Graduation

136th McPherson College Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, May 18, 2024
10:30 am | McPherson Stadium

2024 Graduate Photo Album
Hi-resolution photos of graduates receiving their diplomas at the commencement ceremony for downloading.

PRELUDE

McPherson College Band (recorded) “A Festival Prelude” – Alfred Reed

PROCESSIONAL

Mr. Lonny Liljegren and Mr. Jason Frazier Traditional Scottish Bagpipe Tunes

INVOCATION

Ms. Tricia Hartshorn, Registrar

WELCOME

Ms. Taylor Bohannon, Senior Class Representative

COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Dr. Kim Stanley, Professor of English “How Fishing Changed My Life”

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES

Dr. Matthew Skillen, Assistant Provost and Dean of Faculty

CONFERRING OF DEGREES AND HONORS

Dr. Michael Schneider, President
Dr. Matthew Skillen
Dr. Shane Kirchner, Professor of Education, Director of M.Ed. Program

BENEDICTION

Ms. Tricia Hartshorn

RECESSIONAL

McPherson College Band (recorded) “March from Second Suite in F” – Gustav Holst

Program Notes

Honor Graduates
Students who have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.55 will be graduated cum laude (with honors). Students who have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 will be graduated magna cum laude (with high honors). The designation summa cum laude (with highest honors) is reserved for those students who have attained a grade point average of 3.90 or above. Because honors are not computed until all grades have been recorded, honors will not be announced for summer graduates or persons with transfer credit outstanding.

Master of Education at McPherson College
McPherson College’s M.Ed. program leads to licensure in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) or Special Education. The students also complete an action research project in an effort to improve their teaching environment.

Photographs of Graduates
A professional photographer will be taking pictures of graduates receiving their diplomas. The photos will be available for download free of charge. A link to the photographs can be found on the commencement web page the week after graduation.

A student’s participation in the commencement ceremony neither guarantees nor implies graduation from McPherson College. Graduation is conferred upon completion of all program requirements.

About the Commencement Speaker

Kim Stanley

Kim Stanley is retiring after 36 years as a professor of English at McPherson College. She has a B.A. from Trinity University in San Antonio, an M.A. from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. She has received the Public Scholar Award from Humanities Kansas and Teacher of the Year Awards from McPherson College and the University of Texas.

Dr. Stanley is particularly interested in how literature can be used to help people examine their lives and talk about values and beliefs. Pursuing this interest, she has served for thirty years as a public scholar for Humanities Kansas, using stories to teach hospice values, to lead book discussions in state prisons, and to conduct a project teaching imprisoned fathers to read to their children. Currently, she conducts workshops for writers of poetry, memoir and family stories. She likes to help people use stories to explore their own lives. And she particularly enjoys seeing writers surprise themselves with the value of their own experience, once they put it into words.

The Academic Costume

Gowns
Since the clergy were the teachers of the Middle Ages, it was natural that their garb became symbolic of the teaching profession as it moved out of the cloister. In the United States, the general wearing of gowns for commencement began in the 1880s. Gowns were originally designed to be worn open or closed. However, closed gowns have become the tradition in this country. Currently, there are three distinct types of gowns: the undergraduate’s gown with its long, pointed sleeves; the master’s gown with long, closed sleeves; and the doctor’s gown with its rounded, full-balloon sleeves and chevrons.

At one time, the color of the gown denoted the wearer’s area of educational specialty, but in the United States the majority of gowns are black. Some universities have designated a particular color as appropriate for their gown, such as the Yale blue, the Cornell red, and the Northwestern purple. These are symbols of the schools’ colors rather than an area of educational specialty.

Gowns of the medieval period were woolen. Some were decorated, and some were lined with fur for warmth. In later eras, velvet came into use, primarily for decoration. In the nineteenth century, the bachelor’s gown was of worsted material; master’s and doctor’s were silk. Trim was used only on doctoral gowns, and the velvet trim on the facing, as well as the bars and chevrons on the sleeves, was either black or the color of the trimming on the hood. Contemporary materials of rayon, nylon, and polyester have replaced the lightweight wool formerly worn for warmth.

Hoods
Originally the hood was the upper part of the cowl worn by monks and friars of the Middle Ages and was designed to keep rain and drafts off its wearer. When not needed, it was pulled off and allowed to hang down over the tippet, or short cape, which was layered over the gown for additional warmth. Later the hood and tippet were joined in the American-style hood.

According to tradition, all hoods are of black material. Bachelor’s and master’s hoods have a “simple” shape attached to a tippet or small cape. The bachelor’s hood, from Oxford, should be three feet long. The master’s hood is four feet long, and the doctoral hood and panel are an additional six inches in length. The hood is usually the same material as the gown.

