year in review 2010-2011
1995 Luther Court New Ulm, MN 56073
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 25 LA CROSSE WI
Isaiah 6:8
Address Service Requested
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “ Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
InFocus Staff WRITER/EDITOR Laurie Gauger ’86 PHOTOGRAPHERS William Pekrul ’80 Catherine St. John Rebecca Wilkens Catherine Biedenbender ’85 COPY EDITOR Heidi Schoof ’86 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Office of Mission Advancement VICE PRESIDENT Jon Scharlemann PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR William Pekrul ’80 ALUMNI DIRECTOR Steve Balza ’93 College Administration PRESIDENT Mark Zarling WLS ’80 VP for ADMINISTRATION Steven Thiesfeldt ’74 VP for ACADEMICS David Wendler ’70 VP for STUDENT LIFE Jeffrey Schone WLS ’87 VP for MISSION ADVANCEMENT Jon Scharlemann Governing Board Chairman Michael Woldt WLS ’81 Secretary Steven Rosenbaum ’86 Roy Beyer WLS ’76 Keith Bowe ’79 Jonathan Hahm ’71 Jonathan Kolander WLS ’91 Stephen Loehr Michael Otterstatter WLS ’94 Timothy Petermann Barry Price Michael Schultz WLS ’89 William Steinbrenner Jeffrey Wegner WLS ’87 Advisory: Charles Degner WLS ’79 Randy Matter Paul Prange WLS ’88 Mark Schroeder WLS ’81 Mark Zarling WLS ’80
MLC InFocus is published by Martin Luther College Mission Advancement Office and is distributed free of charge to students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. Owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Martin Luther College exists to serve the ministerial needs of the WELS.
On our cover: 2011 graduates Gabrielle Trelenberg, Jennifer Hendrix, and Nathanael Brenner Above: President Mark Zarling and 2011 graduate Aaron Schulz.
“Go with the Great Shepherd” Martin Luther College Graduation Sermon excerpts May 14, 2011 Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, and especially you, MLC class of 2011 . . . The Spirit wants you to leave MLC this weekend, to leave the known and comfortable for the unknown and the challenging, to leave with eyes on the Shepherd. Eyes on the Good Shepherd. Indeed, eyes on the Great Shepherd of the sheep. The text you chose, the apostle’s prayer at the end of his letter to Hebrew Christians, helps you do just that: May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Permit me to offer three short petitions for you. The first flows from the last portion of the text: May he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ. Let us pray: “Dear Jesus, you are the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Look upon your children sitting before you. Keep their hearts safe. Keep their souls safe. Work in them an attitude that is pleasing to the Father in all things. Amen.” Attitude is everything, they say. Through the Word the Spirit creates an amazing attitude. It begins with “Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful.” It rejoices to hear, “The Lord has put away your sin.” It confesses, “What God ordains is always good.” It understands that the Lord’s servant serves when and where and how
the Great Shepherd determines to be best—for the Church and for the servant. Some of you step forward to places unknown to you, some to wait on the Lord, and in his word you put your hope, some to another campus for additional Scripture study, some across oceans and continents. All of you step forward with a Spiritgiven attitude that sings, “I am Jesus’ little lamb, ever glad at heart I am. For my shepherd gently guides me, knows my needs and well provides me, loves me every day the same, even calls me by my name.” May Jesus work in you what is pleasing to him. The second prayer flows from the middle of your text. May the God of peace . . . equip you with everything good for doing his will. Let us pray: “Dear Jesus, you are the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Look upon your children sitting before you. Equip them to live to your glory. Give them the gifts of the Spirit from which all true ministry gifts flow. Amen.” Only the Shepherd can provide the skills you need for gospel service. I’m not just talking about professional skills— translating Hebrew, writing coherent communication, classroom management, and pedagogy. I pray that Jesus fill you with patient love. I pray that he create a listening ear and an understanding mind, a heart for the hurting and eyes that see human needs, a strong backbone of scriptural conviction and broad shoulders to carry the trials that accompany faithful
witness. In short, I pray that Jesus make you lovers of Scripture and lovers of souls. May Jesus equip you with the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And my final prayer reflects the first portion of the text: God, through the blood of the eternal covenant, brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus. Let us pray: “Dear Jesus, you are the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Look upon your children sitting before you. Pour into them the resurrection confidence that you will always hear perfectly and answer perfectly. For you cannot lie, and your resurrection proves God’s power to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. Amen.” Confidence—you seek it to serve, but remember that only the Shepherd can provide it. You believe that Jesus’ blood is the blood of the covenant, God’s pledge to forgive fully and freely and forever. You believe that God declared that covenant by the empty tomb. You believe that you are sealed into that covenant through baptism. You believe that you are part of the flock of Christ, the Great Shepherd who will guide and guard your soul into glory. So I will ask publicly what I asked many of you privately. Pray. Pray that you go with the Great Shepherd, and you will be safe now and forever. Amen. Rev. Mark Zarling WLS ’80 President, Martin Luther College
Here Am I. Send Me!
The alumni photos at the bottom of each page are from the anniversary classes of MLC, NWC, and DMLC: ’36, ’41, ’46, ’51, ’56, ’61, ’66, ’71, ’76, ’81, ’86, ’91, ’96, ’01, and ’06. We thank Alumni Director Steve Balza for scanning this random selection of alums.
4
Our apologies to 2001 MLC graduates Jennifer Lemke and Michaela Lemke, who were identified incorrectly in the spring Martin Luther College 4 InFocus. They are included—correctly—in this issue.
Jennifer Lemke MLC 2001 Weyauwega WI
Michaela Lemke MLC 2001 Ocala FL
We Go Wherever We Are Called MLC: The WELS College of Ministry As the WELS College of Ministry, MLC is privileged to prepare men and women for gospel ministry. Perhaps this purpose is most evident the second Saturday in May. On that day, Graduation Day and Call Day, our preseminary men, like those pictured (right), receive their Bachelor of Arts degrees, an important step on the way to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Our education majors, men and women, receive their Bachelor of Science degrees, and many of them also hear where they have been assigned. All our graduates, by God’s grace, leave our campus equipped for gospel ministry and ready to go wherever they are called. Pictured, left: Emily Brassow ’11 and Landon Zacharyasz ’11.
Call Day As Call Day approaches, MLC graduates do not send out resumes, check online want ads, solicit interviews, or try to position themselves in any way for a “job.” Rather, they yield to the assignment process. They trust that, as the Conference of Presidents matches their gifts with the church’s needs, God’s calling is revealed and God’s will is done. During that Call Day service, when the assignments are read, that calm trust is often accompanied by surprise and joy, as evidenced by Amanda Selle ’11 (pictured, middle), who was assigned to teach first grade at Divine Savior Lutheran Academy in Doral, Florida, and Dan Rick ’11 (pictured, bottom), who was assigned to serve as grade 5-8 teacher and principal apprentice at St. John Lutheran School in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota.
