Students in the McPherson College Visual Arts Department are finding success this year in design competitions and in career opportunities. Students in the program recently brought home top awards again this year from the Wichita AIGA Student Portfolio Forum and from the Dallas Society of Visual Communications (DSVC) national student show and conference and one student was selected out of 700 applicants for a prestigious summer internship.

This summer, Chloe Cloud, a senior from Wichita, will work with Barkley Advertising in Kansas City, Missouri. Barkley is the largest independent advertising agency in Kansas City and the seventh largest independent agency in the United States. Its clients include Applebee’s, Cargill, Spirit Airlines, Russell Athletic, AMC Theatres, and many more. This was the first time that students from McPherson College applied for the internship opportunity.

This is also the first year that McPherson College students competed in the DSVC national student show. Six student projects were accepted into the show and Micah Gilbert, a junior from Elkhart, Indiana, received first place for his photography entry. Visual Arts students also competed at the AIGA annual student competition where college students have the opportunity to have their design portfolios reviewed by professionals in the industry. Students taking top awards there include:

• Italia Venegas, junior, Shawnee Mission, Kansas, first place, motion design
• Lillian Oeding, senior, Wichita, first place, web design
• Chloe Cloud, senior, Wichita, first place, best ad
• Jaden Hilgers, senior, Wichita, third place, overall portfolio

“We received great comments about our students at each of the design competitions,” Dee Erway-Sherwood, professor of graphic design and department chair of art and design, said. “We encourage the McPherson College design students to take part in competitions and design shows to network with industry professionals, which in some cases lead to internships and job opportunities. Not only are these great experiences for our students, but they are also highly competitive with students from schools across the country.”

With wise words delivered from a long-time faculty member, McPherson College conferred bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees on 125 seniors in its 130^th Commencement Ceremony, Sunday, May 21, 2018.

Dr. Rick Tyler, professor and chair of the performing arts department, who retires this year after 41 years at McPherson College, delivered the commencement address. Knowing a little something about commencements, after attending the very first one held in Brown Auditorium at the age 8, Dr. Tyler said despite their age difference, he and the members of the graduating class of 2018 were both starting out on new paths in their lives.

He drew his words of advice to the students from a quote by Maya Angelou that says, “If you must look back, do so forgivingly. If you must look forward, do so prayerfully. However, the wisest thing you can do is be present in the present…gratefully.”

Dr. Tyler spoke to the students about finding out what they are good at and getting better at it and not to forget there is life outside of work.

“Appreciate being present gratefully and be thankful to those who have helped you get this far,” he said. “As you experience the rest of today do so with the same anticipation as that eight-year-old boy in back of this auditorium who so much just wanted to be on this stage, because he got so much more than he dreamed of. I have the same hope for you today that you get so much more than you ever dreamed possible.”

Whitney Murray, senior class representative, also spoke to the graduating class. She shared her experience studying abroad in Spain while attending McPherson College and encouraged students to “embrace change” and find opportunities to learn more about themselves.

A bachelor of science degree was also given posthumously to Braden Lee Bush, who would have graduated on Sunday. Bush was a member of the football team and passed away on June 16, 2017. A moment of silence was recognized in his honor.

The commencement ceremony concluded with Dr. Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, reminding the students of words he shared with them as freshmen – show up, and ask for help. He added one more piece of advice before sending them out.

“Use your education to take risks. There is a world full of people who will tell you no,” he said. “Put yourself out there and remember that McPherson College told you yes.”

Names of the graduating class of 2018, the commencement video, and photos of the day can be found at: www.mcpherson.edu/graduation.

An initiative that seemed spontaneous a little more than a year ago has blossomed into a rewarding partnership for McPherson College and students from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This fall 11 new students, all originally from the Congo, began classes at McPherson College joining five others who started classes last spring.

The effort to bring students from the Congo to McPherson College began in 2016 when Matondo Filawo visited the college. Mr. Matondo became acquainted with the college when he met President Michael Schneider while attending the University of Pennsylvania.

“Matondo was passionate about getting Congolese students into a small Christian school and he liked our career-focused approach. He showed up on campus one day and we started talking about how this might work,” President Schneider said.

A team of staff members assists the students through the McPherson College application process, the federal government visa process for students, as well as offers mentoring to help the students feel at home and to make connections with other students and alumni. The new partnership seems to be working so well that 10 more students are expected for the spring semester.

“It’s been a very positive experience for the college,” Christi Hopkins, vice president of enrollment services, said. “The Congolese students bring international diversity to our campus and give all of us an opportunity to learn about another culture.”

In return, McPherson College offers the students access to an education that would be difficult to obtain in their homeland, in a safe community, with the hope that the students will make a difference in the world after leaving McPherson College.

“I’ve come here for an education and to make my family proud,” Lionel Ibonga, a math and business major, said. “Our families have worked hard to get us here and we want to do well. That’s no different from other students.”

There are some challenges for the students, according to Jen Pollard who serves as a mentor for the students. Among them are the lack of travel and transportation options for the students, housing during break times and not having parents around to help get settled in.

“Definitely not having a car is a challenge,” Joyce Muhizi, a history and political science major, said. “Coming here and not having all the stuff you need to set up a dorm room can be hard. But everybody here was so welcoming and wanted to help. It’s nerve-racking coming to a place you’ve never even heard of, but the support from the college has been great.”

One thing that has not been a challenge has been the students’ interest in getting involved on campus. For example, Joyce served as a Student Engagement Activities Leaders during orientation this year. Additionally, the students speak and/or understand three to five languages and have not experienced any language barriers.

“These are confident, articulate, smart students and a real asset to our campus and community,” Pollard said.

Pollard said the college supports the students by scheduling regular trips to Wal-mart to help them get school supplies and arranges for rides to and from the airport. In addition, monthly cultural outings are planned for the students to learn more about Kansas and the culture here.

“It’s so fun to have them on campus,” President Schneider said. “Forget about where they are from, they are just great students.”