In the world of college bands in Kansas, an invitation to play at the Kansas Music Educators Association’s (KMEA) state convention is the highest honor and a milestone accomplishment. At the next statewide convention in February, McPherson College will have two bands performing.

Both the MC Concert Band and the MC Jazz Band were selected to perform at the music convention on February 25-26 at Century II in Wichita. This will be the third time in the past five years that the concert band has been selected and the first time for the jazz band.

Bands are selected to perform through a “blind” audition process and no ensemble can be selected in consecutive years. This year, McPherson College will be the only private college or university concert band or jazz band to perform among bands from much larger state schools, according to Kyle Hopkins, McPherson College director of bands and associate professor of music.

“Having both the concert and jazz bands selected to perform at KMEA is an unparalleled achievement for our program,” Hopkins said. “It’s rare that a band from a private college gets selected to perform at all, and even more rare for two bands from the same school!”

Hopkins said that despite the necessary precautions taken last year due to the pandemic, senior band members helped create a positive atmosphere that enabled the entire band to make progress musically.

“I give a great deal of credit to the band leadership who, despite all the challenges of last year, set a foundation for our band to achieve this remarkable accomplishment,” he said.

The MC band program consists of 40 students from many academic programs and features a variety of ensembles including the concert and jazz bands, a tailgate band and drumline, and a steel drum ensemble. The band’s first public concert this academic year is on November 14 at 4 p.m. in Brown Auditorium. The tailgate band and drumline will perform at the Homecoming tailgate and football game on October 2.

Jamie Hicks, McPherson Center for Health

The partnership between McPherson College and McPherson Center for Health provided a valuable experience for students participating in the career exploration class this spring. It also gave greater insight on patient experience to the health care professionals at the hospital who presented each week to the students, according to Jamie Hicks, RN, and manager of education and patient experience.

“Any time you teach or present, you have to get very granular about your subject,” Hicks said. “I think the health care professionals who presented during the class were able to identify the aspects of their job they especially love and then share their passion with the students. Our staff really enjoyed the opportunity to promote their own role and potentially influence a future career choice for these students.”

For 12 weeks last spring McPherson College Health Science students attended class at the hospital and were given a behind-the-scenes look at all aspects of patient care. Nick Baldetti, health care initiatives director at the college, and Hicks worked together to design a course intended to look at the hospital’s patient experience from entry to exit.

“I am passionate about patient experience, and think it is really important for emerging health care professionals to understand the full breadth of the health care system,” Hicks said.

Students were placed in small groups and given a patient scenario. Each week they toured and heard from subject experts on specific aspects of the health care system and learned how it pertained to their patient scenario. This included everything from how marketing works into a patient choice of provider, how environmental services and purchasing support a positive patient experience, to the importance of patient registration, health information systems, and individual care services.

“We wanted to create an experience that considered all aspects of the health care system and apply it to a patient encounter,” Hicks said. “It was important to demonstrate how all areas have to work together to create a thorough and positive experience for the patient with the idea that the students will be better health care professionals if they understand that from day one.”

Collaborating with the college provided hospital leadership an opportunity to have several internal discussions about patient experience and think about all the pieces of a patient encounter, Hicks said. She is looking forward to continuing the career exploration classes each spring and is excited about future ways the college and hospital can work together to help prepare the next generation of health care professionals.

“I think it is a really unique program and this class tapped into a different way for students to see and experience a health care system,” Hicks said. “It was rewarding to have the opportunity to engage with students and show them where their educational path can take them in the health care field. Our partnership is a benefit for all of us in supporting the quality and volume of future health care professionals and inspiring a love for rural health care in particular.”

The McPherson College Health Science program offers majors in health science and healthcare management for students interested in all areas of health care including behavioral health, public health, community health, and healthcare management. Scholarships of up to $100,000 for four years are available to students. In an effort to provide a wide variety of experiential opportunities for its students, McPherson College partners with several local and area health care agencies. To learn more about the program to go https://www.mcpherson.edu/programs/health-science

McPHERSON, KAN. – Shyanne Henkis was recognized by the Kansas Independent College Foundation (KICF) for excellence in academics, character, and integrity, alongwith her commitment to the value of a private college education in Kansas. She was among 20 students from private colleges across the state to receive the Maud Wyatt Recognition Scholarship presented by KICF.

Henkis, who is from Lavean, Arizona, is a senior at McPherson College majoring in sociology. She plans to enlist in the U.S. Air Force after graduating to become a security forces officer while working on a master’s degree in social work and criminal justice. Her ultimate goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in social work. During her time at McPherson College, she completed an internship with the Hutchinson Police Department. Recipients of the scholarship are full-time, degree-seeking students on the cusp of graduation who maintain GPAs of 3.5 or above and contribute to their communities.

