Academics Archives

Posted On: November 24, 2025
By: MC Admin

Students at McPherson College will now have the opportunity to begin working toward master’s degrees in two health care fields through a new partnership with Kansas State University.

The agreement allows eligible McPherson College undergraduates to take graduate-level courses at K-State that can count toward both their bachelor’s degree at McPherson College and a master’s degree at K-State in either Kinesiology or Public Health.

“With the growing demand for healthcare professionals with graduate credentials in both of these fields, students who take advantage of this agreement will be well positioned for today’s health care job market,” said Aaron Meis, executive vice president.

Eligible students may apply to the program before the end of their junior year. Once accepted, they can take up to nine hours of approved graduate-level courses in kinesiology or public health as non-degree-seeking graduate students, starting in the summer between their junior and senior years. At graduation, students can formally apply for admission to the K-State masters programs.

“This partnership exemplifies our land-grant mission and Next Gen K-State vision by expanding access to advanced education for Kansas students,” said Margaret Mohr-Schroeder, vice provost for academic affairs at K-State. “By creating a seamless pathway, we are addressing critical workforce needs in healthcare while providing students with an unparalleled opportunity to accelerate their careers and serve communities across the state.”

Details about the program are at https://www.mcpherson.edu/programs/health-science/ksu-graduate-courses/.

Posted On: November 11, 2025
By: MC Admin

A group of McPherson College students is taking their educational game nationwide with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign that will support large-scale production. Funds raised will help stock the game for retail and online sales, broadening its impact and creating more opportunities for student involvement across campus.

Students in the spring 2025 Stewardship Seminar, taught by Dr. Dustin Wilgers, professor of biology, developed the game EcoPyramid, which is based on a visual model representing the structure of an ecosystem. The project recently received a $10,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Chickadee Checkoff program to help distribute the game to every school district in Kansas. Initial support came from a McPherson College Horizon Fund grant for entrepreneurship.

The Kickstarter campaign aims to raise funds to grow inventory for retail sales and to involve students from the college’s business and accounting programs in managing the business aspects of the project. Students from the graphic design and teacher education programs have already contributed to the game’s design and created educational materials based on the game that support science activities in elementary and middle school classrooms.

“Every part of this game has been and will continue to be student-designed,” said Wilgers. “The wonderful part of this game is that it was meant to be educational for the players, but the process has ended up being just as impactful on the student creators’ college educational experience.”

Inspired by nature, EcoPryamid is designed to be both educational and engaging. Students spent hundreds of hours refining the wording, art concepts, and gameplay through testing at elementary schools, summer programs, and a gaming event.

Each game set includes four decks representing distinct ecosystems — Yellowstone, Prairie, Amazon, and Ocean. Players use their own deck of cards to build a trophic pyramid while strategically disrupting their opponents’ pyramids with unique action cards. Each card features detailed graphics and fun facts about the ecosystems.

The campaign’s goal is to raise $2,300, with any additional funds used to produce more decks for inventory. Supporters can purchase a boxed starter set of EcoPyramid by going to www.kickstarter.com/projects/dustinwilgers/ecopyramid. All pre-orders will be fulfilled and shipped in early February. The campaign runs through December 14.

Posted On: November 4, 2025
By: MC Admin

An educational game created by McPherson College students to help children explore ecosystems is getting statewide, and soon national, attention. A grant of $10,000 from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Chickadee Check-Off program will fund efforts to bring the game to every school district in Kansas as students begin to raise funds for national distribution.

Students in the spring 2025 Stewardship Seminar, taught by Dr. Dustin Wilgers, professor of biology, developed the game EcoPyramid, which is based on a visual model representing the structure of an ecosystem. Each level of the pyramid represents different components essential to maintaining a healthy environment.

“Once the class decided on a topic and the idea for the game, it snowballed from there,” Wilgers said. “The students were really excited to get to class and discuss how the game would be played.”

Six students spent about a month developing the game, drawing inspiration from a variety of popular card games. Players use their own deck of cards to build a trophic pyramid while disrupting their opponents’ pyramids with unique action cards. Designed for two to four players, the interactive, fast-paced card game aims to be both fun and educational.

“The students really homed in on the idea of community ecology topics that are fun but important in understanding how ecosystems and communities are structured,” Wilgers said. “We ended up coming up with the idea of building a pyramid where each action connects the levels of the pyramid. We integrated real-world impacts on ecosystems with cards representing things that cause ecosystems to crumble and things that build them up and protect them.”

