Review - McPherson College Magazine, 2026

M c PHERSON COLLEGE

BEYOND THE LECTURE HALL

Thinking outside the box leads to innovation in teaching and learning.

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.

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

On the cover:

MC student Acacia Chrisjohn holds playing cards from the EcoPyramid game created by students in the 2025 Stewardship Seminar class. Read more on page 14.

Cover photo by student Jewel Marie.

MC TAKES A NEW LOOK AT GENERAL EDUCATION

When McPherson College faculty set out to redesign the curriculum, they aimed for something different. What if these weren’t classes that students have to take, but ones they want to take?

2026 | Vol. 115

McPherson College 1600 E. Euclid PO Box 1402

McPherson, KS 67460 (620) 242-0400 (800) 365-7402

www. mcpherson.edu

Editor - Tina Goodwin director of public relations Design - Brian Lundberg director of marketing

Contributing Staff

Billy Jamison ‘88 director of alumni and constituent relations Kendra Flory ‘00 advancement assistant

McPherson College Administration

Michael P. Schneider ‘96 president

Abbey Archer-Rierson ‘16 chief of staff

Josh Daume director of athletics

Amanda Gutierrez vp for auto restoration

Aaron Meis executive vice president

Taylor Oswald human resources leader

Matt Pfannenstiel vp for enrollment

Marty Sigwing ’16 executive director of operations

Matt Skillen dean of faculty

Carol Summervill vp for finance

Erik Vogel ‘98 vp for advancement

College Launches New Bachelor’s Degree Program

– August 2026

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

Dr. Molly Brown to Lead Healthcare Initiatives

– August 2026

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

New Partnership with KU Allows Students to Work Toward Nursing Degree

– September 2026

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

McPherson College Ranks on “Best College” List

– September 2026

For the 10th consecutive year, McPherson College has earned recognition by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges list for Regional Colleges in the Midwest. This year, the college ranked within the top 20 on the list. Additionally, McPherson College was ranked on the Best Value Schools and Top Performers on Social Mobility lists.

College Recognized as Great College to Work For

– September 2026

McPherson College is a great place to work, according to a new survey by the Great Colleges to Work For® program. The results, featured in a special edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education, recognize McPherson College for the 11th consecutive year.

Campus Commons Building Name Announced

– September

2026

At a grand opening celebration during Homecoming, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined McPherson College in announcing the name of the newest building on campus – The Wise Campus Commons. The name honors the longstanding and transformative support of the Robert W. “Bob” Wise family.

Student Project Receives Grant

– November 2026

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.

www.mcpherson.edu/news

K-State Partnership Allows Students to Work on Master’s Degree

– November 2026

Students at McPherson College can 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.

McPherson College and WSU Launch Accelerated MBA Pathway – March 2026

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.

Dr. Michael Stichter named founding director and chair of engineering

– May 2026

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.

Expansion plans announced for Templeton Hall

– May 2026

The home of McPherson College’s Automotive Restoration will double in size, supported by a $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. 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.

president’s message

Dear McPherson College Alumni, Friends, and Family,

McPherson College recently celebrated the 138th Commencement Ceremony. This annual rite of passage always gives me time to think about the future — illustrated by our graduates as they scatter into the world — and to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year.

The 2025-26 academic year brought McPherson College closer to accomplishing many of the goals outlined in our strategic plan. In Community by Design 2.0, we not only define the ideal McPherson College graduate but also how to ensure the college will thrive for generations to come.

You will see many examples in this issue of the progress being made on one of the strategic initiatives – Academic Program Growth Mindset. This year, faculty implemented a redesigned general education program, making those classes more accessible to students and giving faculty more space for creativity. You’ll also read about faculty — representative of many others across campus — who are thinking beyond the traditional lecture hall.

The college established strategic partnerships with the University of Kansas, Kansas State University and Wichita State University. These partnerships give our students access to graduate programs in health care, nursing, premedicine, and business, while allowing McPherson College to remain focused on providing the highest-quality undergraduate experience.

With the college’s future strengthened by the $1.5 billion endowment commitment, we can imagine what is possible. We are evolving our academic programs to meet the passions and demands of new generations, creating a true destination learning community, and transforming the student experience in ways that attract and inspire tomorrow’s students. The opportunities before us will help shape a bold future for McPherson College.

Of course, the college does not do this work alone. We are strengthened by our alumni and friends who support the innovative programs that serve both students and society, building an experience that extends beyond the classroom and prepares students for their future.

Thank you for all you do to support McPherson College!

Michael P. Schneider president

faculty

RETIRED

At the end of the 2025-26 academic year, two long-time McPherson College faculty retired after distinguished teaching careers.

President Michael Schneider, Michaela Valli Groeblacher, and Jonathan Frye sit on a bench made from recycled plastics. The college earned the bench by collecting 1,000 pounds of plastic. It will honor Frye and will be placed in the meadow in front of the Wise Campus Commons, which Groeblacher designed. Both professors retired after the spring 2026 semester.

vania; a master’s degree in environmental sciences in 1989 from the University of Virginia in Charlot tesville; doctorate in environmental science in 1993, also from the University of Virginia. He also held a DAAD stipendiat appointment from 1989 to 1990 at the University of Cologne in Germany.

During his tenure at McPherson College, Frye touched the lives of hundreds of students as both an educator and a mentor. He developed or taught more than three dozen di erent biology and natural science courses, ranging from college biology to genetics; from environmental science to climatology and geology; from ethnobotany to organic chemistry; and from biomedical ethics to HEEPH. He made many of his general education courses relevant to students’ daily lives by combining the natural sciences with diverse applications to the arts, athletics, food, and entrepreneurship.

He was instrumental in merging the biological and physical sciences departments to form the current Department of Natural Science. Frye also proposed the environmental stewardship major and played a significant role in strengthening the undergraduate research program, including publishing the student research journal Cantaurus.

His commitment to McPherson College extended beyond the classroom. Over the years, he served in numerous leadership roles and contributed to many college committees. He also founded the McPherson College Center for Religion and Science, bringing speakers to campus.

Beyond the college, he served as a trustee or board member of the McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility, Bethany Theological Seminary, The Cedars, the REAP Fund, and HASER, a 501(c)(3) entrepreneurial startup in Puerto Rico).

Dr. Frye’s boundless curiosity continues to shape his life. In retirement, he looks forward to pursuing creative and research endeavors, traveling with his spouse, Leslie, and spending time with his family and friends.

Michaela Valli-Groeblacher, professor of art

Michaela Valli-Groeblacher joined McPherson College in 2012 as a lecturer in art and in 2014 proposed a full-time position that she supported by raising money to fund her salary and recruiting new art majors. In 2017, she became full-time faculty member in the art department. She is a painter and ceramicist whose clay figures have been exhibited nationally and internationally and have received many awards. Her artwork is part of private, corporate, and museum collections in the United States and Europe and is published in ceramics magazines and art books. She also served as the Friendship Hall Gallery director, consistently bringing high-caliber artwork to campus. In 2018, she curated Art Kansas, an exhibition of the 65 best artists from Kansas, many of whom were on campus for workshops and a gala event.

