Bethany Magazine - May 2020

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MOVING THE CLASSROOM

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BE T HAN Y LUT HE R AN COLLEGE

CLASS OF 2020 Bethany's Class of 2020 is the first-known group of graduates to leave the campus without the option of participating in a commencement ceremony.

The College's Administration wrestled with a variety of options to reschedule the May ceremony, including these ideas: • A June ceremony • Combine August opening weekend with a ceremony • A ceremony during the October Fall Festival — Homecoming weekend Ultimately, none of the options seemed to put the correct focus on the class of 2020's achievements. Finally, the decision was made to provide a meaningful celebration bringing together Bethany's May and December 2020 graduates for a tradition-filled and significant Commencement Day on Saturday, December 12, 2020, at 10 a.m. in the Sports and Fitness Center.

Combining the best aspects of both the May and December ceremonies, including the hooding of graduates, edifying music from the band and choir, and participating in a traditional ceremony with all the pomp and circumstance was ultimately the best thing we could do for these displaced graduates. Moving the ceremony from Friday to Saturday morning at 10 a.m. provides the opportunity for so many more to attend.

A special video celebration for each graduate was also put together and distributed on what would have been the Spring 2020 Commencement Day. We are sorry for those students who've missed out on some of the best things a final semester on campus offers, and we remain proud of the Spring 2020 Bethany Lutheran College graduates for persevering through these difficult times.

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M AY 2020

TABLE OF

CONTENTS STUDENTS ____________________________

4 FROM THE PRESIDENT

A Bethany education is perhaps needed now more than ever

21 EVENTS & HAPPENINGS From music to studio to law club, students were busy in early 2020

FACULTY & STAFF ____________________________ 6 UPDATES AND NEWS

ALUMNI NEWS ____________________________

Department and faculty news and updates

23 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

7 ANNIVERSARIES

Faculty and staff honored for years of service

Alumnus Omar McMillan among ten finalists for Minnesota Teacher-of-theYear award

CAMPUS NEWS ____________________________

ALUMNI ____________________________

14 ALL THE VIKINGS

24 ALUMNI NEWS

Fundraising effort needs support to reach goal of $600,000

News and updates from our alumni

27 RETROSPECT

15 THEISTE HONORED

A guitar trio entertains on the campus, but for what?

Long-time Regent and supporter is the 2020 Distinguished Alumnus

16 ART TRANSITION

Alumnus Jason Jaspersen set to begin a new, expanded role in Art Department

ATHLETICS ____________________________ 18 SEASON REVIEWS

ON THE COVER: Dr. Eric Woller was one of many faculty members having to convert traditional classes to online in short order. Story on page 8.

Photo by David Norris

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HELPING TO PROTECT Bethany alumni make masks for use during the pandemic

Submitted photo

Fall and winter sport wrap-ups

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Maga ISSUE: 145

All contents Š COPYRIGHT 2020 Bethany Lutheran College. Articles, images or photographs may not be reproduced without written permission. The Bethany

Magazine is published three times yearly by the Bethany Lutheran College Office of Institutional Communication and distributed free of charge.

editor, writer | Lance Schwartz designer, photographer | David Norris

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

Mission: Bethany Lutheran College is a Christian

liberal arts college owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and committed to the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the statements of faith known as the Lutheran Confessions.

Bethany Lutheran College provides Christian higher education in a challenging academic environment where personal mentoring guides students to pursue knowledge, truth, and discernment for productive and fulfilling lives.

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from the

PRESIDENT

BY G E NE PFE IFE R • PRESIDENT, B E THANY LUTHERAN COLLEG E

A Bethany Education: Needed Now More Than Ever The events of Thursday, March 12, 2020, will stand in my memory for a long time—perhaps for the rest of my life. That's the day the world of higher education in Minnesota came to a screeching halt.

That morning, word was spreading rapidly around the country that spring athletic and co-curricular activities were being suspended at many institutions. College students traveling both within the United States and internationally were being recalled. And colleges throughout the nation were being faced with the difficult decision to temporarily discontinue in-person teaching and certain campus operations.

That morning, while the Bethany campus was on spring break, my administrative team and I met via teleconference to make the difficult decision that Bethany, also, would need to halt face-to-face classes. Our hope and prayer was this suspension of on-campus operations would perhaps only last until after Easter, and that spring break would need to be extended by one week so the faculty and staff could quickly prepare to move all spring semester classes to an online format for a few weeks.

We as an administration, faculty, and staff had little time to strategize a plan to put into motion. Instead, we simply had to act, and to do so quickly. Over the next several days we, you, and everyone else in the world got to experience first-hand what happens when a world-wide pandemic severely disrupts the fabric of American life—from corporate business operations and employment, to the way in which we worship, go to school, and live our daily lives. In short, our worlds were turned upside-down!

You can probably imagine what the pandemic has meant for our Bethany students. At a time in the spring semester when warmer weather leads to outdoor activities, and when long-term projects begin to culminate in performances, recitals, and capstone presentations, the very core of student activity on the Bethany campus ceased. Suddenly gone were busy classrooms with beloved professors, mentors, and advisors.

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Gone were face-to-face interactions with friends, teammates, and peers. And gone was the anticipation of spring sports, play performances, concerts, honors recitals, senior research and capstone project presentations, and student teaching, clinicals, and internships that provide real-world experiences. It all just suddenly stopped! Such disruption in the lives of our students, parents, families, and the Bethany faculty and staff certainly could have, and did, lead to much uncertainty.

Much has been written during the pandemic about how people in our society in this time of trouble could lose hope. Much has been written about the growing need for mental health counseling in these times of isolation.

In such times of crisis, to what does one cling? Is comfort found in warm, fuzzy Facebook posts? Or those found on TikTok, YouTube videos, or Zoom interactions? After the short-term warmth these things may provide subsides, what truly brings one sure and certain hope that everything will be alright?

The answer to that question, and the reason Bethany Lutheran College exists, has always provided the remedy to life's frailty and uncertainty. The answer lies in the foundation upon which Bethany's mission stands—the message of The One Thing Needful— that sure, certain, and lasting hope found in our personal Savior from sin and death, Jesus Christ!

That's why a Bethany education for young people and their families is needed today, now, more than

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ever! A Bethany education that has provided over 10,000 alumni great value in the past, continues to do so today, and will continue to do so until Christ's return.

Only at a college like Bethany can today's young people receive an outstanding experience in higher education that equips them for productive and fulfilling lives here on earth, and also engages them with what's most important—the knowledge that by faith each has a Savior, Jesus, as one's source of sure and certain hope.

There is no doubt we'd all agree that our worlds have been turned upside-down for the past couple months, and the outlook for the summer and next fall remains uncertain as well. This one thing, however, is certain. A BLC education is the antidote for what the world needs—both in good times and in times of uncertainty!

In Luke 24: 5-6 we're told these words about the events of Easter morning, “In their fright the women [upon entering the tomb and seeing the angels] bowed down with their face to the ground, but the men said to them, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead” He is not here; he has risen!'” Like the women on Easter morning, in Jesus' empty tomb, we and our Bethany students find sure and certain hope for our futures as we navigate this life, and look forward with confidence to our eternal lives in the loving arms of our Savior in heaven.

That's the message our world needs. That's the message Bethany provides in communicating The One Thing Needful!

Please help us make certain that message will endure. Bethany and her students need your prayers.

We need your testimony to young people and families about this outstanding experience in higher education taking place on our campus. And we need your financial gifts of support to help ensure this great mission endures.

