In October, McPherson College gave money to its students for 11 ideas in the first round of Horizon Fund grants this year.

Since it was established in 2010, the fund has enabled more than 200 McPherson College entrepreneurs to explore, develop and implement their dreams while still in college. It’s just one aspect of the college’s larger entrepreneurship initiative, which is working to develop the entrepreneurial spirit – creativity, innovation, and daring – across all areas of study at MC.

Abbey Archer-Rierson, chief of staff and head of the entrepreneurship program at MC, said that each Horizon Fund grant is $500 or less. Opportunities for guidance and mentoring can also be arranged for those who receive Horizon Fund grants.

“It’s a relatively small investment with a big return for us,” Archer-Rierson said. “In my experience, when our college students are pursuing an idea they’re passionate about, they work harder, learn more, and get involved in campus life. The students benefit by getting to explore an idea they might not have considered otherwise. Some students have even launched new careers with their grant.”

Monica Ewy, junior, Hesston, Kan., was one of the grant recipients in October and saw a great opportunity to start a business she calls “Memory Catcher.” The idea is to create photography, paintings and even sculpture to help people preserve and relive their favorite memories in a treasured keepsake they can display.

“It’s something they can look at and re-live that memory,” she said. “These paintings should give you good feelings that you want to display in your home.”

The grant will help her to purchase necessary equipment and supplies to get “Memory Catcher” going.

Ewy started at MC as an art major, but moved over to the automotive restoration department after she realized how much artistic ability was involved with restoration.

“I realized I had this long, subconscious love for cars that could finally be fulfilled,” she said.

Because of her college focus, Ewy expects that while she is not limiting her business to classic cars, a number of her first clients will probably be automotive enthusiasts. In particular, she’s interested in capturing the fine details of treasured vehicles in her art.

“There are those few things that make that car special,” she said. “That’s what I want to capture… that whole essence.”

Colton Allemand, freshman, El Dorado, Kan., came to McPherson College in part because of a good baseball scholarship, in part because of his faith background and in part because he was intrigued by the possibilities the Horizon Fund presented.

With his Horizon Fund concept, all of these interests come together beautifully – the Wooden Cross Bat Company. Together with his friend Ethan Woodcock, freshman, Rossville, Kan., Allemand plans to create wooden bats for baseball players who want a way to express their Christian faith right on their game equipment. The first models will feature the words of popular Christian scripture where players can focus on it before stepping into the batter’s box.

“I’ve noticed that people are looking for a professional way to show their faith,” Allemand said. “I thought that with my bat company, while also creating a great product, I could also find a way to meet that need.”

For Allemand, pursuing the concept of the Wooden Cross Bat Company probably would have had to be a dream delayed, were it not for the financial assistance and mentoring from the fund.

“It would have been much harder,” he said. “I don’t know that I would have been able to in college.”

Zach McClure, senior, Trenton, Mo., plans to use his grant to innovatively pursue an old profession – McClure wants to become a blacksmith.

McClure already has much of the equipment he needs after learning the basics of the trade from Lee Teeter – a painter and amateur blacksmith who is a friend.

When he wants to move any of his (heavy!) equipment such an anvil, shears, or portable “rivet forge” between home and college, it means putting his car through the wringer and testing how well its suspension holds up.

“That poor Subaru has seen a lot of action,” he said.

As a result, friendship with McClure comes with its own set of occupational hazards.

“I can’t move the stuff myself,” he said. “So when I’m calling friends it’s usually to move something heavy.”

The Horizon Fund is helping to ease the financial burden of starting with materials such as coal and metal and some needed equipment. The money is helping him pursue an avocation he’s interested in and make it – at a minimum – a self-supporting hobby. McClure is most interested in traditional methods and products – such as horseshoes and square nails – but unlike his historical predecessors, he plans to ultimately set up an online store.

“I’m a huge history freak,” McClure said. “I really want to focus on the historical accuracy and items they would have had then.”