Along with her studies, Henkis serves as president of the Student Government Association, is a residence assistant, and participates on the track and field team. Service to her community is important to Henkis. She founded the campus’s Caring Closet, the result of her initiative that allows students to anonymously ask for help and hygiene products and a clothing drive that she leads each year.

“McPherson College is the perfect place for me,” Henkis said. “I am able to get the one-on-one teaching I need and have professors who genuinely care about me. One of the college’s pillars is service, and I am a firm believer in giving back. I think I have made a positive impact during my time here and plan to continue to follow that idea of service.”

ABOUT McPHERSON COLLEGE

McPherson College is committed to its mission “To develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service,” in a career-focused liberal arts environment. It’s been recognized nationally by US News & World Report, Money Magazine, and the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For.” Its Automotive Restoration program is the first four-year degree program of its kind and awarded the prestigious industry supporter of the year by International Historic Motoring. Learn about all of its programs at www.mcpherson.edu.

McPherson College recognizes its highest academic achievers in the spring 2021 Honor Roll and Honorable Mention. To qualify for the Honor Roll, students must be a full-time student and earn a grade point average of 3.55 or higher during the previous term. Students earning a grade point average from 3.25 to 3.54 are named to the Honorable Mention Roll.

Students named to the McPherson College Honor Roll for spring 2021 include:

