Student Life Archives

Posted On: March 19, 2021
By: MC Admin

A new initiative at McPherson College is creating normalcy, both academically and socially, for students who may otherwise be feeling isolated this year. The initiative called QuaranTeams encourages students to form small groups and provides funding for their activities.

Gifts from alumni and friends of the college support the program, which is coordinated through the Office of Student Life. Launched at the start of the spring semester, 20 teams of two to five students are participating in the program. Each week the teams can request funds to pay for an activity for their small group.

“It’s a social-safety initiative to decrease the spread of COVID-19 on our campus,” Gabrielle Williams, director of student life, said. “Our expectations were simply to provide students an opportunity to hang out and support their mental wellness. It’s become a very organic way for students to shape their own experiences while still keeping in touch with our office.”

Students agree to a social contract that outlines behavior within their team, such as how they greet each other or if they hang out with other groups. The teams also agree to host at least two study halls, complete 10 hours of community service, and attend at least one Student Life organized campus event.

“I think we are very privileged to have alumni donate funds for a program dedicated to the student experience,” Williams said. “The community service aspect of the program is our way of helping our students give back in appreciation of the investment that was made in them.”

Teams have used funds to order take-out, buy supplies for watch parties and game nights, and a variety of other small group activities.

“Not all of the people on the teams were friends before this,” Williams said. “It’s been a really good way for students to stay connected and make new friendships, which has been hard this year especially for our freshmen.”

Posted On: December 21, 2020
By: MC Admin

Shana L. Warkentine Meyer will join McPherson College as vice president for student affairs.

Shana L. Warkentine Meyer will join McPherson College as vice president for student affairs after the completion of this academic year. She brings more than 23 years of administrative experience in higher education to the position including her current role as interim vice president for student affairs at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

“McPherson College is fortunate to have found somebody with the depth of knowledge and experience to fill the leadership role in student affairs,” President Michael Schneider said. “I am grateful for the leadership from Interim Dean of Students Jamie Pjesky the past nine months. Shana is a welcome addition to a team focused on strengthening the McPherson College student experience.”

Throughout her career, Meyer has provided institutional leadership in student development, risk management, diversity training, budgeting, strategic planning, master planning, crisis response, and assessment. Additionally, she has held leadership positions in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators including representing 10 states as a regional director and as vice president for student affairs initiatives on the organization’s conference planning subcommittee.

At McPherson College, Meyer will design and manage all student-driven programs that attract potential students, enhance student development, promote retention, and enrich the academic experience for all students. She will oversee student life initiatives, residential staff and activities, coordinate dining and healthcare, work with academic services, and promote safety throughout all aspects of student affairs.

Prior to her current interim position, Meyer served as vice president for student affairs at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, and as assistant vice president of student affairs at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas. She has also worked in student and academic affairs roles at Kansas State University Polytechnic in Salina, and Kansas State University in Manhattan.

“As a Kansas native, I am thrilled to be returning home,” Meyer said. “McPherson College is a special place with welcoming people and engaged students. When I visited campus, I was impressed with the quality education, excellent student experience, and the value McPherson College offers.

“There are many exciting opportunities on the horizon and I’m eager to work alongside President Schneider, faculty, staff, the student affairs team, and our students to continue and build upon the great work begin accomplished. Most importantly, I look forward to finding ways to interact with and support our students.”

She holds an M.S. in Counselor Education, Student Personnel Emphasis, and a B.S. in English/journalism, with a communication minor, from Emporia State University, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in student affairs in higher education from Kansas State University.

Meyers will begin work on June 1, 2021.

Posted On: December 8, 2020
By: MC Admin

A unique program that offers McPherson College students opportunities to engage in outdoor adventures continues to add new initiatives that enhance the student experience and build leadership skills while embracing Kansas outdoors.