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FACU LT Y & S TA FF

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From our faculty & staff Professor William Bukowski (Art) had a painting accepted in the juried show, Seeing God at the Benedictine Monastery in St. Paul that ran from January Bill Bukowski 29 until March 13, 2020. Bukowski also showed paintings at the St. Peter (Minnesota) Art Center in a solo exhibition called, Ten Summers of Painting that was on display the month of February 2020.

Professor Mark DeGarmeaux (Languages, Music, Religion) presented a paper on “Hymns of Heart and Homeland” at a Symposium for Hymn Writers and Mark DeGarmeaux Translators. He also attended the Good Shepherd Institute on pastoral theology and sacred music. Both were at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on November 11-14, 2019.

Hymn writers and translators from seven countries attended.

Professor Sara Edwards (Legal Studies) presented a workshop on ethical leadership at the 2019 Mankato YWCA's Women's Leadership Sara Edwards Conference. The conference was attended by business and nonprofit leaders from Mankato and surrounding communities.

Edwards also attended the annual Law in Higher Education Policy Forum sponsored by Stetson Law School in Clearwater, Florida.

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Professor Benjamin Faugstad (Music) took a group of ten students to the Midwest Music Conference, an international band and orchestra conference in Chicago, Illinois, in December 2019.

by a crew that included BLC alumni and student interns at Drive-A-Tank in Kasota, Minnesota. The project was a promotional video for World of Tanks.

Ben Faugstad

Professor Ryan MacPherson (History) authored “Natural Law in the Lutheran Reformation,” published in the Epiphany 2020 issue of Logia: Ryan MacPherson A Journal of Lutheran Theology. This journal provides a venue for confessional Lutherans from various synods to dialogue and share their scholarship. Professor Emeritus Erling Teigen Erling Teigen (Religion) was instrumental in the journal's founding over 25 years ago, and both he and Professor Dennis Marzolf (Music) serve on the editorial board.

MacPherson's recent Dennis Marzolf article traces the development of thought among sixteenth-century Lutherans, culminating in the Magdeburg Confession of 1550, which appealed to Scripture, natural law, and history to justify political resistance against tyrants.

Professor Kurt Paulsen (Media Arts) directed a one-of-akind film production that was also facilitated

Kurt Paulsen

President Gene Pfeifer delivered the educational keynote address at the Northern Wisconsin District Teachers' Conference in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Gene Pfeifer Pfeifer's address was entitled “Four Qualities You Need in a Thoughtful Classroom.”

Using findings gleaned from his doctoral dissertation work at the University of Minnesota, in his presentation Pfeifer shared four research-based standards that need to be found in teachers' lessons in order to make them “thoughtful.”

Professor Nick Proksch (Seminary, Languages) has contributed two translated sermons to the latest volume of Luther's Works: American Edition Nick Proksch (volume 56). Luther's Works: American Edition is the definitive English-language translation of Martin Luther's writings, originally published from 1955 to 1986.

Since 2009, Concordia Publishing House (St. Louis, Missouri) has been publishing additional volumes. Sermons III, Volume 56 was the latest one released in Fall 2019, which includes collected sermons from 1522 to 1531. Proksch has been a contributor to the series since 2009.

Professors Tom Rank (Religion) and Mark DeGarmeaux attended the Symposium on Exegetical Theology and the Symposium on the Lutheran

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FACU LT Y & S TA FF

Recognizing Faculty And Staff Years of Service During the February 2020 Bethany Lutheran College Board of Regents meetings on the BLC Campus, faculty and staff celebrating employment anniversaries in 2020 were recognized. A special Anniversary Service was also held in Trinity Chapel where the following individuals were recognized for their many years of service to the College: Back row from left: Rev. Herbert Huhnerkoch (Chair, Board of Regents), Paul Wold (International Students Coordinator; Urban Initiatives; and Events–25 years), Daniel Mundahl (Vice President of Finance and Administration; Adjunct Faculty–20 years), Chad Heins (Associate Professor, Biology–20 years), Tiffany Young Klockziem (Professor, Health and Human Performance–20 years), Mark DeGarmeaux (Professor, Religious Studies; Chapel Organist–25 years), Donald Moldstad (Director of Campus Spiritual Life–15 years), Gina Moldstad (Admissions Data Specialist–25 years), Lyle Jones (Associate Professor, Exercise Science; Head Coach Women's Basketball–30 years), David Norris (Manager of Visual Media–20 years), Bethany President Gene Pfeifer.

Confessions at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in January 2020.

David Reagles (History) published an article “Reading Religious Decline: Secularisation and Spiritual Self-Fashioning in the Fans of Malcolm Muggeridge, c. 1966– 1982,” in The Journal of Religious History and a

Front row from left: Emily Kimball (Theatre Costume Design, Adjunct Faculty–10 years), Jacob Krier (Manager of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving–10 years), Stacey Dawley (Director of Accounting–15 years), Robert Hanna (Professor, English–15 years), Wanda Hull (Housekeeping Technician–10 years), Patrick Hull (Director of Facilities–15 years), Jennifer Wosmek (Professor, Psychology–15 years), Glenda Bossow (Administrative Assistant, IT Services; Adjunct Faculty– 20 years), William Bukowski (Professor, Studio Art–40 years), Lance Schwartz (Director of Institutional Communication–30 years).

book review in Fides et Historia. Reagles also published a review of a 2016 study entitled, From Gluttony to Enlightenment: The World of Taste in Early Modern Europe by Viktoria von Hoffmann.

Tom Rank

David Reagles

Sergio Salgado (Registrar) completed coursework for his master's degree in public administration at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Sergio Salgado

Art Westphal (Advancement) was the keynote speaker at the Mankato Leave a Legacy group's annual meeting. His topic was “Building Relationships.”

Art Westphal The Leave a Legacy group membership includes local non-profit organizations as well as professional advisors and estate attorneys from the Mankato area.

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Faculty took photos of themselves in their new teaching spaces after all classes went to an online format following spring break. These were shared on social media.

Moving the Classroom

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

March 16, 2020, was the day Bethany students were supposed to return to the campus after spring break. The second half of the spring semester is always a time of eager anticipation for the stretch run to graduation in early May. But this year was shaping up to be different—everyone was beginning to understand the gravity of the situation unfolding. With a worldwide pandemic emerging, the College's administration found itself wrestling with the ultimate question in all the uncertainty, “How can we teach these students if they're not on campus for a few weeks, or even maybe longer?”

It seemed the only thing that could possibly be said about the daunting task of moving an entire liberal arts college's curriculum to online delivery in just five working days was, “Lord, help us.” And so, the prayers went up, and the work commenced.

To a certain degree, Bethany Lutheran College was in a better position than some because the College had been offering online courses for several years now. But the reality was that the vast majority of these courses had never been delivered in any other model than the traditional, in-person format—in other words these courses had never been taught online before.

Kevin Zimmerman is Bethany's Director of Online Learning. Zimmerman was hired in 2016 to help the College ramp up its offerings in online instruction, and to help start an electronically-connected delivery model for high school students to take college classes from Bethany.

These efforts led to a small, but dedicated group of Bethany professors 8

Photo by David Norris

Dr. Eric Woller prepared to recorded a lecture for his online class.

teaching college courses online in recent years. It's been an endeavor that's led to enrollment growth, and serves as a catalyst for future program additions.

