By Jewel Marie
McPherson College recently announced its partnership with the McPherson YMCA, providing free memberships to all full-time students beginning in the fall of 2025. This partnership will promote wellness on campus by allowing students to access all features of the YMCA facility.
The McPherson YMCA is home to a wide variety of wellness opportunities. The building includes swimming pools, basketball courts, treadmills, ellipticals, pickleball and more. Unlike other YMCA locations, the McPherson building also features an underground area with a spin room, weightlifting equipment, pool tables, and an additional assortment of workout machines to suit the needs of different students.
The unlimited memberships will also allow students to join wellness classes provided by the YMCA. These classes include a variety of activities such as yoga, Pilates, and aquatic exercise. [INTERVIEW WITH RAQUEL]
“[The students] will have access to everything in the YMCA, it’s not limited,” said Somer Van Pelt, Senior Wellness Director at the McPherson YMCA location. Van Pelt continued, “We have over 60 fitness classes a week that are live and instructor-lead, and then we also have virtual classes that you can do here.” These classes are also a great way for students to meet people in the surrounding McPherson community and begin to make connections outside of college.
“We are a small town with a facility that’s been in our community since 1906. [The YMCA has] been a staple in the community and we get kids from a lot of different walks of life,” said Quinlan Rageth, Business Operations Manager at the McPherson YMCA location. Rageth continued, “It’s a small YMCA and we provide that extra personal touch.”
This partnership will also bring exciting changes to the on-campus atmosphere. Beginning in the spring of 2026 the YMCA will coordinate intramural activities on campus, providing new opportunities for students. The relationship between McPherson College and the YMCA will also lead to increased internship opportunities for full-time students. “We’ve been blessed and had a lot of MAC college students as employees, as interns and we just want to keep growing that relationship,” Rageth said.
“I think the school has learned how important wellness is for the students,” said Dan Falk, Dean of Students at McPherson College. Falk added on “It’s a really important part of a student’s wellness journey is to take care of themselves emotionally and physically by being active.” So, when you return to campus next fall, consider visiting the McPherson YMCA!
