For the Class of 2029 at McPherson College, finding the “right fit” wasn’t just about picking a school — it was about finding a place that reflects their values. With its mission rooted in scholarship, participation, and service, these college-bound students recognized McPherson College’s career-focused education matched their interests and ambitions.

Many are members of the National Honor Society with an average class GPA of 3.3. Some have completed extensive research in areas such as cybersecurity and solar energy. Others explored their academic curiosity through shadowing and internships with a lead ornithologist, a Denver metro firefighter, and a couture seamstress.

The new class participated as student-athletes in high school — 260 will participate on McPherson College teams. They were team captains and district champions and even achieved podium finishes at the Junior Olympics in swimming. Some participated in unique sports like fencing, roller derby, sailing, BMX freestyle, figure skating, and martial arts. Others participated in high school and community organizations including several Eagle Scouts.

This class raised money for children’s hospitals, fed homeless people, coached kids, and protected the environment, all while balancing school and jobs. Most students worked during high school as baristas, lifeguards, farm hands, in health care and at least one was a blacksmith. There were entrepreneurs who owned their own business, such as car detailing, mowing, a barber, an animator on YouTube, and boat husbandry — hull cleaning services at yacht clubs, diving under boats to scrub and restore them.

The new class of 361 students comes from 39 states and six countries. There are eight legacy students and five children of McPherson faculty or staff. Most of the students were born in the years that YouTube exploded onto the digital scene, Twitter launched, and Apple unveiled its first-generation iPhone; Nancy Pelosi became the first female speaker of the House; the final episode of The Sopranos and the first episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians aired; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows was published; audiences were going to see Cars and Ratatouille in theaters; and Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” topped the charts.

Fun facts about the Class of 2029:

• Interesting jobs include golf coach, zoo employee, tour guide at the Salt Mine Museum, pizza maker at a local pizzeria tossing dough.
• Welded overseas in the Netherlands during a study-abroad trip.
• Sang at Carnegie Hall.
• Solved the Rubik’s Cube in less than a minute.
• Sailed 6,500 miles across the Pacific Ocean.
• Filmed parts of a skate video that got posted on Thrasher magazine, a “big deal” among skateboarders.
• Co-founded the Wood Choppers Club, which was created to acquire and chop wood to give to those in need on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
• Ran an event for kids with disabilities to play basketball.
• Cooked and fed over 75 people in the Wichita homeless community and handed out personal hygiene packs.
• Raised $5,000 by organizing a community car show and donated the money to the local VFW and food bank.
• Raised $30,000 for Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center.
• Founded the Culinary Club and competed in many gourmet competitions.
• Donated proceeds from a lemonade stand to the Sioux Falls Children’s Hospital.
• Created a non-profit that raised money to donate art supplies to a local children’s hospital and over 12 years raised $23,500. The largest fundraiser was a haunted house that became a community tradition.
• Created a series of videos teaching football positions for elementary students participating in a local little league.
• Active in Gnome Surf, a surf therapy program for kids with disabilities.
• Helped retire American flags.
• Raised money for breast cancer awareness.
• As Boy Scout, went backpacking in Philmont, NM, and paddling at the Northern Tier, MN.
• Planted trees to bring back a clear-cut forest and prevent erosion for an Eagle Scout project.
• Designed and built a 14-foot storage unit for the high school as an Eagle Scout project.
• Created bird houses for blue birds and placed them around the neighborhood to help increase the population.
• Hobbies include cooking and grilling, music, scuba, sailing, surfing, welding, poetry, paleontology, zoology, photography, making fishing lures, white water sports, skiing, gaming, and collecting old vinyl records.
• Earned a first-degree Taekwondo black belt.
• Trained in martial arts of Wushu and Krav Maga.
• Placed second in the California FFA state competition with a project that studied the impact of cleanliness on photovoltaic modules in the California Central Valley. Worked with local companies that clean solar panels and local dairies to study the impact heavy dust pollution has on the solar array and the cost to maintain the panels, plus the cost benefits of running a farm off solar.
• Was born during Super Bowl 2005.

A McPherson business with deep roots in the community is making a significant investment in McPherson College’s most ambitious building campaign. Peoples Bank and Trust has committed $500,000 toward the college’s signature building project – the Campus Commons. In appreciation of the gift, the third-floor Welcome Center in the building will be named the People’s Bank and Trust Welcome Center.