The Bulldog Adventures program was introduced to McPherson College students last academic year providing opportunities for students to participate in monthly off-campus adventures as well as on-campus outdoor activities. Offering ventures like hiking, float trips, a fishing derby, and lawn games, Bulldog Adventures utilizes outdoor spaces in and around campus. This year the program added several new initiatives including a Build Your Own Adventure option, Shotgun Sports team, and will introduce a leadership academy later this spring.

Through Build Your Own Adventure, students can check out adventure gear like backpacks, trekking poles, fishing gear, tents, and sleeping bags, and consult with Tony Helfrich, director of adventure programming, about where and how to plan their own adventures. Other gear like binoculars, hammocks, and disc golf sets are also available providing a wide variety of options. The gear, which was donated to the college through The Outdoor Fund by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s, is offered at no expense to students.

“We have great participation in our monthly outings but also wanted to give our students the ability to explore Kansas on their own,” Helfrich said. “We also collaborate with other campus groups to plan custom adventures that appeal to their members. For many of our students, our adventures are their first exposure to this part of our state.”

The McPherson College Shotgun Sports team, another aspect of the outdoor adventure program, recently completed its inaugural season. The team competes in the USA College Clay Target League, Association of College Unions International Clay Targets, and Scholastic Clay Target Program. Shotgun Sports is a varsity level, co-ed team with scholarships available for student-athletes. Helfrich, a nationally certified shotgun coach and range safety officer, serves as head coach. His assistant coaches are Pete Brubaker and Chris Wallace.

“Shotgun sports is an activity that really evens the playing field for many students. Any person regardless of their athletic ability can participate in it,” Brubaker, who is also a nationally certified shotgun coach, said. “It provides all the beneficial lessons of team participation to a much wider group of McPherson College students. And, it is well documented that it is one of the safest sports for students. A national safety surveillance study a couple of years ago reported that of one million trigger pulls that year there were no injuries. No other sport can make that claim.”

This season, six student-athletes participated on the team, including Lola Hipp of Goodland, Kansas.

“I was so excited when Tony (Helfrich) reached out to me about being able to shoot trap at the collegiate level. It was something I never thought I would be able to do,” Hipp said. “Being able to compete in shotgun sports really brought McPherson College to the top of the list when choosing where to go, and it is one of the best choices I have made during my college career.”

Bulldog Adventures will also introduce a new leadership academy as part of its program later this spring. The adventures program is collaborating with the college’s Career Service Office to create leadership opportunities that combine outdoor adventure experiences with the eight career readiness competencies outlined by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. The goal of the leadership academy is to prepare students for professional life and provide a completion certificate that students can include in their résumés.

“Taking part in structured outdoor adventures requires a wide array of skills that easily crossover to a professional setting,” Helfrich said. “What sets our leadership program apart from others is that we’re going to be teaching these skills while participating in some really neat hands-on outings. It’s all about using the power of the great outdoors to bring students together and grow as young people while having fun leading experiences and learning skills that will benefit them for life.”

The adventure program was made possible through a generous donation from a supporter of the college who has a passion for the outdoors. Helfrich says he looks forward to continuing to grow the program and increase the number of students engaged in outdoor adventures. The program was recently featured on the podcast Uncovering Kansas. More information can also be found at https://www.mcpherson.edu/experiences/bulldog-adventures/.

Posted On: October 19, 2020
By: MC Admin

Students at McPherson College have the opportunity to set out on their own adventures and explore all Kansas has to offer through a new program on campus called Build Your Own Adventure. Offered through the college’s Bulldog Adventures organization, it provides gear and planning information to assist students in taking advantage of the great outdoor spaces in Kansas on their own time.

Bulldog Adventures, a program introduced by McPherson College last year, provides opportunities for students to participate in monthly adventures and on-campus outdoor activities. Offering ventures like hiking, float trips, a fishing derby, and lawn games, Bulldog Adventures utilizes outdoor spaces in and around campus to engage students and develop leadership skills.