But this unusual scenario—moving all of the classes online at once, in a week's time, was going to be a monumental task.

Earlier in March, during the initial days of documented coronavirus cases in the United States, Zimmerman had been watching what was happening across the nation at other institutions, and he began to ready himself for a decision at Bethany.

“Officially, I learned about the decision at the same

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time as everybody else – early Monday afternoon the day we were supposed to return from spring break. There had been rumblings for a week, though, on email listservs I monitor, and in the media, that this was likely to happen, so I had been working on Bethany's Contingency Remote Teaching Guide since the previous week, and was ready to present it to the faculty. The document outlines Bethany's online response to disruptive emergencies ranging from short personal emergencies to long-term community emergencies,” explained Zimmerman.

When the Administration ultimately decided that online instruction was inevitable, Zimmerman teamed up with IT staff members Scott Abbey and John Sehloff to set in action the massive shift to online instruction.

“We led online training sessions about teaching in a virtual classroom with about 100 participants over two days. Some of the professors repeated the sessions to get the information more than once. We also held more than twenty one-on-one meetings with professors to help them prepare for their specific situations,” said Zimmerman.

A few Bethany instructors with prior online teaching experience also jumped in to help in the training effort and assist with the transition. This small group included Angie Johnson (communication), Julie Kjeer (mathematics), and Jonathan Stadler (psychology).

Zimmerman wasn't alone in his assumption that moving classes online was going to be an inevitable

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circumstance. College Chaplain Don Moldstad teaches a number of religion courses each semester, he also wondered about the possible move before an official announcement was made. His speculation was also blended with a tiny bit of anxiety about what could possibly evolve.

Not because of the situation unfolding, but rather the daunting learning curve for a self-professed sixty-one-year-old tech neophyte.

“Once we began realizing that this virus was continuing to spread, a number of faculty members started to sense that we were heading in the direction of online instruction. To be honest, I was a bit intimidated.

I'd learned to use technology for the duties I was accustomed to doing in my work, but stretching myself into something so different seemed to be quite a challenge. But, at the same time, part of me was excited to learn.”

Moldstad wasn't alone in his trepidation about moving the entire curriculum online. It became clear that others without any previous online experience needed some extra help as well.

“One of our IT staff members informed me that three of the professors who have required the most additional help are all over 60. I guess that is to be expected.” said Moldstad.

But Moldstad, just like his colleagues, gained comfort with the system reasonably quickly and he even intuitively adapted his teaching style for online delivery.

“It's not, at first, easy using a new delivery system that depends on a program which is brand new to me. Any little mistake of entering information can possibly disrupt the entire session. During my first class, I must have clicked on an incorrect button and ended up causing the session to end about fifteen minutes early. But my students were very understanding, thank goodness.”

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Director of Online Learning, Kevin Zimmerman, was instrumental in helping faculty convert their traditional classes to an online format.

Photo by David Norris

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Dr. Sara Edwards chatted with a BLC student using a video conferencing application.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

Moldstad also talked about adapting some of his own teaching methods for the online arena.

“The process has forced me to think a little differently about how the individual student is receiving this [instruction] online. From their perspective, this comes through like a one-to-one call like Facetime or Skype. I have to be careful to keep the tone of my voice down, unlike speaking to forty students in a large room. Another challenge will be coming up with creative ways to quiz and test the students. It has caused me to have to rethink that entire process.”

In the science disciplines, the move to an online delivery process is perhaps a bit more difficult. Not only are there complex formulas and equations to deliver and explain, but there are labs that eventually need to be conducted.

Dr. Eric Woller teaches a wide range of chemistry courses. He'd never taught on online course before March 23, 2020.

Woller explained his initial reaction to the move online and subsequent training, and offered high praise for Zimmerman's help throughout the whole undertaking.

“I knew it would be a lot of work, but I also knew we can do this. The hard part was deciding what tools I was going to use and only having a few days to research options and figure that out. Kevin Zimmerman has been an amazing help. A lot of credit goes to him. And he is so incredibly patient.”

Today, Woller feels the course delivery is going well, and one of Woller's students, sophomore Sarah Schwartz confirmed just that. She said, “Dr. Woller has been very helpful. Occasionally, I'll have a question, so I'll email him. He's gotten back to me so quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes.”

Perhaps Schwartz's assessment of Woller's attention to her questions 10

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Photo by David Norris

says more about Woller's love for the classroom and his students. One of the first things Woller mentioned amongst all the upheaval was his students.

“I really miss seeing my students. That's been the hardest part of all of this. I miss my students.”

Alumni who've taken a class with Woller also know about his classroom funny side. It's a dry, and witty sense of humor appreciated by all. It's also something that he admittedly is having some difficulty replicating in his pre-recorded lectures. Woller's fifth-grade son, Bridger, had some advice for his dad to perhaps clone some of that well-known classroom humor.

Woller explained, “I was telling our kids about how I was recording my lectures and my son said something to the effect, 'You should use the [communication department's] podcast studio to add sound effects to your lecture. So when you tell a joke you can add a laugh track.'”

Woller wholeheartedly agreed, “That would be quite helpful!”

Associate Professor of Legal Studies Sara Edwards' transition to a completely online classroom was markedly different than Woller and Moldstad's experiences. She's among the core group of Bethany faculty who'd been teaching courses online for several years already.

“I've been teaching online courses using Moodle learning management for about three years, and I had already moved most of my live courses to include a partially online component for assignments, videos,

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PowerPoints, and testing, so the transition was pretty seamless for me,” she said.

That's not to say Edwards didn't understand the enormity of the task ahead for the entire faculty collective.

“I will say that the learning curve was pretty steep when I first started teaching in an online format, so I was concerned about other professors who didn't have the same experience, but they have been doing an amazing job at transitioning.”

Online courses can be delivered in two ways, synchronously which means they meet at a set time every day, or asynchronously which is an on-demand delivery model. It seems the preferred method is the asynchronous version. Edwards chose this mode thinking of Bethany's commitment to the students' needs first and foremost.

She explained, “I took a poll of my students, and 99% of them wanted to do courses asynchronously.

The reasons included flexibility in scheduling, and some mentioned a lack of consistent internet connectivity at home with several siblings on shared devices in one household. More than a few students told me they had recently lost their jobs due to shutdowns, especially in food service, and they needed to be able to look for new work. They wanted to have a flexible school schedule that enabled them to take jobs during the day.”

"The benefit of having this type of thing thrust on everyone is that it

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It can be painful at first, but in the end, there is a sense of accomplishment and growth that wouldn't have occurred otherwise. I have no doubt that this experience will make the Bethany community stronger and better in the end,” Edwards commented.

Woller offered a pragmatic take on the experience, “I do see benefits in the future. We are all online instructors now. It's been a crash course in teaching online, and many of us will make mistakes, but we will all have tools and experience to do more online going forward.”

Zimmerman, the leader of the effort, thought more about the collective moment and its connection to Bethany's mission.

“It's been a blessing to sit in on a few online course meetings and hear students interacting with each other and their professors, maybe for the first time in weeks. I think those little anchors to our Christian community here are increasingly important with each week of social distancing and isolating. Keeping our professors and students connected is my main goal at this time.”

And that goal of keeping Bethany's mission of mentoring and personally connecting with students is being accomplished, albeit as best as it can be from a distance. Certainly, there's no substituting the cooperative spirit built amongst professors and students on the Bethany campus.

And there's no replacing the enduring friendships that are formed living on a college campus.

