college mcp-logo-header-white mcpherson

Quicklinks

Category: Academics

McPherson College Celebrates Class Of 2026 In Commencement Ceremony

Posted On: May 10, 2026
By: MC Admin
Class of 2026

McPherson College conferred Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees on 154 students at the 138th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at McPherson Stadium.

Michaela Valli Groeblacher, professor of art at McPherson College, was the commencement speaker. Professor Valli Groeblacher was a member of the art department faculty for 14 years and retired at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. She received the 2026 Faculty of the Year Award at the college’s recent awards convocation. Known for her figurative ceramic sculptures, her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has received many awards. Her work is included in private and public collections in the United States and Europe and has been featured on ceramics magazines and art books.

In her speech, Valli Groeblacher shared everyday lessons she has learned from making art and from working with clay.

“When sitting at the potter’s wheel,” she said. “Clay tells me to live in the moment. Honor the present moment and unhappiness and struggle will dissolve.”

Kenya McCain, the senior class representative, also addressed the students, sharing advice from her grandfather to ‘’give it your all’ in everything you do.

The commencement ceremony concluded with Aaron Meis, executive vice president of McPherson College, reminding graduates to remember the lessons they’ve learned during their time at McPherson College to become the whole persons the college’s mission calls them to be.

“Graduates, now more than ever we need you to participate and serve in your communities and in our society,” he said. “Begin each day with a sense of wonder. Remember the importance of staying humble and leaning on your faith in both the good times and challenging times.”

Names of the graduating class of 2026 and the commencement video can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/graduation.

College Announces Expansion Plans For Templeton Hall

Posted On: May 6, 2026
By: MC Admin
New plans for Templeton Hall

Home of McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration will double in size, supported by $16M campaign

At the 50th anniversary celebration of the Automotive Restoration program at McPherson College, Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration, announced plans to update and expand Templeton Hall, the program’s home for the past 50 years.

“The next phase of Templeton Hall will allow us to better support the way students learn today and the way they will want to learn tomorrow,” Gutierrez said. “It will create room for modern equipment, more creative lab experiences, expanded teaching spaces, and the continued growth of students interested in studying the automobile.”

The renovation and expansion are funded in part by a generous multimillion-dollar gift from the Lucas Trust, which will help strengthen the program’s long-term future and support facilities, tools, and learning environments for automotive restoration. Stan Lucas was a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur. In 1957, he started Lucas Automotive Engineering, which began by making steering wheels for early Fords and later expanded to manufacture hard-to-find tires for antique cars, serving a worldwide market. The company reflected both his enterprising spirit and passion for classic cars.

Gutierrez also announced a $16 million fundraising campaign for the project, with $10 million already committed. Over the next six months, the college will work with donors to raise an additional $6 million.

Plans for Templeton Hall will double the current square footage and include significantly more lab and office space, along with new areas for students to gather, a new entryway, and a showroom. Completion of the new facility is expected in early 2028.

Last year, the college announced the addition of a new bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. It recently announced hiring Michael Stichter, an automotive restoration alumnus and professional engineer, to lead the new program. The degree builds on the college’s historic academic strengths in automotive restoration while responding to the local and regional workforce needs. As part of the Templeton Hall project, the former Hoffman Student Union will be remodeled to house the new engineering program.

“Our focus on automotive studies that includes new spaces, technology, and programs provides the foundation for the next chapter,” said Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College. “This focus helps us imagine not only what we can teach, but how students can experience the automobile anew – as history, as design, engineering, craft, and as community.”

McPherson College Names Dr. Michael Stichter As Founding Director And Chair Of Engineering

Posted On: May 5, 2026
By: MC Admin
Dr. Michael Stichter

Dr. Michael Stichter

McPherson College has named Dr. Michael Stichter, founding director and chair of engineering, a key milestone as the college prepares to launch its new engineering degree this fall.

An alumnus of the college’s automotive restoration program and an experienced professional engineer, Stichter will lead development of curriculum, facilities, faculty, and industry partnerships for a program rooted in experiential learning.

