Bethany Magazine - June 2015

j u n e 2015

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B E TH A N Y Magazine

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table of

contents 4 FROM THE PRESIDENT

FINE ARTS ____________________________

SPIRITUAL LIFE ____________________________

18 STAGE IS TRANSFORMED

Wishing Bethany a fond farewell.

Spring production leaves some attendees slightly wet (but happy)!

5 ONE THING NEEDFUL

19 THEATRICAL WIN

For his final Trinity Chapel message, Erling Teigen leaves us with the comforting words of Jesus.

Bethany theatre wins several regional awards.

ATHLETICS ____________________________

FACULTY & STAFF ____________________________

20 BRUNO WILINSKI DAY

6 EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARIES Recognizing faculty and staff for their years of service.

Honoring a Viking Basketball legend.

7 FROM OUR FACULTY & STAFF

News from men's and women's winter and spring seasons.

21 ATHLETIC HONORS

Recent accomplishments from individuals employed at Bethany.

ALUMNI ____________________________

ON CAMPUS ____________________________

23 STAINED-GLASS GIVING

Classes of '52 and '53 make a statement at the Old Main entrance.

10 A NEW MAJOR

Legal studies is the newest major to join Bethany's academic lineup.

24 FROM OUR ALUMNI

Sharing alumni news, notes, and photos.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES ____________________________ 11 STUDENTS VISIT CAPITOL Bethany students let their voices be heard on a recent trip to St. Paul.

13 SPEAKING VOLUMES

Speech team brings home awards in several different categories.

“I can’t tell you how many people mention that they actively, daily, pray for Bethany. They mention the impact Bethany has had on them, not just as students, but also as young Christians.” p. 17 Cover photo by David Norris

27 RETROSPECT

Take a look at these Bethany ladies in their dorm room.

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cover story

BUILDING BLOCK:

How the leadership of Dan Bruss allowed Bethany to grow.

8 REMEMBERING MARK HARSTAD

A faithful servant of the gospel at Bethany for over 30 years.

12 READY TO BURST

How a semester at Bethany changed Micky Mai's life back home in China.

22 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS AWARD

Jim Vinz ('81) is known for his leadership in the restaurant industry.

ALUMNI, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Turn to page 26 for the alumni news form. You may also submit alumni news by emailing to alumni@blc.edu, or through our website at blc.edu/submitnews.

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from the

president

BY DA N B R U SS • PR E SI D ENT, B E TH A N Y LU TH ER A N CO LLEG E

A sincere farewell It’s hard to believe that twelve-and-a-half years have already raced by. When Kathy and I arrived on campus we found ourselves in the midst of an experiment that was still in its early stages. As a chemist, I have always been attracted to the experimental process, although this time it involved the transformation of a college, from a two-year to a four-year, not the transformation of a mixture of compounds. Better yet, there was more than one catalyst. People from across campus provided energy to accelerate Bethany into a baccalaureate institution. The best part of this transition was that faculty and staff steadfastly remained committed to “The One Thing Needful” and didn’t drift from its foundation as programs expanded and developed.

Few people today have the opportunity to both begin and complete their professional life with the same organization. This has been true for me, but with a significant twist. In the middle, I worked at several different colleges, in very different parts of the country and with very different cultures. For each of those, Kathy and I were in the right place at the right time for our station in life, and lessons were learned from each institution. There was something special, though, about coming back to Bethany. I had never started a job where I already knew some of the people. But it went much deeper, since these were individuals that had a powerful connection to the mission of the College and to Christian higher education. The relationships we had with those we knew and worked with previously were quickly re-established. A recent alumnus characterized the relationships that develop at Bethany as “authentic relationships.” I have to agree. They run deeper than professional or social interests and involve the genuine interest and concern for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. Alums tell us time and again about these kinds of relationships they developed while at Bethany. We have reaped many blessings during our time on campus as a result of them. The best part is that as I close my office door for the final time, I know these relationships will remain authentic for years to come.

It’s been exciting to see first-hand the fruits of a Bethany education. Our graduates are competitive both locally and nationally.

Higher education is always exciting, with new developments and challenges on the horizon. I pray that the Lord continues to guide and bless Bethany through both.

Thank you for your support and prayers. It has been a pleasure to serve as President. Thank you for that opportunity.

zine

Maga

editor, writer | Lance Schwartz designer, photographer | David Norris designer, proofreader | Andrew Rustad contributing writers | Benji Inniger Rachel Olsen Erling Teigen

Joe Tischler Please direct all correspondence, letters, news, corrections, and comments to: Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Magazine 700 Luther Drive Mankato, MN 56001-6163 Email: editor@blc.edu Phone: 507.344.7000 | 800.944.3066 ISSUE: 132 The Bethany Magazine is published three times yearly by the Bethany Lutheran College Office of Institutional Communication and distributed free of charge to the college’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

All contents © COPYRIGHT 2015 Bethany Lutheran College. Articles, images or photographs may not be reproduced without written permission.

Mission: Bethany Lutheran College, owned and

operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a private, residential, liberal arts college committed to the teachings of the Bible as set forth in the Lutheran Confessions.

Bethany provides studies culminating in a bachelor of arts degree. The College serves Lutherans and others by offering a challenging, student-centered approach to education that fosters spiritual development, intellectual and creative growth, self-understanding, and responsible citizenship. In keeping with its heritage, Bethany aspires to produce students with a clear understanding of Christian vocation, which encourages students to make the most of their God-given talents.

B E TH A N Y Magazine

Jesus comforts His disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.

"I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

And where I go you know, and the way you know." Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

PU SLNLI E FE WS SCA PI RM ITUA

one thing

needful

BY E R LI N G T E I G E N • R ELI G I O U S S T U D I E S PR O FE S S O R

J O H N 1 4 :1 - 6

We hear these comforting words of Jesus, not in the bright light of his resurrection or ascension, but in the gloominess of the night he was betrayed—just after Judas was revealed as the traitor and Peter as the denier: “Let not your heart be troubled…In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you.” When Thomas says, “We don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” And then we get to the main point: Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Today is the last time that I take a regular turn in the preaching schedule here. For thirty-eight years, twelve of them as chaplain, I‘ve sat in the congregation, stood at the altar or in the pulpit for our daily chapel services. Added to that there were seven years as a student when chapel was held twice a day—attendance required.

I am tempted to recount some of the experiences I’ve had—like the appointed chapel speaker not showing up—I’ve been on both ends of that one. I’m also tempted to count up all the times I’ve been in chapel, and draw some interesting point from that. But then I am reminded of the old Rector in Hammer of God saying: “one ought not talk about oneself, it may hide Jesus from view.” So I will not talk about my experiences and memories of Bethany Chapel.

There is just one thing I want to say about my experience as a part of the Bethany Chapel for all these years—What Jesus says to Thomas and the others: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me," summarizes the preaching in this chapel, and also what has been expected of my colleagues and me. I pray it will remain so for as many generations as this place yet stands.

Erling Teigen, Professor of Religious Studies, retired from full-time teaching at Bethany in May 2015, and delivered his final chapel sermon in Trinity Chapel on April 30, 2015. For those who’ve known Teigen as their colleague, pastor, or professor, we’re honored to print his final regular chapel message here.

He is the Way. When Jesus said that, he was on the way to the cross—to suffering and death.

That was his mission: to be “wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities…. carrying the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah) “delivered over to death for our offenses and raised again for our justification.” (St. Paul). That is how he is the Way. “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…. God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” He is the Way, and there is no other gospel than that.

He is the Truth. Pilate would ask, “What is truth?” In a conversation with the disciples, Philip said, “Show us the Father.” Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” John announced him: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Jesus is the word of truth, and his word, his teaching, is the truth. He is the truth, the one true God, in whom there is no falsehood, no corruption.

And he is the Life. When Jesus came to Bethany upon hearing the news that his friend Lazarus had died, he said to Martha, “I am the resurrection CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 5

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and the life. He who believes in me shall never die.” He preached: “As The Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.”

