Here at Martin Luther College, we’re Pursuing Excellence Under the Cross. That’s our strategic plan, launched in July 2022 as a touchstone to guide us as we fulfill the mission you’ve given us: preparing the next generation of staff ministers, teachers, and pastors for WELS congregations, schools, and mission fields.
You can see the entirety of the strategic plan on page 3. Yes, a single page. We intentionally kept it brief and memorable.
But there is so much more than this one page can tell you! The details are being written across our campus even as we speak. MLC students, staff, and faculty have created more than 40 planning documents, called vision/traction organizers, where they have prayerfully put into print the many particulars of this plan. With the faith, strength, and wisdom only our Savior can give, they are envisioning what Pursuing Excellence Under the Cross looks like in their own areas at MLC. We also engaged consultants who guided us into exciting new opportunities across the campus.
What you’ll see in the rest of this casebook then is the progress God has already blessed us with— as well as our dreams and prayers for the days, months, and years ahead.
But we cannot do this alone! Under God’s blessing, we need the partnership of the larger MLC family. We need you—you, our sisters and brothers in the faith who remember our campus in your prayers, encourage current and future students, and give the generous gifts that enable us to carry out this ministry in your name.
How will God’s grace enable you to partner with us? We pray that, as you turn these pages, God will inspire you to see what we see—a campus that is always improving and growing, even as we stay grounded in the Great Commission.
You know why this matters! God uses our graduates every day to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of souls with the powerful gospel of Jesus—in your congregation and school, across our nation, and around the world.
Allow me to thank you in advance for how God’s grace will enable you to join with MLC in this eternally life-changing work of Pursuing Excellence Under the Cross.
In Him,
Rich Gurgel MLC President
Pursuing Excellence
As family in Christ, MLC pursues excellence under the cross in preparing called workers for our synod and its mission fields around the world.
FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS
God loves us.
We pursue EXCELLENCE UNDER CHRIST’S CROSS as God’s fully loved children who know our heavenly Father is already perfectly pleased with us in Christ.
God gifts us.
We pursue EXCELLENCE UNDER THE CROSS by giving God the best his grace inspires in us with the unique talents he’s given each of us.
KEY INITIATIVES
God emboldens us.
We pursue EXCELLENCE UNDER OUR OWN CROSS as we die to mediocrity and apathy and rise in Christ with the courage to take risks for the gospel.
We embrace our family’s identity.
We pursue excellence under the cross as we delight without apology in being a confessional Lutheran faith family whose defining mission is to equip and support the current and future generations of faithful pastors, educators, and staff ministers.
We empower our family’s formation.
We pursue excellence under the cross as we encourage spiritual and intellectual growth for our entire family, support the physical and emotional health of each family member, and engage gracefully in difficult conversations to move our mission forward.
We expand our family’s reach.
We pursue excellence under the cross as we strive to reflect the “every nation, tribe, people, and language” reality of God’s people (Re 7:9) by working to become a more welcoming home for students of all ages and backgrounds who have gifts for ministry.
We endow our family’s home.
We pursue excellence under the cross as we make MLC significantly more affordable without sacrificing an excellent college experience on a beautiful and well-equipped campus.
Endow the Family’s Home by
We’re so grateful our students are dedicating their lives to gospel ministry! They’re working hard in all their courses—from Christian Doctrine to Teaching Reading to Greek and Hebrew. They’re also working hard to make tuition payments—through jobs on campus and in town, doing everything from office work to milking cows! We’re proud of them for being so diligent, but we’re concerned as well. We want our students to be excited about their vocation, not worried about their cash flow. We don’t want money nightmares to haunt their ministry dreams.
By June 2027, with God’s help, we will work with families to meet these goals:
FIRST-YEARS: NO LOANS!
Our goal, in partnering with students and families, is that no MLC student will need to take out loans their first year of college.
Why Is This Important? We want high school students who are unsure about their future to give MLC a chance. After a semester or two here, ministry preparation often captures their hearts, and they stay, graduate, and serve the church. We can keep the door open for these undecided students by keeping our costs low and our financial aid high.
GRADUATING SENIORS: LOW LOANS!
Our goal is low, low loans! We’re excited to report that the average debt for our graduating seniors remained virtually unchanged in 2025, and 42% of this year’s class graduated with no debt at all! That’s the highest percentage of debt-free graduates since 2003!
And then there’s this fantastic stat: The average debt of all 2025 MLC graduates was $14,000, almost two thirds lower than the average national debt of $39,000.
From the Class of 2025:
Nathanael Wendland is at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary for further pastoral training.
Why Is This Important? As our graduates enter their ministries, we want them to concentrate on the joys of gospel ministry—preaching, teaching, and serving in their new congregations and schools—without being overwhelmed by financial worries. That’s why we’re pushing to lower their debt every single year— and you can help!
