(Editor’s Note: On July 14, 2020, the White House administration rescinded the order barring international students from studying in the United States if they were taking only online classes. MC continues to work with all international students for arrival to campus for the fall semester.)

McPherson College is working through the specifics of a new directive from Immigration and Customs Enforcement prohibiting international students from returning to or remaining in the United States if their college adopts an online-only instruction model for the fall. The new rule was announced on July 6.

“We have a team looking at the new ruling and exploring solutions that both meet the guidelines and allow students to complete their semester if there is a disruption,” Christi Hopkins, vice president for enrollment management, said. “Our international students are an important part of our campus and we will stand with them during this challenging time.”

McPherson College is committed to starting its fall semester on August 17 with both in-person and hybrid classes (a combination of in-person and remote instruction.) If another outbreak of the virus disrupts the fall semester, the college is exploring ways to continue to offer international students a hybrid approach that will allow them to complete the semester on campus.

Currently, the college is assisting students in the Student and Visitor Exchange Program who are able to travel without issue with their return to campus by July 26 to begin a 14-day self-quarantine prior to the beginning of the semester. Additionally, the college is reaching out to international students who are experiencing challenges in returning to campus.

McPherson College senior Myriah Webster

Myriah Webster, a senior at McPherson College, received the John J. Killian Scholarship from the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accounts. She was selected from candidates nominated by each of the independent Kansas colleges and universities.

Webster is from Marquette, Kansas, and graduated from Smoky Valley High School in 2017. She is majoring in business administration with emphasis in both management and accounting and minoring in music. She completed an internship this spring with the accounting firm Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Lloyd and this summer is working as an accounting intern with Koch Industries.

“I’ve been extremely blessed to experience the programs and the caring professors that McPherson College has to offer,” Webster said. “I never thought I’d be this far in my career before I even graduate.”

At McPherson College, she is involved in band, jazz band, business club, and was inducted into Gamma Beta Phi and Sigma Beta Delta honor societies. After graduating, she plans to obtain a master’s degree in accounting and become a CPA.

The John J. Killian Scholarship is awarded to one accounting major from the independent colleges and universities in Kansas. The recipient must demonstrate academic success not only in accounting, business, and economic curriculum but also in English and rhetoric subjects. The scholarship is awarded to students who are involved in leadership activities, have a willingness to comply with standards of professional responsibility, and possess an overall positive moral character.

