Alumni Archives

Posted On: October 18, 2024
By: MC Admin

Each year, McPherson College recognizes the accomplishments of young alumni during the Honors Convocation at Homecoming. This year, the five alumni receiving Young Alumni Awards on October 18 in a ceremony at Brown Auditorium included Nathan ’95 and Amy ’94 Brubaker, Brent Paul ’96, and Shane ’03 and Jennifer ’04 Netherton.

The Young Alumni Award recognizes the achievements and life-long potential for accomplishment of the college’s younger alumni. The award is given to alumni who address and overcome professional challenges, serve others or their church, and actively support McPherson College.

Amy ’94 and Nathan ’95 Brubaker

Nathan and Amy Brubaker, Trophy Club, Texas. Nathan Brubaker, a fourth-generation alum, graduated from McPherson College in 1995 with a degree in accounting and business finance and started his career as a staff accountant at Koch Refining company, now Flint Hills Resources. Today, he is senior vice president at Flint Hills Resources and is responsible for all commercial activity, refined products, and asphalt. His career has taken him from Austin, TX, to Anchorage, AK, with responsibilities ranging from sales, marketing, and logistics to pipeline operations and renewable fuels. Amy (Diaz) Brubaker is a 1994 graduate of McPherson College with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She is the evidence custodian and patrol assistant for the Trophy Club Police Department. Her career includes positions as vice president for the Keller Youth Association in Keller, TX, parole/probation officer duties in Texas and Alaska, para-professional crisis counselor and teaching positions in Texas, and elementary school teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School in McPherson. She has served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees and is currently on the Texas Advisory Council for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and is chair of recruitment and engagement for the Texas Women for Children, an initiative of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Nathan is a board member of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, and both are active in the Hillside Community Church. They are long-time President’s Club donors and leading contributors to the Pat Noyes Men’s Basketball Endowed Scholarship, while supporting Bulldog Athletics as a whole. Nathan’s grandfather, Earl, and father, Tom ‘68, both served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees for many decades. The Brubaker family established and continue to support the Earl Brubaker Memorial Scholarship endowment at McPherson College.

Brent Paul ’96

Brent Paul, Bakersfield, CA. Brent Paul graduated from McPherson College in 1996 with a degree in agriculture economics: farm management. He is president and CEO of Paul Farm Management, Inc. and Paul Property Management, Inc. He is involved in several community organizations and has served on the Wasco Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture and the Pond-Shafter-Wasco Resource Conversation District. He is a former Wasco Youth Wrestling and Wasco High School football coach. Since 2004, he has served on the Bakersfield College football coaching staff producing seven All-Americans, 12 division-one players, three NFL players, and a Canadian football MVP. He’s been involved in many championship seasons and bowl wins, including four 10-plus win seasons and a junior college national championship. In 2019, the Paul Family Field at McPherson Stadium was named in gratitude to Brent and his family for their charitable giving, which includes sponsoring an MC Power Day match each year and supporting Bulldog athletic programs. Brent is an elder at the Grace Community Church and serves as the chairman/moderator of the Elder Board. He’s also served as treasurer and was a Sunday School teacher.

Shane ’03 and Jennifer ’04 Netherton

Shane and Jennifer Netherton, Urbandale, IA. Shane Netherton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Business Administration from McPherson College in 2003. He is chief financial officer for Bernau Capital Partners. He was comptroller and then chief financial officer of Tulsa Community College from 2011 until 2016. Shane also served as business manager then vice president for finance at McPherson College from 2007-2011 and was controller then chief financial officer for Stine Seed Company for seven years. He is a community board member at Liberty National Bank, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and a past board member for Goodwill Industries and Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa. Jennifer (Schuyler) Netherton graduated from McPherson College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and is a second-grade teacher at Bergman Academy in Des Moines. She was the recipient of the Golden Apple Award for Teaching in 2021. She volunteers for Samaritan’s Purse, Meals from the Heartland, and at the Valley Church. Together they volunteer to operate the aid station for the Des Moines Marathon, where they keep runners hydrated during the race. The Nethertons support MC’s Power Day annually as President’ club donors and regularly participate in the Pat Noyes Golf Experience and other Bulldog Athletic fundraisers.

While on campus, all the 2024 Young Alumni Award recipients participated in Alumni Panel sessions, hosted by McPherson College faculty and their academic divisions. The panels give MC students the opportunity to hear from accomplished alumni about what their McPherson College education did for them, along with career advice and tips for preparing for life after college.