Without a doubt, the Spring of 2020 will forever be known as a trying time for every human living through the global pandemic. Everyone understands the situation at hand. But Bethany's professors and students are doing their very best to make the experience the finest it can be, and the sentiment is optimistic.

So we ask for God's help to keep the mission of Bethany Lutheran College at the forefront during this time of unfamiliarity. And we continue to pray for all of the students and professors, and eagerly look forward to their return to the Bethany campus eventually, and when the time is right.

forces people to grow and learn and be creative about accomplishing a singular goal."

- D R . SA R A E DWA R DS , LEG A L ST U D I E S

Now, after several weeks of the new online model for students and professors alike, it's become obvious how enormous the task actually was. And since the move was implemented with such haste, there certainly wasn't time during the changeover to think about how this affects all involved, and what it could mean going forward.

“The benefit of having this type of thing thrust on everyone is that it forces people to grow and learn and be creative about accomplishing a singular goal.

A VIDEO MESSAGE TO STUDENTS FROM FACULTY IS AVAILABLE AT: BIT.LY/FACULTY20 11

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Helping to Protect Submitted photos

BY L ANCE SCHWARTZ • DIREC TOR OF INSTITUTIONAL COM MUNICATION

Raelene Kovaciny (left) and her daughter, Vianna, worked on sewing cloth protective masks to donate.

Mask creation initiative catches with alumni Many Bethany alumni are pitching in on the front lines to help their communities, states, and nation during the worldwide pandemic. And as time passes, certainly more stories about the many ways Bethany alumni are making a difference during the time of uncertainty will come to light.

One particular account of two alumnae already making a difference in the early phases of Minnesota's Stay at Home order is unfolding right in Mankato. A pair of Bethany graduates are using their sewing talents to help many get outfitted with protective masks.

Emily Kimball ('10) is an adjunct theatre department faculty member at Bethany, and she is also Bethany's costume shop coordinator. That means Kimball is a professional seamstress.

When Bethany made the decision to move all instruction online in March, Kimball's normal work routine changed considerably. She's still teaching online, but the other segment of her duties including sewing, fitting, and repairing costumes for all of Bethany's drama productions took a much lesser role in her daily routine.

“Our spring show, Treasure Island, was postponed until the fall, so I was only halfway done with the costumes. I have five racks of clothes that were ready for fittings when we got back from spring break,” explained Kimball.

That's when Kimball took notice of theatre colleagues from across the country making use of their sewing skills in a different way during the pandemic.

Kimball's normal work day at Bethany is full of activity, so this altered version of reality has proven to be somewhat challenging for her.

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Emily Kimball's collection of in-progress, and finished masks.

“I know enough about myself that even if I'm not sewing for the theatre, I need to be doing something productive or my mind turns to mush!”

So Kimball got to work and honed in on a pattern and formula, and the process started to click.

“There was early confusion about the best style, best fabric, best fitting pattern. I didn't want to embark on a project that might later be deemed ineffectual or something that would lend a false sense of security. So, I began working on a pattern designed

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Kovaciny's children also helped in the assembly of masks. Clockwise from top left were Tavia, Simon, and Vianna.

by a nurse that was circulating online. Since then, I've made two other styles that are intended for at-risk civilians and private use.

“The first round of masks was made out of fabric from both the [Bethany] theatre costume storage and my own fabric stash. I'm always receiving fabric donations and saving any reusable scraps from making costumes. I love sewing with cotton so there are definitely masks out there made with bits of Oklahoma, Brigadoon, and other Bethany shows!”

While the process is working well from her home, Kimball does miss the sewing setup she is most used to in the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center.

“Since I'm sewing at home, rather than the costume shop at Bethany, my space is much more limited and my iron and tiny pressing board aren't what I'm used to! I prewash and dry all the fabric (this preshrinks the fabric) and then press it. Then I lay out and cut the pieces. Once pieces are cut, I can make about six of the simplest style masks in an hour.”

Mask creation becomes family affair In addition to masks for community members and friends, Kimball is also helping to supply some masks to a Mankato area birthing center that she became connected to through alumna Raelene (Miller) Kovaciny ('01). Kovaciny, and her family, are also making masks for those who are requesting.

She explained, “I learned on Facebook that some hospitals in other areas were asking for homemade masks since manufactured masks were in short supply, so I started researching what was needed. At that time, I wasn't aware of any local hospitals that needed them. Then a midwife friend of mine asked if

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I'd be able to make a few masks for them.

“I was intimidated at first, since it was more than the simple sewing and mending I usually do, so I got in touch with Emily. I had done some volunteer sewing in the Bethany costume shop with her before and knew she'd be helpful. Since we couldn't visit in person, she made some instructional videos to help me understand the process, and was always ready to answer questions and provide feedback.

“I'd finished about a dozen masks when my sister, who is a nurse in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, told me that their neuroscience department had zero masks to use. Her department didn't work directly with known COVID-19 cases, but it was becoming clear that masks were needed, so I enlisted the help of my older children and my husband to ramp up our little home production effort. We picked up some masks that Emily had finished and added them to our pile, and we dropped off a box of 50 masks on my sister's porch.”

Kovaciny noted that materials for the masks were mostly readily available, except for the bias tape which is used for tie straps. The Kovaciny family assembly crew had to improvise a bit while making their own bias tape, and with that extra effort they are getting the job done.

“Since masks are pretty small, we started with the cotton fabric remnants I had on hand. Emily brought some extra that she had, and then we purchased some additional fabric from local stores. From my sister, sister-in-law, and a friend, I also got donations of fabric, elastic, and the bias tape. Local fabric stores are sold out of bias tape, so we have made a lot ourselves.”

The added benefit of the whole Kovaciny family working together to make the masks has helped expedite the assembly process.

“My very first mask took nearly two hours while I tried to learn each step from watching the videos. Now from start to finish is probably about twenty minutes of work, but our kids do much of the measuring, cutting, and ironing of fabric, so I personally spend about twelve minutes on the sewing itself.

The Kovaciny family factory line turned out a very impressive number of masks just prior to Easter.

“So far, we've made 245. About 100 of those went to my sister, and forty to medical workers in the Mankato area. The rest went to “essential” workers, elderly relatives, neighbors, and others. We plan to keep it up as long as there's a need, we don't run out of materials, and my sewing machine doesn't die.”

And the effort has been a welcome diversion to the changed life the Kovaciny family has experienced.

“We are very fortunate to not have been severely affected like so many people. Jon ['01] works in Bethany's IT department, and can do his job from home. I am a birth doula and am unable to attend hospital births now due to new restrictions, so I have lost several clients. With our spring calendar cleared by the shutdown, we have had time for more family activities like mask making, board games, and walks on warmer days. Our kids' teachers at Mt. Olive [Lutheran Grade School] have done a great job of helping us transition to distance learning. The kids weren't expecting the extra home economics class though!”

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ALL THE VIKINGS!

ALL TOGETHER! Campus closed. Activities canceled. It might appear there's nothing happening at Bethany Lutheran College. The opposite is the reality. So much work has been done moving classes to online delivery, registering new students, and planning for the 2020-21 academic year to begin in August. Bethany's needs and plans haven't changed, and we're still pushing forward to meet our academic and budgetary goals for the 2019-20 year.

Thank you to the many alumni and friends who've already supported the “All The Vikings, All Together” campaign fund with a monetary gift. While the pandemic has changed much, we're still hopeful that we'll cross the Campaign finish line strong on June 30, 2020.