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

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

Morgan Abbott, Senior, Decatur, TX
Evariste Abeli, Sophomore, Kinshasa, Congo
Nicole Abunaja, Junior, San Tan Valley, AZ
Israel Acosta, Sophomore, Houston, TX
James Aikins, Senior, Hutchinson, KS
Kento Aizawa, Senior, McPherson, KS
Zackary Alexander, Senior, McPherson, KS
Jose Alonso, Junior, Wichita, KS
Amanda Ambrosy, Sophomore, Haslet, TX
Esther Tibaidjuka Amuli, Junior, Kinshasa, Congo
Austin Apple, Sophomore, Fort Morgan, CO
Aryana Archuleta, Senior, Sacramento, CA
Bianca Avila, Junior, McPherson, KS
Mason Ball, Freshman, Spring, TX
William Bandy, Sophomore, Bel Air, MD
Thane Barta, Junior, Anchorage, AK
Walter Behrens, Senior, Crested Butte, CO
Cheneal Benne, Junior, Courtland, KS
Anthony Bernal, Junior, Riverside, CA
Ethan Billhime, Senior, Windermere, FL
Haelie Bland, Senior, Gove, KS
Matari Bodie Jr., Sophomore, Miami Gardens, FL
Julien Bodin, Junior, Cartagena, Spain
Kevin Boeckman, Senior, Wamego, KS
Shelby Bonn, Junior, Shawnee Mission, KS
Molly Booker, Sophomore, Roseville, CA
Isaac Bora, Senior, Utica, NY
Luke Borton, Senior, Independence, KS
Cameron Boyce, Sophomore, Tebbetts, MO
Reven Bradbury, Junior, Castle Rock, CO
Riley Bradbury, Junior, Castle Rock, CO
Amy Braimbridge, Senior, Connolly, Australia
Valentin Bravo, Junior, Esparto, CA
Zachary Bredfield, Sophomore, Heppner, OR
Garrett Brenning, Junior, Culbertson, NE
Abigail Briscoe, Sophomore, Little River, KS
Cedric Brown, Junior, Culpeper, VA
Kourtney Brumley, Junior, McPherson, KS
Makaylee Bryson, Junior, Spanish Fork, UT
Alex Burger, Junior, Sedan, KS
Sydney Burton, Senior, Stilwell, KS
Hannah Butler, Freshman, McPherson, KS
Patrick Calip, Senior, Tulsa, OK
Jorge Calleros, Junior, Saint John, KS
James Canar, Junior, Longmont, CO
Brian Cantu, Senior, Mission, TX
Garrett Carroll, Senior, Conroe, TX
Calvin Cassida, Senior, Louisburg, KS
Kenneth Castleberry, Sophomore, Melissa, TX
Eugenio Cervantez Jr., Junior, Princeton, TX
Kaci Chadwick, Sophomore, Cheyenne Wells, CO
Jacob Christopher, Junior, Overland Park, KS
Cole Coggins, Sophomore, Kiowa, KS
Daniel Connell, Freshman, High Peak, Derbyshire
Garrett James Connor, Senior, Parker, CO
Jordynn Corea, Senior, Amarillo, TX
Jonathan Cox, Senior, Hialeah, FL
David Cramer, Sophomore, Healy, KS
Trenton Crow, Junior, Claremore, OK
Taylor Cunningham, Senior, Wellsville, KS
Jasmine Curiel, Senior, Corona, CA
Jake Curtis, Junior, Great Bend, KS
Charity Davis, Senior, Lawton, OK
Rashida Davis, Senior, Liberal, KS
Andrew Deppe, Sophomore, Harrisonville MO
Antoine Detavernier, Freshman, Bruges, Belgium
Maile Deutsch, Junior, Palmer, TX
Matthew DeVoe, Senior, Chanute, KS
Gabriel Dias Correa De Melo, Junior, Santos, Sao Paulo
Erika Diaz-trejo, Freshman, Katy, TX
Hunter Dreiling, Senior, Goddard, KS
Stephen Duncan-Peters, Junior, Cabin John, MD
Tyler Dunn, Junior, Lawton, OK
