Campus Events Archives

Posted On: April 11, 2023
By: MC Admin

1969 Chevrolet Astro III concept car

One-of-a-kind classic automobiles will be displayed during the 23^rd Annual C.A.R.S. Club Motoring Festival at McPherson College on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A few of the cars expected on the field this year include the 1951 GM LeSabre concept car, the 1969 Chevrolet Astro III concept, and a 2024 Chevrolet all-electric Blazer EV SS, all from the General Motors collection, as well as a 1955 Ghia Gilda.

Each year, the student-run car show attracts rare vehicles from across the country and expects 350 to 400 vehicles to be on display throughout the campus grounds this year. Alongside the rare classic cars, automotive restoration students also present vehicles they are currently restoring.

“The car show serves as one of the biggest networking and alumni-gathering events for the college,” said Matt Kroeker, car show chair, “Every year, hundreds of cars ranging from student projects and local show winners, all the way up to Pebble Beach best-of-show contenders, converge on the college lawn for a unique day celebrating McPherson’s heritage as a leader in the antique automobile industry.”

At the car show this year, the students, alumni, and staff who recently found out their 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet was accepted to Pebble Beach will be recognized, and the car will be on display.

In addition to the wide variety of classic automobiles, the event will also feature entertainment provided by the McPherson College Jazz Band and the McPherson High School Jazz Band. The Model-T Team will demonstrate at 2 p.m., just before the awards ceremony. Building tours of Templeton Hall, home of the McPherson College Automotive Restoration Program, will be available from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Complimentary trolley service will be available between campus and Main Street from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. There is no charge for spectators. Food trucks will also be available on campus to purchase food and beverages.

Car enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in a Cruise-in on Friday, May 5, on Main Street in McPherson beginning at 6 p.m. No registration or entry fee is required for this event, which serves as a sneak peek at what will be on the show field and an opportunity for any car or motorcycle owner to display their rides in an informal show.

Pre-registration for Saturday’s event is available online at a discounted rate until April 22. Registration can also be made on the day of the show. Details are at www.mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/cars.

Posted On: January 5, 2023
By: MC Admin

Dr. Irvin Wagner and the University of Oklahoma Trombone Choir will perform at McPherson College as part of the Fern Lingenfelter Artist Series on Sunday, Feb. 5, at 3 p.m. in Brown Auditorium. Concert admission is free. Dr. Wagner is a 1959 graduate of McPherson College and former band director.

In addition to the Trombone Choir, this high-energy concert will spotlight a Solo Trombone Quartet. The quartet features Brent Mead, principal in the Wichita Symphony; Randy Crow, an adjunct brass instructor at McPherson College; Dan Hinman, trombone professor at Kansas State University; and Matt Blauer from the Wichita Symphony, making McPherson the “trombone capitol of Kansas,” for the evening, according to Dr. Wagner. The Lingenfelter Concert will feature some of Dr. Wagner’s original compositions along with classical and jazz trombone pieces. Dr. Wagner’s concerts are fun, educational, and enjoyed by musicians and non-musicians.

Dr. Wagner’s remarkable career includes conducting, performing, and teaching trombone for 53 years at the University of Oklahoma. He is a founding member of the Oklahoma Brass Quintet and conducts the popular OU Trombone Choir. He is a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and the conductor for many of that orchestra’s pops concerts. He has also been a guest conductor at the Kansas City Symphony, the Santa Fe (Argentina) Symphony, the Paraguay National Symphony Orchestra, the St. Petersburg Imperial Orchestra, and others. His compositions and arrangements are in demand by many major symphony orchestras and trombone choirs. In 2019, he received the International Trombone Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

He is a pioneer for trombone ensembles stemming from his education at Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Emory Remington and later began researching older music for trombone ensembles. The OU Trombone Choir with Dr. Wagner as conductor, appears often at major conventions and many times at the International Trombone Festival. Approximately 30 musicians from the choir will perform at the McPherson concert.

“I have been fortunate to travel to many parts of the world as a trombone soloist and conductor,” Dr. Wagner said. “I call McPherson my home town, and McPherson College is where I received a remarkable education. I owe McPherson College for the wonderful education as a musician and person and for forming the foundation of all I have been able to do.”

