MC 2026 Young Alumni recipients (l to r): Emily Tyler, Amanda and Peter Samland, Casey Maxon.
Each year, McPherson College recognizes the accomplishments of young alumni during the Honors Convocation at Homecoming. This year, the three alumni receiving Young Alumni Awards on Oct. 2 in a ceremony at the Wise Campus Commons were Emily Tyler ’03, Peter and Amanda Samland ’03, and Casey Maxon ’13.
The Young Alumni Award recognizes the achievements and lifelong potential for accomplishment of the college’s younger alumni. The award is given to alumni who demonstrate commitment to and achievement in their profession, serve others or their church, and actively support McPherson College.
Emily Tyler, Bloomingdale, Illinois
Emily Tyler is the director of development for Food for Greater Elgin in Elgin, Illinois. In her role, she has exceeded fundraising goals and coordinated major event campaigns to raise a $1.4 million operational budget. Throughout her career, she has used her strong organizational and communication skills to build meaningful donor relationships as the membership and communication specialist for the Association of Professional Chaplains, director of Brethren Volunteer Service, and coordinator of workcamps and volunteer recruitment for the Church of the Brethren.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from McPherson College and taught music for Peoria Unified School District in Peoria, Arizona.
For more than 10 years, she served as a board member for Camp Colorado and in Brethren Volunteer Service, where she coordinated the 2006 National Youth Conference for 3,200 youths and their adult advisors. She has also volunteered as a mentor for the McPherson College Student Debt Project.
A third-generation McPherson College graduate, Tyler shows her support for the college through generous charitable giving. She is a member of the President’s Giving Club and a loyal contributor to Power Day, the college’s annual giving day.
Peter and Amanda Samland, Denver, Colorado
Peter Samland is the senior director for platform engineering and operations at Flexential in Centennial, Colorado. He has been a web developer, performance analyst, and senior IT leader for more than 20 years. He studied for a master’s degree in computer science at Kansas State University and graduated from McPherson College with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and philosophy and religion.
Amanda Samland is the head librarian at Regis Jesuit High School in Denver. She previously served as library services coordinator for Denver Public Schools and was the reference and instruction librarian at Johnson & Wales University in Denver. She earned a master’s degree in library and information science from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in accounting from McPherson College.
They are active volunteers in their community. Amanda volunteers at Prince of Peace Church of the Brethren. She was the president and an executive board member of the parent-teacher organization at McMeen Elementary School and serves as a juror for the Colorado Humanities and the Colorado Association of Libraries book awards. Peter is the properties chair for the Camp Colorado Board.
Casey Maxon, Berryton, Kansas
Casey Maxon is an automotive historian, historic preservation professional, documentary filmmaker, and photographer. As the director of heritage for Hagerty, he manages the nonprofit Hagerty Drivers Foundation’s work to celebrate, preserve, and fund automotive culture and heritage.
After graduating from McPherson College with a bachelor’s degree in automotive restoration technology: history emphasis, he helped develop the National Historic Vehicle Register through Hagerty’s Historic Vehicle Association, now the Hagerty Drivers Foundation. The Register, administered in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Heritage Documentation Programs, helps preserve the history of notable vehicles and automotive culture. Maxon and his colleagues identify and document vehicles that represent all facets of American culture and automotive history. Their research is archived at the Library of Congress.
As a member of the McPherson College National Advisory Board for Automotive Restoration, Maxon established the Scholars of Promise scholarship program and supports it through his personal giving. He also regularly volunteers at the Wakarusa River Valley Museum of Heritage, helping with events, museum maintenance, and exhibit changeovers.