Melanie and Richard Lundquist

McPherson College has conferred honorary doctorates on Melanie and Richard Lundquist to recognize the couple’s significant body of work in driving systemic change in K-12 public education, health care delivery and innovation as well as the environment. The Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) degrees are awarded by McPherson College’s Board of Trustees and faculty, who voted unanimously to recognize the Lundquists with the honorary degrees. A special ceremony is being planned on campus for October 2021, contingent on COVID protocols.

In awarding honorary degrees, McPherson College aims to recognize and honor individuals who have distinguished themselves for their achievement and efforts that align with the college’s mission of developing whole persons through scholarship, participation, and service.

“McPherson College is proud to honor Melanie and Richard Lundquist for their body of work that has driven systemic change in so many ways,” said Michael P. Schneider, president of McPherson College, who conferred the degrees virtually earlier this month.

“The Lundquists bring joy and possibility to our life’s work at McPherson College and the work of so many others. They have carved out a path less traveled – helping to improve outcomes for people, especially those living at the margins. While they have created significant and positive impact through their philanthropy, especially in California, their reach touches us in Kansas and in so many other parts of our country. They have been invaluable members of the McPherson College community for years, providing counsel on many matters and expanding our network through their vast connections. We’re truly lucky to have Richard and Melanie as members of the McPherson College family and this conferral recognizes that,” said Schneider.

Melanie and Richard Lundquist are agents of change and two of California’s most significant philanthropists. Their gifts have created the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, a sustainable, national turnaround model for underserved non-charter K-12 public schools that works within the Los Angeles Unified School District. They have also helped transform health care delivery and spur biomedical research and innovation.  They committed $70 million in February 2019, as an unrestricted gift, to the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed), which was renamed The Lundquist Institute. The institute has more than 120 medical researchers working on 600 studies, including therapies for multiple orphan diseases.

The Lundquists have also led efforts to invest in solutions to climate change through AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles and critically important marine mammal research at the Marine Mammal Center, the largest marine mammal hospital in the world, located in Sausalito, Calif.

The Lundquists are signatories of the Giving Pledge, the movement where some of the world’s wealthiest individuals and couples commit to give more than half their wealth away. In June 2018, the Chronicle of Philanthropy featured the Lundquists in a profile story titled “A Lifetime Commitment: LA couple, who have signed the Giving Pledge, donate to groups that need them the most.” They have appeared four times on The Philanthropy 50, the annual list of America’s 50 most generous philanthropists, published by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

The conferral of the honorary doctorates recognizes the Lundquist’s unique mission to leverage their philanthropic commitments to affect significant and measurable impact through driving systemic change, focusing on areas where their gifts can change systems as well as fortunes, not just make incremental progress. They choose not to follow the crowd; instead, they seek to kick off a virtuous cycle that attracts other donors.

“This is humbling for Richard and me. We are especially touched that the honorary degrees are being conferred by McPherson College, a place that for over 130 years has been educating students with a special focus on service. That commitment to others is what inspires us as well. We have had the pleasure of getting to know many McPherson College students and hosting them in California. They are indeed special. Additionally, it takes smart leaders to move a college ahead, and we appreciate the good work of President Schneider and his team. Richard and I look forward to visiting campus in October. We are proud to be Bulldogs,” said Melanie Lundquist.

Founded in 1887, McPherson College is set on a 27-acre campus in McPherson, Kan., one of the top 100 small towns in the U.S. and offers 30 majors and pre-professional programs. US News & World Report ranks McPherson College as one of the top colleges for “social mobility,” enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students and as one of the region’s most innovative colleges for innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life and technology or facilities.

The Lundquists’ relationship with McPherson College started in 2014. They were introduced by Paul Russell, chair of the Automotive Restoration National Advisory Board, and since then, have committed well over $1 million to the college’s auto restoration program, the only award-winning four-year bachelor’s degree program for automotive restoration technology in the country.

“The Lundquists are champions for McPherson College’s mission, and more importantly, they are role models for our students – they are people of passion and commitment, focused on improving humanity. We are proud to recognize them with these honorary degrees,” said Amanda Gutierrez, vice president for the college’s auto restoration program. “Their work has created measurable results everywhere they go, and it proves that thoughtful philanthropy can lead to meaningful change.”