By the numbers (May 4, 2020): Goal: $600,000 Gifts received: 1967 Total Contributed: $458,502 Avg. Gift: $234 Amount needed before June 30, 2020: $141,498 As we close out the 2019-20 academic year, we hope you'll consider a gift to support the “All The Vikings! All Together!”

Bethany Fund campaign.

The donations to this ongoing, yearlong campaign help to raise important dollars for the Bethany Fund—making an immediate impact for all our students, ensuring Bethany has the necessary funds to continue providing a quality, Christ-centered education, now and as we continue to row forward in the future!

blc.edu/donate

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Submitted photo

Harold “Hal” Theiste ('55)

BY JA K E K R I E R • M A N AG E R O F A LUM N I R E L AT I O N S

The recipient of the Bethany Lutheran College Distinguished Alumnus Award for 2020 is Harold “Hal” Theiste. Theiste, who passed away in December 2018, is receiving this award posthumously. Hal was a graduate of Bethany High School (1952), Bethany Lutheran College (1955), and the College of Science, Literature, and the Arts at the University of Minnesota (1957).

After earning his bachelor's degree, Theiste worked for General Mills and Orr Engineering before being hired by Control Data Corporation (CDC) in the Twin Cities in 1960. At CDC for 30 years, he was a programmer, held several management positions, and eventually was the company's National Account Manager. Of particular note, Theiste was part of a small group of programmers at CDC who helped create the operating system for Seymour Cray's groundbreaking CDC 1604 supercomputer. In 1977, because of the impact Hal made on the computer software industry, and reputation he had as a strong business leader, he took a leave of absence from Control Data and served for four years as the deputy administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration under President Jimmy Carter.

Theiste is 2020 Bethany Distinguished Alumnus

Even in retirement, Theiste never slowed down. He penned a monthly business column through 2013 as part of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, volunteered for the United Way as a business mentor, and always found time to tutor students in math and physics.

Bethany meant so much to Harold, and he gave so much of himself to ensure the mission of the College was always delivered. He served on the Bethany Board of Regents from 1984 until he chose to step down in 2017. He also led Bethany high school classes of 1952 and '53 raising the funds to create “The Way of the Cross” stained glass window which sits above the main entrance of Old Main. He also helped to create the Distinguished Alumni Award at Bethany serving on the selection committee from 2008–14.

Hal's Christian faith was always number one in his life, attending and being an active member in church activities was always a priority for him. At every church that Hal was a member of, he was asked, or volunteered to serve in a leadership role to help guide the church and ensure the mission is fulfilled.

Harold was called Home to be with our Savior on December 16, 2018, and is survived by his wife of 61 years, Arlene (Eichhorst) whom he met at Bethany, their four daughters (Elizabeth, Mary, Karin, Laura) and their families; eight grandchildren, and one great grandchild. The family is proud and honored to accept the Distinguished Alumnus Award on behalf of Harold. Daughter Mary noted, “Receiving this award would have meant so much to him, more than any other award he has ever received. He praised and cherished his Bethany education. It helped form the solid foundation for his entire life.”

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BY A N DY OV E R N • PR O FE S S O R , G R A PH I C D E S I G N / M E D I A A R T S / S T U D I O A R T

Professor Bill Bukowski with students in drawing class.

TRANSITION Change in studio art brings back familiar face It goes without saying that change is the new normal in higher education and in the Bethany community. Recent international events notwithstanding, these are unusual times and the pace of change sometimes seems unprecedented.

A particularly momentous change for our campus this fall will be the absence of Art Professor William Bukowski. Bill has been a consistently influential presence at Bethany for forty years, and his impending retirement marks a significant milestone in the College's history. To say that the visual arts programs at Bethany have flourished under his leadership would be an understatement. The traditional arts curriculum is his 16

design. His “Art Army� has followed him on sometimes grueling marches through museums and cities around the world. And perhaps most significantly, several generations of professional Christian artists and designers can trace their artistic lineage back to the Bukowski School.

Bill's ability to energize and inspire his many students over the years is difficult to exaggerate.

Moreover, the entire Bethany community has gained not only from his activities in the classroom, but also

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Professor Jason Jaspersen in sculpture class.

from his constant advocacy for art in all its many forms. He has never missed a Bethany theatrical production. Neither has he missed a single Christmas at Bethany. He is the principal judge for the Speechless International Film Festival, and he has even formed his own rock band, Midlife Crisis, with several of his, uh, middle-aged colleagues.

So how do you go about trying to replace someone as prominent and effective as William Bukowski?

Enter Bethany graduate Jason Jaspersen ('97).

Jason brings a lot to the table. He is an accomplished professional artist with a comprehensive portfolio that includes sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, video, and even animation. He is a Bethany alumnus with extensive experience in education, working with students at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School for more than seventeen years. Most importantly, Jason has successfully integrated and actively models two potentially antagonistic vocations: artist and Christian. Bethany students will be

fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.

The core mission of the visual arts at Bethany Lutheran College has been, and will continue to be, engagement. If we desire a cultural environment that is more sympathetic towards a Christian sensibility, it is our responsibility to do what we can to make that happen. Furthermore, Luther's doctrine of vocation implies that our talents, intellect, and even our preferences are gifts from God that nudge us in the direction He would have us go. Artistically-minded Christians therefore have a unique responsibility to engage with, influence, and support the arts and culture.

Despite big changes, the visual arts programs at Bethany Lutheran College remain uniquely capable in delivering the theoretical and practical training necessary for a career as a contemporary creative professional. Our broad curriculum encompasses painting, sculpture, illustration, photography, graphic design, motion graphics, film and video production, animation, and broadcasting. The visual arts faculty remains firmly committed to the preparation of students for fulfilling careers as meaningful contributors to the art and design communities, and to the maintenance and strengthening of their Christian integrity.

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BY K ATIE JO KUHE NS • COORDINATOR OF SPORTS INFORM ATION

CROSS COUNTRY The women's cross country team placed sixth at the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Championships with 155 points. Junior Sarah Presler (Brandon, S.Dak.) was the top finisher for the Vikings to Sarah Presler Cianna Hoppe earn Second-Team All-Conference honors for the third time in her career. Freshman Cianna Hoppe (Lewiston, Minn.) joined her with Second-Team All-Conference honors.

The Bethany Lutheran men's cross country team placed fifth at the UMAC Championships.

MEN'S SOCCER The men's soccer team finished 12-6-1 overall and 5-2-1 in conference games under head coach Derick Lyngholm. This was Lyngholm's first season overseeing the men's program after twelve seasons at the Max Busch Marcel helm of the Bethany women's soccer Campabadal program.

The Vikings qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since 2015. BLC set numerous season records, including a program-best seven-game winning streak.

Freshman Max Busch (Odenthal, Thijs Oldenhof Luuk Oosterbosch Germany) was named the UMAC Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-Conference, First-Team All-Region and Third-Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches Association.

Freshmen Marcel Campabadal (Vilassar de Mar, Catalonia, Spain), 18

Thijs Oldenhof (Utrecht, The Netherlands) and Luuk Oosterbosch (Veldhoven, The Netherlands) were all Second-Team selections.

WOMEN'S SOCCER The women's soccer team finished 8-10 overall and 4-4 in conference games under first-year head coach Emma Morris. The Vikings qualified for the conference tournament for the first time since 2016.