Peoples Bank and Trust’s pledge propels McPherson College closer to completing fundraising for the Campus Commons. The bank’s pledge also boosts McPherson College toward securing a $2 million challenge grant from the J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation.

“This gift recognizes the special relationship between McPherson College and Peoples Bank and Trust,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “It’s fitting that the gift comes during the bank’s 125^th anniversary and supports a project that will have a lasting impact on our community.”

Once completed, the Campus Commons will stand as one of the most prominent buildings in McPherson, serving students, employees, and community members. The 55,000-square-foot building will serve as the beating heart of student life on campus, providing a state-of-the-art event venue, service hub, and place to grab a bite—while passing through a three-story atrium with classic cars on display, celebrating McPherson’s one-of-a-kind Automotive Restoration degree program. “The Commons” will be a true signature facility that will accommodate McPherson College’s growth and provide a new “front door” to the campus and a welcome to the city of McPherson.

“We are extremely pleased to partner with McPherson College on their Campus Commons project,” said Tom Pruitt, president and CEO of Peoples Bank and Trust. “We have worked alongside McPherson College since the bank began in 1898.  Our founder, F.A. Vaniman established a relationship with the college when he moved to town and began Peoples State Bank.  That relationship has continued to grow over the past 125 years. We are very excited for the impact the new Campus Commons project will have on the college, as well as the community.”

The gift is part of the successful $60 million Building Community comprehensive campaign, which is the catalyst of the college’s largest-ever investment in new buildings in its 135-year history. In addition to new structures, nearly half of the $60 million in new funding will directly support educational initiatives on campus, such as student scholarships, Health Science, Automotive Restoration, and other academic programs and growth areas.

Peoples Bank and Trust was founded in 1898 by F.A. Vaniman. The bank, known then as Peoples State Bank, was in downtown McPherson in the same location today. Over the years, the bank has supported McPherson College in various ways, a partnership that has reaped benefits for both organizations while serving the people of McPherson. Notably, in 1959 the Vaniman family home was donated to the college and used as a dormitory, and later as the McPherson Museum. In addition to the Vanimans, Sargent family members held prominent roles in the bank, with many attending and graduating from McPherson College. The Houghton family — current bank owners — have been highly involved with McPherson College by serving on its board of trustees and supporting the development of new academic programs.

Anonymous estate gift will support construction of several new buildings, a rural and community health center, reduction in student debt and other initiatives.

McPherson College, a Kansas liberal arts college known for its one-of-a-kind Automotive Restoration Technology degree program, announced today it has received the largest single commitment to a small liberal arts college in the United States. The anonymous double-match estate commitment is worth $500 million and over time will allow the college to reimagine and reinvent its campus while it pursues initiatives that enhance the student experience. McPherson College offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs to its more than 800 students, representing 33 states and seven countries.

McPherson College President Michael Schneider announced the commitment to its endowment at a press conference today at the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita. Also speaking were United States Senator Jerry Moran and Giving Pledge Signatory and California philanthropist Melanie Lundquist—representing the anonymous donor.

As part of the “double-match” estate gift, the anonymous donor will contribute two dollars for every dollar given by others, up to $500 million to the college’s endowment. The anonymous donor can opt to pay over time, or the total is due in full upon their death.  The college has until June 30, 2023 to meet this target, and is well on its way having raised $130 million to date. If the goal of raising $250 million is met, the donor will contribute $500 million, resulting in a total of $750 million into McPherson College’s endowment.

“This is an unprecedented show of support not just for McPherson College but also for America’s small, liberal arts colleges,” said Schneider. “I am indescribably grateful to our anonymous donor for giving McPherson College the resources to implement our expansive strategic plan and truly create the student-first campus of the future. We must reimagine the campus, just like we’ve reimagined the workplace in the last two years, and do it without burdening our students with more debt. I am also grateful to our faculty, staff, Board of Trustees, and my cabinet, whose encouragement and guidance are a source of inspiration.” Schneider graduated from McPherson College with honors in 1996 and became president in 2009.

The $500 million will support the college’s Community by Design strategic plan, including four initiatives:

• Continuation of the pioneering Student Debt Project, which provides matching funds for students who hold jobs while attending school;
• East McPherson, the new campus master plan including the 55,000 square foot Campus Commons student life center, which breaks ground tomorrow, the Boiler House recreation and social space, and the Holman Center for Athletics;
• The Kansas Center for Rural & Community Health Science;
• The National Center for the Future of Engineering, Design & Mobility.