The other recipients of Horizon Fund grants in October are:

• Logan Schrag, sophomore, McPherson, Kan.: “Resurrection Duo” is a Christian inspirational speaking venture, focusing on offering public speaking to high school and college groups on a donations basis. A previous recipient of a grant, the venture has already held evens in four different states.
• Miranda Clark Ulrich, senior, Russell, Kan.: Offering affordable, professional photography, Clark Ulrich has received grants previously. This grant will allow her to expand her business with the purchase of a wide-angle lens.
• Alexander Ramsier, freshman, Wooster, Ohio; Aaron Israel, freshman, West End, N.C.; and Mitchell Harms, freshman, Orange Cove, Calif.: These students are working to start an automotive restoration and customization business, with a focus on low-cost, “budget” cars to open this market to more people.
• Davis Bint, freshman, Glendora, Calif.: Bint is working on a YouTube-based car program featuring unknown car restorers and customizers who have completed impressive work on classic cars that deserve a wider audience. Bint has already been successful on YouTube, making several thousand dollars, and has 6.5 million views on his channel.
• Andy Fabianski, junior, New Lenox, Ill.: With “Stiches Upholstery,” Fabianski is aiming to create a business installing high-quality trim (automotive interior fabric) with a focus on affordability and customer service. A previous Horizon Fund recipient, this grant will help with marketing and a few tools.
• Bobby Robertson, junior, Windom, Kan., and Mike Kokmeyer, junior, McPherson, Kan.: With a focus on “nostalgia” cars and finishing “garage projects,” Robertson and Kokmeyer are working to start a car restoration and customization business.
• Jacob San Martin, sophomore, Perris, Calif.; Adam Mashiach, sophomore, Encino, Calif.; and Zane Luekenga, sophomore, Glenwood, Ark.: These three plan to bring more attention to the motorcycle restoration option within the automotive restoration department by creating a 1910s-era board track racer motorcycle from scratch in time for the C.A.R.S. Club Car Show in the sping. Board tracks were a type of motorsport arena popular in the early 20th century.
• Andrew Lindstrom, sophomore, Vulcan, Mich.: Lindstrom envisions building a business based on the design and construction of custom motorized bicycles as a form of inexpensive transportation. He will also work to convert regular bicycles to running on electric motors.

A more joyful campus filled with songbirds, a service giving free spa facials, a business refurbishing old furniture – all great ideas from McPherson College students, all of which are receiving funds from MC’s Horizon Fund to help them turn from idea into reality.

The Horizon Fund was established in September of 2010 to promote liberal arts at the college by tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit of McPherson College students, providing micro-grants of up to $500. Any individual or team of McPherson College students in any major is eligible to apply for and to receive a grant. Since it started, the Horizon Fund has helped more than 200 MC students to pursue and explore their great ideas.

Recently, McPherson College named their most recent round of recipients – 14 students receiving grants for 13 entrepreneurial ideas.

Jordyn Lipe, sophomore, Hutchinson, Kan., has received grants from the Horizon Fund before – it was a grant that allowed her to start The Dog Bowl, which serves coffee and home-baked goods on campus. This time, though, her idea for a grant involves improving the outdoors at McPherson College by attracting songbirds to campus with birdfeeders and birdbaths.

“It would bring an extra quality to campus to be more nature-friendly,” she said.

Magenta Jackson, senior, Corpus Christi, Texas, previously received a grant for a service she calls “Princess Therapy,” which aims to help stressed-out students by giving them free spa facials. She got the idea from studies about cancer patients who performed better if they also received spa treatments as part of their therapy. This time, she’s come up with ways to make the service more self-sustaining.

Ashley Frankenbery, junior, Benton, Kan., is also a previous recipient of the fund to create a Pre-Health Club on campus, which has successfully held a Science Day for grade school students. This time, she is looking to start her own business finding old furniture and other discarded but useful items, refurbishing or changing them, and then reselling them at a profit. For example, she repainted an old dresser she received for free that she expects to sell for more than $100. She also plans to take old wine bottles and turn them into candle-lit lanterns.

Other recipients are:

• Michael Janzer, sophomore, Peyton, Colo.: Start a textbook buy-back program offering more options and the potential to get more back for unwanted textbooks.
• Allen Darmawan, senior, Aliso Viejo, Calif.: Create a space on campus where students can take “power naps” called “Zquenkes.”
• Miranda Clark Ulrich, junior, Russell, Kan.: Expand her photography business with the ability to take professional portraits and headshots.
• Joshua Lloyd, senior, Stafford, Va.: Create a professional car photography business.
• Karl Timmerman, sophomore, Tulsa, Okla., and Jonathan Bubnis, junior, Del Ran, N.J. : Create an effective recycling program on campus.
• Cierra Bowers, senior, Salina, Kan.: a freelance graphic design and marketing business targeting students and small businesses.
• Andy Fabianski, sophomore, New Lenox, Ill.: Plans to incorporate his trim and upholstery business called “stitches.”
• Joel Kellogg, sophomore, Munice, Ind.: Expanding his screen-printing business.
• Megan McIntosh, junior, Great Bend, Kan.: Growing her dance studio called “On Poïnte”
• Jacob San Martin, freshman, Perris, Calif.: Developing a self-charging phone case.