In medieval times, the hood lining was often fur, but in 1426 an order issued at Oxford allowed people to use hoods lined with silk for the summer months. Currently, most hoods are lined with rayon, nylon, or cotton satin instead of the more expensive silk or fur.

The trim around the edge of the hood, two to five inches wide, represents the department or faculty of learning. The hood lining is in the colors of the college or university conferring the degree. It is appropriate for the individual to wear lining colors of either the institution granting the degree or the institution to which the wearer is officially connected.

Caps
The Oxford cap or mortarboard worn by all graduates from a degree-granting institution comes from the biretta, a cap worn by the Venetian doges during the Italian Renaissance. This cap originally fit over the ears and had a square top with no tassel. Current usage has modified it to a black square on a skull cap pointed front to back. The attached tassel designates the area of educational specialty of the undergraduate degree.

Tassels
Graduates of McPherson College earning a bachelor of science degree wear gold tassels. Those receiving a bachelor of arts degree wear white tassels. Master of Education graduates wear blue tassels.

The College Seal
“Life and Light” (John 1:4) is sometimes given as an interpretation of the Greek motto on the McPherson College seal. The horizontal line (zoe) indicates life. The vertical line (phos) indicates light. The seal was designed in 1920 by W.E. Brubaker. The year 1887, which appears on the seal, is the date of the founding of the college.

The seal is reserved for use on official McPherson College documents and publications. It is stamped in raised letters on diplomas and transcripts, and a gold replica is placed or stamped on many official college certificates of award.

Nicholas J. Acierno, BS +
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Natalia Ahrens, BA *
Digital Media: Visual Design
Art & Design: Graphic Design
Spanish

Brianna Alonso, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Carter P. Anglin, BS
summa cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Andres Artola Jr., BS
Business Administration: Management

Sarah E. Asher, BA
Performing Arts: Theatre
Communication

Eliphas-Levi Balekombwa-Ndelepame Mbali, BS
Mathematics

Joey B., BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Michael Alejandro Beltran Rubio, BS
cum laude
Business Administration: Finance, Management
Communication

Terrence Berg, BS
Business Administration: Accounting

Caeley Ann Billings, BS
summa cum laude
Art & Design: Studio Art
Psychology: Health & Human Services

Mia Nicole Birkes, BS
summa cum laude
Psychology: Health & Human Services, Child Development
Sociology

Shane Birzer, BS
Healthcare Management
Business Administration

Taylor Lauren Bohannon, BS
Biology: Licensure
Biology

Owen Braxmeyer, BS
Business Administration: Accounting, Finance
Spanish

Milton Payne Bridges, BS
Business Administration: Management
Communication

Kaelan Brockway, BS
Business Administration: Management, Marketing

Raegin G. Bromenshenkel, BS +
Business Administration: Marketing

Maggie Jo Brown, BS
cum laude
Biochemistry

Caden D. Bush, BA
Digital Media: Visual Design

Tanner L. Campbell, BS
Business Administration: Management

Cassandra Zoe Carmichael, BS
Automotive Restoration: History

Noah J. Carpenter, BS
Sport Studies

Hayden C. Casey, BS
cum laude
Health Science: Movement

Kevinn William Castillo, BS
Business Administration: Management

Austin Cooper, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Zane M. Cornejo, BA +
Art & Design: Graphic Design
Business Administration

Aaron M. Cyrus, BS
Sport Management
Business Administration

Christian Davis, BS
Sport Studies

Jesse Davis, BS
Business Administration: Management

Moriah Dominique Delgado, BS
cum laude
Sport Studies: Licensure

Prince-Norbert Difima Muwele, BS
Business Administration: Finance, Management

Dylan M. Dilks, BA
Performing Arts: Music

Jaxon Douthit, BS
History: Political Science

Kurtis Ebling, BS
summa cum laude
History: Political Science
Digital Media: Communication

JT Edmunds, BS
Sport Management
Business Administration

Jace A. Essig, BS
summa cum laude
Sport Studies

Jasper A. Fedders, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Nathanael D. Fetters, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Jerek Drew Flores, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Hayden Foster, BS
cum laude
Business Administration: Finance

Lauren Fuksa, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Taeylon D. Garland, BS
Business Administration: Management, Marketing

Alexus Riann Gashler, BS
Healthcare Management

Martin G. Gentes, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Maritza Caroline Gonzalez, BS
Elementary Education
Psychology

Alexandria Cachelle May Goodloe, BA
Art & Design: Studio Art

Tavian Lee Gray, BA
History: Licensure

Addison P. Haiden, BA
summa cum laude
Interdisciplinary: Arts and Events Management

Nathan Hall, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Jailynn Kasey Hammel, BA
Art & Design: Graphic Design