Following the concert, Dr. Wagner will host a masterclass for trombonists and other low brass players from area public schools and colleges; audience members who wish to do so are invited to remain for this teaching and learning opportunity.

Admission to the Lingenfelter concert is free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter. Lingenfelter, an alumna of McPherson College, taught piano in McPherson for many years to both college students on campus and younger students at her studio downtown. Her son, Steve Clark, chairman of Clark Investment Group of Wichita, established the fund that supports two annual music performance events with special emphasis on piano.

Posted On: October 5, 2022
By: MC Admin

The McPherson College Theatre Department opens its season with performances of the musical “Bright Star” on October 13-15 at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium.

“Bright Star” is the 2015 musical adapted by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell based on the Appalachian tale of the Iron Mountain Baby. The story shows Alice at two points in her life: in 1924, after meeting her true love, and in 1945, after a new young man walks into her life.

The cast includes Rebekah Ballast, Toby Leffew, E.J. Landrum, Kade McCune, Octavius Toliver-Flient, Mattis Ahlgrimm, Jean McKinney-Chance, Sierra Portenier, Gabby Lopez, Isaac Fleming, Bailey Hulce, Jailynn Hammel, Hudson Edwards, Jewel Hardin, Phebe Lyne, Susie Cunningham, and Hannah Simmons.

“Most people are not familiar with this new musical because it opened on Broadway the same year as the musical ‘Hamilton,’” said Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre. “But, in 2022, ‘Bright Star’ was named one of the top five most-produced musicals of high schools, colleges, and amateur theatres.”

Presented in concert form, the bluegrass score and folk-telling lyrics remind the audience that we each have multiple stories of past and present running through us.

A themed meal on the opening night of each production is offered to theater season ticket holders, also known as First Nighters. Tickets to each show are available online at www.mcpherson.edu/theatre-tickets or by emailing the box office at [email protected].

Posted On: October 1, 2022
By: MC Admin

Vanessa Thomas. Photo by JIM BARCUS.

Acclaimed vocalist Vanessa Thomas, known for her seamless span of five octaves, will perform at McPherson College as part of the Fern Lingenfelter Artists Series on November 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Mingenback Theatre. Admission is free.

For over a decade, Thomas toured nationally with Grammy-award winning trumpet-virtuoso Doc Severinsen. She is uniquely versatile with command across several musical genres, including classical, jazz, blues, gospel, and musical theater. Recent performances include Robert Ray’s “Gospel Mass” as the soprano, alto, and tenor soloist at Carnegie Hall and headliner for Lyric Opera and the Lied Center of Kansas in a series of outdoor concerts.

She has performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the Arizona Musicfest; with the Cincinnati Pops, the Florida Orchestra, and part of the Kansas City Symphony’s Christmasfest; and as a soloist with symphony orchestras in Minnesota, Detroit, Dayton, West Virginia, and Utah. Thomas appeared in the PBS American Masters documentary “Never Too Late.” Currently she is producing an album for distribution.

While at McPherson College, Thomas will also be teaching a masterclass on November 7.

Admission to the Lingenfelter concert is free thanks to a generous commitment to McPherson College honoring Fern Lingenfelter. Her son, Steve Clark, chairman of Clark Investment Group of Wichita, established the fund that supports two annual music performance events with special emphasis on piano. Lingenfelter, an alumna of McPherson College, taught piano in McPherson for many years to both college students on campus and younger students at her studio downtown.

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 25, 2022
By: MC Admin

Students from programs across the McPherson College curriculum will work together to present the next campus theatre production, “The Laramie Project(s)” on April 28-30 at 7:30 p.m. in Mingenback Theater at McPherson College.

“The Laramie Project(s)”, by Moises Kauffman and the Tectonic Theater Project is two plays offered together – “The Laramie Project” and “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later.” The McPherson College theatre department first staged the “Laramie Project: 10 Years Later,” during the 2009-2010 theatre season as a world premiere in partnership with the Tectonic Theater Company.

“I cannot wait to revisit ‘The Laramie Project’ and ‘The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later,’” Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre, said. “It is such an interesting study of how we see others and how we see ourselves, especially in a town like Laramie, Wyoming.”