Seth Veers will serve as instructor and coach at Rocky Mountain LHS, and his wife, Lauren nee Paulsen, will teach grades 5-6 at nearby Lord of Life in Thornton, Colorado.
Would you like to help us boost our financial aid? Simply go to mlc-wels.edu/donate and designate your gift to MLC Financial Aid or MLC Congregational Partner Grant Program. Or text AID to 507.233.4344.
Boosting Financial Aid
Josh Aden
Josh received nearly $17,000 in Congregational Partner Grants during his five years at MLC— $11,235 from his home church, St. John/St. James in Reedsville, Wisconsin, and $5,650 in MLC matches.
Now teaching at Christ the Lord in Brookfield, Wisconsin, Josh will not forget the support of his home congregation:
“It was a huge blessing to know that my church family supported me in my efforts here. Thank you so much to all the members at St. John/St. James, who gave to the Congregational Partner Grant over the years and who voiced their support and encouragement whenever I was able to worship with them over breaks. Thank you!”
How will we accomplish these goals?
With a 10 Boost in CPGP and All Financial Aid
BOOST CPGP BY 10% ANNUALLY
About 95% of MLC students benefit every year from the Congregational Partner Grant Program. Their congregations direct grants to their tuition, and MLC matches those grants—increasing the match maximum by 10% every year. In 2026-27 we’ll match up to $1,750, resulting in a grant of $3,500. As you can imagine, these grants are making a big dent in student debt!
Will You Be the Match? MLC cannot do this alone. We depend on benefactors all over the synod who donate money to help MLC match the congregations’ grants. In 2025-26, we’ll need more than $900,000 to match these grants! Whether you have MLC students as members of your congregation or not, please consider a gift to MLC to help us match the congregational grants! You can be the match!
Can You Support Students Beyond the CPGP?
Of course! Simply designate your gift to “Financial Aid,” and we’ll be sure it gets to any students who need it!
Why
Is Financial
Aid Important?
A college education at MLC should not cost more than similar schools students may be considering, such as Bethany Lutheran College, Wisconsin Lutheran College, or Concordia University Wisconsin. And because our students are training to be pastors, teachers, and staff ministers— not healthcare professionals, engineers, or lawyers—it may take them many years to pay off a substantial college debt.
When you establish a Legacy Scholarship, you can . . .
• Honor a loved one by naming the scholarship after them
• Support a specific area of ministry training that’s important to you
• Specify whether the scholarship supports students based on their merit or their need
• Know that you are making a significant difference in students’ lives
• Receive a personal thank-you letter from a scholarship recipient
• Receive special tax benefits
• Leave a lasting legacy at MLC
• Glorify the Lord of the Church!
Endow the Family’s Home by
We’re seeking more Legacy
ISAAC J. BAUMANN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship was established in 2021 by an anonymous donor in honor of Isaac Jared Baumann (2011-2021).
A sweet little boy from rural Minnesota, Isaac touched countless hearts. He always had a smile on his face, and he served God daily by sharing his love for his Savior with everyone he met.
One day during breakfast, Isaac composed a mini-sermon, explaining that nothing can separate us from the love of God. This 9-year-old’s words echoed Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Both the reading from Romans and Isaac’s mini-sermon were shared at his funeral.
Isaac’s favorite shirt bore witness to his faith as well, displaying his favorite verse in the shape of a cross: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Isaac was buried in that shirt, and his gravestone was made to match.
Isaac’s dream was to be a pastor one day, so the donor established this fund for MLC preseminary seniors who will be attending Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
Want to Establish Your Own Scholarship?
You choose the size and scope of your scholarship.
FOR EXAMPLE . . .
A recurring gift of $1,000 annually could be awarded as a single scholarship every year.
A recurring gift of $10,000 annually could be awarded as several scholarships every year.
An endowed scholarship of $25,000 would allow us to award 4% every year for decades to come.
Establishing More Scholarships
JEFF AND YVONNE QUINT ENDOWED & ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The Quints urge others to consider supporting MLC as well. “We encourage families who have been blessed with earthly resources to seriously consider supporting our prospective called workers. It is surely a wise investment. Their dedication and faithfulness will impact students throughout their lives and into eternity.” Scholarships—like those we feature here.
Jeff and Yvonne Quint established these two scholarships in 2023 in appreciation for Christian education—something they learned to value later in life.
Jeff attended Lutheran elementary school in California, but no Lutheran junior or senior high schools were available. Yvonne did not have the privilege of attending any Lutheran schools.
When the couple moved to Wisconsin in 2000, they joined St. John in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and Yvonne later worked in the Mission Advancement Office of Wisconsin Lutheran High School. This engagement with Lutheran education made a big impact.