Madelyn Grace Hankins, BS & M.Ed.
summa cum laude
Elementary Education
Curriculum and Instruction

Kiara Danielle Hawkins, BS
Sport Studies
Psychology

Derika Annalynn Kaye Helms, BS
summa cum laude
Business Administration: Marketing
Graphic Design

Rachael Elizabeth Hendricks, BA
cum laude
Art & Design: Graphic Design

Zamauria LaShea Herring, BS
Elementary Education

Alex Christopher Hill, BS *
Psychology: Health & Human Services

Preston Howard, BS +
Physical Education: Sports Management

Heather Hudson, BS
summa cum laude
Elementary Education

Adam J. Hughes, BS
magna cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Noah Timothy Huls, BS
Automotive Restoration: Management

Geoffrey Jeffers, BS
Physical Education: Sports Management

Shelley L. Jobe, BS
Sport Studies
Psychology

Jordyn Ray Johnson, BS
magna cum laude
Health Science: Allied Health

Kadee B. Johnson, BS +
cum laude
Business Administration: Accounting, Finance

Hunter Jones, BS
Sport Studies

Josiah I. Jones, BS *
Business Administration: Management

Gracia B. Kasongo, BS +
cum laude
Healthcare Management
Business Administration

Summer Kirkman, BS +
Health Science: Movement

Sylvia Ko, BA
magna cum laude
Digital Media: Visual Design

Cooper Jonathan Koestel, BA *
History: Licensure

Joshua Henry Kuczek, BS
Automotive Restoration: Management

Dane A. Kudera, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Clifford Kuhnel, BS *
Automotive Restoration: Communication

Lauren R. Kunda, BS & M.Ed.
cum laude
Elementary Education
Curriculum and Instruction

Delani J. List, BS & M.Ed.
summa cum laude
Elementary Education
Curriculum and Instruction

Teagan Patrick Longtine, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Tyler Scott Loy, BS
Automotive Restoration: Management

Christian Lujan, BS
Business Administration: Marketing

Jerome Mabry, BS
Sport Studies
Business Administration

Alih Isabelle Magaña, BS
summa cum laude
Elementary Education

John A. Maggio, BS
Business Administration: Management

Thomas Mancuso, BS
magna cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Shekinah Ilunga Manyonga, BS
Biology
Chemistry

Tyler Erik Robert Marcum, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Kael Markham, BS
summa cum laude
Psychology: Child Development
Sociology: Health & Human Services

Benedict K. Mbogga, BS
Business Administration: Accounting, Finance

Bridget Eileen McHugh, BA +
English

Sada Renee Mills, BS
Elementary Education

Maria Fernanda Miranda Enriquez, BA
cum laude
Art & Design: Graphic Design Photography
Studio Art

Palmer L. Moe, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology
Automotive Restoration: History

Austin Moffet, BS *
Business Administration: Management

Meghan Marie Monroe, BS
Healthcare Management

Ethan Justise Montalvo, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Braylon Moody, BS
Business Administration: Accounting

Katelyn S. Moore, BS +
Business Administration: Finance

Matisyn F. Moses, BS
Sociology: Criminal Justice

Elijah Muehler, BS +
cum laude
Business Administration: Finance

Fabio Roberto Nickel, BS
cum laude
Business Administration: Finance, Management, Marketing

Graham Noblett, BS *
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Kaylie M. Norris, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Anselm Nyambuka, BS
Business Administration: Management

Alexandrea Renee Pak, BS
Business Administration: Finance, Management

Samuel James William Palecki, BS *
Healthcare Management

Reid Alan Palmer, BS
Business Administration: Management

James R. Pawlak, BS
summa cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Ethan Payne, BS
Sociology: Criminal Justice

Alvin Keith Poole Jr., BA
History: Licensure

Gabe A. Porras, BS
Sociology: Criminal Justice

Sierra Portenier, BA
cum laude
Performing Arts: Music Licensure

Jeremy Loring Porter, BS
magna cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Dryden Lee Powell, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Robert J. Ramberg, BS
summa cum laude
Elementary Education
English

Logan Matthew Rees, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Management
Business Administration

Emily Kaeline Reyna Vargas-Segura, BS
Elementary Education
English

Lindy Kathryn Reynolds, BA *
Music
Theatre

Dustin Gregory Rhoads, BS
Business Administration: Management, Marketing

Gregorio Rivera, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Management

Cameron Lee Robertson, BS
Automotive Restoration: Management

Cynarah Rodriquez, BA
Digital Media: Communication

Wildiomar Roman Morales, BS
Sport Management

Frank Romanaggi, BS +
summa cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Design