Junior Maddie Perry (Anoka, Minn.) was named First-Team All-Conference Maddie Perry Sadie Sanderfeld to mark her third career All-Conference honor. Junior defender Sadie Sanderfeld (Fairmont, Minn.) earned Second-Team All-Conference honors.

VOLLEYBALL

The volleyball team finished with an overall record of 11-17 and were 4-4 in conference matches. The Megan Rutt Veeva Lee Vikings advanced to the conference tournament for the second-straight year and third time in the last four years.

Senior Megan Rutt (Le Center, Minn.) earned FirstTeam All-Conference honors for the third time in her career. She is the first three-time All-Conference honoree in program history.

Senior Veeva Lee (St. Paul, Minn.) earned All-Conference honorable mention accolades.

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GOLF The men's golf team placed fifth at the UMAC Championships.

The Bethany Lutheran women's golf team tied for fourth. This marked the best finish for the program since 2015.

Hayley Thompson Freshman Hayley Thompson (Victoria, Minn.) finished fourth with her 265 to earn All-Conference honors. Head coach Matt Fletcher was named the Coach of the Year on the women's side.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD Junior Sarah Presler was a two-time All-Conference winner with her second-place finish in the 800m and 5,000m runs.

The Bethany Lutheran women's indoor track and field team took Sarah Presler Keegan Rich fourth place at the UMAC Championships.

The Bethany men's indoor track and field team placed third at the UMAC Championships. This was the best finish for the Vikings since 2014 when they also took third place.

All-Conference honorees were Jake Marzinske sophomore Keegan Rich (Mount Pleasant, Iowa) who won the 60 meter hurdles with his school-record time of 8.58, and freshman Jake Marzinske (St. Paul, Minn.) who won the triple jump with his school-record and Indoor Conference Championships record leap of 14.05 meters or 46-1¼ feet.

MEN'S BASKETBALL The men's basketball team finished with an overall record of 21-7, won the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament, and received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Vikings set nine season records: points (2,558), scoring average (91.4 PPG), field goals (963), field goal percentage (.510), three-point field goals (278), assists (541), blocked shots (120), conference wins (14) and overall wins (21).

Sophomore Cire Mayfield (St. Louis Park, Minn.) led the team with 18.4 PPG and broke the season record

Photo by David Norris

The men's basketball team with coaches after winning the UMAC Tournament Championship.

in assists (197). Through two seasons in the program, on the career leader lists he is tenth in points (1,020), second in scoring average (19.2 PPG) and assists (335), ninth in field goals (380), and seventh in field goal percentage (.495) and free Cire Mayfield Trenton Krueger throw percentage (.785). He had the second-most points for a season (514) and field goals (199), and set the record in assists (197).

Senior Trenton Krueger (Eagan, Minn.) was the second-leading scorer at 16.4 PPG and led the team with 8.5 rebounds/game. He finished his career as the program's Jared Milinkovich Brian Smith leader in field goals (478), field goal percentage (.632), rebounds (607), and blocked shots (83). Krueger also set the season marks in field goal percentage (.711) and rebounds (239).

Junior Jared Milinkovich (New Prague, Minn.) was the third-leading scorer at 13.3 PPG. He is fourth in career field goal percentage (.534) and three-point field goal percentage (.407), seventh in rebounds (433), second in blocked shots (60) and fourth in steals (106). His 183 rebounds this season stands fifth-best and was tied for ninth in blocks (22).

Junior Brian Smith (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) rounded out the players in double digits with 12.8 PPG. Through one season with the team, he is eighth in scoring average, sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.402). He had the seventh-most assists in a season (112) and fourth-most steals (51).

Krueger and Mayfield both joined the 1,000 career point club. The duo were both named First-team All-Conference, which tied a school 19

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Photo by David Norris

The women's basketball team with coaches after winning the UMAC Tournament Championship.

record for top-team honorees.

Freshman Hunter Nielsen (New Prague, Minn.) had the third-most blocks in a season (31) and also ranks eighth on the career list in that category.

BLC won eleven straight games from December 28-February 5. This stands as the third-longest winning streak in program history.

Hunter Nielsen

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL The women's basketball team finished with an overall record of 24-4, swept the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season and conference tournament championships, and made its secondstraight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Vikings earned their first NCAA Tournament win in the 62-58 First-round victory over then-No. 6 Bethel. This was the first victory in the NCAA Tournament for any women's basketball team in UMAC history.

BLC set four season records: threepoint field goals (198), assists (144), wins (24), winning streak (13-straight games) and tied the mark in conference wins (14).

Junior Hanna Geistfeld (Truman, Minn.) led the team with her average of a double-double (20.8 PPG and Hanna Geistfeld Abby Olson 10.4 rebounds/game). She set the season records in points (582), scoring average (20.8 PPG), field goals (220), and games started (28). Through three seasons, she is first in field goal percentage (.572), second in field goals (511), third in games started (82) and points (1,327), fifth in scoring average (16.0 PPG), rebounds (635) and free throws (294), and seventh in free throw percentage (.739). Geistfeld set the single game marks in points (37) and field goals (16) against Northland on February 15.

Junior Abby Olson (Montevideo, Minn.) was the second-leading scorer (18.9 PPG). She added a team-high 86 assists and 47 steals.

Olson set the season record in three-point field goal percentage (.407), 20

had the third-most points for a season (528) and second-most three-point field goals (72). On the career leader list, she is first in three-point field goal percentage (.377) and free throw percentage (.820), second in points (1,348), assists (265) and three-point field goals (171), fourth in games played (80), free throws (301) and scoring average (16.9 PPG), fifth in field goals (438) and steals (154), and eighth in field goal percentage (.430).

The duo joined the 1,000 career point club and were both named First-team All-Conference. Geistfeld was honored as the UMAC Player of the Year and also received First-team All-Region honors from D3hoops.com.

Junior Kenlie Pytleski (East Chain, Minn.) will graduate early Kenlie Pytleski Emily Skrien and ended her career with the program ranked fifth in three-point field goal percentage (.332), sixth in blocks (69), and 10th in three-point field goals (71). Senior Emily Skrien (Nicollet, Minn.) leaves ranked seventh in three-point field goal percentage (.302), ninth in three-point field goals (83), and tenth in games played (83).

Bethany set a record with 13-straight victories from December 14-February 5. This broke the old mark of nine consecutive set last season.

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Students selected to perform in honor band

Photo courtesy of Ben Faugstad

Bethany students (from left) Giana Peterson, Mariah Munsen, and Joel Maunula with Bethany Band Director Benjamin Faugstad.

Three Bethany Lutheran College students, Joel Maunula, Mariah Munsen, and Giana Peterson, were nominated and selected to participate in the Minnesota Chapter of the 2020 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Intercollegiate Honor Band. Each year, the Minnesota Chapter of the CBDNA organizes the opportunity for Minnesota's most talented collegiate music students to rehearse and perform. It is an honor to be selected, as the ensemble is highly competitive with eighteen colleges/universities represented. After two full days of rehearsals, the honor band performed on Saturday, February 15, 2020, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Visit from broadcast professional helps students Bethany Alumnus Cody Hardin ('11) of Bristol, Connecticut, visited the campus on January 8, 2020, to speak with broadcast students about his experiences working for the worldwide sports network ESPN. Hardin spent a full evening training Bethany students on the new, recently upgraded audio board in the College's professional production trailer. Hardin has been a consultant to the Communication Department throughout the years helping the College to stay current with industry standards regarding broadcast audio.