Jesus is life, from whom all life comes— the author of life; and the Redeemer of life.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. That demands our focused attention.

This is the message of the gospel, which comes to people like you and me, to everyone who has come to this chapel, and everyone who has stood in the pulpit and at the altar here. It comes to all who are burdened with guilty consciences, who have weak flesh and weak wills, who are uncertain, depressed, despondent,

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alone. We all come here as women and men, young and old, afflicted with the same weakness: “The good that I want to do, I do not do; and the evil that I do not want to do, that I keep on doing”—St. Paul, Romans 7.

To all of us who stand thus before him, in repentance, in sorrow over our sin, he says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” “Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven.” “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” If you think that you can find the way yourself, that you have within yourself the wisdom to learn the truth, and that you have control over your own life, then you do not have him as the way, the truth, and the life,”—and

you are lost in darkness of falsehood and spiritual darkness.

Our Lord is the only way, the only truth, and the only life we are given. We are given it. “You did not choose me,” Jesus says. “I chose you.” “No one comes to the Father except through me.” He comes to us by the Word of the Gospel—in preaching and teaching of his word, in the waters of Baptism, in Absolution, in his body and blood of the Supper; with his keys, the forgiveness of sins, he opens the kingdom of heaven, that house of many mansions and gives it to us, here and now. And thus, he makes us, sinners as we are, to be his holy saints. To him alone be the glory, now and forever. Amen.

Recognizing Faculty And Staff Years of Service

The Board of Regents of Bethany Lutheran College and Theological Seminary met on the Bethany campus for their quarterly meeting on February 2 and 3, 2015. After the Chapel service on Tuesday, February 3, the Board recognized faculty and staff who celebrated anniversaries of their employment at Bethany. The Rev. Herbert Huhnerkoch, Board of Regents Chair, was the guest speaker.

Front row from left: Rev. Herbert Huhnerkoch (Chair, Board of Regents), Pat Hull (Maintenance Technician, Carpenter–10 years), Jennifer Wosmek (Associate Professor, Psychology–10 years), Don Moldstad (Director of Campus Spiritual Life, Chaplain–10 years), Chad Heins (Assistant Professor, Biology–15 years), Glenda Bossow (Administrative Assistant, Meyer Hall–15 years), Lance Schwartz (Director of Institutional Communication–25 years), William Bukowski 6

(Professor, Art–35 years), Stacey Dawley (Accounts Payable Clerk–10 years), Lynette Merseth (Executive Assistant to the President–20 years) Not pictured: Lyle Jones (Associate Professor, Health and Human Performance; and Head Coach, Women’s Basketball–25 years) Pictured in back row from left: President Dan Bruss, Tiffany Young Klockziem (Assistant Professor, Health and Human Performance–15 years), Gina Moldstad (Data Specialist,

Admissions–20 years), Mark Meyer (Manager of Academic Computing–15 years), Daniel Mundahl (Vice President of Finance and Administration–15 years), Paul Wold (Manager, Bookstore–20 years), Mark DeGarmeaux (Professor, Religious Studies–20 years), Robert Hanna (Professor, English–10 years), David Norris (Manager of Visual Media–15 years)

B E TH A N Y Magazine

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From our faculty & staff Bethel Balge (Adjunct Professor of Music) has earned her doctorate of musical arts from the University of Minnesota, finishing her program in December 2014. Her emphasis was piano performance and she studied under renowned pianist Lydia Artymiw.

President Dan Bruss and Kathy Bruss (Adjunct Professor of Spanish), on a recent advancement trip to Arizona, invited the parents and other family members of Bethany’s baseball team to a reception hosted by alumnus Nate Hartzell and held at his company, Concrete Designs, Inc. in Tucson. The team participated in spring baseball games in the Tucson area.

Mark DeGarmeaux (Professor of Religious Studies and Languages) attended the 2014 Leif Erikson Day Lecture at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Terje Leiren of the University of Washington (Seattle) spoke on the 200th anniversary of the Norwegian Constitution. DeGarmeaux also served as associate editor and peer reviewer for The Christian Year of Grace by Johannes Spangenberg, translated

by Matthew Carver. Finally, he also attended a workshop on the organ chorales of Helmut

Walcha and on practice techniques, and went with several Bethany students on an organ crawl to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, with members of the Sioux Trails chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

Susan Harstad (Coordinator of Fine Arts) received her “Twenty-Five Years of Service” award from the Concordia Language Villages for working at Salolampi, the Finish Language Village, from 1990 to the present.

Dan Johnson (Head Groundskeeper) was asked by the Minnesota River Valley Master Gardeners to give a presentation on landscapes he has designed on Bethany’s campus. In June 2015, the Master Gardeners group will hold their regular meeting at BLC and will have Dan give a tour of the campus. One of the Master Gardeners asked Dan to help make a television show focusing on the topic, “How to use landscape design to hide ugly spots on your property.” Mankato’s community access television station, KTV, will be producing the show.

The Cities of Mankato and North Mankato and Bethany Lutheran College jointly operate KTV. Amanda Quist (Coordinator, Public Education & Government Access) manages the daily operations of KTV.

Dr. Ryan C. MacPherson (Associate Professor of History) presented a half-day workshop, “Generational Generosity: Handing Down Our Faith to Our Children and Our Children’s Children,” to sixty leaders in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on February 3, 2015. MacPherson also was interviewed for the KFUO radio program concerning pro-life apologetics on January 20, 2015.

Timothy Schmeling (Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and History) attended the annual Pastors’ Institute of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Okauchee, Wisconsin, on March 9, 2015. Schmeling gave a presentation about how the 1580 Book of Concord was received in some of the northern German duchies. It explains some of the conflicts involved in the acceptance of the Book of Concord in Lutheran lands, and helps explain the genesis of the Syncretistic Controversy (ca. 1645–86) of the seventeenth century. President Gaylin Schmeling of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary also presented about the history of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC). In addition to pastors of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a couple of laymen and two Bethany Lutheran College students, Tyler Voigt and Peter Bockoven, were in attendance.

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Photo by Paul Fries

Mark Harstad with his wife, Peggy.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Professor Mark Harstad was called

to his eternal home on Saturday, January 17, 2015.

Rachel Olsen, Professor Harstad’s great niece and a sophomore at Bethany, wrote about Professor Harstad in the Bethany Scroll.

Well-respected, passionate, and faithful are just a few of the many words used to describe Professor Mark Harstad. Many of the Bethany faculty, staff, and students worked with Harstad over the past thirty plus years.

The faculty loved working with him and the students enjoyed being in his classes. A countless number of his students have said that he was their favorite teacher of all time. Professor of Religious Studies Mark DeGarmeaux said, “He helped me understand what Lutheranism is all about. It is comforting, yet powerful.”

Harstad began his career at Bethany teaching Old Testament Studies in the Seminary and eventually added Hebrew, Psalms, Isaiah, and Old Testament Israel to his repertoire.

Harstad was also trained in the ministry and regularly preached in Trinity Chapel. Many who heard him preach would say his voice sounded like the “voice of God.” 8

Harstad’s preaching and teaching, however, was not just limited to Bethany alone. As a pastor he served congregations in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Madison, Wisconsin.

Many who knew Professor Harstad would say that he was a bit of a Renaissance Man. He was very passionate about foreign languages, music, and baseball. Hebrew was the main language he taught, and he usually found a way to work these languages into his sermons. He was always organizing groups to play strings in church or sing in chapel. He was also involved with the Minnesota Valley Chorale. Baseball was another passion of Harstad’s. A great uncle of his actually pitched against Babe Ruth back in the day.

When Harstad was in the Seminary, he was a resident assistant on campus. He was also involved in the Mankato Chapter of the Sons of Norway organization, which is a group that celebrates and preserves Norwegian heritage in various ways.

In the summer of 2014, Harstad embarked on an Alaska trip with several relatives. The goal of the trip was to retrace ancestor Bjug Harstad’s steps as he was panning for gold in order to fund Pacific Lutheran University, which he helped found in 1890, and became its first president.