Israel Acosta, Houston, TX
Clarissa Adamyk, McPherson, KS
Kaylie Akiona, Kaaawa, HI
Esther Tibaidjuka Amuli, Kinshasa, Congo
Carter Anglin, Louisburg, KS
Sarah Asher, Kansas City, MO
Victoria Ates, Dallas, TX
Destiny Bacon, La Mesa, CA
Eliphas-Levi Balekombwa-Ndelepame, Berea, OH
Mason Ball, Spring, TX
William Bandy, Bel Air, MD
Thane Barta, Anchorage, AK
Walter Behrens, Crested Butte, CO
Michael Beltran Rubio, Bogota, Cundinamarca, Columbia
Cheneal Benne, Courtland, KS
Caden Beurkens, Byron Center, MI
Caeley Billings, Gardner, KS
Mia Birkes, Mcpherson, KS
Brady Blanka, Wamego, KS
Julien Bodin, Cartagena, Spain
Kevin Boeckman, Wamego, KS
Taylor Bohannon, Belle Plaine, KS
Shelby Bonn, Shawnee Mission, KS
Luke Borton, Independence, KS
Cameron Boyce, Tebbetts, MO
Reven Bradbury, Castle Rock, CO
Riley Bradbury, Castle Rock, CO
Amy Braimbridge, Connolly, Australia
Zachary Bredfield, Heppner, OR
Garrett Brenning, Culbertson, NE
Abigail Briscoe, Little River, KS
Cedric Brown, Culpeper, VA
Dillyn Brown, Osage City, KS
Cherie Bruce, McPherson, KS
Kourtney Brumley, McPherson, KS
Makaylee Bryson, Spanish Fork, UT
Bianca Bulnes, McPherson, KS
Hannah Butler, McPherson, KS
Jorge Calleros, Saint John, KS
James Canar, Longmont, CO
Calvin Cassida, Louisburg, KS
Kenneth Castleberry, Melissa, TX
Kaci Chadwick, Cheyenne Wells, CO
Joe Chapman, Roeland Park, KS
Jenna Christensen, Corinth, TX
Vannesa Cisneros, North Highlands, CA
Tate Clem, Wichita, KS
Amanda Cochran, Wichita, KS
Daniel Connell, High Peak, Derbyshire
Peyton Conner, Littleton, CO
Kayley Cook, Byers, KS
Austin Cooper, Carmichael, CA
Kevin Credit, De Soto, TX
Samantha Cress, McPherson, KS
Taylor Cunningham, Wellsville, KS
Antoine Detavernier, Bruges, Belgium
Kurtis Ebling, Lindsborg, KS
Mackenzie Egan, Vandreuil Dorion, QC
Shane Fazzino, McPherson, KS
Marcus Vinicius Fernandes, Rio De Janeiro,, Brazil
Brionnah Fessler, Norton, KS
Nathanael Fetters, Whitewright, TX
Heidi Fischer, Aledo, TX
Jadin Fleming, Castle Rock, CO
Theodore Flint, Sagle, ID
Emily Flowers, Overland Park, KS
Joshua Fowler, Round Rock, TX
Fidelie Futi, Kinshasa, Congo
Martin Gentes, Florence, MA
Alexandra Gipson, Harrison, AR
Quinn Gordon, Sherman Oaks, CA
Cameron Gragg, Osage City, KS
Conrad Gramckow, Ojai, CA
Jurgen Stalin Granda Palma, Guayaquil, Guayas
Alexis Grattan, Newton, KS
Trent Graves, Wichita, KS
Graedon Green, McPherson, KS
Peter Greenough, Victoria, MN
Tatum Griffin, Edmond, OK
Samuel Grim, Johnstown, CO
Sierra Grow, Halstead, KS
Michael Halgren, Leawood, KS
Zackary Hall, Cherokee, OK
Taylor Hamm, Round Rock, TX
Scott Hayford, Spring Creek, NV
Shyanne Henkis, Laveen, AZ
Sydney Hicks, Broomfield, CO
Lola Hipp, Goodland, KS
Kelly Hoffman, Wysox, PA
Jonathan Hoffman, Wysox, PA
Isabella Holmes, Goddard, KS
Caleb Houghton, McPherson, KS
Noah Huls, Aurora, NE
Ethan Huston, Saint John, KS
Spencer Ice, Cameron, MO
Navid Istanbullu, Bremen, Germany
Jessica James, Halstead, KS
Makenzie Jansonius, Prairie View, KS
Anika Jobe, Eudora, KS
Kennedy Johnson, Colorado Springs, CO
Trevor Johnson, La Mesa, CA
Brandt Johnson, Peyton, CO
Arya Karmacharya, McPherson, KS
Gracia Kasereka, Commune De Selembao, Congo
Choucranie Kayembe, Lubumbashi Haut Katanga, Congo
Polina Khoroshevskaya, Kemerovo, Russia
Jordan Kingcaid, Fort Worth, TX
Jakob Komel, Solvenia
Matthew Kroeker, Wichita, KS
Zakary Larson, Golden, CO
