The McPherson College Concert Band traveled to Smoky Valley High School in Lindsborg on February 26 to perform in a Collaborative Concert with the Smoky Valley High School Band. The McPherson College Concert Band performed its program,titled “Hooked on Classics,” which included masterworks “A Festival Prelude” by Alfred Reed, and “2nd Suite in F” by Gustav Holst. It also featured flutist Lillian Oeding, a sophomore from Wichita on Cécile Chaminade’s “Concertino” and then joined the Smoky Valley Band on two pieces.
Category: Academics
MC & SVHS Collaborative Band Concert
McPherson College Band Performs at State Convention
The McPherson College Concert Band made school history when it was selected to perform for the first time ever at the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) State Convention in Wichita on February 24. It was among just four collegiate concert bands in the state selected to perform.
“It’s hard to believe that just five years ago we had only eight students enrolled in the band,” Kyle Hopkins, associate professor of music and director of bands at McPherson College, said. “We have grown to the biggest band in our conference and we’re one of only four college bands in the state invited to perform in one of the coveted concerts at KMEA. So this is quite a milestone for our program.”
The band’s program, titled “Hooked on Classics,” included masterworks “A Festival Prelude” by Alfred Reed, and “2nd Suite in F” by Gustav Holst. It also featured flutist Lillian Oeding, a sophomore from Wichita on Cécile Chaminade’s “Concertino.”
“The McPherson College Concert Band was one of the very best things I heard at the convention this year,” Johannah Cox, band director of Lawrence Public Schools, said. “The literature choice and soloist were most impressive and the group was so musical.”
Being selected to perform at the convention was an honor for the members of the band, according to Micah Waugh, a senior majoring in business management and marketing from Lindsborg who plays euphonium.
“It was a fun and exciting day. Also, a little nerve-racking playing on such a big stage with so many distinguished musicians in the auditorium. The band performs three times a year, but this was just a whole new level of performance for us,” Waugh said. “When I started playing in the band my freshman year there was just fifteen of us. Each year the band has gotten bigger and better. I’m really glad that I have been able to continue to participate in band through college. When I was considering colleges, playing in the band was not something I thought I would be able to do.”
The KMEA state convention is attended by thousands of elementary, middle school, high school and college music educators and features workshops and clinics as well as performances by the all-state ensembles and selected performance groups. The convention is held at Century II Convention Center in Wichita. In addition to the band’s performance, McPherson College Associate Professor of Music and Choir Director James Bowyer also presented at the conference. His presentation was titled, “Anatomy of the Choral Rehearsal.”
The McPherson College Music Department offers majors in both music and music education. Every year the choir, concert band, and select ensembles tour to churches and schools in Kansas and neighboring states, culminating with a home concert. And for 30 years, the choir and select instrumental ensembles have traveled and performed internationally every four to five years. In January 2019, the department is planning a trip to Jamaica to perform and provide service to local churches and schools.
The McPherson College Concert Band’s next performance will be May 8 at 7:30 p.m. in Brown Auditorium at McPherson College. The College Choir will perform its Spring Concert on May 6 at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Brethren in McPherson.
McPherson College Students Exhibit Art
The artwork of McPherson College students is currently featured in the Second Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition in Friendship Hall on the campus of McPherson College. An awards ceremony and closing reception will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2018 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Friendship Hall.
The exhibition is open to all art majors and non-art majors who are encouraged to enter six of their most successful artistic creations from the 2017 academic year. The exhibition features a variety of two and three-dimensional media, including photography, from the studio arts and images designed on the computer from the graphic design program. Awards will be given to the best three works in both studio arts and graphic design.
This year’s juror was Bill North, executive director of the Salina Art Center. North studied philosophy and the history of art at the University of Kansas and worked at the Spencer Museum, the Kresge Art Museum and was senior curator at the Beach Museum at Kansas State University before coming to Salina.
The gallery exhibition can be viewed during regular business hours, Monday through Friday in Friendship Hall at McPherson College.
McPherson College Fall 2017 Graduates
McPherson College announces the names of students earning degrees and graduating from the college in December.