Stichter earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Drexel University and is now a licensed professional engineer across multiple states. Most recently, he served as director of engineering and failure analysis at ARCCA, an engineering consulting firm in Pennsylvania. There, he led a multidisciplinary team conducting complex investigations involving mechanical systems, materials, and industrial processes.

His professional background spans aerospace manufacturing, combustion research, and applied engineering development—experience that will help shape a hands-on, industry-connected engineering program at McPherson.

“Mike brings exactly the kind of experience and mindset we were looking for,” said Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration and engineering. “He understands both the theory and the application of engineering, and he’s deeply aligned with our belief that students learn best by doing. Just as important, he knows McPherson, and that connection shows in the way he’s already thinking about building something meaningful for our students and for the industry.”

As founding director and chair, Stichter will focus on project-based learning, strong industry partnerships, and integration with the college’s nationally recognized automotive restoration program. His vision emphasizes an educational experience in which students engage in real-world problem-solving from the start—designing, building, and testing in collaborative lab environments.

“This is an exciting moment for McPherson College,” Gutierrez added. “Engineering expands what we can offer students while strengthening our role as a destination for automotive education and innovation.”

The new bachelor’s degree was announced last year after receiving approval from the Higher Learning Commission. The degree builds on the college’s historic academic strengths in automotive restoration, natural science, and mathematics while responding to the local and regional workforce needs.

Stichter’s appointment reflects the college’s continued investment in experiential learning and its long-term vision to build a distinctive, industry-connected approach to engineering education.

“I am excited to return to McPherson College to build an engineering program rooted in experiential learning, using the automobile as a teaching tool, and sharing my expertise with the next generation for careers in engineering analysis and beyond,” Stichter said. “McPherson College gave me my foundation, and I’m honored to give something back.”

With Stichter’s leadership, McPherson College is poised to develop an engineering program that not only prepares students for successful careers but also contributes to the future of the automotive and engineering fields.

Classes in the new degree program begin in August. For more information, visit www.mcpherson.edu/programs/engineering/.

MC Recognizes Students At Awards Convocation

Posted On: April 30, 2026
By: MC Admin
2026 Who's Who Students

McPherson College recognized the academic and leadership achievements of students, faculty, and staff at the Annual Awards Convocation on April 29, 2026, in Brown Auditorium.

Recipients were as follows:

Athletics

  • Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Vanessa Hofer
  • Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Anthony DeVries

Technology Department – Auto Restoration

  • Julian “Pop Rice Award – Mason Cox
  • Paul Russell Award for Excellence – Blake Swingle

Business

  • Outstanding Business Students – Sidney Larrew

Curriculum & Instruction

  • Model Educator Award – Fabian Camacho, Charles Snyder
  • Teacher of Promise Award – Katie Dix, Anthony DeVries, Gage Saltkill

History & Politics

  • Leland L. Lengel Memorial Scholarship – Aaron Holland, Alexander Gillispie
  • Marvin and Doreen Will Memorial Scholarship – Kierstyn Gilbert

Natural Science

  • First-Year Biology Achievement Award – Victoria Buss, Olivia Hough-Tucker
  • First-Year Chemistry Achievement Award – Victoria Buss, Dennis Nguyen
  • Undergraduate Research Award – Alex Sandoval, Ty Kraemer

Behavioral Sciences

  • Outstanding Sociology Senior Student of the Year – Tyler Foster
  • Outstanding Psychology Student of the Year – Olivia Bell, Tate Ornelas
  • Outstanding Behavioral Sciences Young Researcher Awards – Kaylee Stegora

Art & Design

  • National Society of Photographic Education’s Exhibitor – Taylor Staff
  • Five State Photography Competition Award Winner – Johanna Walker
  • Five State Photography Competition Exhibitors – Isabella Bradley, Jewel Marie, Arianna Harlan, Zachary Hawley, Taylor Starr
  • AIGA: Student Portfolio Forum – Arianna Harlan
  • Growth in Portfolio – Jewell Marie
  • Art and Design Underclassmen of the Year – Leann Dalinghaus, Acacia Pracht
  • Art and Design Upperclassmen of the Year – Arianna Harlan

Health and Sport Studies

  • Department of Health and Sports Studies Award for Outstanding Graduates – Brent Aamodt, William Z. Foote, Vanessa Hofer, Francisco Paradis, Jonathan Tatum, Christopher Wagner

