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CHS Refinery Honors McPherson College Student Leaders

When CHS McPherson Refinery called with the news she’s receiving this year’s Leadership Award, Miranda Clark-Ulrich’s reaction was a natural one.

“I was very excited,” she said. “I might have yelled a little.”

CHS awards a $1,500 scholarship annually at McPherson College two senior students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership. This year’s recipients are Clark-Ulrich of Russell, Kan., and Kevin Ndongo of Mobile, Ala.

The award recognizes MC students who are contributing to the campus and McPherson as a whole through their leadership roles, studies, jobs and volunteerism.

Mark Cantrell, human resources manager at CHS, said it was important to their business to provide financial backing and recognition to these young local leaders.

“The CHS Refinery at McPherson is proud to continue its support for students at McPherson College that show outstanding potential to become tomorrow’s leaders,” Cantrell said. “We congratulate the recipients of this year’s awards and wish them success.”

Ndongo has served in a number of leadership roles at MC. These roles include: a McPherson College ambassador to visiting students, a resident assistant in Metzler Hall, vice president of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, and captain of the MC men’s soccer team.

He ultimately wants to become a professional soccer player or a business owner; he’s open to the possibilities.

“I tell people I’m a free bird,” he said. “When the opportunity comes, I’m going to take it.”

Clark-Ulrich has served as the photo editor and editor-in-chief at the “Spectator” student newspaper, has won multiple awards from Kansas Collegiate Media for newspaper photography, received multiple entrepreneurship grants under the college Horizon Fund, and was a member of the McPherson College KCAC Championship Track and Field team in 2014.

She has been accepted to the University of Kansas School of Law – the number one law school in Kansas in nine categories – for fall 2016. Ultimately, Clark-Ulrich plans to return to her hometown of Russell to work as an attorney. She said the CHS Leadership Award has provided her with valuable connections already.

“I’d like to give a big ‘Thank you’ to CHS for giving me this opportunity,” she said.

Ndongo said that while he was surprised to receive the award, he felt that it was a validation of his hard work throughout his college career.

“It makes me feel that no matter what you do, somebody’s watching it,” he said. “You will be rewarded somehow. God is great.”

McPherson College Recognizes Award-Winning Students

McPherson College recognized the outstanding students of the 2015-2016 academic year at its annual Celebration and Awards Convocation on April 29. Faculty and staff presented the awards and recognitions.

Recipients were as follows:

Technology Department-Auto Restoration Program

  • “Pop” Rice Award – Coye Savell, senior, McPherson, Kan.
  • Jay Leno/Popular Mechanics Scholarship – Adam Mashiach, sophomore, Encino, Calif.
  • Paul Russell Award for Excellence – Zane Luekenga, freshman, Glenwood, Ark.

Business

  • Outstanding Business Student Award– Daniel May, senior, Caracas, Venezuela

Curriculum & Instruction

  • Model Educators for 2013-2014– Kayla Burke, senior, Derby, Kan., and Cami Engelbert, senior, Belioit, Kan.
  • Teachers of Promise– Lisa Goering, senior, McPherson, Kan; Brooke Vorhees, senior, Riverside, Calif.

History & Politics

  • Leland L. Lengel Memorial Scholarship in History – Kendall Kelly, freshman, Svendborg, Denmark
  • History & Politics Best Senior Thesis Award – James Covel, senior, Wichita, Kan.
  • Phi Alpha Theta, History Honor Society – Matthew Edmonds, junior, Flagstaff, Ariz., and Christian Johnston, senior, Lyons, Kan.

Natural Science

  • CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award – Keisha England, freshman, Sand Springs, Okla., and Parkes Wolters, freshman, Osborne, Kan.
  • Merit Research Award – Alia Khalidi, senior, Augusta, Kan.; Kaley Kinnamon, senior, McPherson, Kan.
  • Burkholder Research Award – Tiffany Fraser, senior, Georgetown, Texas; and Ashley Frankenbery Long, senior, McPherson, Kan.

Behavioral Sciences

  • Outstanding Behavioral Science Students – Amanda Darrow, senior, Jasper, Mo.; Simone Donaldson, senior, Halstead, Kan.; Shannon Popp, senior, Galva, Kan.; Rea Samuels, senior, Williston, Fla.
  • Conference Presentation Award – Carmen Carranza, senior, McPherson, Kan.