FACULTY & STAFF

Dr. Ruth Mbah, associate professor of business, completed the Havard Business School Online program for certificates in Global Business, Strategic Financial Analysis, and Business Strategy. The courses are helpful in how she structures her classes, especially Business Strategy and Policy and International Business.

Dr. Molly Brown, director of healthcare initiatives, received the Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification in December from the Project Management Institute. The certification demonstrates project leadership and management expertise and is considered the gold standard in the field of project management.

Mike Dudley, professor of technology, presented a Lunch and Learn lecture at The Garage automobile museum in Salina. He shared the processes and materials used in the upholstery restoration of the college’s 1953 Mercedes Benz 300 S that placed second in class at the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

Dr. Kirk MacGregor, professor of philosophy and religion, published his ninth book, Exploring Modern Logic: Theory and Applications. He also published “The Pro-Choice Biblical Ethic of American Evangelical Scholars Before the Religious Right” in the Journal of Biblical Literature, “Evangelical Anabaptists on Economic Justice” in Direction: A Mennonite Brethren Forum, and “Delineating and Assessing Tillich’s Restitution Theory of Jesus’ Resurrection” in the Journal of the International Society of Christian Apologetics. He presented “A New Natural Theological Argument for the Trinity” at the 2025 Evangelical Philosophical Society Annual Meeting and “Tillich’s Conception of Nature as Intrinsically Valuable” at the 2025 American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting. He was the 2026 Spring Lecture Series Scholar at Theological Education Initiative, presenting his latest research on the Trinity in two public lectures and recording podcasts on Molinism and church history.

combustion research. He completed his associate degree in automotive restoration at McPherson College and went on to earn his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Drexel.

Dr. Lisa Blair joined the Student Success Office as the new accessibility support specialist. She comes to McPherson College with more than 30 years of experience in higher education supporting student success and inclusive learning environments. Most recently serving as the dean and vice president of academic affairs at Western Nebraska Community College, she brings a strong commitment to access, equity, and student-centered services.

Kristie Sojka, director of library services, completed the Aspiring Campus Leadership Academy offered by the Kansas Independent College Association. The nine-month long program is designed to help member institutions strengthen future leaders. Sojka was nominated by Vice President for Academic Affairs Matt Skillen and Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for automotive restoration, was her on-campus leadership mentor.

Dr. Herb Smith, professor emeritus of religion, will speak at the Pennsylvania Chautauqua Society for the 40th year this summer. His theme will be global Christianity. He will also present “Terror and Joy: Translating the New Testament” at the United Methodist Bible Conference.

PROMOTIONS

Luke Chennell promoted to Professor of Technology

Michael Dudley promoted to Professor of Technology

Tim Frye promoted to Professor of Mathematics

Curt Goodwin promoted to Professor of Technology

Michaela Valli Groeblacher promoted to Professor of Art Kyle Hopkins promoted to Professor of Music

Tricia Hartshorn Retires

Laura Hultquist, assistant professor of sociology, presented at AI in Oz: The Yellow Brick Road, a conference for education professionals held at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina, KS, in April. Her presentation, Practical Uses of AI in the Classroom, examined ways AI can be used to creatively stimulate learning and create customized course content. She also presented at the McPherson College faculty development session on web content accessibility guidelines, focusing on how to make PowerPoint presentations more accessible for diverse learners.

Dr. Michael Stichter joined the faculty as founding director and chair of engineering. He is a licensed professional engineer across many states and most recently led a team of engineers working on complex failure analysis, fire investigations, and accident reconstruction. He has also spent time on hydrogen energy systems and

Tricia Hartshorn, registrar and assistant academic dean, retired after 12 years at McPherson College and 34 years of combined experience at three private colleges in Kansas. While at McPherson College, she streamlined the college’s registration process, led the Enrollment Blitz campaign that encourages students to plan their courses early, and collaborated with faculty in launching new programs and courses. She has guided hundreds of students through their academic programs and across the commencement stage.

www.mcpherson.edu/directory

athletics

FOOTBALL

The fall 2025 season was one for the record books for McPherson College athletics. The football team spent much of the season in the national rankings and finished 9-2, No. 22 in the postseason polls.

Jalil Brown, Chris Foster, and Kenny Ray all received All-America honors, with Brown also being named the KCAC Offensive Player of the Year. All three will return for the 2026 season, along with head coach Jeremiah Fiscus ’08, entering his eighth season.

OTHER FALL TEAMS

In other fall sports, Brian Fackert competed at the NAIA Cross Country Championships. The men’s and women’s soccer teams both showed improvement throughout their seasons. The men’s squad qualified for the KCAC Tournament for the first time in three years, while the women won six matches for the first time since 2017 in head coach Ian Thomson’s first season.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The men’s basketball team capped a 20-win season with an appearance in the NAIA national tournament for the first time since 2013.

Led by KCAC Freshman of the Year Korbin Gunn, an NABC All-Region team selection, and KCAC All-Defensive Team pick KJ Marshall, the Bulldogs return a veteran squad in 2026-27 looking to build on this season’s success.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team defended its KCAC conference championship and advanced to the NAIA national tournament quarterfinals, it fell to the No. 1 seed, Eastern Oregon.

OTHER WINTER TEAMS

The women’s basketball team rebounded from a winless 2024-25 season with eight victories in 2025-26 under the direction of first-year head coach Alex Moorehead.

In its second varsity season, the women’s bowling team advanced to the KCAC tournament semifinals. Kacee Rhody earned first-team all-KCAC honors and was named the league’s Rookie and Newcomer of the Year, while head coach Mitchell Whitehead was named KCAC Coach of the Year.

The men’s and women’s indoor track teams both finished seventh at the KCAC championships, combining for eight podium finishes. Lamar Gordon and Brian Fackert qualified for the NAIA indoor championships in Gainesville, FL.

Led by KCAC Coach of the Year Cory Cahill, the Bulldogs placed seniors Brooke McHale and Katie Warden on All-America teams, while Enya Fierens earned all-tournament honors at the national tournament. The Bulldogs finished No. 8 in the postseason poll. www.macbulldogs.com

CHEER

The cheer squad returned to competition this spring after a one-year hiatus, setting several program records under first-year coach Toni Snyder ’21. The team won its home event on March 7 and finished fourth overall at the KCAC championship. The Bulldog Spirit squad will also add in dance in the 2026-27 season.

In softball, the Bulldogs showed great improvement throughout the season under first-year coach Kristen Silva, finishing 17-26, a five-win improvement from the previous season.

HIGHLIGHTS

In addition to bringing back competitive dance in

National Champion!

Two McPherson College Bulldogs competed in the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May bringing home a national championship and a 12th place finish.

Lamar Gordon, who will be a senior in the fall, earned the title in the shot put event with a throw of 18.31m, the best throw across the NAIA all season. He entered the competition in the sixth qualifying spot in both shot put and discus. At the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship he claimed first place in both events with a 16.89m throw in shot put and a 52.58m throw in discus. This is the first national championship for McPherson College since 2016.