Graduation by the Numbers 40 Preseminary grads 64 Elementary education grads 15 Early childhood education grads 23 Secondary education grads 6 Staff ministry grads 4 Seminary certification grads 8 Master of Science in Education grads At the Call service, 79 assignments were made, and another 19 students deferred calls to opt for international service. In the weeks following, several more candidates received assignments or calls from local districts where they would be moving.
Timothy MacKain DMLC 1986 South Charleston WV
Arnold Lemke NWC 1961 Waukegan IL
David Russow NWC 1976 Sleepy Martin Eye MN Luther College
Jon Mahnke NWC 1961 Milwaukee 5 WI
5
Here Am I. Send Me!
6
6
David Blaho NWC 1991 Stone Mountain GA Martin Luther College
Paul Doletzky NWC 1991 Wayne MI
Allen Schleusener MLC 1996 Tomah WI
Michelle Zittlow MLC 1996 Eagle River AK
We Go to Every Nation and People Daylight International Through Daylight International, MLC students teach all over the world, answering our Lord’s call: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Nineteen 2011 grads opted to teach abroad in Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. They join about 30 other MLC grads teaching preschool to college in a dozen different countries. Some teach God’s Word in their classrooms and assist missionaries. All are living witnesses for Jesus. Pictured: Rebecca Balge ’10 (left) is teaching English for two years in Southeast Asia. Here, she and her friend Dolphin enjoy a blustery day on the skating rink. Micah Ricke ’10 (right), who is also teaching in Southeast Asia, became friends with an orphan named Gino.
Thalassa Contest MLC students in international service share their stories through the annual Thalassa contest. The fifth annual $1000 Thalassa prize, given by an anonymous donor, went to Amber Schlomer ’05 for her entry, “Don’t Be Afraid” (pictured, right). The prize was shared by Amber and the mission of her choice in Southeast Asia. In part, Amber wrote: “I stumbled across a small child. I could tell that he was afraid of something, or possibly someone. . . . He doesn’t know that his Father loves him, and he is welcomed home by arms that have held children before, by arms that have hung on a cross. But I get to share it with children like him and countless others who come searching for meaning and peace in their lives. I get to tell them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Let’s go home.’”
Welcoming International Students MLC also welcomes international and expatriate students here on campus. Students from Japan, South Korea, Antigua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Zambia, Brazil, and Canada are currently enrolled. Over 300 internationals are studying in WELS high schools, and we are investigating ways to provide ministry training to them as well. We pray that they will learn more about the gospel of Christ and then share this good news, either in their home countries or here in the States. Edili Pichardo Gomerez (pictured, right, in green sweatshirt) is an MLC sophomore from Dominican Republic.
Ralph Muenkel DMLC 1941 Caledonia MN
John Qualmann NWC 1986 Iron Ridge WI
Ethel Zimmerman DMLC 1941 Flint MI Martin Luther College
Floyd Mattek DMLC 1941 Two Rivers 7 WI
7
Here Am I. Send Me!
8
8
Marie Roekle DMLC 1951 Palmyra MICollege Martin Luther
James Aderman NWC 1971 Niagara WI
Marilyn Watchke DMLC 1951 New Ulm MN
Keith Haag NWC 1956 Unionville MI
We Go to the Littlest Lambs Early Childhood Education: A Great Opportunity “Early childhood education is such an important ministry,” explains Jennifer Mehlberg ’07 (pictured, top), our new lead instructor at the MLC Early Childhood Learning Center. “Parents are looking for quality education for their children. Our preschools fill that need, but so much more. We get to teach these children about Jesus’ love for them. We get to show their parents how to start praying and having devotions with their children. We build these relationships and then invite them to our church to learn more about Christ’s saving work for us. What a great opportunity!”
Early Childhood Education: A Great Joy Jennifer Mehlberg comes to us from Crown of Life Preschool and Childcare Center-Fort Myers FL, where she was the director and lead teacher (pictured, middle). “It is truly one of my greatest joys in life to watch my students grow in their faith,” she says. “You can see it on their faces when they understand the joy of knowing Jesus’ love for them. Parents tell me how their child showed each family member how to fold their hands and thank God for their food. Others tell me how their children retell our Bible stories to their families and friends. Our students are very young, yet they are a clear example of the Holy Spirit’s work in their hearts.”
Early Childhood Education: A Great Need “Our WELS school system continues to need qualified early childhood educators for children from birth to age 8,” says Education Professor Cheryl Loomis ’77. “Parents are looking for a quality educational experience for their children. One mark of high quality is a teacher with a college degree.” The WELS Conference of Presidents agrees. They have directed MLC to increase the number of ECE graduates. Our facility, however, cannot accept infants and toddlers, nor can it accommodate all the MLC student teachers. Because renovation of the facility would be too costly, the governing board has authorized construction of a new center. Pictured, left: Children and 2011 graduate Leann Pagel gather around the MLC ECLC sign. Pictured, right: Student at MLC Center.
Kenneth Bode NWC 1966 North St. Paul MN
Leroy Greening DMLC 1951 Appleton WI
John Ibisch NWC 1966 Columbus WI
Carol Winter DMLC 1991 Manitowoc WI
9
Here Am I. Send Me!
10 10
Henry Hoenecke DMLC 1991 Thousand Oaks CALuther College Martin
Randy Hunter NWC 1981 St. Paul Park MN
Mark Falck NWC 1971 Greenleaf WI
Roger Hinz DMLC 1961 Austin MN
We Go to Serve—Immediately! Daylight USA Sometimes the most valuable training occurs outside the classroom. Through Daylight USA, and often with the support of WELS Kingdom Workers, 150-200 MLC students every year serve in congregations all over the U.S. They teach VBS, canvass neighborhoods, coach at camps, assist at worship—whatever the congregation asks. Some volunteer for a week or two, and some serve as paid Member Ministry Assistants for 10 weeks in the summer. We thank God for this program, which brings blessings both to our students and to the congregations they serve. Pictured, right top: Daylight team at Trinity-Abita Springs LA: Nate Wordell, Heidi Heckmann, Caleb Schultz, and Michelle Hintz. Pictured, right middle: Daylight team at Living Hope-Midlothian VA: Lucas Proeber, Emily Hansel, Aimee Ulm, and Josh Jensen.
Daylight Blessings in Colorado Last March Emily Lai, Katelynn Steinke, Seth Meyer, Rachel Hein, Mark Waldschmidt, Steve Saatkamp, and Abbie Schultz volunteered at Peace-Boulder CO (group pictured, left). Members of the church wrote to MLC: “We at Peace were blessed to be a part of the MLC Daylight program. The seven students we received represented their school and, more importantly, their Savior wonderfully and well. The attitudes with which they went about their work reflected an evangelical tone and a selfless service to the Savior which are both commendable and refreshing. Should the Lord’s grace to them include a Call to the public ministry, we at Peace are confident they will be a gift to the Church.”
Daylight Blessings in Texas Before Easter Hannah Rothe, Elizabeth Loersch, Charlie Ungemach, and Micah Plocher served the congregation of Beautiful Savior-College Station TX (pictured, right). Pastor Caleb Schoeneck ’99 wrote MLC this note at 10:30 Easter morning: “At Beautiful Savior, we have had the tradition of having a sunrise service at the park. We typically have 60-70 people in worship on a regular Sunday. This morning we had over 300! Thanks enough cannot be said for the support and encouragement you provide for the MLC students to participate in the [Daylight] program and the training for ministry that you provide and that they receive on trips such as this.”