“Yvonne’s immersion in WLHS culture, and our volunteer work at church, WLHS, Wisconsin Lutheran College, and St. Marcus Lutheran School in Milwaukee showed us the great and lasting impact a focused, Christ-centered education can have on students,” they said. “Its value is beyond price.”
To help share the gospel message and to assist families who cannot afford a Christian education, the couple established both an endowed scholarship and an annual scholarship for preseminary and education majors at Martin Luther College who demonstrate financial need. “Many teachers and pastors carry their college debt into their careers,” they said. “Helping them during their studies is a blessing we shouldn’t underestimate.”
We’ll help you set it up.
Mark Maurice, VP for Mission Advancement mauricme@mlc-wels.edu
507.354.8221 x386
Sarah Gieseke, Resource Development Counselor gieseksm@mlc-wels.edu
507.354.8221 x401
WELS Ministry of Christian Giving | 414.256.3209 Did you know? You can give to any existing scholarship fund at MLC!
If you have a heart for music students, but you don’t want to establish your own scholarship, you can give to one of our existing music scholarship funds. Want to support preseminary students, or second-career students, or military veterans enrolled at MLC? We have scholarship funds for each of those and many more.
Go to mlc-wels.edu/scholarships to explore all the scholarship fund choices!
Endow the Family’s Home with
Residence Halls: We understand that campus is more than just a place to stay—it’s our students’ home away from home.
That’s why we’re committed to creating living spaces that go beyond comfort, spaces that reflect how much we value their dedication to gospel ministry and our desire to see them thrive.
Our residence halls may not be new—the most recent was built over 50 years ago—but we’re making thoughtful updates to ensure today’s students feel truly at home.
Old Main: The entrance is being renewed— restored to beauty, strengthened for safety. With the ceremonial sledgehammer swing on July 1, construction is now underway. This beautiful transformation is possible thanks to the generosity of countless alumni and friends, including an extraordinary $275,000 matching gift from Dan and Lonnie Schmidt.
Rehearsal Hall: Inside the Chapel of the Christ, a new rehearsal hall is taking shape—fully funded and alive with promise. Crafted by the skilled hands of our own carpenters and technicians, this space will soon echo with song, nurturing the gifts of our music students as they prepare to become your music teachers and worship leaders.
Thank you, donors!
Marty’s Place: Kitchen? Check. Game area? Check. Comfy seating? You bet. Marty’s Place is the newest hangout in the lower level of Centennial Hall—a cozy, come-as-you-are space where students can kick back, grab a bite, and have some fun. We’re grateful to our own talented staff who did most of the work!
Campus Enhancements
We’ve already made significant strides: adding patios (right), creating inviting new spaces like Marty’s Place (below), installing air conditioning in Centennial (far left), and fully renovating restrooms in both Summit and Centennial (below)
Now we’re excited to build on that momentum with new furnishings and updated finishes throughout all our residence halls—Summit, Centennial, Concord, and Augustana.
Every improvement is part of a larger goal: to ensure that living on this campus is a welcoming, supportive experience for students preparing to serve as pastors, teachers, and staff ministers in Christ’s church. We want this campus to reflect the dignity of that calling.
Look what you’ve accomplished!
Restrooms: The restrooms and showers throughout Centennial Hall have been fully renovated, offering students updated, modern facilities designed for comfort and convenience. Similar renovations are currently underway in Summit Hall, ensuring both residence halls provide an improved living experience for students.
Library: Three new study rooms—dubbed the Knight, the Lancer, and the Sprinter— are now open, thanks to generous funding from the New Ulm Golf Classic. Each room features a large computer monitor, a whiteboard, and a stand-up/sit-down table, making them perfect for micro-teaching, quiet study, and group projects from morning to midnight. And with a new library chiller, these rooms aren’t just cool—they’re cool.
Ropes Course: Instructors are leading students through every twist, turn, and team challenge of the new ropes course. Professor Breanna Olson (pictured) explains that this facet of PE—known as adventure education—helps students communicate, collaborate, and solve problems. After each course, students debrief, making connections to everyday life, their future ministries, and the truths of God’s Word.
Campus Enhancements to Dream About
We still have a “Someday” list, a Master Site Plan that includes other new and upgraded facilities we hope to see on our campus someday. We know we always have to walk a fine line between keeping MLC attractive and keeping MLC affordable. But we also know it’s important that we maintain a high-quality campus, one that honors God and reflects the integrity of our mission. To students specifically, we want our campus to say, “Here, we value every gift God has given you—all of which can be tuned to ministry. Here is a place for you to grow.”
So here are some items in our long-range plans. Will you pray about them with us?