Brian Fackert, who will be a sophomore in the fall, placed 12th overall in the 1500m with a time of 4:02.97. He ran his qualify ing time at the KCAC Championships with a 3:51.91 run for first place.

YEAR AT A GLANCE

CAREER

96%

of students had a job, graduate school placement, or went into military service within 6-months post-graduation with a 98% knowledge rate.

ENROLLMENT

848

Fall 2025 full-time enrollment that included:

• 355 new students starting in Fall 2025

• 237 students from Kansas

• Students from 48 states

• 42 International students from 28 countries

ALUMNI FUNDRAISING

500

alumni attended Homecoming 2025. (See page 22 for reunion photos.)

Over 3000 alumni and friends came to Bulldog Meet-ups and Advancementhosted events across the country.

(Follow the Alumni Facebook page for future events.)

RETENTION

90%

Fall 25 to Spring 26 overall retention.

• First-time, first-year increased from 82% to 85%

• Sophomore increased 88% to 91%

• Junior increased 93% to 97%

23

consecutive years that donors have propelled MC in reaching the annual fund goal.

Over $1 million in donor-funded named scholarships awarded to more than 200 students. (Meet some of them on the next page!)

Met a $1M matching gift challenge for Automotive Restoration program.

515

MC alumni, Mac students, parents, faculty, staff, friends and businesses contributed $505,000 on Power Day! (See page 24 for donor comments.)

Each year, more than $1 million in scholarships come from named scholarship funds established for McPherson College students. This year, more than 200 students received close to 300 donor-funded, named scholarship awards. Here is a sampling of our students’ gratitude to their donors.

“When I first came to McPherson College, I was very unsure of how it would go. Being somewhat far from home and the expense of college made me nervous. After coming, I fell in love with it. The people here make McPherson feel like home to me. Also being part of the women's basketball team really added to my sense of belonging. After graduation, I plan to study physical therapy in graduate school. Receiving this scholarship plays a huge role in helping me achieve my goals.”

Faith Askin, junior, health science

Carolyn Beach Endowed Scholarship Fund recipient.

“Being a student-athlete at McPherson College has opened a world of opportunities for me that I would have never encountered had it not been for your donation. I chose McPherson to continue my baseball and academic career, where I have become a starting pitcher and an honor roll student. I plan on obtaining a master's degree in finance and hope to work towards becoming a CFO in the future. I have been able to learn so much about my academic strengths at McPherson, and I couldn't have done it without our help.”

Matthew Bomersback, senior, business administration

J. Paul Jewell & Fern Watkins Jewell Endowed Scholarship recipient.

“With your generous support, I’ve achieved becoming student body president and a lead resident assistant, among other leadership roles. Because of your scholarships, I’ve been able to become the first college graduate within my immediate family, while also maintaining a 4.0 GPA!”

Kenya McCain, senior, business administration

Appel Family Endowed Scholarship, Ira N. & Freda E. Brammell Scholarship Fund, and Zane Smith Endowed Scholarship Fund for Business recipient.

“ With this scholarship, I am able to continue my study of psychology. At McPherson College I was a mentor to the freshmen class and planned a gaming convention with the help of the Social Gaming Club. Being here has helped me become a more sociable person and more open to accepting challenges. I have also met my fiancé at the college. I am studying psychology so I can pursue a career in art therapy. After graduating, I plan on getting a master’s degree.”

Mikayla Craver, junior, psychology

Class of 1968 Endowed Scholarship recipient.

“As a college student, there are a lot of aspects in daily life to balance, one of the largest is covering tuition. With this generous gift, I can worry less about working to pay o loans and focus on spending as much time as possible diving into my studies to truly get the most of my education. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in automotive restoration and have already gotten the opportunity to make great career connections and get experience in the field. Thank you for making my career one step closer to reality!”

Carson Perez, junior, automotive restoration

Alexander M. Schoneweis Endowed Scholarship Fund recipient.

“With your generous gift I won't have to worry as much about finances. I chose McPherson College because of the arts program, small college feel, and the Student Debt Project. McPherson College is a safe, welcoming, and uplifting environment that I am proud to call home. The friends and memories I have made here are irreplaceable.”

Mandra Wenzl, sophomore, art & design

Susan Wheeler Dodson Endowed Scholarship in Visual Arts recipient.

www.mcpherson.edu/giving

MC takes a new look at general education

For many students, general education courses are boxes to check off on the way to a degree. But when McPherson College faculty set out to redesign the curriculum, they aimed for something different. What if these weren’t classes that students have to take, but ones they want to take?

The effort grew out of the college’s strategic plan, Community by Design, which charged faculty to provide context and excellent learning opportunities focused on innovative approaches and effective pedagogical methods.

A task force began researching, reviewing other institutions, and asking for faculty input and in the spring of 2023 presented the new program to the full faculty. The curriculum — along with a new standing general education committee — was approved nearly to the day of the program’s last major revision 20 years earlier.

The new program accomplishes several objectives, said Luke Chennell, chair of the general education committee and professor of technology. It streamlines requirements and gives students more flexibility within their majors to complete general education credits. The process for faculty to develop a course is significantly more streamlined, and the new model allows for continual assessment and improvement.

“We wanted to respect faculty expertise and the intentionality behind what they teach,” Chennell said. “At its core, this is about providing a broad education that develops students as whole people.”

While completing the general education program at McPherson College, students pursue learning outcomes that are informed directly by the college’s mission to develop whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service. Keeping the redesign anchored in those principles helped faculty move efficiently through what can often be a lengthy process.

“We decided to keep the curriculum mission-specific, tying it to the three pillars of our mission,” said Kelsy Gossett Dennis, assistant professor of photography and a committee member. “Focusing on mission really tidied things up, allowing students to have more choices and still meet the goals of a liberal arts education.”

The program requires credit hours from across the humanities, science and technology, and social science curricula, with foundational courses in oral and written communication and mathematics. General education classes focus on three course targets including critical thinking, human diversity, and interdisciplinary thinking.

Many familiar courses remain, but the new model expands opportunities. Some major-specific classes now count toward general education, and departments have greater flexibility to design offerings that connect directly to students’ interests. Travel courses in natural science, for example, can now fulfill general education requirements, as can more specialized language courses tailored to disciplines such as health sciences.

“The nature of the new system is much more flexible to allow for that type of experience,” Chennell said.

As an advisor, Gossett Dennis said she has been getting positive feedback from students.

“Students are excited about the choices and have more freedom in the classes they select,” she said. “Many times, the classes they are already taking for their major are also general education classes now. It frees up space to take an elective, supporting the idea of a liberal education and trying new things. In some cases, it makes it easier for students to add another major or minor.”

The redesign also improves how the college measures student learning. Previously, general education assessments took place during the students’ senior year, long after many courses had been completed. Now, assessment is built into each class, allowing faculty to review feedback in real time and make adjustments more quickly. The general education committee oversees ongoing review of all courses.