“McPherson College is important to the success of our state, and these generous donations will not only help the college continue to grow, but it will also greatly benefit the McPherson community,” said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “When donors are willing to invest so much, it proves the college is doing something right, and I appreciate their understanding of how vital institutions like this are to our local communities and the nation. McPherson College has seen tremendous growth over the past decade, in large part because of the investments made in both its students and the community. Under the leadership of President Schneider, McPherson College identifies the community’s needs and prepares its students to step into these roles immediately following graduation. I look forward to joining President Schneider to announce the fulfillment of this $500 million match and to seeing the bright future McPherson College has ahead.”

Today’s historic announcement was in part catalyzed by a $25 million multi-year commitment in May from philanthropists Melanie and Richard Lundquist, which was the Lundquists’ first significant donation outside of their California home and their first gift in higher education. At the press conference, Melanie Lundquist announced an additional $25 million gift to McPherson College, bringing their total commitment to $50 million.  Richard Lundquist joined McPherson College’s Board of Trustees earlier this year.

“It is a huge honor for my husband Richard and me to represent the donor and make an additional investment in a truly special place, McPherson College,” said Melanie Lundquist. “Small liberal arts colleges like McPherson create nurturing ecosystems that foster creativity and innovation. Meaningful philanthropy can help solidify a small college’s future. We are excited to double down on the magic happening on the Plains. We encourage other philanthropists to follow our lead and take advantage of the 2:1 match – there’s no greater return on investment in higher education.”

Since 2018, McPherson College has operated the Student Debt Project, which provides matching funds for students who hold jobs while attending McPherson College. McPherson College has been able to buck the tide of student debt and play a small part in giving students a less stressful future, with 30% of all students in the Student Debt Project projecting zero debt at graduation.

The new campus master plan is a rare opportunity to reimagine an established college and create a campus of the future. At the heart of it, the Campus Commons will serve as the center of student life on campus, providing a state-of-the-art event venue, service hub and place to grab a bite. It was intentionally designed for the way students live and study on a 21^st century campus. The Boiler House is an imaginative reuse of McPherson’s existing utility building to create an entirely new campus gathering point that provides indoor and outdoor space to socialize and collaborate, and the Holman Center for Athletics—an expansion of the existing sports facility—will give McPherson’s teams a modernized venue.

With the Center for Rural & Community Health, McPherson College is responding to extreme demand for healthcare professionals, especially in rural areas of Kansas. This program started in 2019 with a partnership between McPherson College and other community health organizations, and today’s announcement will allow the college to significantly expand its offerings, allow students to engage with a much broader spectrum of health fields, and will support scholarships to make this program accessible to more students.

McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration Technology degree program has received national acclaim and earned the support of car collectors, including icon Jay Leno, and its students hope to compete at one of the automotive world’s signature events, the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach, Calif. next year. The program has inspired the college’s future growth—exploring areas like engineering, design and mobility. With this donation, McPherson College plans a new automotive collection facility with climate-controlled areas to store, display and maintain classic cars, and give students state-of-the-art equipment to enhance auto restoration programming.

“The gifts announced today will transform students’ lives. McPherson College provides me with an unparalleled learning environment where I can cultivate my skill set and build a solid foundation for my future career. Because of my time at McPherson, I know I will make a difference in the world,” said senior Victoria Bruno, who spoke at today’s press conference.

McPherson College, a Kansas institution known for its dedication to helping students find balance and success, as well as its innovative Automotive Restoration Technology degree program, is reimagining its campus for the future—funded in part by a successful $55 million capital campaign that will supercharge the largest-ever investment in new buildings in its 135-year history.

McPherson College released renderings today of the three new building projects that will be the centerpiece of this historic campus update: Campus Commons, the Boiler House and the Holman Center for Athletics. All of these projects have one thing in common: they are built around how students learn and live in the 21^st century, giving them the resources and support to do their best work.

Alumni and visitors attending McPherson College’s Homecoming celebration on October 15 will be able to see designs of the new buildings and the progress made toward their completion as part of a walking tour. This will provide the opportunity to envision these projects in their campus setting.

In addition to the new structures, nearly half of the $55 million in new funding will directly support educational initiatives on campus, such as student scholarships, Health Science, Automotive Restoration and other academic programs and growth areas.