Posted On: April 29, 2024
By: MC Admin

The McPherson College Citation of Merit award recipients for 2024 are Ron ’60 and Rita (Smallwood) ’61 Harden; Larry ’65 and Sandee (Hoover) ’65 Kitzel; and Sigrid Wagner Horner ‘70. These recipients exemplify the college’s mission of Scholarship, Participation, and Service through their lifelong commitment to the values they developed as students at McPherson College. The college honored this year’s recipients at a dinner on April 26 at the Community Building in McPherson.

The McPherson College Citation of Merit is the highest award recognizing the most distinguished alumni for lifetime accomplishments in service to profession, community, church, and to McPherson College. The recipients are recommended by the Alumni Awards Committee and are approved by the College Board of Trustees.

Ron ’60 and Rita (Smallwood) ’61 Harden

Ron ’60 and Rita (Smallwood) ’61 Harden

Ron and Rita (Smallwood) Harden met at McPherson College and will be married 64 years in August. They spent most of their married life in Loveland, Colo., where Ron practiced dentistry from 1968 until he retired in 2005, and Rita was an elementary school teacher for more than 34 years. They have two daughters, Kristin and Kit.

Both Ron and Rita have been active volunteers. Ron’s interest in ornithology led to 50 years of volunteer service in local, state, and National Audubon Society chapters. He conducted annual breeding bird surveys for the United States Geological Service for 50 years. He was a volunteer member of the Interpretive Staff at Rocky Mountain National Park, where his duties included guiding nature walks, environmental education, the Junior Ranger program, and working at the visitor’s center information desk. He also served on the Boy Scouts of America regional council’s Committee on Eagle Advancement for over 20 years. Rita was active in the Philo Club, a local women’s service organization, for 54 years, serving as treasurer, president, and on many committees. She was active in local school board elections and served on various boards during her daughters’ school years. They are 56-year members of the First Baptist Church of Loveland, where Rita was active in the junior high youth group and children’s education for 40 years. She serves on the governing board, is a choir member, and was part of the pastor search team, and past moderator. Ron has also been involved in the music and worship committee, board of deacons, and was a moderator, and liaison to the church’s Korean Baptist Church.

Ron graduated from McPherson College in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Administration. He earned his DDS in 1967 from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Rita graduated from McPherson College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and earned a master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.

Larry ’65 and Sandee (Hoover) ’65 Kitzel

Larry ’65 and Sandee (Hoover) ’65 Kitzel

After long and successful careers, Larry and Sandee Kitzel spent their first year of retirement serving in Virginia, Nebraska, and Ohio as part of the Brethren Volunteer Service. They then spent another 11 years in locations across the country, serving in the Brethren Disaster Ministries a week to a month at a time. Today, their volunteerism is focused around Arriba, a small town in Eastern Colorado, near their daughter, Erika (Kitzel) Saffer ’95 and her family Kevin ’94, Nate ’23, and Kendyl ’24.

After graduating from McPherson College in 1965, Larry began teaching band and choir, and Sandee taught math in Bruning, Neb., and later in Tecumseh, Neb. In 1970, they moved to McPherson, where Sandee worked as an accountant, and Larry taught in the music department at McPherson College. He completed a Master of Music degree in 1973 at Wichita State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1985 at the University of Oklahoma. He taught large and small ensembles, instrumental methods, conducting, music history, and music appreciation at McPherson College for 34 years before retiring in 2004. Sandee graduated from the Brethren Academy of Ministerial Leadership in 1994 and served as the Monitor Church of the Brethren pastor for 10 years before retiring.

While in McPherson, Sandee served on The Cedars board of directors for eight years, the Western Plains Church of the Brethren District Board for six years, was a member of Music Club, and played bassoon in the community orchestra. She also offered private music lessons in piano, bassoon, and oboe. She recalls hosting many McPherson College students in their home and altering many band uniforms. Larry, with the Kitzel Brothers Summer Band, played for service organizations in the community and performed and conducted a community orchestra and brass choir. He helped with Mac Sprokettiers, the community bike club, and with Mac Trax, a model train club. He also offered private lessons and tuned and moved pianos and pipe organs in Central Kansas. At the college, Larry directed the college community bulletin board cable channel for nine years. His students filmed and edited May Day parade videos for the channel. He also booked and hosted off-campus programs in Brown Auditorium for 10 years. He served as a KSHSAA adjudicator.