On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten, tied to a fence, and left for dead outside of Laramie, WY. Shepard’s killers said they did it because he was gay and he hit on them. The case kicked off a national conversation, which resulted in the creation of hate crime legislation in America. Within weeks of Shepard’s attack, a group of actors from New York City flew to Laramie and set out to interview many members of the town to understand how this could happen. They returned 10 years later to continue their interviews. The resulting play is a documentary of those interviews.

Multiple classes worked to bring this production to the McPherson College stage including Tech Theatre 1 class, taught by Jen Pollard, assistant professor of theatre; Acting, taught by Bowman; and Understanding Popular Culture, taught by Julia Largent, assistant professor of communication.

A meal for season ticket holders will be offered prior to the Thursday night performance. For more information or reservations, visit https://www.mcpherson.edu/programs/theatre/season/

Posted On: April 11, 2022
By: MC Admin

Priceless, one-of-a-kind classic automobiles will be on display during the 22^nd Annual C.A.R.S. Club Motoring Festival at McPherson College on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A few of the cars expected on the field this year include the 1938 Buick Y-Job concept car, the 1961 Mako Shark Corvette concept, and the 1970 Pontiac Pegasus concept all from the General Motors collection.

Each year, the student-run car show attracts rare vehicles from across the country and expects 350 to 400 vehicles to be on display throughout the campus grounds this year. Other special cars expected at this year’s event include a 1941 Chevrolet Fleetline from Rad Rides by Troy, a 1937 Cord 812 Sportsman, a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Coupe, Aston-Martin DB2, and a 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Special Roadster.

“The car show is the ultimate celebration of automotive work where future automotive restorers and current masters within the industry meet,” Wyatt Miceli, a senior and student leader of this year’s car show, said. “The show is entirely student-operated and welcomes all marques across a variety of price ranges. Every year, both students and professionals show off their skills and get to enjoy a great day surrounded by friends, family, and community.”

The weekend will also celebrate the dedication of The Paul Russell & Company Center for Automotive Research in Miller Library on the college campus. The dedication will take place on Friday and the space will be open to tour on Saturday.

Along with a wide variety of classic automobiles, the event will also feature entertainment provided by the McPherson College Steel Drum Band and Jazz Band as well as the McPherson High School Jazz Band. The Model-T Build Team will demonstrate at 2 p.m., just prior to the awards ceremony. Building tours of Templeton Hall, home of the McPherson College Automotive Restoration Program, will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There is no charge for spectators. Food trucks will also be available on campus to purchase food and beverages.

Car enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in a Cruise-in on Friday, May 6 on Main Street in McPherson beginning at 6 p.m. There is no registration or entry fee required for this event, which serves as a sneak peek at what will be on the show field and an opportunity for any car or motorcycle owner to display their rides in an informal show.

Pre-registration for Saturday’s event is available online at a discounted rate until April 22. Registration can also be made on the day of the show. Details are at mcpherson.edu/autorestoration/cars.

Posted On: February 22, 2022
By: MC Admin

Jeff Slagle is offering a $10,000 matching gift towards auto restoration on Power Day 2022.

Jeff Slagle is not a McPherson College alumnus but has completed as many classroom hours as some graduates and this year is joining the alumni who support the college’s annual Power Day with a matching gift.

Slagle, who lives in Huntsville, AL, is a regular participant of the Summer Institute offered through the automotive restoration program at McPherson College. Each year in June, the college offers a variety of weeklong classes for hobbyists and professionals taught by the school’s auto restoration faculty. Slagle has been coming to the institute for the past seven years.

“I haven’t taken every class yet, but I have taken some twice,” Slagle said. “I believe in education and wanted to learn from somebody who knows what they are doing rather than watching YouTube videos and possibly learning bad habits.”

“Car Camp,” as he calls it, started for Slagle when he searched the internet for “car schools” and “restoration” in hopes of finding some help on a car project. He found McPherson College and stumbled onto the Summer Institute registration. Slagle says he’s gained knowledge and confidence over the years coming to the summer classes. He is an ASE certified Master Technician and helps other car owners in his local car club work on their classics.

“Just because you are taking a class on engines doesn’t mean that’s all you are learning about,” he said. “It’s interesting, and I keep coming back because that’s where I get to see a lot of my friends. All of the people I have met there over the years are my friends and we all have a common interest. It’s my summer vacation.”

Slagle has been showing his appreciation of the program for several years by making gifts to Power Day, the yearly online day of giving; however, this year he decided to support the college with a $10,000 matching gift for the automotive restoration program.