Walter Otterstatter DMLC 1951 Flasher ND
Charlene Carlson DMLC 1961 Omaha NE
Kay Holz DMLC 1991 Belle Plaine MNLuther College Martin
Ken Frey NWC 1981 Grand Junction CO 11
11
Here Am I. Send Me!
12 12
Lois Friedrich DMLC 1946 Helenville Martin LutherWI College
Carla LaBair MLC 2001 Mayville MI
Jon Buchholz NWC 1986 Tucson AZ
Kirsti Brown MLC 2001 Wisconsin Rapids WI
We Go with Advanced Training Eight Graduate with Master’s Degree We congratulate the 2011 Master of Science in Education grads: Rachel Burgess ’02 (Trinity-Caledonia WI) Cynthia Lange ’81 (St. Luke-Vassar MI) Daniel Markgraf ’86 (Beautiful Savior-Cincinnati OH) Matthew Meitner ’95 (Salem-Greenfield MN) Timothy Mueller ’06 (St. John-Sparta WI) Kurt Rosenbaum ’84 (Arizona Lutheran Academy-Phoenix AZ) Craig Weide ’96 (Christ-Big Bend WI) Minori Yamaki ’02 (St. Matthew-Des Plaines IL) Pictured, top: Timothy Mueller ’06. Pictured, bottom: Kurt Rosenbaum ’84 and his son, Derek ’11, graduated together May 14.
Master’s Program Expands • A new emphasis, Educational Technology, has been added, joining Instruction, Special Education, and Leadership. Pictured, right: Dr. James Grunwald ’78, technology instructor. • A new option allows D/MLC grads from 1970 to 2001 to obtain their master’s degree and Minnesota state teaching license simultaneously. • A new eight-year course calendar allows some students to finish in two years, and some to get a degree entirely through summer courses. • Four new professors have been added: Dr. Michelle Abrego ’81 (University of Texas-Brownsville), Joe DuFore ’02 (Wisconsin Lutheran College-Milwaukee), Daryl Hanneman ’75 (Grant Wood Area Education Agency-Cedar Rapids IA), and Dr. Carrie Pfeifer ’81 (St. Croix LHS-West St. Paul MN).
A Master’s Program Matched to Ministry Scott Loberger ’96 (Mt. Olive-Delano MN, pictured, left) explains how MLC allowed him to match his master’s program to his ministry: “MLC’s online program is geared to the called worker’s experience. Other programs are geared toward a public school setting. . . . The instruction is applicable. I’ve already seen improvement in my instruction and my approach to the challenges a principal faces. . . . I’m in the instruction emphasis, but I also took classes from the leadership emphasis. The ability to choose my own courses helps me gain insight into all areas of my ministry. . . . I also like the schedule flexibility. Being a WELS called worker can make life busy. The ability to take a semester off from my studies is crucial for me.”
Akinpelu Smith MLC 2006 Georgetown, Guyana
Karlheinz Neumann NWC 1941 St. Paul MN
Paula Jean Erhart DMLC 1956 St. Louis MO Luther College Martin
Casey Pufahl MLC 2001 Lake Mills13 WI
13
Here Am I. Send Me!
14 14
Bernice Mundstock DMLC 1946 LaLuther Crosse WI Martin College
David Boettcher MLC 2001 Chester NJ
James Tank DMLC 1956 Menasha WI
Stephanie Plagenz MLC 2006 Manchester WI
We Go to the House of the Lord Chapel of the Christ One Year Later We continue to be awed by the blessing of the beautiful Chapel of the Christ (pictured, right) dedicated in April 2010 on our campus. It is the gifts of God’s people that supplied this space, where the synod’s future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers worship morning and evening. The chapel hosts weddings, concerts, and recitals, but the primary purpose remains worship: gathering around the gospel in Word and Sacrament. Here God strengthens his people for service. Here Lutheran worship is modeled to our students. Here our students plan, lead, and participate in worship themselves as they prepare for the fulltime public ministry.
Chapel of the Christ Special Events 2010-2011 • August: Opening service (pictured, right, middle) • September: Homecoming weekend worship • October: Reformation service and Hymn Festival • December: Christmas concert (pictured, left) • January: Evangelism Day worship • February: Sacred Wind Symphony concert • March: Vespers Lenten service • April: World Mission service and Palm Sunday concert • May: Commencement concert • June: Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference worship • July: Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts worship • Summer: Faculty organ recital series
A Door to Other Hearts We have many visitors to campus, including tour groups from all over the country, some Christian and some not. When visitors walk in the chapel door, we have a door as well—to their hearts. Our tour guides, like Dr. Kermit Moldenhauer ’71 (pictured, right), cannot help but speak about our Lord Jesus Christ as they explain the meaning of the font and altar. They cannot help but speak about the gospel ministry as they explain who we are at Martin Luther College. We are grateful that the Chapel of the Christ not only allows us to praise God’s name together but also to proclaim his name to others.
Alison Wiedman MLC 2001 Guntur, India
Amanda Grosse DMLC 1981 Morton Grove IL
Bonnie Hoffman DMLC 1966 DetroitMartin MI Luther College
Lawrence Marowsky DMLC 1956 Owosso MI 15
15
20
Year in Review
August
Welcome, First-Years! 166 first-year students enjoy the almost-famous George’s Ballroom Blast during Orientation Weekend. The weekend includes chapel, orientation meetings, tours, speed dating, a dance, and the dorm staff’s help moving in the heavy boxes.
Homecoming: Students, alumni, families, and friends enjoy Knights football, cross country, and soccer—as well as the talent show, Family Fun Zone, Seminary-MLC soccer match, and more. Sunday worship in the Chapel of the Christ is a highlight of the September 17-19 weekend.
September
Concerts: Wind Symphony presents concert October 3. College Chorale, Men’s Choir, and Women’s Choir present Hymn Festival October 17. MLCTV live-streams all concerts.
Chapel Organ Featured: The August 2010 on-campus enrollment Educational majors 555 Preseminary studies 159 Unclassified 10 Total enrollment 724
October issue of The American Organist features MLC’s Schantz organ.
Ladies’ Auxiliary: This important support organization pledges thousands of dollars in projects and scholarships at their annual meeting October 13. The group has given more than $400,000 in their 50-year history.
Website Update: The
Student Services:
Technology Committee, Public Relations Office, and Network Services begin preliminary work on a website update.
A cyber-counseling room is added to the Student Union for students desiring private online counseling.
Sprinter Finds New Home: The
New Faculty: Nicolas Schmoller ’06, admissions counselor, and Abram Degner ’05, instructor and dorm supervisor, are ordained and installed at the opening service Monday, August 23.
16
Octo
Martin Luther College
Northwestern College Alumni Association finances the cleaning and moving of the Sprinter statue to a new location on the south side of the gym at Homecoming.