Caitlyn R. Blagrave, BA
Communications
Brock Craig Camden, BS
CUM LAUDE
Automotive Restoration Technology
Marlon Lavell Clayton, Jr., BA
Communications
Timothy D. Couvillion, BS
Automotive Restoration Management
Chandler Aaron Dohe, BA
Performing Arts: Music Education
Justin Bradley Fagan, BS
Elementary Education
Ryan Michael Frazier, BS
Automotive Restoration Technology
Logan Addison Gates, BS
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Motorcycle Restoration Technology
Art Hop, BS
Physical Education
Arthur Lamparter, BS
Physical Education
Ramon Luis Martinez, BA
Spanish Education
Brian E. McPheron, BS
MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Automotive Restoration Technology
Paul M. Rotering, BS
Physical Education and Health
Reed C. Rowell, BS
Physical Education: Sports Management
McPherson College Honor Roll, Honorable Mention for Fall 2017
McPherson College recognizes its highest academic achievers in the fall 2017 Honor Roll and Honorable Mention. To qualify for the Honor Roll, students must be a full-time student and earn a grade point average of 3.55 or higher during the previous term. Students earning a grade point average from 3.25 to 3.54 are named to the Honorable Mention Roll.
Students named to the McPherson College Honor Roll for fall 2017 include:
Francis Abate, sr., Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Morgan Abbott, fr., Decatur, Texas
Nicole Abunaja, fr., Phoenix, Arizona
Kento Aizawa, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Zackary Alexander, soph., McPherson, Kansas
Ane Archuleta, sr., Sacramento, California
Shelby Augustine, sr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Aaron Bachura, sr., Wilsey, Kansas
Destiny Bacon, fr., La Mesa, California
Brittany Baroni, fr., Galt, California
Alexander Bengtsson, fr., Kristianstad, Sweden
Julia Berger, jr., Arlington, Virginia
Anthony Bernal, fr., McKinney, Texas
Diamond Blaylock-Norris, soph., Flower Mound, Texas
Julien Bodin, fr., Cartagena, Spain
Kevin Boeckman, fr., Wamego, Kansas
Zoe Bouwmeester, jr., Zutphen, Netherlands
Kody Bowden, sr., Wichita, Kansas
Reven Bradbury, fr., Castle Rock, Colorado
Riley Bradbury, fr., Castle Rock, Colorado
Amy Braimbridge, soph., Connolly, Austrailia
Victoria Broers, sr., Ottawa, Kansas
Jonathan Bubnis, sr., Del Ran, New Jersey
Samantha Buer, fr., Frisco, Colorado
Ashley Burch, jr., Pittsburg, Kansas
Alex Burger, fr., Sedan, Kansas
Rola Bwalya, soph., Hoisington, Kansas
Jorge Calleros, fr., Saint John, Kansas
Ian Canevari, sr., Valencia, California
Diego Cantu, jr., Roma, Texas
Hector Carrillo, sr., Sant Joan Despi, Spain
Christian Casados, fr., Flagstaff, Arizona
Cody Casey, soph., Hutchinson, Kansas
Felix Cervantes Lopez, sr., Salinas, California
Nicholas Chappetta, sr., Sunnyvale, Texas
Brittany Childs, jr., Junction City, Kansas
Amanda Connell, sr., Wichita, Kansas
Chelsea Conrad, jr., Ione, California
Haven Cordova, jr., Enid, Oklahoma
Jordynn Corea, soph., Amarillo, Texas
Samantha Cotell, sr., Plymouth, Massachusetts
Timothy Cowan, soph., Shawnee Mission., Kansas
Jonathan Cox, soph., Hialeah, Florida
Taylor Cunningham, fr., Wellsville, Kansas
Micaila Curtis, jr., Great Bend, Kansas
Rashida Davis, soph., Liberal, Kansas
Dominic DeLuca, jr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Matthew DeVoe, fr., Chanute, Kansas
Treyton DeVore, sr., Inman, Kansas
Chandler Dohe, sr., Limon, Colorado
Jonathan Dominguez, sr., Salina, Kansas
Scott Dowel, fr., Ottawa, Canada
Austin Dowler, sr., Mashpee, Massachusetts
Taylor Dreiling, sr., Ness City, Kansas
Gage Duda, fr., Omaha, Nebraska
Tyler Dunn, fr., Lawton, Oklahoma
Greggory Elvin, jr., Marquette, Kansas