Aaron Leck, McPherson, KS
Delani List, Junction City, KS
Tyler Loy, Topeka, KS
Andre Guillaume Lubaya, Young America, Zaire
Kaylynn Lyons, Winslow, AZ
Gage Maccoy, Lenexa, KS
Brett Maddock, Oakdale, CA
Tori Maples, Maywood, MO
Kael Markham, Topeka, KS
Colby Marshall, Montgomery, TX
Carson Martin, Elkhart, IN
Aventino Martinez-Garcia, Wichita, KS
Bethany Masters, Howe, TX
Trisha Mathewson, Axtell, KS
Grace Maxey, Damascus, OR
Myles McCrary, Cedar Hill, TX
Savannah McHugh, Wichita, KS
Hannah McKay, Golden, CO
Nathaniel McLaughlin, Ticonderoga, NY
Brittany Merkel, Waxhaw, NC
Wyatt Miceli, Woodacre, CA
Martin Millos, Vigo, Spain
Maria Miranda, Great Bend, KS
Rodrigo Miranda Enriquez, St Louis, MO
Palmer Moe, Seattle, WA
Ezra Monroe, Melissa, TX
Ethan Montalvo, La Feria, TX
Katelyn Moore, Douglass, KS
Ilanna Moyer, McPherson, KS
Madison Mullen, Wichita, KS
Vanessa Mundo, Houston, TX
Trey Murphy, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Paul Murphy, Independence, MO
Paul Kapya Mwengwe, Lubumbashi, Congo
Michel Mwengwe, Lubumbashi, Congo
Tyler Natkin, Warrington, PA
Gregory Neiger, Scotts Valley, CA
Immanuel Newsome, Yukon, OK
Fabio Nickel, North Rhine-Westphalia
Graham Noblett, Fairport, NY
Matthew Nutting, Foxboro, MA
Brett Oden, Sterling, KS
Jason Okoro, Plano, TX
Tevin Oller, Shawnee Mission, KS
Grant Owens, Hutchinson, KS
Erica Paradise, Bakersfield, CA
Emma Parker, Hayden, ID
James Pawlak, Palatine, IL
Allison Penalva, McPherson, KS
Andrew Penrose, Clovis, CA
Taylor Perez, Tulsa, OK
Blake Peterson, Buhler, KS
Zachary Petrie, Centennial, CO
Jeremy Porter, Seneca Falls, NY
Kristin Potter, Houston, TX
Kaden Quint, Hutchinson, KS
Robert Ramberg, Topeka, KS
David Rees, Gisborne VIC, Australia
Norman Rentschler, Santaquin, UT
Carlos Reyna, Hutchinson, KS
Dylan Riley, Lake Ozark, MO
Joseph Robben, Goddard, KS
Luis Rodriguez Jr., The Colony, TX
Frank Romanaggi, Portland, OR
Pamela Rosales Zapata, Dodge City, KS
Jed Rubin, Bayside, NY
Draven Ruiz, Carmel, NY
Nathaniel Russo, Lakewood, CO
Natalia Salto, Cimarron, KS
Colton Sanders, Littleton, CO
Katherine Saul, Porter, TX
Andrew Schaefer, Sag Harbor, NY
Kody Scholl, Colorado Springs, CO
Robert Schonberner, Omaha, NE
Tallan Schrader, Benkelman, NE
Cole Schroeder, Russell, KS
Ashley Seibel, Moses Lake, WA
Christie Silber, Simi Valley, CA
Eliseo Silva, Sterling, KS
Tomi Simmons, Las Vegas, NV
Emma Singleton, North Las Vegas, NV
Tiffany Slechta, McPherson, KS
Meghan Smith, Lindsborg, KS
Olivia Smith, Wichita, KS
Jack Stalcup, Hugoton, KS
Mason Stephens, Forney, TX
Colby Swift, Sedgwick, KS
Reagan Thai, Las Vegas, NV
Bralyn Thomas, Houston, TX
Samantha Thompson, Forney, TX
Kaden Tichenor, Holcomb, KS
Meklit Tilahun, McPherson, KS
Adriana Tilleman, Van Alstyne, TX
Jacob Turley, Leighton Buzzard, UK
Mackenzie Unruh, Hesston, KS
Kenajah Upchurch, Sugar Land, TX
Grace van Asselt, McPherson, KS
Alexander Van Patten, Almena, KS
Andrew Vekteris, Port Republic, NJ
Susana Velasquez, McPherson, KS
Nicolas Wahl, Koenigstein, Germany
Morgan Watson, Loveland, CO
Kassidy Weaver, Katy, TX
Myriah Webster, Lindsborg, KS
Hannah Wedel, Halstead, KS
Courtney Weesner, Hutchinson, KS
Ann Weesner, Hutchinson, KS
Isaak Welch, Pacific City, OR
John Wells II, Newton, KS
Ira Whitacre, McPherson, KS
Matthisen Witzel, St. Francis, KS
Dalton Womack, Cushing, OK
Logan Worswick, Garland, TX
Cameron Wright, Denison, TX

