KnightWatch - June 2011

knightwatch knight M A R T IN LU T H E R COL L E GE

• Who’s Coming to Visit You Next Year?

• “Call Day Used to Scare Me” • Daylight Makes a Difference

1995 Luther Court New Ulm, MN 56073

NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID OWATONNA, MN 55060 PERMIT #110

JUNE 2011

MLC

Address Service Requested

june 2011

KnightWatch Staff WRITER/EDITOR

Laurie Gauger ’86

THE DIRECTOR’S

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Lime Valley Advertising, Inc.

Do you have . . .

PHOTOGRAPHERS

• an attitude of service, a servant’s heart?

William Pekrul ’80, PR Director Catherine St. John Rebecca Wilkens

• a desire to talk about your Savior?

• an outgoing and friendly personality?

COPY EDITOR

Phil Biedenbender

Office of Admissions DIRECTOR

Ronald Brutlag ’69 COUNSELORS

Ross Stelljes WLS ’89 Lori Unke ’83 Nicolas Schmoller WLS ’10

College Administration PRESIDENT

Mark Zarling WLS ’80 VP for ACADEMICS

David Wendler ’70 VP for ADMINISTRATION

Steven Thiesfeldt ’74 VP for MISSION ADVANCEMENT

Jon Scharlemann VP for STUDENT LIFE

Jeffrey Schone WLS ’87

Corner

The word is, you should be thinking about a career. But with so many choices and opportunities, you are probably confused and overwhelmed. If so, our admissions counselors would like to discuss public ministry as a possible option for you.

But before you speak with one of our counselors, I would like to suggest a gifts analysis. Take some time to look at yourself and determine what gifts and talents you have been given. Ask family and friends what talents they see in you. Talk to teachers and guidance personnel about your strengths and weaknesses. Then ask yourself, How will I use these gifts?

If, in your inventory, you find that you have some of the following gifts, you might consider the public ministry as a place to use them.

KnightWatch is published by Martin Luther College and is intended to inform, inspire, and motivate young people who are considering enrolling at MLC to prepare for public ministry in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

• a good knowledge of the Bible and its teachings?

• a love for children?

• creative gifts?

• communication skills with adults as well as children?

• a cooperative spirit?

• intellectual gifts?

If this profile pretty much sounds like you, then you should seriously think about studying at Martin Luther College for public ministry. We would very much like to discuss ministry and what MLC has to offer you.

As I step down as the director of admissions at MLC, I pray that many of our readers will explore the possibility of studying at MLC. The Lord has given all of you special gifts.

Your gift to the Lord can be yourself on his ministry team. God bless each one of you.

Professor Ronald Brutlag, MLC’s director of admissions, is retiring in June 2011. We thank him for his leadership and wish him God’s richest blessings!

Comments are welcomed and should be directed to gaugerlf@mlc-wels.edu or Martin Luther College KnightWatch, 1995 Luther Court, New Ulm MN 56073.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS,

Mark Stein!

Called to Martin Luther College from Shoreland Lutheran High School, Mark Stein is packing boxes even as we speak, getting ready to bring his family to New Ulm.

2

On our cover: 2011 graduates ready for the next step.

We’ll give you a fuller profile of Professor Stein next fall, but for now, know this:

high school. “My parents and teachers had encouraged me to be a teacher since I was in grade school,” he says, “but I fought it the whole way!” He did come to DMLC, then left, then came back. Long story short: He knows what you’re going through, and he’ll be here for you.

Like many of you, he had a hard time figuring out what to do with himself after

We can’t wait for you to meet him—and he can’t wait to meet you either!

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE

WHO’S COMING TO YOU NEXT YEAR?

Visit

Here are the admissions counselors you can look for next year. Be sure to make an appointment to talk to them. They’re full of good advice, encouragement, and answers to your questions.