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Photo courtesy of Carol Yenish

Harstad in Alaska, retracing the steps of Bjug Harstad.

It was on this trip that Harstad’s cancer was discovered.

He and his wife Peggy were traveling to and from Rochester, Minnesota, for treatments for several months. Harstad’s brother, John Harstad, provided bone marrow for a transplant.

The transplant was received well and he was in remission for a short while.

Harstad’s health looked good until the cancer came back in a more aggressive form near the beginning of January 2015. His health deteriorated rapidly to the point where it was virtually untreatable. He entered hospice care in an effort to keep him as comfortable as possible. After spending only one full night at home with his family, the Lord called him home on January 17, 2015.

A Christian funeral service for Professor Harstad was held on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Mankato. Hundreds of family, friends, and colleagues gathered together on that day to remember Harstad, and his life devoted to serving God. Family, friends and all those he was associated with will certainly miss Mark Harstad.

As Chaplain Don Moldstad said, “Mark was a father figure to us and an important member of the faculty.”

Professor Harstad has been a great blessing to the Bethany community for many years. May God be with his family and loved ones as they mourn his passing.

Bethany Archive photo

Harstad started teaching at the Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1980, and in 1986 was called to teach at Bethany Lutheran College.

“He helped me understand what Lutheranism is all about.

It is comforting, yet powerful.”

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BY L A N C E S C H WA R T Z • D I R EC TO R O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L COM MU N I C AT I O N

New Bethany major/minor brings an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of law Bethany Lutheran College has recently added a new major and minor in legal studies. The new major will be offered beginning with the fall semester of 2015.

Bethany’s new legal studies major was developed as a collaborative effort between several academic programs including communication, history, and sociology, and draws upon the College’s liberal arts tradition to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the study of law. Sara Burger-Edwards, J.D., Assistant Professor of Legal Studies, will serve as the coordinator for the legal studies major. Edwards has been teaching

Photos by David Norris

Sara Burger-Edwards, J.D., serves at the coordinator for the legal studies major.

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communication courses with a legal studies emphasis at BLC since 2008. Ryan C. MacPherson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of History, will also bring extensive experience in public policy and constitutional law matters to the legal studies program.

Dr. Eric Woller, Vice President of Academic Affairs, explained more about the legal studies program.

“Bethany already has a track record for placing graduates in law programs. The new legal studies major builds on that track record and provides students with valuable legal knowledge and skills that can be utilized in many different occupations. The program prepares students for entry-level, law-related careers such as paralegal or corrections officer and also provides groundwork for those students who plan to go on to law school or graduate school. Students interested in business leadership, nonprofit board service, community development, and consulting will also find the legal studies program beneficial. A unique feature of the program is that students also will learn to apply Christian values to the ethical challenges of contemporary legal practice.”

B E TH A N Y Magazine

Legal studies graduates at BLC seeking admission to law school will receive special advising in preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) examination, and employment prospects for legal studies graduates looks bright.

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 10 to 17 percent increase in job opportunities from 2012-2022 for persons 2015 graduate Miles Kelson. with legal expertise,” said Burger-Edwards.

Miles Kelson, a member of the Class of 2015, will be attending law school this fall at Chicago-Kent College of Law. He’s just one of many Bethany students who’ve studied law after earning their bachelor’s degree at Bethany.

Kelson majored in business administration but took several legal studies courses from Edwards while at Bethany. Kelson also interned in the Blue Earth County Public Defender’s office.

He noted, “The legal studies courses taught by Professor Edwards have given me a foundation in law that is directly applicable in my work at the Public Defender's office. Bethany's classes and internship opportunities are experiences that have prepared me for my entry into law school.”

Kelson made the most of his time at Bethany and his undergraduate experiences certainly helped him in the admission process. Kelson received the Chicago-Kent Dean's Full Tuition Merit Scholarship. This is a scholarship with a total value of $134,415 over three years. This full-tuition scholarship is guaranteed each year that Kelson is enrolled in classes at Chicago-Kent, and is based on various parts of the law school application including his undergraduate GPA, Law School Admission Test score, resume, personal statement, and background.

Kelson says he’ll determine which aspect of law he’ll focus on during his time in law school. “A long term career aspiration of mine would be to own or partner at a private practice law firm.”

STU D E NT AC TI V ITI E S

STUDENTS VISIT CAPITOL TO SAY 'THANK YOU'

Photos by David Norris

Much has been written recently about college affordability. Many students attending Bethany receive financial assistance through the Minnesota State Grant Program. The grant program assists students with their tuition bills by awarding funding based solely on the student’s financial need.

The State Grant Program helps more than 30 percent of Bethany students (over 200) to be able to afford a college education. The average award for Bethany students is over $3,000. Without the funding, many students would be forced to take additional loans, or worse yet, perhaps not attend Bethany.

The State Grant Program is built on the principle that students, parents, and federal and state taxpayers all have an interest — and a role — in helping students attend the college program that best meets their needs. This principle, called “Design for Shared Responsibility,” makes the State Grant Program one of the best-designed student aid programs in the country.

Each year, a large contingent of Bethany students travels to the Minnesota State Capitol to thank legislators for their support of the State Grant Program.

Bethany’s “Day at the Capitol” event was held on March 19, 2015.

Sergio Salgado, a senior from Albert Lea, Minnesota, and a first-generation college student, is a State Grant recipient and attended Day at the Capitol for a second time. Salgado commented about the importance of not only the State Grant Program, but also the financial aid he received at Bethany.

"Because of the generous donors and scholarships provided through Bethany, together with the help of the Minnesota State Grant, I am able to break through the glass ceiling. The grants and scholarship allow Sergio Salgado me to gather new experiences that help me grow academically, spiritually, and individually. Without having to worry much about finances, I’ve really been able to focus on career and educational opportunities at Bethany. I’ve particularly enjoyed being part of the Student Leadership Institute. I say, thank you to all who donate to Bethany, and I’m thankful for the State Grant program helping make my dreams a reality!”

during the time I was at Bethany: speech and debate tournaments, Scroll staff writer, Maverick Hockey Broadcast crew, and the World Club. Bethany people gave me care, practiced hospitality, and when I was in need they offered help without judging or asking for anything in return. Matthew 5:16 says that through our deeds others may see the origin of the deeds – our Father in heaven. Right now no matter at my workplace, home, or church, I make every effort to follow the example of Bethany people – glorifying God with behavior.

Speech team coach, Jon Loging, is one of the Bethany people leaving me a deep impression and having impact on my life. Loging always encouraged the members by saying, "take the room.” One time, the score of my prose interpretation did not make me pleased. He gave me another encouragement that the most important thing is not the score, but what I had learned. This conversation helped me turn nervousness into a more positive energy, which was passion and the confidence to speak, focusing more on the process of interpretation and enjoying the time with people.

The score I gained was better and better and finally I earned second place in After Dinner Speech at the Twin

BY M I C K Y M A I • FO R M ER B E T H A N Y E XCH A N G E S T U D EN T City Forensics League (TCFL) Tournament. Loging’s encouragement testified to Romans 15:2, “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

I was baptized in Guangzhou in September 2013 and joined the choir one month later. Everything was good, but I was still unsatisfied. I prayed to God if He pleased me to use pen to serve Him. Writing has been my interest and habit for a long time. And the passion in writing becomes even stronger when it comes to introducing biblical information. God answered I like to reflect on the Christian values and faith Bethany taught me that my prayer. make me treasure God’s word, praying to Him often, and setting serving “For I am full of words, and the spirit within me Him as priority. When I was at Bethany I took the religious class “Life of compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new Christ.” Chaplain Moldstad used the four Gospels (and included group wineskins ready to burst.” (Job 32:18-19) Being greatly discussion and film watching) to exemplify the person, life, and meaning of encouraged, I started to submit articles to the church Jesus Christ for mankind, and improve our understanding website about the change that God had of this. I gained much biblical knowledge from brought about in my life, and For I am full of words, and the spirit this course. Another point that impressed prayed that God would me was how much Chaplain Moldstad open up opportunities for within me compels me; inside I am like loved the Word of God. When answering me to write about church bottled-up wine, like new wineskins questions raised by students, he usually news and events. God ready to burst. opened the Bible, pointed out certain verses answered this prayer as well.