Larry’s involvement in music continues today with the Eastern Colorado Trombones and High Plains Brass ensembles that perform in parks, nursing homes, at Memorial Day programs, and at the annual Colorado Trombone Festival in Colorado Springs. Sandee leads a community Bible study group, coordinates the Sunrise Service, offers piano lessons, and volunteers with the after-school program in Arriba. They are both active in the Bethel church of the Brethren near Arriba.

Sigrid (Wagner) Horner ‘70

Sigrid (Wagner) Horner ‘70

Sigrid (Wagner) Horner served on the McPherson College Board of Trustees from 1993 to 2001 and was on the Alumni Board for seven years, serving as president for one year. She also served as class agent for the Class of 1970.

Sigrid graduated from McPherson College with a bachelor’s degree in German and earned a master’s in German Studies from the University of New Mexico in 1997. She taught German and English to high school students in Kansas and Colorado and was a substitute teacher, including two long-term German class assignments, for 13 years in the Lincoln School District in Nebraska. She volunteers at Ten Thousand Villages in Lincoln and serves as the volunteer language director of the German-American Society in Omaha, overseeing programming to further German language and culture and substitute teaching in the adult and children’s German classes. She received the Joseph Meschede Award of Excellence for service to the German-American Society in 2023.

With her husband, Charles ’66, they managed Camp Colorado and helped direct camp, counsel, and cook for Camp Mount Hermon and Camp Colorado. She retained membership in the Church of Brethren even when there were no churches nearby and remains active today at the Antelope Church of the Brethren as a Sunday School teacher, singing in the choir, and serving on various boards, including serving as chair of the church board. She was a delegate to the Annual Conference several times and served on the Western Plains District nominating committee. She and Charles served as Brethren Ministries leadership from 2007-2011 and worked on a project in 2022.

Sigrid was born in Herford, Germany, and moved to the United States in 1956 with her parents through the Church World Service’s refugee resettlement program. They were sponsored by the Ullom family and the Church of the Brethren in Wiley, Colo. She became a U.S. citizen in 1968.

A recording of the Evening of Recognition Awards dinner and program can be found at https://livestream.com/mcpherson-college/evening-of-recognition-2024.

Posted On: October 20, 2023
By: MC Admin

From left to right: Renata Lichty ’02 Prose & Paul ’00 Prose, Adeola Grillo Coker ’94, Erin ’95 & Nathan ’98 Swenson-Reinhold

Each year McPherson College recognizes the accomplishments of young alumni during the Honors Convocation at Homecoming. This year, five alumni — Adeola Grillo Coker ’94, Erin ’95 & Nathan ’98 Swenson-Reinhold, and Paul ’00 & Renata Lichty ’02 Prose — received Young Alumni Awards on October 20 in a ceremony at Brown Auditorium.

The purpose of the Young Alumni Award is to recognize the achievements and life-long potential for accomplishment of the college’s younger alumni. The award is given to alumni who are addressing and overcoming challenges in their professions, are involved in service to others or their church, and are actively supportive of McPherson College.

Adeola Grillo Coker, San Antonio, Texas, graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998. She is a pharmaceutical scientist and educator with more than 20 years of experience in academic pharmacy and the pharmaceutical industry. She currently serves as the director of the Master of Science in Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences program at the University of the Incarnate Word, Feik School of Pharmacy in San Antonio, where she has been a professor since 2009. Prior to that, she was a senior scientist at Human Genome Sciences, Inc., in Rockville, MD. She is an active volunteer, serving as a science fair judge for the Alamo Regional Academy of Sciences and a project mentor for the American Chemical Society, mentoring high school students in science. She serves on the volunteer engagement and management committee for Each One Teach One, a San Antonio non-profit organization that helps adults gain literacy. At McPherson College, she serves as a mentor for the Student Debt Project.

Erin & Nathan Swenson-Reinhold, Frisco, Texas. The Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson-Reinhold graduated from McPherson College in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Cultural Studies. She earned a Master of Social Work in 1997 from the University of Kansas and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in 2016 from the Portland Seminary at George Fox University in Oregon. She works as the pastor for group life at Preston Meadow Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas, and has 20 years of therapeutic experience. Throughout her career, she has served in variety of counseling and pastoral positions in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, and Nebraska. She also offers private counseling and coaching through Journey Counseling & Coaching Services. Nathan, a 1998 graduate of McPherson College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, also has an extensive career in counseling and pastoring. He is currently a partner with GBS Fundraising, an organization that strengthens charitable causes, and is the owner of Summit Coaching and Behavioral Counseling. In 2005, he received a Master of Divinity and was ordained into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Portland Seminary at George Fox University. He is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation and is a certified DISC behavioral consultant.