10
ober
November
Oklahoma! Is O - K: Alumni cast and crew from the 1968 and 1984 productions of Oklahoma! attend the November 5-7 show. A tour, a backstage devotion, and a little song and dance unite the three generations of Oklahoma! performers.
December
Volleyball Award: The Knights receive the 2010 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award.
Graduation: Sixteen MLC students graduate Thursday, December 16.
KnightVision: Pre- and postgame interviews of MLC Knights appear on YouTube. Games are also live-streamed, and game scores are available instantly via email, phone call, and text message.
Convocation Series Anniversary: We thank God for 30 years of pastoral motivation through the convocation series.
More Scholarships: We raise our merit awards to qualifying students, giving away $200,000 more every year. National Merit Scholar Finalist $3000 $4000 Presidential Scholarship $2500 $3000 Messenger Scholarship $1500 $2000 Witness Scholarship $1000 $1500
First-Year Honors: First-years Bethany Schultz (Sola Fide-Lawrenceville GA) and Rebecca Engelbrecht (Resurrection-Aurora IL) are named UMAC Rookie of the Year in soccer and volleyball, respectively.
Readers’ Theater: Students stage an experimental radio show, The War of the Worlds, December 3-4. The show is also broadcast on KNUJ for New Ulm area listeners.
Christmas at MLC: My Soul in Stillness Waits is the theme of the annual concert, performed twice this year, on December 4 and 5 in the Chapel of the Christ. Almost 1000 attend, and another 280 watch and listen online.
Martin Luther College
17
Year in Review January
Evangelism Day: Presented by MLC and the WELS Commission on Evangelism, January 19 features 40 presenters, including WELS President Mark Schroeder ’81, Pastor Dan Kroll ’92, Pastors Carlos Leyrer ’06 and Carl Leyrer ’73, and Shannon Boehme.
February
Choir Tour: Martin Luther College Choir tours the Midwest February 25 – March 6.
Winter Play: Forum presents The Curious Savage February 18-20.
Focus on Ministry:
Urban Ministry Trip:
March 24-26 is one of several weekends when MLC welcomes hundreds of high school students to visit campus and think about the public ministry as a possible vocation.
23 students observe and assist at several urban Milwaukee schools, gaining valuable experience in this kind of ministry.
Daylight USA: Over spring break, 82 students volunteer at 19 congregations around the country. (See pages 10-11.)
1000-Point Club: Hoopsters Erica Babinec (St. Paul-Onalaska WI) and Greg Holzhueter (St. Mark-Mankato MN) join MLC’s 1000-Point Club.
20 March
Sacred Winds: The Wind Symphony presents sacred music, featuring Jericho by Jesse Ayers.
Family Open House: First-Year Honors: First-year Galen Holzhueter (St. Mark-Mankato MN) is named UMAC Freshman of the Year in basketball.
Winter Carnival: Several feet of snow make the human dogsled races, broomball, and skating—as well as the indoor contests—piles of fun. The “MidKnight Madness” theme is accentuated by midnight online video updates for the whole student body.
April 15 is one of three opportunities for families of prospective students to visit campus and learn about programs, financial aid, housing, etc.
Early Field Experience: First-year education majors stay on campus the first week of spring break for motivational speakers, lesson planning, role-playing, and teaching. Sophomores and juniors do EFE at WELS schools.
11 April
Outdoor Classical Theater: Forum stages the Greek tragedy Antigone May 6-8 in German Park.
May
Swine Sizzler: The campus family enjoys this traditional end-of-year picnic Friday, May 6.
Wind Symphony Tour: The Wind
Southeast Asia Study Tour: Professor Earl Heidtke
Symphony tours Colorado, Arizona, and California, playing music of the American West, May 15-25.
’73 and four students meet fellow Christians and get a taste of ministry in Southeast Asia.
Palm Sunday Concert: The College Choir, along with 61 adults from the Midwest, presents a concert of Lenten music, centered on The Passion according to St. John by Demantius and portions of Bach’s B-minor Mass. Summer Session: 391 students are signed up for summer courses. Alumni Dinner: About 50 alumni enjoy the commencement dinner and a presentation on MLC’s Master of Science in Education program. Children’s Theater: More than 5000 children come to see Mr. Toad’s Mad Adventures April 14-16. The cast also takes their show on the road, staging performances at St. John-Lake City MN.
JUne
Commencement Concert: The final concert of the year, “This Joyful Eastertide,” is presented twice on Friday, May 13, in the Chapel of the Christ, featuring traditional hymns, spirituals, a Chinese tune, and selections from Handel’s Messiah.
The CELC Convention June 4-6: The seventh triennial convention of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference meets under the theme “Unity of Spirit – Bond of Peace.” Representatives from 33 countries worship, discuss theology, and enjoy fellowship.
Spanish Immersion: Professor Paul Bases ’80 and 24 MLC Spanish students spend five weeks in Ecuador, studying Spanish language and culture.
Graduation: On May 14, 152 undergrads and eight graduate students receive diplomas: 40 Preseminary 15 Early Childhood Ed 64 Elementary Ed 23 Secondary Ed 6 Staff Minister 4 Seminary Certification 8 Master of Science in Education
MLC Golf Classic: June 13 brings in golfers dedicated to the college and its mission.
Alumni Reunions: Graduates of DMLHS Class of ’61 meet June 1-2, and grads of DMLC Class of ’61 meet June 29-July 1.
Faculty Organ Recitals: The campus and community enjoy faculty organ recitals Thursdays at lunch this summer.
Student Organizations Studen Student Senate This busy group organizes Homecoming Week, Winter Carnival, and Swine Swizzler. Blood drives, talent shows, fundraisers, highway cleanup (pictured, left), tournaments, ski trips, and Twins games are also activities that Student Senate arranges. This year they were led by President Paul Krueger (Good Shepherd-Midland MI), Vice President Kendall Cook (New Salem-Sebewaing MI), Secretary Emily Zell (Grace-Milwaukee), and Treasurer Rachel Wendland (St. Stephen-Beaver Dam WI).
Anchor Service Club Serving Christ, the school, and the community is the mission of Anchor Service Club, which students organized less than two years ago. “We are anchored in Christ,” explains 2010-2011 President Aaron Duve (St. Matthew-Freeland MI). “Our symbol, the anchor, has a crosspiece and two hooks, which represent our service to school and community.” Though the club’s history is short, its accomplishments are long. They’ve raised money for Haiti hurricane relief and breast cancer, cleaned up parks, collected school supplies for Colombian students, helped shoot a Minnesota Historical Society documentary, volunteered at assisted living centers, and more! We’re thankful for Anchor members like Matt Augustine (St. John-Maribel WI, pictured, left) who have compassionate hearts and a willingness to serve.
Green Club A newer organization on campus, Green Club held its first annual Green Camp on a chilly day in April. “We were looking for a way to reach out to the community to foster a good relationship and give back to the community that has so generously housed MLC for many years,” said club member Jacki Adams (Divine Grace-Lake Orion MI). “We were also looking to teach the younger generation about the planet that God has given us and encourage them to help keep it clean!” Twenty-one children enjoyed crafts, nature walks, scavenger hunts, and skit-making as they learned about recycling, carpooling, saving water, and enjoying nature. Pictured, left: Heather Holm (St. Paul-East Troy WI) helps a young camper plant a seed in a recycled “pot.”