Paul Calvin Dusabe, Sophomore, Commune De Limete, Zaire
Thomas Eichelberger, Freshman, Euless, TX
Gershom Epp, Freshman, Hesston, KS
Jennie Erven, Junior, Scott City, KS
Jacob Esch, Junior, Sapulpa, OK
Erik Espinoza, Senior, Chula Vista, CA
Amber Evans, Junior, Hesperia, CA
Madison Faul, Freshman, Lodi, CA
Marcus Vinicius Fernandes, Junior, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Brionnah Fessler, Sophomore, Norton, KS
Heidi Fischer, Sophomore, Aledo, TX
Jadin Fleming, Sophomore, Castle Rock, CO
William Flesher, Junior, Wichita, KS
Theodore Flint, Sophomore, Sagle, ID
Rachel Foreman, Senior, Holcomb, KS
Kaitlyn Foster, Senior, McPherson, KS
Rinaldo Gagiano, Senior, Sydney, Australia
Micah Gilbert, Senior, Elkhart, IN
Elle Gillen, Senior, Castle Rock, CO
Alexandra Gipson, Sophomore, Harrison, AR
Victoria Gonzalez, Senior, Keller, TX
Quinn Gordon, Senior, Sherman Oaks, CA
Cullen Grabast, Senior, Osborne, KS
Desmond Grayson, Senior, Olathe, KS
Peter Greenough, Junior, Victoria, MN
Tatum Griffin, Freshman, Edmond, OK
Samuel Grim, Freshman, Johnstown, CO
Sierra Grow, Junior, Halstead, KS
Michael Halgren, Freshman, Leawood, KS
Madison Hall, Junior, The Colony, TX
Garrett Ham, Junior, Albuquerque, NM
Scott Hayford, Freshman, Spring Creek, NV
Kaitlyn Heinis, Senior, Oviedo, FL
Natalie Hemann, Senior, Osage, IA
Kyana Henderson, Freshman, Universal City, TX
Shyanne Henkis, Sophomore, Laveen, AZ
Grayson Henry, Sophomore, Mckinney, TX
Zane Hickey, Freshman, Alvord, TX
Sydney Hicks, Junior, Broomfield, CO
Ashley Hiebert, Junior, Canton, KS
Cole Hinton, Senior, Wathena, KS
Ebony Hinze, Sophomore, Burton, TX
Georgia Hitchcock, Sophomore, Cody, WY
Alissa Hofmann, Senior, Gilbert, AZ
Benjamin Holmes-Jones, Junior, Independence, MO
Danielle Holt, Senior, Glenpool, OK
James Howard, Freshman, Jackson, TN
Haley Hurst, Junior, Norman, OK
Ethan Huston, Sophomore, Saint John, KS
Florine Ibale, Junior, Kinshasa, Zaire
Shekinah Ilunga, Freshman, Johannesburg
Colin Irvin, Junior, North Kingstown, RI
Navid Istanbullu, Junior, Bremen, Germany
Jessica James, Junior, Halstead, KS
Makenzie Jansonius, Junior, Prairie View, KS
Britney Jarvis, Junior, Oceanside, CA
Brandt Johnson, Freshman, Peyton, CO
Kennedy Johnson, Freshman, Colorado Springs, CO
Trevor Johnson, Junior, La Mesa, CA
Cameron Jones, Sophomore, Harrison, AR
Codi-Lane Jones, Senior, Salina, KS
Jessica Jones, Senior, Brentwood, CA
Daniel Journey, Senior, McPherson, KS
Sebia Kalambayi Kabedi, Senior, Lake Bluff, IL
Thara Kalambayi Kapinga, Senior, Lake Bluff, IL
Fabrice Kambale Wa Kahala, Sophomore, Florence, AL
Arya Karmacharya, Senior, McPherson, KS
Gracia Kasongo, UN,Lubumbashi, Zaire
Jordan Keanini, Junior, Waddell, AZ
Courtney Keyes, Sophomore, Lyons, KS
Polina Khoroshevskaya, Sophomore, Kemerovo,
Semaj Kinney, Freshman, The Colony, TX
Justus Clemens Koehler, Junior, Prosselsheim, Germany
Jakob Komel, Sophomore, Solvenia, Slovenia
