Spring 2015 Waldorf College Alumni Foundation Magazine

Page 1

Alumni News Pg. 38 Homecoming Review Pg. 26

Volume 112, Number 1, Spring 2015

Scholarships For Women! Scholarship program that mentors young women! Pg. 5

From Waldorf to Hollywood

Follow Dawn Schulz Schaefer’s ’93 journey to Calif.! Pg. 22

happy birthday, alma mater

The “Waldorf Song” turns 100! Pg. 35


Volume 112, Number 1 Spring 2015 The Waldorf Magazine, a combined effort of the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation and Waldorf College, is published for alumni and friends of Waldorf College. Founded in 1903, Waldorf College is a private, four-year liberal arts institution. Please help us keep track of you by notifying the Foundation if you get married, move or change your e-mail address. Contact Janet Berhow at berhowj@waldorf.edu or 641.585.8148. Please notify the Waldorf admissions office if you would like to refer a prospective student by calling 1.800.292.1903

Waldorf College 106 South 6th Street Forest City, Iowa 50436 641.585.2450 or 1.800.292.1903 On the Cover:

Chantell Cooley, founder of the new Chantell Cooley Leadership Scholarship for Women program. Photo: Christy Mouery Haynes, Beach Chic Photography

Contributors Dr. Robert Alsop Ray Beebe Janet Berhow Anthony Cornealius Design & Layout James Faulkner Cassie Christianson Writers Cassie Christianson Rita Gilbertson ’79 Nancy Olson ’75 Matt Oliver Ashley Miller, Mason City Globe Gazette Jaqueline Fellows, Health Leaders Media

Greetings! Although I’ve never counted, I must have made my way up the front wooden steps of Salveson Hall over a thousand times. That’s the way I have come to work every morning for a combined total of 17 years over the course of three decades. Every once in a while, when I catch my reflection in the double glass doors, I see a perky 23 year-old heading to work in the admissions office in the early 80s wearing a yellow skirt, white and yellow striped blouse, and white espadrilles. For a split second, I am about to go to work armed with a rotary phone, notepad and card file instead of a laptop computer. What do you see when you climb the front steps of Salveson? Are you transported back in time to when you were a student? Do you expect to meet your classmates in the lobby looking like they did 10, 30 or 50 years ago? Although some things may have changed since then, the heart of Waldorf still beats to the same drum it has for more than a century. In this issue, read about some of our continued traditions that may help jar a memory or two: homecoming, Christmas with Waldorf, campus ministry, faculty who still go the extra mile, and great students who are doing it all. In 2015, we also celebrate the 100th anniversary of the alma mater. Waldorf’s respect for tradition is only enhanced by a healthy dose of progress. The college has a long history of reinventing itself to meet the needs of current students and the new online master’s degree program in organizational leadership is no exception. The shared services coalition completed a new 8-lane track last fall and will be named after someone very important to Waldorf and the community. The Chantell Cooley Scholarship is attracting active, bright young women by offering full-tuition scholarships for those interested in particular disciplines or extra-curricular activities (page 5). Our alumni continue to make us proud and emerge as leaders in their industry. Read about Dawn Schultz Schaefer ’93 and her role at CBS studios in Los Angeles; Lee Aase ’83 and the strides he is making in social media at Mayo Clinic; Bill Johnson ’58 and his 50th year in the million dollar round table; and Bruce Jolivette ’77 who has played the trumpet for music legends. Meet our alumni board members and hear from new alumni board president Andy Buffington ’90. Of course, this issue also includes class news and so much more! We are always interested in learning what you would like to read about and encourage your suggestions. Please send them to alumni@waldorf.edu or call 641-585-8140. We hope the next time you are on campus you flashback to when you were a student at Waldorf for just a second to appreciate the ways it has held true to the traditions that were important to you then, as well as the new and exciting trails it continues to blaze for future generations. Warmest regards,

Rita Gilbertson

Rita Gilbertson, CFRE

Director of Alumni Relations Waldorf College/ Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation

Nancy Olson, CFRE

Director of Institutional Relations Waldorf College/ Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation

JANET BERHOW

Database & Gift Processing Manager Waldorf College/ Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation


Waldorf college Commencement 2015 Waldorf College is pleased to announce that the 2015 graduation festivities will be held on May 9th at Waldorf’s campus in Forest City, Iowa. This year’s guest speaker for commencement will be Denise Lenning Hill ’90, J.D. MPA. All are invited to attend!

FOUNDATION

www.waldorf.edu/Graduation pg 19 pg 19 pg 20 pg 21

ALUMNI

CAMPUS

PG 4 a Message from the President PG 5 Cover Story: Full Tuition Scholarships Empower ing Young Women Leaders Pg 6 Student Profile: Juggling Act Pg 7 Waldorf Offers Master’s degree program pg 7 Waldorf hosts Kent Stock pg 7 Online Student Profile: Eron Sunshine pg 8 Fine Arts Highlights Pg 9 Expanded Christmas Open House pg 10 Sports update pg 10 Waldorf Athletics to Join NSaa in 2015-16 pg 11 Waldorf’s Jerome retires from coaching pg 12 beebes to be honored with track dedication pg 13 international players help key warriors to success pg 13 warriors earn second straight postseason berth pg 14 Faculty/Staff/Regent News pg 16 Waldorf mascot featured in sports illustrated pg 17 faculty profile: Tim and Cathleen bascom pg 18 Student Profile: Marisa Donnelly

pg 22 from Waldorf to hollywood pg 24 Alumni Events held in iowa, minnesota & california pg 25 growing up at waldorf college pg 26 choir alumni honored mr. and mrs. aj at concert pg 26 Homecoming 2014 review pg 27 Homecoming reunion class photos pg 28 distinguished alumni awards pg 30 waldorf honors 2014 athletic hall of fame class pg 32 Lee Aase: Who’s behind @Mayo clinic? pg 34 Alumnus plays trumpet for music legends pg 35 Message from the alumni Board President pg 35 happy 100th birthday, alma mater! pg 36 Meet the Waldorf College Alumni Board pg 38 Alumni News pg 40 Deaths pg 43 reflections by roger masten ’67

Campus Ministry Waldorf lutheran association of congregations elects new officers a letter from the foundation chair Foundation quiz

Reminder As a reminder, the Waldorf Magazine is your publication. It is largely funded by donations to the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation. We thank you for your continued support and welcome your input for future articles. Please contact the alumni office at alumni@ waldorf.edu or (641) 585-8140 with your ideas. As faithful stewards of our resources and an effort to “go green,” please let the alumni office know if you prefer not to receive a hard copy and would rather view the magazine online. A digital copy is available online at http:// www.waldorf.edu/magazine. The Waldorf Magazine is published each spring and fall. If you do not currently receive the Waldorf monthly e-newsletter and would like to sign up for it, please contact the alumni office at alumni@waldorf.edu.


Campus News

A Message from The President A lot has been going on at Waldorf College since our last issue, but I want to start off with thanking each and every one of you for showing continued support for this institution and our students. Just as you each have a special place in your heart for Waldorf College, we treasure our alumni and friends. First, 2014 was a good year for Waldorf College. While many schools experienced stagnant or declining enrollment, Waldorf continues to grow – both residentially and online. In total, we are approaching nearly 2,000 students, with more than 150 students enrolled in our new graduate program! We are well positioned to continue this trend, and are constantly searching for ways to better serve our students. I am excited to see where this momentum leads us in the future. Speaking of exciting futures, our athletic teams will join the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) next year, and will compete against teams from schools such as Presentation College (SD), the University of Jamestown (ND), Bellevue University (Neb.), and Viterbo University (Wis.). In its current configuration, and with anticipated growth in this conference, the travel for athletic teams will improve significantly. Another highlight from last fall was the completion of the last phase of the shared athletic facilities agreement -- a new eight-lane track around Bolstorff Field. I am proud to announce the track will be named Beebe Track in honor of Ray and Joan Beebe and their endless compassion for young people and education. These athletic facilities were made possible through the cooperation between the Hanson Foundation, Waldorf College, Forest City School District, the City of Forest City, YMCA, and Worth County Development Authority. It has been a model for how different entities can work together to provide superior facilities.

Many of these same entities are coming forward to explore the potential for a community fine arts complex that would serve Waldorf College, the Forest City School District, and the City of Forest City. The project is in the exploratory phase right now, considering issues of location, usage, capacity, budget, etc., but an exciting direction nonetheless! One more highlight that I would like to share with you is the establishment of the Chantell Cooley Leadership Scholarship for Women. Chantell Cooley is a member of the Waldorf Board of Trustees, pioneer in education and advocate for developing female leaders. The full tuition scholarship provides financial assistance to women seeking a residential degree at Waldorf and will be awarded based on leadership potential and membership in specific co-curricular activities. For more information, read the cover story about the scholarship or visit www.waldorf.edu/Cooley. Again, I am grateful for our alumni and friends who are devoted to our students. Many of you support them in their activities, with your prayers, or through gifts to the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation. Your continued interest and involvement affirms that we are, indeed, all part of the Waldorf family. Sincerely,

Robert Alsop, Ph.D. President, Waldorf College

Learn Together Scholarship offers family discounts At Waldorf College, we know that going back to school or continuing your education isn’t always easy, or feasible – especially if you are paying for your child’s education at the same time! Fortunately, we recognize this issue and want to help you finish or build on your current degree. The Learn Together Scholarship was established for Waldorf students on campus and family members online, so they may receive tuition discounts for attending school together. Family members (parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents) of a

residential student registered part-time or full-time may receive a 20% tuition discount for undergraduate or graduate online courses at Waldorf College. The son or daughter of a Waldorf College or Columbia Southern University (sister school) online student may receive a 50% tuition scholarship to attend Waldorf College residentially! For more information on the Learn Together Scholarship, visit www.waldorf.edu/LearnTogether.

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Campus News in action. Now I want to support other women to develop leadership skills and pursue their passion at Waldorf College.” Not only are these young women provided a financially stable platform to study academic programs they are interested in, but they will also go beyond the classroom and develop leadership expertise through participation in co-curricular organizations under Cooley’s mentorship. “This scholarship is my way of giving back. It will provide opportunities for young women to take part in leadership lessons that will help them in all areas of their lives. Providing mentorship to the scholarship recipients along with hands on training will help set these women up for success on campus and as they move on after graduation.” Chantell Cooley Leadership Scholarships are awarded to incoming female freshmen or transfer students who wish to get involved in the following co-curricular organizations at Waldorf College: Campus Ministry, Service Learning/Rotaract, Digital Media, Honors, STEM-Biology, Entrepreneurship and Historia. “When they called me to tell me I received the Cooley scholarship, I thought it was a joke,” said Nikki Adolphson, Chantell Cooley Scholarship for Women in Campus Ministry recipient. “I couldn’t believe it, I was speechless!” Adolphson, of Gilbert, Iowa, has relied on her faith through hard times, and hopes to share the story of her journey with others through campus ministry. “I really hope this scholarship program gives me the confidence to lead without second guessing myself and to strengthen my professional skills,” she said.

Full tuition scholarships

Cooley plans to meet with scholarship recipients on a monthly basis to discuss professionalism, goal setting and other leadership skills and qualities. She has already attended several receptions on campus to meet some of the scholarship recipients and share her story of becoming a leader.

empowering young women leaders Waldorf College has teamed up with Board of Trustees member, Chantell Cooley, pioneer in education and advocate for developing female leaders, to create a scholarship program that will support incoming, female students in their pursuit of a quality college education. These scholarships, up to full tuition, (valued at approximately $80,000) will be paired with a mentoring program to help build a network of young professionals that will carry over into the working world. An energetic author and speaker, Cooley has strong roots in her Christian faith and a special passion for developing leadership skills in youth. She has spent more than ten years nurturing and guiding young adults. Cooley has given numerous presentations on customer service and self-improvement to various groups including Columbia Southern University management, the Association of Leadership Educators Conference and the Elisha Conference. She has worked with multiple companies such as Delta Air Lines and the Fire Department of New York to develop strategic educational benefits for their employees and affiliates. “There is no better time than now for women to develop as leaders. My accomplishments are credited to a support system that believed in me,” Cooley said. “I dared to put my dreams

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“She takes time out of her own schedule to come meet with us girls,” said Rakailla Pauley, first recipient of the Chantell Cooley Leadership Scholarship. “We are actually going to meet with her and talk with her and get advice from her. That’s really awesome, because when you get out there on your own it’s really intimidating, and it will be nice to actually have somebody who will be there for you.” Pauley, a senior at Denison High School in Iowa, has received a Chantell Cooley Leadership Scholarship for Women in STEM-Biology. She plans to study biology, forensics and criminal justice at Waldorf. She may also consider joining extracurricular groups such as band, choir and theatre. If you know a young woman leader who could benefit from a scholarship mentoring program, encourage them to apply! More information on this scholarship opportunity is available at www.Waldorf.edu/Cooley.


Campus News

Student Profile: Juggling Act Written by Ashley Miller, Mason City Globe GAzette

October 16, 2014; photo courtesy of the Mason City Globe Gazette

With a spunky pixie haircut and colorful tattoos, Audrey Sparks’ classmates at Waldorf College often mistake her for a student in her early 20s. At 38, Sparks’15 has learned it’s never too late to run after your dreams -- whether that means a spot on the Warriors’ cross country team or a four-year communications degree. Her path to Waldorf began in an unlikely way. At 15, the Sidney, Nebraska, native dropped out of high school. “I hated high school because it felt like a chore,” she said. Six weeks later, she received her GED and became a tutor for adult students before trying a few college classes, none of which Sparks said were the right fit. After living all over the U.S., she settled in Mason City 13 years ago. A friend Sparks made along the way helped steer her toward higher education. Rose, a woman in her 80s who still managed to take a college course each semester, told Sparks she was “too smart to be too stupid.” After registering for classes at North Iowa Area Community College the day before they started, Sparks said she “fell in love with the process.” She feels she’s been lucky to find instructors she not only relates to on an academic level but has flourished under. After graduating with honors from NIACC, Sparks transferred to Waldorf, where she is studying communications with an

emphasis in journalism. She is set to graduate in December 2015 and hopes to eventually write for a community newspaper. In the meantime, she juggles school, sports and work. “It’s kind of chaotic,” she said. “Some mornings I just don’t want to get out of bed.” On Tuesdays, one of her longest weekdays, Sparks is up at 4:30 a.m. before heading to Forest City for a 6 a.m. cross country practice. After weight training, she’s in class until early afternoon before heading to work in the admissions office. Her book bag and textbooks are usually nearby. During spare moments, Sparks, who is on the dean’s list, said she’ll work ahead on reading assignments. She normally returns home around 7 p.m. after practicum for the student newspaper, where she is an editor. If that isn’t enough, Sparks also runs and cross trains five days a week, lifts weights three days a week, fulfills scholarship requirements for the theater department and works for Worth Brewing Co. on the weekends. Joining the cross country team -- and taking on all the physical activity that comes along with it -- happened by chance. Sparks ended up being recruited during an interview with nowteammates about a 5K they were setting up. After mentioning her interest in running, they steered her toward the coach, who discovered she was still eligible to compete in college athletics. A runner for about five years, Sparks says she feels comfortable with her teammates, who are also young as far as experience in running. “I am not a fast runner,” she said. “I run toward the back of the pack but I finish, which to me is what is important.” But with a 6K time of 37 minutes and 25 seconds, Sparks turned in the top time for her team at the Buena Vista Invitational in Storm Lake, finishing in 13th place. She was also an integral part in the female Warriors recording their first-ever team score in a regular-season meet, the Border Battle Invitational in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in early September.

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Campus News

Waldorf Offers master’s degree in org. Leadership

In a historic announcement on August 19, 2014, President Bob Alsop announced the launch of Waldorf’s first master’s degree program in organizational leadership. The 36-hour online degree program is designed to develop students’ leadership and equip them to use that leadership as an instrument for organization change. “The master’s degree in organizational leadership was carefully designed to meet the needs of our students as well as the needs of business and industry. I am very proud of this program and know it will serve our students well,” said Alsop.

The master’s degree program in organizational leadership features concentrations in: • Criminal Justice Leadership • Fire/Rescue Executive Leadership • Human Resource Development • Sport Management

Online Student Profile: Eron sunshine ’15 The calling to a career can be subtle or eye-opening, as it was for 34-year-old Waldorf student Eron Sunshine ’15 when he was younger. “I always wanted to help people. I just did not know how I wanted to help. One day, I witnessed a classmate having a seizure. The first people to show up were the paramedics and they were able to help her come out of the seizure,” he explained. “After that day, I wanted to learn about first aid and I wanted to be the person who was able to help out in an emergency.” After serving in the military and completing an associate’s degree in his native Georgia, Sunshine began his first job as a paramedic/firefighter in 2005 in Hall County. Since that time, he has continued to work as a paramedic/firefighter for other Georgia emergency services and currently works with an ambulance service in Roswell. While enjoying his career, Sunshine decided to enroll in Waldorf College in 2012 to pursue an online bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership with a concentration in health care management. “I wanted to find a school

“In a time where master’s degrees are almost required in the process of occupational advancement, we think our students will greatly benefit from having such a degree, especially from an institution with Waldorf’s long history and tradition of providing quality education,” added Alsop. Organizational leadership classes began last September and a new term starts each month. As of January 2015, more than 110 students had enrolled in the program. To learn more, visit www.Waldorf.edu/ma-org-leadership.

Waldorf College hosts alumnus, author and movie inspiration, Kent Stock ’82 Inspirational speaker and Waldorf College alumnus Kent Stock spoke to students, faculty, staff and members of the community on October 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Atrium. The inspiration for the 2007 major motion picture film “The Final Season,” Stock has since published the book “Heading for Home: My Journey from Little League to Hollywood.”

that was affordable, accredited, and based on Christian principles and Waldorf College was able to meet all three requirements,” Sunshine said. In addition, completing a bachelor’s degree has special significance to him. “Having a degree allows a person to have greater options in life as opposed to being stuck in just one career. While I love being a paramedic, I can use this degree to help people in other ways,” he explained. As a Waldorf student, Sunshine said he has enjoyed his coursework, the faculty and staff of the college. “I was diagnosed with cancer in December of 2013. In February of 2014, while undergoing treatment, I was really close to dropping out and taking a break. The staff at Waldorf College was able to grant me an extension for the class and encouraged me to finish,” said Sunshine, who is now fully recovered. Sunshine met his graduation requirements from Waldorf in November of 2014 and will officially graduate this spring. As Sunshine continues in his career he plans to still “be the person” to help out others in need.