Nicole Abunaja, San Tan Valley, AZ
Nathan Addis, Hutchinson, KS
Natalia Ahrens, Lees Summit, MO
Amanda Ambrosy, Haslet, TX
Grant Asadoor, Clovis, CA
Brittany Baroni, Galt, CA
Ellen Barrett, McPherson, KS
Aubree Beggs, Graham, TX
Rayna Berry, Wichita, KS
Shane Birzer, Ottawa, KS
Harley Blaske, Sylvia, KS
Luke Boline, Wichita, KS
Molly Booker, Roseville, CA
Jack Bradley, Mounds, OK
Daniel Brown, Southbury, CT
Alex Burger, Sedan, KS
Caden Bush, Watkinsville, GA
Garrett Carroll, Conroe, TX
Zaya Carson, West Des Moines, IA
Marcos Chacon, San Antonio, TX
Cole Coggins, Kiowa, KS
Zane Cornejo, Wellington, KS
Rodrigo Terra De Castro, Salt Lake City, UT
Erika Diaz-trejo, Katy, TX
Prince Difima, Kinshasa, Congo
Paul Calvin Dusabe, Commune De Limete, Zaire
Thomas Eichelberger, Euless, TX
Gershom Epp, Hesston, KS
William Farkash, Seaford, NY
Jasper Fedders, Sioux Center, IA
Naomi Campbell Gateka, Ouagadougou, Congo
Chandler Gehring, Las Vegas, NV
Kollin Goering, McPherson, KS
Cullen Grabast, Osborne, KS
Cauzzi Grace, Crosby, TX
Riley Granger, Lebanon, IN
Madison Hall, The Colony, TX
Garrett Ham, Albuquerque, NM
Clayton Henderson, Dexter, KS
Bailey Hollinger, Lyons, KS
Colin Irvin, North Kingstown, RI
Tya Jackson, Wichita, KS
Maurice Jones, Kansas City, MO
Hunter Jones, Hallettsville, TX
Laheerah Joseph, West Palm Beach, FL
Neville Kabangu, Kinshasa, Congo
Gracia Kasongo, Lubumbashi, Zaire
Liliane Kathoheryo, Goma, Nord Kivu, Zaire
Courtney Keyes, Lyons, KS
Dane Kudera, Baggs, WY
Lauren Kunda, Claremont, CA
Lance Lagasse, New Sweden, ME
Andrew Laird, Charlotte, NC
Carson Lambakis, Yukon, OK
Emily Leeson, Roswell, NM
Daniel Lewis, Vicksburg, MS
Dakota Logan, Monclova, OH
Esther Lubiba, Kinshasa, Congo
Christian Lujan, Salina, KS
Cameron Luther, Alexandria, VA
Handel Mabiala, Kinshasa, Congo
David MacMahon, Lincoln, KS
Matthew Mahan, Topeka, KS
Carelle Mampasu, Kinshasa, Congo
Thomas Mancuso, Chesapeake Beach, MD
Tyler Marcum, Missouri Valley, IA
Samantha Coraliss Mayaka, Kinshasa, Congo
Robert Medina, Olathe, KS
Nhlakanipho Methula, KwaZulu-Natal, Congo
Drake Miller, Rupert, ID
Maison Moseley, Woodward, OK
Nathan Muamba, Kinshasa, Congo
Hunter Nicholas, Amarillo, TX
David Reilly, Edwards, CO
Dustin Rhoads, Tonganoxie, KS
Gregorio Rivera, Colorado Springs, CO
John Robinson, Spearman, TX
Sean Robinson, Fountain Hills, AZ
Cameron Rogers, Elkview, WV
Briana Ruth, McPherson, KS
Nathan Saffer, Arriba, CO
Nicholaus Santini, Trophy Club, TX
Travis Schultz, Kansas City, MO
Jonah Shabry, Boulder Creek, CA
Gerod Shaffer, Topeka, KS
Brianna Shaw, Tulsa, OK
Claire Singleton, North Las Vegas, NV
James Solomon, McKinleyville, CA
Jireh Tooala-Leaupepetele, San Bernardino, CA
Brandy Trengove, Denver, CO
Mychael Tripp, Orange, NJ
Todd Truelove, Olathe, KS
Ashlynd Vanosdell, Tonopah, AZ
Isaiah Vazquez, Montebello, CA
Jeremie Vivuya, Kinshasa, Zaire
Quashad Washington, Tucson, AZ
Collin Wedel, Moundridge, KS
Tyler Wells, Spring, TX
Dorrah Wembi, Commune de Ngaliema, Congo
Alyssa Wilson, Lukachukai, AZ
Kevin Wolfe, Malvern, PA
Ellis Woodruff, Princeton, TX
Madyson Woog, Highlands Ranch, CO
Joseph Yanez-Perez, Rexford, KS