Christian Koninger, Freshman, Horb Am Neckar, Germany
Matthew Kroeker, Sophomore, Wichita, KS
Drew Labertew, Junior, McPherson, KS
Lance Lagasse, Junior, New Sweden, ME
Skylar Lane, Junior, Castle Rock, CO
Tatelyn Lasley, Senior, Springfield, CO
Timothy Lauring, Senior, Paxton, MA
Aaron Leck, Senior, McPherson, KS
Cierra Lee, Senior, Goodyear, AZ
Delani List, Freshman, Junction City, KS
Amir Ljuso, Freshman, Bedford, TX
Alfred Jonathan Llamas, Sophomore, Chula Vista, CA
Dakota Logan, Junior, Monclova, OH
Andre Guillaume Lubaya, Junior, Young America, Zaire
Esther Lubiba, Junior, Kinshasa, Congo
Mitchell Ludinich, Junior, McPherson, KS
Matthew Mahan, Freshman, Topeka, KS
Carelle Mampasu, Sophomore, Kinshasa, Congo
Kendra Maples, Sophomore, Maywood, MO
Tori Maples, Senior, Maywood, MO
Alex Marca, Senior, Atascadero, CA
Diamond Marshall, Senior, Newton, KS
Kylee Martin, Senior, Larned, KS
Bethany Masters, Sophomore, Howe, TX
Brent Masters, Senior, Howe, TX
Trisha Mathewson, Junior, Axtell, KS
Tabitha Maumau, Junior, Aurora, CO
Grace Maxey, Sophomore, Damascus, OR
Savannah McHugh, Freshman, Wichita, KS
Hannah McKay, Sophomore, Golden, CO
Nathaniel McLaughlin, Senior, Ticonderoga, NY
Eman McNeal, Junior, Fort Collins, CO
Robert Medina Jr., Sophomore, Olathe, KS
Tyler Menard, Freshman, Westmoreland, NH
Gerardo Mendez Jr., Senior, Wichita, KS
Wyatt Miceli, Junior, Woodacre, CA
Matthew Tyler Dela Miller-Wells, Senior, Conyers, GA
Cole Miller, Sophomore, McPherson, KS
Megan Miller, Sophomore, Enterprise, KS
Martin Millos, Freshman, Vigo, Spain
Rodrigo Miranda Enriquez, Junior, Great Bend, KS
Francisco Montoya, Junior, Wasco, CA
Maison Moseley, Sophomore, Woodward, OK
Ilanna Moyer, Senior, McPherson, KS
Nathan Muamba, Sophomore, Kinshasa, Congo
Billy Muhizi, Senior, Dacula, GA
Vanessa Mundo, Sophomore, Houston, TX
Paul Murphy, Sophomore, Independence, MO
Trey Murphy, Freshman, Wagga Wagga, Australia
Michel Mwengwe, Sophomore, Lubumbashi, Congo
Paul Kapya Mwengwe, Sophomore, Lubumbashi, Congo
LeaAnn Myers, Senior, Loveland, CO
Tyler Natkin, Freshman, Warrington, PA
Gregory Neiger, Junior, Scotts Valley CA
Grant Newton, Senior, Coffeyville, KS
Tyler Norris, Junior, Arvada, CO
Matthew Nutting, Junior, Foxboro, MA
Brett Oden, Junior, Sterling, KS
Lillian Oeding, Senior, Wichita, KS
Peyton Ohnoutka, Junior, Lincoln, NE
Tevin Oller, Senior, Shawnee Mission, KS
Kayla Ortiz, Junior, Brownsville, TX
Garrett Owen, Senior, Woodward, OK
Grant Owens, Junior, Hutchinson, KS
Kentaro Oya, Sophomore, Saitama-shi, Japan
Erica Paradise, Junior, Bakersfield, CA
Frances Parish, Sophomore, Rogers, AR
Jake Pearson, Junior, Harrah, OK
Andrew Penrose, Sophomore, Clovis, CA
Taylor Perez, Junior, Tulsa, OK
Zachary Petrie, Freshman, Centennial, CO
Joshua Pisik, Sophomore, San Diego, CA
Kristin Potter, Senior, Houston, TX
Oliver Preissler, Senior,W Hartford, CT
Bela Raimondi, Senior, Colfax, CA