JOB 32:18-19 and explained what the verses meant. What he Since the end of 2014 until now, did is absolutely right. This is because he values Jesus Christ I have submitted eight articles to the website. who is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6) and always remains in Him. Based upon my writing performance and eagerness to “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will be bear much fruit; apart from learn, my pastor recommended me as reporter of the me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) church. Because of this, I get an opportunity to take Besides loving God’s word, loving brothers and sisters is another courses concerning the Bible, history of China’s church important lesson Bethany taught me. I participated in various activities and Christianity. I pray that my study will be fruitful.

READY TO

BURST

Now back home in China, Micky Mai shares how a semester at Bethany changed her life

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B E TH A N Y Magazine

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Photo by David Norris

BY L A N C E S C H WA R T Z • D I R EC TO R O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L COM MU N I C AT I O N

2015 graduate William Soule (left) with Speech Team Coach Jon Loging. This fall, Soule will attend the University of Chicago Law School.

Speech team wraps up a season for the books The Bethany Lutheran College Speech Team, since its earliest days, established a tradition of success, and the team continued its winning ways with a successful trip to the 18th annual National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI) speech and debate tournament on the campus of Colorado Christian University on March 20-22, 2015, in Lakewood, Colorado. Bethany was represented by five students: seniors Shawn Loging and William Soule, junior Jacob Schneider, sophomore Jeffery Olsen, and freshman Zeffie Woods.

The team won seven awards at the tournament.

Woods was named the sixth best debater in the novice division of debate. Olsen was named the sixth best debater in the open division of debate. Loging finished in sixth place in after dinner speaking. Soule and Schneider were quarter-finalists in the open division of debate. Soule was named the top speaker in the open division of debate as well as a semi-finalist in the event of impromptu speaking.

Soule also finished in first place in extemporaneous speaking. He finished his fourth and final NCCFI tournament as the national champion in the category

three out of four years. (He came in second in 2014.) Soule was also a national champion in impromptu speaking his sophomore year. Soule has won the most awards of any student in the history of the Bethany Speech Team.

Soule commented, “Over the past four years I have been incredibly fortunate to compete with an amazing group of personalities that compose BLC Speech and Debate. I never thought I could perform at such a high level or develop so much as a speaker, but [Coach Jon Loging] knew I could. Jon can take someone that has no prior speaking skills and turn them into an eloquent, phenomenal speaker. In retrospect, these four years have been filled with accomplishments, but the more I look back, the more I realize that they are not my accomplishments.

Rather, they are accomplishments of a fantastic program filled with fantastic people led by a fantastic coach.”

Coach Jon Loging was also named Coach of the Year at the tournament. The award is given to the coach who best exemplifies the mission and the values of the organization. The executive council of the tournament unanimously gave the award for Loging’s commitment to the educational value of competitive speech.

“The staff of the National Christian College tournament works hard for the rest of us. I just wanted to do my part,” noted Loging. “I work with a lot of amazing coaches and I am honored to be considered one of them.”

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BUILDIN The selfless leadership of Dan Bruss brought significant growth

BY L A N C E S C H WA R T Z • D I R EC TO R O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L COM MU N I C AT I O N

It’s probably safe to say that most students don’t enroll at a college they’d visited for no more than an hour, but that’s exactly what Dan Bruss did in the fall of 1971. A farmer’s son from Wisconsin, the first to attend college from his family, he was interested in science and wanted to attend a Lutheran school. A cousin teaching high school at Winnebago Lutheran Academy convinced him that Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) might be a good option. So, Bruss packed the car, headed to Mankato without really knowing a lot about the school, and thus began the academic career of an instructor, professor, mentor, and college president.

14 Photo by David Norris

B E TH A N Y Magazine

ING k c o l b After he earned his associate in arts degree from BLC, Bruss went on to study at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, and was thinking seriously about taking some graduate courses in biology, as well as classical languages to perhaps prepare for seminary studies. But a phone call from Professor Cal Johnson at Bethany, who was both teaching chemistry and handling financial aid duties in 1975, changed the scenario. Johnson asked him if he’d consider “helping out” with some classes.

“As a foolish youngster, I said ‘Ok,’” said Bruss, “but I didn’t even know what ‘helping out’ really meant.”

He ended up teaching two chemistry courses and labs. On the side, Bruss took Greek and Hebrew. What followed was a career-defining moment that he’d never have predicted.

“At the end of that first year, amazingly, I decided that I kind of liked teaching, and so began my career in higher education.”

Another opportunity for academic growth presented itself when Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL) provided funding for Lutheran college faculty to pursue advanced degrees. Bruss began graduate studies at Mankato State University while he continued to teach at Bethany, and still contemplated the seminary.

“As time progressed, I finished my master’s, and still really enjoyed the classroom. I thought that if I was going to continue teaching at the college level, I needed to work on a Ph.D.”

O N CA M PU S

While teaching at Bethany, Bruss met his future wife, Kathy Moldstad, and the two were married in 1980. It wasn’t long after earning his M.A. that a newly married couple packed the car and headed to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, for Bruss to pursue his doctorate in chemistry. Bruss was granted an official leave of absence from Bethany for the first year of his studies at Montana State, but the leave was not renewed when he asked for an extension. According to Bruss, that was “probably the right decision for everybody” as he was intent on earning his Ph.D. During this time in Montana, the first of the couple’s two children, Elisabeth, was born in 1984.

"AT THE END OF THAT FIRST YEAR, AMAZINGLY, I DECIDED THAT I KIND OF LIKED TEACHING, AND SO BEGAN MY CAREER IN HIGHER EDUCATION." Bruss finished his Ph.D. program in 1985, and the family set out to Albany, New York, where he was offered a faculty position at Albany College of Pharmacy. The couple’s second child, Robert, was born in 1986 in New York.

“It was a good place for us at the time. Kathy got her master’s degree in Spanish at the State University of New York (SUNY) Albany. It was a very good place for me, professionally, but I was interested in teaching at a school with more of a liberal arts perspective.”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Bethany Archive photo

15 8 15

O N CA M PU S

J U N E 20 15

Bethany Archive photo

Dan and Kathy Bruss with their daughter Elisabeth.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

After five years at Albany College of Pharmacy, a new opportunity presented itself when Bruss was offered a tenure-track position at Central College, in Pella, Iowa.

“Having been at Bethany and Augsburg, I liked the idea of being involved in a variety of things. That had been my life, and it was natural.

Teaching undergraduates not just in chemistry, but in a broader context was important to me.”

At Central, Bruss worked with liberal arts students as well as those majoring in chemistry, rather than just pharmacy majors. He mentioned a “game changing moment” that occurred during a welcome reception at a faculty member’s house during the interview process. Bruss noticed that nearly every faculty member there had, at one point, lived abroad as part of their academic life. It’s something in which he and Kathy both took a particular interest, and would ultimately lead to academic experiences in Mexico, the Netherlands, and Africa.

While at Central, Bruss helped develop curriculum for the sciences, served as division chair, and as the faculty liaison for redesigning a new science building. Kathy began teaching in the Spanish Department and later was appointed the Director of International Education, responsible for overseeing the management of college-owned study abroad programs in seven different countries. All of these experiences set the stage for the next career changes for both Dan and Kathy Bruss.

When Bruss received the call to be President of Bethany in 2002, he admits that it came as a surprise. The presidency was not something that he sought out. Prior to accepting the call, he spent a day on campus talking 16

with faculty and staff, and learned that the Bethany he left twenty-two years earlier, although larger in size, was the same school in many ways.

“During that visit, someone said to me that while faculty and student accomplishments are important, ultimately what matters most is that the College remains faithful. Hearing that was all I needed.”