Arizona Luth Academy Nick Schmoller, Lori Unke California LHS Lori Unke Evergreen LHS Dan Gawrisch Fox Valley LHS Ross Stelljes, Lori Unke Great Plains LHS Dan Gawrisch Huron Valley LHS Nick Schmoller Illinois LHS Nick Schmoller Kettle Moraine LHS Dan Gawrisch, Ross Stelljes Lakeside LHS Lori Unke, Nick Schmoller, Dan Gawrisch Luther HS Ross Stelljes

Ross Stelljes

Lori Unke

Luther Prep School Nick Schmoller, Ross Stelljes, Dan Gawrisch, Lori Unke Manitowoc LHS Nick Schmoller Michigan LHS Nick Schmoller Michigan Luth Seminary Lori Unke, Nick Schmoller Minnesota Valley LHS Ross Stelljes, Lori Unke Nebraska LHS Ross Stelljes Northland LHS Dan Gawrisch Rocky Mountain LHS Ross Stelljes St. Croix LHS Ross Stelljes, Dan Gawrisch

Nick Schmoller

Dan Gawrisch*

Shoreland LHS Nick Schmoller West LHS Dan Gawrisch Winnebago Luth Academy Ross Stelljes, Lori Unke Wisconsin LHS Nick Schmoller, Lori Unke, Dan Gawrisch * Dan Gawrisch (aka “New Guy”) is a 2008 MLC graduate who was assigned his first year to teach P.E. at MLC. The last two years he was getting his master’s degree in P.E. And now he’s back at MLC, ready to talk to you about your future!

We’d love to see you this summer!

We can‘t wait to meet you and talk about your future.

Because our counselors are in and out all summer, please call ahead to make an appointment.

507.354.8221 admissions@mlc-wels.edu

“It Used to Scare Me”

It’s Call Day!

Thoughts on Call Day

It’s the one day a year that changes lives. On Call Day, May 14, 70+ graduating education majors heard where they would spend the next year or two—or 40—of their lives.

organ. Another needs a high school Spanish teacher.) Then, with much prayer, they match the students’ gifts and the schools’ needs.

They were assigned to Florida and Washington, Virginia and Nebraska, Wisconsin, Texas, and more. They will be athletic directors and choir directors; preschool, elementary, and high school teachers; organists, coaches, and dorm supervisors. (Glance at the back page for a few examples. Or find the whole list at mlc-wels.edu.)

Do the students have any say? Some. Before Call Day, they can share their preferences and/or defer (put off ) a call for reasons such as teaching overseas, continuing education, or marriage.

When I was a senior in high school, the idea of not knowing where God was going to send me scared me quite a bit. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but I wanted to be in charge of deciding where I went.

That thought almost led me to choose a different career path.

As you can imagine, emotions run high on Call Day. The air is thick with excitement, anticipation, and sometimes surprise. Most important, though—and perhaps you’ll experience this yourself four or five or six years from now—each individual student’s heart is filled with trust in the Lord, who knows what is best for his church and his children.

But after talking to friends that were already at MLC and my family, I decided MLC was where I wanted to be. And little by little, the encouragement and experiences through my years at MLC helped me become comfortable with the idea of receiving a call. It was during student teaching senior year that I knew for certain taking a call was exactly what I wanted.

Dan Rick (Wonewoc Center HS-WI) has just heard that he is assigned to St. John-Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, as a principal apprentice and grade 5-8 teacher.

When I get nervous about Call Day, I think about what God says in his Word: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). Whenever I read this passage, I know God is guiding me no matter where I go on this earth.

How does this assignment process work?

The Assignment Committee (WELS district presidents and other leaders) sits around a table and discusses each graduate’s gifts.

(Can he coach? Can she direct choir?) They also look at each available call. (One school needs a fourth grade teacher who plays Amanda Selle (FVL) has just heard that she is assigned to teach first grade at Divine Savior Lutheran Academy-Doral, Florida!

By Katie Mikula (Shoreland)

Katie wrote this article in April. On May 14, she was assigned to be the Early Childhood Education Director at Resurrection Lutheran School in Verona, Wisconsin.

c k

Kendall 4 (Triway HS—Wooster OH) Cook

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Driving here freshman year: Just outside of New Ulm, I thought to myself, What am I doing? I am 14 hours away from home going to a college I’ve never seen before and this is where I’ll spend my next four years? It ended up being one of the best decisions I ever made.

From shovel to steeple: Seeing the chapel under construction was pretty awesome. I got the privilege to be one of the people leading the campus procession into the chapel when it was dedicated and wow! I was speechless.

And I’ll never forget preaching my devotion/sermon in the chapel. It was a great feeling. God is good!

Coming from public school: I had so many questions when I got here, and the professors were very patient and explained things extremely well. I learn something new about God’s Word every day, and my faith has never been stronger.