“Two significant improvements are the value to students of a simplified process that allows them more options and the ability for professors to focus, be intentional, and make adjustments to their courses in a timely fashion,” said Sandra Hiebert, director of institutional assessment and academic compliance. “Additionally, it really ties into our mission, taking what was already core to our institution and building on it.”

Gen Ed redesign opens door for other innovations

Because of the General Education program’s redesign, the college’s music department can now meet all the humanities and social science requirements within its major courses, significantly streamlining the degree. The restructuring prompted the music department’s faculty to take a closer look at its music education program, resulting in a more efficient, 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.”

Beyond the lecture hall

MC faculty thinking outside of the box

Some of the best classroom experiences spark curiosity, explore new ideas, and give students a chance to truly dig into the subject matter. Browsing the course offerings at McPherson College, it’s not hard to find classes that do just that.

Whether stepping into the roles of historical characters through immersive games, unraveling a mock murder mystery to learn the fundamentals of news writing, developing a real-world fundraising campaign in business marketing, or examining the foundations of social justice in a new academic program, faculty at McPherson College are creating experiences that move learning beyond the traditional lecture hall.

Immersive Games

For 15 years Kerry Dobbins, professor of history, has been using immersive games to bring history to life for her students. She has incorporated several immersive games into the World Civilization and American History courses within the history and political science major.

The games ask students to take on roles of real historical figures and make choices based on evidence found in reading primary documents about the time and the people. Typically, the games focus on a pivotal point in history and through the play determine an outcome. Many times, the classroom outcome differs from the historical outcome.

“A counterfactual ending has to be allowed, or it wouldn’t be a game; it would a simulation,” Dobbins said. “At the end of the game, we debrief and examine how the choices they made determined how the game ended and compare it to how the events actually happened.”

The students are engaged from the start because it is fun but also learn valuable lessons by playing the game.

“They get to see that these historical figures were living humans with complex inner lives,” Dobbins said. “They learn that the choices they have to make in the situations are hard — there’s no easy answers, and they learn a lot about themselves too by living out other viewpoints.”

Julia Kuttler, assistant professor of communication, uses a similar tactic in her Media Writing class. After teaching the class for several semesters, Kuttler noticed that her students had difficulty writing under a short deadline and they were not approaching assignments with curiosity. To help her students develop both skills, she introduced a murder mystery to her curriculum.

She writes a murder mystery for the spring semester every other year. The mystery involves real faculty, staff, and

locations on campus, and students work together to brainstorm, interview, and individually write stories. Each week the class focuses on a different story format: hard news, feature writing, radio script, and TV script. One of the submitted stories is selected for the front page of the Murder Mystery Times – the class’s fictional newspaper.

The activity involves volunteer faculty and staff from across campus who share information during interviews. Kuttler acts as gamemaster and “police chief,” sometimes offering misleading information during press conferences.

“I sometimes give press conferences as the inept police chief and give misleading statements to demonstrate why investigative journalism is so important,” Kuttler said. “The murder mysteries have sparked curiosity in the students. They are asking good questions and getting excited about the story instead of just writing a story based on a press conference that I found on YouTube.”

The murder mystery has had unintended benefits as well.

“It gets students out of their comfort zones to talk to people they may not know,” Kuttler said. “I set the scenarios in real places. For example, they get to know what a registrar is and what they do. They get to know the janitors in buildings they’ve never entered before.”

Real-World Marketing

Using real-world scenarios is something Lindsey Burgey, assistant professor of business, also incorporates into her marketing class. Providing real-world experience isn’t a new idea in the business program. Since 2011, students in the college’s Investment class have gained hands-on financial experience managing a $1 million portion of the college’s endowment.

This spring, Burgey used McPherson College’s annual giving day – Power Day – as the basis for a class project to develop a funding campaign.

The class worked collaboratively to create a marketing plan encouraging student participation in the annual event. Students developed communication materials, social media posts, and messaging to inform their peers about Power Day and motivate them to make small gifts.

Students organized into groups based on majors or activities to determine which strategies would be most effective for their specific audiences. They were encouraged to create and implement their marketing plans and set participation goals.

While the project allowed students to practice marketing skills outlined in their textbook, it also offered broader lessons, according to Burgey.

“They realized how to work as a team. Those lessons are not easy to simulate in a classroom environment,” she said. “Also, the students weren’t familiar with fundraising, and this project gave us a chance to explore those concepts.”

More than 40 students contributed to Power Day as a result of the class’s campaign — the first time students have donated to the annual giving event. Burgey hopes to build on what the class learned as a foundation for next year’s effort.

“My goal for the class was to give students an experience they can include on a resume to demonstrate their ability to implement a marketing campaign,” she said. “And later, if they do have a career in marketing, they will have hands-on experience, not just what they’ve read about in a textbook.”

Engagement Key to New Degree

Gaining real-world experience is a key part of the new Social Justice degree program offered at McPherson College. The new program grew out of an interdisciplinary degree offered through sociology and communication, and is directed by Becki Bowman, professor of communication.

Bowman spent the fall semester on sabbatical developing the foundational courses for the new program and connecting with several area social justice-based nonprofit organizations exploring how students might engage in their work.

The class Good Trouble serves as the students’ introduction to social justice. It introduces students to relevant social problems and today’s issues such as immigration, human

rights, civic rights, poverty, food insecurity, and other topics.

“One of the goals for my sabbatical was to discover how can we teach these topics in theory and get out into the community to see what is happening,” Bowman said. “Making connections in our community was incredibly helpful.”

Not only has she identified a group of individuals who can serve on panel discussion or as guest speakers, she has also found organizations where students can earn volunteer hours or find internships while gaining valuable field experience and discovering their passions.

“Students can choose a passion project within social justice, such as the environment, criminal justice, or poverty and then focus on that issue,” Bowman said. “They will have opportunities to learn about different areas and levels in which they can be an advocate, either in their own backyard or working on policies at a state or national level.”

As she met with the nonprofit organizations, Bowman heard repeatedly the skills necessary to be effective and the one that rose to the top was empathy. She wondered if students can be taught empathy and developed another foundational course for the new degree, Being Human: Building Empathy and Resilience. She gathered 200 books — biographies, fiction, graphic novels — that focus on issues and people’s stories within those issues.

She also completed course work in bibliotherapy, a teaching method using literature to learn about challenging parts of our own lives, and trauma-informed pedagogy. Both helped shape the course, which will use guided reading of novels and narrative nonfiction as a structured way for students to encounter social positions and lived experiences different from their own.

“Can we teach empathy? I think we can,” Bowman said. “I think it’s a skill just like public speaking. I’m excited to use bibliotherapy to help students learn about other’s experiences.”

Both classes are part of the new general education curriculum and will be available to any student. Bowman believes both can benefit any student regardless of their major but especially those looking at careers in health care, teaching, or counseling for example.