McPherson College recognizes its highest academic achievers in the fall 2020 Honor Roll and Honorable Mention. To qualify for the Honor Roll, students must be a full-time student and earn a grade point average of 3.55 or higher during the previous term. Students earning a grade point average from 3.25 to 3.54 are named to the Honorable Mention Roll.

Students named to the McPherson College Honor Roll for fall 2020 include:

Nicole Abunaja, San Tan Valley, AZ
Israel Acosta, Houston, TX
Clarissa Adamyk, McPherson, KS
Natalia Ahrens, Lees Summit, MO
James Aikins, Hutchinson, KS
Kamaluhia Akiona, Kaaawa, HI
Esther Tibaidjuka Amuli, Kinshasa, Congo
Carter Anglin, Louisburg, KS
Sarah Asher, Kansas City, MO
Destiny Bacon, La Mesa, CA
Eliphas-Levi Balekombwa-Ndelepame, Berea, OH
William Bandy, Bel Air, MD
Thane Barta, Anchorage, AK
Cheneal Benne, Courtland, KS
Terrence Berg, Corpus Christi, TX
Caden Beurkens, Byron Center, MI
Caeley Billings, Gardner, KS
Haelie Bland, Gove , KS
Brady Blanka, Wamego, KS
Mardashia Bloom, Dallas, TX
Julien Bodin, Cartagena, Spain
Kevin Boeckman, Wamego, KS
Taylor Bohannon, Belle Plaine, KS
Luke Boline, Wichita, KS
Molly Booker, Roseville, CA
Cameron Boyce, Tebbetts, MO
Riley Bradbury, Castle Rock, CO
Reven Bradbury, Castle Rock, CO
Jack Bradley, Mounds, OK
Marcus Brasley, The Colony, TX
Cedric Brown, Culpeper, VA
Cherie Bruce, McPherson, KS
Kourtney Brumley, McPherson, KS
Makaylee Bryson, Spanish Fork, UT
Summer Buckshaw, McPherson, KS
Bianca Bulnes, Rancho Cordova , CA
Caden Bush, Watkinsville, GA
Calvin Cassida, Louisburg, KS
Kenneth Castleberry, Melissa, TX
Vannesa Cisneros, North Highlands, CA
Tate Clem, Wichita, KS
Cole Coggins, Kiowa, KS
Daniel Connell, High Peak, Derbyshire, England
Peyton Conner, Littleton, CO
Zane Cornejo, Wellington, KS
Tristan Crowder, Arlington, TX
Taylor Cunningham, Wellsville, KS
Gabriel Dias Correa De Melo, Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Matthew Downs, Lumberton, TX
Sydney Dreiling, Parker, CO
Tyler Dunn, Lawton, OK
Kurtis Ebling, Lindsborg, KS
Mackenzie Egan, Vandreuil Dorion, QC, Canada
Thomas Eichelberger, Euless, TX
Brionnah Fessler, Norton, KS
Heidi Fischer, Aledo, TX
Jadin Fleming, Castle Rock, CO
Theodore Flint, Sagle, ID
Emily Flowers, Overland Park, KS
Kaitlyn Foster, McPherson, KS
Joshua Fowler, Round Rock, TX
Thomas Frick, Encinitas, CA
Martin Galindo, Dallas, TX
Martin Gentes, Florence, MA
Alexandra Gipson, Harrison, AR
Kollin Goering, McPherson, KS
Alexandria Goodloe, Kansas City, KS
Darius Gougis, Houston, TX
Cullen Grabast, Osborne, KS
Conrad Gramckow, Ojai, CA
Alexis Grattan, Newton, KS
Trent Graves, Wichita, KS
Sierra Grow, Halstead, KS
Michael Halgren, Leawood, KS
Madison Hall, The Colony, TX
Garrett Ham, Albuquerque, NM
Taylor Hamm, Round Rock, TX
Jailynn Hammel, Salina, KS
Jonathan Hawkins, Baldwin City, KS
Scott Hayford, Spring Creek, NV
Shyanne Henkis, Laveen, AZ
Grayson Henry, Mckinney, TX
Jacob Herman, Coronado, CA
Sydney Hicks, Broomfield, CO
Lola Hipp, Goodland, KS
Kayle Hockett, Andover, KS
Jonathan Hoffman, Wysox, PA
Kelly Hoffman, Wysox, PA
Bailey Hollinger, Lyons, KS
Isabella Holmes, Goddard, KS
Elizabeth Hopper, Valley Springs, CA
Daniel Horra, Overland Park, KS
Caleb Houghton, McPherson, KS
Hunter Hughes, Tigard, OR
Noah Huls, Aurora, NE
Florine Ibale, Kinshasa, Zaire, COngo
Spencer Ice, Cameron, MO
Navid Istanbullu, Bremen, Germany
Tya Jackson, Wichita, KS
Makenzie Jansonius, Prairie View, KS
Britney Jarvis, Oceanside, CA
Trevor Johnson, La Mesa, CA
Brandt Johnson, Peyton, CO
Kennedy Johnson, Colorado Springs, CO
Laheerah Joseph, West Palm Beach, FL
Sebia Kalambayi Kabedi, Kinshasa, Congo