Paul & Renata Lichty Prose, McPherson, Kansas. Dr. Paul Prose is a 2000 graduate of McPherson College where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and played on the Bulldog football team for three years. He earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from the Ohio State University in 2009. In 2015, he purchased the McPherson Veterinary Clinic after practicing there for three years and in 2017 added the McPherson Pet Resort. In 2023, Dr. Prose added a satellite veterinary clinic in Newton, Kan. Dr. Renata Prose received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with minors in chemistry and Spanish from McPherson College in 2002 and played for the women’s soccer team for three years. She earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 2006 from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. She has practiced dentistry in McPherson since 2011 and in 2017 established Mid Kansas Dental. She volunteers locally with Step MC and with Kansas Mission of Mercy. Both regularly host student interns and serve as volunteers at Camp Colorado for the Church of the Brethren, and were youth group sponsors for the Columbus Mennonite Church. Renata served on the McPherson College Alumni Board from 2012-2016.

Posted On: April 26, 2023
By: MC Admin

The McPherson College Citation of Merit award recipients for 2023 are Dwight Oltman ’58 (posthumously), Zane Smith ’66, and Garold Minns ’73. These recipients exemplify the college’s mission of Service, Scholarship, and Participation through their lifelong commitment to the values they developed as students at McPherson College. The college honored this year’s recipients at a dinner on April 21 at the Community Building in McPherson.

Dwight Oltman

The beginning of Dwight Oltman’s 55-year career as a renowned international conductor and music educator can be traced back to his senior year at McPherson College. He was asked to fill in for the band director, who had become ill until a replacement was found and ended up conducting the entire academic year.

Oltman was the founding music director of the Ohio Chamber Orchestra in Cleveland and conducted the orchestra from 1972 to 1992. He was also the music director and principal conductor of Cleveland Ballet from 1976 to 2000. He conducted ballet performances in cities across the United States, including New York and Chicago, and in Europe at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. From 2000 until 2012, he was the music director of Ballet San Jose in California and traveled with the company to perform in Shanghai, China. Oltman served on the faculty of Baldwin Wallace University for 40 years from 1970 until 2014, where he conducted the symphony orchestra and symphonic wind ensemble. Both groups were honored by being selected to perform at numerous state, regional, and national conferences. He also directed the renowned Baldwin Wallace Bach Festival for 39 years, which was featured on PBS for its St. Matthew’s Passion performance and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Throughout his career, he conducted various orchestras in the United States and abroad and was a guest lecturer for many national conferences and American music schools.

He graduated from McPherson College in 1958, earned a Master of Art in Music from Wichita State University in 1963, and completed postgraduate coursework at the University of Cincinnati. Additionally, he studied conducting with Pierre Monteux and Max Rudolf, two of the leading pedagogues of the 20^th century, and composition in France with Nadia Boulanger. He was recognized with a proclamation from Cleveland Mayor Michael White and recognized with a Morton Gould Award from the American Society of Composers.

McPherson College alum Zane Smith

Zane Smith

Zane Smith put his business degree from McPherson College to use in helping develop his hometown of Ankeny, Iowa. After graduating from McPherson in 1966, he returned to his home and opened a gas station just off of well-traveled Interstate-35. He later continued his education in real estate and obtained a real estate and broker’s license, becoming a Certified Residential Specialist and Certified Commercial Investment Member. He established a residential real estate company, Zane Smith Realty, which grew into one of the leading residential real estate companies in Iowa. He expanded his company into commercial sales and founded Zane Smith Commercial. He is a 50-year member of the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors and a member of the Iowa Commercial Real Estate Association and National Association of Realtors. In addition to his real estate companies, he was also a past co-owner of two tire stores and six convenience stores.

He is an active member of community organizations. He is a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge and Ankeny Rotary Club and a nine-time Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine-Royal Order of Jesters. He is a past board of directors member of the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce and First American Bank. He is a life-long member of the Ankeny Church of the Brethren. Smith established a permanent ongoing endowed scholarship fund for students in the McPherson College business program.

McPherson College alum Garold Minns

Garold Minns

Dr. Garold Minns grew up in McPherson and graduated from McPherson College with a degree in biology in 1973. He continued his education at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. At KUMC-Wichita he completed his residency in internal medicine, followed by an infectious disease fellowship. He joined the faculty of KUMC-Wichita in 1980 and today serves as its dean and associate dean for Academic and Student Affairs, professor, and was the previous chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. He is the Sedgwick County health officer and during the pandemic was instrumental in leading health policy for the county, including Wichita. He also serves as part-time physician at the Wichita Veterans Hospital.