20 20
Robert Moldenhauer DMLC 1946 Milwaukee Martin Luther WI College
Shirley Wendland DMLC 1956 Balaton MN
Norman Lindloff NWC 1946 Elkton SD
Robert Bonitz DMLC 1946 Mellen WI
nt Organizations Student Organizatio Studium Excitare Studium Excitare: The Journal of Confessional Language Studies at MLC is a digital journal produced by preseminary students who translate German and Latin sermons, hymns, doctrinal articles, and biographies. Through an anonymous donor, the group awards a $500 scholarship for excellence in translation. The 2011 winner was Aaron Jensen who, along with Andrew Hussman, edited the publication for three years. As Jensen and Hussman (pictured, right) left office, they encouraged those following them: “Take full advantage of the gifts with which God has blessed his Church, the gift of brilliant men who humbly subjected their intellect to the Scriptures and used their abilities to illuminate them. Lutheranism has left us a wonderful heritage. Let us study it, and do so with excitement.” Find the publication at studiumexcitare.com.
Student Admissions Ambassadors A new team of six students assisted the admissions office with recruitment events this year, especially with the three Focus on Ministry weekends, which brought in hundreds of high schoolers for an overnight stay. The 2010-2011 team members were Ben Schone (St. Paul-New Ulm MN), Malissa Smatlak (Bethlehem-Menomonee Falls WI), Caleb Schmiege (Eastside-Madison WI), Sarah Krajewski (St. Paul-Onalaska WI), Katelyn Hauf (Bethany-Manitowoc WI), and Jacob Steinmetz (St. Martin-Watertown SD).
Student Athletic Advisory Committee The 16 athletes on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, one from each MLC athletic team, help represent their teams’ concerns as campus athletic decisions are made. They also run the concession stand to raise funds for non-budgetary items, plan halftime events, and do service projects. “This year we raised money for breast cancer awareness,” explains outgoing president Steve Apt (Trinity-Crete IL, pictured, right). “This is an organization that fosters leadership and responsibility,” said Athletic Director Jim Unke ’80. Leading the group next year is Justin Danell (St. John-New Ulm MN).
Carolyn Hoppe DMLC 1986 Victor MT
Ryan Cortwright MLC 2006 Franklin WI
Debra Reinhardt DMLC 1976 Milwaukee WI Luther College Martin
Patricia York DMLC 1976 Tulsa OK 21
21
Student Honors Student Honor 2010-2011 MLC Student Awards MLC Scholar-Athlete Award (Female): April Cook MLC Scholar-Athlete Award (Male): Greg Holzhueter Jerome Kruse Knight Award (Female): Amanda Selle Jerome Kruse Knight Award (Male): Greg Holzhueter Leading Scholar (Education): Greg Holzhueter Leading Scholar (Preseminary): Aaron Jensen Brooks Scholarship: Andrew Hussman, Nathan Loersch Fine Arts Award: David Wendland Service Award: Aaron Duve Via Veritas Vita Award: Emily Heidtke Recognition of Student Body President: Paul Krueger
2010-2011 NWC Alumni Society Presidents Fund Grants President John A. Braun Grant for Leadership: Kurtis Wetzel President John A. Braun Grant for English: Steven Pelischek President Robert J. Voss Grant for Student Government: Julius Buelow President Robert J. Voss Grant for Student Life: Caleb Schmiege President Carleton Toppe Grant for GPA and Religion: Nathan Schulte President E.E. Kowalke Grant for Biblical Languages: David Strucely President August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages (either German or Latin): Andrew Ewings (German) President August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages (both German and Latin): Joshua Jensen President Lewis O. Thompson Grant for Worship and Music: Lucas Proeber President Adam Martin Grant for Living Languages: Andrew Gerlach
Martin Luther College Presidential Scholarship Winners The following first-year students were valedictorians at their high school, earning them the MLC Presidential Scholarship. Sarah Sherod (California LHS) Kimberly Schmill (Manitowoc LHS) Emily Eckley (Manitowoc LHS) Ryan Klatt (West LHS) Megan Wohlrabe (Peyton HS-Colorado Springs) Nathaniel Solofra (Northland LHS)
22 22
John Festerling DMLC 1976 Bay City MICollege Martin Luther
Sarah Peter DMLC 1986 Sodus MI
Barbara Seager DMLC 1966 Evansville IN
Christa Priestap MLC 2006 Calgary AB
rs Student Honors Student Honors S Scholar-Athlete April Cook April Cook (KML) earned not only the MLC Scholar-Athlete Award, but also the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award. The UMAC award recognizes one male and female graduating senior athlete every year who have excelled not only on the field, but also in the classroom and in the community. April, an All-Conference softball player, graduated in May with a double major in elementary ed and secondary life science ed—and a 3.75 GPA. She provided leadership on the Knights’ Student Senate and Student Athlete Advisory Committee, she volunteered on five Daylight USA ministry trips, and she coached girls’ 5-6 basketball at St. Paul-New Ulm.
Scholar-Athlete Greg Holzhueter Greg Holzhueter (MVL) earned the MLC Scholar-Athlete Award, the Jerome Kruse Knight Award, and the Leading Scholar in Educational Studies at MLC. Greg played quarterback in football, point guard in basketball, and shortstop in baseball already as a first-year MLC student, and he never let up. He ranks No. 2 all-time in MLC history in a number of records for football and holds three school records in basketball. He was All-Conference in basketball and football, and he was chosen Honorable Mention All-Conference twice in baseball. All this he did while earning a 3.9 GPA and participating in other campus clubs and activities.
Academic All-Conference In Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) team competition, Martin Luther College claimed the best grade point averages in six sports (out of 16): football (2.90 GPA), men’s soccer (3.10 GPA), volleyball (3.50 GPA, pictured), men’s basketball (3.40 GPA), men’s tennis (3.58 GPA), and women’s tennis (3.89). The UMAC has 13 member schools in competition. On an individual basis, 53 MLC athletes merited Academic All-Conference honors in the fall and 45 earned the honor in the winter/spring. Placement on the Academic All-Conference team requires an individual GPA of 3.50 or better.
Caroline Bathke DMLC 1946 Minneapolis MN
Kyle Swogger MLC 2006 Winona MN
Rendell Koeppel DMLC 1981 Watertown WI Luther College Martin
Scott Muske MLC 1996 Kalamazoo 23MI
23
Alumni Alumni Alumni Alum Notes from the MLCAA The Martin Luther College Alumni Association continues to grow! Its purpose is to strengthen relationships between MLC and its alumni, providing opportunities for alumni to serve their college and for the college to serve its alumni. If you’re interested in helping with the mission of the alumni association, consider becoming a “Class Contact.” For more information, contact Josh Roth ’02 at jmsmroth@hotmail.com.