From Classroom Assignment to Classrooms

Statewide

When a group of six students were challenged to create something that could educate and excite kids about nature, nobody anticipated what would follow. Their idea — EcoPyramid — grew beyond the classroom, engaging a campus, earning grant funding, and making its way into every school district across the state. And today, the game is available to purchase online for anyone to play.

Students in the spring 2025 Stewardship Seminar, taught by Dr. Dustin Wilgers, professor of biology, developed the game 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.”

The 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. Every game is different, requiring new strategies each time it’s played. Designed for two to four players, the interactive, fast-paced card game aims to be both fun and educational.

“We started brainstorming and game-crafting,” said Ty Kraemer, a senior environmental stewardship major. “It

became very interactive, but at the core we wanted it to be educational. We worked hard to put text on each card so that when you hold them in your hand and read them, you’re learning something.”

The Yellowstone ecosystem was the first deck the students developed. Eventually, other decks were developed based on different environments, including prairie, Amazon, and ocean.

The students and Wilgers spent hundreds of hours play-testing the game and eventually took it to a local elementary school to see how students and teachers responded. They also showcased the game at a campus gaming event, tested it at a children’s summer program at the Hutchinson Zoo, and received feedback from the gamification department at Kansas State University.

“Play-testing it with the elementary school kids was invigorating,” Kraemer said. “It gave me energy to keep working on the game. It was great to see the kids excited about learning.”

Wilgers and the students recognized the game’s appeal and wanted to continue developing it but realized it would require funding. Initial printing support came through the college’s Horizon Fund Grant, a program that supports student entrepreneurship with mini-grants. A $10,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Chickadee Check-Off program funded efforts to bring the game to every school district in Kansas, and students worked

throughout the spring semester to ship the games. Additionally, a student-led crowd funding campaign raised money for national distribution to make the game available to anyone.

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

The educational experience has extended beyond the natural science program to include students from disciplines across campus.

Elementary Education students in the science methods course wrote curriculum to accompany the game that goes to Kansas school districts. Lara Schoming, assistant profes sor of education, said the game offered a project-based learning opportunity that aligned with the teaching methods her students were studying.

“We’re always looking for authentic ways to teach,” Schoming said. “This was a meaningful way to think about learning. My students understood that their work mattered.”

The curriculum they created includes projects for each grade that meet teaching standards, along with rubrics, evaluations tools, and a comprehensive list of supporting resources.

“I got to collaborate with my classmates and got a chance to write curriculum that will go out to teachers across the state,” said Cara Schultz, a senior elementary education major. “I could see that what I was working on will make an impact on students. The game also brought in a lot of different majors together working on the same thing. It was fun to see how we could all contribute different skills.”

Graphic design students created artwork for the cards and marketing materials. Jewel Marie, senior graphic design major, assisted with product photos and a promotion video for the crowd funding campaign.

“I am so grateful to have been a part of this project,” Jewel said. “It challenged me to do work that I hadn’t done before, and it was rewarding to be part of a project that builds off students’ work from across campus. I can also include this work in my portfolio.”

For Kraemer, helping develop the game sparked an interest in teaching others. While his career path may not include the classroom, he hopes to pursue some type of outreach opportunities in his future career.

“The idea was to educate kids about nature,” he said. “But I really hope that after playing the game, they’ll want to go outside and look for the animals or identify some of the trees mentioned on the cards.”

There will be more opportunities for other McPherson College students to contribute in the future. Wilgers and the students are already exploring ways to expand the game with additional ecosystems, including the Australian Outback, Himalayas, and the Arctic Tundra.

For more information about EcoPyramid, go to: www.mcpherson.edu/ecopyramid

To purchase a game: store.mcpherson.edu

Teachers as designers

A revelation early in her teaching career shaped how Leticia Britos Cavagnaro thinks about education: she hadn’t learned because of how she was taught, but in spite of it. That insight sparked a lifelong pursuit to rethink the classroom experience.

Today, Cavagnaro is a scientist-turned-designer working to shape the future of teaching and learning at the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) at Stanford University. For the past decade, she has helped thousands of educators from around the world rethink their approach to teaching. Her work challenges a core assumption that teaching is a static skill and instead positions it as an evolving practice grounded in curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning.

“As teachers, we also need to be learners,” Cavagnaro said. “Being a learner and modeling that for students is instrumental for our work. Becoming a ‘life-wide’ learner is not just a school thing but a life thing and is important in everything that we do. How do we spark that in our students and give them the agency to be learners?”

The Stanford d.school is a hub for creative problem-solving, where professionals explore innovation through a design mindset. Its Teaching and Learning Studio (TLS), the institute’s signature program for educators, invites participants to experiment, reflect, and reimagine their role in the classroom.

TLS offers a framework of pedological levers that participants can adjust to shape their learning environments. Matt Skillen, vice president for academic affairs at McPherson College, completed the TLS program in 2018 and has been sharing its six levers with faculty in a series of articles throughout the academic year.

“Sometimes the small details can have a big impact,” Cavagnaro said. “For example, one of the levers we explore is activities. There is ample research that lecturing is not the most effective teaching method. We experiment with what other activities can create a scaffold to explore and develop the curiosity of our students.”

In the past decade, Cavagnaro has observed the emergence of classroom programs related to design, entrepreneurship, and innovation that cut across disciplines and focus on mission over major.

“It is instruction that embraces the purpose of learning,” she said. “When learning becomes purpose-driven, we look for ways to empower students as capable learners, who can identify when they need to learn more and develop a more holistic view of their education.”

Providing space for students to reflect on what they have learned gives them agency as learners and helps them connect new knowledge with their interests, previous experiences, and goals. The work of the d.school is based

on research and best practices, or as Cavagnaro calls them, ‘better practices,’ but she thinks something is missing between the research and the educators.

“I don’t like ‘best practices’ because it feels very final,” she said. “There is probably always something we can do to make it a better practice. The missing piece is educators feeling like designers who can experiment in their practice. Being attuned to students’ reactions to those experiments can inspire new research. There needs to be a feedback loop between the researchers and the educators. That ability to experiment in your practice is something we emphasize at TLS.”

Partnerships gain access to graduate-level programs

When many small colleges are trying to compete with larger institutions by adding graduate degree programs, McPherson College remains committed to educating undergraduate students and preparing them for careers or graduate school. Partnerships with top-level graduate programs allow McPherson College to offer students access to, and seamless transition into, some of the best educational programs in Kansas.

The University of Kansas School of Nursing tion makes it possible for students to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree while attending McPherson College. Students enrolled in the program complete 60 credits of prerequisite courses at the McPherson campus and are eligible for guaranteed admissions to the KU nursing program to complete the remaining 60 credits at the KU campus in Salina.

The University of Kansas School of Medicine increased access to its Rural Scholars and Urban Scholars programs, providing guaranteed admissions for qualified undergraduates. Additionally, faculty, staff, and students from KU’s Salina campus visit McPherson College as guest lectures in classes and pre-professional organization activities.