So Bruss accepted the call to the Presidency and was ready to take on the challenges associated with an institution that, for all intents and purposes, was very new to the bachelor’s-granting world of higher education.

Not that the school hadn’t been in existence for seventy-five years, but the junior college environment needed to fully transform into a four-year institution. It’s no secret that the move to a baccalaureate institution had skeptics from the beginning, long before Bruss arrived on campus, and that sentiment hadn’t completely died before he arrived.

“The 2003 Bethany catalog listed eight majors, many of which were brand new, so the College had a long way to go. The number one question I received when I arrived on campus was, ‘We don’t have a track record for the B.A., how is this experiment going to work?’

Whenever a major change is undertaken, not everyone is convinced that it’s for the best.”

But during the past thirteen years, since Bruss has been at the helm, twelve new majors have been developed and over the years have matured, bringing the total to twenty. Finding the accompanying pieces of the puzzle to establish a baccalaureate culture was also part of Bruss’ charge. The A.A. degree was discontinued. Edgewood Place Apartments were built in 2005 to provide upper-class students more independence.

Study abroad opportunities and other international connections were developed. The College transitioned to NCAA Division III athletics and new sports were added. A new academic building—the largest on campus—was built in 2010 to house the growing academic program. Today, Bethany graduates are competitive on both the local and national levels for jobs as well as graduate school. Bethany has indeed become the baccalaureate institution that was hoped for in 1996.

“Intellectually, we all believed that it would work, but looking back now, it really has in some pretty exciting ways. Our graduates get good jobs, get into some very good graduate schools, and have done some amazing things. But they still look at the College in the sense that it was founded—as a school that is faithful. To be a part of that was the most gratifying for me.”

B E TH A N Y Magazine

O N CA M PU S

Looking at the institution today, the bright students, successful alumni, and the attractive campus—it’s apparent that the transition from a junior college to a baccalaureate institution was the right decision.

Certainly, Bruss was at the helm for this transition, but he’s quick to point out that so many had a stake in this process. He notes the Board of Regents, the faculty and staff, and supportive alumni. And when asked what he’s most thankful for during his time as president, he mentions the prayers that so many offer for the College.

“I can’t tell you how many people mention that they actively, daily, pray for Bethany. They mention the impact Bethany has had on them, not just as students, but also as young Christians.”

Bruss says he doesn’t have any concrete plans for the days following June 30, 2015, when he leaves his office at BLC. He would just like to enjoy a few months of being entirely unscheduled.

He’s open to perhaps getting back in the classroom some day—a place where he says the energy is infectious, and he’ll most likely surrender to some form of wanderlust. He and Kathy are planning a trip to Central America, and perhaps a “Blue Highways” tour of the American West this fall.

“I’m not closing the door on anything, but if something interesting presents itself, we’ll have to see.”

Closing the door on this chapter at Bethany, Bruss doesn’t mince words about the future. “I hope for the continued success and growth of Bethany Lutheran College. However, the higher education landscape is experiencing some turbulent times, Bethany included. Going forward, success might require some less traditional thinking, not with respect to the important mission of this school, but certainly in how it’s delivered. But, I’m confident that all of this is in God’s hands.”

And with that, we’re also confident that the future for Dan and Kathy Bruss is in God’s hands as well, and we wish them both His blessings as they begin another new chapter in their unscripted story.

Bethany Archive photo

YEARS

Bruss saw the number of majors offered to students grow from eight to twenty while in office.

BRUSS

The

I $28,000,000 RAISED

Successful completion of the Faithful Future capital campaign, exceeding the goal by $2,000,000.

2003– 2015

Some examples of Bethany's growth under the Dan Bruss presidency.

III ATHLETICS UPGRADE

V HONSEY HALL

Made the move from junior college athletics status to NCAA Division III.

I

Another Faithful Future initiative, a 67,000 square foot multidisciplinary academic building was added to the campus.

III

V

VII VII ALUMNI SUCCESS

II II STUDY ABROAD

Several study abroad initiatives including partnership with United International College in China.

IV

VI

IV $5,000,000 FOR SCHOLARSHIPS VI PROGRAMS ADDED

As part of the Faithful Future capital campaign, money was set aside for endowed scholarships.

Twelve new academic programs were added, bringing the total number of majors available to twenty, along with twenty-one minors and eight pre-professional programs.

Bethany alumni have gone on to compete well at the local, regional, and national levels for jobs and admission into graduate, medical, and professional schools.

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17

In Bethany's spring play, Metamorphoses, a massive pool of water took center stage.

BY B E N J I I N N I G E R • A SSI STA NT PR O FE SS O R O F TH E ATR E

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During late April 2015, Row E, Seats 4-11 in the Sigurd K. Lee Theater at Bethany Lutheran College became known as the splash zone. Or perhaps the “spritz zone” might be a more accurate description. That’s because the Theatre Department endeavored to create a custombuilt, 2,700-gallon, fully heated and filtered swimming pool in the middle of the theater, a key component of the play Metamorphoses by Mary Zimmerman based on the myths of Ovid.

The play, which involves the gods, demigods, and mortals from ancient Greek and Roman mythology, is a series of stories and vignettes with anachronistic glimpses into modern times. The water is a crucial storytelling element because water can be such a potent symbol. Water is the most basic foundation of life, but can also hold devastating power to take life away. Water can cause destruction and disaster, but is the very thing that washes away the destruction to make something clean once again. In short, it is a strong symbol for change, and as the title would imply, change is the central theme in Metamorphoses.

Although the pool was certainly the most immediately recognizable feature, the department was busy putting together every aspect of this production throughout the spring semester. The set, designed by faculty member

Benji Inniger, was built and planned by Technical Director John Merseth, Jr. Merseth had to not only ensure that the structural integrity of the theater could hold 2,700 gallons (which by the way weighs about 11 tons, about as much as a semi-truck), but also had to plan and construct multiple elevated platforms, working doors, large painted drops, and other scenic gadgetry.

The set was custom painted by faculty member Peter Bloedel, who brought two enormous painted backdrops and two twenty-foot columns to life as well as painting an expanse of green marble and other stonework around the set. Lighting Designer Jake Yenish was tasked with lighting an area of the theater that was never intended to be lit, in addition to creating a centralized starscape made from thirty-five antique-style light bulbs.

Costume Designer Emily Kimball built customtailored costumes for nearly sixty characters that had to maintain their structural and color integrity despite being constantly subjected to submersion and pool chemicals. Benji Inniger also designed the sound, which included nearly an hour of original music. All this was going on while ten cast members were rehearsing their sixty characters in a dry environment. The cast did not even get to interact with the water until a week and a half before the play opened.

B E TH A N Y Magazine

FI N E A R T S

Photo by David Norris

From left: Nick Lilienthal, Benji Inniger, and Kasey Gratz.

BETHANY THEATRE WINS SEVERAL REGIONAL AWARDS Photo by Benji Inniger

Beret Ouren played six different characters, including narrator.

It was a tall order, even for the Bethany Theatre Department who takes great pride in their production quality. But was it worth it? Why go through all of the effort? Metamorphoses became more than just the play about the pool. It allowed the audience members to experience the visceral consequences of change that happens in everyday life, be it hilarious or devastating brought upon by the immersive (pun kind of intended) world created for these stories. For the director, it was important to show a practical thankfulness to our reliably benevolent and merciful Savior by telling stories about these vindictive, spiteful, and bipolar deities of past cultures. If you were able to see one of the performances, it felt like something special happened for those two weekends in April. It was time well spent.

If you enter the room now, everything has pretty much returned to normal. It looks like Metamorphoses never even metamorphosed the space. But for the cast, crew, and community that got to experience it, one would hope that it was a beautiful and memorable artistic experience that created a little change in some form. And for the record, Row E, Seats 4-11 have returned to being a perfectly safe and dry location to see an event in the Lee Theater.

VIEW MORE THEATRE PHOTOS: BLC.EDU/PHOTO-GALLERY

The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide and has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of college theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, where theater departments and student artists showcase their work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. Bethany Lutheran College students compete at KCACTF festivals.

