October, 2025 - The McKendree Review

31Oct

By Elana MelzerNo Comments

Campus Events

2025 Homecoming Recap

Photography by Elana Melzer, Madison Bonner and mckendreeu From Bearcat Challenges to a victorious football game, this year’s Homecoming Celebrations were full of excitement and Bearcat Spirit. Many RSOs participated in SGA sponsored Chalk the Walk throughout the week. McK Media drew a variety of designs on the sidewalk Green Team took the opportunity to spread their ambitions for campus The Theater Honors Society, Alpha Psi Omega, promoted their fall play “Ghost in the Machine” The amazing women from ELITE pose for a picture Delight Ministries spread the message of the Bible on McKendree’s Sidewalks (photo provided by Delight) The faculty hosted their annual chili cook-of...

29Oct

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Following the Faculty

Remembering McKendrean Craig Robertson

Written By Megan Melone; Obituary from Meredith Funeral HomePhotography By McKendree University and Johnnie Robertson Crossland It cannot be said that anyone was a bigger Bearcat than Craig Robertson. Craig’s contributions to campus and the student body are immeasurable. There does not exist a faculty member that was more approachable or as ready to help as Craig. His absence has been felt across campus but his legacy and contributions persist. Robertson came to McKendree as a resident director for Baker Hall in 1996 and was instrumental in creating and building the football program as a coach. He became the director for campus activities in 2002. Robertson was a role model and leader to McKendree’s aspiring student leaders. Robertson’s obituary reads: Craig Lamont Robertson, 54, of...

27Oct

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Sports

McK Football’s Rainy Homecoming Win

McKendree Football secured a win against the Lincoln University Blue Tigers on Saturday 10/25 with a final score of 54-48. It was a rainy day for McKendree’s 197th Homecoming. The campus was busy with a craft fair, bouncy houses, and food trucks. Football fans braved the rainy first half and were well rewarded with the high-scoring win. The game also featured performances from the dance team and the Spirit of McKendree band. Sportswriter Nevaeh Papp interviewed the football head coach, Jason Rejfek, on his coaching experience and the Bearcats 2025 season: How long have you been coaching for McKendree University? REJFEK: I have been coaching here for the last 7 seasons. I started as a Wide Receivers Coach in 2018, flipped over to the defensive backs in 2019 and then was the...

24Oct

By Delaney JudkinsNo Comments

Personality, Perspective

Small Gestures, Big Impacts

Story By Delaney JudkinsPhotography By mckendreeu Celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Life at McKendree is full of energy— buzzing with students juggling classes, athletic events, student organizations and campus traditions like Homecoming or Into the Streets. But with the hustle and bustle, we often miss the small things that make our McKendree community so wonderful. If you a see piece of trash on the ground, regardless of if it’s biodegradable or not, would you go throw it away? A random act of kindness is not for the benefit of being validated for it. It’s the idea that doing these little things will better yourself and others. Though a random act of kindness can be small, the impact can be great. At a time when stress can run high and students are navigating...

McKendree’s Most Senior Faculty Member: Dr. Nancy Ypma D.Mus.

21Oct

By Megan MeloneNo Comments

Following the Faculty

McKendree’s Most Senior Faculty Member: Dr. Nancy Ypma D.Mus.

Written By Megan MelonePhotography By McKendree, McKendree Archives, mckendreemusic I sat down for an interview with Dr. Nancy Ypma. Dr. Ypma is McKendree's most senior faculty member and the Director of the Music Department: Where are you from?YPMA: Anaheim, California but when I moved down here, I was actually living up in Evanston because I was going to graduate school there. Dr. Nancy Ypma, 1989 Where did you go to school and what did you study?YPMA: I got my bachelor's at UCLA and then both my master's and my doctorate at Northwestern University. My undergraduate degree is in music, a BA in music, and my instrument is pipeorgan, which is unusual, but that's what I play.  And then I got my master's in my doctorate in what's called organ performance. When you major in musi...

McK Improv Heads Off Campus to Looking Glass Playhouse

17Oct

By Elana MelzerNo Comments

Entertainment

McK Improv Heads Off Campus to Looking Glass Playhouse

By Elana Melzer, Head Producer of McK Radio Title photo: McK Improv flyer for their upcoming show, designed by Madison Bonner. McK Improv will be taking their humor and wit off campus for the first time to the Looking Glass Playhouse on 301 W. St. Louis St. in Lebanon, Ill. for a performance Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. The entry cost will be $5 for general audience and $3 for McKendree students who show their school ID. The McK Improv Club has shown off their skills in the past by having two performances at 1828 Café: one in the fall of 2024 and the other in the spring of 2025. Madison Bonner, a 3rd year at McKendree, got the chance to perform in the spring show. While she had some stage fright being up there for the first time, she mentioned that the practices helped her to build more c...

Into the Unknown: A Look into Student Athlete Life

8Oct

By Delaney JudkinsNo Comments

Sports, Uncategorized

Into the Unknown: A Look into Student Athlete Life

Written By Delaney JudkinsPhotography By McKendree Athletics In sports, growth often comes from stepping outside of your comfort zones. Whether it’s trying a new position, testing a new skill, or joining a different team, taking risks can feel intimidating. Athletes sometimes hold back because of fear – fear of failure, fear of judgment or simply fear of the unknown. But risks are what push us to improve, build confidence, and discover abilities we didn’t know we had. By challenging ourselves, we not only learn what we are capable of, but also gain valuable experiences that shape us both as athletes and as people. Trying something new in sports can also create opportunities that weren’t there before. An athlete who experiments on a different sport or role may uncover hidden tale...