“I’ve given in the past, mostly to get the free t-shirt,” Slagle jokes. “I was asked if I would consider a matching gift and I thought this was a good way to show my appreciation of the program and maybe encourage others to do the same.”

Power Day is set for March 10 and will include live videos and updates all day on all of the college social media channels. Last year’s Power Day raised nearly $200,000. Other matching opportunities this year include a $50,000 matching gift for the MC Fund or any academic program from the Paul Family as well as $25,000 of matching gifts for athletics, from young alumni, and for the choir trip to Carnegie Hall from the VanGoethem family.

More information about Power Day is on the McPherson College website, mcpherson.edu/power.

Posted On: February 21, 2022
By: MC Admin

The McPherson College theatre department will present the haunting classic “Gaslight” on March 4-5 at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium.

Eighty-five years ago, this classic stage production made an impact on London theatergoers and is where the modern term “gaslighting” originated. Themes center on perspective and how it can be contorted to make one question the world around them. Welcome to the Manningham home in 19^th century London. Jack, a young charismatic man helps to care for his wife, Bella, but a visitor from Scotland Yard arrives with questions. As questions become more intense, a shadow of doubt grows between Bella and her husband.

“Last year my students studied this text and it was neat to see their genuine excitement for this classic play,” Jen Pollard, theatre professor, said. “Many students did not realize the modern term gaslighting comes from this text.”

McPherson College presented this production during the 1988-89 theatre season.

A full British tea will be served for season ticket holders on Saturday, March 5 beginning at 6:20 p.m. For more information or reservations, visit https://www.mcpherson.edu/programs/theatre/season/. Masks are required for theatre audience members.

Cast members include Hannah Simmons as Bella; Eli Jordan as Jack; Jailynn Hammel as Elizabeth; Bailey Hulce as Nancy; Kenzie Jansonius as Detective Rough; with additional support from Bryce Martin, Evan McGoldrick, and Valick Sorter.

Crew members include Sarah Asher, stage manager; Jean McKenney-Chance, lights; Danny Salinas IV, set; Lindy Reynolds, props; Toby Leffew, sound; Bailey Hulce and Ellery McMurray, costumes; Kenzie Jansonius, hair and makeup; Jen Pollard, set and costume design, technical director; Jd. Bowman, director.

Posted On: January 24, 2022
By: MC Admin

McPherson College Theatre Department will produce a one-night-only theatre experience, “White Rabbit/Red Rabbit,” by Nassim Soleimanpour featuring Jd. Bowman, professor of theatre at the college, on Friday, January 28 in Mingenback Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Experience theatre that the New York Times described as “playful, enigmatic and haunting.” This one-of-a-kind performance literally asks the actor to sign away the right to see the script ahead of time, seeing it for the first time when it is read on opening night in front of a live audience, according to Bowman.

Unable to leave Iran, playwright Soleimanpour ‘tours’ the world through the text of his unique theatre experience that requires no director and no rehearsal. An actor receives a script in a sealed envelope for the first time on stage on opening night. What follows is a unique journey for the actor and the audience that is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

“When I mentioned to my colleague that I’d like to perform again, I didn’t really mean I’d be ready to perform a one-man show where I can’t read the script ahead of time,” Bowman said. “But that’s what fits our season the best, so here we are! And yes, this makes me freak out a little, but I’m ready for the challenge.”

The production will be a Kansas premiere.

The theatre is currently offering individual performance and season ticket options by emailing [email protected] or calling 620-242-0444. For more information on the shows, dates, or to purchase tickets online, visit www.mcpherson.edu/programs/theatre/season. Masks are required and seating is limited.

Quicklinks

Category: Campus Events

McPherson College Hosts Most Unique Car Show In Midwest

McPherson College Alum Returns to Perform in Lingenfelter Concert Series

McPherson College Theatre Presents “Bright Star”

Acclaimed Vocalist Performs at McPherson College

Campus Tour Features New Building Projects

McPherson College Theatre Presents “Laramie Projects”

McPherson College Car Show Expects Unique Field of Classic Cars

Institute “Alum” Challenges Others To Give On Power Day

McPherson College Theatre Presents “Gaslight”

MC Theatre Offers Unique Experience With “White Rabbit/Red Rabbit”