Jorge Ramos Hernandez, Freshman, Mesquite, TX
Ashtyn Redus, Junior, Afton, OK
David Rees, Sophomore, Gisborne VIC, Australia
Cami Ann Richardson, Senior, Hesston, KS
Dylan Riley, Senior, Lake Ozark, MO
Brittany Roberts, Junior, Mansfield, TX
Sean Robinson, Sophomore, La Grange, IL
Luis Rodriguez Jr., Freshman, The Colony, TX
Nelly Rodriguez, Senior, Mather, CA
Cameron Rogers, Sophomore, Elkview, WV
Pamela Rosales Zapata, Junior, Dodge City, KS
Jed Rubin, Senior, Bayside, NY
Nathaniel Russo, Sophomore, Lakewood, CO
Nathan Andrew Saffer, Sophomore, Arriba, CO
Katherine Saul, Junior, Porter, TX
Kody Scholl, Sophomore, Colorado Springs, CO
Cole Schroeder, Sophomore, Russell, KS
Molly Schultehenrich, Junior, Saint Charles, MO
Joshua Servantez, Freshman, Lubbock, TX
Jonah Shabry, Junior, Boulder Creek, CA
Amber Shuey, Senior, Wichita, KS
Christie Silber, Junior, Simi Valley, CA
Tomi Simmons, Junior, Las Vegas, NV
Claire Singleton, Junior, North Las Vegas, NV
Emma Singleton, Sophomore, North Las Vegas, NV
Kortney S Slaughter Jones, Senior, Brentwood, CA
Bo Slaymaker, Sophomore, Johnstown, CO
Tiffany Slechta, Junior, McPherson, KS
Alison Smith, Senior, Lockeford, CA
Meghan Smith, Sophomore, Lindsborg, KS
Olivia Smith, Sophomore, Wichita, KS
Karlie Sneed, Junior, Seminole, OK
Bryce Snodgrass, Senior, Peyton, CO
Bruno Squarcia Mateo, Freshman, Xativa, Spain
Jack Stalcup, Junior, Hugoton, KS
McKenzie Stalnaker, Senior, Wichita, KS
Colby Swift, Sophomore, Sedgwick, KS
Ryan Swiggart, Senior, Haysville, KS
Brett Sykes Jr., Senior, Coldspring, TX
Cole Tanner, Junior, Lunenburg, MA
Elizabeth Thornton, Senior, Karval, CO
Kaden Tichenor, Sophomore, Holcomb, KS
Jacob Tiernan, Senior, Osborne, KS
Adriana Emile Tilleman, Sophomore, Van Alstyne, TX
Max Tucker, Senior, Long Beach, MS
Jacob Turley, Senior, Leighton Buzzard, UK
Kenajah Upchurch, Freshman, Sugar Land, TX
Grace van Asselt, Sophomore, McPherson, KS
Ashlynd Vanosdell, Sophomore, Tonopah, AZ
Isaiah Vazquez, Junior, Montebello, CA
Andrew Vekteris, Junior, Port Republic, NJ
Italia Venegas, Senior, Shawnee Mission, KS
Victoria Voyles, Senior, McPherson, KS
Nicolas Wahl, Senior, Koenigstein, Germany
Brianna Kay Wallace, Senior, Haysville, KS
Kassidy Weaver, Freshman, Katy, TX
Lacy Weaver, Freshman, Waxahachie, TX
Myriah Webster, Senior, Lindsborg, KS
Charles Weeks, Senior, Flossmoor, IL
Ann Marie Weesner, Sophomore, Hutchinson, KS
Courtney Weesner, Senior, Hutchinson, KS
Albert Wegener, Senior, Kansas City, MO
Benjamin Wegener, Freshman, Virum, Denmark
John Wells II, Freshman, Newton, KS
Dorrah Wembi, Freshman, Commune de Ngaliema
Elizabeth Williams, Senior, Broken Arrow, OK
Quincy Williams, Junior, Cincinnati, OH
Nicholas Wilson, Junior, Hutchinson, KS
Matthisen Witzel, Junior, St. Francis, KS
Madyson Woog, Junior, Highlands Ranch, CO
Julianna Yanez, Senior, Wichita, KS
Marissa Zamora, Senior, Chester, CA
Brittany Zipf, Senior, Rockhampton, Australia