His community involvement includes working with the National Youth Sports Program, giving physical exams for youths, and as a camp physician for the Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of the Wichita First Church of the Brethren, where he has been actively involved in committees over the years, and as volunteer physician for the Annual Conference.

A recording of the Evening of Recognition Awards dinner and program can be found at https://livestream.com/mcpherson-college/evening-of-recognition-2023

Posted On: March 13, 2023
By: MC Admin

McPherson College’s Power Day 2023 met all the goals set for the annual online giving day, raising $330,000 for scholarships and programs. In its ninth year, more than 350 alumni and friends of the college made gifts that helped unlock five matching challenges that totaled over $90,000.

This year’s matching challenges included:

$50,000 from the Paul Family for the MC Fund and academics
$12,500 from Young Alumni
$10,000 from Jeff Slagle for Automotive Restoration
$10,000 from Equity Bank for Athletics
$10,000 from the Board of Trustees

“Power Day is not only a day of giving but a time for the McPherson College community to celebrate and remember what McPherson College means to us,” Dave Barrett, director of Power Day, said. “This is the place where many of us were allowed to grow, learn life lessons both in and out of the classroom, and meet forever friends. Power Day is an opportunity for our alumni and friends to make an investment in the next generation of MC students, allow them to have their own unique MC experience, and recognize what makes this place so special.”

The one-day giving blitz featured live and pre-recorded video messages throughout the day on the college’s social media channels and website. Leading up to Power Day, alumni were encouraged to share stories about the community they built at McPherson College that continues today.

“I had the privilege of playing basketball at Mac with two amazing people who became lifelong friends,” said Angelina Froese, a 2009 graduate. “That’s what McPherson College’s environment does, introduces you to great people and encourages its students to build relationships. For that, I’ll forever be grateful I chose McPherson College and be proud to be a Bulldog.”

Although the focus of Power Day is online giving, Barrett said it is also a day to reconnect with friends and communicate why it is important to support the next generation of students through scholarships.

“As we look to continue our tradition of successful fundraising, it will take all levels of donor support,” President Michael Schneider said. “Power Day is one demonstration of our alumni and friends stepping up to make an immediate impact on our students through robust scholarships and innovative programs like the Student Debt Project.”

More information about Power Day, including all the day’s videos, can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/power.

Posted On: October 14, 2022
By: MC Admin

Each year McPherson College recognizes the accomplishments of young alumni during the Honors Convocation at Homecoming. This year, three alumni —Billy Jamison ’88, Bruce Lolling ’95, and Andrea Herrera ’00 — received Young Alumni Awards on October 13 in a ceremony at Brown Auditorium.

The purpose of the Young Alumni Award is to recognize the achievement and potential for accomplishment of the college’s young alumni. The award is given to alumni who are meeting significant challenges in pursuit of professional goals, are involved in service to others and church, and participate in alumni activities.

Billy Jamison, Jefferson City, Mo., graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Management. Since 2004, he has worked as research administrator at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators, an executive member of the Black Faculty and Staff Organization and serves on various Presidential committees, including the university’s Budget Committee, Family Friendly Campus Committee, and the Title IX Equity Panel. He is the chair of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Staff Advisory Council and has chaired the Chancellor’s Star Award Committee. He has volunteered his time on campus in various faculty, staff, and student activities, including 5K runs, Tiger Walk, and freshman student move-in. For the past 22 years, he has donated his time volunteering to organize and conduct the Lincoln University of Jefferson City, Mo. Homecoming parade. He is an Elder and ordained minister and serves the Strait Way Temple of Deliverance as an assistant pastor and church administrator. He also gives his time to the McPherson College Student Debt Project as a program mentor.

Bruce Lolling, El Dorado, Kan., graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in history and later earned a master’s degree from Emporia State University and a master’s degree in school leadership from Baker University. He taught social studies for 10 years before becoming a school administrator. He is currently the principal at Valley Center High School, where he leads a staff of 130 including 85 licensed staff, and oversees educational opportunities for approximately 1,000 students from grades nine to 12. Since 2008, he has served as an AVID national staff developer training other educators for the AVID summer institute and AVID Path. He also wrote the AVID National Professional Learning curriculum for history. AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, aims to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success.