Who’s Who in the McPherson College Class of 2025

  • Brent Aamodt, Maelynne Atkins, Kennedy Batchelder, Fabian Camacho, Canon Cavanaugh, Brandon Clifford, Katie Dix, Vanessa Hofer, Ty Kraemer, Jewel Marie, Kenya McCain, Arthur Nardy, Hannah Smalley, Taylor Starr, Joseph Stefanese, Logan Wonser

Professor of the Year – Michaela Valli Groeblacher, professor of art

Staff Person of the Year – Steven Benne, technical director for the theatre

Student Government Association

  • Kenya McCain, SGA president
  • Melissa Rogers, SGA president-elect

Music Education Redesign Creates Fast-Track To Degree

Posted On: April 20, 2026
By: MC Admin
Music student teaching band

A new redesigned music education program at McPherson College now offers a faster time-to-degree than any other traditional music education program in the state of Kansas. The new streamlined degree offers a more efficient and practical approach that allows students to trim a semester, or even a year, off their college experience.

Most undergraduate music education programs require courses that prepare students for research or graduate-level pursuits, rather than for teaching at the elementary, middle, or high school levels. As a result, most students take longer than four years to complete their degree. The redesigned degree was designed by music teachers to prepare students to become music teachers.

“I once had a professor say to me that colleges and universities are training music education majors like it’s 18th-century Vienna,” Kyle Hopkins, professor of music, said. “Our goal is to produce outstanding music teachers, not necessarily musicologists, so we made significant changes to our curriculum.”

The new curriculum includes an orchestration and arranging course, skills teachers need, especially when directing smaller ensembles. Additional changes emphasize conducting, rehearsal skills, and methods courses tailored to specific grade levels. Hopkins stresses that this is not a “watering-down” of the subject matter, but rather a more streamlined program that focuses on teaching music at any level, instrumental or vocal.

“This new focused method of instruction is catered to high-achieving music education majors,” Hopkins said. “The restructured program saves our students time and money, and will get them out into the field sooner, making an impact in the classroom.”

McPherson College and Barton School of Business at Wichita State Launch Accelerated MBA Pathway Partnership

Posted On: March 31, 2026
By: MC Admin

WSU-MC partnership signing ceremony

Wichita State University’s W. Frank Barton School of Business and McPherson College have announced a new academic partnership that will allow eligible McPherson College undergraduates to earn up to nine credit hours toward a Master of Business Administration degree at Wichita State beginning with Fall 2026 classes.

“This partnership with Wichita State’s Barton School of Business creates a powerful academic bridge for our students — one that accelerates their path to advanced business leadership while maintaining the high academic standards McPherson College is known for,” said Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College. “It reflects our shared commitment to innovation, access and preparing graduates to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.”

The agreement, signed during a ceremony at Wichita State, establishes a streamlined academic pathway enabling qualifying students to begin graduate-level coursework while completing their undergraduate degrees. Through the partnership, students may enroll in up to three MBA courses through the Barton School of Business — reducing both the time and cost required to complete the degree.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to expanding access to high-quality graduate education,” said Rick Muma, president of Wichita State University. “By creating clear and affordable pathways, we are helping students move more efficiently into leadership roles in business and industry.”

The collaboration strengthens institutional alignment while preparing students for the academic rigor of graduate study. “This partnership demonstrates how institutions can work together to serve students more effectively,” said Monica Lounsbery, senior executive vice president and provost at Wichita State. “It provides motivated students with early exposure to graduate-level expectations and academic rigor.”

Larisa Genin, dean of the Barton School of Business, underscored the pathway’s focus on access, momentum and career acceleration. “Our mission is to create bold, accessible pathways to advanced business education,” Genin said. “This partnership empowers McPherson students to begin their MBA journey early — reducing time and cost while accelerating both their academic progress and career trajectories.”

Matthew Skillen, vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at McPherson College, added that the agreement strengthens the connection between undergraduate education and professional preparation.  “This pathway creates a strong bridge between undergraduate learning and graduate business training,” Skillen said. “It expands opportunities for our students while maintaining rigorous academic standards.”