Bethany senior Nick Lilienthal (Brownsburg, Ind.) was awarded first place for his Institute for Theatre Journalism and Advocacy (ITJA) Critical Review Project at the KCACTF Region Five competition. Lilienthal wrote structured reviews for several shows that were presented at the festival. Lilienthal also received second place in this program last year.

Junior Kasey Gratz (North Mankato, Minn.) received a Certificate of Merit for her work as stage manager on Bethany’s production of A Christmas Carol.

Gratz also participated in the stage management program and was a part of a team that managed the Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC) competition at the Festival.

Additionally, Anna Schroeder (Watertown, So. Dak), David Roemhildt (North Mankato, Minn.), and David Ott (New Prague, Minn.) were nominated and participated in the Irene Ryan Scholarship program this year. Amir Trotter (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was also nominated, but was unable to attend the festival. The participants, along with their partners Nick Lilienthal, Jacob Finke (Winona, Minn.), Leah Hagen (Mankato, Minn.), and Michael Schultz (Milliken, Colo.) performed scenes in a scholarship program with over 300 other student actors.

Benji Inniger (Assistant Professor of Theatre) led a workshop on music composition for theatre, and served as the coordinator for the college expo.

Throughout the week, all of the students had the opportunity to watch many invited shows from other colleges and universities throughout the region and attend workshops and master classes in multiple disciplines across the theatrical arts. KCACTF Region Five is comprised of institutions in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

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ATH LE TI C S N E WS

JUNE 2015

S G N I K I V Y s c i t N e l A h t A BETH

Photos by David Norris

Former Bethany basketball player Bruno Wilinski was honored on February 6, 2015, for his accomplishment during the 1954-55 season with 'Bruno Wilinski Day.' Joining him was his wife, Marian (Solli '57), and presenting him with a commemorative plaque and basketball was Art Westphal (far left), and Jake Krier (far right).

Recognizing one of Bethany's best Bethany Lutheran College celebrated “Bruno Wilinski Day” on Friday, February 6, 2015. Events for this special day were planned in conjunction with Bethany Viking basketball games. It was sixty years ago during the 1954-55 season, when Wilinski led all National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) players throughout the nation in scoring, averaging 32.2 points over the nineteen games he played. He also earned NJCAA Third Team All-American honors for his efforts. Wilinski would later return to Bethany to serve as the men’s basketball coach and athletic director.

Attendees were able to greet Wilinski in the lobby of the Sports and Fitness

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Center during the course of the men’s and women’s games that night. There was a special ceremony before the men’s game for Wilinski, which was led by former coach, teacher, and Bethany administrator Ron Younge, who is both a good friend and a player on of one the teams coached by Wilinski. In addition to all of the fans at the game that evening, over one hundred friends and family members were at the event to celebrate “Bruno Wilinski Day.”

B E TH A N Y Magazine

ATH LE TI CS

ATHLETIC HONORS

BY J O E TI S CH LE R • CO O R D I N ATO R O F SP O RT S I N FO R M ATI O N

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The BLC men's basketball team saw three players earn Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) honors. Receiving Honorable Mention recognition were the team’s top leading scorers, junior Nick Sanborn (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) and freshman Neil Eichten (Wabasso, Minn./Wabasso).

Named to the All-Defensive Team was freshman Brady Rose (Le Sueur, Minn./Le Sueur-Henderson).

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Vikings were led by three-time UMAC Player of the Week Briana Brandts (St. James, Minn./ St. James). She averaged a double-double on the season scoring 12.3 points and 10.4 rebounds per contest. She tied a program high with 21 rebounds in the season finale. She was second in the UMAC in both rebounding and steals (2.4 per game). Those numbers put her on the UMAC's Second Team and All-Defensive Team. Angela DeBruzzi (Carlisle, Mass./Concord Carlisle) led the team in scoring with 12.5 ppg.

MEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The men's indoor track and field team had an impressive showing at the UMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships with four athletes achieving All-Conference honors. Owen Richardson (Lake Elsinore, Calif./California Lutheran) was named the Male Athlete of the Meet after he set a new conference record in the 3000 meter run and placed third in both the 400 meter dash and 800 meter run. Nic Bruss (Lafayette, Minn./Sibley East) was the conference champion in the 60 meter hurdles.

Josh Jablon (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) and Matthew Tucker earned All-Conference honors with second place showings in the shot put and high jump, respectively.

WOMEN'S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Freshman Kari Marzinske (South St. Paul, Minn./ St. Croix Lutheran) earned All-UMAC honors with second place showings in the 60-meter hurdles and high jump at the UMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. She set four school records during the season. Also setting school records were Megan Sauer (Lismore, Minn./Adrian) in four events, Kirsten Elyea (Hartley, Iowa/Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn) in the 1000 meters, Kayla Norris (North Mankato, Minn./Minnesota Valley Lutheran) in the long jump, Anna Lieske (North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) in the triple jump, and Lindsey Stewart (Albert Lea, Minn./Albert Lea) in the shot put and weight throw.

BASEBALL

Three Bethany baseball players were named to the First Team and two more received Honorable Mention recognition as the UMAC announced their All-Conference selections.

Returning to the UMAC First Team for the third time are seniors Adam Geiger (Mankato, Minn./ Immanuel Lutheran) and Lucas Herd (Gaylord, Minn./Sibley East). Geiger led the Vikings with a .404 batting average and in runs batted in with 29.

A four-year starter, Herd returns to the UMAC's First Team. In addition to his outfield duties, the senior saw time on the mound for the past two seasons, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.70 earned run average in 2015. At the plate, Herd batted .294 and finishes a career .330 batting average.

On the First Team squad for the first time is senior southpaw hurler Ronnie Donley (Ham Lake, Minn./ Blaine). Donley was the club leader in wins (4), strikeouts (53), and complete games (4).

Tyler Hebrink (Willmar, Minn./St. Cloud Tech) earns All-Conference Honorable Mention recognition for the second straight season. The senior 1B/2B batted .346 in 2015 and finishes with a career .352 batting average. Joining Hebrink with Honorable Mention is freshman Nick Caldeen (Blaine, Minn./Blaine). His hitting improved during the conference season ending with a .338 batting average.

MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Three Bethany men's track and field athletes who were on the UMAC Indoor Track and Field All-Conference Team were announced as award winners to the UMAC Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference Team.

Owen Richardson competed in five events earning at least fourth place in every event. He set a new UMAC meet record in the 3000 meter steeplechase with an impressive time of 9:53.65.

Nic Bruss took the 60-meter hurdles crown at the indoor championships and added the triple jump championship to his list of accomplishments.

Mankato native Josh Jablon matched his second place showing in the shot put at the indoor championships with another second place effort at the outdoor championships in the same event.

SOFTBALL

Two newcomers to the Bethany softball team in 2015 earned UMAC All-Conference selections.

Receiving three separate honors was pitcher Anna Pipenhagen (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) She was named First Team All-Conference, named to the All-Defensive team, and won the conference's Rookie of the Year Award.

She finished second in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings with an 11.2 average and her 2.60 earned run average set a new program record and placed her second in the UMAC. She also led the team with a .380 batting average.

Cindy Pawlitschek (St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) tied for the team lead in home runs with three and was second with a .314 batting average. Those statistics help her receive Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition.

MEN'S TENNIS

For Bethany, one returnee and two newcomers were named to the UMAC Men's Tennis All-Conference Team.

Jacob Kubler (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) played all but one match at the No. 1 singles position winning six singles and six doubles matches.

Carter Dahl (Albert Lea, Minn./Albert Lea), the two-time UMAC Player of the Week recipient, was tied for Jacob Kubler earned the team lead with ten 2015 UMAC All-Confersingles victories and ence honors. added seven doubles wins to his first collegiate season.

Andr ew J e lken (Luverne, Minn./Luverne), totaled eight singles victories and five doubles wins in his first season.