Andrea Herrera, McPherson, graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in biology and earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Kansas City in 2005. She completed her residency at the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler in the department of family medicine. She is a family medicine physician and opened Great Plains Family Medicine, a direct primary care office, in McPherson in 2015. Before opening her office, she was a staff and clinic physician at McPherson Hospital, where she served as president of the medical staff in 2018. Her special interests are in women’s health, sports medicine, pediatrics, disease prevention, obesity and weight control. She volunteers in children’s ministry, the worship team, and women’s ministry at the Journey Mennonite Church. She supports McPherson College athletes as a host family for softball and provides meals and support to the volleyball team.

Posted On: September 22, 2022
By: MC Admin

The McPherson community will have an opportunity to learn more about the historic campus updates at McPherson College during its Homecoming activities on Saturday, October 15. The college is hosting a self-guided walking tour open to all guests on campus from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

McPherson College recently announced plans to reimagine its campus for the future—funded in part by a successful $55 million capital campaign that will supercharge the largest-ever investment in new buildings in its 135-year history.

The tour will feature five locations, including sites of the Campus Commons, the Boiler House, and the Holman Center for Athletics. College leadership will be located at each stop sharing information and answering questions. Guests can obtain a tour card at the Homecoming registration table in front of Miller Library and begin the tour anytime between 10 and 11:30 a.m. Golf carts will be available for those needing assistance.

The Campus Commons, a 55,000-square-foot landmark structure, is the cornerstone of the updates. The multi-level building will make a more robust community possible with new campus dining, student services, and activity spaces.

The Boiler House is a new hangout for the next generation of McPherson College students. It features an indoor-outdoor space with flex seating, yard games, fire pits, and a large outdoor screen and stage area. It will provide the perfect place to socialize and collaborate.

The expansion of the current Sport Center will give McPherson College teams a modernized facility as they compete in the fast-changing dynamic of college athletics.

“This is a momentous time for McPherson College, and we are excited to share our plans with our community,” said McPherson College President Michael Schneider. “We are changing the face of campus, putting our students’ needs first and preparing them for the future, while making a positive impact on the local economy. The investment we are making on campus updates will flow through the community in areas including retail, service, and lodging, and will ultimately lead to increased enrollment bringing more students and families to McPherson.”

In addition to the new structures, nearly half of the $55 million in new funding will directly support educational initiatives on campus that benefit McPherson-area students attending the college, such as the Student Debt Project, student scholarships, the Kansas Center for Rural & Community Health Science, Automotive Restoration, and other academic programs and growth areas.

More details and images of the campus updates are online, mcpherson.edu/comingsoon. If you have questions about the campus tour, please contact the McPherson College Advancement Office, (620) 242-0435

Posted On: April 27, 2022
By: MC Admin

The McPherson College Citation of Merit award recipients exemplify the college’s mission of Service, Scholarship, and Participation through their lifelong commitment to the values they developed as students at McPherson College. The college honored this year’s recipients at a dinner on April 22 at the Cedars Conference Center in McPherson. Citation of Merit awards went to Annette Van Blaricum ’68, Roger Trimmell ’73, and Jeff Bach ’79.

The McPherson College Citation of Merit is the college’s highest award recognizing the most distinguished alumni for lifetime accomplishments in service to profession, community, church, and to McPherson College. The recipients are recommended by the Alumni Awards Committee and are approved by the College Board of Trustees.

Annette Van Blaricum

The characteristics of service, scholarship, and participation outlined in the McPherson College mission are a common theme throughout the life and career of Annette Van Blaricum of Wichita. At nine years old, after visiting her sister at the college, she knew where she wanted to attend college and through her participation as a student in activities like theatre and choir, she laid a foundation that allowed her to sing with her church choir for many years and meet her husband, Ken ‘67.

She taught kindergarten and Title 1 for more than 30 years in Tonganoxie, Wichita, and Pratt, retiring in 2006. She has been an active volunteer in her church and the communities where she has lived with her family. In Pratt, she taught pre-school Sunday School for more than 10 years. She served as president of the Pratt United Methodist Women and served as vice president for the Wichita West District UMW. She organized a young women’s Rebekah Guild, and tutored international students from Africa and India. She also volunteered within her profession as president of Delta Kappa Gamma teachers group, publishing its newsletter for several years and was president of the Retired Teachers organization. Other volunteer activities include filling many offices within PEO chapters, serving as president of the Prairie Pilot Club, and serving as state president of the American Association of University Women.

Annette stays connected with McPherson College by serving as class agent for the Class of 1968 and helping coordinate their successful 50^th reunion in 2018. She is a past member of the Alumni Board. She also shares her talents with her communities. After learning to quilt, she organized a sewing club that donated several baby quilts to the Pratt Regional Medical Center over the years. She enjoys reading and hiking along the Arkansas River and is an avid cook and baker. Since 2015, she has been selling jams, jellies, salsa, and baked goods at the Pratt Farmers Market and currently at the Wichita Flea Market.