Arya Karmacharya, Keller , TX
Gracia Kasereka, Commune De Selembao, Congo
Polina Khoroshevskaya, Kemerovo, Russia
Justus Clemens Koehler, Prosselsheim
Jakob Komel, Solvenia, Slovenia
Matthew Kroeker, Wichita, KS
Lauren Kunda, Claremont, CA
Carson Lambakis, Yukon, OK
Tatelyn Lasley, Springfield, CO
Delani List, Junction City, KS
Alyssa Lobbes, Lipan, TX
Tyler Loy, Topeka, KS
Esther Lubiba, Kinshasa, Congo
Cameron Luther, Alexandria, VA
Kyle Lux, Lewes, DE
Kaylynn Lyons, Winslow, AZ
Brett Maddock, Oakdale, CA
Thomas Mancuso, Chesapeake Beach, MD
Kendra Maples, Maywood, MO
Kael Markham, Topeka, KS
Carson Martin, Elkhart, IN
Bethany Masters, Howe, TX
Trisha Mathewson, Axtell, KS
Bryson McCaleb, McPherson, KS
Savannah McHugh, Wichita, KS
Hannah McKay, Golden, CO
Hunter Meeks-Riner, Broken Arrow, OK
Brittany Merkel, Waxhaw, NC
Wyatt Miceli, Woodacre, CA
Maria Miranda, Great Bend, KS
Rodrigo Miranda Enriquez, Great Bend, KS
Palmer Moe, Seattle, WA
Ezra Monroe, Melissa, TX
Ethan Montalvo, La Feria, TX
Maison Moseley, Woodward, OK
Ilanna Moyer, McPherson, KS
Madison Mullen, Wichita, KS
Vanessa Mundo, Houston, TX
Charles Munns, Chico, CA
Trey Murphy, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Paul Murphy, Independence, MO
Michel Mwengwe, Lubumbashi, Congo
Paul Kapya Mwengwe, Lubumbashi, Congo
Tyler Natkin, Warrington, PA
Gregory Neiger, Scotts Valley, CA
Benjamin Nikkel, McPherson, KS
Graham Noblett, Fairport, NY
Shawn Nutt, McPherson, KS
Jason Okoro, Plano, TX
Tevin Oller, Shawnee Mission, KS
Kayla Ortiz, Brownsville, TX
Grant Owens, Hutchinson, KS
Samuel Palecki, Stilwell, KS
Erica Paradise, Bakersfield, CA
Emma Parker, Hayden, ID
James Pawlak, Palatine, IL
Taylor Perez, Tulsa, OK
Zachary Petrie, Centennial, CO
Jeremy Porter, Seneca Falls, NY
Kaden Quint, Hutchinson, KS
Tyler Rainey, Saint Louis, MO
Robert Ramberg, Topeka, KS
Kendryk Rankin, Peyton, CO
David Rees, Gisborne VIC, Australia
Norman Rentschler, Santaquin, UT
Dustin Rhoads, Tonganoxie, KS
Gregorio Rivera, Colorado Springs, CO
Brittany Roberts, Mansfield, TX
Luis Rodriguez Jr., The Colony, TX
Frank Romanaggi, Portland, OR
Jed Rubin, Bayside, NY
Briana Ruth, McPherson, KS
Colton Sanders, Littleton, CO
Kody Scholl, Colorado Springs, CO
Tallan Schrader, Benkelman, NE
Cole Schroeder, Russell, KS
Gerod Shaffer, Topeka, KS
Elizabeth Shugart, Castle Rock, CO
Christie Silber, Simi Valley, CA
Eliseo Silva, Sterling, KS
Emma Singleton, North Las Vegas, NV
Lauren Skinner, Fate, TX
Tiffany Slechta, McPherson, KS
Meghan Smith, Lindsborg, KS
Olivia Smith, Wichita, KS
Stefan Snow, Manor, TX
Jack Stalcup, Hugoton, KS
Mason Stephens, Forney, TX
Colby Swift, Sedgwick, KS
Reagan Thai, Las Vegas, NV
Bralyn Thomas, Houston, TX
Samantha Thompson, Forney, TX
Sean Thomson, Blandford Forum, UK
Kaden Tichenor, Holcomb, KS
Meklit Tilahun, Irwin, OH
Carley Tomlin, Little River, KS
Jireh Tooala-Leaupepetele, San Bernardino, CA
Jacob Turley, Leighton Buzzard, UK
Mackenzie Unruh, Hesston, KS
Kenajah Upchurch, Sugar Land, TX
Grace van Asselt, McPherson, KS
Alexander Van Patten, Almena, KS
Isaiah Vazquez, Montebello, CA
Nicolas Wahl, Koenigstein, Germany
Morgan Watson, Loveland, CO
Kassidy Weaver, Katy, TX
Myriah Webster, Lindsborg, KS
Hannah Wedel, Halstead, KS
Courtney Weesner, Hutchinson, KS
Ann Weesner, Hutchinson, KS
Isaak Welch, Pacific City, OR
Ira Whitacre, McPherson, KS
Alyssa Wilson, Lukachukai, AZ
Nicholas Wilson, Hutchinson, KS
Matthisen Witzel, St. Francis, KS
Kevin Wolfe, Malvern, PA
Madyson Woog, Highlands Ranch, CO
Logan Worswick, Garland, TX
Cameron Wright, Denison, TX
Julianna Yanez, Wichita, KS
Joseph Yanez-Perez, Rexford, KS