Senior, Preseminary Studies with German minor Student Senate Vice President, Green Club

Green Camp!

It was a little chilly on April 16, but that didn’t stop 21 community children from enjoying Green Camp at MLC.

creating their own “chi-pet” with grass seed and a nylon.

It was a way to “teach the younger generation about the planet that God has given us,” Jacki said, “and encourage them to help keep it clean.”

Crafts, nature walks, scavenger hunts, and skit-making helped the campers learn more about being green. Jacki Adams (MLS), a member of MLC’s Green Club and one of the camp counselors, noted that recycling, carpooling, saving water, and enjoying nature were some topics of the day. And students enjoyed

Heather Holm (Shoreland) helps the youngest camper plant a seed in a recycled “pot” (the bottom of a pop bottle).

Visit MLC next school year!

Coming to Minnesota for Worship Conference?

Whether you’re a singer in the high school honor choir or a regular conferencegoer, you can combine your conference experience with an admissions visit!

Focus on Ministry (for groups of juniors and seniors) October 9-11, 2011

February 2-4, 2012

The National Conference on Worship, Music & the Arts is July 19-22 at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter MN. But on Thursday, July 21, the whole conference moves to MLC for the day.

November 3-5, 2011 March 22-24, 2012 Family Open House (for individual juniors, seniors, and their parents)

12:30 pm. But if you want, you can take a special ADMISSIONS CAMPUS TOUR with Admissions Counselor Pastor Nick Schmoller. Give Nick a call or email, and he’ll set it up! (schmolnc@mlc-wels.edu, 507.217.6334)

MLC campus tours are scheduled that day for 8:30 am, 11 am, and

October 22, 2011, 10 am – 1 pm (Soccer, Football) December 3, 2011, 3-6 pm (Readers’ Theater, Christmas Concert) February 4, 2012, 12-3 pm (Winter Carnival) April 28, 2012, 3-6 pm (Children’s Theater)

Why teaching? I loved to visit my elementary school back home. I loved being around the kids and helping them with whatever subject I could. I figured, why not make a career doing this!

College in a nutshell: If a professor is sick, no class!

On dorm life: Nothing like it. Don’t want to leave. It’s one big house with many rooms!

Give him seven days: At MLC, making friends is the easiest thing you can do.

One week with friends turns into a lifelong relationship with them.

If you’re not sure, come here: Come and try it out. The school is great at getting students general credits right away while gradually getting you ready for the ministry. Each professor is helpful and is more than eager to help you with whatever you need. Few schools can offer that.

w wSophomore, w . m l c - wElementary e l s . e d u Ed with physical education minor Piano, Soccer, Intramurals

jw

Justin (Evergreen LHS) Wasser5

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Children’s Theater Draws over 5,000 A cast of 25 staged eight performances of Mr. Toad’s Mad Adventures to kids and adults April 14-16. Over 5,000 children came from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and South Dakota to see this play based on Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. The cast also took their show on the road April 6, staging three performances at St. John-Lake City MN. For more photos, go to mlc-wels.edu ➤ Photo Gallery ➤ 2010-2011 ➤ Dramatic Productions.

Students Hit the City Interested in urban ministry? So are many MLC students.

organizing the trip and leading informative seminars.

In April, 23 students ventured to Milwaukee for the annual Urban Ministry Trip.

Accompanied by Professors Paul Tess and Kurt Wittmershaus, the group toured, observed, and assisted at four schools in the School Choice program: Atonement, Hope-Prima, Risen Savior, and St. Marcus.

MLC students interested in urban ministry may complete early field experiences and student teaching experiences in urban schools. They don’t know where they will be assigned on Call Day, but they want to better prepare themselves in case urban ministry becomes their calling.

The Center for Urban Teaching at Wisconsin Lutheran College, led by Dr. Ray Dusseau and his team, played a major role in

Malissa Smatlak (KML) works with a student.

Thousands of children enjoy MLC’s Children’s Theater productions every year.

ss

Sarah Sherod (California LHS)

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Impressions of MLC: The friendly attitude of the Midwest was probably one of the first things I noticed. . . . The professors are ridiculously humorous and helpful. . . . The biggest change was less homework but more preparation and projects for classes.