The first deck developed represented the Yellowstone ecosystem. Eventually, there will be four decks based on different environments. Players can choose any deck and build an ecosystem using their own cards. Students spent hours refining the wording, art concepts, and testing the game. A student from the graphic design department helped finalize the artwork for each deck, and students in the teacher education program assisted with classroom testing.

In addition to testing the game in a local elementary school, the students showcased EcoPyramid at a campus gaming event last spring, a children’s summer program at the Hutchinson Zoo, and received feedback from the gamification department at Kansas State University.

The project has extended far beyond the original class. Students have spent hundreds of hours testing and refining their idea, continuing to work on it through the summer and into the fall semester.

“While I was a camp counselor this summer, I tested the game with third through fifth graders who loved it,” said Amanda Goering, one of the students continuing to develop the game. “I’m still working on EcoPyramid because I was inspired by them to create a game that is fun and educational. I hope someday the game is in every classroom across the U.S.”

A Horizon Fund grant from McPherson College supported the initial work, and the Chickadee Checkoff grant will fund the printing of 750 decks for distribution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and to Kansas school districts. The students and Wilgers plan to launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund printing additional decks for a national audience.

Posted On: September 29, 2025
By: MC Admin

McPherson College announces the recipients of the 2025-26 Teaching Awards. The awards are presented at the annual Honors Convocation held during Homecoming. This year’s recipients are Professors Lara Schoming and Lindsey Godfrey.

Students and faculty submitted hundreds of nominations that identified more than 30 faculty for the awards. A committee of students and last year’s teaching award recipients reviewed the nominations and selected one tenured faculty member and one non-tenured faculty member to receive the awards.

This year’s non-tenured award recipient, Professor Lara Schoming, is an assistant professor of education. Despite being relatively new to McPherson College Professor Schoming has already made a tremendous impact on students.

Within the past year, she has brought a new level of energy and enthusiasm to the department and spearheaded a program that allows elementary education students to learn and apply their skills in a real-world classroom at Eisenhower Elementary School in McPherson.

In her nomination, students commented on her passion for education. One commentor said, “This teacher always comes to class with interactive lessons for students, so they get the most out of every single class.”

Lindsey Godfrey, associate professor of business, received the tenured faculty teaching award. She was nominated by students and colleagues for her commitment to learning and support of others around her. Student nominations included comments such as amazing professor and wonderful advisor.

“She is dedicated to her craft as an educator,” said one colleague. “Additionally, her ability to organize students’ activities and club events enhances the student experience by getting them outside the classroom with an opportunity to see the bigger picture.”

Posted On: September 11, 2025
By: MC Admin

A new partnership with the University of Kansas School of Nursing will make it possible for McPherson College students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, with courses beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. The collaboration strengthens McPherson College’s commitment to addressing healthcare needs in rural Kansas.

“McPherson College and the University of Kansas School of Nursing share the same goal of educating healthcare professionals to support the workforce needs of rural Kansas,” said McPherson College Executive Vice President Aaron Meis. “A critical nursing workforce shortage exists in many rural Kansas communities. Our collaboration with KU School of Nursing’s Salina campus will educate nurses interested in and committed to serving in rural settings, including those like the McPherson Center for Health.”

Students enrolling in the program will complete 60 credits of prerequisite nursing courses at the McPherson campus. They will be eligible for guaranteed admissions into the KU nursing program and complete the remaining 60 credits of nursing courses at the KU campus in Salina and online, while remaining at McPherson College. Nursing degrees will be awarded by KU.

“This program is designed for students interested in studying nursing at a strong, well-resourced public institution while retaining a small, residential liberal arts college experience,” Meis said.

Clinical experiences will be available at healthcare agencies located in rural communities, including Salina and McPherson.

“The KU School of Nursing is excited to partner with McPherson College to help more central Kansas students become nurses,” said Jean Foret Giddens, Ph.D., FAAN, dean of KU School of Nursing. “Our Salina campus community is ready to welcome, educate, and graduate nurses prepared to practice in rural communities and beyond.”

A report published last fall by the Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, found a direct correlation between the number of nurses per 1,000 residents and county health outcome rankings. “The number of nurses matters to the health and well-being of Kansans,” the report stated.

The report anticipates continued nursing shortages as 29% of registered nurses and 23% of licensed practical nurses in Kansas are planning to retire within the next five years, and enrollment in nursing education programs is down 39% over the past 10 years. Additionally, the Kansas Department of Labor predicts the state will need more than 28,000 nursing assistants, 18,000 registered nurses, and 6,000 home health aids in 2026.