LUTHER STUDENT CENTER
Visualize an upgraded student center that would impact every student every day! The LSC is already a hotspot, with students practicing and playing intramurals in the gym, hanging out in the gathering space, and enjoying meals (and trivia and karaoke and hanging out) in the cafeteria. Imagine larger solariums, additional restrooms (which visitors will love too!), and a fresh look for the cafeteria, making the LSC even more welcoming, functional, and fun.
MUSIC CENTER
UPGRADED ATHLETIC FIELDS
Visualize a football bowl to be proud of. We’d like to add permanent seating, a welcome plaza, and a press box with room for media, concessions, and a spirit store at The Bowl. We’d also like to turf all our athletic competition fields. We are the only college in our conference that still plays on grass, which means that rainy weather jeopardizes our playing schedules.
Visualize a renovated and expanded Music Center with acoustically appropriate rehearsal space for a 60-member choir. Additional practice rooms. Updated restrooms and lobby space. A handicap-accessible entrance and elevator. And an updated brick exterior, which would align the building with the architectural aesthetic of the rest of campus.
Extend the Family’s Reach with Competency-Based Education
APPLE: An Alternate Path to the Teaching Ministry
We cannot overestimate the blessings of the four years our traditional students spend together on campus—in chapel and classroom, on field, court, riser, and stage. Some people who want to become teachers, however, cannot pursue the traditional four-year campus experience. That’s where Competency-Based Education comes in. Our CBE program at MLC is called APPLE, the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility. This program for adult learners includes a theology minor and all the teaching methodology courses required for both Minnesota state licensure and synod ministry certification. It is completely online, and it recognizes prior coursework and teaching experience. This provides an alternative pathway to the teaching ministry for those who are unable to move to New Ulm for our on-campus program. It allows WELS members to finish their college degrees while staying in their own communities and their own jobs—some of which are in WELS schools.
These potential teachers cannot come to MLC, but MLC can come to them. Dreams can be fulfilled . . . and classrooms can be filled . . . through APPLE.
After six years as a teaching assistant at Divine Savior Academy–Santa Rita Ranch, Texas, Terri Kulick (pictured) is ready for more. “I love this. I love being with the kids. I love giving them God. I want to teach!”
Thanks to our APPLE program (Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility), that dream is becoming a reality. The flexible, online format allows Terri to continue serving at DSA while completing her coursework. She’s already finished her theology classes and is now working through her education courses. Previous college credits transferred in, and she’ll even receive credit for her teaching experience. And when it’s time to student teach, she won’t need to leave the ministry she loves—she can do it right at DSA.
With the APPLE program at MLC, Terri—and others like her—can answer the call to teach, without putting their lives or ministries on hold.
WE NEED TEACHERS!
After Call Day each year, we calculate how many teacher vacancies are still unfilled across our country. Here are the latest numbers:
2023: 158
2024: 115
2025: 102
The good news? APPLE can help fill some of these vacancies! And your gifts to CPGP or MLC Financial Aid can help support these second-career APPLE students on their journey to full-time gospel ministry!
How can you help?
Pursuing Excellence Under the Cross is more than a campaign. It’s our long-range strategic plan for preparing the next generation of called workers for your congregation through your WELS College of Ministry. You can be a catalyst to help realize a generational vision for our future called workers.
PRAY for God’s continued grace to increase the number of future teachers, pastors, and staff ministers.
SPREAD THE ENCOURAGING WORD about your WELS College of Ministry by scheduling an MLC Sunday at your congregation and by encouraging any women and men you know who have gifts for ministry.
FINANCIALLY SUPPORT STUDENTS
Congregational Partner Grant Program: Please give generously to help us match the $900,000+ that congregations have given for 2025-2026.
Financial Aid: Give a gift in any amount to help us make the 10% boost!
Scholarships: Establish a named scholarship to assist students based on merit or need.
Campus Facilities: Gifts will be directed to campus enhancement priorities. If you’re interested in giving a transformational gift for a specific project, we’d love to hear what you have in mind.
Competency-Based Education: Support these second-career students on their journey to full-time gospel ministry through CPGP or MLC Financial Aid!
MLC Fund:
Gifts will immediately support our students in every aspect of their education. Consider becoming an MLC Sustainer by giving a recurring gift to this fund!
Your gifts to the MLC Fund go to work immediately, supporting vital classroom instruction, essential student services, and facility maintenance—all the critical infrastructure that supports our students on their journey to the public ministry.
an MLC Sustainer with a recurring gift!
These gifts provide a steady, dependable stream of income to support students every day. It’s easy!
Automatic. Set it up and relax, knowing you’re supporting MLC in an ongoing way.
Your choice. Choose an amount as low as $5/month.
Adjustable. Family situations can change. If you ever want to adjust the amount—or cancel it entirely—you can, no questions asked.