Photo by Greg Vandermause

Alumnus Cody Hardin (center) helped train students on a new audio board in Bethany's production trailer.

Annual trip 'up north'

Submitted photo

Bethany Professor Emeritus Mark Wiechmann (psychology) has been facilitating a group outing to the Boundary Waters during the Presidents' Day Weekend for nearly 30 years. In February 2020, he accompanied a group of thirty-six Bethany students, staff members, and alumni to Adventurous Christians—a lodge on the Gunflint Trail. This trip provides profound fellowship: playing together, praying together, and experiencing the great outdoors.

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M AY 2020

Competition in Session

Photos courtesy of Sara Edwards

Bethany's Mock Trial team members (from left) Silas Petersen, Paige Lindholm-Sullivan, Julia Siufi, David Evans, Audrey Amiling, Rebecca Johannes, Kayla Wilson, Kate Nusbaum, Anna Martinez, and Adam Hoeft.

Mock Trial team travels to Drake Law School SAR A E DWARDS • PROFESSOR OF LEGAL STUDIES

Bethany's Mock Trial team competed at the American Mock Trial Association's regional tournament at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. Mock trial members included: Audrey Amiling, David Evans, Adam Hoeft, Rebecca Johannes, Paige Lindholm-Sullivan, Anna Martinez, Kate Nusbaum. Silas Petersen, Julia Suifi, and Kayla Wilson. Special recognition was given to Rebecca Johannes and Kate Nusbaum this season for their amazing work on the witness stand.

Legal services program Bethany legal studies and paralegal students attended a training program sponsored by the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) program. This program assists low income families with non-criminal legal issues. Students learned how to conduct client interviews, issue-spot legal needs, and prepare legal documents.

These students will be assisting volunteer attorneys on a monthly basis in Mankato, and surrounding communities, during the SMRLS “Legal Health Check-Up” clinics.

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Bethany students who attended a legal services training program in Mankato included (from left) David Evans, Paige Lindholm-Sullivan, Julia Siufi, and Pani Poati.

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Photos courtesy of Omar McMillan

Omar McMillan (holding trophy) is a finalist for the Minnesota Teacher of the Year Award.

Teacher of the year finalist

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

Bethany alumnus Omar McMillan ('96) was named one of the ten finalists from across the state of Minnesota in the 2020 Teacher of the Year program. McMillan is a fourth-grade teacher at Richfield STEM School, and the head high school boys' basketball coach for the Richfield Spartans varsity team.

McMillan was a scholarship basketball player for the Bethany Vikings from Washington High School (Milwaukee) during the 1994-'95 and '95-'96 seasons. Playing under the tutelage of head coach Art Westphal, McMillan was an impressive player on the court. He was both an All-Southern Division Minnesota Community College Conference (MCCC) and All State-MCCC selection. He averaged 14 points per game (PPG) and shot 62 percent from the field as a freshman, and averaged 18 PPG during his sophomore campaign.

Westphal recalled, “While an excellent player, Omar also had a great sense of humor. He always seemed to say the right thing at the right time. And even at nineteen-years-old, it was obvious that he had the personality to be a teacher someday.”

That sentiment from Westphal wasn't lost on McMillan. He recalled a career-defining moment during his time at Bethany that eventually helped to put his future in focus.

“Growing up, I always wanted to pursue a career where I worked with kids. I even thought about being a pediatrician. Coach Westphal, pulled me aside one afternoon after we had just finished doing some volunteer work at the Mankato YMCA. He told me that he thought I had a special gift for working with kids. He told me I should be teacher. Coach Westphal has always been at the top of my list as being one of the most

respectable male figures in my life. So he played a huge part in me making the decision to become a teacher.”

While McMillan fondly remembers his Bethany days, today he's squarely focused on the work he's doing in the Richfield School District. When asked what motivates him every day, and why it's been noticed by peers, his focus naturally turns to the students.

“I think it is a combination of wanting to be the best person I was raised to be, while doing what's best and necessary for all students. The most enjoyable thing about being a teacher is the impact that we have on young people or people's lives in general.

Educators are role models, mentors, and sometimes mother/father or big brother/sister figures. We are a part of our students' development and growth, and their failures and successes. Two of the greatest rewards of being a teacher for me, are when your students come back to see you, or reach out to you to tell you how much you meant to their lives and their growth.”

Commenting about his nomination, McMillan again looks back to his day's at Bethany.

“Being a student at Bethany helped shape and mold the person I am today. It is a great honor and blessing to be celebrated for something that you are passionate about. God has blessed me a with a gift. To be honored, is a tremendous indication that you have made a difference and an impact on the lives of each of your students.”

McMillan and the other nine teacher-of-the-year finalists are tentatively scheduled to meet with the selection panel on June 13 after which the group will cast votes for the 2020 Minnesota Teacher of the Year.

Bethany Lutheran College is proud of alumnus Omar McMillan and the impact he's making with kids every day.

Omar McMillan with daughters Alexa (left) and Molly.

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from our

ALUMNI 1940s Gerald (Jerry) Hansen ('49) would like to say “hi” to whoever from the class of '49 is blessed to be living, and would love to catch up with friends if possible. Alumni wishing to connect with Jerry may call the Bethany Alumni Office at (507) 344-7519 or email jake.krier@blc.edu.

1950s Elvyna (Herbst '54) Fickel, and her husband Gerald, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary this year.

Margaret (Harstad '54) Matzke, and her husband Fred, became great-grandparents to Grace Ann born on November 28, 2019, to Karina and Ryan Gosdeck of Jefferson, Wisconsin.

Elaine (Bergemann, Priebe '55) Bening is a proud grandmother of four grandchildren that are in the healthcare industry, a doctor, a nurse, physician's assistant, and a physical therapist.

She is looking forward to seeing her friends from the Bethany High School Class of 1955 at their 65th reunion on Saturday, October 3 a part of Bethany's Fall Festival-Homecoming weekend.

1960s Paul ('60) and Helen (Kuehl '59) Levorson have been reunited with their granddaughter who was given up for adoption 35 years ago!

Kirstin is married and has two children, so they also added two great grandchildren. What a blessing!

Mary (Younge '60) Hansen and her husband Allen ('60) recently moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota. They are retired and enjoying their eighteen grandchildren and seventeen “great” grandchildren.

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Thomas Lee Roberson ('66), and his wife Linda Mae, are mourning the loss of their daughter, Heather Lynn Ludwig (47) of Nevada, who passed away Friday, February 7, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, after a long and courageous battle with leukemia. Heather was a talented English teacher in Nevada where she lived with her husband Robert and son, Peter. Thomas and Linda Mae ask for prayers for their family during this difficult time.

Linda (Remmele '68) Schumacher will be retiring in June 2020 after forty-eight years of serving as the executive administrative assistant to the president of South Dakota State University (Brookings). She has had the opportunity to work with seven presidents during her career at the institution. She lives in Volga, South Dakota, which is just outside Brookings.

1970s Julie Bernau ('73) has been helping her grandchildren with their e-learning during these past months. She is enjoying the time spent together. They are helping her get more technology minded.

illustration, and printmaking. See a sample of his work at jjjaspersen.com. In the Fall of 2020, Jason's responsibilities at Bethany will expand to include sculpture, painting, 3D foundations, and exhibition coordinator (related story on page 16). Jason lives in New Ulm with his wife, Jennifer, and children, Maida and Teddy. Maida will begin studying art at Bethany in the Fall of 2020.