Posted On: August 26, 2025
By: MC Admin

Dr. Molly Brown

Dr. Molly Brown brings extensive experience in community health to her new role as director of healthcare initiatives at McPherson College. In this newly created position, she will focus on expanding degree programs and career experiences to meet the growing demand for healthcare professionals in rural Kansas. Her work will also involve strengthening partnerships and promoting awareness of the program across the state.

“My experience with program development, evaluation, teaching, and workforce development supports the goals of the college’s strategic plan for health sciences and will lend to success of enhancing and growing healthcare initiatives for both students and rural communities,” Brown said. “I approach development from a systems perspective and believe true collaborative approaches are integral to long-term success.”

Brown began her career as an EMT in an emergency department in New Mexico and transitioned away from direct patient care into health education as a student at UNLV in Nevada. After moving to Kansas in 2008, she went on to gain experience with local health departments and state health organizations, eventually moving into leadership roles in higher education. She holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Kansas School of Medicine and a doctorate in community psychology from Wichita State University.

Her community health background includes work in health education at the Reno County Health Department, managing various local and state funding to implement prevention programs, later moving to an administrative role leading initiatives in environmental health, emergency preparedness, WIC, and health promotion. She moved on to leadership roles at the University of Kansas Medical Center and Wichita State University, where her focus included developing community health programs, expanding student experiential learning opportunities, growing grant support, and implementing interprofessional education. Most recently, she served as director of the Heartland Telehealth Resource Center, advancing telehealth education and workforce development in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

This summer, McPherson College began renovations to Melhorn Science Hall, expanding laboratory space and upgrading equipment with $2.1 million in congressionally directed funding secured by U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran. Enhancements include updated biology, chemistry, and computer labs and a new exercise science lab with innovative equipment and technology, including Anatomage tables — state-of-art 3D virtual dissection and anatomy learning tools.

Since launching its health science and healthcare management degree in 2020, McPherson College has partnered with the McPherson Center for Health to provide unprecedented access to all hospital departments and professionals, allowing students to explore both clinical and non-clinical careers. New partnerships with the McPherson YMCA and the University of Kansas School of Medicine further expand learning and career opportunities in the healthcare field.

“The health science and healthcare management programs are in a position to grow in ways that align with the workforce needs in Kansas and the region,” Brown said. “My interest in working collaboratively with rural health organizations to build educational opportunities for students is what attracted me to this role. Expanding education and workforce opportunities to rural communities is integral to building access to health care in areas it is needed. I aim to continue building on the already established partnerships to ensure students have access to applied learning opportunities.”

Posted On: August 21, 2025
By: MC Admin

McPherson College professor and students discussing anatomy using advanced real-human-digital 3-D technology.

The Higher Learning Commission recently approved McPherson College to offer a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science starting in August 2026. The degree further diversifies the college’s academic offerings and builds on the existing strengths in the health science and sports studies programs, aligning with the mission to foster advances in rural and community health.

Designed to meet the growing demand among college-bound students for careers in health, fitness, and sports-related fields, the program will offer two areas of emphasis: strength and conditioning or exercise physiology.

“The program will prepare students for roles in fitness assessment, athletic performance, rehabilitation, and preventative healthcare,” said Dr. Austin McCulloch, assistant professor and chair of the Health and Sports Studies Department. “There is strong demand both locally and regionally for skilled professionals in health and wellness.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in strength and conditioning is projected to grow by 14% over the next decade, while jobs in exercise physiology are expected to increase by 10%. Graduates will be prepared for diverse career paths in sports performance, clinical rehabilitation, corporate wellness, and preventative healthcare.

Students will benefit from newly renovated lab spaces in Melhorn Science Hall. Significant enhancements to the spaces and equipment were made possible through $2.1 million of congressionally directed funding secured by Sen. Jerry Moran to support the college’s rural and community health initiative.

“Adding this program broadens our healthcare offerings and provides students with multiple academic and career pathways,” said Dr. Molly Brown, director of healthcare initiatives. “It also helps meet the staffing needs of local healthcare providers seeking well-trained professionals.”

McPherson College will pursue accreditation through the Council on Accreditation of Strength and Conditioning Education and the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences, leading organizations in academic program accreditation. The college also plans to continue working with local partners, such as the McPherson YMCA, to provide hands-on learning experiences and career pathways in the health and fitness industry.