Kansas State University Graduate School allows eligible students to take graduate-level courses online at K-State that count toward both their bachelor's degree at McPherson College and master’s degree at K-State in either Kinesiology or Public Health.

alumni news

Class of ‘75

Homecoming 2025 included reunions, award ceremonies and tours of the newest building on campus – The Wise Campus Commons. The name honors the longstanding and transformative support of the Robert W. “Bob” Wise ‘56 family.

Citation of Merit

Pamela Higgins '83, Elmer Gooding '63, and Craig '70 and Joanna (Dell) '72 Little received the Citation of Merit Award for their lifelong commitment to the college's mission. The awards were presented at the Evening of Recognition event in April.

Young Alumni

Recipients of this year's Young Alumni Awards were Shanna (Hayden) Coulter '04, Shawn McGowan '97, and Kristen (Cossaart) Graff '96. This year's awards were presented in September during Homecoming.

www.mcpherson.edu/alumni-awards

McPherson Church of the Brethren supporting students

For years, the McPherson Church of the Brethren has provided support to McPherson College students, including rides and occasional team meals. This year, however, the church has taken a more formal approach.

Led by the church’s Outreach Committee, volunteers organized to provide rides to and from the Wichita airport, team meals for every Bulldog team during breaks, host families for international students, receptions after band and choir concerts, and support for the students’ Caring Closet.

“The most important thing is that we want to let students know there are people who support them and love the college,” said Tina Burkholder, chair of the Outreach Committee. “I’m not sure that most students understand the strong emotional connection many of us have with the college. We’ve been where they are now, sometimes even in the same residence hall.”

The goal of the Outreach Committee was to expand the church’s support to a wider circle of students. The committee met with sta members in student a airs and athletics and student leaders from the Student Government Association and Gamma Beta Phi, the honor society dedicated to service, to explore ways they could help.

One project raised by students was a desire to improve the Caring Closet, located in Miller Library, where students can access free nonperishable food, toiletries, and winter clothing. Church of the Brethren volunteers provided and installed new shelving and o ered to purchase a refrigerator in the future.

Looking for meaningful ways to support students was important to the committee, Burkholder said. During the team meals, for example, church members who regularly attend sporting events sat at tables and started conversations with the students. Some friendships were even formed during the drives to the airport.

“There are so many alumni who are part of our church, and they are getting so much enjoyment out of the connections they are making with the students,” Burkholder said. “We just want them to know we are here to support what they are doing, and we want them to be happy.”

As we come together, let’s celebrate the spirit that unites us all. From our proud history to our bright future, every alumnus has contributed to our Bulldog story. Let’s honor that by embracing the joy of being together once again!

It’s time for a “Bulldog Family Reunion…Paws to Reconnect” when you join us for Homecoming 2026, October 2-4.

www.mcpherson.edu/homecoming

Bulldog Meet-ups

Join fellow alumni for food, fun, and Bulldog spirit this year at Bulldog Meet-Ups where you can expect updates from the Advancement Office, Bulldog Swag, and Ice Breakers to reconnect with fellow alumni.

RSVP to a Bulldog Meet-up on Facebook.

www.facebook.com/MCalumni

why I give

A record 515 donors made gifts on Power Day, contributing more than $500,000 in support of McPherson College.

Each year, Power Day demonstrates the extraordinary generosity of the McPherson College community, and this year’s record-breaking participation reflected the deep commitment of alumni, friends, employees, students and even prospective students to go ‘All In for MC.’

These gifts make an immediate impact on current students, strengthening scholarships and supporting innovative programs such as the Student Debt Project, automotive restoration, natural science and initiatives across campus. From opening doors to educational opportunities to advancing hands-on learning experiences, Power Day support helps sustain the distinctive McPherson College experience.

There are many reasons people choose to give on Power Day. For some, it’s a way to support a current student, honor a favor-

Jim Anewalt ‘73

“Recently connected with several of my old classmates, MAC provided each of us not only a great education but an environment to share, trust and believe in a bright future.”

ite faculty member, or cheer on an athletic team. For others, giving reflects a desire to carry forward the college’s mission and the legacy of those who have shaped it.

Whatever inspires their support, Power Day donors share one thing in common: a deep love for McPherson College and belief in its future. Their generosity continues to power opportunities for today’s students and generations to come.

Rebecca Bratcher ‘08

“Proud Women’s Basketball alumni all the way from South Florida! It’s always a good day to be a Bulldog!”

Eric Sader ‘09

“Appreciative of the values-based whole person education

McPherson provides in a landscape where this has become a rarity.”

Tonya Looker ‘91 “Proud to be able to pay it forward for McPherson staff and alumni who helped me along the way – Go Dawgs!”

Mark Mazzara “Proud to be a McPherson Bulldog fan! This team plays with heart, grit, and true Bulldog toughness every single week. Keep pushing, Dogs!”

John Davidson ‘12 “One of my favorite days of the year to help support an amazing college.”

Michael Herrmann MD PhD “Proud Parent of Alumnus and Automotive Restoration Summer Institute Student”

Gayle Doll ‘76 “Great things happening at MAC!”

Keisha England ‘19 “Proud to be graduate of the natural science department! Always a good day to be a bulldog!”

Aurore & Casey Maxon ‘13 “Cheers to 50 years of Automotive Restoration!!!”

Maurese Jenkins, Sr ‘88 “Proud to serve on the Alumni Board.”

Elizabeth Decker “Future Bulldog!”

www.mcpherson.edu/giving

John Swanson ’69, Lake Geneva, Wis., was honored by the City of Lake Geneva for founding and coaching the city’s YMCA Dream Team, which was launched in 2002 to give children with special needs the opportunity to play baseball. The first season started with 12 dedicated players and has flourished to include 45 players and 23 student volunteers.

Mark Gard ’84, Coffeyville, Kan., retired this spring after 39 years in music education, including 34 years with Coffeyville USD 445. A longtime music and choral teacher, Mark also held multiple leadership roles within the Kansas Music Educators Association.

Brad Elliott ’89, Wichita, Kan., chairman and CEO of Equity Bank, was recently named one of the Wichita Business Journal’s "Most Impactful 40 Wichitans”. This honor recognizes business leaders who have made significant contributions to their respective industries and the local community over the last four decades.

Mike Rohn ’90, Kansas City, Mo., has joined the coaching staff at the University of Missouri-Kansas City as associate head men’s basketball coach. Mike previously spent 16 seasons with the University of Colorado Buffaloes, serving as associate head coach since 2017.

Julie Gillaspie Huber ’92, Wichita, Kan., chief operating officer of Equity Bank, was inducted into the Wichita Business Journal’s 2025 Women in Business Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes her decades of professional excellence and her dedication to empowering emerging leaders.

Patrick Crowdis ’97, Dodge City, Kan., was appointed associate superintendent of business and operations for USD 443 Dodge City Public Schools after serving as the superintendent of Hoisington USD 431 for five years.

Kerri Kobbeman ’97, Fayetteville, Ark., a partner at Conner & Winters, was recently inducted into the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Admission to this premier, invitation-only organization follows a rigorous peer-vetting process and recognizes legal leaders for service that is "a step above."