“We have great participation in our monthly outings but also wanted to give our students the ability to explore Kansas on their own,” Tony Helfrich, director of Bulldog Adventures, said. “For many of our students, our adventures are their first exposure to this part of our state.”

Adventure gear for hiking like backpacks and trekking poles along with fishing gear, tents, sleeping bags, and other camping gear, disc golf sets as well as other gear like binoculars and hammocks are available for students to check out and use on their adventures. The gear, which was donated to the college through The Outdoor Fund by Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s is offered at no expense to the students.

Helfrich, an experienced outdoorsman, is available to help students plan their adventure. A list of hiking trails, fishing sites, camping areas and disc golf courses within half a day’s drive from campus provide plenty of options for students to experience Kansas.

“The adventure programs enhance the collegiate experience in a way that has not been done before,” Helfrich said. “I hope to engage students and spark a passion for adventure by taking advantage of all there is to do in Kansas. It’s an ideal way to socialize in a responsible way while learning skills they can enjoy their entire life.”

Beside the monthly group adventures and the new Build Your Own Adventure program, Bulldog Adventures also coordinates efforts of the student Adventures Club, which is working with the Environmental Stewardship class to develop the McPherson College Outdoor Adventure Education Center at Bulldog Park in McPherson. It also conducts team-building adventures for student athletes and collaborates with other organizations and programs on campus to plan outdoor activities during orientation and throughout the semester. Each week this fall, Bulldog Adventures hosted games on the college lawns where student teams competed for prizes.

Helfrich is looking forward to continuing to grow each of the pillars under the umbrella of Bulldog Adventures and increasing the number of students engaged in outdoor adventures.

“The positive characteristics the great outdoors organically instill in individuals is powerful and having the opportunity to see this take place in students is truly a blessing,” he said.

Posted On: October 7, 2019
By: MC Admin

McPherson College makes it easy for its students to access health care and counseling services on campus at its new Campus Student Health Center. The new building, located on Gordon Street across from Metzler Hall, is a dedicated student and campus health facility. It will be open for the public to tour during McPherson College Homecoming, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The college recognized that navigating the complexities of health care is confusing; particularly for college students who may be dealing with a health crisis alone for the first time. Having a dedicated building on campus for health care services was the college’s response to student surveys that consistently rated access to health and counseling services on campus as a top priority. The new facility opened when classes began this fall.

“Often cost, convenience, and office hours prevent students from seeking medical attention off campus,” President Michael Schneider said. “We offer our students the most comprehensive health and counseling services among colleges our size in the state. The new clinic allows for greater access to high quality wellness resources on campus.”

McPherson College will continue to partner with Partners In Family Care and with Client Centered Counseling to provide health and counseling services respectively. Partners In Family Care, based in Moundridge, Kansas, is a practice run in part by Drs. Paul and Marla Ullom-Minnich, both alumni of McPherson College. Linda Helmer, also a McPherson College alumna, operates Client Centered Counseling and provides services in the new clinic and at the downtown location.

Health and counseling services at the college are highly utilized by students and staff members, according to the clinic records. Student fees include unlimited health care office visits for full-time students, as well as 10 visits with the counseling office at no charge. Clinical services, like laboratory work, are also available but are submitted to insurances.

Posted On: August 5, 2019
By: MC Admin

McPherson College President Michael Schneider appointed Ben Coffey as the new dean of students.

Coffey’s new appointment begins immediately. He succeeds Dr. Khalilah Doss who accepted the position of vice president of student affairs at the University of Southern Indiana.

“Ben has several years of experience in the student affairs department at McPherson College,” President Schneider said. “His dedication and commitment to our students over the years along with his knowledge of student life issues is a real asset to our college.”

As dean of students, Coffey is responsible for all aspects of student life at McPherson College including housing and dining services, student engagement, conduct, spiritual life, health and counseling services, student government and clubs, student affairs compliance, and budget.