Students must meet defined academic and eligibility requirements to participate. Credits earned through the pathway will apply toward Wichita State’s MBA program upon formal admission.

University leaders noted that the partnership also supports regional workforce development, preparing graduates with advanced business skills to lead across industries in Kansas and beyond.

Students interested in learning more about enrollment opportunities through the pathway program may visit wichita.edu/mba or contact Stephanie Cockrell, director of graduate programs in the Barton School of Business, at 316-978-6019 or [email protected], or contact McPherson College at [email protected].

McPherson College Honor Roll, Honorable Mention

Posted On: December 19, 2025
By: MC Admin

McPherson College recognizes its highest academic achievers in the fall 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 fall 2025 include:

Brent Aamodt, Valley Center, KS
Aliza Adams, Colorado Springs, CO
Natalie Allen, Forney, TX
Grace Alltop, Parker, CO
Lyla Anderson, Dublin, TX
Jake Ashley, Dothan, AL
Jonavan Asuncion, Mission Viejo, CA
Mitchel Aubrey, Murrieta, CA
James Bates, Coranado, CA
Andrew Beck, Plant City, FL
Diego Bejarán, Panama,
Stewart Bishop, Manhattan, KS
Matthew Bomersback, Kirkland, Quebec, Canada
Jabralyn Brown, Coolidge, TX
Alexander Brubaker, McPherson, KS
Victoria Buss, Wichita, KS
Fabian Camacho, Liberal, KS
Canon Cavanaugh, Hutchinson, KS
Reagan Chapman, Coahoma, TX
Ancel Classen, Manhattan, KS
Aemon Colyer, Topeka, KS
Mason Cox, Boerne, TX
Mikayla Craver, Topeka, KS
Thomas Crowe, Parker, CO
Ana Cuartero, Iowa Falls, IA
Reese Curry, Iola, KS
Samantha Dean, Hendersonville, TN
Katie Dix, McPherson, KS
Noah Durham, Winona, MS
Jaden Ediger, Galva, KS
Joshua Ferguson, Kensington, KS
Enya Fierens, Lubbeek, Flemish Brabant, Belgium
Ian Flaherty, Pennsburg, PA
Jacob Ford, Tucson, AZ
Tyler Foster, Derby, KS
Caitlynn Frost, McPherson, KS
Matthew Garcia, Spring, TX
Daphne Garcia, Irvine, CA
Alexander Gillispie, Pueblo, CO
Amanda Goering, Hutchinson, KS
Lily Gray, Sterling, KS
Jacob Guignard, Oakdale, CA
Quenton Gustafson, Columbus, NE
Chloe Guzman, New Braunfels, TX
Logan Hamilton, Claremore, OK
Micah Hansen, Sedgwick, KS
Arianna Harlan, Derby, KS
Findlay Haven, Bel Air, MD
Zachary Hawley, Meade, KS
Auburn Hill, Anthony, KS
Maggie Hingst, Saint Francis, KS
Vanessa Hofer, Innsbruck, Austria
Aaron Holland, Malvern, AR
Owen Horvath, Lancaster, PA
Elijah Hough, Espanola, NM
Olivia Hough-Tucker, Broken Arrow, OK
Miranda Hunt, McKenna, WA
Jaxon Jensen, Cedar City, UT
Javon Joyner, McPherson, KS
Nicholas King, Lafayette, IN