California girl—with snowshoes? For fun, my friends and I snowshoe, go running in Flandrau, play card games, watch movies, shoot friends with nerf guns, and go to places downtown. I also love cooking for myself in the cafeteria and on the weekends in the dorms.

God-willing: I would like to teach math in a high school.

Homesick? No, I’m not really homesick except for the beach and palm trees. The cure for homesickness is to get involved.

First-Year, Secondary Math Ed Cross Country, Piano, Organ, AVCO, Anchor Service Club, Meet Math, Women’s Choir, Handbells, Intramurals

Classical Outdoor Theater The Greek tragedy Antigone closed the 2010-2011 Forum season at MLC. As in past years, the last show of the season was staged outside at New Ulm’s German Park Amphitheater. Pictured (right) are Lisa Nickle (J W Mitchell HS—Holiday, FL), Aaron Kristopeit (WISCO), Samuel Panning (John H Guyer HS—TX), Joshua Gebert (Hyde Park Baptist HS— TX), and Debbie Cook (Nebraska LHS). Pictured (far right) are Angela Horneber (Home School—Fairport NY) and Emily Lai (LPS).

Which Fork Do I Use First?

Picture this: You’re a new teacher or pastor, and some members graciously invite you out to dinner. It’s a swanky restaurant . . . silverware and glassware as far as the eye can see. Would you know what to do?

MLC Interpersonal Communication students do, thanks to their annual Fine Dining Experience. “We want students to be able to conduct themselves well in a wide variety of situations, including fancy dining events,” says Professor Mark Paustian.

“For a minister of the gospel to demonstrate poor etiquette,” he explains, “such as putting a fork back down on the tablecloth once you’ve picked it up or holding that fork in a closed fist, could create the impression of social incompetence. A well-meaning person could be perceived as quite rude.”

making them more gracious and more confident in social contexts they may not be accustomed to.

And for the record, use the fork on the outside first.

The students remember the night—and the lessons learned—for years to come,

The students come in groups of about 20 to MLC’s Special Events Room for dinner.

“They pass the first test if they don’t sit down and start on the salad,” Paustian says. “Then we proceed to some guiding principles, such as following the lead of the host. I talk them through a fairly long list of things as elemental as how to hold silverware, pass things, use a napkin, butter a dinner roll, and so on.

Chapel feels like home: I love that everyone on campus is usually in the morning chapel service. It’s so amazing to listen to the different preachers.

There’s a lot of variety, and you always feel good when you leave.

“Rocky Mountain High”: I went to Colorado this spring break to do canvassing and surveying. I got to see so many people who had no religion—nothing to believe in and no hope for the future. I felt like crying after I went to some of those houses because I felt helpless or I didn’t say the right things. This trip made me really grateful for my faith in Jesus. I have something to look forward to everyday and I have something to live for.

When she’s homesick: A quick ‘I love you’ text from my mom or my dad is all I need to feel better.

w w w . m l c - wFirst-Year, e l s . e d uElementary Ed with Spanish minor

Softball, Anchor Service Club, Piano, Intramurals

h l

Liz (Wisconsin LHS) Henke7

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Kettle Moraine LHS

Luthe r Focus on Ministry

Prep

If you’ve been to one, you know. Focus on Ministry is a great time to . . .

• reconnect with your old friends now at MLC

• listen to profs, pastors, and teachers

• meet new people from other high schools

• get the real deal from students

• get a taste of dorm life

• pray about your gifts and your future

• eat at our cafeteria (it rocks) • worship in our new chapel

• FOCUS on MINISTRY!

WISCO

• visualize yourself at MLC

Antigua

S L M

West LHS Mauston Youth Group

St. Croix LHS

California LHS

Northland LHS

Focus on Ministry We LOVED Seeing You Here

Thanks to all the students, teachers, and chaperones who make the yearly trip to New Ulm for “Focus on Ministry.” Here are several of the groups that visited us this spring!

Evan Eisenmann (FVL)

Lindsey Schaefer (WLA)

Kelly Hauf (Manitowoc LHS)

Not Sure If You Want to Teach?

WE CAN HELP!

Chris Mundstock (ALA)

Andrea Shambeau

Every spring break, MLC education majors do a week of Early Field Experience (EFE).

When you’re a first-year, your EFE is right on campus. You’ll talk and listen and learn about all aspects of a teacher’s life. And then you’ll be a teacher, creating a lesson plan and teaching it to a group of kids who come up the hill to sit in your classroom.