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

Cori Alexander, Junior, Roanoke, TX
Andrew Allen, Sophomore, Aledo, TX
Joshua Arrington, Freshman, Fairfield, TX
Victoria Ates, Sophomore, Dallas, TX
Destiny Bacon, Junior, La Mesa, CA
Brittany Baroni, Senior, Galt, CA
Guido Battistini, Senior, Pilar, Argentina
Rayna Berry, Freshman, Wichita, KS
Christie Betker, Senior, Reno, NV
Malik Bond, Junior, Macon, GA
Samuel Box, Freshman, Macclesfield, England
Jack Bradley, Sophomore, Mounds, OK
Marcus Brasley, Junior, The Colony, TX
Kairon Brooks, Junior, Thibodaux, LA
Summer Buckshaw, Senior, McPherson, KS
Marc Buhidar, Sophomore, Freer, TX
Zaya Carson, Freshman, West Des Moines IA
Marcos Chacon, Junior, San Antonio, TX
Calvin Chapman, Freshman, Bristow, OK
Tanner Conway, Junior, Osborne, KS
Emma L Cummings, Senior, Wichita, KS
Corey Davis, Junior, Houston, TX
Dante Dellacroce, Senior, Colorado Springs CO
Kelsey Doll, Junior, Salina, KS
Benjamin Falconer, Senior, Greeley, CO
Victoria Finnigan, Sophomore, El Reno, OK
Summer Garcia, Freshman, Ontario, CA
Kollin Goering, Junior, McPherson, KS
Moneshya Green, Senior, McCook, NE
Jacqueline Gullion, Sophomore, Fremont, CA
Alicia Hall, Senior, Aurora, CO
Curren Harris, Senior, Hiwassee, VA
Jonathan Hawkins, Freshman, Baldwin City, KS
Bishop Hill, Sophomore, Maysville, NC
Benjamin Hockman, Sophomore, Pleasanton, KS
James Hodgson, Senior, Richmond, CA
Jonathan Hoffman, Junior, Wysox, PA
Lionel Ibonga, Senior, McPherson, KS
Daija Isley, Junior, Topeka, KS
Kamron Jackson, Junior, Houston, TX
Martin Jaime, Sophomore, San Antonio, TX
Kemryn Jenkins, Junior, Eminence, KY
Neville Mbuyamba Kabangu, Junior, Kinshasa, Congo
Zachary Kantor, Freshman, Pacific Palisades, CA
Gracia Kasereka, Junior, Commune De Selembao
Liliane Kathoheryo, Sophomore, Goma, Nord Kivu, Zaire
Choucranie Kayembe, Junior, Lubumbashi Haut Katanga
Jordan Kingcaid, Freshman, Haltom City, TX
Raegan R Kleppe, Freshman, Durant, OK
Thomas Kleywegt, Senior, Gravesend, England
Sheresa Layton, Senior, Milliken, CO
Peyton Lindsey, Freshman, Prairie Village, KS
Brandon Lockett, Freshman, Carrollton, TX
Malik Lolar, Freshman, Newton, KS
Chase Lomax, Sophomore, Elkhart, TX
Kaylynn Lyons, Junior, Winslow, AZ
Lual Magot, Senior, Tucson, AZ
Jarrod Manick, Senior, Aldergrove, Canada
Cameron Marquez, Freshman, Rio Rancho, NM
Dylan Martell, Sophomore, Colorado Springs CO
Gillian Martin, Senior, McPherson, KS
Aventino Martinez-Garcia, Junior, Wichita, KS
Christian Maxey, Freshman, Damascus, OR
Myles McCrary, Freshman, Arlington, TX
Marcus McDaniel, Senior, McPherson, KS
Samuel McDannald, Junior, Marysville, OH
Hunter Meeks-Riner, Junior, Broken Arrow, OK
Nathan Monk, Freshman, Minimbah, Australia
Gonzalo Morales Vargas, Junior, McPherson, KS
Timothy Morrison, Sophomore, Atoka, OK
Trevor Myers, Freshman, Delta, CO
Mathylde Okandjo, Sophomore, Streamwood, IL
Taylor Osborn, Senior, Welling, OK
Alvin Patterson, Sophomore, Saint Louis, MO
Allison Penalva, Junior, McPherson, KS
Alexander Polakow, Junior, Glenview, IL
Kaden Quint, Sophomore, Hutchinson, KS
Melvin Reid, Junior, Waterford Works, NJ
Joshua Reyes, Senior, Plano, TX
Joseph Robben, Junior, Goddard, KS
Nathan Robl, Senior, Lyons, KS
David Ross, Junior, Bakersfield, CA
Draven Ruiz, Sophomore, Carmel, NY
Carter Runyan, Junior, Olathe, KS
Yoranne Mbadu Sambu, Junior, Lubumbashi, Zaire
Janet Sanner, Sophomore, Parker, CO
Tallan Schrader, Freshman, Benkelman, NE
Travis Schultz, Freshman, Shawnee, KS
Geoffrey Smith, Senior, Brownsburg, IN
Daigen Springer, Freshman, Hartsel, CO
Andrew Steinbeck, Sophomore, Liberty, MO
Trenton Szydlowski, Freshman, Argyle, TX
Kylecia Taylor, Senior, Junction City KS
Sean Thomson, Junior, Blandford Forum, UK
Carley Tomlin, Senior, Little River, KS
Brandy Trengove, Junior, Denver, CO
Jacob Trigg, Senior, Mission, TX
Kaitlyn van Asselt, Senior, McPherson, KS
Susana Velasquez, Senior, Monterey Park, CA
Joshua Wade, Junior, Olathe, KS
Quashad Washington, Sophomore, Tucson, AZ
Collin Wedel, Junior, Moundridge, KS
Benjamin Wellikoff, Senior, Newberg, OR
Sean Whetstone, Freshman, Fort Collins, CO
Alyssa Wilson, Junior, Lukachukai, AZ
Kaitlyn Wilson, Junior, Princeton, TX
Dalton Womack, Sophomore, Cushing, OK
Logan Worswick, Senior, Garland, TX
Theron Wray, Freshman, Garfield, KS