Coffey has a long history with the college. He began working in academic support in 2011 as coordinator of the writing center, a position he maintained after he was appointed as associate dean of students in 2016. He was promoted to associate vice president for student affairs in 2018. His focus was primarily on housing, conduct, and student government. He also teaches diversity education in the teacher education program.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from McPherson College, a master’s degree of education in curriculum and instruction and is currently finishing requirements for a doctorate in education from Baker University. Before coming to McPherson College, Coffey was a classroom instructor for Canton-Galva and was director of professional development and union president there. He also worked with the Kansas teacher’s union for political activism, member engagement and fundraising, and negotiated teaching agreements with districts across Kansas.

Posted On: May 7, 2019
By: MC Admin

America’s love of the automobile is alive and well, and was on full display this weekend at McPherson College as it hosted the 20^th Annual C.A.R.S. Motoring Festival. Perhaps the best example of the enthusiasm and passion for the automobile was found in the college’s special guest for the event, Donald Osborne.

Osborne, a regular contributor on Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC and What’s My Car Worth for MotorTrend TV, is a historian, appraiser, consultant, and writer. He spoke on Friday night at the Evening with AR dinner about his varied career, which includes performing with the Metropolitan Opera, and his life-long love of cars.

“I have been hearing about McPherson College over the years and knew there was obviously something important going on,” Osborne said. “There is the deepest of enthusiasm and talent here. It’s a response to people looking to follow their dreams and live their passion. The college is giving students an opportunity to pursue their concept of success, which is really a byproduct of doing something you love really well.”

Nearly 400 cars filled the campus grounds on Saturday, May 4 for the student-run show. Feature cars were prominently displayed in the center of campus and included a 1914 Peugeot L45 Grand Prix, a 1946 Kurtis Novi Indy race car, a 1952 Ferrari 212 Vignale, and a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda. Amanda Gutierrez, vice president of the automotive restoration program, announced that the original 1968 Bullitt Mustang would be featured at next year’s show.

Traditionally the show is host to a wide variety of rare and unique cars from works in progress, on display in the student section, to concours-quality vehicles like a 1955 Mercury Monteclair that was on the field this year. This year’s Best of Show went to a 1930s Franklin Pirate. Cars, motorcycles, scooters, and tractors from 16 states across the country were on display, according to show chair Nick Navarro, a junior in the Automotive Restoration program from Paramus, New Jersey.

“Our car show is one of the most colorful car shows that I have ever seen,” he said. “There are cars here that I will probably never see again in my life because they are so rare.”

Osborne, who is also a classically trained opera singer, kicked off this year’s show by performing the National Anthem. Other performances included the college and the high school jazz bands, and a demonstration by the college’s Model T build team that tied its build record by clocking in at just over six minutes.

“This is one of my favorite kinds of shows,” Osborne said. “You can see everything from European sports cars, hot rods, custom built cars, brass era cars to contemporary. It represents what McPherson College is all about -it’s inclusive, broad-ranging and passionate. You get to see how people love cars and live for cars at a show like this. Especially in the student section where it’s all about sharing their car with friends and with the greater community.”

Posted On: April 11, 2019
By: MC Admin

Students in the McPherson College Visual Arts Department are finding success this year in design competitions and in career opportunities. Students in the program recently brought home top awards again this year from the Wichita AIGA Student Portfolio Forum and from the Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC) national student show and conference and one student was selected out of 700 applicants for a prestigious summer internship.

This summer, Chloe Cloud, a senior from Wichita, will work with Barkley Advertising in Kansas City, Missouri. Barkley is the largest independent advertising agency in Kansas City and the seventh largest independent agency in the United States. Its clients include Applebee’s, Cargill, Spirit Airlines, Russell Athletic, AMC Theatres, and many more. This was the first time that students from McPherson College applied for the internship opportunity.