Here’s what some MLC first-years thought about EFE 2011: • My first lesson went extremely well. I was nervous beforehand, but once I started, all my jitters went away. I could not stop smiling when I was done with this lesson.

• I was nervous the whole five days because I didn’t want to be bad at teaching. But your peers give you so much encouragement, and so do the professors.

• After this week there are no doubts in my mind that I want to live every part of the life of a teacher.

Nathan Scharf (MVL)

Andrea Biedenbender (MVL)

(Man

mbeau

Paul ’s Wall

By Paul A. Hoversten, (Arizona Lutheran Academy) (Manitowoc LHS)

Anne Goldschmidt (Whitnall HS-Milwaukee)

Aaron Luedtke (Lord Bortetourt HS-Blue Ridge VA)

• I was almost dreading EFE. I wasn’t sure if teaching was what I wanted to do. Now I can’t believe I was ever dreading it. The whole experience secured my decision to become a teacher.

• After spending five days as a professional, planning and teaching lessons, going back to being a fulltime student is going to be a bit disappointing. I would love to be able to keep planning lesson and teaching children, but I know I have a lot to learn first.

• I wasn’t 100% sure I wanted to teach, but after EFE week, I was reassured that MLC was the place for me.

• When I came here, I had the mentality that I would only teach at a high school level. But after teaching 7th and 8th grade students and working with younger kids, I feel like I have the ability to do many grade levels. When I get my call one day, I know God will have a plan for me.

• This EFE experience is something unique to our college, and I feel it gives students a head-start to teaching.

A Gentle Whisper According to Aesop, the wind and the sun were arguing about which of them was stronger. They decided to settle the matter with a simple contest: whichever could force the traveler to take off his coat was the winner. The sun hid behind a cloud to let the wind go first. He blew as hard as he could, but only made the traveler clutch his coat and wrap it even more tightly around his body. The wind gave up, and the sun shone gently on the man, who soon decided that he was too warm to be wearing his coat.

Do you ever find yourself looking for the wind to blow?

Do you find yourself waiting for powerful signs from the heavens to guide your college and career decisions?

Elijah did the same thing (1 Kings 19). He saw a “great and powerful wind [which] tore the mountains apart,” then an earthquake, and then a fire. But the LORD was not in those things—the LORD was present in a gentle whisper.

Stop waiting for the wind to blow your coat off violently.

Let the sun shine on you gently. Your God is guiding you every day.

For more photos, go to mlc-wels.edu ➤ Photo Gallery ➤ 2010-2011 ➤ On-Campus Early Field Experience.

Bailey Fenske (McNeil HS—Austin TX)

11 w w w.mlc-wels.edu

DAYLIGHT MAKES A

Difference!

Daylight USA: Boulder, Colorado If you come to MLC, you don’t need to wait until you graduate to begin serving. You can sign up for ministry experiences your first year here! In fact, about 150-200 students participate every year in Daylight USA, MLC’s ministry assistance program.

For instance, Emily Lai (LPS), Katelynn Steinke (KML), Seth Meyer (Lakeside), Rachel Hein (LPS), Mark Waldschmidt (LPS), Steve Saatkamp (LPS), and Abbie Schultz (Luther High) volunteered at Peace-Boulder CO last March.

They delivered over 4,000 flyers inviting the community to Friendship Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter services. They painted the church fellowship hall, visited Rocky Mountain LHS to answer questions about MLC, helped with a high school mixer at the congregation, and did some sightseeing.

“The highlight of the trip for me,” said Rachel Hein (LPS), “was experiencing the atmosphere of a small mission congregation. The church had only 40 members, but it felt like a family!”

Katelynn Steinke (KML) added: “We knew we would be canvassing but we ended up doing so much more! Pastor Stern and all the church members and our host families were so warm and welcoming to us, we felt like we had known them all for much longer than just the week we were there.”