Will You Help? The first major project for the Martin Luther College Alumni Association is renovation of the familiar Center Street entrance sign (pictured, left). Gifted to the college by the graduation class of 1949, the sign has been an icon of DMLC and MLC. In recent years, however, it has deteriorated and its appeal has faded. New lighting, tuck pointing, a new sign, and replacing the large cross beams are integral parts of the restoration. The cost of restoring it is $12,000. Watch your mailbox for this alumni appeal!
Remember the Lancer? When Northwestern College and Dr. Martin Luther College amalgamated in 1995, the DMLC Lancer mosaic (pictured, left) was covered with a new MLC Knight mural. The Lancer was a gift of the DMLC Class of ’65, and the MLCAA would like to bring it back, seeing it as a historical counterpoint to the NWC Sprinter, which was spruced up and prominently displayed on campus last year. We hope to “unveil the Lancer” at Homecoming this fall. The Knight mural will not disappear, however. It will be cleaned up and placed in or near the gym. And the DMLC and NWC seals will remain where they are, facing each other in the Luther Student Center. We’re thankful for all the historical symbols that remind us of the blessings God has given our ministerial education schools through the decades.
24 24
Carl Voss NWC 1951 Jenera OH College Martin Luther
Margaret Ungemach DMLC 1981 Kenosha WI
Roger Sievert DMLC 1966 Beaver Dam WI
David Nell DMLC 1971 Algoma WI
mni Alumni Alumni Alumni Alumni Alumni Reception at Homecoming 2011 Mark your calendars for Homecoming on September 30 – October 2. It’s the biggest alumni event of the year! And this year, for the first time in a long time, all sports are on campus: soccer, football, volleyball, and cross country. Be sure to stop in at the Alumni Registration Tent to register for the Lind House Alumni Reception, where food and drinks (and fellowship) are free from 7 to 10 pm. And please worship with us Sunday at 9:30 am in the Chapel of the Christ. The campus family worships at downtown churches most Sundays, but on Homecoming Sunday we worship together—students, alumni, parents, faculty, and staff—on campus. Choirs and instrumentalists will beautify our worship.
Reunion: DMLHS Class of 1961 June 1 and 2 brought 26 members of the Dr. Martin Luther High School Class of 1961, plus guests, to campus (pictured, right). They also welcomed their advisor, Professor Emeritus Theodore Hartwig WLS ’47, and his wife, Lois. “June 2 was the actual date of our graduation in 1961,” said Dave Jacobs ’61. “During the campus tour, we happened to be in the auditorium at 10:45 am, which was just about the time we were walking across that same stage 50 years ago to receive our diplomas from President Carl Schweppe.” Other highlights included an anniversary service in the Chapel of the Christ led by classmate Jerry Schroer ’61 and the banquet in the cafeteria solarium. “Being on campus was amazing,” Jacobs said. “Some of us had not seen any of the changes on campus in the last 50 years! We spent many hours ‘reunionizing’ and reminiscing. It was good to be ‘home’ for a while.”
Historical Marker August 21 will mark the 100th anniversary of the dedication of Summit Hall and the Aula, or Music Hall (pictured, right). The DMLC Class of 1961, which is meeting this summer, is planning to finance a historical marker with photos and information on these two buildings. We hope to unveil the sign Orientation Weekend, August 20-21. If your class would like to finance a campus project, please contact Alumni Director Steve Balza ’93 at balzasj@mlc-wels.edu.
Karen Breiling DMLC 1971 West Bend WI
Mary Lombardo DMLC 1971 Phoenix AZ
Waldemar Nolte DMLC 1936 Claremont MN Luther College Martin
Rachel Treuden MLC 1996 Brookfield25 WI
25
Faculty Notes Faculty Notes F Anniversaries Professor Arlen Koestler ’61 - 50 Years of Service to the Church Bethel-Bay City MI 1961-1969 • St. Jacobi-Greenfield WI 1969-1978 • (Dr.) Martin Luther College 1978-2011 (pictured, left, top) Professor J. Lance Hartzell ’71 - 40 Years of Service to the Church St. John-Fremont WI 1971-1975 • Faith-Anchorage AK 1975-1988 • Grace-Yakima WA 1988-1993 • (Dr.) Martin Luther College 1993-2011 (pictured, left, middle) Professor Kermit Moldenhauer ’71 - 40 Years of Service to the Church St. Stephen-Beaver Dam WI 1971-75 • Martin Luther Academy-New Ulm MN 1975-79 • Martin Luther Preparatory School-Prairie du Chien WI 1979-90 • WELS Hymnal Project-Milwaukee 1990-92 • Northwestern Publishing House-Milwaukee 1992-95 • Martin Luther College 1995-2011 Professor Alan Spurgin ’71 - 40 Years of Service to the Church St. John-Watertown WI 1971-1974 • Good Shepherd-West Allis WI 1974-1987 • St. Peter-Balaton MN 1987-1992 • (Dr.) Martin Luther College 1992-2011 Professor David Schroeder ’86 - 25 Years of Service to the Church St. Mark-Citrus Heights CA 1986-1998 • Wisconsin Lutheran High School-Milwaukee 1998-2008 • Martin Luther College 2008-2011
Retiring in June 2011 Professor Glenn Bode ’68 was called to the science department of Northwestern College in 1990. At the amalgamation with Dr. Martin Luther College, he came to New Ulm as the director of technology. His wife, Lois, has served the college in network services since 1996 and specifically as database administrator since 2000. Next year the Bodes will continue to help WELS and ELS schools with technology through their business, Orion Computer Services. (pictured, left, middle) Professor Ronald Brutlag ’67 came to MLC in 1999 as director of admissions and traveling recruiter. In 2007, he became fulltime director. He has also served as graduation marshal. His wife, Diane, has served the college as human resources officer and manager of the records office. The couple is moving to The Villages FL this summer. (pictured, left, bottom) Professor Arlen Koestler ’61 came to DMLC in 1978 as an English professor and has served the past five years as department chair. He served also as recruitment director from 1988 to 1992 and as director of the Developmental Education Center (now the Academic Success Center) from its origin in the mid-80s until 2002. He has coached men’s and women’s tennis for many years. Next year he and his wife, Karen, will remain in New Ulm, and he will serve MLC as a semi-retired professor, teaching English and coaching tennis. Professor Martin Sponholz ’70 came to DMLC in 1982 as a professor of science. He served for 12 years as AVCO advisor and for two years as yearbook advisor. He and his wife, Nancy, plan to remain in the New Ulm area.