As depicted in the film, the nationally recognized Norway baseball team came together under then first-year head baseball coach Stock to defy the odds and win Norway’s 20th state title in what would become the team’s final season before merging with a bigger, neighboring school district. “The Final Season” was shown at the Forest Theatre in Forest City, Iowa, in preparation for Stock’s campus visit. Stock’s story is a testimony to the power of following your dreams and transcends the baseball field, office and classroom. Stock graduated from Waldorf College in 1982 and played second base for the Warrior baseball team, ranked 13th nationally. He was inducted into the Waldorf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and served two, four-year terms on the Waldorf Alumni Board. Currently, Stock is a relationship manager at Community Savings Bank in Cedar Rapids. He lives in Marion, Iowa with his wife, Laurie and two daughters. He launched his professional speaking career in 2007. For more information on Kent Stock visit www.kentstock.com.

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Campus News

Fine Arts Highlights Theatre

Art Gallery

The Diviners October 1-4, 2014

The Waldorf College Art Gallery displayed artwork from the following artists throughout the 2014-15 season:

This production, set in the midst of a dustbowl, is about a disillusioned Kentucky preacher who, after losing his faith in vocation, befriends a young outcast with a special gift. It was an emotionally charged story with a shocking ending.

Brian Fink

A Comedy of Errors Nov. 19-22, 2014

An updated version of the Shakespeare production was presented in November. The hysterical performance, originally set in the classical era, was depicted in South Beach Miami, Florida, in the 1930s, creating a truly one-of-a-kind show!

9 to 5 - The Musical Feb. 11-14, 2015

The musical, based on the seminal 1980 hit movie and set in the late 1970s, tells a hilarious story of friendship and revenge as three female co-workers concoct a plan to get even with their sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss.

Theatre students compete in regional festival

Eight Waldorf College students were invited to compete at the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) January 19-25, 2015 following their performance in the Waldorf Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors” in November. Sarah Vlodek, of Maryland Heights, Missouri, and Phillip Detrick, of Algona, Iowa, were selected to audition for the elite Musical Theatre Intensive. Region V includes colleges from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Among competitions, students who attend the KCACTF participate in activities such as workshops and seminars where they can see one another’s work and share ideas. Upon selection, student actors, screenwriters and design specialists are invited to attend the KCACTF National Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in April.

Inherit the Wind, April 8-11, 2015

Heavily based on the 1925 Scopes Trials, where two big-name lawyers contested on whether modern science regarding the creation-evolution controversy should be taught in schools, this production provides entertainment while exploring historic events.

Spring Calendar

April 2 Senior Art Show ends 8-11 Inherit the Wind (Theatre) 12 WCAS–Midwest Brassworks 19 Sangkor/Schola Cantorum 26 Wind Symphony Concert 27 Piano Recital 30 Choir Concert May 4 Student Recital 9 Baccalaureate 9 Commencement

Visit www.waldorf.edu/Events for details!

Waldorf KCACTF student competitors: Sarah Vlodek (Maryland Heights, MO): Musical Theatre Intensive, Irene Ryan Acting Competition, Costume Design Philip Detrick (Algona, Iowa): Musical Theatre Intensive, Scene Design and Acting Partner in Irene Ryan Action Competition Mary Argall (Victoria, Australia): Irene Ryan Acting Competition Nathan Chester (Glenview, Ill.): Acting Partner in Irene Ryan Acting Competition Abbie Wells (Lake View, Iowa): Graphic Design Sydney Hutchison (Dallas, Texas): Paint Design Kelsey Sollish (Forest City, Iowa): Stage Management Cassidy Atchison (Allen, Texas): Capstone Portfolio Review

Theatre Tour May 25-June 3, Midwest tour Tour locations and dates TBD! 8

Artwork of Minnesota State University Mankato Art Professor Brian Fink from August 25 - October 10, 2014. Fink utilized an abstract organic nature painting style. However, most recently, he enjoys painting portraits of animals.

Dean A. Genth

Digital photographic artwork of Mason City resident Dean A. Genth from October 14 – December 5, 2014. Genth enjoys experimentation with macro photography – taking a small portion or piece of the larger image and transforming it into something new, imaginative and even more beautiful than the whole.

Joan Webster-Vore

The Waldorf Art Gallery hosted awardwining installation artist Joan WebsterVore from January 12 – February 20, 2015. Webster-Vore incorporates mixed media installations, including hanging pieces, drawings and paintings. She even had students help her install her artwork – creating an educational experience for the art gallery.

To learn more about the Waldorf Art Gallery, contact Dean Swenson at dean.swenson@waldorf.edu or 641-5858210. The Waldorf Art Gallery hours are 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. when Waldorf classes are in session.

Music Christmas With Waldorf Tradition Continues

Waldorf College held its annual Christmas with Waldorf concert December 6 and 7 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. The theme was “Rejoice at the Manger,” and paid particular attention to


Campus News

familiar carols such as “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

Performing at the event was the Waldorf Choir, Schola Cantorum, Sangkor, and the Wind Symphony.

Expanded Christmas Open House Welcomes Community to Campus Drs. Bob and Natalie Alsop greeted hundreds of Waldorf emeriti, faculty, staff and members of the community at Waldorf’s annual Christmas open house held Dec. 4, from 4 – 7 p.m. The beautifully decorated Ballroom served as the hub of the event with its incredible array of goodies prepared by faculty and staff. The Waldorf Choir and Music Department entertained the crowd with live, holiday music. Activities and information were provided at seven campus locations, each offering a different goodie and activity and/ or tour. “We were excited to show off the fantastic facilities we have here on campus,” Waldorf College President, Dr. Bob Alsop, said. “The community of Forest City has played a major part in shaping Waldorf College and we wanted to open our doors and share our appreciation.” The Waldorf College Education Club also hosted children’s crafts in the Small Pit and student ambassadors served up snow cones and popcorn in the Atrium. All guests received a free gift and were encouraged to sign-up for additional prizes.

A Scandinavian meal, including lutefisk, was served in the Waldorf College Atrium before Saturday’s concert, and a brunch was served in the Atrium prior to Sunday’s afternoon performance. Be sure to save the date now for Waldorf’s 2015 Christmas with Waldorf scheduled for December 5 and 6!

Alum’s family wins big at

Waldorf College open house

Piano Camp

Waldorf will present a piano camp for well-rounded music students, grades 5 - 12, preparing them for all aspects of becoming a pianist and for collegiate music studies. James ’95 and Amy Williams ’15 and their sons, Jakob (11 yrs) and Samuel (6 yrs), of Nora Springs, Iowa, traveled to Forest City for the 2014 Waldorf College Open House on December 4 to visit the campus of their alma mater. Little did they know they would be going home prizewinners!

Piano camp is scheduled for July 26- August 2, 2015. For more information visit www.waldorf.edu/PianoCamp.

Choir Tour May 10-19, Southwest U.S. tour Tour locations and dates TBD!

As part of the open house, Waldorf College held a contest drawing for a Kindle Fire HD6. Samuel Williams was the winner of Amazon’s eReader. “We played the voicemail left on my phone for Samuel, the message stating he had won the Kindle, and he started dancing. He actually teared up as well – I wish I had recorded it!” Amy said. But the luck didn’t stop there! Three name drawings later, the William’s eldest son, Jakob, won a Waldorf t-shirt from the Waldorf College Bookstore. “No one in our family has won something as big as a t-shirt, let alone a Kindle, or both at the same time.

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When we told them they both had won a prize they were ecstatic,” Amy said. The family decided to attend the open house after Amy saw a post about it on Facebook. James Williams graduated from Waldorf College in 1995 with an associate’s degree in secondary education. While at Waldorf, he was a member of the Waldorf Warrior men’s wrestling team, co-president of the science club and participated in several art gallery shows. “Where the library is now used to be the art building where I took a sculpture class,” James said. “I enjoyed showing my family around and reliving some of my good memories.” James now works as an industrial maintenance mechanic at Armour Eckrick in Mason City, Iowa, and is an American Heart Association CPR/first aid instructor. Amy is currently working towards her bachelor’s degree in psychology through Waldorf College’s online program; scheduled to graduate this spring. “There are similarities [among the residential and online programs] in the core courses and value placed on religion courses with an emphasis on helping your community,” James said. “Waldorf was a community for me, by living on campus, and Waldorf for her is also a community, as she is able to interact with others online.” One of Amy’s future goals is to become a behavioral analyst and therapist and work with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorder. She said she chose Waldorf College online courses due to the lasting impact Waldorf has left on her husband and because of its Christian foundation. “I have been challenged academically. I’ve made great friends and have had wonderful professors. I love that you can interact with people from all over the country, even deployed soldiers, all with a similar goal in mind – to learn,” she said. “I love that it is a Christian based college and I am able to connect my faith with my education.” Samuel and Jakob enjoyed their visit to Waldorf College during the open house, especially being able to experience where their parents received their college education. Their favorite activities included eating treats and drinking hot cocoa, making Christmas ornaments, meeting Santa, and entering the prize contest. “I already am playing and have books on [my Kindle,]” Samuel said. “I’m taking a picture of myself right now!”


Campus News

sports Update

Audrey Sparks, Karly Ankarlo, Cassidy Atchison and Cassie Jo Ruud each ran their fastest 5K times in the race.

Football Opening the season strong, the Warriors won their first-ever NSAA contest as they crushed Mayville State University in a 48-0 victory on Aug. 23 at Mayville, N.D. Waldorf continued its impressive offensive display in its home opener with a 68-42 win over Trinity Bible College the following week. The NSAA proved to be a very competitive league as the Warriors closed out the year with a 3-7 record and finished sixth in the conference standings with a 1-5 mark.

Men’s Soccer The Warriors battled in a number of tight matches and had six losses that were decided by just one goal. They finished the season with a 4-13 record and placed fifth in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) standings with a 1-4 league mark.

Men’s Cross Country W a l d o r f College men’s cross country runners Boaz Kipkemei and Cody Clark chased down second-team all-conference honorable mention recognition in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) Championship on Nov. 8 at Lawrence, Kan. The Warriors wrapped up the season, claiming fifth place in the MCAC meet. Women’s Cross Country Writing a new chapter in program history, the Warriors recorded a team score for the first time ever with an 11th-place finish in the Border Battle Invitational on Sept. 13 at La Crosse, Wis. Waldorf closed out the season earning seventh place in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) Championship on Nov. 8 at Lawrence, Kan.

President Troy Thompson Vice President Rod Craft Secretary-Tresurer Dyanna Quisling wwb@waldorf.edu waldorfwarriors.com/f/Boosters.php

Women’s Soccer The Warriors posted a 7-11-1 record and earned third place in the MCAC standings, turning in a 4-2 league mark behind four shutout victories. Waldorf ended the year with a 2-0 loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the MCAC Tournament semifinals on Nov. 8 at Bartlesville, Okla. Volleyball After a slow start, the Warriors won 13 of their final 22 matches en route to a 17-24 record. Waldorf turned in a 5-3 mark in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) and earned the No. 5 seed in the MCAC Tournament, ending the year in the conference tournament semifinals with a hard-fought, four-set loss to Bellevue University on Nov. 14 at Point Lookout, Mo.

Waldorf Athletics to Join NSAA in 2015-16

Waldorf College announced on Nov. 12 that its athletic programs will join the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) at the start of the 2015-16 academic year. “The NSAA places Waldorf in an Upper Midwest footprint where we feel most at home,” said Waldorf president Dr. Bob Alsop. The Warriors’ football team completed its inaugural season in the NSAA this fall. “As an associate member of the NSAA in football this year, we have been impressed with the leadership of the conference and direction it is going,” Alsop said.

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Thirteen other Waldorf programs will make the transition to the conference effective next fall, including baseball, softball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball and men’s and women’s indoor/outdoor track and field. “This move to the North Star makes sense for us particularly considering that the North Star is where our football team already has conference affiliation,” said Bart Gray, Waldorf director of athletics. “Our coaches feel that we will have a better Midwest identity in the North Star and that the area encompassed by the North Star institutions is where we can establish a sound recruiting base.” This spring marks Waldorf’s final athletic season in the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC). The Warriors have competed in the MCAC for the last three years. “We are very appreciative of the home we have had in the MCAC and look forward to continuing our competitive relationships with these schools as well,” Gray said. Waldorf is the seventh school to join the NSAA. The conference is comprised of two schools from South Dakota and four from North Dakota. League members include Dakota State University, Presentation College, Dickinson State University, the University of Jamestown, Mayville State University and Valley City State University. Enrollment numbers for institutions in the NSAA range from 643 to 3,129. “The decision to join the North Star with all of our sports teams was not made in haste or without vetting all the possible ramifications,” Gray said. “We did our due diligence in exploring all foreseeable outcomes and then arrived at our decision. It was very important to Dr. Alsop and the entire Waldorf athletic staff that this was a decision and move that was done with integrity and respect for all schools involved.” Joining the NSAA, shorter road trips will reduce travel costs for Waldorf’s teams while enhancing the quality of education for student-athletes. “At the heart of our decision to change conferences is the experience of our student-athletes,” Alsop said. “With this move, our student-athletes will spend less time on the road and miss fewer classes.”


Campus News

Waldorf’s Jerome retires From coaching after 42 seasons After more than four decades on the sidelines, Denny Jerome ’70 has stepped down from his position as head coach of the Waldorf College women’s basketball team. Jerome, who’s coached the Warriors for the past 42 seasons, announced his retirement from coaching last summer. “Denny has been a fixture at Waldorf for 42 years,” said Bart Gray, Waldorf director of athletics. “In many, many ways he is the face of the college and is known throughout Iowa and the upper Midwest as a superior coach, athletic director and person of integrity.” “His contributions to Waldorf College will continue to have a positive impact for many years yet to come,” Gray added. “His integrity, fairness, honesty and work ethic are those traits that we would like to see reflected in the behaviors of our student-athletes as he mentored them during his tenure as a coach and athletic director. Purely as a coach, his longevity and win-loss record speak for themselves.” Jerome retires with a 786-439 career record. He led the program since it was established in 1972 and the Warriors averaged 19 wins per season during his tenure. “It’s been an honor, privilege and

pleasure to work with and be around so many players for so many years,” Jerome said. “I will miss the daily contact with the players.” Under Jerome, Waldorf earned seven trips to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national tournament. He helped the program continue its success after becoming a four-year college and joining the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Jerome led the Warriors to the Midwest Collegiate Conference (MCC) title in 2004-05 and has been named regional or conference coach of the year seven times. During his career, Jerome coached 18 All-Americans and numerous academic all-scholars. His teams established a tradition of academic excellence. The 2009 team recorded one of the top gradepoint averages in the nation. Jerome said his No. 1 priority was character development through basketball to help players grow as people and prepare them for the rest of their lives. “I’m proud of what the women’s basketball program has stood for these first 42 years,” Jerome said. “We have had very high academic achievement, high character and citizenship. We’ve worked hard at playing with optimum sportsmanship with a winning tradition and tournament success.” Jerome will continue serving Waldorf as associate athletic director. As he stepped away from coaching, he said “change will be good.” During his coaching career, Jerome developed close relationships with his assistant coaches and graduate assistants, along with an appreciation for opposing coaches and game officials. “It’s a profession that has provided me with great friendships,” Jerome said. “I’m also grateful for my wife, Kathy (Hennessy ’77). She has been devoted to each player for four decades and has added class to the program. She has been an ideal coach’s wife.”

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Schutjer takes over as Women’s basketball Coach

The 2014-15 season marked a new era for Waldorf women’s basketball. Katie Schutjer took over as head coach of the Warriors. Schutjer served as an assistant coach the previous two years under legendary coach Denny Jerome, who retired from coaching in July after 42 seasons. Schutjer is very excited about the opportunity of being the head women’s basketball coach at Waldorf College. “Coach Jerome has built such a great program here and I am honored to be able to build off its excellence and tradition,” she said. Schutjer is a native of Gilman and a 2005 graduate of East Marshall High School. She started her college basketball career at Marshalltown Community College (MCC), earning first-team all-conference and academic honors from the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). After receiving her associate’s degree from MCC, Schutjer continued playing basketball at Simpson College. She helped the Storm win back-to-back Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championships and NCAA Division III national tournament appearances in 2009 and 2010. As a senior and team captain, Schutjer was a first-team all-conference selection, the team’s Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year and also received all-conference academic honors. Schutjer graduated from Simpson in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration and marketing. She began her coaching career at Simpson under Brian Niemuth – one of the winningest coaches at the Division III level. Aside from being an assistant, she served as head coach for the Storm’s junior varsity squad from 2010-2012. On Dec. 12, Schutjer earned her first career coaching victory as the Warriors rolled to an 82-52 win over Grace University at Hanson Fieldhouse. Continuing the program’s tradition of excellence on and off the court is Schutjer’s primary objective. “I want to teach core values that will lead to success on the court, in the classroom and within the community,” Schutjer said. “Showing my players how to embrace the process of being a student-athlete and women’s college basketball player is part of my winning coaching philosophy that I will strive to instill within the program.”


Campus News

Beebes to be honored With track dedication

Joan Beebe Family Scholarship through the Forest City Education Foundation, which provides a significant scholarship each year to a graduate of Forest City High School. “We enjoy being able to award scholarships to a few of the amazing young people at our high school as well as to students at Waldorf College,” Beebe said. “We firmly believe the Waldorf experience is changing lives one life at a time, just as it has throughout its long and storied history.” Ray and Joan Beebe’s lives are centered on supporting and encouraging young people. They have fostered several children personally as well as participated in mentorship activities at Waldorf College and Forest City Community Schools. “The Beebes are so supportive of the school and our youth – in numerous many ways,” Superintendent of Forest City Schools Darwin Lehmann said. “They truly believe in the importance of education and put in maximum effort to ensure our students are granted all things they deserve. The amount of lives they have enriched is unbelievable.” Lehmann said Ray often challenges him to keep adjusting and improving Forest City’s school system to benefit today’s students, a conversation he appreciates both personally and professionally. “This track and the partnership that it is enhancing between our educational institutions is an extension of Ray and Joan Beebe,” Lehmann said. “It symbolizes the legacy they have created through the things they do, in so many areas, for this community.” A dedication ceremony will be held on a date to be determined in the spring of 2015.