MaKenzie King, Wichita, KS
Ryder Konczak, Longview, TX
Ty Kraemer, Mcpherson, KS
Aidan Kraft, Atlanta, GA
Noah Landever, Shawnee Mission, KS
Sidney Larrew, Swink, CO
Elijah Leck, McPherson, KS
Alyssa Lipke, Haysville, KS
Cesar Lopez, San Antonio, TX
Cameron Maguire, Carmel, CA
Leo Maida, Santa Monica, CA
Anna Marks, Elkton, MD
Parker Martin, Skiatook, OK
Cristian Martins, Parker, CO
Becky Masengu, Randburg, South Africa
Miriam Mason, Marion, KS
Kenya McCain, Plano, TX
Claire McCullough, Salina, KS
Henry McDonough, Tucson, AZ
Sean Melotti, McPherson, KS
Molly Minster, Slidell, LA
Joseph Moebius, Portland, TX
Brianna Morales, Newton, KS
Arthur Nardy, Eauze, France
Case Nelson, Eads, CO
Dennis Nguyen, Wichita, KS
Brian Nguyen, Marion, KS
Isaac Niedzielski, Marlborough, MA
Noah Nix, Eustis, FL
Kamryn Nolan, Mulvane, KS
Garrett O’Connor, North Vancouver, BC, Canada
Lorenzo Orlandi, Tavernelle, Italy
Tayton Ornelas, Kismet, KS
Dana Parker, Austin, TX
Mason Patrick, Fairborn, OH
Georgia Perrett, Tauranga, New Zealand
Caleb Pezold, Mokane, MO
Malia Pfeiff, Moundridge, KS
Acacia Pracht, Lindsborg, KS
Madisyn Ramirez, Prosper, TX
Kacee Rhody, Brookings, SD
Alyssa Ritchie, Defiance, OH
Melissa Rogers, Waco, TX
Hayden Russell, Melrose, MA
Jamai Rutherford, Miramar, FL
Gage Saltkill, Salina, KS
Caleb Samland, Moundridge, KS
Malorie Samples, Nevada, TX
Philip Schieffelin, Limon, CO
LilyAnn Shannon, Amarillo, TX
Griffin Shepherd, Austin, TX
Hailey Shubin, Kingwood, TX
Cara Shultz, Kingman, KS
Blake Slizewski, Three Lakes, WI
Hannah Smalley, Hutchinson, KS
Tegyn Smeltzer, Derby, KS
Aysia Smithhisler, Spring Hill, KS
Jamie Sparks, McPherson, KS
Gracie Speltz, Mansfield, TX
Davian Spies, Hutchinson, KS
Taylor Starr, Milford, KS
Kaylee Stegora, Monticello, MN
Alexis Sunia, Concord, CA
Max Sweet, Charlottesville, VA
Jailun Talley, Broken Arrow, OK
Maxwell Tanouo Fogue, Morrison, CO
Balazs Temesvari, Budaörs, Hungary
Noah Ryan Thomas, Delta, Canada
Chase Thompson, Runaway Bay, TX
William Tindall, Waterloo, IA
Audra Unruh, McPherson, KS
Sijmen Cornelis Wytse van der Zee, Amersfoort, Netherlands
Marie Laureen Anna Everdina van Drunen, Zeist, Netherlands
Christopher Wagner, Maple Valley, WA
Jayson Wasserfuhr, Erftstadt, North Rhine-W, Germany
Mandra Wenzl, Wichita, KS
Veronyca West, Lewisville, TX
Jason Weston, Goodyear, AZ
Chloe Williams, Parachute, CO
Ja’Twaan Williams, Junction City, KS
Maddie Willison, Buhler, KS
Jacob Winters, Lynchburg, VA
Von Woleslagel, Hutchinson, KS
Alexis Wolfe, Alma, NE
Hali Wolke, Wichita, KS
Logan Wonser, Goessel, KS
Kayla Wood, Longmont, CO
Catyn Wright, China Spring, TX
Jayden Wright, Chubbuck, ID