Brian Ward ’97, Cave Creek, Ariz., defensive coordinator at Arizona State University, was a nominee for the 2025 Broyles Award, which honors the country's top assistant college football coaches.

Steve Benne ’00, Courtland, Kan., technical director of theatre at McPherson College, was named the 2026 Staff Member of the Year during the college’s annual Awards Convocation.

Ryan Mackey ’01, Inman, Kan., graduated from Durham University in January 2026 with a PhD in Musicology, specializing in music theology. He currently serves as a professor of humanities at Central Christian College of Kansas.

Amber Wright ’07, Topeka, Kan., joined Integrated Telehealth Partners as a remote therapist, providing services at clinics in Iowa and Arizona.

Jonathan Norloff ’09, Westminster, Colo., was appointed the Denver County Assessor in February, overseeing the valuation of real and personal property for the City and County of Denver. Jonathan has served the city’s Assessor’s Office for over a decade, most recently as the deputy county assessor.

Mason Adams ’10, Garland, Texas, and his band, Mason Adams Project, were nominated for Best Americana Act at the 2025 Dallas Entertainment Awards.

Angie Armbrust Carbajal ’10, Williamsport, Pa., transitioned to a new role as a 4th-6th grade ESL teacher for the Williamsport Area School District, following eight years of teaching kindergarten.

Katie Naccarato Davidson ‘13, Valley Center, Kan., is the director of student outreach and support at Wichita State University, where she led the development of the university’s case management office. In Fall 2025, she presented their framework for implementing higher education case management services at the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NaBITA) conference.

Mitch Leppke ’13, Galva, Kan., was a co-honoree for the 2025 KCAC Football Bissell Division Assistant Coach of the Year award. Mitch is the defensive and recruiting coordinator at McPherson College.

Emilee Reinert ’13, Wichita, Kan., was recently honored by State Farm as one of the top three out of 660 team members in the state of Kansas.

Destiny Reid ’17, Lebanon, Mo., was honored by the Missouri Department of Corrections with the Professional Leadership Development Award, recognizing her placement in the top 6% of employees, and the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Award.

Aubrey Hollinger Stephens ’18, Clearwater, Kan., joined the Clearwater USD 264 school district this year as the 6th-12th grade vocal music teacher.

Grant Barrett ’19, Hutchinson, Kan., was named to the State Farm Team Member Hall of Fame, an honor recognizing exceptional service in the industry.

Katelyn Moore-Turner ’23, Wichita, Kan., head varsity volleyball coach at Trinity Academy in Wichita, was featured in The Wichita Eagle in October 2025 for her leadership in guiding her team through a season of personal and collective grief, following the tragic loss of her mother and sister. The profile highlighted her dedication to her players and her ongoing efforts to honor her family’s legacy within the regional volleyball community.

Haven Ousley ’23, Camden, Miss., received Gartner’s Q3 Above and Beyond Award, recognizing his outstanding results.

Lucy Bowman ’25, McPherson, earned a Master of Science in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2026. During her studies, she served as a policy intern for the Pennsylvania Immigration Coalition.

Amanda Nagy ’25, Salina, Kan., serves as a creator manager at Thundrr, a TikTok Shop agency, where she manages the organization’s top-performing creators. She is currently transitioning into a senior role that includes overseeing campaign operations for the agency.

Will Patterson ’25, McPherson, was hired as a patrol officer for the McPherson Police Department following his graduation from the police academy. He previously served as a reserve officer for the department while a student at McPherson College.

Shane Birzer ’24, Ottawa, Kan., is a public health educator for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. www.mcpherson.edu/alumni-update

MARRIAGES

Jennifer Williams ‘97 and Scott Craver Azle, Texas, January 13, 2026.

Garrett Sharp ‘13 and Taylor Fitzmaurice Chanute, Kan., December 13, 2025.

Jessie Neher ‘17 and Eric Anders Wichita, Kan., May 4, 2025.

Logan Necochea ’19 and Jasmine Curiel ’20 Phoenix, Ariz., October, 9, 2025.

BIRTHS (cont’d)

Elli Jane to Eli Neher ‘11 and Sara Snider McPherson, August 26, 2025.

Ari to Antowine ’12 and Phoebe Barton ’15 Lamb Wichita, Kan., September 5, 2025.

Mackenzie to Clay McConnell ’12 Wichita, Kan., September 10, 2025.

Vivian to AJ ’14 and Rissa McNichols ’16 Brinkley Gardner, Kan., December 2, 2025.

Taylor to Samantha and Tyler Bruton ‘14 Wichita, Kan., November 19, 2025.

Grace to Garrett and Cami Engelbert Taylor ’15 Wichita, Kan., March 20, 2025.

Camden John to Kellie and Chris Rakowski ‘16 Leawood, Kan., February 20, 2026.

IN MEMORIAM

Evelyn Herr York ’39, Abilene, Kan., August 15, 2025.

Mailey to Chandler ’17 and Callie Atkins ’17 Dohe Hutchinson, Kan., January 27, 2025.

Vincent to Julissa and Zuriel Reyes ’18 Lyons, Kan., September 3, 2025.

Locklyn Sweaney to Emily Whitley ’19 El Dorado, Kan., September 10, 2025.

Crawford to Katy and Brent Masters ‘20 Sugar Creek, Mo., January 12, 2026.

Wyatt Bryce to Andrew Vekteris ‘21 Arcadia, Fla., June 13, 2025.

Ruby to Chloe Jones Silfies ’23 Colorado Springs, Colo., August 21, 2025.

Louella Fern to Sheridan and Killian Millner ’24 McPherson, March 12, 2026.

Orville Buckingham ’47, Ottumwa, Iowa, February 28, 2026.

Doris Blocher Powell ’52, Rockford, Ill., March 1, 2026.

Angeline Flora Fishburn ’53, Lawrence, Kan., November 18, 2025.

Clair A. Baldner ’54, Dallas Center, Iowa, February 16, 2026.

Lucille Flory Batson ’54, McPherson, October 5, 2025.

Mary Hutcherson Morrison ’54, Oak Park, Ill., March 14, 2026.

Charles E. Atkinson ’56, Minneapolis, Kan., August 13, 2025.

Gary L. Jones ’56, Nixa, Mo., November 2, 2025.

Jan van Asselt ’56, McPherson, July 24, 2025.

Roland Wray ’56, Washington, Iowa, June 24, 2025.

Ronald B. Freed ’57, McPherson, August 2, 2025.

Nancy Keim Lengel ’57, McPherson, June 27, 2025.

Phyllis Flory Lenschow ’58, Tipton, Iowa, August 4, 2025.

Gaylen Rodgers ’58, McPherson, May 9, 2025.

Gene A. Elliott ’59, Hutchinson, Kan., June 22, 2025.

Max W. Grossnickle ’60, Ankeny, Iowa, March 15, 2026.

Larry King ’60, Bella Vista, Ark., August 30, 2025.

Rex J. Morris ’60, McPherson, May 14, 2026.