Posted On: August 6, 2025
By: MC Admin

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) reaffirmed McPherson College’s accreditation following the June meeting of its Institutional Actions Council. As part of the reaffirmation, the HLC invited the college to pursue the Open Pathway for its next 10-year accreditation cycle — signaling confidence in the college’s ability to meet its mission and maintain high institutional standards.

The Open Pathway allows institutions to focus on innovation and strategic initiatives as part of their accreditation process. Institutions on this pathway typically undergo a virtual assurance review in year four and then choose and implement a Quality Initiative project between year five and nine, concluding with a comprehensive evaluation in year 10.

“We are excited to join the HLC Open Pathway,” said Matt Skillen, vice president for academic affairs. “This new accreditation pathway will allow us to align our ongoing work in accreditation with our ambitious strategic initiatives.”

McPherson College completed its most recent 10-year accreditation review during the 2024-25 academic year, culminating in a peer review team visit in April. The next full accreditation review is scheduled for the 2034-35 academic year.

Preparation for the review was a significant institutional effort, involving the creation of a more than 35,000-word assurance argument supported by nearly 500 pieces of evidence. The argument demonstrated how the college meets HLC’s five core criteria for accreditation: institutional mission, ethical and responsible conduct, quality of teaching and learning, and institutional effectiveness.

“The preparation for this comprehensive accreditation review was a remarkable campus-wide effort,” said Sandra Hiebert, director of institutional assessment and academic compliance. “Dozens of faculty, staff, and students contributed to the assurance argument and prepared the campus for our site visit team. We had confidence going into the site visit because everyone on campus was engaged and excited to share our college’s story with our accreditors.”

McPherson College is among the 950 colleges and universities accredited by the HLC and has maintained continuous accreditation since 1921. The HLC accredits degree-granting institutions across the United States and ensures they meet rigorous standards for mission, integrity, educational quality, and resources.

Posted On: May 20, 2025
By: MC Admin

McPherson College recognizes its highest academic achievers in the spring 2025 Honor Roll and Honorable Mention. Students must be full-time and earn a grade point average of 3.55 or higher during the last term to qualify for the Honor Roll. Students earning a grade point average from 3.25 to 3.54 are named to the Honorable Mention Roll.

Students earning a 4.0 GPA for spring 2025 include:

Lyla Anderson, Dublin, TX
Jonavan Asuncion, Mission Viejo, CA
Darril Baty, Sharpsville, IN
Joanna Bejar, Saratoga, CA
Samantha Bennett, North Richland Hills, TX
Stewart Bishop, Manhattan, KS
Marissa Bogholtz, Nassau, NY
Ava Bolin, Roff, OK
Lucy Bowman, McPherson, KS
Katelynn Brogan, Auburn, KS
Maxwell Brucks, Columbia, MO
Jack Carpenter, Weatherford, TX
Kaycee Carter, Rocklin, CA
Canon Cavanaugh, Hutchinson, KS
Reagan Chapman, Coahoma, TX
Tate Collison, Pierce, NE
April Conilogue, Longmont, CO
Wyatt Conklin, Topeka, KS
Kenzie Cooper, Wamego, KS
Mason Cox, Boerne, TX
Ryan Cox, Canyon, TX
Mikayla Craver, Topeka, KS
Leann Dalinghaus, Seneca, KS
Marcello Dean, Placerville, CA
Dyron Dixon, Leander, TX
Alyssa Dixon, Celeste, TX
Kevin Dodd, Tecumseh, OK
Noah Durham, Winona, MS
C Eaheart, Harper, TX
Isabella Ellerbee, Winston, GA
Aaron Elvin-Temple, Lindsborg, KS
Jessa Ethridge, Dumas, TX
Enya Fierens, Lubbeek, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Trey Fredrickson, Highlands Ranch, CO
Caitlynn Frost, Wichita, KS
Alexandria Garcia, Enid, OK
Matthew Garcia, Spring, TX
Maddison Gorman, Hutchinson, KS
Jacob Guignard, Oakdale, CA
Laura Guillamat-Ribo, Platte City, MO
Chloe Guzman, New Braunfels, TX
Logan Hamilton, Claremore, OK
Caden Hardgrave, McPherson, KS
Arianna Harlan, Derby, KS
Ryan Harris, Boring, OR
Ky-Le Heim, Comptche, CA
Addie Heitschmidt, Lindsborg, KS
Pia Hinricher, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Vanessa Hofer, Innsbruck, Austria
Julius Howard, Denver, CO
Miranda Hunt, McKenna, WA
Zoe Jerke, Great Bend, KS
Daniela Jimenez Paz, Bogota, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Evan Kemp, Bolivar, MO
Ilias Khan, Peachtree, GA
Stephanie Ko, McPherson, KS
Simon Koontz, North Newton, KS
Trey Kysiak, Ponder, TX
Noah Landever, Shawnee Mission, KS
Sidney Larrew, Swink, CO
Elijah Leck, McPherson, KS
Landri Lopez, Platte City, MO
Lauren Machado, Elizabeth, CO
Parker Martin, Skiatook, OK
Kenya McCain, Plano, TX
Claire McCullough, Salina, KS
Henry McDonough, Tucson, AZ
Ellery McMurry, Greensburg, KS
Paige Miltenberger, Wildwood, MO
Molly Minster, Slidell, LA
Jayla Moore, Forney, TX
Brianna Morales, Newton, KS
Meghan Morris, Burleson, TX
Eduardo Muller Morschel, Ivoti, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Arthur Nardy, Eauze, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Marcus Nardy, Eauze, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Gracie Nelson, McPherson, KS
Noah Nix, Eustis, FL
Garrett O’Connor, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Carolina Oliveira, Santa Maria Da Feira, Portugal
Lorenzo Orlandi, Tavernelle, Umbria, Italy
Tayton Ornelas, Kismet, KS
Ashlee Oster, Wichita, KS
Mason Patrick, Fairborn, OH
Emily Peterson, Canton, KS
Caleb Pezold, Mokane, MO
Malia Pfeiff, Moundridge, KS
Connor Powers, Des Plaines, IL
Parker Roberts, Carbondale, KS
Savannah Robles, Irving, TX
Melissa Rogers, Corpus Christi, TX
Kourtnie Rohn, Holden, MO
Hayden Russell, Melrose, MA
Philip Schieffelin, Limon, CO
Brooklyn Skinner, Jenks, OK
Tegyn Smeltzer, Derby, KS
Charles Smith, Miami, TX
Aysia Smithhisler, Spring Hill, KS
Jamie Sparks, McPherson, KS
Gracie Speltz, Mansfield, TX
Taylor Starr, Milford, KS
Kaylee Stegora, Monticello, MN
Jonathan Tatum, Ore City, TX
Balazs Temesvari, Budaörs,, Hungary
Thomas Tencer, Seattle, WA
Noah Ryan Thomas, Delta V4K 4B8, Canada
Marie Laureen Anna Everdina van Drunen, Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands
Roxana Varela Parra, Medelin, Antioquia, Colombia
Christopher Wagner, Maple Valley, WA
Courtney Ward, Weatherford, TX
Jayson Wasserfuhr, Erftstadt, North Rhine-W, Germany
Mandra Wenzl, Wichita, KS
Veronyca West, Lewisville, TX
Maddie Willison, Buhler, KS
Jacob Winters, Lynchburg, VA
Hali Wolke, Wichita, KS
Logan Wonser, Goessel, KS
Luke Wood, Shawnee Mission, KS
Kayla Wood, Longmont, CO
Val Zarkh, Hawthorn Wds, IL

Students named to the McPherson College Honor Roll for spring 2025 include:

Brent Aamodt, Valley Center, KS
Niraj Adhikari, Round Rock, TX
Kara Alexander, Mason Hall, Eastern Toba, Trinidad and Tobago
Lindzie Archer, McPherson, KS
Faith Askin, Springfield, MO
Nathan Bailey, Ferndale, WA
Stephan Quentin Baofa Bilambo, Kinshasa-Ngaliema, Congo
Kennedy Batchelder, Bishop, CA
Sadie Bell, Winter Park, FL
Olivia Bell, North Las Vegas, NV
Seid Benak, Highlands Ranch, CO
Taylor Berkheimer, Ault, CO
Mackenzie Birch, Topeka, KS
Maelynne Bonner, Tonganoxie, KS
Ryan Boosman, McPherson, KS
Celien Botlan, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Az, France
Emma Brackbill, Pawnee Rock, KS
Tate Brewer, McPherson, KS
Oscar Brouwer, Groningen, Netherlands
Edwin Buiter, Ireton, IA
Marcus Burton, Oklahoma City, OK
Fabian Camacho, Liberal, KS
Mason Cato, Wichita, KS
Arian Cervoni Ortiz, Conroe, TX
Kade Chapman, Sayre, OK
Abigail Coe, Charleston, SC
Lheanne Collantes, Sacramento, CA
Hannah Cooley, Olathe, KS
Jara Davidson, Lakin, KS
Aeneas Davis, Las Vegas, NV
Andrew Dehn, Orange Grove, TX
Seth Dennis, Morrison, OK
Arianna Diaz, Houston, TX
Katie Dix, McPherson, KS
Calvin Doyle, Brighton, CO
Jaden Ediger, Galva, KS
Alyssa Espinoza, Galva, KS
Petra Fernandez Garcia, Ituzaingo,, Argentina
Danica Floyd, Kinsley, KS
William Foote, Roosevelt, UT
Tyler Foster, Derby, KS
Ian Foster, Wichita, KS
Hayden Fry, Cushing, OK
Nathaniel Gaut, Scottdale, PA
Kierstyn Gilbert, Salina, KS
Alexander Gillispie, Pueblo, CO
Amanda Goering, Hutchinson, KS
Margarida Gomes De Almeida, Queijas, Lisbon, Portugal
Brooklyn Gosvener, Lucas, KS
Melaney Granados, Cactus, TX
Jake Hardin, Derby, KS
Jonathan Harding, Mount Crawford, VA
Alaina Harkins, Edmond, OK
Zachary Hawley, Meade, KS
Natalie Henning, Weatherford, TX
Anna Howard, Calgary, AB, Canada
Isaiah Hunter, Leawood, KS
Christopher Jackson, Holliday, TX
Carlos Jacobo, Great Bend, KS
Tashawn Justice, Waller, TX
Andrew Kemp, Smyrna, GA
Nicholas King, Lafayette, IN
Jackson Kiser, New Castle, CO
Effie Kolb, Hugoton, KS
Ryder Konczak, Longview, TX
Cody Kuss, Bremerton, WA
Aden Langham, Bedford, TX
Travis Leasure, Junction City, KS
Aubrey Leyba, Glendale, AZ
Cesar Lopez, San Antonio, TX
Rhyan Lucas, Shawnee, KS
Campbell Lyons, Whitby, ON, Canada
Seth Madron, McPherson, KS
Oscar Martinez, Lyford, TX
Sebastian Marwah, Clay Center, KS
Mackenzie McEachron, Kansas City, KS
Evan McGoldrick, Flower Mound, TX
Celeste McMillen, Kittanning, PA
Xander McNitt, Denver, CO
Dallin McQuigg, Castle Rock, CO
Carlos Mendez, Eagle Pass, TX
Trenton Miller, Elizabeth, CO
Jack Mintz, Agoura Hills, CA
Brianna Mitchell, Wellsville, KS
Major Moore, Justin, TX
Simon Mulumba Mukadi, Kinshasa, Congo
Reilly Murphy, Whitehall, MI
Raegan Murphy, Whitehall, MI
Cash Nab, Fleming, CO
Kamryn Nolan, Mulvane, KS
London Norris, Arkansas City, KS
Adysen Norton, Hutchinson, KS
Macyn Olson, Meade, KS
Hunter Ormond, West Palm Beach, FL
Owen Phillips, Wilmington, NC
Allyson Pierce, Wichita, KS
David Poll, Byron Center, MI
Carly Pomrenke, Brighton, CO
Hunter Powell, Lyons, CO
Tyler Powell, Cypress, TX
Kenneth Ray, San Antonio, TX
Mathieu Rocha, Lubbock, TX
Tre Ruffin, Junction City, KS
Alena Rupp, Wamego, KS
Santiago Salas, Chula Vista, CA
Cheyn Sanders, Tempe, AZ
Luisina Sandrone Tais, Villa Nueva, Cordoba, Argentina
Braden Schiffner, Denver, CO
Isaac Schneider, Tribune, KS
Logan Scott, Caulfield, MO
Cara Shultz, Kingman, KS
Ernest Skehan, Waynesboro, PA
Allyson Slaback, Cypress, TX
Hannah Smalley, Hutchinson, KS
Wyatt Smith, Pilot Point, TX
Charles Snyder, Salina, KS
Jack Southern, Wagoner, OK
Sarah Stebbins, Pittsburg, KS
Joseph Stefanese, Rockaway, NJ
Natalie Street, Galva, KS
Tijs Stumphius, s-Hertogenbosch, North B, Netherlands
Blake Swingle, Columbus, OH
Charles Taishoff, McLean, VA
Ky’rell Taylor, Junction City, KS
Grant Thimmesch, Inman, KS
Genesis Thompson, Elgin, TX
Ashanti Thompson, Phoenix, AZ
Ryan Thornton, Nicholasville, KY
Dominique Valdez, Denver, CO
Sijmen Cornelis Wytse van der Zee, Amersfoort, Utrecht, Netherlands
Elias Vasquez, Irving, TX
Hadley Waldren, Hutchinson, KS
Johanna Walker, Franklin, KS
Brayden Walters, Canon City, CO
Katie Warden, McGregor, TX
Jonathan Wille, Manhattan, KS
Corvus Williams, Clay Center, KS
Olivia Williams, Lawrence, KS
Labron Wilson, Freeport, Bahamas
Alexis Wolfe, Alma, NE
Mason Woodward, Charlotte, NC
Tuyee Yang, Fresno, CA
Collin Young, Garland, TX