Lambda Pi Eta, Communication Honor Society

  • Jo Hoffman, junior, Hillsboro, Kan., and Daniel May, senior, Caracas, Venezuela

Visual Arts

Excellence in Competitive Exhibitions

  • Wichita AIGA Student Portfolio Forum – Nathan Holthus, senior, McPherson, Kan.
  • McPherson College Juried Student Exhibition – Scott Bullis, junior, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Chloë Cloud, freshman, Wichita, Kan.; Monica Ewy, junior, Halstead, Kan.; Melicia Foster-Evans, senior, McPherson, Kan.; Nora Grosbach, sophomore, Evergreen, Colo.; Dani Jacks, senior, Stafford, Kan.; Lisa Koehn, junior, Galva, Kan.; Kaleena Nelson, freshman, Spring Hill, Kan.; Ste’fon Walker, senior Mendenhall, Miss.
  • 42nd Annual Prairie Art Exhibition – Melicia Foster-Evans, senior, McPherson, Kan.
  • Competitive Exhibition – Chloë Cloud, freshman, Wichita, Kan.; Monica Ewy, junior, Halstead, Kan.; Arelyn Fallis, senior, McPherson, Kan.; Nora Grosbach, sophomore, Evergreen, Colo.; Dani Jacks, senior, Stafford, Kan.; Lisa Koehn, junior, Galva, Kan.; Nick Lechner, sophomore, Wichita, Kan.

Athletics

  • Female Athlete of the Year – Rea Samuels, senior, Williston, Fla.
  • Male Athlete of the Year – Dixon Cooney, senior, Loveland, Calif.

Physical Education

  • Outstanding Physical Education Major – Whitney Miller, senior, Valley Center, Kan.

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges

  • Miranda Clark Ulrich, Russell, Kan.; Tyler Henning, Sedgwick, Kan.; Ashley Frankenbery Long, McPherson, Kan.; Dixon Cooney, Loveland, Colo.; Austin Hiebert, Newton, Kan.; Daniel May, Caracas, Venezuela; James Covel, Wichita, Kan.; Addie Johnson, McPherson, Kan.; Crystal Osner, Conway Springs, Kan.; Lisa Goering, McPherson, Kan.; Alia Khalidi, Augusta, Kan.; Rea Samuels, Williston, Fla.

Service Awards

  • Outstanding Achievement in MinistryTiffany Fraser, senior, Georgetown, Texas, and Alia Khalidi, senior, Augusta, Kan.
  • Outstanding Achievement in ServiceLiz Lindsey, senior, Kansas City, Kan.

Professor of the Year Award – David O’Dell, professor of accounting

Staff Person of the Year AwardVicki Trimmell, admissions receptionist and office assistant

Improvements Planned for McPherson College Campus

Better energy efficiency and new security systems are coming to the McPherson College campus starting in the next few months.

Marty Sigwing, director of facilities at McPherson College, said these projects are building the foundation for long-term sustainability at the college, which is an important strategic focus at MC.

“We’re setting up a legacy of success,” Sigwing said. “A lot of this is invisible. You’re not going to see it when you walk down the sidewalk, but it will serve us well into the future.”

The first project is $7.4 million in energy improvements to the campus, which will be completed by Schneider Electric – an international company that specializes in energy performance contracts.

Sigwing said that the main improvement will involve replacing the current steam heat boilers in campus buildings with hot water boilers – making climate control safer, easier to control and more efficient. The improvements are expected to save at least $90,000 per year in utility costs, helping to defray the expense.

Sigwing said that the improvements will allow the facilities department at McPherson College to offer better customer service to the rest of campus. For example, switching between heating and cooling of buildings will take hours rather than the days it takes with current equipment. In addition, the new system will allow for better monitoring and control of all energy systems on campus. The efficiency upgrades are scheduled to be completed within 18 months.

A more long-term element of the project will improve campus safety with nearly $1 million in safety upgrades. The first part is installing 102 keyless entry keypad units on exterior doors as well as new lighting and video camera monitoring systems. Sigwing said requests for proposal are planned for fall 2016 with implementation starting in spring 2017. The project may continue with additional keypads on interior doors as needed.