Students named to the McPherson College Honorable Mention for fall 2020 include:

Evariste Abeli, Kinshasa, Congo
Nathan Addis, Hutchinson, KS
Brianna Alonso, Grand Prairie, TX
Amanda Ambrosy, Haslet, TX
Austin Apple, Fort Morgan, CO
Larry Barnes, Jacksonville, NC
Brittany Baroni, Galt, CA
Rayna Berry, Wichita, KS
Mia Birkes, Mcpherson, KS
Harley Blaske, Sylvia, KS
Christopher Boutte, Opelousas, LA
Amy Braimbridge, Connolly, Australia
Aidan Brown, Sterling, IL
Alex Burger, Sedan, KS
Hannah Butler, McPherson, KS
James Canar, Longmont, CO
Marcos Chacon, San Antonio, TX
Kaci Chadwick, Cheyenne Wells, CO
Cory Chairs, Memphis, TN
Jacob Christopher, Overland Park, KS
Kayley Cook, Byers, KS
Austin Cooper, Carmichael, CA
Aaron Cyrus, Carrollton, TX
Dante Dellacroce, Colorado Springs, CO
Antoine Detavernier, Bruges, Belgium
Jaxon Douthit, Shawnee, OK
Paul Calvin Dusabe, Commune De Limete, Congo
Gershom Epp, Hesston, KS
Amber Evans, Hesperia, CA
Boone Evans, Bullard, TX
Marcus Vinicius Fernandes, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Taeylon Garland, Fort Hood, TX
Elias Gonzalez, Aurora, CO
Maria Gonzalez, Wichita, KS
Maritza Gonzalez, Eagle Pass, TX
Graedon Green, McPherson, KS
Peter Greenough, Victoria, MN
Samuel Grim, Johnstown, CO
Jacqueline Gullion, Fremont, CA
Cooper Hack, Casper, WY
Georgia Hitchcock, Cody, WY
Dashawn Holliman, Fresno, CA
Shekinah Ilunga, Johannesburg
Kemryn Jenkins, Eminence, KY
Zachary Kantor, Pacific Palisades, CA
Raegan Kleppe, Durant, OK
Dane Kudera, Baggs, WY
Skylar Lane, Castle Rock, CO
Tuck Lang, Fowler, KS
Daniel Lewis, Vicksburg, MS
Peyton Lindsey, Prairie Village, KS
Matthew Mahan, Topeka, KS
Tyler Marcum, Missouri Valley, IA
Ellyce Mares, Riverside, CA
Colby Marshall, Montgomery, TX
Dylan Martell, Colorado Springs, CO
Tyler Menard, Westmoreland, NH
Nathan Monk, Minimbah, Australia
Jacob Munoz, Pflugerville, TX
Trevor Myers, Delta, CO
Hunter Nicholas, Amarillo, TX
Brett Oden, Sterling, KS
Alexandrea Pak, Pulyallup, WA
Kristopher Perez, Miramar, FL
Blake Peterson, Buhler, KS
Giovanni Ramirez, Houston, TX
Ashtyn Redus, Afton, OK
Melvin Reid, Waterford Works, NJ
Samuel Riedlinger, Hockley, TX
Cynarah Rodriquez, Amarillo, TX
Cameron Rogers, Elkview, WV
Joshua Roper, Colorado Springs, CO
Nathaniel Russo, Lakewood, CO
Christian Salazar, Elgin, TX
Natalia Salto, Cimarron, KS
Katherine Saul, Porter, TX
Andrew Schaefer, Sag Harbor, NY
Dustin Schnacker, Tulare, CA
Robert Schonberner, Omaha, NE
Jonah Shabry, Boulder Creek, CA
Tomi Simmons, Las Vegas, NV
Darren Slatter, Hallettsville, TX
Alyssa Soliz, Junction City, KS
Ryan Tate, Denton, TX
Emily Terry, Springfield, MO
Adriana Tilleman, Van Alstyne, TX
Isaac Tilotta, Palacios, TX
Trinity Tovar, Haslet, TX
Brandy Trengove, Denver, CO
Ashlynd Vanosdell, Tonopah, AZ
Joshua Wade, Olathe, KS
Collin Wedel, Moundridge, KS
Ellis Woodruff, Princeton, TX

Abilene HS Jazz Band performed virtually in the MC Jazz Festival

Nearly 300 students from 14 area high schools and a middle school participated in the McPherson College Jazz Festival. The festival, which has drawn hundreds of young musicians to campus for the past seven years, was a virtual event this year.

Jazz bands submitted video performances that clinicians adjudicated to determine ratings and awards. This year’s clinicians included Kyle Hopkins, director of bands and associate professor of music at McPherson College; Brad Shores, retired music educator and adjunct of percussion; and Gregg Walker, retired music educator and adjunct of woodwinds.

Hopkins said the idea for the annual jazz festival came from area band directors asking for a quality jazz festival in the fall to support jazz education at a time of year when marching band tends to overshadow other aspects of a public school’s band program. The festival is held annually in the fall and continues to grow in size each year.

“Jazz is the quintessential American art form,” Hopkins said. “In studying jazz, you can’t separate the music from the history of jazz, which is American history. What a great thing to teach our kids, especially in a time when co-curricular classes are experiencing a squeeze, forcing many of them out of school curriculums! With the pandemic, band directors have faced huge challenges in how to engage their students musically while keeping them safe and healthy. So I’m particularly proud of the schools that were able to find creative ways to participate in the jazz festival this year.” Highlights from the performances can be viewed at https://youtu.be/M5fWFgPcs0U.

Participating schools include Abilene High School, Arkansas City High School, Dodge City High School, Junction City High School, Lansing High School, McPherson High School, McPherson Middle School, Newton High School, Riley County High School, Salina Central High School, Scott Community High School, Smoky Valley High School, and Sterling High School.