WOMEN'S TENNIS

Rachel Rosemore (Altoona, Wis./Altoona) was named to the UMAC Women's Tennis All-Conference Team. Rosemore spent more than half of the season playing in Bethany's No. 1 singles position winning six singles matches and four doubles matching in her first season of collegiate tennis.

UMAC Rookie of the Year Anna Pipenhagen finished second in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings.

Photo by David Norris

21

Jim Vinz of West Palm Beach, Florida, is the recipient of the 2015 Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Vinz, originally from Amboy, Minnesota, enrolled at Bethany in 1979. He was a member of the Bethany basketball team and was active in theatre and student senate. He earned an associate in arts degree from BLC in 1981. He attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, and earned a master’s of business administration from Southern Methodist University.

During summer breaks, while attending Bethany, Vinz started working in local restaurants in order to save money for college. Since those summer jobs, he has been working part-time and full-time in the restaurant industry, and found that with each new job he took the challenge became greater.

“I am just a man that has been incredibly blessed with great opportunities and have done my best to develop myself and others.”

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J I M V I NZ • 2 0 1 5 D I STI N G U I SH ED A LUM N U S

“I found myself being asked to take on larger roles with more responsibility in just about every position I had. Eventually, I got into management and realized I could do this for a living, long-term—not just a transition job. Once I decided to make it a career, I had the opportunity to live in a number of different states as I took on new roles and advancement opportunities,” Vinz recounts.

His leadership skills and passion for the industry led Vinz into executive roles for major restaurant corporations. He has served as vice president of operations for Bay Street Restaurants, Inc., and chief operating officer and later president of Corner Bakery Café. After sixteen years with Corner Bakery Café, he was hired as president and CEO of Le Duff America, which is a corporation that oversees six different restaurant chains, including Bruegger’s Bagels.

Today, Vinz is the CEO and part owner of TooJay’s Deli & Bakery based in West Palm Beach, Florida.

TooJay’s is a regional brand with all of the stores located in Florida. Vinz says he was attracted to the brand due to its size, strong local following, and potential to grow.

B E TH A N Y Magazine

When asked what he most enjoys about the restaurant industry, Vinz notes, “I enjoy the people interaction, flexibility of hours, and no-two-days-thesame aspect of working in this industry.”

According to Vinz, success in the restaurant industry, like most businesses, comes down to the people around you.

“I do enjoy the people that I work with. In the restaurant industry you typically find people with a strong work ethic who enjoy serving others. I also enjoy that every day brings new challenges that keep you on your toes. There is never time to be bored.”

Peers have recognized Vinz for his commitment to his employees and the restaurant industry. Under his direction, Corner Bakery Café won the Best Practices Award (lowest turnover, highest team diversity and community involvement) three years in a row, and then later one of his restaurants with Le Duff America, La Madeleine, earned the same award. Also while under his leadership, Corner Bakery Café won the prestigious Heart of the Workplace Award for continued best practices in sustaining workplace excellence. Both the Best Practices and Heart of the Workplace Awards are given by TDn2K (Transforming Data Into Knowledge), which is the parent company to People Report, Black Box Intelligence, and White Box Social Intelligence. Vinz has served on the National Restaurant Association’s Fast Casual Industry Council for the past four years, and he has been a featured panelist, speaker, and chair at numerous industry events and conferences.

Vinz also serves on the national advisory board for the Dine Out for No Kid Hungry Campaign (part of the non-profit Share Our Strength). This restaurant industry program seeks to end childhood hunger in the United States. He has been a board member since its inception in 2008 and was the chairman in 2011 and 2012.

Jim Vinz received the 2015 Distinguished Alumnus Award during the Bethany Spring Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2015, where he addressed the graduating class and guests.

“I am extremely humbled by this award and not sure what I have done to deserve this honor. When I look at the other winners, my accomplishments seem to pale in comparison. I am just a man that has been incredibly blessed with great opportunities and have done my best to develop myself and others.”

Vinz, and his wife of 27 years, Lori, have two children: daughter Bethany, and son Hayden. They are members of both Living Word Lutheran Church in Grapevine, Texas, and Faith Lutheran Church in North Palm Beach, Florida.

A LUM N I

CLASSES OF '52 AND '53 BRING SOMETHING NEW TO THE OLD MAIN ENTRANCE A beautiful, new stained-glass window was installed at the entrance of Bethany’s Old Main building on Thursday, March 13, 2015. The Bethany High School classes of 1952 and 1953 donated funds to create and install the stained glass, which is titled “The Way of the Cross.” It depicts the life of Christ in the artwork with his birth, death on the cross, and resurrection. The classes donated the window in honor of their Bethany education, and to serve as a reminder to all the students, faculty, and staff that the College’s mission of the “One Thing Needful,” which is the saving Gospel of Christ, is at the center of a Bethany education.

Jake Krier, Manager of Alumni Relations, worked with the classes of '52 and '53 throughout the project.

"This has been an exciting project to see happen. There were many people involved, but everyone would agree this would not have been accomplished if it weren’t for the leadership of Harold Burgdorf and Harold Theiste. These gentlemen were the drivers that kept us always going forward. We are so blessed to have so many alumni and friends that cherish their Bethany education, and support this college in so many ways. The Bethany High School classes of '52 and '53 showed us another example of that."

Burgdorf explained how the project got off the ground at their 60th Class Reunion.

“The class decided that we'd like to create a memorial that would last through the ages. It was suggested that a stained-glass window be installed, with the cooperation of the College and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The window would emphasize the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ. The class of '53 also joyfully endorsed the project and elected to help raise funds for the project.”

Burgdorf says the project was special to him because the window gave the classes an opportunity to "visually emphasize the mission of Bethany Lutheran College" for all who visit the campus.

Bob Vogel from Stained Glass Studios in St. Peter, Minnesota, created and installed the window.

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A LUM N I

from our

alumni 1945

Betty Swanson wrote a book called Counting My Blessings, which is about her life, and in particular a chapter about her time at Bethany. She currently resides in Englewood, Florida, and volunteers at the local Chamber of Commerce there. Please contact the Bethany Alumni Office if you would like to connect with Betty and order one of her books.

1953

J U N E 20 15

reunion. If you don’t have Vivian’s contact information, please contact Jake Krier in the Bethany Alumni Office at (507) 344-7519 and he will get you connected with her.

1964

Allen Quist has written a short book, Ten Truths about Evolution That Everyone Should Know.

1969

Michael Shep retired after 41 years in law enforcement. He moved to the Knoxville, Tennessee, area in May 2014, (Tellico Village) and is enjoying life by riding his trike into the Smoky Mountains, taking pictures, and volunteering for the Tellico Village Fire Department.

Donna Ann Lee is enjoying her new home in Phoenix, Arizona, at the Arizona Lutheran Retirement Center. She sends her greetings to all her classmates.

1970

1978

Christine Melcher is doing well and living in Washington. If any of her classmates would like to get in contact with her, she can be reached at christine.melcher@hotmail.com.

1981

Jim Mihas of Golden Valley, Minnesota, who has previously worked part time as a physical education instructor at the Community School of Excellence in St. Paul while going to school part time at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, has completed the NASM exam for personal training. He is currently working at Experience Fitness in Brooklyn Park. Jim’s plans for the future are to continue taking classes at North Hennepin Community College and to hopefully receive his certificate in personal training.

He plans on working full time at Experience Fitness, while possibly working again part time as a physical education instructor.

1995 Lon and Miriam Meyer (’52) celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. On the weekend of July 4, 2014, their family (who now number 42) along with ten other close family and friends, gathered at Larkspur, Colorado. The event was hosted at the home of Elaine and Tim Meyer (’79). On Friday night a reception was held at the Perry Peak Country Club. On Sunday the family held a service at the house with their son, Doug Meyer, giving a message, their daughter Jill played the organ, granddaughter Anna sang, and they concluded with “On My Heart Imprint Thine Image.” “We hold Bethany very near and dear to our hearts. May you continue to provide the One Thing Needful, the basis for a wonderful marriage.”