“We are fortunate to be able to invest in long-term energy savings,” said Michael Schneider, McPherson College president. “Thanks to our investor and the city of McPherson that is issuing the bonds, we are able to finance these important upgrades.”

A private investor who will benefit from tax-free educational facilities revenue bonds issued by the city of McPherson will fund the projects. The bonds cleared a city public hearing on Monday, Feb. 15, and were issued later in February.

McPherson College Alumnus Wins Contest to Design New Bulldog Mascot

There’s a new face for McPherson College’s Bulldog mascot, and it was one of MC’s own alumni who designed the new logo.

Evan Hiebert ’14, McPherson, Kan., submitted two designs for the “Design the Bulldog” contest, which was open to all McPherson College alumni, students, faculty and staff to enter. The grand prize for winning the contest is $1,000 and – even more meaningfully to Hiebert – that MC will now use his design as the college’s official mascot.

Hiebert said it meant a lot that McPherson College would ask its extended campus family to design the official Bulldog.

“I think it shows a lot of pride in the work,” he said, “and shows a lot of trust in the program.

Both designs by Evan Hiebert were selected into the group of five finalists, which were selected by a 24-person committee of students, faculty, staff and alumni that included cabinet members, coaches, each academic division, alumni board members, student leaders and more.

The three other finalist designs were by Nathan Holthus, senior, McPherson, Kan.; Cord Cunningham ’14, Wichita, Kan.; and Darin Donaho ’08, Denver, Colo.

After the finalists were selected, voting was then opened to all students, faculty, staff and alumni. About 900 people voted online, with Hiebert’s winning design the strong favorite.

Colleen Gustafson, promotions and new media manager, said it was important to the college to involve the MC community in the process of selecting the new Bulldog.

“We wanted to make sure that the people who care the most about the college – our students, faculty, staff and alumni – could actively be part of this portion of our identity,” she said. “We wanted to have all voices heard.”

This is the second Bulldog design created by MC alumni. The previous design was created by Darren Hendricks in 2004, when he was director of communications at the college. The goal was to create an athletic mascot that could also represent the other areas of the college.

The resulting design marked the first time that the college had its own unique mascot design. Previously, the college had made use of different clip art.

The college will soon start phasing in the new design across publications, stationery, websites, and anywhere else McPherson College’s Bulldog appears.

MC Athletics Give Back

The McPherson Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, and Boy Scouts are currently having their annual Christmas Food Basket Project and the student-athletes of McPherson College are giving their time to help with the distribution of the grocery sacks and the collection of food.

See full story at macbulldogs.com

McPherson College Teams, Organizations Plan Spooky, Fun Events Halloween Week

Ghouls playing ball, ghostly runners fighting cancer, and wee werewolves walking to Halloween activities are some of the events that McPherson College teams and organizations are brewing up for Friday, Oct. 30, in celebration of Halloween.

First, the residents of MC’s Dotzour Hall – with participation from other college clubs and organizations – will kick off the evening from 6 to 8 p.m. with the annual “Trunk or Treat” event. This year it will be held at the Wall Bicentennial Sports Complex parking lot near the baseball and softball fields.

This event is free and open to the public and will offer pumpkin painting, a pumpkin ring toss, “Poke a Pumpkin,” witch hat cookies, and a balloon pumpkin patch. Kids can also walk among the decorated car trunks in the lot and enjoy activities, candy or both from each.

Running at about the same time, the “Scare Away Cancer” 5K Run/Walk will support Women and Children Combating Cancer (WACCC) with a fun race that strongly encourages costumes, though they aren’t required.

Registration starts at 6 p.m., and a costume contest will be held before the race, which starts at 6:30 p.m. Registration is $15 for students K-12 and $20 for adults, and includes a T-shirt. Registration is at http://www.mcpherson.edu/scare-away-cancer-5k.

Finally, come see all manner of Halloween creatures take to the ball diamond in the annual “Field of Screams” game between the McPherson College baseball and softball teams. Both teams will be in costume for this fun exhibition game at the Wall Bicentennial Sports Complex. The fun will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. with this game that is free and open to the public.

McPherson College Names Homecoming King and Queen

McPherson College announced its 2015 Homecoming king and queen during homecoming weekend on Oct. 10 – Rea Samuels of Williston, Fla., and Jawaun Stuart of Elk Grove, Calif.