Marvin W. Weddle ’60, Wichita, Kan., January 21, 2026.

Lynda Igel Connell ’61, Wichita, Kan., June 29, 2025.

Donelda Arick Sage ’61, Burlingame, Kan., December 22, 2025.

Terry E. Spitzer ’61, Kalona, Iowa, January 21, 2026.

Harl Stump ’61, Hays, Kan., March 16, 2026.

Ralph C. Friend ’62, Slidell, La., October 9, 2025.

Laurel Nelson Williams ’62, Leadville, Colo., January 22, 2026.

Marilyn Correll Helmer ’63, Tescott, Kan., October 22, 2025.

Mary Jennings Roesch ’63, Quinter, Kan., January 31, 2026.

John Pier to Audra and Riley Sojka ’25 Wichita, Kan., April 10, 2026.

ANNIVERSARIES

60 YEARS

Jim ’64 and Winifred Brown ’65 Neher Wichita, Kan., June 7, 2025.

Donald ’68 and Janet ’70 Kussart Juneau, Alaska, May 27, 2026.

Barbara and Glenn Walker ‘68 Brookville, Kan., November 20, 2025.

Carl Werner ’63, St. Francis, Kan., December 20, 2025.

Mary Baile Goetze ’64, Bloomington, Ind., March 24, 2025.

Nancy Kurtz ’65, Kansas City, Kan., April 3, 2025.

Gloria Hull Evans ’66, Hutchinson, Kan., June 5, 2025.

Charles S. Horner ’66, Lincoln, Neb., June 20, 2025.

Ramona Lowe Pope ’66, Wichita, Kan., September 8, 2025.

Gary D. Wilson ’66, Chicago, Ill., August 17, 2025.

Arnold L. Groff ’67, Oak Ridge, Tenn., June 29, 2025.

Carolee Bollinger Prickett ’68, Nortonville, Kan., March 15, 2026.

Janice Howell Wokaty ’68, Jacksonville, Ark., March 21, 2025.

Stephen B. LaPrad ’70, Pratt, Kan., October 1, 2025.

O. Scott Smith ’70, Louisville, Ky., September 15, 2025.

Donna Olson Swanson ’70, Hutchinson, Kan., January 22, 2026.

Claudia Frantz Law ’71, McPherson, September 17, 2025.

S. Kent Thompson ’72, McPherson, August 18, 2025.

Bonnie Phillips Baker ’73, Hutchinson, Kan., April 1, 2025.

Thomas E. Bettles ’73, Kearney, Neb., September 2, 2025.

Raymond C. Eustice, Jr. ’73, Moore, Okla., April 18, 2026.

J. Thomas Cope ’75, Dayton, Ohio, February 17, 2026.

Eloise Ford Holman ’75, McPherson, December 17, 2025.

Garry A. Hoch ’76, Kansas City, Kan., September 29, 2025.

Michael L. Almstrom ’77, Hutchinson, Kan., November 13, 2025.

Todd J. Fredrickson ’86, Hutchinson, Kan., November 13, 2025.

Mark A. Archer ’93, McPherson, December 16, 2025.

Jennifer Burger ’95, Perryton, Texas, March 15, 2025.

April Sanderson Benne ’00, Courtland, Kan., November 23, 2025.

Robert G. “Bob” Tointon, Greeley, Colo., December 27, 2025.

IN MEMORIAM (cont’d)

Margaret Joanna Hoffman

Margaret Joanna “Joan” Hoffman, 93, passed away on December 10, 2025, at The Cedars Assisted Living in McPherson. As the wife of McPherson College’s 11th president, Paul Hoffman, her passion for McPherson College equaled her husband’s. Often traveling at a moment’s notice with him, Hoffman was known for her warmth and charm. In a letter to the board of trustees, Paul Hoffman wrote, “She should be sainted.”

The couple met during a youth event in Florida, and both graduated from Manchester College. She also earned a master’s degree in science from Purdue University and another master’s degree from Purdue and Manchester College. Before moving to McPherson, Hoffman was a high school home economics instructor and a kindergarten teacher. At McPherson College, she worked in the development office for 16 years and taught in the Teacher Education program for 14 years.

Hoffman was a gifted musician who could play the piano by ear. She was a lifelong member and supporter of the Church of the Brethren and helped instill these values in her family.

Dale Goldsmith

Dr. Dale Goldsmith, 88, passed away on January 16, 2026, in Santa Fe, NM. Goldsmith taught philosophy and religion for 27 years at McPherson College. He also served as academic dean, cross-country and soccer coach, department chair, and faculty chair; was later awarded status of Emeritus Professor of Religion; and mentored generations of students.

A lifelong teacher and pastor, he devoted his life to learning, mentoring students, and engaging the church with honesty. Ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1985, Goldsmith served rural congregations in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, as well as in interim pastoral and presbytery roles. His ministry was marked by thoughtful preaching, pastoral presence, and a deep commitment to the life of the church.

Bob Green

Bob Green, 96, a longtime McPherson College professor, passed away on December 28, 2025. He was an assistant professor of English for 27 years before retiring in 1993. While at McPherson College, Green was named Faculty of the Year in 1978, was elected faculty chair twice, and, after retiring, was awarded the status of Emeritus Professor of English. His wife, Gayla, also worked as a library assistant and earned a bachelor’s degree from McPherson College in 1983.

Later in life, he began reading about and studying astrophysics to better understand how the universe operates. He continued to challenge himself creatively and intellectually, sewing his own sport jackets, baking bread,

and crafting shelves and frames from reclaimed wood. His grandchildren experienced this love of learning firsthand through his genuine interest in their studies and careers.

Jan van Asselt

Jan van Asselt, 92, passed away on July 24, 2025, in McPherson. van Asselt taught German, English, and linguistics in the department of modern languages at McPherson College for 34 years. He retired in 1999 and was awarded the status of Professor Emeritus of German and Linguistics by the college.

In addition to his teaching and busy family life, van Asselt was a Boy Scout leader of Troop 130, hosting many exchange students over the years. He also led student tours to several European countries. He was a 60-year member of the McPherson Rotary Club and headed its Group Study Exchange program for several years, a member of the McPherson Church of the Brethren, volunteered with StepMC, helped with Brethren Disaster Ministries, was a lifetime member of the McPherson Opera House, and was a founding member of the Opera House Preservation Company. From 1986 until the grand reopening in 2010, he had worked on every phase of the restoration project.

Nancy Lengel

Nancy Lengel, 89, passed away on June 27, 2025, in McPherson. She met her husband, Leland Lengel, at McPherson College, and they were married shortly after she graduated in 1957. The couple lived in Illinois and North Carolina before settling back in McPherson, where Leland taught history at McPherson College. Once her children were older, Nancy worked as a travel agent and enjoyed traveling for work, visiting China, Australia, and the Soviet Union. Her love of travel continued throughout her life. She later joined McPherson College’s registrar’s office and remained there until she retired in 2002.

McPherson College

1600 East Euclid PO Box 1402

McPherson, KS 67460