For McPherson College’s Class of 2030, the college search was about more than academics. They looked for a place where scholarship, participation, and service go hand in hand, and they found that fit in a community committed to preparing students for purposeful careers and lives.
The class of 405 students is the largest new-student class in the college’s history. They come from 41 states and 12 countries. Eighty-five students come from Kansas and four are legacy students. Overall student enrollment is expected to reach 920 students this year.
Many in the new class are members of the National Honor Society with an average GPA of 3.3. Some have completed extensive research in areas such as climate change, hydrogen engines, forensics, engineering, agriculture, and the effects of AI on the environment. Others explored their academic curiosity through job shadowing and internships at elementary and middle schools, clinics, hospitals, doctors’ offices, a newspaper, a graphic design firm, family businesses, a fire department, an airplane manufacturer, and other organizations.
The new class participated as student-athletes in high school, and more than 300 will participate on McPherson College teams. They were team captains, district and state champions, MVPs and record setters. Some participated in unique sports like sabre fencing, archery, lacrosse, sand volleyball, and martial arts. Others participated in high school and community organizations, including a few Eagle Scouts.
The Class of 2030 raised money for charities, fed homeless people, coached kids, and protected the environment, all while balancing school and jobs. Most students worked during high school in restaurants and retail, as umpires and lifeguards, babysitters, baristas, and bank clerks. There were also entrepreneurs who owned their own businesses, such landscaping, trading and reselling, window washing, dog washing, car cleaning and detailing, and an Etsy nail tech.
They grew up with fidget spinners, LOL Surprise Dolls, Mario Kart, and TikTok dances. They have watched LeBron, Steph, Messi, and Ronaldo play sports and followed MrBeast, Emma Chamberlain, and Dude Perfect on social media. Cryptocurrency is as old as they are.
This class grew up with Taylor Swift on the radio, YouTube creators on their screens, and smartphones in their pockets. They are true digital natives, never knowing a world without apps. They watched “Frozen,” played Minecraft, learned through a pandemic, and arrived at McPherson College just as artificial intelligence begins reshaping the world.
Their generation has already adapted to remarkable change and now they’re ready for what’s next.
Some more interesting facts about the Class of 2030:
- Some worked at Whataburger, Smoothie King, at Globe Life Field, a jump park, and a funeral home
- Was a winery tasting room assistant
- Made homemade meals for sale
- Was the high school mascot
- Some were members of the crochet club, garden club, fishing club, and aviation club
- Some participated in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, UNICEF, and 4-H
- Was a drum major
- Helped build a philanthropic week that raised money for a local nonprofit
- Raised money for young girls to attend basketball camp
- Raised over $25,000 for the American Heart Association
- Created a community closet
- Raised awareness about period poverty
- Coordinated a food drive for a homeless shelter
- Developed a school newscast
- Worked on landscaping at a mental retreat for veterans
- Rehomed dogs
- Coached kindergarten soccer
- Was a volunteer firefighter
- Participated in walkouts to protest gun violence and ICE actions
- Was a camp counselor
- Created a pop-up dance class
- Created menus for the school’s bistro
- Founded a high school auto race
- Created a safe-driving initiative after a friend’s fatal car crash
- Involved in restoring a B-17G Bomber from WWII
- Raised $50,000 to start a trap shooting club
- Raised awareness about teen dating violence
- Helped with Thanksgiving dinners at a crisis center
- Volunteered with the Special Olympics
- Founded an aviation club
- Partnered with local schools to provide free swimming lessons
- Is a WWII reenactor
- Placed first in West Coast Swing competition
- Plays Futsal (an indoor sport like football and soccer)
- Is a pilot
- Makes costumes for cosplay
- Played on a state championship football team in Germany
- Hobbies include dirt biking, chess, baking, sewing, Star Wars, collecting and building Lego sets, beatboxing, collecting CDs, collecting and painting Hot Wheels, writing short stories, pickleball, blacksmithing, collecting military antiques, roller skating
- Had perfect attendance all four years of high school
- Is a triplet
- Is a twin born on Valentine’s Day
- Accumulated 625 volunteer hours during high school
- Has visited 12 countries
- Writes music
- Broke an arm twice
- Competed in national 4-H archery
- Born and raised in Alaska
- Can do a backflip
- Can recite the alphabet backwards
- Has a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo
- Cannot ride a bike
- Is one of seven siblings
- Has a pet bulldog