Waldorf College and Forest City Community Schools have named their new track “Beebe Track,” as a thank you to Ray and Joan Beebe for their dedication to education in Forest City. “We are extremely grateful for the Beebe’s work in this community,” President Bob Alsop said. “They are dedicated to supporting education at all levels, truly impacting the quality experience and culture of our students.” Ray and Joan have contributed to the growth and development of both Forest City Community Schools and Waldorf College, including a large donation for track and field equipment and a fulltuition scholarship to the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation. “I’m pleased to see excellent cooperation between the schools, college and community,” Ray Beebe, president of the Forest City Education Foundation and chairman of the board for the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation, said. “We are all in this together, and this track is symbolic of those efforts. We are glad to help in anyway we can.” Beebe has been involved with the local education foundations for over a decade, and in the past several years he has overseen an impressive increase in donations to both foundations, resulting in an increased number and value of scholarships awarded each year. Two years ago, the Beebes established the Raymond and

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Campus News

International Players help Key Warriors to success International talent has generated success for the Waldorf College

Kaake, Loucks, Sanderson, Savelyev, Bartel, Liggett, Park and Soderberg were among Waldorf’s scoring and total points leaders in 2014-15. Paulson was fierce between the pipes, earning Warrior Goaltender of the Month honors in November as part of the ACHA Awards Corner. International influence has propelled the Warriors to success and the trend is expected to continue. “This group has been a key to our success this year,” Shelanski said. “Many of them were asked to fill key roles and play big, important minutes for us as underclassmen and they have really stepped up and embraced those roles. They will be fun to watch now and in the future and will be a large part of the program moving forward.”

hockey team during the last two seasons. Eleven international players proved to be difference makers for the Warriors in another successful showing during the 2014-15 campaign. “Everybody in this group, like every member of our team, brings something unique to our team as a whole on the ice,” Waldorf coach Brett Shelanski said. “They are also very dedicated to both hockey and school and they compete very hard every day in everything they do.” Ronald Paulson, Jeffrey Bartel, Travis Park, Reed Loucks, Lane Sanderson, Matthew Liggett, Drew Soderberg and Dalton Kaake all came from Canada to provide a spark for the Warriors. Artem Savelyev hails from Russia and Yurii Gusar calls Ukraine his homeland. Bruno Novotny joined Waldorf in the spring semester, coming from Slovakia. Making the move to the United States, the 11 players certainly found themselves far from home. Their passion for the sport they love and playing on a team that has embraced them like family makes them feel at home on the ice. “There is a maturity level to all of them with an understanding and a willingness of what they can contribute to the group,” Shelanski said. “That maturity level is probably what gives them the courage and desire to venture so far from home to pursue a college education and a high level of hockey.” Sharing hockey and a commitment to achieving success as common bonds made it easy for the international players to fit in with their American teammates. “The transition of this group into the team has been seamless,” Shelanski said. “A lot of the time, other than the occasional friendly rivalry when events like Olympic hockey and the World Junior hockey tournament roll around, you would never know as an outside observer that they were not from around here.” Previously playing in their homelands, the group of players has brought their own style to the Warriors. They’ve helped put Waldorf on the map with the Warriors making their presence known in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II Central Region rankings. “As far as playing style, they are aggressive and physical and play a fast game which is the type of game we have implemented here and the type of players we are looking for regardless of nationality,” Shelanski said. On and off the ice, Shelanski has enjoyed working with the 11 international players. “The group is a joy to be around and to work with every single day,” Shelanski said. “They are good students, they compete hard, listen to instruction and want to continue to improve each day. As a coach, that is all you can ask for.”

Photo: Dalton Kaake, a sophomore from Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, is one of eight Canadian players on the Waldorf College hockey team. The Warriors had 11 international players on their roster during the 2014-15 season.

Warriors earn second straight postseason berth Waldorf Captures NCHL Tournament Title

The Waldorf College hockey team put together a successful 2014-15 campaign, qualifying for the postseason for the second

consecutive year. With a 23-9-3 record, the Warriors set a new school record for wins in a season. They earned a No. 10 ranking in the final American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division II Central Region poll to advance to the ACHA Division II Central Regional where they ended the year with a 5-1 loss to No. 5 Michigan State University on Feb. 28 at Rolling Meadows, Ill. Waldorf joined the newly-formed Northern Collegiate Hockey League (NCHL) this season and posted an 8-4 league record to share conference co-champion honors with Robert Morris University (1815). The Warriors won the NCHL Tournament title with a 3-1 victory over Robert Morris on Feb. 15 in front of a large home crowd at Albert Lea, Minn. Waldorf coach Brett Shelanski was named the NCHL Coach of the Year. Ronald Paulson was honored as the NCHL Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Dalton Kaake was a first-team all-conference selection, along with Paulson. Kaake was also the NCHL Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Nicholas Carroll, Christian Weber, Jeffrey Bartel and Artem Savelyev joined Kaake on the NCHL All-Tournament Team. Jake Taylor, Reed Loucks, Lane Sanderson and Savelyev landed second-team all-conference honors. Drew Soderberg, Bartel and Paulson were named to the NCHL All-Rookie First Team. Jeremy Navarro, Matthew Liggett and Loucks were Warrior newcomers who garnered all-conference honorable mention rookie recognition.

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Campus News

Faculty/Staff/Regent News Kendrick Clay, head coach of Waldorf College’s cross country and track and field programs, was inducted into the Hastings College Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1992 and 1993 cross country teams last October. Dr. Larry D. Hill ’64, director of business online program, master’s degree program interim director, and adjunct professor for Waldorf residential and online, participated in the Legislative Reception at the Iowa State Capital on January 15, 2015. Dr. Hill serves on the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. The BOEE is the ethics board for Iowa educators and also serves as the licensure board for all educator licenses. The reception was held in the Captial rotunda and was attended by Iowa Representatives and Senators including those who represent the Waldorf College area. On Dec. 4, 2014 Associate Professor of Communications Mark Newcom, fell 35 feet while helping hang lighted Christmas garland and change light bulbs in the ceiling of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. His injuries were substantial, including a collapsed lung, fractured vertebrae, fractured ribs, a shattered elbow, and a deep wound in his backside that caused a lot of blood loss in addition to muscle and tissue damage. He underwent life-saving surgery at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and remained in good spirits throughout his ordeal. He slowly began teaching classes again in January. Newcom is thankful for all the support he received from family, coworkers, alumni and friends. He continues to work toward a hoped-for full recovery. DJ Phalen recently accepted the position as program director for Waldorf’s Homeland security program in January. He is currently re-building EMG 3100 – Terrorism in Emergency Management for use at both Waldorf and CSU. Jennifer Steinford will be leaving Waldorf to take over as dean of libraries for CSEG/CSU. In this role she will continue to

support Waldorf’s online and digital holdings, negotiating combined subscriptions for Waldorf and CSU for databases and other cloudbased resources. Derrick Burton, current reference librarian, will be promoted to director of the Louise V. Hanson Library. Dr. Kristín Jónína Taylor, Music Department chair, has been invited to present at the College Music Society´s International Conference in Sweden/Finland. Dr. Taylor was invited to give a presentation at the Des Moines Area Music Teachers Association meeting in November 2014. The presentation was about using fivefinger patterns to improve piano technique. Finally, Dr. Taylor and her fiancée, Dr. Bryan Stanley, have formed a piano duo named Atlantic Piano Duo. They will be giving concerts throughout the north Iowa area, as well as performing at the Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavík, Iceland in June. Dr. Kyle Torke, associate professor of English, is now the chair of the English Department. He also serves as chair of the Humanities Department. Chuck Williams, Ph.D., online adjunct professor of sciences, was invited to speak to the Venango Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology in Franklin, Pa. on Nov. 14. His topic was “Soldiers, Missionaries and Naturalists: Early Travelers and the Environment of the French Creek Valley, Pennsylvania.” His paper, “The Salamander Species Assemblage and Environment of Forested Seeps of the Allegheny High Plateau, Northwestern Pennsylvania” was contributed at the Northeast Partnership in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation’s 15th Annual Meeting in Allegany State Park, N.Y., last August and is currently in press at Herpetology Notes. Another paper, “Evidence for Early Recovery of the Freshwater Mussel Fauna of Pennsylvania’s Clarion River” was presentated at the Pennsylvania-Ohio Technical Meeting, American Fisheries Society in Erie, Pa. February 2015.

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New Director of Choral Activities Joins Waldorf College Brett Robison has joined Waldorf College as the new director of choral activities. Robison, originally from Puyallup, Washington, graduated from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, before pursuing his master’s degree in conducting from the University of New Mexico. He is currently pursuing his doctorate of musical arts degree from the University of Arizona. As a public school educator for almost ten years, Robison taught general music and K-12 choral music in schools in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Arizona where his ensembles consistently received superior ratings. “Having worked in music and having connections in northern Iowa, I understand the high school all-state process and other things that are useful in recruitment.” Robison said. “And, I am extremely grateful for the work Dr. Luebke and Travis Beck have put into this program. I get to reap the benefits from their tenure – the choir is up in numbers and full of great kids.” Fortunately for Robison, the kids approve of him too! The Waldorf Choir members met with Robison for approximately 40 minutes prior to his interview, and choir president, Karly Ankarlo, had the opportunity to sit in on Robison’s interview as part of the hiring committee. “I had a 40-minute connection with the choir where they asked me questions as part of the search,” Robison said. “My interview process was great, but when I met the students – I was sold on Waldorf College!” After his first few months of classes, rehearsals and getting to know the people at Waldorf College, Robison has a positive outlook regarding the future of the Waldorf Choir and overall music program. “I am extremely grateful and excited for this opportunity,” he said. “There is a lot of pride in this choir. They are a family in the way they support each other, and that is a director’s highest hope for an ensemble such as this!” Robison is the ninth director of the Waldorf Choir, established 99 years ago. Previously, Robison was the director of music and arts ministries at Paradise Valley United Methodist Church in Paradise Valley, Arizona. He also co-founded a nonprofit music organization with his wife, Jennaya, and was the assistant conductor of the internationally renowned Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus.


Campus News

Former Faculty/Staff/Regent News Alpha Chi inducts Leonard Andersen died Dec. 28, 2014 in Sioux City, Iowa, at the age of 103. Andersen headed up the business and economics department at Waldorf in the mid 1930s. He married Charlotte Ritland ’35 in 1937 and went on to sell insurance, teach at Morningside College in Sioux City and found Andersen Investment and Insurance Agency which remains the family business. Anderson spent 14 years in the Iowa legislature --10 in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate. He served on numerous state and local committees and boards and was a regent at Augustana College. He was active in his church, and other organizations. His wife, Charlotte, passed away 15 days after Leonard. Dorcas Byro Dorow ’45 died Dec. 8, 2014 in Osage, Iowa. Dorow served her alma mater in the following capacities over the course of several decades: voice teacher and interim Waldorf Choir director (1956-1957); director of alumni relations (1982-1987); and first female member of the Waldorf College Board of Regents (1969-1981). She was an active supporter of the college and the Waldorf Lutheran Association of Congregations in many ways and received the Waldorf Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1975. Survivors include her husband, Edgar, children Martha Dorow ’78 and Joel Dorow ’80, sister Miriam Byro Rogness ’50, brothers Ken Byro ’52 and Paul Byro, and two grandchildren. For a more complete obituary, see page 40. Rev. Tom Jolivette ’74 began a new position in January 2015 as the executive for client development at Kairos and Associates, a consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn., focused on helping congregations, institutions and church organizations thrive. The firm provides strategic planning, visioning, stewardship programming and fundraising counsel. “The excitement for me is returning to my roots and my first passion, which is parish ministry,” Jolivette said. “While the work of a parish pastor passed me long ago, I’d like to think the experience I’ve gained through the years will be helpful to pastors and congregations as they seek to engage new models for ministry,” he continued. Jolivette served as president of Waldorf College from 1999 – 2004 and previously as vice president of development from 19861994. He most recently worked at Luther Seminary as vice president for seminary relations and executive director of the Luther Seminary Foundation. Jolivette may

be reached at tom@kairosandassociates.com. Keith Kramer, former associate dean of students, served Waldorf student life for 16 years (August 1985 – May 2001). He has recently moved to Chicago where he is the dean of student affairs at The Illinois Institute of Art – Schaumburg. Kramer previously worked at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine located in St. Kitts in the West Indies for eight years as the dean for student life. Kramer enjoys being back in the Midwest and continues his passion for singing as a member of the Windy City Performance Arts choral group. Everett Shaw, business manager at Waldorf from 1960-1973, died Feb. 8, 2015 at the age of 99. Following Waldorf, Shaw sold insurance and real estate for a time then began his own real estate appraisal business. Shaw was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City since 1960 and served in many capacities over the years. Survivors include children Rev. Carlton Shaw ’61, Carmen Shaw ’65, Roberta Shaw ’70, and granddaughter Beth (John ’98) Shaw Satre ’98. Everett was preceded in death by his wife Eleanor Carlsen Shaw ’36 and his son, Richard Shaw ’68. Hazel Arneson Shirven, former piano and organ instructor at Waldorf College, died February 17, 2015, in Mabel, Minn., at the age of 94. Momo Wolapaye ’97, former director of residence life at Waldorf College from 2006 to 2011, is now the director of student life at Whitman College, Princeton University in Princeton, NJ. At Princeton, he continues to support students in enhancing their residential college and extracurricular activities by assisting them in promoting a strong sense of community and making the best use of non-academic resources available throughout the University. He provides guidance and support to individuals and groups around personal and social issues and serves as the primary liaison to other campus life offices. He also manages crisis and emergencies and works to support students of concern; encourages the highest standards of good citizenship and respect for others among members of the college community by resolving conflicts, upholding expectations for good conduct, and helping students to understand the value of living in a diverse community. Wolapaye may be reached at mnwolapaye@ gmail.com

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13 new members

L to R: Dr. Suzanne Falck-Yi (faculty advisor), Kelsey Sollish, Audrey Sparks, Cody Clark, Haley Rubin, Dustin Wilke, Austin Heeren, Rick Young, Sarah Keely, Abigail Buehler, Shaye Sutherland, Dustin Buck. Absent: Maggie Eden and Jonathan Overy.

Waldorf College’s Iota Chapter of the Alpha Chi Honor Society inducted 13 new members during a ceremony held Oct. 26, 2014. Only those students in the top 10 percent of the junior and senior classes were invited to join. Founded in 1922, Alpha Chi promotes academic excellence and exemplary character among college students and honors those who achieve such distinction. The Waldorf Chapter was inaugurated in 2002.

Waldorf College students receive local grants for research Three Waldorf College students were awarded two Alpha Chi Grants for Undergraduate Research grants to assist them in academic research and professional growth. Kaylee Vitale, a senior from Las Vegas, NV, and Karissa Vilks, a senior from Maplewood, Minn., received the grant to help fund their project “Identifying Possible IronDependent Enzymes that Positively Regulate Canonical Wnt Signaling,” and Audrey Sparks, a senior from Mason City, Iowa, was awarded the grant to fund her attendance at the 2015 Associated Collegiate Press Convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Students may apply for the Alpha Chi Grants for Undergraduate Research each fall by submitting a grant proposal to the Waldorf College Alpha Chi chapter executive officers, who then select two entrants to receive a $500 grant. Vitale and Vilks will utilize this opportunity to continue and develop further their educational research in a higher level of biology experimental work over a longer period of time than they might have during a single-semester class.


Campus News

“Mascots are fun and I think we are a distinctive small college with a distinctive mascot which may be why we got recognized. Our use of the mascot makes us unique.”

Waldorf mascot featured in Sports Illustrated L to R: Warrick; Wally The September 22, 2014 issue of Sports Illustrated published the article “Mascot Math,” featuring three mascots who have undergone recent makeovers including Wally from Waldorf College, Bob of Virginia Wesleyan College and the University of Maryland’s Testudo. The article touched on Waldorf’s mascot Wally and his evolution to the newly named mascot, Warrick. “I think it’s fantastic that Wally and Warrick made an international sports magazine. It’s kind of an honor and makes me proud to be associated with the mascot and Waldorf,” said Jason Ramaker, dean of students. “I told students, friends and family about the recognition and everyone thought it was a pretty neat deal.” Athletic Director Bart Gary also received praise, “I have had calls from all over the United

worked hard to make sure he is out there representing Waldorf and promoting fun. When Warrick was developed, it only enhanced our school spirit and awareness of ‘being a proud Warrior,’” Ramaker added. “Mascots are fun and I think we are a distinctive small college with a distinctive mascot which may be why we got recognized. Our use of the mascot makes us unique.” Ramaker also clarified that Wally is not dead. He will be brought out for special events and yes, Warrick will be there,

States from friends and former students who saw the September issue of Sports Illustrated with Warrick as one of the featured mascots!” Sports Illustrated attempted to interpret the inspiration for Warrick’s new look. By referencing “Toy Story” character, Stinky Pete, and Link from the “Zelda” video game, writer Mark Bechtel had some fun with Waldorf’s latest version of the mascot. Nigel Jenkins, men’s basketball head coach, also enjoyed the article and joked, “I do think Warrick would take care of the new Bob (of Virginia Wesleyan College) but would likely need some back up against the new Testudo (University of Maryland)!” According to Ramaker, this wasn’t the first time Wally went for a nip and tuck. Waldorf “revived” the lovable mascot several years ago. “We have

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too. Maybe we should call them “Warriors United?”