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

Oluwapo Adeoye, Severn, MD
Anthony Albanez, Fillmore, CA
Ghaliyah Ali, San Antonio, TX
Dario Alvarez, Hialeah, FL
Scarlett Anderson, Lincoln, NE
Mackenzy Angle, Wichita, KS
Stephan Quentin Baofa Bilambo, Kinshasa-Ngaliema, DRC
Dominique Bell, Grand Prairie, TX
Skylar Bencsek, Springfield, MO
Isaiah Berard, Parker, CO
Taylor Berkheimer, Ault, CO
Mackenzie Birch, Topeka, KS
Remington Bliss, Bellevue, NE
Hunter Boneau, Melissa, TX
Maelynne Bonner, Tonganoxie, KS
Raeghan Borman, Haslet, TX
Bryce Boyd-Tucker, Keene, NH
Horace Bradshaw, De Soto, TX
Autumn Brummer, Colwich, KS
Quentin Burgess, Oklahoma City, OK
Nathaniel Campbell, Bel Aire, KS
Xue’Jon Castro, San Antonio, TX
Michael Ceyrolles, Pueblo, CO
Michael Christensen, Idaho Falls, ID
Abigail Coe, Charleston, SC
Bryan Cortez, Muskegon, MI
Donovan Costello, Miami, FL
Kayla Crocker, Ridgecrest, CA
Dorian Culwell, Atwood, KS
Clancy Cummings, Howard, KS
Leann Dalinghaus, Seneca, KS
David Dalton, Mansfield, TX
Jara Davidson, Lakin, KS
Jaylan Davis, Eight Mile, AL
Conor Dawson, Columbus, OH
Armin De La Cruz, Neillsville, WI
Andrew Dehn, Orange Grove, TX
Catch DeLaney, McPherson, KS
Brayton Dewell, Fowler, KS
Arianna Diaz, Houston, TX
Ian Dittmer, Bettendorf, IA
Jack Dockstader, Bruceville, TX
Calvin Doyle, Brighton, CO
Charity DuBeau, Wichita, KS
Taylor Duvall, Las Vegas, NV
Xavier Elledge, El Reno, OK
Isabella Ellerbee, Winston, GA
Aaron Elvin-Temple, Lindsborg, KS
Ariana Espinoza Chapa, Donna, TX
Octavius Flient, Oklahoma City, OK
Danica Floyd, Kinsley, KS
William Foote, Roosevelt, UT
Antnez Fortson, Royston, GA
Trey Fredrickson, Highlands Ranch, CO
Kierstyn Gilbert, Salina, KS
Maizen Gillam, Corinth, TX
Lamar Gordon, Fayetteville, GA
Emelie Green, McPherson, KS
Thomas Griffin, Manhattan Beach, CA
Madden Griffith, McPherson, KS
Ryan Harris, Boring, OR
Rawson Harris, Jackson, MS
Cynthia Herrera, Port Orchard, WA
Aaron Hess, Aurora, OR
Luna Hinkley, Unadilla, NE
Jackson Horine, San Antonio, TX
Nolan Huff, Spearville, KS
Dana Imankulova, Wichita, KS
Steele Jackson, Hamilton, IN
Daniel Jenkins, Royce City, TX
Eman Kago, Wichita, KS
Keelee Kemp, Calera, OK
Evan Kemp, Bolivar, MO
Brysen Kerby, Big Spring, TX
Jason Kim, Manhattan, KS
Jackson Kiser, New Castle, CO
Charlie Kubena, Midlothian, VA
Michael Kuntz, Justin, TX
Cody Kuss, Bremerton, WA
Trey Kysiak, Ponder, TX