Students named to the McPherson College Honorable Mention for spring 2025 include:

Dario Alvarez, Hialeah, FL
Mackenzy Angle, Wichita, KS
Gavin Barnett, Canton, KS
Dominique Bell, Grand Prairie, TX
Levi Betts, Washburn, MO
Sarah Bliss, Thornton, CO
Matthew Bomersback, Kirkland, QC, Canada
Nikola Boris, Kent, WA
Felix Bravo, Hanford, CA
Christian Brown, Melissa, TX
Ethan Buettner, Chesterfield, MO
Traie Buhler, Cedar City, UT
Quentin Burgess, Oklahoma City, OK
Benjamin Calvin, Memphis, TN
Nathaniel Campbell, Bel Aire, KS
Jacob Campbell-Roberson, Nyack, NY
Michael Christensen, Idaho Falls, ID
Donovan Costello, Miami, FL
Christopher Cox, Thornton, TX
Joseph Cyr, Saint Louis, MO
Brayton Dewell, Fowler, KS
Natalie Dicksion, Lexington, OK
Dominic Essumang, Kumasi, Ghana
Mason Evans, Elizabeth, CO
Colin Evers, Urbandale, IA
Tara Feeney, Ft. McDowell, AZ
Joshua Ferguson, Kensington, KS
Jack Finder, Fort Worth, TX
Jaylen Fitzsimmons-Woods, Wichita, KS
Donavan Franklin, Clio, MI
Koen Gakstatter, Overland Park, KS
Ethan Gebert, Montgomery, TX
Joseph Glazener, Anchorage, AK
Austin Glezen, Tonganoxie, KS
Joseph Gonzales, Spring, TX
Kevin Hasley, Eagle, CO
Benson Hawkins, Canandaigua, NY
Aaron Hess, Aurora, OR
Makynna Hinkle, Azle, TX
Samantha Hollingsworth, Loomis, CA
Preston Holmes, Muskogee, OK
Logan Houston, Madison, OH
Aubrey Huber, Paola, KS
Bailey Hulce, Baldwin City, KS
Jarrell Jackson, Houston, TX
Jack Jensen, Lake Forest, IL
Jaxon Jensen, Cedar City, UT
Austin-Mark Jinkerson, Granbury, TX
Blake Johnson, Littleton, CO
Jacob Kennedy, Great Bend, KS
Kamal Kennedy, Arlington, TX
Jason Kim, Manhattan, KS
Ty Kraemer, McPherson, KS
Charlie Kubena, Midlothian, VA
Michael Kuntz, Justin, TX
Dominic Lawrence, Edmonds, WA
Cooper Layher, Stapleton, NE
Lily Lougheed, Mountain Home, AR
Ari Manoogian, Sarasota, FL
Daniel Marcano, San Jose, Costa Rica
Desirae McQuillan, Weskan, KS
Michael Medina, Houston, TX
Dallas Metzger, Wichita, KS
Emma Meyer, Syracuse, KS
Ty Millis, Castroville, TX
Rinaldo Moore, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Morgan Moravec, Fort Myers, FL
Breanna Morck, Mount Hope, KS
Jacariotay Morman, Jonesboro, AR
John Morris, Novato, CA
Aidon Mosley-Young, Humble, TX
Belclem Namegabe, Coolidge, AZ
Lupita Parga, Wichita, KS
Carson Perez, Roseville, CA
Quinton Piper, Minneapolis, MN
William Pittman, Charles City, VA
Alyssa Porcelli, Anchorage, AK
Katelyn Potestio, Mansfield, TX
Samuel Povod, Palm Coast, FL
Ralthel Reese, Beaumont, TX
Abel Reichert, Bussum, North Holland, Netherlands
Celestina Retumban, Ridgeland, MS
Tyler Rewerts, Moundridge, KS
Triztyn Rodriguez, Irving, TX
Curtis Rose, Midwest City, OK
Kaitlyn Sarsfield, La Vernia, TX
Tabor Scanlon, Lansing, KS
Elizabeth Scheuerman, Wichita, KS
Ty Schroeder, Hesston, KS
Jacob Skartvedt, Azle, TX
Blake Slizewski, Three Lakes, WI
Riley Sojka, Wichita, KS
Jason Soto, Houston, TX
Michael Starr, Lake Jackson, TX
Collin Storr, Nassau, Bahamas
Zane Sullivan, Aubrey, TX
Tristan Szabo, Sparks, NV
Wayne Tackett, Midlothian, TX
Thor Unruh, Pittsburg, KS
Antonio Watson, Oklahoma City, OK
Ethan Weinhoffer, Hesston, KS
Kayik Wildcat, Boulder, CO
Matthew Williams, Los Angeles, CA
Miyah Williams, Fritch, TX
Jaquez Wilson, Graysville, AL
Megan Wright, Woodbridge, CA
Lauren Young, Wichita, KS
Aviana Youngbird, San Marcos, TX