Rachel Foreman

Cami Richardson

Two recent McPherson College graduates are joining the management-training program at Equity Bank.

Cami Richardson of Hesston, Kansas and Rachel Foreman of Holcomb, Kansas both recently graduated from the business program at McPherson College. They were selected by faculty to interview with the bank in November. Both were contacted for a second round of interviews that include Equity Bank CEO Brad Elliott, a 1989 graduate of McPherson College. The two students will join several other alumni who work for Equity Bank and who are on its leadership team. Two McPherson College students were also selected last year for the bank’s management training program.

Richardson earned a business administration degree with emphasis in accounting, finance and management and graduated summa cum laude. She was an active member of the college’s business club, was a third team all-conference player in basketball and named freshman of the year. She was also an active volunteer while at McPherson College. Foreman earned a business administration degree with emphasis in finance and management and graduated magna cum laude. She was a member of the Bulldog cross country and track teams and was named a scholar athlete. She also served as treasurer for MClub and was on its promotions team.

Equity Bank is headquartered in Wichita and has branches throughout Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

“McPherson College’s career placement rates are some of the highest in the country and we continue to elevate the scope and visibility of our career services efforts,” President Michael Schneider said. “So it is very exciting for us to have a strong partner like Equity Bank who can offer experiential and as well career opportunities for our students.”

McPherson College graduates are employed before graduation at a rate that is three times higher than the national average and six months post-graduation, 98 percent of all graduates are employed.

Aaron Leck is a senior at McPherson College majoring in biology and minoring in philosophy.

Aaron Leck was recognized by the Kansas Independent College Foundation (KICF) for his excellence in academics, character, and integrity, along with his commitment to the value of a private college education in Kansas. He was among 20 students from private colleges across the state to receive the Maud Wyatt Recognition Scholarship presented by KICF.