Cole Lais, Oregon City, OR
Hailey Lennox, Sedro-Woolley, WA
Landri Lopez, McPherson, KS
Harmony Love, McPherson, KS
Rhyan Lucas, Shawnee, KS
Keegan Macpherson-McNeil, Winnsboro, TX
Seth Madron, McPherson, KS
Luke Magli, Franklin, TN
Ryan Markarian, Fresno, CA
Michael McCarthy, Omaha, NE
Mackenzie McEachron, Kansas City, KS
Chadwick McGarity, Reform, AL
Nolan McIlveen, Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
Qur’an McKinney, Houston, TX
Xander McNitt, Denver, CO
Carlos Mendez, McPherson, KS
Dallas Metzger, Wichita, KS
Trenton Miller, Elizabeth, CO
Ty Millis, Castroville, TX
Paige Miltenberger, Wildwood, MO
Meliyah Moore, Leawood, KS
Major Moore, Justin, TX
Morgan Moravec, Fort Myers, FL
John Morris, Novato, CA
Mathew Mossman, Colorado Springs, CO
Kyah Munguya, Monument, CO
Cash Nab, Fleming, CO
Amare’ Nedich, Halstead, KS
Elias Neely, Union, MO
Gracie Nelson, McPherson, KS
Elissa Nelson, McPherson, KS
London Norris, Arkansas City, KS
Daniel Norris, Leander, TX
Ellie Okikawa, San Antonio, TX
Carolina Oliveira, Santa Maria Da Feira, Av, Portugal
Owen Patterson, Arlington, VA
Payton Payne, Williston, SC
David Poll, Byron Center, MI
Isaak Porter, Garnett, KS
Maverick Potucek, Willow City, TX
Hunter Powell, Lyons, CO
Elliot Powrie, Nottingham, England
Emma Puebla, Waxahachie, TX
Dalton Robertson, Colorado Springs, CO
Savannah Robles, Irving, TX
Alena Rupp, Wamego, KS
Andrea Salas, Albuquerque, NM
Tabor Scanlon, Lansing, KS
Texas Ranger Schmidt, Camp Wood, TX
Jacob Skartvedt, Azle, TX
Wyatt Smith, Pilot Point, TX
Mikayla Smith, Springfield, MO
Damian Smith, Henryetta, OK
Makenzi Smithee, Justin, TX
Charles Snyder, Salina, KS
Joseph Stefanese, Rockaway, NJ
Cameron Steinblock, Bennet, NE
Tijs Stumphius, s-Hertogenbosch, North B, Netherlands
AmenEl Tadesse, Katy, TX
John Tadsen, Barrington, IL
Jonathan Tatum, Ore City, TX
Ky’rell Taylor, Junction City, KS
Anthony Thomas, Brookfield, IL
Nicolas Torres, Miami Beach, FL
Harrison Vande Brake, Olathe, KS
Roxana Varela Parra, Medelin, Antioquia, Colombia
Aaron Veenstra, Hartville, MO
Adian Villafano, Vidor, TX
Carmen Wallace, Lawton, OK
Brayden Walters, Canon City, CO
Katie Warden, McGregor, TX
Luke Watkins, Burns, KS
Courtney Wickham, Claremore, OK
Corvus Williams, Clay Center, KS
Olivia Williams, Lawrence, KS
Amyah Williams-Woodmore, Raleigh, NC
Kyle Wippler, Costa Mesa, CA
Luke Wood, Shawnee Mission, KS
Tuyee Yang, Fresno, CA