Samuels is majoring in psychology: health and human services at MC, is a sprinter on the track and field team and was winner of a Light and Life award at MC in the category of “Emerging Student Leader.”

Stuart is majoring in sociology: criminal justice at MC and also competes on the track and field team for the college in sprint distances.

The members of the “Homecoming Court” were: Geoffrey Pugh, Waggaman, La.; Daniel May, Caracas, Venezuela; Michael Ramos, Sachse, Texas; Christopher Rakowski, Joppa, Md.; Alia Khalidi, Augusta, Kan.; Miranda Clark Ulrich, Russell, Kan.; Bailey Brown, Glen Elder, Kan.; Ashley Frankenberry Long, McPherson, Kan.

McPherson College Holds Contest To Design New Bulldog Mascot

McPherson College is asking students, alumni, faculty and staff to work at giving an old dog a new look.

With the McPherson College Bulldog Mascot Design Contest, the marketing department is offering $1,000 to the winning entry and the opportunity for that winning design to be the official Bulldog mascot for years to come. The contest was announced on campus Oct. 9 and entries will be accepted through 5 p.m. central time on Nov. 30.

“As we’re seeking a new look for the Bulldog, we knew it would be more meaningful for a member of our MC family to create it,” said Colleen Gustafson, manager of strategic marketing and branding, “We have such an incredibly talented community of students, employees and alumni who are invested in the McPherson College identity and experience. I’m certain we will receive many wonderful and unique entries.”

Those who don’t want to submit a design can still contribute to choosing the final look of the Bulldog by voting online for their favorite entry after the final designs are posted.

The Bulldog as the McPherson College mascot dates back to Ellis D. Verink, who coached basketball at MC from 1915 to 1917. Ben was Verink’s 67-pound English Pitt Bull and was often seen on his evening “constitutional” around McPherson, with Verink keeping up behind him on a bicycle.

While good-natured, Ben also didn’t put up with other dogs trying to push him around. Verink – in a 1948 alumni newsletter – said Ben was never one to pick a fight, but if another dog tried to start something he was “…entirely successful in defending his honor.”

Ben was known to check on every player as they came off the floor to the bench – sniffing them over to check on them and make sure they met his approval. From this history, the Bulldog has come to stand for honor, loyalty, and a good-natured attitude with a streak of spunk and toughness.

Full details of the contest, official rules, and the official entry form are available at www.designthebulldog.com. Highlights to keep in mind from the official rules include:

  • Participants may enter as many entries as they would like.
  • Only original art or designs may be submitted.
  • The Bulldog’s fur must be white in color and a “headshot” of the Bulldog must be included in the design. Variations may be included along with the headshot.
  • Text is not permitted in the design.
  • The college requests that entrants protect their work and not post submissions on public sharing websites (such as DeviantArt, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the like) or risk possible disqualification.

‘Service Saturday’ Football Game at McPherson College to Benefit Service Workers, Business Club

Fans of the McPherson College Bulldogs will have the opportunity to take in a great football game and say “Thank You” to emergency first responders on Saturday, Sept. 5.

The game versus Doane College starts at 7 p.m. in McPherson Stadium. To say “Thanks,” MC is offering free admission to first responder employees – including Emergency Medical Services, Police, Sheriff, Fire, and 911 Dispatch – and their families.

Before the game, the McPherson College Business Club will offer a tailgate meal starting at 4 p.m. Half of the proceeds will go to the Business Club and half will go to the McPherson Healthcare Foundation AED Fund administered by the
McPherson County Community Foundation for the purchase and maintenance of life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Since 2012, the foundation has supplied 29 AEDs to area police departments, fire departments, sheriff patrol vehicles, community buildings and city pools. Additional funds have gone into an endowment for maintenance and periodic replacement of the AEDs.

In addition to the tailgate, all game attendees can enjoy a feature show of classic cars, organized by the college’s student-run C.A.R.S. Club. The show will set up at 2 p.m. in the parking spots to the southwest of the stadium. The club will also offer root beer floats by freewill donation, with $1 as the suggested donation.

At the game’s halftime, all service members in attendance and C.A.R.S. Club will be recognized.

McPherson College invites and encourages the community to attend this wonderful afternoon and evening of events, help support student clubs at the college, and benefit a life-saving initiative in the community.

Camp Mac 2015 recap

Check out the photos from our Camp Mac 15 orientation activities.