“This is a truly momentous announcement for McPherson College, and nobody deserves it more than our hardworking students, faculty, and staff,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “We are changing the face of our campus in a way that puts the needs of our students first and prepares them for the future, thanks to the tremendous support we have received from across the country.”

The 55,000 square-foot Campus Commons will serve as the beating heart of student life on campus, providing a state-of-the-art event venue, service hub and place to grab a bite—while passing through a three-story atrium with classic cars on display, celebrating McPherson’s one-of-a-kind Automotive Restoration degree program.

$20 million in funding will go to The Commons, a true signature facility that will accommodate McPherson College’s growth and provide a new “front door” to the campus, with a prairie-inspired design that provides a welcome to the city of McPherson.

The building will contain the new campus dining facility, a coffee shop, student store, flexible coworking and collaboration space, as well as several administrative offices, the new Dalke Center housing Career Services and a Welcome Center for new students. It is a bold move away from the current student union and toward a center that makes sense for the way students live and study on a 21^st century campus.

The Boiler House is an indoor-outdoor dining and event space with flex seating, yard games, fire pits and a large outdoor screen and stage area.

The Boiler House is truly the college hangout for the next generation: an indoor-outdoor space with flex seating, yard games, fire pits and a large outdoor screen and stage area—the perfect place to socialize and collaborate with classmates. It is an imaginative reuse of McPherson’s existing utility building to create an entirely new campus gathering point. In addition, the Holman Center for Athletics—an expansion of the existing sports facility—will give McPherson’s teams a modernized venue as they compete in a fast-changing dynamic for college athletics.

Beck Design, an architectural firm that specializes in higher education and cultural institutions, led the design for McPherson’s new buildings. The firm, which has offices in New York, Oklahoma City and Tulsa, operates with a mission of creating spaces that enhance the quality of life of those who work, live and study in them—which the new buildings exemplify.

“It is an honor to play a part in re-imagining the campus of McPherson College, a true gem in this region,” said Paula Beck, Principal of Beck Design. “The Campus Commons and Boiler House in particular truly emphasize our firm’s ethos of collaboration driving innovative experiences for students.”

McPherson is not just building new cutting-edge additions to its campus; it is helping its students enjoy it with significantly less debt. In conjunction with the campus additions, McPherson is also announcing a significant contribution of $3 million toward its pioneering Student Debt Project, which provides matching funds for students who hold jobs while attending school—helping keep costs manageable at a time of rising costs for essential items such as food and transportation. As a result of the Student Debt Project, McPherson College has one of the lowest average student debt at graduation rates among four-year colleges and universities in Kansas, giving students the ability to hit the ground running and take more of the earnings from their first post-college jobs home with them.

“The Student Debt Project has made it possible for me to receive a top-quality college education with the personal touch McPherson provides, and graduate with an extremely manageable amount of debt,” said Lola Hipp, a graphic design student at McPherson College. “I have family members who have struggled with college debt, and McPherson has made it possible for me to pursue my education in an affordable way.”

Nearly 40% of all McPherson students were engaged in the Student Debt Project during the last school year, with participants in the program achieving a higher-than-average 3.3 GPA. Nearly 60% percent of participants had less than $2,000 in debt by the end of the last semester—with half of those students already becoming debt free. And 93% of students who participate in the Student Debt Project have remained in school.

“I am very proud that the most forward-thinking college town is in the middle of the country,” said Mayor Tom Brown, Mayor of McPherson, Kan.,. “I have a feeling this is not the last time McPherson College will be making news. Great things are ahead for our college and our city.”

Today’s transformative investment in the future of McPherson College was catalyzed by a $25 million donation in May from philanthropists Melanie and Richard Lundquist, which marked the Lundquists’ first significant donation outside of their California home. Their gift has helped attract other donors.

“When I first learned about McPherson College through my interest in classic cars, I was immediately inspired by the sincerity and work ethic of the students and the way they were empowered by the culture on campus,” said Richard Lundquist. “It felt right to make this special place our first significant philanthropic investment outside our home state and shine more light on the magic happening on the Plains.” Lundquist recently joined McPherson College’s Board of Trustees.

McPherson College offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs to its more than 800 students, representing 33 states and seven countries. Its nationally renowned Automotive Restoration Technology degree program has earned the support of car collectors, including icon Jay Leno, and its students plan to compete at one of the automotive world’s signature events, the Concours d’Elegance at Pebble Beach, Calif. next year.