Faculty Profile:

Campus News

Tim and Cathleen Bascom

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Campus News night.” Donnelly said. “I sing, but not in a choir or anything right now, so it was scary, but I went for it! It ended up being awesome and inspiring me to sing for “Like Fire” and for fun on my own.” “I’m a super busy girl, but I’m thankful for Waldorf and the ability to really get involved,” she said. When asked how she handles all the activities, she said she makes lists – lots of lists. “At times things can be stressful,” she admitted. “That’s when I have to take a step back and really think about what I want to do vs. what I feel I should be doing. Then I remember how blessed I am to have so many different opportunities.” Donnelly went on to say she enjoys being busy. “I think it helps me stay more productive and happy, honestly. I feel the most accomplished when I have a lot going on and I can get it all done!” Donnelly will graduate in May of 2015 and begin student teaching in the fall of 2015. “Waldorf has prepared me so much for my future,” Donnelly said. “I have had countless opportunities to get my writing out into the world, which is what I really hope to do with my life.” Donnelly has presented creative works at conferences, attended the Iowa Summer Writing Festival and had her projects published in the Waldorf Literary Review among other national, undergraduate magazines. Being involved in athletics has also given Donnelly the chance to perfect her teamwork skills and see new parts of the country each spring. “Playing softball has allowed me to travel to Arizona, South Carolina and this year, Florida,” she said. Some of Donnelly’s greatest memories at Waldorf include dressing up for Waldorf football games with friends, being proud of her creative writing/honors thesis presentation and being able to have her writing published in various publications. “I have so many wonderful memories at Waldorf,” she said. “Attending a small school means you really can pursue what you’re interested in and have opportunities to expand beyond the everyday classes. Being at Waldorf has truly been a blessing!”

Student Profile: Marisa Donnelly ’15 Staying busy is not difficult for Waldorf senior Marisa

Donnelly! The triple major from Naperville, Ill. is involved in a variety of activities ranging from athletics and campus ministry, to creative writing and much more! “I’m a creative writing, secondary English education and English triple major,” Donnelly said. “I started out a double major, but then I just took too many English classes, so, now I’m a triple major.” She laughed, because she knew it sounded crazy! And, that was before she mentioned she was also a pitcher for the varsity softball team, Alpha Chi National Honor Society chapter president, a student ambassador, a tutor, an Education Club officer and the Poetry and English Club co-president. She also works in the admissions department and library in her free time, and sings for the campus ministry Christian band, “Like Fire.” “I was asked randomly by a friend to sing at an o p e n mic

Watch more on Youtube!

Search “Marissa Donnelly Waldorf Student Profile” 18


F o u n d at i o n N e w s

Campus MInistry

Since 1903, the campus ministry program at Waldorf College has offered very personal and meaningful opportunities for its students. Today is no exception. Campus Ministry Coordinator Anne Marie Werthmann helps plan and execute Wednesday chapel services and oversees the evening worship services held by different denominational groups. Campus ministry opportunities currently offered at Waldorf include: Monday: “Like Fire” hosted by Lutheran Campus Ministries, 9-10 p.m. in Gatsby’s. Wednesday: Chapel, 10:30 – 10:50 a.m. in various locations Thursday: Rosary, 8:30 p.m. followed by Catholic Mass, 9:00 p.m., in the Recital Hall presided by Father Miller or Father Lipstock from St. James Church in Forest City. Sunday: “The Bridge” hosted by First Baptist Church, 9 p.m. in the Johnson / London Movie Lounge. The formation of some additional Bible studies and groups are currently being considered. Also, some of the churches in town offer rides to students to services on Sunday if students request them ahead of time. Each year over spring break campus ministry students embark on a mission trip to expand their horizons and care for others in some way. Past destinations include the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where students learned about Lakota culture and religion (educational and spiritual theme); Red Bird Mission in Kentucky where a majority of time was spent building a large cabin for future volunteers (service theme); and Tuscon, Arizona where the theme was “planting seeds” i.e., a very holistic perspective on what it means to be an active Christian and contributing member of society. For the spring 2015 mission trip, students traveled to Belize City, Belize to combine all the themes from previous trips. Although they worked with people of all ages, they focused on encouraging high school students to dig deeper into their faith. Watch for an article highlighting the Belize trip in the fall issue of the Waldorf Magazine.

Above: Chapel drama, “What mask do you wear?”

Waldorf Lutheran Association of Congregations elects new officers

The following officers were elected at the fifth annual meeting of the new Waldorf Lutheran Association of Congregations held October 9, 2014 on Waldorf’s campus: President -- Rev. Matthew Griggs, Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, Albert Lea, Minn. Vice President -- Rev. Lynn Noel ’07, Bethany Lutheran Church, Thompson, Iowa. Secretary – Arlene Jorde ’56, Kensett, Iowa. The Association continues to play a vital role in the prayer support of Waldorf College and the financial support of the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation. Currently, 25 Lutheran congregations (ELCA and LCMC) are members of the Association. The Affirmation and Purpose of the Association is as follows: We affirm that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, son of God the Father and the sustaining power of the Holy Spirit. The Waldorf Lutheran Association of Congregations, in conjunction with the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation, will support and promote an active campus Christian ministry at Waldorf College. This ministry may include worship opportunities, the religious growth of the students, faculty and staff, and leadership for campus activities. The Waldorf Lutheran Association of Congregations will also support the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation’s work to provide scholarships and communicate College/Foundation news to alumni and the community. If you are interested in learning more about the Association or would like to propose your Lutheran congregation for membership, please contact Rita Gilbertson at gilbertsrita@waldorf.edu; 641585-8140.

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A Letter from the Foundation Chair

Dear Friends, Spring is now upon us and the “Waldorf experience” is drawing to a close for the Class of 2015. While a good education is the primary goal of any college student and Waldorf graduates definitely receive one, the “Waldorf experience” gives them so much more. Waldorf College educates the whole person and students have told me that they have grown not only academically but emotionally, physically and spiritually as well. They are eager to go out in the world and “make a difference.” During what has now become an annual event, I again invited a number of Waldorf students to “Pizza with the Foundation Chair.” Most of the group is pictured here. As in prior years, I walked away from this meeting on an emotional high and totally inspired by these students. Emily Anderson, a senior from Rosemount, Minn. came to Waldorf to get her associate’s degree and then she moved on to a large university, but she soon came back to Waldorf for her bachelor’s degree because “the people I met and the experiences I gathered were life changing. The genuine love and care I feel at Waldorf is something I will never forget.” Victoria Mens, student body president and senior from Slater, Iowa said her Waldorf experience “has been thrilling, amiable, opportunistic and purposeful. I have attended Waldorf for nearly four years where I have made relationships with many of Waldorf’s faculty members, students and coaches. If I had gone elsewhere, I don’t believe I would have received the same experiences, opportunities and relationships that I have gained here.” Something happened this year that has not happened before. Several students told us virtually at the last minute that they, for various reasons, could not attend. Nancy Olson went down to the

Atrium and randomly “recruited” three students, and this taught me a wonderful lesson about “second chances.” The three were Jeff Heflin, a junior from Fort Worth, Texas, Jean-Pierre Peterson, a senior from Miami and Evan Van Klei, a junior from a Chicago suburb. All three came here from large cities on football scholarships. They all said they had taken some “wrong paths” in high school and that the Waldorf experience has allowed them to “see another way” and has virtually turned each of their lives around. While at Waldorf Jean-Pierre (“Pete”) went through a period when he was very discouraged and ready to call it quits but his Waldorf advisor told him “you cannot leave; you have to finish what you started.” He took that encouragement to heart and is now majoring in criminal justice and wants to work with at-risk kids to keep them on a healthy path. These young men came here for football but will leave with much, much more! That is so awesome. Please support the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation so we can help create more life-changing experiences at Waldorf College. Sincerely,

Raymond M. Beebe Chair, Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation Retired Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary Winnebago Industries, Inc. (1974-2012)

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Take this quiz!

See if you can answer the following question before reading on

Did you know...

What are the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation’s top three priorities? For the past five years, we have been educating our readers about the function of the Waldorf Foundation and how gifts are used. Now you can test yourself and see how well you remember! So, how did you do? Could you name the three priorities? If so, congratulations and pat yourself on the back. If you couldn’t name all three, that’s okay. You still have a chance to learn what they are.

The Foundation supports the following three priorities:

Planned gifts do not affect a donor’s cash flow.

Gift planning can be quite simple and inexpensive.

Planned gifts are not just for the wealthy. Anyone can make such a gift.

Having a will in place brings peace of mind and is a wonderful blessing at any age.

Establishing a planned gift for the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation qualifies you for membership in the Foundation’s Heritage Club.

We invite you to consider joining other Heritage Club members who have established a planned gift for Waldorf. If you have already provided a future gift for the Foundation and haven’t informed us yet, please do. We would like to personally thank you and include you in our Heritage Club listing.

Scholarships

Scholarships are vitally important for our students as they help defray the cost of their education and allow them to have their own “Waldorf experience.” Last year well over 200 students received scholarships with a total of $368,817 in scholarship aid. (This includes scholarship funds from both Waldorf College and the Waldorf Foundation. The Foundation provided over $122,000 in aid.)

Campus Ministry

Our campus ministry program continues to grow both by numbers of students involved and opportunities provided. Weekly worship gatherings, Bible studies and service projects all contribute to the students’ faith growth. A mission trip to Belize was an opportunity of a lifetime for several of our students, and the growth in their faith is immeasurable.

Alumni Relations

Maintaining relationships and connections with our alumni is very important to us. Publications such as this magazine and alumni gatherings are two ways we can communicate the Waldorf story and receive updates and news about you. We need your support in keeping our three priorities alive and well. Please consider a gift to the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation today. All sizes of gifts are appreciated and put to good use as noted above! Gifts are tax deductible as allowable by law.

To make a gift by mail, please send checks to: Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation 106 South 6th Street | Forest City, IA 50436. Alumni and friends can make a gift by credit card, by calling 641.585.8148, or online by visiting www.waldorffoundation.org. When making a gift to the Foundation, please designate on your check or online form if you would like it to apply to a certain priority. For information about establishing a new annual scholarship or other ways you can support the Foundation, please contact Nancy Olson at 641.585.8147, or Rita Gilbertson at 641.585.8140.

Thank you so very much for your support!

Waldorf Lutheran College F

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Alumni News

Not everyone realizes the nature of their vocational calling while they are still in high school. Dawn Schulz Schaefer ’93 was one of the lucky ones. She knew one day she wanted to design sets in Hollywood and wasn’t about to let anyone or anything stand in her way. Through hard work and sheer determination, Schaefer landed her dream job 15 years ago as executive art director at CBS Studios in Television City, Los Angeles. Originally from the small town of Parkston, S.D., Schaefer was not only a gifted artist with a love of design and architecture, she was also a fierce athlete. When it came time to choose a college, she passed on basketball scholarships from several other larger schools to attend Waldorf where she could do it all. “Other programs told me I would need to choose a different major other than theatre because there was no way I would be able to participate in productions and basketball,” she said. While at Waldorf, Schaefer was active in theatre set design, basketball and volleyball. She was named 1st team All Region XI in basketball and an All-Tournament selection at the 1993 National Basketball

Tournament. Eleven years later she was inducted into the Waldorf Athletic Hall of Fame. Upon receiving her associates’s degree from Waldorf with honors, Schaefer continued her basketball career and education at the University of South Dakota, where she earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in scenic design for theatre. In the summer she built houses and learned about structural integrity, weight-bearing and loads. For a year she worked as an interior designer in Nebraska and became more familiar with furniture design, wallpaper, and draperies. In 1999, she earned her master of fine arts degree in

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Alumni News

scenic design for film/television/theatre at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. There she learned photo-shop, 3D studio max and AutoCAD, a software drafting program that would eventually help secure her a position at CBS. Recently, Schaefer was honored with a Master Alumni Award from the University of Nebraska for her set design work in Hollywood. After receiving her master’s degree, she designed, painted and constructed a set for Pat Hazel, a comedian and former writer for Seinfeld who was from Nebraska. That led to networking opportunities and meetings with more designers. Schaefer moved to California and before long, she began

INXS,” “The Price is Right,” “The Young and the Restless” and other corporate events and local shows. She even worked as art director for “On the Lot,” a competition for film makers directed by Steven Spielberg. Currently, Schaefer is the art director for the new “Late Late Night Show with James Corden.” To date, her favorite project has been the “Carol Burnette – Show Stoppers” reunion show. “I will never forget when Carol asked, ‘Dawn, can we just move my chair a little closer to the audience?’ It was such a privilege to work with her, and so much fun!” Schaefer added. “Even though that meant flipping the entire platform upside down, putting wheels on it so it could be moved downstage, and upstage later to accommodate a dance number; that’s the only thing Carol asked of me and I was happy to do it,” she said. “I still love my job after 15 years,” Schaefer continued. “I arrive smiling and leave smiling. Part of that has to do with the family-type atmosphere at the studio,” she added. When she walks through the huge lot, she is greeted by many who have worked with her on some set or show over the years. “We really are like one big happy family,” she added.

to prove herself in the industry by working on various pilots and displays such as the “Survivor” original tribal council set, “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” plot plan, and the virtual 3D set of “Paranoia.” During this time, CBS was looking for a set designer who also knew AutoCAD, and due to her success and glowing endorsements, Schaefer got the job. Her position entails everything from drawing plans, drafting elevations, developing storyboards and making models to building the set. Sometimes it involves duplicating location sites so she can design and build the sets back at the studio. One of her most noteworthy credits is serving as the art director for the CBS reality show, “Survivor,” for the past 15 years. She began by creating the designs, backdrops, buildings and sets of the original show, which led to the designing of the live shows including the “Survivor’s AllStars” set at Madison Square Garden in New York City. It was the first million dollar set she had the opportunity to work on. Her work on “Survivor – Thailand” earned her an Emmy Award nomination in the Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program in 2003. Other credits include “The Apprentice Live Finale” in Los Angeles, “CBS News” (with Scott Pelley when in LA), “CBS News this Morning” (when in LA), Emmy Red Carpet events for CBS, “Real Time with Bill Mahr,” “Rock Star:

Setting her own hours is another perk of her job. With a 54 mile commute to the studio every day from her home in Acton, Calif. she can send her two boys off to school in the morning, avoid some of the worst LA traffic, and be back to pick them up after school. She is grateful that her position allows her to work remotely from home when needed. Schaefer and her husband, Gary ’93, have been married for 19 years. They met at Waldorf and have been through a lot together. One of their sons, Ty, was born blind. However, his personality is much like Dawn’s in that he doesn’t let anything get in his way. He attends public school with his brother, Derrick. Both are nine years old but they are not twins. Ty is the Schaefer’s biological son and Derrick was adopted as an infant. The Schaefers live in a home that Dawn designed located on a 10-acre ranch. Living on a ranch allows her to indulge in another one of her passions – horses! She has a natural seat and has trained her own horses. She has even been known to stand horseback and trick ride! It seems this dare-devil can do whatever she puts her mind to. There is no use in trying to tell Dawn Schaefer she can’t do something. That only makes her more determined. To all the people who warned her that her Hollywood ambitions were unrealistic, just look at her now!

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Alumni News

alumni Events Held in Iowa, Minnesota & California

August 28, 2014 | Clear Lake, Iowa

A Waldorf pizza party was held at The Other Place (OP) restaurant in Clear Lake, Iowa. The event was well attended by alumni who spanned six decades! President Alsop gave an update on the college and alumni had an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

September 11, 2014 | Minneapolis, Minn.

Waldorf alumni gathered at 612 Brew (co-founded by alumnus Ryan Libby ’98 BA) in Minneapolis, Minn. for fun, conversation and networking. Complimentary appetizers were provided and President Alsop gave an update on the college.

November 15, 2014 | San Diego, Calif.

Alumni director Rita Gilbertson ’79 and Mark Gilbertson ’79 joined San Diego area alumni for a complimentary picnic lunch, good conversation, and an update on Waldorf College. The picnic was a combined event with Columbia Southern University alumni and online students at Mission Bay Park in De Anza Cove, San Diego.

Upcoming Events: April 9, 2015 | West End Architectural Salvage | Des Moines, Iowa 22 9th Street | 5-7 p.m. | Come and go as you are able All alumni and guests are welcome to attend! Complimentary appetizers will be provided. Please RSVP to the alumni office at alumni@waldorf.edu or (641) 585-8140 by April 6th.

April 23, 2015 | Blackstone Country Club | Aurora, Colo. 7777 S. Country Club Pkwy | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Come and go as you are able Come and go event co-hosted by alumnus Trevor Garbers ’97. Appetizers provided; drinks on your own. College update by President Alsop at approx. 6:15 p.m. RSVP to alumni@waldorf.edu or 641-585-8140 by April 16.

July 19, 2015 | Alumni BBQ at the home of Jeff ’85 and Tanya Pierce | Chaska, Minn. 3020 Autumn Woods Dr. | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Come and go as you are able, casual dress and families welcome! Food and soft drinks provided. College update by President Alsop. Please RSVP to the alumni office at alumni@waldorf.edu or (641) 585-8140 by July 9th. If you would like to help host a Waldorf alumni event in your area, please contact the alumni office.

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Alumni News

Growing Up at Waldorf College If you “grew up on campus,” please submit your name, contact information, title or position if employed, and memory (200 words or less) to the alumni office at alumni@waldorf.edu. Upon review, your entry may be included in a future issue of the Waldorf Magazine.

“In reflecting what it was like growing up at Waldorf, I consider it a real privilege to have had the experience. So many memories of faculty and staff gatherings at our home, Christmas dinners and concerts at the college, homecomings, and getting to know so many students had a positive influence on my life. I was often allowed to travel with my father and Dr. Tanner and the deputation teams that would go to the congregations to tell the story of Waldorf through music and The Word. On Sunday mornings I would go along with my father to Tillie’s kitchen to pick up her wonderful cinnamon rolls. What a treat that was. My brother and I would stop in the president’s office after school most days to get our after-school instructions as my mother was also the college nurse, and we would find out from his secretary Evelyn Wolfs, where we were to go. Occasionally we were given change to go to the bookstore for a treat and see Gladys Ormseth.