Joshua Roper, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Daniel Rowlett, BS
cum laude
Business Administration: Finance, Management

Katelyn N. Ruiz, BS
magna cum laude
Health Science: Movement

Bri Ruth, BS +
cum laude
Psychology: Health & Human Services

Kendyl Saffer, BS
Healthcare Management
Psychology
Business Administration

Natalia Salto, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Diego P. Santibanez, BS
Business Administration: Management

Brandi Dawn Satterfield, BS *
Health Science: Allied Health
Psychology

Andrew Bradford Schaefer Jr., BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Management

Dustin Schnacker, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science

Robert K. Schonberner, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Management

Gerod B. Shaffer, BS
Automotive Restoration: Management

Eliseo Silva, BA
magna cum laude
Art & Design: Graphic Design Photography

Jessica Erin Sims, BS
Interdisciplinary: Health Science
Biology

Darren Slatter, BS
Healthcare Management

Ross W. Smith, BS *
Automotive Restoration: Design

Valick Avon Sorter, BA
Music

Rebecca M. Steffen, BS +
Physical Education: Licensure

Mason Stephens, BS
summa cum laude
Business Administration: Accounting, Finance
Spanish

Oliver Nevin Stout, BS
cum laude
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Philip Edgar Swank, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Reagan Q. Thai, BS
cum laude
Psychology: Health & Human Services
Sociology: Health & Human Services

Mercedes Lane Thompson, BS *
Automotive Restoration: Design

Madison Nicole Turley, BS
Biology

Jamichael Turman, BS
Mathematics

Kelcie M. Turner, BS
summa cum laude
Sociology: Health & Human Services

Mackenzie Unruh, BA
summa cum laude
Art & Design: Graphic Design Marketing
Business Administration

Anthony J. Valdez, BS
Sociology: Criminal Justice

Alex Van Patten, BS
Business Administration: Accounting, Finance, Management

Hannah Joyce Wagner, BS
Business Administration: Marketing
English

Jackson E. Warr, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Isaak J. Welch, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Sean Gandy Whetstone, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Marquis Jarriel Willoughby, BS
Sport Management

Kevin T. Wolfe, BS
Automotive Restoration: Management

Andrew M. Woods, BS
Automotive Restoration: Technology

Cameron Wright, BA
magna cum laude
Art & Design: Graphic Design Photography

denotes minor emphasis
* denotes summer graduates
+ denotes in absentia

Friday, May 17

10:30 a.m. Class Group Photo at Harnly Garden
All bachelor’s degree students should report to Harnly Garden (in front of Melhorn Hall) at 10:30 a.m. in cap and gown. Please be on time so you do not miss being a part of the group photo. You will receive a link to your free group photo in a future email.

11:00 a.m. Commencement Rehearsal for All Graduates
Immediately following the group photos, we will rehearse for the Saturday ceremony. Note: You must attend rehearsal if you plan to participate in Commencement.

Saturday, May 18

Line Up for Commencement Processional at 10:00 a.m.
We will gather inside the Sport Center to line up for the processional. Students line up alphabetically by last name in the large gym. Faculty and staff in the small gym. The platform party, faculty, staff and graduates will process in that order from the Sport Center to seating on the track.

Commencement Ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
So that you and your family need not worry about capturing the moment, a professional photographer will take photos of all graduates as they receive their diploma cover. You will receive a link to access your free photo in a later email. The ceremony will also be streamed on this page and at livestream.com/mcpherson-college

After the Ceremony
The recessional will conclude in front of Miller Library. You, your family, and friends are welcome to linger on campus and take casual photos.

Graduates’ guests will not need tickets for admission to the stadium. However, lightning, strong storms, or disruptive conditions such as the high winds could still drive the Commencement ceremony indoors to Brown Auditorium. Because tickets will be required for selected guests to gain admittance to Brown Auditorium, graduates still need to order tickets for up to seven selected guests.

Graduates will receive instructions on how to order those tickets when they pick up their cap and gown at Senior Fest! on Monday, May 6. Seniors unable to attend Senior Fest, can pick up their cap and gown in the registrar’s office after May 6, provided they do not have a financial hold on their account and they have completed the career services survey.

Important Reminder! You are eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony provided you meet all the following conditions:

Your financial balance is paid in full.
You have completed the Career Services outcomes survey.
You meet the following academic criteria:
- You have six or fewer credits remaining to complete your degree.
- You have a minimum GPA of 2.0 or higher in both your major and your cumulative residential coursework.
- If you are an elementary education major, you have completed your student teaching.
- If you are seeking secondary teaching licensure, you have completed your major content requirements.

Should you have additional questions about the above conditions or about the Commencement rehearsal or ceremony, do not hesitate to contact the registrar’s office at [email protected].

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