Roger Trimmell

Roger Trimmell served as head coach for the McPherson College men’s basketball team for 27 seasons from 1982 to 2008 and was an assistant professor in the health and physical education program. His impact on the lives of hundreds of students and colleagues is immeasurable. During his time as head coach for the Bulldogs, 61 players were named to All-Conference teams, including three who were named KCAC Player of the Year, and three who received NAIA All-American honors. Additionally, the graduation rate for all his senior players was 100 percent. He is affectionately known to McPherson College as the Father of Dogball. His teams qualified for the NAIA District 10 playoffs six times and his overall conference record, 221-211, gives him the most victories in KCAC men’s basketball history. He was named KCAC Coach of the Year twice, and was inducted into the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame twice – once as a coach and once as a member of the 1968 Wamego, Kan., undefeated state basketball championship team.

While at McPherson College, he organized annual team collections for the local food bank and reading programs with elementary schools. He also coordinated student groups to support Operation Christmas Child. He devoted summers to the college basketball camps as well as youth leagues and was director of the McPherson College Boys and Girls All-Star Basketball Games.

Along with his successful teaching and coaching career, he also devoted much of his time and talent to McPherson community organizations and his church. He was the director of Heartland Basketball Camps for nine years as well as for Focus on Family Basketball Camps, also for nine years. He served as a board member for the McPherson YMCA and volunteers with Brush Up Mac. He is a member of Countryside Covenant Church where is a Christian Formation teacher for junior high youth as well as a leader for the Adult Life group, and past member and chair of the Diaconate Board.

Jeff Bach

The foundation for Jeff Bach’s life-long love of learning was set at McPherson College and led him to a career of scholarship and service within the Church of the Brethren. He graduated from McPherson College with a double major in elementary education and German language and taught German at area high schools after graduating for a brief time. He was called to the ministry earning a master’s of divinity degree at Bethany Theological Seminary and later completing a doctoral program in the department of religion at Duke University publishing a dissertation about the religious views of the Ephrata Community in Ephrata, PA. He served as pastor to churches in Iowa and later taught history and Brethren studies and served as director of Peace Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary.

In 2007, he was named director of the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College and served as associate professor of religious studies. As director, he oversaw three major fund-raising efforts that resulted in the addition of an archive and special collection to the library, an addition to the Center’s facility, and $1 million endowed program support. He supervised acquisitions of several rare materials and books and developed content for the Bowers Interpretive Gallery at the Young Center, a museum-quality multi-media exhibit of artifacts, graphics, and text to interpret the Anabaptist and Pietist movements. He retired in 2020 and was recently named director emeritus.

He served on the Church of the Brethren 300^th Anniversary committee and was chair of the committee from 2005-2008. Currently, he serves as convener for the planning committee for the Church of the Brethren World Assembly in 2023. He is also the liaison between the Brethren Encyclopedia Board and the Alexander Mack Museum in Schwarzenau, Germany and participates in research for two projects transcribing and analyzing German text. He and his wife, Ann ’79, also serve as part-time ministers at Stevens Hill Church of the Brethren in Elizabethtown, PA.

Posted On: March 21, 2022
By: MC Admin

McPherson College’s Power Day 2022 surpassed all goals and set new records on March 10 during this year’s annual online day of giving that supports students and programs across campus. More than 400 alumni and friends of the college gave $314,383, exceeding last year’s total by more than $120,000, and in the eight years since its start, Power Day has raised more than $1 million.

“The response to this year’s Power Day exceeded all of my expectations,” Dave Barrett ’90, advancement officer and director of Power Day, said. “When we started this eight years ago, we wanted Power Day to connect with many groups within the MC family. It’s really a day about celebrating McPherson College.”

Gifts from alumni and friends of the college helped unlock matching challenges that totaled $95,000. The challenge gifts included:

$50,000 match from the Paul family for gifts made to the MC Fund and academic programs;
$10,000 match from the Van Goethem family for gifts made by young alumni;
$10,000 match from the Van Goethem family for gifts made to athletics;
$5,000 match from the Van Goethem family for gifts made to the choir;
$10,000 match from Jeff Slagle for gifts made to the automotive restoration program;
$10,000 match from a current McPherson College Board of Trustee member for gifts made by fellow board members.