Connie Nilssen Nyhus ’58

There was no question whether or not I would attend Waldorf when I graduated from high school since I already felt at home at the college. The faculty and staff were very special people to me and I have always been thankful for my association with Waldorf in so many ways.” -Connie Nilssen Nyhus ’58, daughter of Rev. Dr. Morton O. Nilssen and Bertha Nilssen

Dr. Nilssen served as president at Waldorf from 1943 until his untimely death in 1950. Bertha Nilssen served as the college nurse throughout most of his presidency. Connie Nilssen Nyhus is married to Harvey Nyhus. They live in Forest City and winter in Mission, Texas.

“My parents, Odvin and Muggie Hagen, were very active with the Waldorf music programs, recruiting students and helping build a strong and active alumni base. Our home was always open for the Waldorf family to make a stop, visit, and/or stay overnight. Mom had a never-ending supply of food, chocolate chip cookies or hot fudge sundaes. Like many kids, I shared my parents with the Waldorf family. When the concert choir traveled on tour, I would stay with family friends.”

-Paul Hagen ’63, son of Odvin and Muggie Hagen

Odvin Hagen served as the second director of the Waldorf Choir from 1928 until his death (while on choir tour) in 1967. Muggie Hagen served in many capacities over the years including a help-mate to Odvin in the music department, admissions representative, alumni director and ambassador for Waldorf. Paul Hagen recently retired from Tone Spices located in Ankeny, Iowa. He is married to Linda Jernegan Hagen ’65.

Odvin, Muggie & Paul Hagen

“We grew up with decades of Waldorf students in our lives, and our house was regularly filled with college kids. There were crazy times with kids playing wild games of Pit or Spoons while they ate batches of chocolate chip cookies. There were quiet moments when students would seek out Mom or Dad for wisdom and care as they worked through personal issues. The year we were at Waldorf together was great. We both sang in Dad’s choir, and Mom of course came on the spring tour to California. Being TK’s (teacher’s kids) did not exempt us from the razzing that happens on every tour. We each had our share of being called out for ‘violating’ the quiet hour on the bus, or an inappropriate display of black olives at yet another scalloped potatoes and ham pre-concert dinner. One year that was the tour menu twelve nights in a row! We have amazing memories of Dad stepping off the podium during a concert and walking to the side as the choir was singing – and either just watching, or conducting us with only his beautiful blue eyes and gentle nods of his head.” Donn & Andrea Johnson

-Donn ’72 and Andrea ’73 Johnson, son and daughter of Adrian and Eleanor Johnson

Adrian Johnson served as director of Chapel Choir and the Waldorf Band from 1960-1967, and director of the Waldorf Choir from 1967-1984. Eleanor taught in the education department for many years. Adrian is now 92 and Eleanor, 88. Donn is an independent registered representative with his own planning firm in Faribault, Minn. He is married to Ardys Sorum Johnson ’72. Andrea is a consultant for Learning Sciences International providing professional development for school districts. She lives in Shoreview, Minn.

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Alumni News

Homecoming 2014 review Hundreds of alumni returned to campus Oct. 31-Nov. 2 to celebrate Homecoming 2014 under the theme “Forever Linked!” The weekend was packed with events beginning with Friday night’s bonfire, homecoming candidate review, and Athletic Hall of Fame banquet. The homecoming parade kicked off Saturday with Ray Beebe, chair of the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation and friend of the college, serving as Grand Marshall. All classes ending in a 4 or 9 (1944 – 2009) celebrated reunions and had lunch together in the Atrium. Other activities included the communications alumni barbeque, photo booth, art and craft fair, alumni choir sing-a-long with former choir directors Adrian Johnson and Ben Allaway each directing a piece, the homecoming football game, soccer games, volleyball games, hockey games, music concert and Taste of Waldorf dinner highlighting the Alumni Distinguished Service Award recipients. Homecoming concluded on Sunday with homecoming worship at Immanuel Lutheran Church and an afternoon performance of “Musicals by Disney” held in the Smith Theatre. Thank you to those of you who attended homecoming! You are an important part of Waldorf and you are encouraged to come back as often as you can! We especially enjoyed welcoming the Golden Anniversary Class of 1964 back to campus. They had an incredible turn-out and sure knew how to have a good time! More homecoming photos are available on the official Waldorf College Facebook page. Be sure to “like” the page and receive regular updates on the college.

Choir alumni honored Mr. and Mrs. AJ at concert The Carpe Diem Vocal Ensemble performed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Faribault, Minn, Saturday, Nov. 8, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. Guests of honor were Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Johnson. Adrian was a long-time choir director at Waldorf and Eleanor was an instructor in education at Waldorf. Waldorf Choir alumnus Clark Duhrkopf ’83 founded The Carpe Diem Vocal Ensemble in 2001 and serves as director. Other Waldorf alumni who are part of the group include Kellie Bowen LeClair ’83 (pianist) and Shawn Oleson Stout ’75 (alto soloist). Among Carpe Diem’s notable performances are singing at the Isaac Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall, New York City and singing the National Anthem for Special Olympics Minnesota every summer and winter since 2003. Music for the November concert included, John Rutter’s “Feel the Spirit” Song Cycle of Spirituals, along with other sacred choral works. Alumni were invited to sing along with Carpe Diem on “Children of the Heavenly Father.” A reception followed with Carpe Diem, the Johnsons and concert-goers in the church basement.

Reunion Class of 1940s: (L-R) Eleanora (Hageman) Thompson ‘44, Arlys (Fredrickson) Swingen ‘45, Norma (Johnson) Hamilton ‘44 & Anna Marie Mitchell ‘44

The Kinship of Alumni “One Sunday morning as I entered our small church, the usher told me that someone was visiting today from Iowa. So, during the service I looked forward to chatting with him/her for a bit afterwards. I learned that she was from Clinton, Iowa, and I told her I was from Forest City. She smiled and said she had graduated from Waldorf College in 1977. I was long gone by then, but it was a bright time in my day and it reminded me again how blessed I was to attend Waldorf,” said Arlys Leach Hopkins ’54 of Washington, MO.

The alumna she met that day was Ruth Roepke Nelson ’77. We love to hear how Waldorf alumni are connecting around the country and the world! Please share your story with us in 200 words or less of how you unexpectedly met a Waldorf alum and how you felt about the experience. Send to the alumni office at 106 S. 6th Street, Forest City, IA 50436 or by email to alumni@waldorf.edu.

Reunion Class of 1954: (Front Row: L-R) Elizabeth (Carson) Olson, Mavis (Ullestad) Erickson, Solvay (Stole) Twedt, Thelma (Gangestad) Bang, & Wanda (Jacobson) Sprout. (Row 2: L-R) Bob Johnson, Esther (Erickson) Ziemer, Faye (Johnson) Aamodt, Phyllis (Thompson) Moen, Louise (Haugen) Varnes, & Joan (Bjerkestrand) Gangestad. (Row 3: L-R) Barbara (Winter) Schroeder, LaVerne Anderson, Aryls (Leach) Hopkins, & Shirley Skartland. (Row 4: L-R) Arnold Fredriksen, Thora (Greenfield) Peterson, Jeanette (Leean) Melby, Darwin Gertner, Orlando Hash, & Darwin Bang.

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Alumni News

Golden Anniversary Class of 1964

Class of 1964: (Front Row: L-R) Ron Fleming, Eric Bartleson, Ted Strand, Gary Miller and Dean Wagner. (Row 2: L-R) Sandra Christianson, Rosemary (Tomter) Helwig, Evelyn (Cherland) Baker, Carol (Legreid) Iverson, Linda (Ladenburger) Landes, Mariann (Janssen) Holst, Audrey (Farm) Kiihn, Adele (Adix) Sandstede. (Row 3: L-R) Linda (Hoversten) Singer, Linda (Twedt) Iverson, Julie (Hampe) Bull, Lucy (Moland) Miller, Mary Branstad, Donna (Lynn) Hinch, Evelyn (Schutte) Love, Doris (Johnson) Hetrick, Ilene (Letnes) Lorenz, Judy (Erdal) Hoffmeister, Mary Jo (Reinertson) Lein, Sally (Lee) Johnson, Janet (Miller) Beach, Dennis Johnson, Joe Dahl (Row 4: L-R) Ron Olien, Ted Overlie, Paul Hyland, Dean Lange, Walt (Butch) Moeller, Jim Hill, Dick Norem, Leonard Olson, Larry Engelby (Row 5: L-R) Norm Augst, Morris Haskins, David Ersland, Burt Benna, Dennis Erickson, Leo Durant, Dennis Ihle .

Reunion Class of 1959: (Front Row: L-R) Virgil Peterson, Virginia (Peterson) Huff, Cynthia (Mork) Poole, & Owen Solomonson. (Row 2: L-R) Vivien (Aasland) Hansen, Sharon (Keast) Stavnheim, Alice (Johnson) Olson, Deanna (Kruger) Sande, & Janice (Hill) Peterson (Row 3: L-R) Warren Overlie, Gerald Isvik, Robert Ahlstrom, Arlan Stavnheim, Lee Swenson, & Gary Sande.

Reunion Class of 1969: (Front Row: L-R) Brian Current & Leslie Stokke (Row 2: L-R) Mary (Dalbey) McIntosh, Sarah (Engstrom) Abbas, Cathryn (Thompson) Rustebakke, Linda (Hanson) Maas, & Ruth (Schomburg) Nyguard (Row 3: L-R) Monte Waldorf, Charles Taft, Ron Tesdell, Jim Hayden, Jane (Olson) Leonhardt, & Barbara (Samec) Winter

Reunion Class of 1979: Kurt Rogness (L) and John Kroeger (R)

Reunion Class of 1974: (Front Row: L-R) Gene Niewoehner, Tom Jolivette, Cindy (Opdahl) Moore, Kar Woo, Barbara (Wierson) Miller, Timothy Miller, & Karel Johnson (Back Row: L-R) Martin Monson, Steve Klaree, Kevin Hanson, Arlin Danielson, Harold Lee, & Julie Saul Reunion Class of 2009: Estefana Gonsalez (L) and Elizabeth Bucknell (R)

Reunion Class of 1989: (Front Row: L-R) Ria (Riskedahl) Harvies, Joleen (Finney) Jorgensen, Jennifer Anderson, & Jen Gehler (Back Row: L-R) Susan (Fitzgerald) Watson, Kristen Leach, Michael White, & Jim Willmore

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Alumni News

Distinguished alumni receive awards at homecoming During the Taste of Waldorf event held November 1, 2014 of homecoming weekend, Kar Woo ’74 and Brian Sansgaard ’77 were presented with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award and Rev. Jon Anenson ’04 with the Recent Alumni Award for Service.

the non-profit organization Artists Helping the Homeless to fund Sunday night meals through art events and sales. Meanwhile, across the street, St. Luke’s Hospital was dealing with homeless people who came to their ER, not because of health emergencies, but for basic things like food and shelter.

“Instilling the values of service and community in our students is very important to us at Waldorf College,” President Bob Alsop said. “And, we are so proud of these distinguished alumni whose accomplishments and dedication truly reflect that mission.”

When St. Luke’s learned about the work Woo was doing, they asked if he would help area homeless access existing community resources when they did not have a medically emergent condition. As a result, Woo and St. Luke’s Hospital secured grants to start the BE THE CHANGE program to reduce the need and cost of care for Kansas City’s homeless. Woo closed his gallery and devoted himself to the program 24/7.

Kar Woo ’77 “For extraordinary achievements and tireless efforts in helping the homeless and for encouraging others to ‘Be the Change.’”

Kar emblazoned the Ghandi quote BE THE CHANGE on the minivan he drives to shelters, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, treatment centers, pharmacies, and other destinations. As of June, 2014 the BE THE CHANGE program had assisted over 4,000 people, including more than 400 chronic homeless and young adults into full or transitional reintegration, and saved Kansas City residents over $7.5 million in ambulance, hospital, police, and judicial fees by linking homeless with shelters and appropriate resources. It has also facilitated over 50,000 bed nights for over 2,000 individuals.

Kar Woo came to Waldorf from Hong Kong with $50 in his pocket and little knowledge of the English language. Through perseverance, adaptability, and hard work, he managed to graduate with his associate’s degree from Waldorf a semester early. Woo moved to Kansas City and earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Kansas. Tragically, he lost everything in an apartment complex fire and became homeless overnight. Woo persevered and went on to become an accomplished artist and businessman, opening his own art gallery.

Woo’s work with the homeless has gained national attention. He has spoken at national conventions and received too many awards and recognitions to mention. He was listed as one of the top 100 people who make life better in Kansas City by Kansas City Magazine in 2012.

When he noticed homeless people shivering in the park across from his gallery, Woo began to invite them in for hot chocolate and blankets during the cold winter months. In 2008, he founded

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Alumni News bachelor’s degree from Waldorf in 2004. He helped found Awaken Ministries, a mime-based drama that portrayed God’s story of creation through Christ’s resurrection. Awaken reached more than 10,000 people across the Midwest over the course of a few years.

Brian Sansgaard ’77 “For outstanding and innovative contributions to the seed and farming industries, and dedicated service to church, community and Waldorf College.”

Anenson later attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Colorado Springs, Colo., and completed his education at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He was ordained by his father, Rev. Stephen Anenson, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Story City, Iowa.

Growing up on the farm near Story City, Iowa, Brian Sansgaard developed a strong work ethic at a very early age. Discipline, hard work, honesty, innovation, and responsibility are what helped earn him and the Prairie Brand seed business he built with his father an excellent reputation in the Midwest as a leading provider of top-quality, high-yielding soybeans and corn.

When one the fastest growing Lutheran churches in the United States, Lutheran Church of Hope, was looking to plant a new church in the inner city of Des Moines, they asked Anenson if he would lead the church having learned about his passion for drama and ministry, and strong leadership skills.

Sansgaard received his associate’s degree from Waldorf in 1977 and attended Iowa State University. He returned to help with the business in 1979, when his father experienced a health issue. They worked side by side, and together they built a successful seed company on integrity and trust.

Anenson now serves as senior pastor at Lutheran Church of Hope - Des Moines. The demographics of the congregation include business professionals, families, young adults and those who find themselves homeless on any given Sunday. For the past six years Hope Des Moines met in a school gymnasium. This past winter, however, Hope Des Moines moved into a new home, a renovated 10,000 square foot building downtown that was formerly a car dealership. For more on Hope Des Moines visit www.hopedesmoines.org.

Brian gradually took on more responsibility for the business, and following his father’s death in 1999, he took over the ownership of Sansgaard Seed Farm Inc. and the seed business Prairie Brand. He pushed himself to produce not only new ideas, but changes that would make a difference on the farm; ideas that could be put into action and lead to real results. He was an early adapter of technology and used it to help accomplish his goals.

Call for Nominations

Under Brian’s leadership, Prairie Brand became one of the largest regional seed companies in the Midwest -- marketing seed corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and specialty seed through more than 400 dealers.

The Waldorf College Alumni Board is always looking for nominations for Alumni Distinguished Service Award and Recent Alumni Award for Service candidates. For more information, including award criteria and a link to the nomination form, go to www.waldorf.edu/ residential/alumni/awards. If you would like a nomination form mailed to you, please contact the alumni office. If you would like to nominate an alumna/ alumnus, please complete and return your nomination form anytime to: DSA Alumni Board Selection Committee, Alumni Office, 106. S. 6th Street, Forest

The combination of Prairie Brand’s top-performing products, new genetic offerings, and exceptional customer service led to the sale of the company to Dow Agrosciences in 2011. Dow continues to market under the Prairie Brand seed label. Even though Sansgaard continues to juggle multiple projects and businesses simultaneously, he manages to give back to his church and community with his time and resources. He faithfully serves on his church council and multiple boards and committees. He is a founding member of the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation Board and a former board president.

Rev. Jon Anenson ’04 Recent Alumni Award for Service “For spreading the gospel in new and dynamic ways, ministering to those in need, and uniting people from all walks of life.” Throughout his life, Jon Anenson has demonstrated a natural leadership ability that far exceeds his age and experience. He leads by example and in a way that encourages others to follow. Anenson grew up in Story City, Iowa, and graduated with his

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City, IA 50436. Nominations received by March 1 will be considered for the following fall. The athletic office also welcomes nominations for Athletic Hall of Fame honorees. Complete the appropriate nomination form on the same page as listed above and return to: Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Waldorf College Athletic Department, 106 S. 6th Street, Forest City, IA 50436. Thank you for your help in identifying worthy alums for these esteemed awards.


Alumni News

Waldorf Honors 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Class at Homecoming Waldorf College honored Scott Pierce ’84, Dr. Dan Hanson ’75, Lindsey Pleuss Hyman ’05, Jacki Dougherty Knight ’03 and the 1977-78 men’s golf team (Dave Teeling ’78, Tim Shiels ’79, Dr. C. Dana Nelson ’79, Craig Johnson ’79, Paul Olson ’79, Keith Mayland ’78) as members of the 2014 Athletic Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony on October 31 at the Salveson Hall Ballroom.

helped the Warriors to a combined record of 13-6. Hanson continued his football and distance running careers at Wartburg College. As a senior at Wartburg, he earned NCAA All-American honorable mention recognition and was named to the Lutheran All-American Team. At Wartburg, Hanson set school records for receptions in a game (11) and receptions in a season (39). Hanson was Wartburg’s leading receiver as a senior with 447 yards and had three touchdowns. He later was an assistant football coach at Waldorf for 21 years. As a football coach, Hanson led the Warriors to a pair of wins over the Nebraska freshman team at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. and also guided Waldorf in four RC Cola Bowl games. Hanson served Waldorf for 31 years in a number of capacities. He spent his last seven years at Waldorf as vice president of academic affairs. Hanson currently serves as president of Peru State College in Peru, Neb.

Scott Pierce ’84, starred on the

basketball court for the Warriors. During his career, the Bricelyn, Minn. native grabbed a school-record 26 rebounds and also helped Waldorf reach the Iowa junior college state playoffs. He averaged 16.3 points and 11.5 rebounds a game during the 198384 season, shooting 58 percent from the field and 78 percent from the free-throw line. Pierce was named to the Iowa JUCO All-Star game following his sophomore season and received the Forest City Lions Club Sportsmanship Award. He and his brother, Jeff, along with the Pierce family, continue to assist Waldorf by organizing the Gabby Pierce Memorial Golf Tournament. The highly successful annual tournament, now in its 10th year, is held in Alden, Minn. as a tribute to their late father, Harold “Gabby” Pierce ’63, who is a Charter Hall of Famer at Waldorf. Tournament proceeds directly benefit Waldorf’s scholarship fund.