This is also the first year that McPherson College students competed in the DSVC national student show. Six student projects were accepted into the show and Micah Gilbert, a junior from Elkhart, Indiana, received first place for his photography entry. Visual Arts students also competed at the AIGA annual student competition where college students have the opportunity to have their design portfolios reviewed by professionals in the industry. Students taking top awards there include:

Italia Venegas, junior, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, first place, motion design
Lillian Oeding, senior, Wichita, first place, web design
Chloe Cloud, senior, Wichita, first place, best ad
Jaden Hilgers, senior, Wichita, third place, overall portfolio

“We received great comments about our students at each of the design competitions,” Dee Erway-Sherwood, professor of graphic design and department chair of art and design, said. “We encourage the McPherson College design students to take part in competitions and design shows to network with industry professionals, which in some cases lead to internships and job opportunities. Not only are these great experiences for our students, but they are also highly competitive with students from schools across the country.”

Posted On: February 19, 2019
By: MC Admin

McPherson College received a significant multi-year commitment to develop outdoor “adventure” programming. Programming will immediately impact current students and has potential for enrollment growth, according to college officials.

“We are the first college in Kansas to introduce this kind of comprehensive programming centered around one of Kansas’ greatest assets – its outdoor environments,” President Michael Schneider said. “The gift will help us develop programming for our students who sometimes struggle finding things to do off campus. Programming will also engage students in experiential learning and leadership development.”

The gift made by a local private organization will fund start-up programming costs as well as off-set the next two years of operations as McPherson College develops student opportunities. Called Bulldog Adventures, the new programming will provide students with unprecedented access to the outdoors in the form of co-curricular clubs, experiential learning in and out of the classroom, as well as fun social activities.

The new program takes advantage of outdoor spaces around Kansas and may include cycling, hiking, fishing, hunting, water sports, camping, and nature conservation utilizing places like Maxwell Wildlife Refuge, Kanopolis State Park, the Meadowlark Trail, and the Flint Hills. In addition, McPherson College will explore student access on their own 9,500 acres of land.

“McPherson College sits in the middle of some of the most picturesque landscape in our state,” President Schneider said. “We have thousands of acres of outdoor activity space that we will utilize to enrich our student experience.”

The program is currently being developed as McPherson College searches for an outdoor adventures program director to organize and execute plans.

Posted On: January 18, 2019
By: MC Admin

The McPherson College Student Government Association (SGA) will welcome students back to the spring semester with a surprise – free laundry. All coin-operated machines in all resident halls have been eliminated and SGA will fund the new service to students.

“We felt as an organization that free laundry would not only benefit the students, but also make life easier on our staff,” Brandt Wolters, SGA president, said. “It adds another perk to help sell prospective students for our admissions team and reduces maintenance hassles for our facilities team.”

All 24 washers and 26 dryers available to students were converted from coin operated to free over the winter break. SGA will fund the project with no additional fees to students and work with others across campus on partnering opportunities in the community to continue its funding.

“This is in response to SGA student surveys that tell us students want free laundry,” said Ben Coffey, associate vice president for student affairs. “It was the number one most actionable item on all surveys, and it allows us to provide a more home-like atmosphere.”

While SGA expects the new service to have a positive impact on students, it will also a positive change for facilities, according to Marty Sigwing, director of facilities. “It will save costs on machine parts and labor for the time it takes facilities to maintain the coin operated system.”

Quicklinks

Category: Student Life

Initiative Helps McPherson College Student Socialize Safely

McPherson College Announces New V.P. for Student Affairs

Adventure Program Adds Initiatives for Students

McPherson College Takes Advantage of Outdoor Spaces in Kansas to Provide Student Adventures

New Student Health Center Opens on McPherson College Campus

McPherson College Names New Dean of Students

Student-Run Car Show Celebrates 20 Years

MC Students Take Top Awards at Design Competitions

Gift Supports Developing Outdoor Adventures at McPherson College

Student Government Association Provides New Free Laundry Service