26
Martin Luther College
Faculty Notes Faculty Notes Faculty N 2010-2011 Highlights Professor Dan Balge WLS ’85 (pictured, right, top), Academic Dean for Preseminary Studies, is starting a six-year stint as a contributing editor to Forward in Christ. He is also teaching the pastors of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, this July. Dr. Robert F. Klindworth ’70 was elected chairman of the Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council Accreditation Committee and appointed to the Standards and Rules Committee of the Minnesota Board of Teaching. He also wrote two chapters for The Definitive History of Non-public Education in America. Professor Lyle Lange WLS ’69 chaired the meeting of the Theological Commission of the Confessional Ev. Lutheran Conference (CELC) as the commission developed two new doctrinal statements. Northwestern Publishing House is also publishing his book One God—Two Covenants? A Search for the Heart of the Old Testament. Professor Thomas Nass WLS ’82 (pictured, right) was appointed to the WELS English Version Evaluation Steering Committee, which is evaluating the 2011 New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. He was also reelected secretary of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) for another three years. Dr. David Schroeder ’85 wrote a biography of Supreme Court Associate Justice Pierce Butler. An adapted chapter was published in the Journal of Supreme Court History (2010 Vol. 35 No. 2). Professor Steven Thiesfeldt ’74, VP for Administration, was named a technical advisor for the Lutheran Science Institute. He will advise on program matters and technical questions, as well as write and review manuscripts for the LSI Journal. Dr. Cindy Whaley ’76 (pictured, right) has been appointed to the Statewide Literacy Team. She is also president of the Southwest Minnesota Reading Council. Dr. David Wendler ’70, VP for Academics, serves on the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) as a team chair for university and college evaluations. He also was appointed in June to the newly formed advisory council for the Institutional Action Council (IAC), the decision-making body for HLC.
In Memoriam We remember with gratitude those professors who labored in the Lord. Arnold O. Lehmann 1914-2009 Glenn R. Barnes 1927-2010 Gertrude E. Nolte 1915-2009 Arthur Glende 1912-2010 Francis L. Schubkegel 1932-2009 Eugene A. Kirst 1923-2010 (pictured, right) Robert J. Stoltz 1937-2010 William G. Zell 1922-2009 Gilbert F. Fischer 1919-2010 * To the best of our knowledge, these are the college professors from Martin Luther College, Northwestern College, and Dr. Martin Luther College who died in 2009 and 2010.
Martin Luther College
27
Mission Advancement Mission 2010-2011 Budget Notes
$ 1.2 Million
By VP for Mission Advancement Jon Scharlemann
NEEDED IN GIFTS TO MLC
The college operated under a $15.4 million budget for 2010-2011. We rely on three sources of revenue to cover our expenses: • tuition, fees, and receipts ($10.45M); • synod subsidy, from congregational mission offerings ($3.75M); and • unrestricted or temporarily restricted donor gifts ($1.2M needed).
$ 3.75 Million
WELS Operating Subsidy (from your congregational mission offerings)
$ 10.45 Million Campus Revenue (tuition, fees, receipts)
The synod subsidy of $3.75 million planned for at the start of the fiscal year (July 1, 2010) will actually total $3.68 million at fiscal year end (June 30, 2011). We are very thankful for the commitment of our synod and its people who, even in times of an unsettled economy, have been sacrificial and generous with their offerings. Thank you. Unrestricted and temporarily restricted donor gifts to MLC from July 1, 2010, thru May 31, 2011, totaled $947,000, short of the $1.2 million needed. Additional permanently restricted gifts of $994,000 also came in, bringing the gift total to $1,941,000. As of this writing, one more month of the fiscal year remains. Our response to your generous support is a promise—a promise that we will be the best stewards of your gifts that we can be as we strive to provide the WELS with graduates who are compelled to speak God’s Word to the world.
Economic Sustainability In April 2009, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) pointed to an unpredictable synod subsidy as a weakness of the college. The report stated: “The subsidy provided by the synod has varied considerably from a high point of $5.4 million in 2000-2001 to a low of $708,000 in 2005-2006. For 2008-2009 the subsidy was $4.5 million; although the subsidy for 2009-2010 has not yet been determined, it was projected to be no more than $3.8 million.* The variability of the subsidy complicates annual budgetary and strategic planning for the college.” *Synod subsidies since the issuance of the HLC report: 2009-2010: $3.7M 2010-2011: $3.7M 2011-2012: $3.1M 2012-2013: $2.9M In response to this concern, the governing board formed an Economic Sustainability Fund that will support the operating budget in times of reduced synod subsidy, lower enrollments, or decreased gift support. The fund goal is 25% of the annual operating budget. The Board for Ministerial Education is also working to establish a formulaic approach to subsidy distribution that will provide more consistency and uniformity to the process. MLC has been asked to report to the Higher Learning Commission on this matter again in November 2012. 28
Martin Luther College
n Advancement Mission Advancement Student indebtedness We continue to be concerned about students who graduate with outstanding loans. In 2009-2010, 63% of students graduated with debt, that debt averaging $21,800. In 2008-2009, 76% of students graduated with debt, that debt averaging $18,415. When we consider that our students do not enter high-paying careers, we understand more fully what a heavy burden these debts are. MLC has responded to high student debt in four ways: • We increased financial aid (see “More Scholarships” below). • We kept student fee increases to 3% for the last three years. • We offered student seminars on personal finance. • We continue to seek gifts for student financial assistance.
How Did MLC Compare in 2010-2011? UW-Eau Claire MSU-Mankato Martin Luther College Wisconsin (Madison) Minnesota (Twin Cities) Michigan State Bethany WLC Concordia-St. Paul Valparaiso
Tuition/Fees Room/Board Total $7364 $5770 $13,134 $6724 $6730 $13,454 $10,990 $4260 $15,250 $9050 $8490 $17,540 $11,800 $7576 $19,376 $11,948 $8420 $20,368 $21,080 $6500 $27,580 $21,960 $7880 $29,840 $27,400 $7500 $34,900 $29,582 $8330 $37,912
*All numbers are based on in-state tuition for incoming freshman. Students’ final costs will vary, depending on the financial aid packages they receive.
More Scholarships We raised our merit awards, giving away $200,000 more every year. National Merit Scholar Finalist $3000 $4000 Presidential Scholarship $2500 $3000 Messenger Scholarship $1500 $2000 Witness Scholarship $1000 $1500 These merit awards are based on GPA and/or ACT scores. Pictured: Rachel Rupnow and Zachary Moyle, who were National Merit Scholar Finalists in 2008. Rachel will graduate in May 2012. Zachary was called home to our heavenly Father in 2009. An MLC scholarship has been established in his name.