Keisha England, jr., Sand Springs, Oklahoma
Rachel Foreman, soph., Holcomb, Kansas
Cain Fowles, soph., Solomon, Kansas
Jesse Freeman, jr., Castle Rock, Colorado
Lacy Fry, sr., Severance, Colorado
Alejandra Galindo, jr., Roma, Texas
Logan Gates, sr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Chandler Gehring, fr., Las Vegas, Nevada
Micah Gilbert, soph., Elkhart, Indiana
Elle Gillen, soph., Castle Rock, Colorado
Cali Godwin, soph., Wichita, Kansas
Emerson Goering, fr., McPherson, Kansas
Victoria Gonzalez, soph., Keller, Texas
Cullen Grabast, fr., Osborne, Kansas
Michael Groll, fr., Kettering, Ohio
Daniel Hartman, jr., Wichita, Kansas
Kaitlyn Heinis, soph., Oviedo, Florida
Jaden Hilgers, sr., Wichita, Kansas
Charles Hoehaver, soph., Auburn, Alabama
Madison Hoffman, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Aubrey Hollinger, sr., McPherson., Kansas
Scott Holmes, soph., Plains, Kansas
Danielle Holt, soph., Glenpool, Oklahoma
Andreas Huber, fr., Forstinning Bayern, Germany
Cara Hudson, jr., Wasco, California
Courtney Huff, soph., Moundridge, Kansas
Aaron Israel, sr., West End, North Carolina
Navid Istanbullu, fr., Bremen, Germany
Juan Jimenez, soph., Pereira, Colombia
Destiny Johnson, fr., Arlington, Texas
Anthony Johnson, sr., Minneapolis, Minnesota
Jessica Jones, soph., Brentwood, California
Andrea Kadeba, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Danielle Kakebeen, jr., Alta Loma, California
Sebia Kalambayi Kabedi, fr., Lake Bluff, Illinois
Thara Kalambayi Kapinga, fr., Lake Bluff, Illinois
Choucranie Kayembe, fr., Lubumbashi Haut Katanga, Congo
Kendahl Kelly, jr., Svendborg, Denmark
Christopher Kelly, sr., Glasgow, United Kingdom
Jessica Knoeber, soph., Hutchinson, Kansas
Lisa Koehn, sr., Galva, Kansas
Justus Clemens Kohler, fr., Prosselsheim, Germany
Rhiannon Kuhn, sr., Windsor, Colorado
Ahmed Lahlou, jr., Casablanca, Morocco
Jessica Lane, soph., Weatherford, Texas
Aaron Leck, fr., McPherson, Kansas
James Lee, fr., Royston, United Kingdom
Cierra Lee, soph., Goodyear, Arizona
Alexander Lehn, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Morgan Little, sr., Henderson, Nevada
Amanda Lolling, jr., Haysville, Kansas
Andre Guillaume Lubaya, fr., Young America, Congo
Esther Lubiba, fr., Kinshasa, Congo
Mitchell Ludinich, fr., Braggs, Oklahoma
Amy Makovec, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Kylee Martin, soph., Larned, Kansas
Ramon Martinez, sr., San Antonio, Texas
Aventino Martinez-Garcia, fr., Wichita, Kansas
Brent Masters, fr., Howe, Texas
Neema Matabaro, fr., Saint Louis, Missouri
Arzell McCray, jr., Wichita, Kansas
Aaron McCready, fr., Raphoe, Ireland
Morgan McIntosh, sr., Great Bend, Kansas
Nathaniel McLaughlin, fr., Ticonderoga, New York
Brian McPheron, sr., Newton, Kansas
Paige Milem, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Tyler Minney, jr., Stewkley, United Kingdom
Abigayle Morgan, jr., Lansing, Illinois
Peyton Morris, fr., Burleson, Texas
Ivanna Moyer, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Ilanna Moyer, fr., McPherson, Kansas
Joyce Muhizi, fr., Buffalo, New York
Billy Muhizi, fr., Dacula, Georgia
Juliana Munoz, jr., Antelope, California
Nicholas Navarro, soph., Paramus, New Jersey
Samantha Nelson, soph., Clearfield, Utah
Matthew Nutting, fr., Foxboro, Massachusetts
Lillian Oeding, soph., Wichita, Kansas
Garrett Owen, soph., Woodward, Oklahoma
Katherina Paulson, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Tina Payne, jr., Limon, Colorado
Allison Penalva, fr., Oakton, Virginia
Alexander Polakow, fr., Glenview, Illinois
Mason Polston, jr., Emporia, Kansas
Kristin Potter, fr., Katy, Texas