Dan Hanson ’75 excelled in football and track at Waldorf after graduating from Titonka High School in 1973. During the 1973 and 1974 football seasons, the wide receiver and punt returner

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Lindsey Pleuss Hyman ’05, a 2001 Boone High School graduate, shined on the basketball court and softball diamond during her four-year career a Waldorf. She was a seventime first-team all-conference selection in the two sports, a two-time AllAmerican in softball and a three-time All-American in basketball. Hyman received the school’s prestigious Honor Athlete Award in 2003 and 2005. During her senior year, she accomplished an extremely


Alumni News

rare feat by being named the Midwest Collegiate Conference’s Player of the Year in both sports. Hyman averaged 15 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals while leading the Warrior basketball team to a 22-11 record and the MCC championship as a senior. During her final softball season, she batted .389 with 14 doubles, seven home runs and 49 RBIs as she helped Waldorf to a 52-11 record, a second consecutive MCC regular-season title and a No. 19 ranking in the final National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) poll. The 2005 Waldorf graduate ended her basketball career as the Warriors’ all-time scoring leader with 1,844 points, all-time steals (309) leader and all-time assists (634) leader.

Save the Dates for Homecoming 2015! October 9 – 11, 2015! In honor and recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Waldorf College alma mater, the theme for Homecoming 2015 will be “All Hail to Thee O Waldorf!” Classes celebrating a reunion this fall will be the Class of 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 (Golden Anniversary Class), 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010. However, all alumni are encouraged to attend! Watch for the official homecoming brochure in your mailbox early this summer.

Jacki Dougherty Knight ’03

began her success in athletics at Belmond-Klemme High School. During her senior season of high school, she was named the 2001 Class 2A Pitcher of the Year and was a member of the Iowa All-Star and AllStar Elite teams. Knight was a fivetime all-conference selection, received all-state honors four times and ended her Belmond-Klemme career with a school record of 131 wins and 46 losses. Knight was a twotime All-American and all-region pitcher during her junior college career at Waldorf. As a freshman, she led the nation with a 0.72 earned run average and also topped the nation with 211 strikeouts, finishing with 24 complete games in 175 innings of work while guiding Waldorf to a 38-12 record. During her sophomore year, Knight led the Warriors to a 38-7 record and a runner-up finish in the Region XI Tournament. As a sophomore, Knight went 13-3 in the pitcher’s circle with a 1.23 ERA, 89 strikeouts and 11 complete games.

Waldorf College Cook Book for Sale!

The legendary Waldorf Auxiliary Cookbook has been reprinted and is available for sale. The book contains delicious recipes from past and present Waldorf faculty, staff, alumni and friends. It also features classic Waldorf photos that span several decades! Cost: $15 (includes tax, shipping and handling.) To order, please contact Janet Berhow at (641) 5858148. Proceeds from the cookbook will go to the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation to help fund student scholarships, honoring the intent of the Waldorf College Auxiliary when they published the original cookbook approximately 30 years ago. Please note the cookbook has simply been photo-copied and bound, not digitally re-typed, enhanced or re-formatted in any way. It has a laminated cover for easy care. The Waldorf Cookbook makes a wonderful gift for family and friends. Call for your copy today!

The 1977-78 men’s golf team earned the distinction of

becoming Waldorf’s first team to qualify for the national golf tournament. Guided by Hall of Fame coach Harvey Johnson, team members Dave Teeling ’78, of Sumner; Tim Shiels ’79, of Apple Valley, Minn.; Dr. C. Dana Nelson ’79, of Lake Mills; Craig Johnson ’79, of Forest City ’79; Paul Olson ’79, of Forest City, and Keith Mayland ’78, of Britt, put together one of the most successful seasons in school history. The team captured a sub-regional championship and earned a national tournament berth after defeating Kirkwood Community College in a one-hole playoff during the regional tournament at Muscatine. Johnson advanced to the final 36-hole cut of the national tournament, finishing in the lower half of the qualifying flight with a 72-hole total of 320 strokes at Chapel Hill., Tenn. The Warriors placed 24th out of 31 teams with a 649-stroke total.

Back row L to R: Paul Olson ’79, Keith Mayland ’78, Dave Teeling ’78; Front row L to R: Craig Johnson ’79, Tim Shiels ’79, Dana Nelson ’79

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Alumni News more accessible,’ “ he says. Aase says like Mayo, he was also an early adopter of technology, buying an Apple IIe and tinkering with computer programming because of the common problems it could solve. “I remember hanging out in my dorm in my first year in college and having to wait for the one phone that was on the floor to be able to make a collect call home,” he says. “What really drove me into it was the way that these tools make communication free and almost effortless.” Effortless is how Aase and his 10-member social media team try to make the learning process for physicians, who may be interested in using social media but are skittish because of privacy rules that guard patient identity. “Part of what we do is make it as easy as possible to get engaged,” he says A doctor’s first foray into the Mayo Clinic’s social media space—which includes a major presence on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest—is doing an interview with a simple flip camera that Aase posts to the Mayo Clinic’s YouTube channel. “We’re asking them to do the same thing they do a dozen times a day as they talk to

Lee Aase ’83

Who’s Behind @Mayo Clinic? The following article was written by Jacqueline Fellows and published in the December, 2014 issue of HealthLeaders magazine. It has been reprinted with permission from HealthLeaders Media. Lee Aase ’83, the Mayo Clinic’s first social media manager, and now director of its Center for Social Media, continues Mayo’s excellent reputation by running one of the best social media campaigns in healthcare, and helps its physicians by teaching them about social media and the privacy issues. “What really drove me into it was the way that these tools make communication free and almost effortless.” If Lee Aase, the Mayo Clinic’s first social media manager and now director of its four-year-old Center for Social Media, had his way, this profile would probably only be 140 characters, the maximum length of a tweet. But his pioneering work at the Rochester, Minnesota–based healthcare system deserves a longer description. The Mayo Clinic is, in many ways, a gold standard that healthcare leaders look to when they want to improve clinical quality, patient experience, and medical outcomes. Patients from around the world also put the nonprofit healthcare system on a pedestal for its team-based approach to helping them get better. In the 24/7 world of social media, too, the Mayo Clinic continues to retain its reputation of doing things well. With such a strong, recognized brand, Mayo could have passed on jumping into social media. The name is so well-known, so well-respected, that it likely would have survived an absence on Facebook and Twitter. But Mayo chose to participate, largely because Aase saw the potential for social media to continue the system’s mission of patient engagement and education. “We’re in our 150th year now, and our founders, Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie [brothers William Mayo, MD, and Charles Mayo, MD] had this tradition where one would stay home and one would travel around to teach and learn,” says Aase. “They’d bring back best practices and they would take what they were learning to others, so this really isn’t all that different. Instead of traveling by plane and by ship, we travel through cyberspace.” Aase arrived at Mayo in 2000, when only 41.5% of U.S. households had Internet access, which was mostly used to send and receive email. Even then, Mayo had an Internet presence, but Aase describes the website, then known as Mayo Health Oasis, as basic, like most early websites. “Back then, it was a consumer health information website; it wasn’t interactive, it was, ‘We have knowledge that we can share with other people and people come from around the country, around the world to see us in person, and this is a good way to make that

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Alumni News patients,” says Aase. “One of the concerns physicians have about doing media interviews is being taken out of context, or misquoted, and what they really like about the YouTube videos is that we don’t have sound bite limits. They find that comforting, and once they’ve shared their knowledge, it gives us a resource we can put out on the social channels that could be helpful to patients.” The Mayo Clinic’s social media presence looms large. The videos on its YouTube channel have received more than 14 million views; in addition, the health system has more than 900,000 followers on Twitter, approximately 543,000 Facebook likes, and some 13,000 followers on Pinterest. These impressive numbers are due in some measure to Aase’s vision, though he gives credit to the Mayo Clinic’s President and CEO John Noseworthy, MD, and Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President Emeritus Shirley Weis for supporting the development of the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media in 2010. Like Mayo’s commitment to sharing best medical practices with peers, the MCCSM is a resource-rich hub for any hospital, healthcare system, or healthcare leader who wants to participate in social media but is unsure how to do so. Aase has established a membership roster for the MCCSM’s social media health network that includes 111 organizations, ranging from large academic medical centers such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center to small, independent hospitals such as the 39-bed Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Members of this social network get access to real-world case studies, tools, classes, and advice from their peers. “In one sense, we’re air cover,” says Aase. “Excuse the military term, but organizations would go to their leadership and say, ‘Mayo Clinic has a Facebook page.’ They are using us as part of their argument to engage in social media. I think that provides some reassurance.” The responsibility of making sure that the Mayo Clinic

Stay Connected with Waldorf College Visit www.Waldorf.edu/Social for a list of all college social media channels - so you can stay up to date!

brand retains its polish as a healthcare and social media leader in a space where there are so many opportunities to stumble is not lost on Aase. “Just as our founders had this commitment to outreach, we feel both very fortunate and responsible that we want to do it right,” says Aase, in just 125 characters with spaces. :-) Read the full article online at HealthLeadersMedia.com, by searching “Lee Aase.” Aase met his wife, Lisa Wacholz Aase ’83, at Waldorf and they have six grown children. By night, Aase is the chancellor of Social Media University, Global (SMUG), a tongue-in-cheek, free online education institution to help mid-career professionals learn to use social tools. For more, go to www.social-media-university-global. org. He also speaks at conferences (healthcare as well as other industries) and teaches workshops and seminars on using social media in large organizations.

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Alumni News

Alumnus plays trumpet for music legends

Jolivette is pictured in the band just to the right of the middle Temptations performer (back row)

As one of the most sought-after trumpet players in north Iowa, Bruce Jolivette ’77 is often asked to play back-up for groups performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and other venues in the area. As a result, he’s had the opportunity to meet and accompany several well-known musicians. In September of 2014, Jolivette was asked by North Iowa Community College (NIACC) in Mason City, Iowa to play in a 10piece orchestra for “Music Man – in Concert” starring Academy Award winner, Shirley Jones. Jones played Marian the librarian in the 1962 movie, but portrayed Mrs. Paroo, Marian’s mother, in the Mason City performance. She also served as host of the event while her son Patrick Cassidy played the male lead, Harold Hill. That same month, The Temptations performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and Jolivette was part of their 10-piece band. “I got to see the concert from the back,” he said. “When the Temptations spun around and faced me as part of their dance routine, they wiped their brows and relaxed their faces for a second. I had a little different perspective,” he chuckled. In January of 2015, Jolivette played for two different groups at the Surf Ballroom who were part of the Winter Dance Party lineup. The annual event served as a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson who lost their lives in a plane crash after leaving their concert at the Surf in February, 1959. Jolivette played back-up for Lou Christie (“Lightning Strikes Again”), and Frankie Avalon, of “Venus” and “Beauty School DropOut” fame. “Frankie Avalon sat down with me before the rehearsal and shared that he was also a trumpet player,” Jolivette said. “He was very personable and friendly, and the audience loved him!” As a member of the band, Jolivette was in good company as Avalon’s son played the drums and a son of one of the Everly brothers played the guitar. For 32 years Jolivette served as band instructor for grades 5-12 at Garner-Hayfield Community Schools. He retired in 2012, but

took a half-time position teaching instrumental music to 5-6 grade students when it became available. In his last year of teaching full-time at the high school, the Garner-Hayfield Concert Band was selected as the top band in Iowa in Class 2A. Other credits include performing for the 2012 Iowa Bandmasters Conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and earning a State Division 1 at large group state contests each year for the past 13 years. The Garner-Hayfield Middle School Band also received honors under Jolivette’s leadership. It was chosen to perform at the 2003 Iowa Music Educators Conference in Ames, Iowa, and earned a top placing at the Adventureland-Drake Relays Concert Festival in 1990. The Bandmaster Award was awarded to Jolivette at the 2014 North Iowa Band Festival in recognition of his outstanding work in the field of music with north Iowa youth. Playing his trumpet is something Jolivette strives for almost daily. He has been a member of the Raiders of the Lost Art Dixieland band for 15 years, the Mason City Jazz Coalition for 10 years, and a member of the Mason City and Clear Lake municipal bands. Jolivette has fond memories of playing the trumpet as a student in the Waldorf Concert Band from 1975-77. “I’d like to thank former Waldorf Band Director Mike Van Auken for all the opportunities and support he gave me as a student,” he said. “He helped inspire me to teach and keep on playing.” Little did Jolivette know then, that he would one day return to his alma mater as interim director of the Waldorf Concert Band in 1993-94. It’s no wonder Jolivette is well-respected and called upon time and time again to play for musicians looking for a professional trumpet player. He has put in the work and is an expert at his craft. Bruce Jolivette is married to Becky (Sansgaard ’79) and they have three grown children. Becky is an elementary teacher in Garner, Iowa.

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Alumni News

Message from the Alumni Board President “The Times They Are A-Changin’.” A bit over 50 years ago Bob Dylan released this song on the album with the same title. Meanwhile on Waldorf’s campus the college was growing and anticipating the completion of the new Jacob Tanner Hall to house an additional 144 residential students. Things were buzzing and Waldorf was changing. Over the next four years we would see the addition of Ormseth Hall and Johnson and London Hall adding almost 250 more beds to campus. Exciting times indeed. For most of us these buildings are parts of stories from our time here and have been elevated to iconic stature along with Salveson’s pillars, Odvin and Muggie Hagen and dancing on campus to name very few. These are parts of Waldorf’s history and much of what we hold dear. Boy, does Waldorf continue to change. Over the years we’ve transitioned from a two-year school to a four-year school. We’ve added different athletic teams and found different conferences to compete with. We added buildings and statues and ponds and an atrium and…well, lots of things. The fact remains that Waldorf College has made some dramatic transformations through the years and continues to change through time.

For a lot of us the idea of change brings anxiety (though we’d never admit it) and we’re really not too fond of much that doesn’t replicate our memories and expectations. I hope Waldorf never becomes that for any of you. I’ve had the privilege to live and work in Forest City for a number of years and watch the physical changes on campus. I’ve talked to some alumni that aren’t necessarily sure that the Waldorf of yesterday still exists. It’s time to put this to rest. Waldorf College is more than buildings and athletic teams and trees and classes. YOU are Waldorf College. All that you hold dear when thinking about Waldorf is still here…alive and well and waiting for you to come home. The campus doesn’t look exactly like it did when you ran from Thorson to the Campus Center for lunch in the rain or snow, but the spirit and purpose of your college lives on through the Warriors of today and tomorrow. The student body, faculty and staff are the life-blood of this campus and the feel of this place is still very special and hard to describe unless you’ve lived it yourself. I encourage you to come back to see and feel Waldorf for yourself. That special place in your life that gave you so much more than memories is still here in all her glory. There is no way for any of us fortunate enough to spend time on campus to describe how Waldorf’s mission lives on without experiencing it in person. Waldorf is waiting for you…it’s time to come home.

Live, Learn and Serve. Andy Buffington ’90 President, Alumni Board (P.S. Homecoming is set for October 9-11!)

Happy 100th Birthday Alma Mater!

It is doubtful students Marie Malmin, John R. Amundson, and Carl Granskou could have imagined the impact their lyrics would have on generations of Waldorf students, faculty and staff when they took on the task of writing the “Waldorf College Song” in 1915. These three students, along with Alice Heiberg who wrote the music, hit a home run with what eventually became known as the Waldorf College alma mater, as it has remained unchanged for 100 years! The anthem has been sung countless times to commence the beginning of a new academic year, celebrate homecoming, conclude graduation, and build camaraderie at alumni and other college events, etc. It never gets old, only more endearing. The alma mater is much more than just a song. It signifies tradition. It evokes an overwhelming pride that touches the very soul of whoever sings it. It has the power to induce tears of joy, sentimentality, inspiration, gratitude and love. This song, written by teenagers a century ago, is still relevant today. May its timeless message continue to touch Waldorf students for many more generations to come. Happy birthday, alma mater!

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Alumni and Family Members Receive benefits from learning partner status As a reminder, through the alumni association’s learning partner status with Waldorf College, all alumni and members of their immediate families are entitled to the following benefits: • 10% tuition discount for Waldorf Online • $500 first-year (one time) scholarship for Waldorf Residential For more on learning partners, go to http://www.waldorf.edu/online/partners It is the sole responsibility of the student to inform the admissions counselor at either Waldorf online or Waldorf residential that as a family member of an alumnus/alumna, they are entitled to a learning partner discount.


Alumni News

Meet the Waldorf College Alumni Board

A 20-24 member Alumni Board of Directors serves as the voice of Waldorf College alumni and meets quarterly on campus. Members serve a four year term and all are currently from the Midwest. The board spans six decades and advises the Waldorf director of alumni relations. Please extend your thanks to the alumni board members for their service whenever you connect with them. Andy Buffington ’90 President; Forest City, Iowa Winnebago and Hancock emergency management & communications director. Andy is married to Keila and they have two daughters. Annie Furland Olson ’90 Vice President; Albert Lea, Minn. Pre-school teacher; group and personal fitness trainer. Annie is married to Doug Olson. Judy Brown ’84 Secretary; Rosemount, Minn. Recruitment manager for Midwest Dental. Judy has 25 years of doctor recruitment experience. She enjoys travel, music and dance. Rachel Anderson ’08 Clear Lake, Iowa Special education middle school teacher in Clear Lake.For the past 12 summers, Rachel has volunteered at Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY), a leadership conference for high school sophomores. Jane Ellwood Askeland ’72 Mason City, Iowa Social services/activities/ person directed care consultant to 30 nursing homes and 22 assisted living facilities. Jane and her husband, Jerry ’71, have two adult sons. Karilyn Naeve Claude’72 Algona, Iowa Retired physical education and health teacher (34 years in Algona Community School system). Karilyn and her husband, Tom, have two grown children and two granddaughters. She enjoys playing the hand bells at her church. Judith Phalen Delperdang ’78 Clear Lake, Iowa Entertainment editor / librarian/newsroom assistant at Mason City Globe Gazette. Judy is a member of the Una Vocis Choral Ensemble and she and her husband have one son.