Melanie holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Southern California in communicative disorders/speech pathology and audiology, as well as a credential as a specialist in special education. Richard holds an undergraduate Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California.

By Michael Schneider, President
McPherson College

Washington, D.C., has been debating the student loan debt issue for years. While politicians argue—and the $1.7 trillion in student debt grows, crippling millions of Americans—McPherson College is taking action. Our Student Debt Project is a practical approach to financial aid that allows our students to pay as they go. It’s a program that blends financial literacy education, mentorship and work ethic, while reinforcing life-skills and values of personal responsibility, self-reliance and financial well-being.

And at the end of four years in the Student Debt Project, our students expect to graduate with little—to zero—debt. That’s a healthy start to their post-college lives, with the financial freedom to become homeowners, start families, and live free of the burden of college debt.

The student debt crisis is real. Nationally, one in five borrowers is in default. In Kansas, 377,000 residents now owe a combined $12.24 billion in student loans, according to the U.S. Department of Education Enterprise Data Warehouse. The total amount of student loans owed by Kansans is up nearly $1 billion dollars since I wrote my first student debt editorial in September 2019.

I am not opposed to student loans, but these totals are irresponsible. At McPherson College, we are proving that large loans are not necessary for a college degree.

By the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, more than 200 McPherson College students will be participating in the Student Debt Project, each assigned to cohorts with over 50 mentors who offer monthly advice on building a budget, setting personal and financial goals, and staying on track to achieve them. Our Career Services department assists each student in finding paid internships or other part-time work to help them pay down their debt. This year, students have already reduced their projected debt at graduation by nearly $10,000 per student. That’s more than a 30-percent reduction in debt, and many still have one, two, or even three more years of college to bring their debt lower or eliminate all of it.

And, as an added incentive, McPherson College matches 25 cents for every dollar the students earn and apply toward reducing or avoiding student loans.

I’m proud of students in the project and want to share a story from a freshman from Goodland, KS. Lola Hipp studies graphic design at McPherson College. She and her older sister are the first in their family to attend college. But the siblings had very different college experiences, and they both think their story is important to share.

Lola’s sister attended a state university but eventually returned home, not only dissatisfied with the state school’s program, but also saddled with more than $25,000 in debt and no college degree. Lola didn’t want to repeat that experience and is working to pay off her college as she goes. She is on track to owe less than $15,000 at graduation, which is half the national average.

Regarding the possibility of national student debt forgiveness, Lola says, “It’s nice for people who have already graduated, and I hope it comes through. But I’m not going to be banking on someone else paying down my loans. I’m proud of myself for working while going to college. I don’t want to rely on the government to pay my debt for me.”

As early as 1996, Congress recognized the issue of rising student debt with the Student Debt Reduction Act of 1996. The name of the act is a little misleading as the act just focused on reducing loan origination fees for high-need students—which is a good idea, but it is hard to see the impact today. It’s been 25 years since this act was introduced, and there have been a handful of other debt reduction acts in Congress since; however, the problem remains unresolved.

We can’t afford to wait for a solution from Washington. Can you?

President Michael Schneider presents the McPherson College Service Award to Monica Rice, director of alumni and constituent relations, at a drive-through awards and dinner celebration.

McPherson College celebrated a combined total of more than 270 years of service to the college when it recognized faculty, staff, and board of trustee members. Faculty and staff were treated to a drive-through dinner and awards presentation on campus. This year’s event replaced the reception and dinner traditionally held honoring those who have served the college from five to 30 years.

Members of the campus administrative team presented the honorees with their award and take-out dinners prepared by the campus food service in front of the campus entrance on Thursday, February 26.

“The outstanding achievements and accomplishments by the honorees in the classroom, within individual departments, and in the McPherson community propel the college beyond being a great college to work for,” said Brenda Stocklin-Smith, director of human resources. “These honorees facilitate world-class experiences for our students and it is in this deep sense of campus community where our students excel to be leaders of the future.”