Oliver Preissler, sr., West Hartford, Connecticut
Aysia Pryor, jr., Wichita, Kansas
Brooke Racette, jr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Grant Raleigh, sr., Hesston, Kansas
Alexander Ramsier, jr., Wooster, Ohio
Lance Rassette, fr., Salina, Kansas
Philip Reinhardt, jr., Tenants Harbor, Maine
Bailey Reinoehl, jr., Olathe, Kansas
Austin Reyes, fr., Perry, Oklahoma
Roberto Reyes, sr., Saint John, Kansas
Ian Rhoten, jr., Wichita, Kansas
Rianne Richard, jr., Kechi, Kansas
Cami Richardson, soph., Hesston, Kansas
Mitchell Richardson, sr., Burlington, Colorado
Dylan Riley, fr., Lake Ozark, Missouri
Bobby Robertson, sr., Windom, Kansas
Kaleb Rogers, jr., Falun, Kansas
Valerie Romero, sr., Lakewood, California
Brooke Russell, jr., Hays, Kansas
Juan Salmeron Rattana, soph., Dodge City, Kansas
Eilish Samuelson, jr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Claire Schmidt, fr., Salina, Kansas
Logan Schrag, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Alexander Schuetz, fr., Yuma, Colorado
Amber Shuey, soph., Wichita, Kansas
Jamie Siess, soph., Tecumseh, Kansas
Tomi Simmons, fr., Las Vegas, Nevada
Claire Singleton, fr., North Las Vegas, Nevada
Kortney Slaughter Jones, soph., Brentwood, California
Rhianna Smith, sr., Lindsborg, Kansas
Zadie Smith, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Bryce Snodgrass, soph., Peyton, Colorado
Luke Snyder, soph., New Cambria, Kansas
Stevie Stockham, soph., McPherson, Kansas
Cheyenne Stout, fr., Kempner, Texas
Bryce Strecker, jr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Dylan Templeman, fr., Princeton, Texas
Chantelle Theron, sr., Randburg, South Africa
Jacob Tiernan, soph., Abilene, Kansas
Kimberly Trice, jr., Antioch, California
Jacob Turley, fr., Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom
Grant Tuttle, sr., Lewiston, Nebraska
Ashley Unruh, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Kaitlyn van Asselt, soph., McPherson, Kansas
Jessica Van Donselaar, soph., Isle, Minnesota
Ashley Venable, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Italia Venegas, soph., Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Nicolas Wahl, soph., Koenigstein, Germany
Erik Wallace, sr., Richwood, Ohio
Micah Waugh, sr., Lindsborg, Kansas
Courtney Weesner, fr., Hutchinson, Kansas
Sierra Werries, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Adam Whalen, sr., Spring Valley, Ohio
Madison Whaley, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Evan Willow, sr., Victoria, Canada
Parkes Wolters, jr., Osborne, Kansas
Ellis Woodruff, fr., Princeton, Texas
Madyson Woog, fr., Littleton, Colorado
Isabella Zacchia, soph., Lakeland, Florida
Students named to the McPherson College Honorable Mention for fall 2017 include:
Brevin Baessler, jr., Severance, Colorado
Olivia Baldner, soph., Johnston, Iowa
Walter Behrens, fr., Crested Butte, Colorado
Robert Calkins, jr., Rowlett, Texas
Brock Camden, sr., Burlington, Ontario
Brett Carter, soph., Sachse, Texas
Naomi Cartmell, fr., McPherson, Kansas
Calvin Cassida, fr., Louisburg, Kansas
Nicole Cheek, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Gavin Christensen, soph., Tacoma, Washington
Rachel Cluff, fr., Wichita, Kansas
Brooklyn Coe, sr., Corvallis, Oregon
Dante Dellacroce, fr., Colorado Springs, Colorado
Tyler Depperschmidt, jr., Wichita, Kansas
Maile Deutsch, fr., Palmer, Texas
Heather Diamond, sr., El Toro, California
Robert Egeland, fr., Cary, Illinois
Samuel Ensley, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Logan Fischer, jr., San Ramon, California
Ryan Frazier, sr., Splendora, Texas
Jackson Goodmiller, jr., Saint George, Kansas
Brittni Harlow, soph., Lincoln, Kansas