Lori Kenyon Eekhoff ’08 Leland, Iowa Park & recreation director in Lake Mills. She and her husband of four years are expecting their first child. Dan Eisch ’61 Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. Retired district director for Wisconsin Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Dan has pursued an interest in computers during his retirement and has forged a company with his two sons selling and servicing computers, and developing and hosting web sites. Vivien Aasland Hansen ’59 Humboldt, Iowa Retired teacher and public librarian. Vivien enjoys being Grandma Vivi! Janet Hetland Hernes ’61 Forest City, Iowa Retired registered nurse, former stay-at-home mom and pastor’s wife. Jan and her husband are both retired and enjoy attending Waldorf events. Keith Holtan ’69 Minneapolis, Minn. Owner of kitchen remodeling company. Keith’s remodeled kitchens and bathrooms have been published in Better Homes and Gardens and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He is past president of the Minnesota Remodelers Group (NARI). Amanda Weiss Irvine ’09 Albert Lea, Minn. Stay at home new mom; former marketing and communication specialist at United Way of Freeborn County in Albert Lea. Amanda served as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for two years with Habitat for Humanity.

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Jeff Pierce ’85 Chaska, Minn. President and independent financial advisor with Jeff Pierce LLC. Jeff cofounded the annual Gabby Pierce Golf Tournament / Scholarship event as a tribute to his father, Harold “Gabby” Pierce ’63, and a way to give back to his alma mater. Jeff and his wife, Tanya, have three boys. Jeff is a member of the Waldorf Athletic Hall of Fame. Dean Safe ’12 St. Paul, Minn. Seminary student at Luther Seminary preparing to become an ELCA pastor. Dean previously worked at Holden Village as a lead cook and enjoys bread baking, kayaking, and being with family. Andy Schryver ’06 Des Moines, Iowa Sr. recruiter for Robert Half Technology; youth soccer coach for Des Moines Menace. Andy is married to Ashley Young Schryver ’06 and they have two children. Andy received Waldorf’s Recent Alumni Award for Service in 2013. Jay Smith ’04 Rochester, Minn. Lead analyst/programmer at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Jay and his wife, Emily, have one daughter. Susan Fitzgerald Watson ’89 Minneapolis, Minn. Solo staff member at Ramsey Middle School library in St. Paul. Susan and her husband, David ’94, have one son. Ryan Workman ’06 Cedar Rapids, Iowa Sports information director at Coe College in Cedar Rapids in charge of 21 varsity sports, handling statistics, press releases, media requests and anything else that comes up.


Alumni News

Alumni Board Nomination/ Application Form To apply for a position on the Waldorf College Alumni Board of Directors or to nominate a fellow Warrior to serve, please complete and return this form to the alumni office. Nominations will be reviewed by the nominating committee while taking into consideration the number of vacancies to fill on the board. The nominating committee will then make a recommendation of their suggested candidates to the full alumni board for approval. Alumni Board Mission: To encourage and cultivate lifelong Waldorf relationships that provide mutual benefit to alumni, students, and the college through: active involvement, meaningful communications, and enthusiastic commitment to Waldorf’s mission and vision. Qualifications: 1. Must have attended one full academic year at Waldorf College as either a junior college or as a bachelor degree granting institution. 2. Must believe in the alumni board’s mission (stated above), have an active interest in the college and be willing to promote and support alumni activities. 3. Must be able to attend majority of quarterly meetings held on campus (Saturdays). Nominee’s Name ___________________________________________________ (Maiden) ____________________________________ Email Address _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone (Home) ______________________________________________ (Business) __________________________________________ Waldorf Class Year _______________ Degree __________________ Major ________________________________________________ Degree(s) from other institutions __________________________________________________________________________________ Current Position / Title ______________________________________________________________________________________ _____ Company Name ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Current and/or past involvement with Waldorf College since graduation: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Why would this person make a good alumni board member? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Thank you for your nomination! Please complete this form and email to the alumni office at alumni@waldorf.edu or print and mail to: Alumni Office, Waldorf College, 106 S. 6th Street, Forest City, IA 50436.

News to share with your classmates? Moving? PLEASE Let us Know! Send to Alumni Office, 106 S. 6th St., Forest City, IA, 50436 Online Option: https://secure.waldorf.edu/alumni/addinfo.htm Full Name (include maiden):___________________________________________________________________ Class Year:________________________ Name of Spouse:___________________________________________ Is spouse an alumnus/alumna? Yes__________ No___________ If Yes, what class?__________________________ Address:_____________________________ City:______________ State:________ Zip:____________________ Phone:____________________Cell:___________________ Email:____________________________________ May we share your name, city and state, email, and class news in the Waldorf Magazine? (Yes or No) May we share that same information on your class blog? (Yes or No) Today’s Date: ______________ Please include news regarding your occupation/organization, special honors and/or promotions, volunteer efforts, newly earned degrees, family, other:_____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ 37


Alumni News

ALUMNI NEWS

Note: The alumni office receives class news from a variety of sources including web page updates, emails, and automatic Google alerts. We apologize in advance if some news is no longer current or accurate. If you have information about yourself or other alumni, please contact the alumni office at 641-585-8140 or email us at alumni@waldorf.edu.

1940s Violet Mino Opdahl ’49 lives in Lewiston, Idaho, and keeps busy working in her church, attending athletic and other events and tending her garden. Her hobby is quilting and she has worked on “Quilts of Valor” which have been presented to veterans. She has five children, 10 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. Four of her children and two granddaughters attended Waldorf.

1950s

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

Dolores Jacobson Weisbrod ’51 still lives in Ringsted, Iowa, after many years of teaching. Her husband, Melvin, died on August 6, 2014. She has two children, Scott and Melodee Weisbrod Reineke ’86.

Janice Stokke Winkleman ’56 and her husband, Dwight, have been married for 56 years. They have two married daughters, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. They winter in Arizona.

1960s Paul Michaelson ’60 serves as visitation and outreach pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in San Mateo, Calif. He is also being trained to be an “ombudsman” in his county, which involves advocating for residents’ rights in nursing homes and other long term living facilities. This includes presenting aging education seminars and working with seniors in arranging various activities while enlisting their efforts in ministering to needs. Paul is also hosting a trip to Ireland for the “Golf and Faith” tour, where travelers can play some of the most famous courses in the world and visit ancient cathedrals, churches and monasteries. The tour is open to alumni and includes seven nights in selected hotels and seven rounds of golf at selected courses with luxury golf coach and driver. Dates are August 1-9, 2015. For more information, contact Paul at pmchlsn@yahoo.com or 650-798-4700.

Arlys Leach Hopkins ’54 enjoyed traveling with her son, John, to Indonesia, which included a stop in Japan to visit a friend she worked with on the Johnson Air Base in Japan in 1958-59. She also visited their former foreign exchange student, Takashi.

Ted Strand ’64 is a proud grandfather of six and father of three. He retired in November of 2009, but still does some consulting in accounting process and organization. Ted enjoys traveling with his wife of 47 years, Sherryl, and takes the grandkids at times to introduce them to the wonders of our world.

Helen Bergh Schultz ’54 lives on the farm with her husband, Orville, when they aren’t wintering in Weslaco, Texas. They endured a tragedy in September of 2014 when their two sons were killed in a plane crash.

Joan Alleman Twedt ’64 retired from the Department of Education in Des Moines in 2010. She and her husband, Steve, farm with their son, Todd, and his family near Alleman, Iowa. Their daughter, Stacie, and

her husband have two restaurants in Ames, Iowa: Dublin Bay and Wallaby’s. Stacie is also an interior designer. Joan has five grandchildren. James Aagaard ’67 retired in the spring of 2014 after 38 years as music director at the University of Wisconsin-Richland. His wife, Norlene, is a professor of geology. Warren Torkelson ’68 works part-time in sales at Bill’s Family Foods in Garner, Iowa, and his wife, Margaret, is a retired teacher. They live in Mason City, Iowa.

1970s Larry “Lars” Walker ’70 is the librarian and bookstore manager of AFLC Bible School and Seminary in Minneapolis, Minn. He is an author who primarily writes Viking historical fictional novels. His latest book, “Death’s Doors,” is available on Amazon.com. For more information, visit his personal website at www.larswalker.com. Dale Fagre ’75 was appointed CEO of Avinity Senior Living, a faith-based non-profit organization serving more than 800 older adults in seven Minnesota communities. Also, during the past two years, he received his master’s degree in leadership and management from Concordia University-St. Paul, and he and his wife, Deb, welcomed two grandchildren to the family. Mary Butson Loving ’76 is a director at ASSE International Student Exchange. Freda Myhrwold ’77 is a sales process manager at HealthPartners, Inc. She lives in Saint Anthony, Minn.

William (Bill) R. Johnson ’58, Belmond, Iowa, achieved his 50th year of membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Round Table—The Premier Association of Financial Professionals. Attaining membership in MDRT is a distinguishing career milestone and is based on outstanding client services, ethics and professionalism. This is a significant honor as only a handful of members achieve this level. MDRT is a global, independent association of more than 42,000 of the world’s leading life insurance and financial services professionals from more than 450 companies in 74 countries, and Johnson is one of only 154 MDRT members with 50 or more years of membership. MDRT President Michelle L. Housely thanked Johnson for his commitment to MDRT’s standards of excellence and stated, “MDRT is an organization that is made great by people like Bill – hardworking, committed and successful financial services professionals at the forefront of our industry. Attaining 50 years of MDRT membership is an impressive accomplishment. We are fortunate to have talented and involved members who help MDRT to continue to be recognized as the global leader in financial services.” Bill and his wife, Mary ’58 are lifelong supporters of Waldorf College. Bill served on Waldorf’s Board of Regents and was a recipient of the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1991. Mary served on the Alumni Board from 1995 to 1999 and both are members of the Waldorf Foundation’s Heritage Club. They fund and award two named annual scholarships every Honors Day.

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Alumni News

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

chapter awards from the Society of Government Meeting Professionals: the 2014 President’s Award and the 2014 Supplier of the Year Award. Eric is a national account executive at Visit Saint Paul, the city’s official convention and visitor’s bureau (CVB), where he handles government, education, and association group meeting markets. Joshua Vogel ’01 is a writer living in Valencia, Calif.

On November 8 2014, Ryan Daniel ’01 (second from the left) won first place at the Rawkzilla Battle of the Bands, held at G.B Leighton’s Pickle Park in Fridley, Minn. The Rawkzilla competition is considered to be the largest Battle of the Bands in the Midwest. In 2013, they hosted more than 150 bands and Ryan Daniel placed 2nd. This past year the event celebrated its fifth anniversary. It was available by invitation only and boasted a host of national and local judges. Daniel is a Woodbury reggae hip-hop artist and owner of Zandolee Media. He recently released a new single, “Battle Cry.”

1980s Melanie Pederson Schneider ’86 is a personal support professional at Opportunity Village in Clear Lake, Iowa. Michelle Fossum Schwartzhoff ’88 is a support recovery supervisor for the State of Iowa Department of Human Services. Her husband, Michael, is a service technician. Michelle Kirchhof Vetter ’88 is completing her doctorate in pharmacy at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), with an expected graduation date of May of 2017.

1990s Heather Ellis ’98 married Michael Johnson ’00 on October 31, 2014 in Forest City, Iowa.

2000s Eric Satre ’01 received two Minnesota

Lindsey Hagen ’02 married Kyle Harrison on June 12, 2014 in Negril, Jamaica. Lindsey is a marketing director for Genesis Health Clubs, and Kyle is a chef apprentice at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.

Cecelia Marie, born January 27, 2015. Vanessa Jones ’09 married Tyler Doden on August 9, 2014 in Forest City, Iowa. Vanessa is an online course support coordinator at Waldorf College and Tyler is employed by 3M in Forest City. Molly Stark ’09 is a special education teacher at the Saint Paul Public Schools in Minnesota. Her husband, Garrett, is a carpenter. They live in Saint Paul, Minn. Chelsey Tweeten ’09 married Andrew Faber on September 20, 2014 in Lake Mills, Iowa. Chelsey is employed by D.K. Arndt, CPA’s in Lake Mills, and Andrew is employed by the City of Forest City.

2010s

Jennifer Elseth ’04 is an administrative assistant/loan support for Community Bank Owatonna’s secondary market loans, and assists with the marketing and advertising responsibilities. She is also the local director of the Owatonna “Just for Kix” dance program.

Shaye Johanns ’10 married Jesse Petersen on September 20, 2014 in Mason City, Iowa. Shaye is employed by Be Informed USA, Inc. in Mason City, and Jesse is employed by Swanson Electric in Nora Springs, Iowa.

Jeremy Scott ’05 recently released a new book, “Make Success Mandatory: Discovering Your Gift & Giving It Back to the World.” It is available on Amazon. com in the Kindle version or paperback.

Samantha Cabalka ’11 married Cody Barnes ’12 on June 28, 2014 in Independence, Iowa. Cody is an athletic trainer with Heartland Orthopedic Specialists in Alexandria, Minn.

Reid Ridpath ’06 is webmaster at Concordia University, St. Paul, and lives in Shakopee, Minn.

Alicia Danielson ’11 is a campus ministry associate at the University Lutheran Church in Tempe, Ariz.

Megan Wihlm ’07 married Cory Ginther on August 2, 2014 in Roseville, Iowa. Megan is employed by Webster City Middle School in Webster City, Iowa, and Cory is employed by Webster City Custom Meats.

Matthew Knutson ’11 and Mamisoa Ranaivoson Knutson ’11 currently reside in Rochester, Minn. Matt works at United Way of Olmsted County as communications and events director and Mamisoa works at Bethel Lutheran Church as director of communications.

Tyler ’08 and Cari Cimmiyotti Johanns ’08 are the parents of twin daughters, Ciara Jo and Tiara Michael, born September 2, 2014 in Mankato, Minn. Big brothers are Trey and Carter. Brendan Nagle ’08 married Ann Engebretson on August 9, 2014 in Manly, Iowa. Brendan is employed by Bay & Bay Transportation in Eagan, Minn., and Ann is a forensic scientist at Regional Forensic Laboratory in Anoka, Minn. John Eliason ’09 works in hospitalitysales for TMI Hospitality. He lives in Fargo, N.D. Amanda Weiss Irvine ’09 and her husband, Andrew, welcomed daughter,

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Kenneth Olson ’11 married Trinity Renchin ’11 on August 9, 2014 in Fertile, Iowa. Kenny is employed by Forest City Elementary School, Fertile Church of Christ and the YMCA. Trinity is employed at CR Holland Crane Service in Forest City. Sarah Berhow ’12 married Brett Lewis on September 13, 2014 in Des Moines, Iowa. Sarah is employed at Clear Lake Bank and Trust in Clear Lake, Iowa, and Brett is employed by the Iowa State Patrol in Cerro Gordo County. Michelle Eden ’13 married Thomas Schutter on January 10, 2015. Michelle is the assistant softball coach at Waldorf College.


Alumni News

Deaths Some of the information below is received by family members or friends of the deceased. Information is also obtained from newspapers and online searches. If you would like to report a death of an alumnus, notify the advancement office at berhowj@ waldorf.edu or (641) 585-8148. Gladyce Budd ’33 died Nov. 18, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minn. Gladyce taught country school in Iowa; worked as a nurse in Chicago; taught nursing arts in schools of nursing in Chicago, Kenoshi, Wis. and Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis; and owned/operated The Pretty Package gift shop in Minneapolis which was “her dream job” until age 89. Survivors include 14 nieces and nephews. Charlotte Ritland Andersen ’35 died Jan. 12, 2015 in Sioux City, Iowa. Charlotte taught third and fourth grades in Dunbar, Iowa for two years before marrying Leonard. She cared for their children while Leonard worked selling insurance and, in later years, worked in his insurance agency. She also kept books for his rental property and was his secretary during the four years he served in the Iowa Senate. Charlotte was active in women’s ministries, serving as president of Morningside Lutheran Church Women several times. She was honored as Mother of the Year in 1960. She was a member of the Sorosis Club for many years, serving as secretary into her 90s, and very active in Sons of Norway, the Scandinavian Society of Sioux City, and the United Way. She was also a den mother for Cub Scouts. Survivors include four children. See Leonard’s obituary under former faculty/ staff news. Earl Becker ’38 died Aug. 24, 2014. Earl served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a technical staff sergeant at the headquarters of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. He was employed by the National Farm and Power Equipment Dealers Association for 40 years, achieving the position of secretary / treasurer prior to his retirement. Survivors include four children. Minerva Thompson Millard ’38 died Jan. 18, 2015 in Marshalltown, Iowa. Minerva began her teaching career at Quasdorf School in Franklin County, Iowa. She later taught in Zearing, Iowa

Falls, and Marshalltown from 1958-1977. She was a long-time member of Elim Lutheran Church in Marshalltown, VFW, NEA, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Survivors include two daughters. Ida Lorraine Guernsey Lomen ’39 died Jan. 28, 2015 in Decorah, Iowa. Lorraine worked as a home economist in Keokuk and Winneshiek Counties for the Iowa State Extension Service. She was a Bible study leader, Sunday school superintendent and teacher for many years and also held offices in the ELCA women’s group. She was a co-founder of the Springfield mother-daughter banquet, member of the Farm Bureau, and active in the women’s group where she served as the county women’s chair and on various committees. She was active in the Decorah-Springfield Homemakers and Tops Club No. 852 and was a 4-H leader with the Washington Prairie Peppers. Survivors include her children, Dale Lomen ’67, Nancy Lomen ’69, and Dorothy Lomen Van Helten ’75. Mildred Nelson Meyer ’40 died Sept. 17, 2014 in Holland, Ohio. Mildred and her husband, Alfred, owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store in Toledo called Meyer’s Market for 12 years. She went on to become an elementary school teacher for Toledo Public Schools officially retiring in 1985. Mildred was a member of Alpha Delta Gamma Psi, Chapter 12 serving as president for two years, and was active in her church. Survivors include two granddaughters. Esther Olson Trail ’42 died Dec. 18, 2014 in Naperville, Ill. Esther was a devoted elementary school teacher for a number of years, a Sunday school teacher for over 40 years, and an active volunteer and leader in civic clubs, women’s groups and numerous church activities. Survivors include three daughters. Bert Gillette ’43 died May 26, 2013 in Brooklyn, Iowa. Bert served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942-46 during World War II. He was employed as a regional claims manager at State Farm Insurance Company, and later was corporate counsel/ vice president of State Auto Insurance Company. He went into private practice in 1960 and maintained a law office in Brooklyn until his retirement in 1994. Bert