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

Luis Alvarez, Dallas, TX
Alisa Arambula, Thornton, CO
Hailey Barton Whitcomb, McPherson, KS
Kennedy Batchelder, Bishop, CA
Joanna Bejar, Saratoga, CA
Olivia Bell, North Las Vegas, NV
Ryan Boosman, McPherson, KS
Isabelle Bowman, Kinsley, KS
Jalil Brown, Seagoville, TX
Marcus Burton, Oklahoma City, OK
Alan Cabrera, San Marcos, TX
Jack Carpenter, Weatherford, TX
Kaycee Carter, Rocklin, CA
Jared Carter, Belle Glade, FL
Zoey Christensen, Corinth, TX
Brandon Clifford, Carlisle, PA
Tate Collison, Pierce, NE
April Conilogue, Longmont, CO
Landon Crenshaw, Claremore, OK
Marcel Cuyler, San Antonio, TX
Seneca Davis, Oklahoma City, OK
Aeneas Davis, Las Vegas, NV
Marcello Dean, Placerville, CA
Gabriella Delgado, Coppell, TX
Seth Dennis, Morrison, OK
Kyle Doberer, McPherson, KS
Grant Duke, Katy, TX
Austin Easter, Winchester, CA
Alexander Escobedo, Salina, KS
Brian Fackert, Woodland, CA
Summer Fenton, Rogers, AR
Jack Finder, Fort Worth, TX
Blaze Flanagan, Mesquite, TX
Isach Fleischer, Osceola, MO
Ian Foster, Wichita, KS
Aubree Gaona, Levelland, TX
Kimberly Garrison, Maxwell, CA
Samyia Gildon, Federal Way, WA
Joseph Gonzales, Spring, TX
Azaiah Gonzalez, Lake Worth, FL
Brooklyn Gosvener, Lucas, KS
Korbin Gunn, Tulsa, OK
Ethan Gustafson, McPherson, KS
Mikah Hammerquist, Monroe, WA
Jacob Hammon, Buffalo Grove, IL
Jake Hardin, Derby, KS
Jonathan Harding, Mount Crawford, VA
Allyson Harrison, Carrollton, TX
Auhnesty Hawkins, Oklahoma City, OK
Byron Hays, Shawnee, KS
Angel Hernandez, Houston, TX
Gunner Hill, Independence, MO
Makynna Hinkle, Azle, TX
Samantha Hollingsworth, Loomis, CA
Anna Howard, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Christopher Jackson, Holliday, TX
DaShaud Johnson, Lawrence, KS
Jonathan Johnson-McGary, Rocklin, CA
Ayden Jones, Sanger, TX
Isabella Karabanoff, Pasadena, TX
Kamal Kennedy, Arlington, TX
Tre Kent, Broomfield, CO
Wyatt Kiddoo, Dolores, CO
Simon Koontz, North Newton, KS
Aumario Landrum, Wichita, KS
Cooper Layher, Stapleton, NE
Isaac Lundahl, Colorado Springs, CO
Ari Manoogian, Sarasota, FL
Nolan Martin, Bell Aire, KS
Bailey Matthews, Rockledge, FL
Jaxin Mayer, Beaumont, TX
Mackenzie McNeil, Rossmoor, CA
Kyle McSweeny, Castle Rock, CO
Stewart Mitchell, Junction City, KS
Idrick Montano, Pecos, TX
Brandon Munoz, Arlington, TX
Myles Murphy, Manchester, MA
Jayden Murray, Hutchinson, KS
Abdul Nafiu Moro, Morrison, CO
Jeremy Nai, Wenham, MA
Belclem Namegabe, Coolidge, AZ
Jace Norman, Rosenberg, TX
Eludie Nsunda Tsasa, Kinshasa-Ngaliema, DRC
Alyssa Nutt, McPherson, KS
Demetrious Odiot, Fairview, NJ
Ryoga Oki, McPherson, KS
Olivia Oliver, Junction City, KS
Macyn Olson, Meade, KS
Veronica Orlans, Mcpherson, KS
Ashlee Oster, Wichita, KS
Carson Perez, Roseville, CA
Owen Phillips, Wilmington, NC
Samuel Povod, Palm Coast, FL
Connor Powers, Des Plaines, IL
Darian Prince, Houston, TX
Jacob Putman, McHenry, IL
Kenneth Ray, San Antonio, TX
Kyle Rex, Colorado Springs, CO
Gabriel Reyes, Olive Branch, MS
Joysbeliz Reyes-Solano, Miami, FL
Andrew Riley, Shady Point, OK
Mathieu Rocha, Lubbock, TX
Ramsey Romero, Ponca City, OK
Isabella Rosa, Frisco, TX
Diego Salamanca, Richmond, TX
Rene Salinas Trevizo, Thornton, CO
Alexia Sandoval, Rocky Ford, CO
Jacob Saul, Porter, TX
Coen Scott, Buckeye, AZ
Ernest Skehan, Waynesboro, PA
Mauro Soria, Inquique, Chile
Jack Southern, Wagoner, OK
Katniss Stohr, Hutchinson, KS
Blake Storts, Ardmore, OK
Camden Stride, Tunbridge, VT
Brogan Stucky, Pretty Prairie, KS
Blake Swingle, Columbus, OH
Kamden Tackett, Kerrville, TX
Ryan Thornton, Nicholasville, KY
Dylan Tingler, Oklahoma City, OK
Kevin Trillo, Hennessey, OK
Dominique Valdez, Denver, CO
Elias Vasquez, Irving, TX
Isabella Volker, Burr Oak, KS
Sophia Walters, Hesston, KS
Katy Ward, Justin, TX
Evan Wessel, Wichita, KS
Brooklynn White Hat, White River, SD
Kayik Wildcat, Boulder, CO
Miyah Williams, Fritch, TX
Mason Woodward, Charlotte, NC
Lauren Young, Wichita, KS
Aviana Youngbird, San Marcos, TX

Partnership With Kansas State University Allows McPherson College Students To Begin Work On Master’s Degrees

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/.

Students Launch National Campaign Supporting Class-Designed Game

Posted On: November 11, 2025
By: MC Admin
Eco Pyramid game

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.

McPherson College Student Project Receives Grant

Posted On: November 4, 2025
By: MC Admin
Eco Pyramid game

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.