1960 Attention all members of Bethany’s 1960 Junior College Class! Please plan on coming back to our beautiful campus the weekend of September 18-20, 2015, for Bethany’s Fall Festival and our 55th Reunion. A lot of fun events are being planned for Saturday, September 19, and we hope all of you can make it back to celebrate. Please contact your classmate, Vivian Weseloh, who is helping to organize the 24

Eric Christenson and Al Johnson at Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida.

1977

Sean King has two projects coming out this year: Same Time Next Week for Larry Levinson Productions and The Hallmark Channel and The Chase for PixL Movie Channel. He’s also working on developing Citizen Soldiers a WWII film with Dale Dye, who was involved in Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, Band of Brothers, and The Pacific. They are looking for investors to complete financing.

1996

Former Bethany soccer player Michael Dibbini is now the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Kansas State University.

2005 Taken at a Christmas gathering in New Germany, Minnesota, 2014. All are former or present students at BLC (from left) Rachel Mielke Ford (’02), Laura Mielke Hier (’09), Mary Laue Mielke McManus (mother of Rachel, Laura, and Kristen) (’77), Kristen Mielke (current student), Anna Schroeder (current student), Jacob Finke (nephew of Mary and current student).

Ryan and Angela (Krueger) Gehrke announce the birth of their daughter Kaisley Noelle, born December 13, 2014, weighing 4 lbs. 9 oz. She is a happy baby and loves her siblings Kenley, Kaeson, and Kashton!

B E TH A N Y Magazine

2006

Matt and Amanda (Peterson) Kottke were married November 29, 2014. Bethany attendants were Breann Lohse (’08) and Amanda Wilke (’08).

The couple resides in Olivia, Minnesota.

Amanda teaches 5-8 grade science at Renville County West and Matt is a large machine mechanic. They are expecting their first baby in the summer of 2015.

2007

John and Erika (Christensen) Ohlendorf, along with big sister Claire, welcomed John “Jack” David, Jr., on June 4, 2014. The Ohlendorfs live in Arlington, Virginia, where Erika stays at home with Claire and Jack. John is an associate at the D.C. law firm Cooper & Kirk, PLLC.

2008

Natalie (Skogen) Longmire married Ben Longmire on November, 29, 2014, at King of Grace Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, Minnesota. The couple resides in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

2010

Abigail Popp and Andrew Copland were united in marriage on March 15, 2014, in Hutchinson, Minnesota. The maid of honor was Alyssa Wiechmann (’11). Bridesmaids were Kristen Hombach, Dalton Stage, and Angela (Stender) Voges, and the personal attendant was Jonnica (Norell) Mayer (’11).

Andrew and Abby are currently living in Aviano, Italy, where Andrew is a Senior Airman in the

A LUM N I

United States Air Force. Abby is the assistant manager at Information, Tickets, and Travel (the travel agency) on base.

2012

Giant Vision Award. Zak recently earned his master's in business administration at the University of Sioux Falls.

Eythan Frandle married Courtney Shadbolt on June 21, 2014. They live in Saint Paul, Minnesota, where Eythan continues to study law at Hamline University. Both Eythan and Courtney fondly remember their studies at Bethany, and they look forward to future visits.

In Memoriam

2013

1957

Dave Zarrett and Lea Wilmes (’14) were engaged in December 2014.

Breanna Londgren was married to Ben Castiglione on November 15, 2014. The ceremony was held at King of Grace Lutheran Church of Golden Valley, Minnesota. The couple lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Alex and Amy (Anderson) Berg, were blessed with the birth of their son, Zachary Flynn Berg on March 26, 2015. He weighed 6 lbs. 14 oz. and was 19 in. long. Sponsors are younger brother Jacob Anderson, Roseanna (Howard) Nepper (’12), and Nick Nepper. The Berg family currently lives in San Antonio, Texas, and has two other children, Olivia (4) and Jason (2). They are members of Cross of Christ (WELS) in Universal City.

On April 15, 2015, Zak Fick received a $1,000 grant from the Governor of the State of South Dakota for his business, Help U (helpuniversity.co).

Zak competed amongst other entrepreneurs to receive the grant as a part of the governor’s

1939

Bertha Tjernagel, a graduate of Bethany High School, passed away on February 19, 2015. Her memorial service was held at the Lutheran Home Chapel in Arlington Heights, Illinois, on April 18, 2015. She was laid to rest at Saude Lutheran Church in Lawler, Iowa, on May 9, 2015, with Rev. Dan Larson, as the officiant.

Barbara (Imm) Schroeder was called to her eternal rest on June 12, 2015, in Dallas, Texas. Barbara was born October 19, 1939, in Mankato, Minnesota, to Val and Gertrude (Fehlandt) Imm. Barbara attended Immanuel Lutheran School and Bethany Lutheran College. She treasured her time singing in the Bethany Choir. She moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1965, and married Ronald Schroeder. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings Patricia "Trish," Robert Val, and John. She is survived by sisters Ruth, Valerie "Val," and numerous nieces and nephews.

1984

Doreen (Honsey) Aparicio passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 24, 2014, in Tallahassee, Florida. A celebration of her life was held on October 4 at Lime Creek Lutheran Church in her hometown of Lake Mills, Iowa.

She is survived by her husband Marti, two children Sydney and Bryce, mother Dorothy Honsey, and twin sister Dawn (Honsey) Kirsch.

Doreen made her home in Tallahassee where she worked as physical therapist in the medical field.

Faculty

Mark Oliver Harstad, age 66, of Mankato, died Saturday, January 17, 2015, at his home. A Funeral Service took place on Tuesday, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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J U N E 20 15

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25

January 20, 2015, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato.

Mark was born September 15, 1948, in Princeton, Minnesota.

He was the youngest of ten children born to the Rev. Adolph M. and Martha K. (Tjernagel) Harstad. He received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism at the hands of his father at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, rural Princeton. He graduated from Northwestern Preparatory School and Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin.

Mark attended Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mankato from 1970-1973. He served his vicarage at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Madison, Wisconsin. In 1974, he graduated from Seminary, earned the M.A. degree in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin, was ordained and installed

as assistant pastor at Holy Cross, and married Peggy J. Sorenson of rural East Grand Forks, Minnesota. After two additional years of graduate study at the University of Wisconsin he accepted a call in 1976 to serve as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Brewster (Cape Cod), Massachusetts, and served there until 1979. In 1980, he joined the faculty of Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary and taught courses in Old Testament and church history until 1986.

Bethany Lutheran College then called him to teach religion, history, and Hebrew at the college level, a position which he retained until Lymphblastic Leukemia forced his retirement in 2014.

In addition to his academic duties at the College he served in various capacities in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, his home congregation, and community. He was privileged to make six trips to Latvia after the breakup of the Soviet Union to help bring the message

of Confessional Lutheranism to an area of the world, which had attempted to exclude Christianity for decades. In recent years the work of the ELS Historical Society occupied much of his time and attention. In the Mankato community he became active in the Mankato Suzuki School of Music, the Youth Baseball Association, and directed the Boys’ Choir of Mt. Olive Lutheran School for many years.

Mark is survived by his wife, Peggy of Mankato; four children, Sarah (Christopher) Dale, Port St. Lucie, Florida, Laura (Neal) Bland, of Broomfield, Colorado, Nathan Harstad, of Crookston, Minnesota, and Peter Harstad, of Grand Forks, North Dakota; three grandchildren, siblings, Margaret (Frederick) Matzke, Peter (Carolyn) Harstad, Grace Harstad, Elizabeth Schmidt, John Harstad, Herman (Cheryl) Harstad, and Adolph (Helen) Harstad; also many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

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B E TH A N Y Magazine

Bethany

retrospect

Remembering a campus moment from years gone by.

D O R M ITO RY D E CI S I O N S: Some students chatted while another chose a more studious route in this undated slice of campus life.

Do you recognize anyone from this photo?

Can you guess the year?

Send your response to editor@blc.edu.

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