Tristan Hawkinson, soph., Hutchinson, Kansas
Heather Haxton, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Amari Heisser, soph., Palmdale, California
Jacob Herman, fr., Coronado, California
Seamus Hnat, sr., Toledo, Ohio
Christopher Hughes, sr., Eugene, Oregon
Kurt Hylton-Burton, soph., London, United Kingdom
Lionel Ibonga, soph., Fayetteville, North Carolina
Colin Irvin, fr., North Kingstown, Rhode Island
Gray Irwin, soph., Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Ashley Jensen, soph., Indianola, Iowa
Lucas Jez, jr., Westfield, Massachusetts
Trevor Johnson, fr., La Mesa, California
Janell Johnson, jr., McPherson, Kansas
Daniel Journey, fr., Olathe, Kansas
Neville Kabangu, fr., Kinshasa, Congo
Dieuleveut Kanu, fr., Matadi, Congo
Haelie Kniesteadt, fr., Gove, Kansas
Joseph Kraus, soph., Westminster, Colorado
Tatelyn Lasley, fr., Springfield, Colorado
Dakota Logan, fr., Monclova, Ohio
James Lovering, fr., North Richland Hills, Texas
Alexis Lynn, jr., Pleasant Hill, Missouri
Jarrod Manick, soph., Aldergrove, Canada
Alex Marca, soph., Atascadero, California
Miles McCormack, jr., Los Olivos, California
Matthew Tyler Miller-Wells, jr., Leavenworth, Kansas
Jadah Moore, fr., Moundridge, Kansas
Sean Morris, jr., Stowmarket, United Kingdom
Whitney Murray, sr., Kansas City, Kansas
Juan Negrete, sr., Dodge City, Kansas
Grant Newton, jr., Coffeyville, Kansas
Julianna Olvera, jr., Bakersfield, California
Taylor Perez, fr., Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tyler Perkins, jr., Lake Ozark, Missouri
Julia Pierce, fr., Newton, Kansas
Dominick Ramos, sr., Fresno, California
Kendryk Rankin, fr., Fountain, Colorado
Peyton Reynolds, fr., Adrian, Missouri
Riley Richardson, fr., Maple Grove, Minnesota
Jared Robbins, sr., Cotati, California
Brittany Roberts, fr., Mansfield, Texas
Luke Robichaud, jr., Concord, Massachusetts
Megan Rockey, jr., Robinson, Kansas
Scarlet Rodriguez, jr., Houston, Texas
Gregory Roller, jr., Topeka, Kansas
Javier Saenz, fr., Brighton, Colorado
Dejalynn Saili, fr., Meriden, Kansas
Judith Salazar, sr., Santa Maria, California
Justen Schroeder, fr., Newton, Kansas
Jacob Scruggs, jr., Pearland, Texas
Robert Shaw, fr., Montgomery, Texas
Jace Shepherd, fr., Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
Christie Silber, fr., Simi Valley, California
McKenzie Stalnaker, soph., Wichita, Kansas
Samuel Standifer, soph., Halstead, Kansas
Kylecia Taylor, fr., Fort Riley, Kansas
Griffin Thomas, jr., Vancouver, Washington
Elizabeth Thornton, soph., Karval, Colorado
Cortney Toothaker, sr., Dodge City, Kansas
Peyton Turner, soph., McPherson, Kansas
Rhea Vale, sr., Welling, Kent, United Kingdom
Joshua Wade, fr., Olathe, Kansas
Brianna Wallace, soph., Wichita, Kansas
Austin Weber, jr., Udall, Kansas
Myriah Webster, fr., Lindsborg, Kansas
Hannah Wedel, jr., Halstead, Kansas
Kyle Wedel, sr., Wasco, California
Albert Wegener, soph., Kansas City, Missouri
Elizabeth Williams, fr., Miami Beach, Florida
Alyssa Wilson, fr., Lukachukai, Arizona
Jordan Windholz, sr., McPherson, Kansas
Cordell Wingerd, fr., Bettendorf, Iowa
Brandt Wolters, jr., Portis, Kansas
Nels Woods, fr., Stillwater, Minnesota
Logan Worswick, jr., Garland, Texas
Julianna Yanez, fr., Wichita, Kansas
Brooke Zimmerman, sr., Aurora, Colorado
Casey Zimmerman, jr., Allen, Texas
Brittany Zipf, soph., Rockhampton, Australia
McPherson College Students Show In Area Photo Exhibit
Three McPherson College students were selected to exhibit photographs in the 34th Annual Five State Photography Exhibition in Hays, Kansas. The juried exhibit is currently on display at the Hays Arts Council through January 26, 2018.