From grocery carts that can turn on a dime to a business that will wait for you in line – and more – McPherson College’s Jump Start Kansas Day competition brought 21 high school students to campus to compete for up to $500 cash for their great ideas.

The annual event, which was on Feb. 12 this year, is designed to encourage and develop the entrepreneurial mindset in high school students – in the state and beyond.

Students came to campus to present their ideas in front of a judging panel, tour campus, attend a mini-class on entrepreneurship, and make connections with student entrepreneurs currently attending McPherson College.

Thomas Nicklesen, a junior from Newton, Kan., presented his business idea called “Stand.For.Me.” The concept was to use an app or a website to connect people who want popular, premium event tickets but don’t want to wait in long lines for them, with “Stand Ins” who are willing to hire themselves to wait in line instead.

Nicklesen said the experience of presenting his idea was a little like a business-pitch television show – such as “Shark Tank,” but without the aggression and hostility.

“If I’m going to start a business, I’m going to have to talk to people,” he said. “And this is a hate-free environment for that. They made me feel comfortable.”

Kaylee Hill, a junior at Heights High School in Wichita, Kan., presented her idea for a non-profit – “Flower Power.” The concept is to create a free after-school program for girls ages 5 to 17, providing time for tutoring, learning about etiquette, and many other life skills.

“Even girls who don’t have friends, I want them to have a place to go and make new friends,” Hill said.

President Michael Schneider addressed all of the competitors at a lunch following the presentations. He shared with the students that the sort of competition they just experienced is like a program offered to current McPherson College students – the Horizon Fund – which gives grants of up to $500 about three times every year.

“McPherson College cares about ideas,” Schneider said. “This is just what we do.”

He encouraged these high school students to consider McPherson College to continue their education and further develop their entrepreneurial skills.

“You all have one thing in common,” he said. “You like to start things. We were so impressed with your passion and preparation. You exceeded our expectations.”

The full list of students and their Jump Start Kansas ideas are as follows:

• Blake Janes, Wichita, Kan. – A daycare that focuses on teaching kids sports skills.
• Aaron Thomas, Clearwater, Kan. – A shopping cart that can spin 360 degrees around its center.
• Daniel Serres, Independence, Mo. – D.A. Socks: a trendy online sock company.
• Mikayleigh Wilson, Newton, Kan. – Create a photography and portrait business, focused on making personal connections and taking photos using natural lighting rather than a studio setting.
• Cheyenne Bosley, Haysville, Kan. – Create a discount cards fundraiser option to make money and help schools, churches, youth groups and youth athletic teams raise money for their organizations.
• Zac Angleton, Wichita, Kan. – A mobile pet grooming business based in a converted RV or trailer.
• Cloe Coons and Amanda Lolling, both of Haysville, Kan. – “Elaborate Embellishments”: a decorating service company, focusing on quality seasonal decorating.
• Kaylee Hill, Wichita, Kan. – “Flower Power”: A non-profit offering after-school activities and education for girls and teenagers.
• Jared Goering and Spencer Steinert, both of McPherson, Kan. – A device that tracks biomedical information such as one’s pulse.
• Abbey Bertholf, Winfield, Kan. – Develop a golf accessory that is seat connected to a standing golf bag.
• Janae McKinney, McPherson, Kan. – Begin a local dog training service, based on her decade of experience training her own animals in 4-H.
• Kyle McCall, Topeka, Kan. – Develop a product that is a smartphone cover but also has a built-in screen on the back side of the phone, allowing for a completely customized case design.
• Eli Minson, Topeka, Kan. – “Kicksclusive”: A business focusing on carrying limited edition and other exclusive sneakers in a local business.
• Will Adler, Winfield, Kan. – Developing a bagless lawn mower that instead of mulching the grass and leaving it in clumps on the year, will incinerate the clippings.
• Vanessa Ramirez, Independence, Mo. – Create a Spanish and English education and translation business, focusing on fostering communication between immigrants to the U.S. from Spanish speaking countries.
• Tate Brumfield, Andover, Kan. – Create a grocery and market that focuses entirely on green, organic foods – drawn entirely from local farmers and ranchers.
• Carleigh Camacho, Andover, Kan. – Begin a leadership education academy for teens and young adults.
• Thomas Nicklesen, Newton, Kan. – “Stand.For.Me.”: A business connecting those who want high-demand tickets or other items with “Stand Ins” – people willing to wait in line for pay so the users don’t have to.
• James Vansyckle, Clearwater, Kan. – A business making custom lights from empty liquor bottles.