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was a 50-year member of the Masons, the Masonic Consistory, and the Kaaba Shrine in Davenport. He was also a 50year member of the Brooklyn American Legion. Survivors include his wife, Kathryn; and children, Richard Gillette ’65, Kurt Gillette ’70, and Diane Gillette. Helen Lomen Olson ’43 died Nov. 1, 2014 in Clear Lake, Iowa. Helen and her husband, Soren, owned bakeries in Hampton and Boone, Iowa, before retiring to Arkansas in 1980. They returned to live in Clear Lake in 1999. She enjoyed participating in small group at church, Women’s Club, Progress Club, T.T.T., Elderberrys, PEO and church choir. Survivors include two daughters. Melvin Berkland ’44 died Sept. 20, 2014 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. Melvin started farming with his father and lived on the family farm for 90 years. Melvin and his wife, Violet, moved to Lakeside Assisted Living in Emmetsburg in July of 2014. He was a salesman at Farmers HybridAsgrow for 50 years. He taught Sunday school for 46 years, and held many offices over the years at St. John Lutheran Church in Depew. Survivors include his wife, Violet; son, Marlin; and daughter, Karen Berkland Hagen ’76. Lucille Hartbeck Jurgemeyer ’44 died Dec. 5, 2014 in Rockwell, Iowa. Lucille taught school near Fertile, Iowa for a few years. She and her husband, Louis, farmed together east of Klemme, Iowa, until retiring in 1986. She was a member of LWML, taught catechism and Sunday school, and was a member of the Garner VFW Auxiliary. Survivors include four children, and three sisters, including Marjorie Hartbeck Jurgemeyer ’47. Dorcas Byro Dorow ’45 died Dec. 8, 2014 in Osage, Iowa. Dorcas taught music in Belmond and Fertile, Iowa, and met her husband, Edgar, while teaching in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Dorcas and Edgar moved to Osage, where she taught music for a short time before finding her home at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church serving as the director of various choirs. She also taught voice and served as interim choir director at Waldorf College. As a church leader, she was chairwoman of the Northeastern District Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America when the


Alumni News ELCA was first getting organized, and of the ELCA Iowa Task Force on Peace and Reconciliation. In 2006, Dorcas received the Governor’s Volunteer Award for her efforts founding the Osage Sister City Organization, where she helped establish a close relationship with the city of Lermontov, in the Stavropol region of Russia. She was recently honored locally for her 25 years of service to that organization. Survivors include her husband; children, Martha Dorow ’78 and Joel Dorow ’80; and siblings, Miriam Byro Rogness ’50, Kenneth Byro ’52, and Paul Byro. For more on her Waldorf ties, see former faculty and staff news in the campus news section. Thora Anderson Phelps ’45 died Aug. 7, 2014 in Northfield, Minn. Thora taught school in Spirit Lake and Sheldon, Iowa, and in 1951 was named to the staff of St. Olaf Dean of Women Gertrude Hilleboe in charge of women student housing. Thora and her husband, Bob, both taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, later moving to Northfield where both served for 25 years on the St. Olaf staff-Thora on the library staff and as associate director of the office of career services. Active in the Northfield community, she was a member of the Garden Club, P.E.O., AAUW, NAG, the Historical Society, Bethel Lutheran Church and many other organizations. She was a recipient of the Waldorf Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2001. Survivors include her husband; daughters, Margaret and Ruth Phelps ’79; and siblings, Mary Anderson Herrlinger ’51, David Anderson ’50, and James Anderson ’58. Shirley Hale Johnston ’46 died Aug. 29, 2014 in Marshalltown, Iowa. Shirley and her husband, Maynard, moved to Ellsworth, Iowa, where they owned Johnston Furniture Store. A few years later, they owned and operated Johnston Funeral Home in Klemme, Iowa, and the Andrews Funeral Home in Belmond, Iowa. After her husband’s death, Shirley became a volunteer, and spent many years caring for her parents and sister-in-law. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Johnston Ginapp ’71. Esther Nelson Larson ’46 died Aug. 23, 2014 in Moorhead, Minn. Esther was involved in many church activities

and served as choir director, Sunday school/vacation Bible school teacher and a member of ladies aide. She taught piano lessons to children and kept busy sewing quilts, baking kringla and lefse, and solving crossword puzzles. Survivors include seven children, and her sister, Mildred Nelson Meyer ’40. Richard Don Twito ’46 died Jan. 23, 2015 in Lake Mills, Iowa. Don served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a tail gunner on a B17 bomber aircraft, during which he earned the Aerial Gunners Badge, Good Conduct Medal, and the WWI Victory Medal. In 1949, he joined his father in the Twito Land Company, becoming a real estate broker for more than 50 years. He was an Eagle Scout and remained active in the scouting organization with all three of his boys. Don had a love of music and spent time singing with a barbershop chorus in the mid-1970s with other men from Lake Mills and the Forest City area. Survivors include his wife, Dominy Kingland Twito ’54, and four children. Averill Oppedahl Monson ’47 died Sept. 28, 2014 in Humboldt, Iowa. Averill worked as a clerk for the Humboldt County Recorder, the Humboldt County ASCS office, and the Humboldt County Farm Bureau. She was a church secretary, organist, and Sunday school teacher. Averill was also active in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, a member of the Federated Women’s Club, and involved with 4-H. Survivors include her husband, Eldon, three children, and a brother. June Hauge ’48 died Nov. 22, 2014 in Des Moines, Iowa. June entered the U.S. Navy in 1944. She loved children and young people and spent her life working with them as a Lutheran social worker in Moline, Ill. Survivors include a sisterin-law, cousins and many nieces and nephews. Rolfe Holtan ’49 died Oct. 7, 2014 in Forest City, Iowa. Rolfe served in the U. S. Army stationed in Korea. He and his wife, Maretta, farmed in Belmond, Thompson, and at the family farm east of Leland, Iowa. Rolfe retired from farming in 2000, but still helped his son on the farm from time to time. He spent time with his friends at the Senior Citizens

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Center playing cards, shooting pool, doing puzzles and delivering meals to the homebound; he later became president of the center. He played a variety of instruments including the piano, harp, ukulele, harmonica and more. He also sang with the Barber Shop Quartet. Survivors include his son, Eric; daughter, Nancy Holtan Benson ’86; and sister, Dorothy Holtan Heller ’52. Ida Edwards Lovin ’49 died Oct. 29, 2014. Ida’s career as an educator included service in Iowa rural elementary schools, Alaska and Washington elementary schools, and several years as a substitute teacher in the Boise city public schools. She later volunteered at a Boise elementary school in the classroom and library. She traveled with her husband to Australia and made eight trips to Europe. Survivors include her husband, Hugh; son, Jeffrey; and brother, Allen Edwards ’58. Yvonne Sigurdson Ambroson ’50 died Nov. 23, 2009 in Lewiston, Idaho. Yvonne was a member of Grace Lutheran Church and the Lewiston Golf and Country Club. She loved to play bridge, golf and spend time with her church family. Survivors include three children. Caroll C. K. Hall ’50 died Jan. 8, 2015 in Plymouth, Minn. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Joann; children, Michelle Hall Ulvestad ’79, Cindy HallDuran, and Steve Hall; and brother Irving Hall ’52. Palmer Valder ’50 died Jan. 12, 2014 in Fergus Falls, Minn. Palmer served for nearly four years in the U.S. Army Air Corp until the war ended in 1945. He and his wife, Wava, lived in Waterloo, Iowa, where he worked in furniture sales, later moving the family to Minneapolis, Minn. where they lived for the next 35 years. After retirement, Palmer and Wava moved to Joice, Iowa, and finally to assisted living in Fergus Falls, Minn. Palmer was active in his church and loved going to the VA hospital in Minneapolis to share the gospel with the veterans and give away Bibles. Survivors include his wife, three daughters, and one brother. Jordan Bergland ’52 died Nov. 15, 2014. Jordan served in many different positions at his church, on the Rural Electric


Alumni News Cooperative board for over 27 years, and the board for low rent apartments in McCallsburg, Iowa. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, creating stained glass and rock collecting. Survivors include his children and step-children. Faye Peitzman Fjelland ’52 died April 3, 2014 in Mesa, Ariz. Faye taught elementary school for several years in Jewell and Grimes, Iowa. She and her husband, Kenneth, farmed in Grimes and Radcliffe, where they raised their three

children. Faye served as Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher and music leader, member of the church choir, harmony club, ladies aide and Legion Auxiliary. In 1994, Faye and Kenneth moved to Mesa where she continued to sing in the church choirs. They enjoyed motorcycling and taking trips across the country together. Survivors include three children. Angelene Isvik Meling ’52 died Dec. 27, 2014 in Ames, Iowa. Angie was a homemaker, motel manager, teacher

Digitized Waldorf Recordings For Sale

A number of digitized copies of the Waldorf Choir, Chapel Choir, Band and New World Singers albums are available for sale from the Waldorf Archives. If interested in purchasing one of the recordings below, the cost for each is $13.70 (including tax & shipping). Checks may be made payable to Waldorf College and sent to: Derrick Burton, Luise V. Hanson Library Archives, 106 S. 6th Street, Forest City, IA 50436. Please circle the recording(s) you are interested in below, tear out the sheet and include it with your check. If you have any questions please contact Derrick Burton at (641) 585-8110 or library@waldorf. edu.

Available recordings include: 1949-1961 Waldorf Choir Compilation – Odvin Hagen, director 1949 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1950 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1951 Waldorf Choir & Men’s Quartet – Odvin Hagen, director 1956 Reunion Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1956 Waldorf Choir – Dorcas Byro Dorow ’45, interim director 1957 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1958 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1960 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1961 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1962 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1963 Chapel Choir – Adrian Johnson, director 1964 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1964 Men’s Quartet 1965 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1966 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1967 Waldorf Choir – Odvin Hagen, director 1967 Waldorf Singers – R.Q. Johnson, director 1967 Waldorf Band – R.Q, Johnson, director 1969 Waldorf Band & Singers – R. Q. Johnson, director 1970 Waldorf Band & Singers – R. Q. Johnson, director 1971 Waldorf Choir – Adrian Johnson, director 1976 Waldorf Choir – Adrian Johnson, director 1977 Waldorf Choir – Adrian Johnson, director 1977 Waldorf Band & New World Singers – Z. Michael Van Auken, director 1979 Waldorf Choir – Adrian Johnson, director 1981 Waldorf Choir – Adrian Johnson, director 1986 Waldorf Choir – Marc A. Hafso, director

and librarian. She was very active in the church choir and co-founder of the Church Women Ministry. She enjoyed reading, traveling and visiting all 50 states. Survivors include her husband, Melvin; children Sherri Meling Ballard ’74, Dennis Meling ’77, Becky, and Mark; and four siblings. Ray Peterson ’52 died Sept. 4, 2014. Ray served his country in the U.S. Army in Germany, as a communications specialist (code interceptor), from September of 1951 until he was honorably discharged in September of 1953. He worked in Chicago where he had a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade until his retirement, when he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to be near his family. Survivors include three children and a brother. Vance Paulson ’54 died Sept. 11, 2014 in Stockton, Calif. Vance held numerous teaching positions in Iowa prior to moving to Stockton in 1958. He worked for the Stockton Unified School District for 41 years, most of which was at Franklin High School as a guidance counselor before retiring in 1997. He was an active member of his church, a frequent volunteer at St. Mary’s Dining Room and the Troke Library, and an avid sports fan who coached athletics throughout his teaching career. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Alyce, and two sons. Verna “Joyce” Brueland Klatt ’55 died Jan. 28, 2014 in Holloway, Minn. Joyce worked at Bertha Hospital until it closed, Wood and Conn in Moorhead, Minn., and Todd County Social Services. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Lioness, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where she was involved in ladies aid and choir. Survivors include three children and a brother. LaVonne Hanson Sorensen ’55 died Oct. 28, 2014 in Beloit, Ill. LaVonne spent her professional career with the Beloit Public Schools, from teaching business education at the high school to eventually becoming the vocational career education supervisor. She participated in several professional and service organizations. Joyce Olson Christen ’56 died Jan. 18, 2015 in Decorah, Iowa. Joyce taught adult education classes in St. Paul, Minn., at Omaha Technical College, Iowa Lakes

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Alumni News Community College, and Northern Iowa Community College. She opened Christen Custom Draperies in 1973, which remained open until her retirement in 2012. Survivors include her husband, Harvin (Hub), and four children. Robert Eggerth ’57 died Nov. 25, 2014 in Algona, Iowa. Robert served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955. He was employed in various Iowa schools including Northwood Kensett, Central Community of Lee County-Argyle, Dexfield, Laurens and Swea City/North Kossuth, teaching junior high and coaching. He retired from North Kossuth schools in 1990. Robert had a passion for sports, officiating football, basketball, baseball and softball. He also taught drivers education at Spencer, Ayrshire, Mallard and Swea City/ North Kossuth. Survivors include his wife, Lois, two daughters, and a sister. Allen Strand ’57 died Sept. 29, 2014 in Forest City, Iowa. Allen worked for Winnebago Industries for a brief period and as a custodian at the Winnebago Courthouse. He served on the Forest City Ambulance crew for many years, as a driver and bookkeeper. He was active in his church, served as a part-time janitor when needed and also helped with broadcasting the church services on the radio. He was a member of the Sons of Norway. Survivors include his siblings, Corrine Strand Mix ’61, Howard Strand ’63, and James Strand ’64. Merna Sunde ’57 died Oct. 26, 2014 in Rochester, Minn. Merna taught at Wells High School, in Minn. before moving to Calif. There she worked for the State of California in Sacramento for many years. After retiring, she moved to Albert Lea, Minn. She had a lifelong passion for art, creating many beautiful paintings, sculptures and mosaics. A highlight of her life was studying art at the Sorbonne during a trip to France. She also loved animals and raised Arabian horses in her younger years. Survivors include a sister. Randy Holland ’62 died Sept. 12, 2014 in Albert Lea, Minn. Randy was employed as a computer operations manager at Wilsons/Farmstead/Seaboard and later worked in accounts receivable at ABG. He was a member of the Glenville City Council, the Moose Club, church council at First Lutheran Church in Glenville

and later at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. He sang in his church choir and enjoyed fishing, reading, and fixing things. Survivors include his wife, Joan, three children, and two siblings. Keith Clark ’67 died Dec. 26, 2014. Keith loved the outdoors and nature, and worked in the landscaping business his entire life. He was inducted into the Waldorf Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Survivors include his wife, Karen “Liz” Lidums Clark ’68, and two children. Warren “Willie” Wubben ’68 died Sept. 29, 2014 in Buffalo Center, Iowa. Willie joined the U.S. Navy and served as a radar man aboard the USS Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the VFW, American Legion and the Buffalo Center Historical Society. He was serving his 8th year as a Winnebago County Supervisor. Survivors include his son, Chad; siblings, Wayne Wubben ’71, Alan, and Nancy; and his mother, Frances. Paul Heller ’72 died Sept. 17, 2014 in Mason City, Iowa. Paul enjoyed farm life, visiting with friends and most of all automobiles. He also enjoyed singing and was a former member of various choral groups. Survivors include siblings, Steven Heller ’73, Jon Heller ’82, and Karin Heller ’85; and a son. Roger Wichman ’72 died Nov. 18, 2014. Roger worked as a draftsman at Forest City Millwork before moving to Ruthven, Iowa, to begin farming with his parents in 1973. Roger and his wife, Jeanine, later moved to Omaha, Neb., where he worked for two different micro computer firms until he started his own company in 1986. He was the president of Micro Computer Solutions and later Silver Fox Computer Club. In 2004, Roger became the director of education at Hamilton College in Mason City, Iowa, retiring in 2010. Survivors include his wife, Jeanine Carpenter Wichman ’73, and a sister. Lori Kula Smith ’84 died Sept. 7, 2014 in Liberty Township, Ohio, surrounded by her loving family. Lori was employed by the state of Texas for more than 25 years.

Reflections By Roger Masten ’67 Dublin, Ohio

As I was perusing the fall issue of the Waldorf Magazine, I was struck by an article about a theatre student whose goals and ambitions rang true to my own. I look back now to 1965 and realize that divine inspiration must have lead me to a campus a thousand miles from home. My interest in theatre would surely not have brought me to this place. There was, however, a professor, David Swanson, who must have had a vision that brought an unlikely collection of fledgling freshman and sophomores together to expand our creative juices. The “Waldorf College Theatre Company” was formed with all the bravado of a season at the Guthrie. Logos, slick programs and a season of rigorous productions would occupy our time outside of English, biology, religion and math classes. Swanson’s visions challenged each of us to experiment, take leaps, and explore our God-given talents. One early production of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” stretched us to the limit as we dealt with the complexities of life most of us knew little about. We grew, we learned, and we were satisfied that our work was helping us understand who we were and where we might want to go in the future. In real life, I adjusted Williams’ plot to allow my character, the ‘gentleman caller,’ to marry the matriarch in the story. We met on the set and have celebrated forty glorious years together (Barbara Burns ’66). I continued my theatre interest, as I moved through other educational endeavors, to settle and retire as a high school theatre arts teacher back home. I’ll not forget those early years at Waldorf, nor will I forget the experiences and friends, some are very close even now, who helped forge a life that has been very rewarding, indeed. All of us have stories that need to be heard about our life both in and out of the classroom at Waldorf College. You are invited to share them with us. Please submit your stories / memories (300 words or less) to alumni@waldorf.edu or Alumni Office 106 S. 6th Street Forest City, IA 50436

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2015 DATES TO REMEMBER May 9: Graduation October 9–11: Homecoming December 5–6: Christmas with Waldorf

2014 Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet

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