Killian Millner, junior of Abilene, Kansas had three photos selected for the exhibition and received a Juror’s Merit award. Micah Gilbert, sophomore of Elkhart, Indiana; Jaden Hilgers, senior of Wichita, each had two photos selected for the exhibition.
“It’s quite an accomplishment for a student to get selected to show in the exhibit,” Ann Zerger, associate professor of art, said. “They are competing against the work of professional photographers. That speaks very highly to the quality of the photographs that our students entered.”
The Five State Photography Exhibition is an annual photographic competition of works submitted from Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Missouri, and Nebraska sponsored by the Hays Arts Council. Of the 352 photographs submitted this year, 154 were selected for exhibition by juror and professional photographer John Finch.
McPherson College Names Teachers of Promise
Ashley Unruh (left), senior majoring in Elementary Education, and Shaelah White, senior majoring in English.
Two McPherson College students were recently recognized at the Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet in Wichita as Teachers of Promise. Ashley Unruh, a senior majoring in Elementary Education, and Shaelah White, a senior majoring in English, were named by the college and recognized at the banquet. Both are from McPherson.
As Teachers of Promise, the students attended the annual event in Wichita and participated in professional development with the Kansas Teacher of the Year team.
McPherson College Band, Vocalist Perform In Concerts
McPherson College musicians will travel to western Kansas for a series of school performances and two evening concerts featuring the college concert band and a vocal ensemble.
The musicians will perform in Quinter at the Church of the Brethren on Thursday, November 9 at 7 p.m. and then in Victoria at Cathedral of the Plains on Friday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. Both concerts will feature chamber music by the Brass Quintet and Woodwind Ensemble from the college’s concert band as well as the all-female vocal ensemble Bella Voce. Concerts are free and the public is invited to attend.
Transportation is available to and from Victoria for the Friday evening concert from McPherson College. To reserve a seat, please contact the Alumni Relations Office at McPherson College, 620-242-0434.
The McPherson College band is one of only four collegiate concert bands in Kansas selected to perform this year at the Kansas Music Educators Association conference in Wichita and will preview some of the music it will perform there at selected high schools on the tour. Also featured at the school performances will be flutist Lillian Oeding and Bella Voce. Performances are scheduled at Quinter High School on November 9 at 2 p.m., and on November 10 at Logan High School at 10 a.m.
McPherson College Welcomes Students From Congo
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.”
McPherson College Professor Hosts 8-Leg Event At Museum
Before you take a swat at that spider crawling up the wall, you might want to check out an event at the McPherson Museum presented by McPherson College Professor Dustin Wilgers.
Sometimes known as “Spider-Man,” Dr. Wilgers will be presenting Eight-Leg Adventure on October 28 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the museum, where you can learn about spiders and their arachnid relatives using fun hands-on activities. The adventure includes encounters with live animals, fun videos of spiders making outrageous dances, a chance to sense the world like a spider and even eat like a spider. There will even be an opportunity to leave with some awesome eight-legged prizes.
Dr. Wilgers, associate professor of biology, has been teaching at the college since 2011 and has been involved in research and presenting programs about spiders across the state. For more information about Dr. Wilgers and his programs, visit 8-Leg Education on Facebook.
“Come on this creepy advernture and I guarantee you will come away fascinated with these amazing creatures,” Professor Wilgers said. “These immersive, hands-on activities will allow you to experience spiders from a whole new perspective. I hope you have as much fun on this adventure as I had putting it together.”
The event is open to all ages and free to anybody who brings a non-perishable food item to be donated to the McPherson County Food Bank. The program is sponsored by the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism’s Chickadee Checkoff Program.