagement Activities Leaders during orientation this year. Additionally, the students speak and/or understand three to five languages and have not experienced any language barriers.

“These are confident, articulate, smart students and a real asset to our campus and community,” Pollard said.

Pollard said the college supports the students by scheduling regular trips to Wal-mart to help them get school supplies and arranges for rides to and from the airport. In addition, monthly cultural outings are planned for the students to learn more about Kansas and the culture here.

“It’s so fun to have them on campus,” President Schneider said. “Forget about where they are from, they are just great students.”

McPherson College Hosts Zumbathon

When looking for a fun service project that would have a positive impact on the community, McPherson College student Kylee Martin turned to her background in dance and came up with the idea of a Zumbathon.

McPherson College Student Activities Board will host its first-ever Zumbathon on Friday, October 6 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Lakeside Park to raise money for the Giving Hope Cancer Fund, established by Home State Bank through the McPherson County Community Foundation. All of the $15 registration fee to participate in the event will be donated to the fund.

Martin, who is a member of SAB and a licensed Zumba instructor said this was always something she has wanted to do.

“I have been involved in other service projects and it’s just such a good feeling to give back to the community,” she said. “I’ve been doing Zumba since I was a freshman in high school and after I got licensed as an instructor, I thought this would be a fun project to try.”

Participants can register online or at the event on Friday. The registration fee includes a t-shirt, snacks, beverages, prizes and three hours of Zumba. Other local and alumni Zumba instructors will join Martin in leading the routines. Booths will also be set up at the event including one for children to make their own t-shirts. The event is open to all ages and all levels of Zumba participants.

“We just hope lots of people will come out and support us. I hope it will catch on and be something we can continue for years,” she said. “Come out, get moving, and have some fun.”

To pre-register for the Zumbathon, go to Zumba.com and click on “find event” then go to Zumbathon Charity Event in McPherson. The event will be located at the northwest end of the park across from the water park. In case of bad weather, it will be held in the McPherson College gymnasium.

McPherson College Helps In Hurricane Relief Efforts

With clean up after Hurricane Harvey well underway and Hurricane Irma set to make landfall later this week, McPherson College students, faculty and staff are participating in several relief efforts organized by the Office of Spiritual Life & Service. On Friday, September 8 in the Maker’s Space (basement) of Miller Library from 1 to 5 p.m. the campus will assemble hygiene kits that will be distributed to emergency shelters.

McPherson College is donating the supplies for the kits, which are part of Church World Service’s response to the recent disaster. CWS has committed all of the roughly 140,000 hygiene kits that are in stock to Hurricane Harvey response. There will be a need to replenish the stock, especially if Hurricane Irma hits yet this week. Hygiene kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of disasters. Volunteers are encouraged to come for any amount of time on Friday to assemble the kits. They will be delivered to Wichita and then taken directly to a drop of site.

“We did a lot of research on charities and on what was really needed at this point,” Jen Jensen, director of spiritual life & service, said. “I wanted our community to be involved in activities that everybody could take part in, but also activities that would have a positive impact in the relief efforts. Regardless of how much time or money you have to offer, we tried to find ways to help.”

The college has also reached out to the roughly 20 students who attend McPherson College from the Houston area. “So far all of our students’ families seem to be in good shape,” Jensen said. “Some of the students’ homes have been impacted, but we haven’t heard of anyone in urgent need at this point.”

Other opportunities to support relief efforts include:

  • Donate school supplies – Items can be dropped off at the Spiritual Life & Service office in Miller Library from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 7 or at the Maker’s Space in Miller Library on Friday from 9 a.m to noon or 1 to 5 p.m. The items will be packaged and mailed to United Way for distribution to schools affected by Hurricane Harvey. “The need for school supplies will be great as school districts work quickly to return children to their daily routines,” Jensen said. “Even a few dollars will go a long way toward supplies on clearance right now.”

Support college students financially through #harveyHELP – Leaders from across higher education in Texas joined with the Communities Foundation of Texas to launch a crowdfunding campaign to give emergency aid packages to college students impacted by Hurricane Harvey to help them stay in school. According to Jensen, this program is being shared with colleges through ICUT, the Texas athletic conference equivalent to the KCAC. Donations can be made at the #harveyHELP GoFundMe page.

Improvements Welcome Students Back to McPherson College

When students arrive to McPherson College this fall, they will be greeted with several updates across campus.

Most noticeable might be the improvements made as students arrive to campus via Gordon Street. The street was completely reconstructed with new curbs, gutters, drain boxes, a concrete surface, and was widen by several feet. Also welcoming students and visitors to campus is the first phase of the campus sign at the front entrance. The two-story structure features three arches and will eventually include a bricked courtyard, bench and low wall with “McPherson College” prominently displayed. The stone and brick work is set to begin and completion is anticipated in October.

Campus safety was improved over the summer with the installation of a keyless entry system in residence halls, the sports center, and other buildings across campus. Additional buildings will be upgraded in the future. Interior improvements were also made in Friendship Hall where carpet on walls was replaced with a new material called Acousticord; new anti-microbial, abrasion and chemical resistant flooring was installed in Metzler Hall; and new furniture was placed in Bittinger Hall.

Other, less obvious improvements, include the completion of a $7.4 million energy improvement project that replaced older steam heat boilers in campus buildings with hot water boilers making climate control safer and easier to control. Additionally, the improvements are expected to save at least $90,000 per year in utility costs.

“This is one of those project that you’re not going to see when you walk down the sidewalk, but it will serve us well into the future,” Marty Sigwing, director of facilities at McPherson College, said.

Construction also began this summer on the new Bulldog Park baseball/softball complex. The new facility is expected to be complete by the home opener in February. Improvements to the McPherson Stadium continue with the construction of a ticket booth, which will be complete by the time students return to campus.