“Power Day is not just a day of giving but a time for us all to celebrate and remember what McPherson College means to us,” Barrett said. “This is the place where many of us were allowed to grow and learn life lessons both in and out of the classroom and to meet life-long friends.”

The one-day giving blitz featured live and pre-recorded video messages throughout the day on the college’s social media channels and website. Alumni were encouraged to share their stories about the MC community leading up to Power Day and donors left comments throughout the day, which were shared on the college website.

In her online comment, Chrystal Banz ’07, said, “So grateful for my time at MC! From being a part of the first year of the graphic design program, bringing back women’s soccer, playing in the MC band, and on through the phone-a-thon. The memories and friendships will last a lifetime.”

Although the focus of Power Day is online giving, Barrett said it is also a day to engage with alumni and friends from across the country and communicate why it is important to support the next generation of students by investing in their success.

More information about Power Day, including all of the videos and alumni comments, can be found at www.mcpherson.edu/power.

Posted On: October 1, 2021
By: MC Admin

Each year McPherson College recognizes the accomplishments of young alumni during the Honors Convocation at Homecoming. This year three alumni – Craig Henderson ‘91, Jon Paden ‘91, and Elizabeth Stover Lucore ‘02 –received Young Alumni Awards on October 1 in a ceremony at McPherson Stadium.

The purpose of the Young Alumni Award is to recognize the achievement and potential for accomplishment of the college’s young alumni. The award is given to alumni who are meeting significant challenges in pursuit of professional goals as well as involved in service to others and church, and who participate in alumni activities.

Craig Henderson, Fruita, Colorado, graduated in 1991 with a degree in history and earned his law degree in 1994 at Washburn University. He serves as the county court judge for the 21^st Judicial District in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was admitted to the Kansas Bar in 1994 and worked as an attorney in Wichita, and in 1996 was admitted to the Colorado Bar and worked as an attorney in Denver. He has served as a deputy district attorney in Sterling, Hot Sulphur Springs, and Grand Junction, Colorado. He is a member of the Colorado County Court Judges Association and has served as a volunteer mock trial judge for Colorado Mesa University’s criminal law class.

He enjoys spending time outside of work with his family enjoying the arts and the outdoors. He is an avid reader and loves music, but his real hobby is long-distance running. He has finished two 50K ultra-marathons in Colorado and Utah, three marathons, seven half-marathons, and several other races of various distances.

Jon Paden, Little River, Kansas, graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree and later received a master’s degree in educational administration and completed hours in a doctoral program at Kansas State University. He is currently starting his 26^th year as principal at Windom Elementary School in the Little River School District. He started his career in education with USD 418 in McPherson as an elementary school teacher for first, second, and fifth grades.

He is an active community volunteer. In 2015, he was recognized as Little River Community Citizen of the Year. He has served on the USD 444 Recreation Commission promoting activities for youth and adults, coached youth sports in Little River and Sterling, Kansas, and was a youth group leader for several years. He served on the Little River City Council and currently serves on the Little River Community Foundation Board determining grant awards for the community. He also serves on the Mutual Telephone Company Board of Directors. He is active in his church serving on numerous committees and is a past member of the McPherson College alumni board.

Elizabeth Stover Lucore, DO, MPH, Monett, Missouri, graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and biology. She received her Masters of Public Health and Doctor of Osteopathy degrees from Des Moines University in 2008. Dr. Lucore is currently chief of staff at Cox Monett Hospital and volunteers as the medical director of the Barry County Department of Health.

Along with her family practice clinic and call schedule delivering babies, she is also involved in several volunteer projects and leadership roles in her community. Most recently, she is working to help develop a biking and walking trail system accessible to hospital visitors, employees, and the community. She is the founder of the Alternative Gift Fair in Monett, which over the last seven years has raised more than $10,000 for local nonprofits organizations. She also helped bring a volunteer chaplaincy program to the hospital. She is active in her church and serves as board chair for Camp Colorado.

While a student at McPherson College, she ran cross country, participated in choir and band, and became a member of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society. Now, together with her husband and children, she enjoys playing, exploring, eating, and laughing.

Quicklinks

Category: Alumni

McPherson College Honors Young Alumni At Homecoming

McPherson College Honors Alumni

McPherson College Honors Young Alumni

McPherson College Honors Alumni

McPherson College Meets Goals In One-Day Giving Blitz

McPherson College Honors Young Alumni

Campus Tour Features New Building Projects

McPherson College Honors Alumni

McPherson College’s Power Day 2022 Sets New Giving Records

McPherson College Honors Young Alumni