Those honored included:

5 Years

• Chris Clark, assistant professor of technology
• Amber Dittert, assistant professor of mathematics
• Stephen Hoyer, assistant professor of sociology
• Kirk MacGregor, associate professor of philosophy and religion
• Heather Mierkiewicz, admissions operations associate
• Kevin Morris, computer services assistant
• Bryan Moses, head baseball coach/assistant athletic director of internal operations
• Matthew Porter, assistant professor of business
• Nathan Pollard, assistant professor of digital media
• Monica Rice, director of alumni and constituent relations
• Erik Vogel, vice president for advancement

10 Years

• Norman Hope, associate professor of business
• Josh Hubin, director of admissions
• Marty Sigwing, director of facilities
• Dustin Wilgers, associate professor of natural sciences

15 Years

• Becki Bowman, professor of communication
• Andrew Gustafson, athletics grounds supervisor
• Tom Hurst, Sr., adjunct and former director of service and campus pastor

20 Years

• Garrick Green, professor of automotive restoration technology

25 Years

• Laura Eells, professor of sociology
• Linda Barrett, coordinator of student success and engagement

30 Years

• David Barrett, advancement officer
• Connie Stucky, facilities office manager

Board of Trustees

• Vincette Goerl
• Dr. Paul Ullom-Minnich
• Bill Grove
• Carol Leland

By Michael Schneider, President
McPherson College

The pandemic has changed the way many families think about affording a college education. Parents are nervous as 52 percent of college-bound students say they are reconsidering college due to a change in their family’s financial circumstances. But what if you could get that four-year degree without any debt?

Meghan Smith, a sophomore from Lindsborg, Kansas, is on track to have zero debt at graduation.

Meghan Smith – a Lindsborg, Kan., sophomore double-majoring in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting and finance, and communication – says that after visiting four other mid-sized public and private colleges in Kansas, “I definitely felt like I was being forced to take out a loan to pay for college. It’s just assumed by college counselors that you will have to take out a loan and nobody tells you otherwise.”

But when she visited with McPherson College financial aid counselors, for the first time on her college tours she heard something different.

In addition to scholarships, McPherson College’s Student Debt Project offers a practical way to pay for college without taking out student loans. It’s a unique pay-as-you-go plan, combining financial literacy education, mentorship, and job support to help students pay down their student debt before they graduate. Most importantly, the Student Debt Project matches 25 cents for every dollar the student earns and puts toward his or her debt.

During the 2019-2020 academic year, students participating in the Student Debt Project were able to reduce their projected debt at graduation, on average, by $10,000. In just one academic year, that’s more than a 30 percent reduction.

And for some students like Meghan, the debt was reduced to zero. After three full semesters in the program, Meghan has now wiped out all her student-debt and expects to have her spring 2021 semester paid off early, too.

She, and the nearly 200 others in the program, are working outside jobs, maintaining above-average GPAs, participating in sports and extracurricular activities, and still staying on track to graduate with little – to no – debt. They receive monthly mentoring from more than 40 volunteer professionals who help them develop lifelong skills in personal finance as they offer advice on time management, budgeting, and goal-setting.

The mentorship – coupled with support from our Career Services office to find parttime jobs and paid internships – makes the program far more than a financial aid supplement. It also adds valuable career skills to the students’ resumes – even before they graduate.

Meghan, who landed a job last fall as a paid intern with southcentral Kansas accounting firm Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd, tapped the college’s Career Service staff for advice on her job search. She is also able to receive college credit hours toward her degree.

When I asked Meghan what advice she would give other college-bound students, she didn’t hesitate: “Larger colleges don’t care if you get deeply in debt, but McPherson College does. They push you toward a debt-free goal and have people willing to help you succeed. Without student debt, you can buy a house or a car sooner after you graduate. You can even take a job that pays less, but lets you do something you like more. Those are good options to have as you start life after college.” 

Jobs in the Post-Pandemic Workforce

One thing history shows us is that the value of a college degree is long-lasting. It broadens a person’s employment options and, on average, leaves them better able to withstand job market ebbs and flows. In any downturn, college grads are generally the last to lose their jobs. Equally as important, college grads are generally the first to be re-hired at the start of any recovery.

According to the Census Bureau, about 90 percent of the jobs that were added between 2017-2019 went to college graduates. And McPherson College has a proven track record of helping students find their match. Currently – even amidst the pandemic – 95 percent of our class of 2020 graduating seniors have either accepted job offers or been accepted to graduate school.

Too often we are asking the wrong question when it comes to a college education —”How much is this going to cost?” Rather than considering important outcomes and asking, “What is the return on my investment?” At McPherson College it is simple – we care what happens to our students after graduation – just ask Meghan Smith. A job and no debt is a great way to start your life after four years in college.