Posted On: May 1, 2025
By: Tina Goodwin

McPherson College recognized the academic and leadership achievements of students, faculty, and staff at the Annual Awards Convocation on April 30, 2025, in Brown Auditorium.

Recipients were as follows:

Athletics

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Lauren Machado
Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Caden Hardgrave

Technology Department – Auto Restoration

Julian “Pop Rice Award – Edwin Buiter
Paul Russell Award for Excellence – Philip Schieffelin

Business

Outstanding Business Students – Emily Peterson, Caden Hardgrave

Curriculum & Instruction

Model Educator Award – Cooper Koestel, Kenzie Cooper
Teacher of Promise Award – Samantha Bennett, Maddison Gorman

History & Politics

Leland L. Lengel Memorial Scholarship – Brandon Clifford
Marvin and Doreen Will Memorial Scholarship – Breanna Morck & Caleb Replogle

Natural Science

First-Year Biology Achievement Award – Brent Aamodt
First-Year Chemistry Achievement Award – Elijah Leck
Merit Research Award – Zoe Jerke, Jayla Moore

Behavioral Sciences

Outstanding Behavioral Sciences Student Awards – Dyron Dixon, Jr., Stephanie Stella Ko, Sarah Stebbins
Outstanding Sociology Senior Research Project – Amari Robb
Outstanding Psychology Senior Research Project – Hadley Waldren

Art & Design

Award of Excellence in Ceramic Art – Maelynne Bonner
Art & Design Students of the Year – Taylor Starr, Ellery McMurry
AIGA: Student Portfolio Forum – Ellery McMurry, Susanne Cunningham, Zach Dittert, Arianna Harlan, Taylor Starr, Ethan Weinhoffer
Regional Photography Exhibitions Recipients – Susanne Cunningham, Johanna Walker, Lindzie Archer, Jude Bennett, Arianna Harlan, Oscar Martinez, Ellery McMurry

Philosophy & Religion

Induction into Theta Alpha Kappa – Cesar Lopez, Christian Brown, Brooke Krapes, Genesis Thompson, Courtnery Ward
Philosophy & Religion Undergraduate Achievement Award – Courtney Ward

Health and Sport Studies

Department of Sports Studies Award for Outstanding Graduates – Marcus Nardy, Colin Evers, Alaina Harkins
Department of Health Science Award for Outstanding Graduates – Newton Eaheart, Hayden Fry, Alyssa Espinoza

Who’s Who in the McPherson College Class of 2025

Lindzie Archer, Samantha Bennett, Lucy Bowman, Maddison Gorman, Zoe Jerke, Stephanie Ko, Meghan Morris, Reilly Murphy, Marcus Nardy, Emily Peterson, Curtis Rose, Genesis Thompson, Antonio Watson

Professor of the Year – Dr. Becki Bowman, professor of communication

Staff Person of the Year – Trent Rose, information technology assistant

Student Government Association

Brooklyn Skinner, SGA president
Kenya McCain, SGA president-elect

Quicklinks

Category: Academics

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Students Launch National Campaign Supporting Class-Designed Game

McPherson College Student Project Receives Grant

McPherson College Announces Teaching Awards

New Partnership With KU Allows McPherson College Students To Work Toward Nursing Degree

Dr. Molly Brown To Lead Healthcare Initiatives At McPherson College

McPherson College Offers New Degree In Exercise Science

Higher Learning Commission Reaffirms McPherson College Accreditation

McPherson College Honor Roll, Honorable Mention

MC recognizes students at awards convocation