Martin Luther College
29
MLC At A Glance Campus Family Undergraduates on Campus (March 2011): 695 (346 male, 349 female) Faculty (tenured, adjunct, other): 70+ Freshman Profile: 3.40 Avg. high school GPA 23.8 Avg. ACT score
Music 4 Choirs (open to all students for credit) Band (open to all students for credit) Individual lessons in voice, piano, and organ Jazz Band Pep Band Percussion Ensemble Brass Choir Handbell choir Woodwind Ensemble
Campus & City
Music Facilities
50-acre campus at the highest point in New Ulm Adjacent to Flandrau State Park Downtown theater, sports facilities, shopping, restaurants 25 miles from Mankato & 90 miles from Twin Cities
Programs Undergraduate Degrees – Educational Studies Bachelor of Science in Education Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Secondary Education Elementary Education and Secondary Education Elementary Education and Early Childhood Ed Elementary Education and Staff Ministry Bachelor of Science Staff Ministry Staff Ministry and Parish Music Staff Ministry Certification Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Program Undergraduate Degrees – Preseminary Studies Bachelor of Arts Seminary Certification Program Graduate Studies Master of Science in Education
Spiritual Life Morning & evening chapel Nearby churches on weekends Spiritual counseling services
Evening Compline Communion services Bible studies
Academic Resources MLC Library Media Center Peer tutoring Academic Counseling Computer Labs Writing Center Moodle.com SMART classrooms Online Course Management System
Experiential Learning Opportunities Daylight USA: Stateside Ministry/Service Opportunities Daylight International: Teaching Overseas Early Field/Ministry Experiences Urban Ministry Focus Spanish Immersion Trips European Study Tours Southeast Asia Study Tours Student Teaching in Diverse Settings (Hispanic, Urban) 30
Martin Luther College
1,000+ seat Chapel of the Christ 900-seat auditorium 2 Music Buildings Choir Room and Band Room 6 PianoTeaching Studios 15 Piano Practice Rooms 17 Pipe Organs 2 Computerized Piano Labs
Athletics Mascot: Knights Colors: Black, red, and white Affiliations: NCAA Division III Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Intercollegiate sports: 16 (8 men’s / 8 women’s) Intramurals: 15+ leagues, 400+ students
Campus Athletic Facilities Gymnasium Baseball field Fitness Center
Football bowl Softball field Tennis courts Practice fields New soccer complex
New Ulm Athletic Facilities Indoor Pool Golf Course Indoor Track
Indoor Ice Arena Gymnastics Center Bike Path Hiking/Running Trails Racquetball Facilities
Other Co-Curriculars include . . . Student Senate Dorm Council Intramural Board Writing Club Astronomy Club Recruitment Hosts Studium Excitare Campus Tour Guides Renaissance Faire Admissions Ambassadors German Club Photography Team Fall Musical Meet Math Winter Play Outdoor Adventure Club Readers’ Theater Athletic Advisory Comm. Outdoor Classical Theater Sign Language Club Children’s Theater Audio-Visual Services Green Club Anchor Service Club Others as students organize them
Your Costs 2010-2011 Tuition $10,990 Rm & Bd $ 4,260 Total $15,250 More than 90% of students receive financial aid.
Accreditation Martin Luther College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Governing Board Digest The MLC Governing Board met in September 2010 and February 2011. The following summaries were submitted by Vice President for Administration Steve Thiesfeldt ’74.
September 23, 2010 • The board approved operating budgets of $15.7 million for 2011-12 and $16.2 million for 2012-13. As directed by the Synodical Council, the budgets include average pay increases of 3.5% for faculty and support staff each year. The board also asked the SC to consider a smaller pay increase in order to direct more resources to other areas of the operating budget. This budget is subject to final approval by the Synodical Council. [Subsequent decisions led to a 2% pay increase for 2011-2012 and 2.5% for 2012-2013.] • Student fee increases were limited to 3% for 2011-12. To partially offset the increase in fees, additional merit grant funding of up to $200,000 was allocated. • The board authorized calling for three faculty positions that will be vacated in June 2011 due to retirements: English (Prof. Koestler), Science (Prof. Sponholz), and Director of Admissions (Prof. Brutlag). [Subsequent calls were accepted by Paul Grubbs (English), Mark Tacke (Science), and Mark Stein (Admissions).] • The board supported the development of study abroad programs to Southeast Asia and other venues as well as efforts to study the offering of the Mandarin language for credit. • The board recommended that the new early childhood coordinator, which will be called by the Commission on Lutheran Schools, establish a primary office at the college. [Subsequently, the CLS did not accept this recommendation.] • The board endorsed the concept presented by the Task Force on Expanded Programs that there are ways to expand program offerings at MLC under the college’s mission to serve the ministry needs of the WELS. A new committee will be appointed “to assess more completely the current ministry needs of the church in this changing society, while cherishing the gospel freedom we have to consider training for additional ministry opportunities.” • The board heard a progress report on the proposed joint senior living and early childhood learning center project. The board acknowledged the project as a mission fit and a good opportunity to model ministry for both our students and the congregations of the WELS. Recognizing that some aspects of the proposal require additional information and planning, the board resolved to complete the study in preparation for a presentation to the Synodical Council later in the school year. • The board directed the college to seek permission from the Conference of Presidents (COP) to conduct a capital campaign during the next biennium (August 2011-August 2013) to address student assistance, construction of a new
early childhood learning center, facility maintenance, and expansion of Daylight USA and Daylight International.
February 18, 2011 • A management plan for unrestricted net assets was approved. The plan calls for the board to review and, if appropriate, allocate unrestricted net assets annually following completion of the audit. • The formation of an Economic Sustainability Fund (ESF) was approved to function as a reserve fund that supports the operating budget in times of economic downturn leading to reduced synod subsidy, lower enrollments, or decreased gift support. The fund goal is 25% of the annual operating budget, which equates to $4 million in 2011-2012. • The board subsequently allocated unrestricted net assets according to the following distribution: ° $1.5 million for the ESF; ° $500,000 for extra-budgetary programmed maintenance (roof and equipment replacements; elevator upgrades to meet new state laws; and the recarpeting of Old Main classrooms, offices, and hallways) during the 2011-13 biennium; and ° $1.0 million to support student assistance funding during the 2011-13 biennium as needed. • After learning about the possibility of utilizing Mandarin instructors from the ALLEX Foundation, the board asked the Curriculum Oversight Committee to consider other credit and noncredit alternatives and report back in September. • The administration of the college was asked to develop a plan for expanding the recruitment of international students from our WELS mission fields beginning with the 2012-2013 academic year and to report to the board in September. • The board reiterated its support for the launching of a capital campaign in cooperation with the WELS Ministry of Christian Giving, while understanding that the matter is subject to the approval of the Conference of Presidents (COP). [The COP subsequently asked MLC to take the leadership role in a joint WELS/MLC capital campaign.] • The college was directed to implement a multi-phase intergenerational ministry project, including the construction of a new early childhood learning center and a retirement living complex on the current Luther Manor site in cooperation with The Lutheran Home Association and a third-party developer. Permission to proceed with a proposal that requires the subdivision of the Luther Manor site will be sought from the Synodical Council. [Permission was subsequently granted by the Synodical Council. MLC is now developing final plans for presentation to the governing board in September.] Martin Luther College
31
Who’s teaching K-8 in Colorado? Who’s coaching sports in Milwaukee? Who’s teaching science at Fox Valley Lutheran High? Who’s a choir director in Washington? Who’s playing organ in San Antonio? Who’s an athletic director in Nebraska? Who’s teaching preschool in Baton Rouge, Louisiana? Who’s teaching elementary school in Antigua? Who’s a preschool director in Wisconsin? Who’s teaching English in Southeast Asia? Who’s coaching at Evergreen Lutheran High? Who’s teaching grades 2-4 in Florida? Who’s a tutor at Luther Preparatory School? Who’s enrolling at Seminary? Who’s starting an exciting new life of service to the church?
The 2011 Graduates of Martin luther College 32
Martin Luther College
32