2010s

p Alaina Maeve Copland was born on June 7, 2019, to Andrew and Abigail (Popp '10) Copland. Alaina was baptized at Faith Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Minnesota, on June 30, 2019. All are happy and healthy!

1990s

p In June of 2018, Jason Jaspersen ('97) transitioned from seventeen years of teaching art classes at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm, Minnesota, to Artist-in-Residence for the Milwaukee band Koiné. At the same time, he agreed to teach sculpture classes at Bethany. Since studying art at Bethany, Jason has been creating a portfolio of visual interpretations of Lutheran doctrine. Over the years, the Lord has blessed Jason with a steady stream of commissions from communities, churches, individuals, and events in various media including bronze, concrete, murals, animations,

p Justin and Nicole (Jones '11) Doyle were married on October 13, 2018, in Trinity Chapel at Bethany Lutheran College. They live in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota. Nicole teaches 5-8th grade at St. John's Lutheran School in Thief River Falls and Justin works at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, in Erskine, Minnesota, as their lead forestry technician. They welcomed their first child, Lyla Marion Doyle, on November 3, 2019. She was born at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

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p Heidi (Maunula '11) and John Stevens were blessed with their second son, Warren Everett, on Oct. 18, 2019. Older brother Isaac (2) loves the new baby.

Alumni Joe Ringen ('12) and Nadiya Borshch ('17) were united in the Christian marriage on October 12, 2019, at King of Grace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The married couple now resides in Minnetonka.

Nadiya is an account executive at Bridgewater Bank, and Joe is a technical support member of Verizon Wireless.

p Amy (Anderson '13) and Alexander Berg ('13) welcomed their sixth child in November 2019. Tobias was 11 pounds 3 ounces and 21.5 inches long.

Sarah (Rosenau '13) Strobel and her husband Clayton were married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota, on Saturday August 25, 2018. It was a beautiful day celebrated with family and friends!

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p Ezekiel ('14) and Amanda ('13 Johnson) Kroll welcomed a baby boy, Milo, on January 27, 2019. He joins big brother, Oliver (3), in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sarah Kruckeberg ('14)Â is currently working as an intern at Hy-Vee pharmacy in Sioux Falls, South Dakota., while she finishes the remaining month of pharmacy school South Dakota State University (Brookings.). After graduation in May, she will be headed to work at Walgreens in Rochester, Minnesota, to start her career as a pharmacist.Â

p Kelsie (Halvorsen '14) married Wesly Kluender on June 8, 2019, at Next Chapter Winery in New Prague, Minnesota. Kelsie continues to teach 1st and 2nd grade at Minnesota New Country School in Henderson, Minnesota.

Lydia (Langhorst '14) and Ryan Walter ('15) announce the birth of their daughter Amelia Rose Walter born on April 2, 2020. She weighed 7 pounds 1 ounce, and was 20-3/4 inches. Amelia was baptized on April 5 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hokah, Minnesota.

Patrick Ernst ('15) was ordained and installed as pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, Michigan, on December 8, 2019. Professor Mark DeGarmeaux preached for the service. Prior to his ordination, he completed his 11-month pastoral vicarage in San Antonio, Texas, and on December 1, 2019, graduated from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Kate (Ruschmeyer '16), reside in rural Birch Run, Michigan.

Bridget (Hennen '15) Stob graduated with a master of science degree in special e duc ation with a concentration in learning disabilities from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in December 2019. She is currently in her second year of working as a special education teacher at St. Charles Public High School and resides in Hemlock, Michigan.

A lot has happened for Michael Aaron Schultz ('15) in the last year. After living in Tacoma, Washington, for almost two years, life plans changed and he moved to Minnesota in November of 2019. He lives in Lonsdale and currently works as a salesman for a lawn care firm in Burnsville. In addition to work, Michael is enjoying being back in the area and getting to see old Bethany friends.

David ('17) and Leah (Hagen '17) Roemhildt have a baby girl named Evelyn, and David has recently been hired as a physician's assistant in orthopedics at the Mayo Health Clinic in Mankato, Minnesota.

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Elizabeth Brohaugh ('18) recently started her first full-time job working for Logistics Health Incorporated in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, as a medical services coordinator working with veterans. She and her husband have also recently adopted a himalayan cat “Katie” from the local humane society where she was previously employed. They now have two fur-children, Hemi and Katie, and love them very much.

They were married in September 2018 and currently live in LaCrosse.

Megan (Morehouse '19) Lease, married Chad Lease ('19) on February 21, 2020.

In Memoriam Armin Nimmer ('58) passed away on February 10, 2019.

Esther (Paysen '43) Kragh passed away on March 9, 2019.

Arthur Schulz ('52) passed away on May 8, 2019.

Carol (Cordes '71) Johnson passed away on September 7, 2019.

Caroline (Hellwinckel '45) Kohrs passed away on September 18, 2019.

M AY 2020

Doris (Dickson '61) Fenske passed away on October 29, 2019.

Corinne (Rodning '49) Johnson passed away on November 24, 2019.

Renata (Rolf '40) Winsor passed away on December 8, 2019.

Ruth H. (Brauer '34) Nuss passed away on December 12, 2019.

Julian D. Olsen ('50) passed away on December 20, 2019.

Joan (Hendrickson '72) Lindquist passed away on December 25, 2019.

Angela Kaul-Paulsell ('88) passed away on January 14, 2020.

Rev. Elmer Boniek ('53) passed away on February 19, 2020 Twilla A. (Bieber '57) Peterson passed away February 19, 2020.

Joanne (Ausen '66) Hackbarth passed away on March 4, 2020.

Audrey (Gahl '52) Grelling passed away on March 21, 2020.

Dane Christenson ('10) passed away on April 13, 2020, Ruth (Harms '49) Krueger passed away July 26, 2017, at the age of 86 yrs. She is survived by Henry Krueger, her loving husband of 63 years.

She is also survived by their four children, Sharon Schewe, David (Marianne) Krueger, Helen ('79) (John) Schrupp, and Paul Krueger along with eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

We want to hear from you

Grace (Seebach '50) Peterson passed away at the age of 89 in her home in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, on September 26, 2019. Her funeral service was held on October 5 at Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minnesota.

The sermon theme was “One Thing Needful.”

Grace's family had a long connection to Bethany, her sister, Norma was school nurse, brother Carl ran the bookstore, and many of her relatives attended.

Barbara (Beer-Monson '59) Webb passed away peacefully at her home Eau Claire, Wisconsin, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's on Monday, December 16, 2019. She is survived by her husband, Allen, four daughters, 14 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren, many of which attended Bethany. Her funeral was held on Monday, December 23, 2019, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Eau Claire.

Jim Pettersen ('65) passed away on April 15, 2020, following a battle with COVID-19.

He coached the North Dakota State University baseball team from 1985-1992, and was very involved in the American Legion baseball program in Fargo, North Dakota. He is survived by his wife Sandi, and children Sara, Leslie, and Jamie.

ALUMNI

NEWS

We need your personal and professional updates to include in our alumni news. You may submit alumni news by emailing it to alumni@blc.edu, or through our website at www.blc.edu/submitnews.

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B E TH A N Y Magazine

Bethany

RETROSPECT

Remembering a campus moment from years gone by.

THREE AMIGOS: Was this trio of guitar performers playing at a campus banquet?

Do you recognize anyone from this photo or what year it was taken?

Send your response to editor@blc.edu.

Find more photos from years past on archives.blc.edu.

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