Leck, who is from McPherson, is a senior at McPherson College majoring in biology and minoring in philosophy. He hopes to be in a position where his work helps others after he graduates and is looking forward to the scientific research in biology and the philosophy thesis he will write as part of his senior capstone projects. Recipients of the scholarship are full-time, degree seeking students on the cusp of graduation who maintain GPAs of 3.5 or above and contribute to their communities.

Along with his studies, Leck is a member of Gamma Beta Phi, a service honor society, and Beta Beta Beta, a biology honor society. He was an inaugural member of Gamma Beta Phi and places importance on seeking out service opportunities. He hopes to become a foster parent in the future. He is also a participant in the McPherson College Student Debt Project, which helps students reduce their student debt through work, mentorship, and financial literacy education.

“McPherson College puts an emphasis on service, and through service opportunities, helps students realize the impact it can have,” Leck said. “The staff and faculty also lead by example, always willing to put in the hard work, and go the extra mile for students. This has provided several role models upon which to base my work ethic.”

McPherson College will honor the 2020 graduating class with a virtual Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2020. The college will Livestream the ceremony beginning at 2 p.m. CDT.

In an announcement to students, President Michael Schneider explained the decision to transition the traditional ceremony to a virtual event, “There are already too many hardships on students and families given this situation. Families have the current date saved, so we are proceeding with a virtual commencement to allow everyone an opportunity to participate no matter their location.”

Students will receive their cap and gown in the mail prior to commencement. Members of the Class of 2020 and their families and friends are invited to gather online as faculty members recognize them and the college confers their degrees. The streamed ceremony will feature formal remarks and slides of each of the graduates.

The virtual event is in response to the continued limitations on public gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic. The college announced to its students on March 17 that the remainder of the spring semester would be completed remotely using online resources because of the outbreak.

In the weeks leading up to Commencement, the college social media will focus on seniors and their activities. Follow all of the McPherson College on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

McPherson College student Grant Barrett works on classes from home.

McPherson College students returned to coursework remotely on Monday, March 30 after a two-week expanded spring break. Although students and faculty did not return to campus, they did begin adapting to their new normal.

The college announced to its students on March 17 that the remainder of the spring semester would be completed remotely using online resources because of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“It is not the semester that any of us planned but we are all working together to move forward despite the challenges,” Michael Schneider, McPherson College president, said. “Our students are adapting to a new normal as they transition to online courses. Faculty has exceeded my expectations to recreate how learning will happen this semester.”

In a video shared with campus last week, faculty and staff members encouraged students as they began classes.

“The faculty has been working hard over the past couple of weeks to meet the challenge of remote learning,” Dustin Wilgers, associate professor of biology, said in the video. “With every challenge there is opportunity. I’ve been able to engage my class content in brand new ways and even found new tools for the classroom.”

College administration is collaborating with students, faculty, and staff on ways to support student learning and keep students engaged. Academics and student life offices are connecting with students through the college social media channels encouraging student involvement with a variety of creative ideas that range from virtual office hours to blanket fort challenges.

“Social media is a great way to stay connected,” President Schneider said. “It’s been encouraging for all of us to keep that connection with our students. I’d invite everyone to follow our social media and check out everything our students are doing on our virtual campus.”

You can follow McPherson College on Facebook @McPhersonCollege, Twitter @Mac_College, and on Instagram @mcphersoncollege.

Other aspects of the college have transitioned to online as well. Although prospective students are not visiting campus in person, campus visits and other recruiting events continue virtually. The college recently hosted the first-ever Virtual Presidential Scholarship Competition, one of its largest events for prospective students, with nearly 100 students registered to participate.

“This is definitely an unprecedented time but what is certain is how positive, diligent, and caring the staff and faculty have handled it,” Nick Navarro, an automotive restoration student, said. “As a senior, I am disappointed that I won’t finish college the way I had hoped. It’s important to see the bigger picture and looking back over the past four years, I can see how far I have come.” Updates about the campus regarding the COVID-19 outbreak can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/covid, and the college is sharing information and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.