Emily Lai, Katelynn Steinke, Seth Meyer (sitting), Rachel Hein, Mark Waldschmidt, Steve Saatkamp, and Abbie Schultz volunteered at Peace-Boulder CO in March.

ns

Members of Peace-Boulder CO later wrote to MLC: “During the week of March 5-12, we at Peace were blessed to be a part of the MLC Daylight program. The seven students we received—Rachel Hein, Emily Lai, Abbie Schultz, Katelynn Steinke, Seth Meyer, Steve Saatkamp, and

Nathaniel (Northland LHS) Solofra 12

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Mark Waldschmidt—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. Their efforts on so many levels and willingness to help in so many ways have been appreciated with prayers of thanksgiving for each of them and for our worker-training college. 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.”

Summer Daylight Program For Summer 2011, 29 students are serving as Member Ministry Assistants. (See page 13.) And 66 are doing one-two week mission trips, like the Boulder trip in this article. When you come to MLC, there will definitely be a place for you on one of the Daylight teams!

9

2

11

The caf makes it easy: I love that we don’t have to worry about individual meal plans and that the cafeteria is open till midnight. It makes my schedule between work and school a lot easier.

Hanging out: A random park run at 9 to get away from homework is always fun. We also love to hang out at Perkins, go bowling, play cards in the LSC, and get together almost every night.

If he gets the chance: I would like to teach in a different country in Latin America. Because I speak Spanish, I have more opportunities to spread the gospel and teach in a different country such as Colombia.

He says, “Give it a year”: I would definitely give MLC a try for a year. There are so many things here at MLC that you can choose to do that fit where you are, such as different clubs, sports, and ministry opportunities.

First-Year, ElementaryMEdA /RSecondary T I N L U TSpanish H E R Ed COLLEGE Piano, Organ, Men’s Choir, Cross Country, Intramurals

3 8

They’re not chicken! Emily Lai, Rachel Hein, Abbie Schultz, and Katelynn Steinke were not afraid to get acquainted with their host family’s chickens in Boulder!

Daylight USA: Member Ministry Assistance You know about the short-term Daylight USA trips that MLC facilitates. The Boulder story on page 12 is a great example of a one-week Daylight trip. But there’s more. The Daylight USA program also includes 10-week Member Ministry Assistance positions. Every summer, we send out students to congregations for a full 10 weeks. Thanks to WELS Kingdom Workers, the students receive food

14 12

See this year’s crew of MLC Member Ministry Assistants below. And consider: Will KnightWatch be printing your name on a page like this in the next couple years?

9 Emily Lai & Elisa Lau

Madison AL

6 Kurtis Wetzel

Greenwood IN

7 Rachel Sellnow & Alyssa Marshall

St. Peters MO

8 Abby Mehlberg & Heidi Heckmann

Houston TX

Red Deer, AB

10

Luc Pudlo & Julius Buelow Sharpsburg GA

1 Miranda Pomije & Melissa Mittelstadt

11

Nate Gurgel & Steve Saatkamp Mission Viejo CA

2 Nate Wordell & Caleb Schmiege

12

Geoff & Brittany Rue Milwaukee WI

3 Kate Hauf & Kara Kluck

13

Sarah Ewald & Emily Stellick Port Orange FL

4 Jared Matthies, Erica Babinec,

14

Catherine St. John & Jessica Moore Farmington MN

North Hollywood

7

Fort Worth TX

1 5

10

Jacob Leibl, & Kelly Martin Pittsburg TX

4 8

5 Becca Engelbrecht & Sarah Rosenow

Knoxville TN

6

3

and lodging plus $3000 each. In return they work hard for their congregations, planning and teaching VBS, running multiple Bible soccer or basketball camps, and even staffing fulltime summer daycare programs. They canvass neighborhoods. They play organ or sing at worship services. In short, they lend any ministry assistance their congregations ask of them.

13

Lesson #1: It took me a good month to realize that if I kept going to bed at 1, it would not work—not if I wanted to get homework done and actually be awake in classes.

Living in a dorm means . . . 10 closets of clothes to choose from!

Thank goodness for technology: I miss being with my family, but I talk to my mom several times a week, text and talk to my sister every day, and even Skype them.

There was this class: I had Foundations of Education, which is a great class to have at the beginning of your freshman year of college. This class either makes you really excited to teach or makes you realize this is not for you. Personally, I found out how hard teaching was going to be, but it made me even more motivated to work hard to finish my dream!

Ed with coaching minor w w w . m l c -First-Year, w e l s . e dElementary u Piano, College Chorale, Intramurals

ju

Jennifer (Rocky Mountain LHS) Uhlhorn 13

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Sports at a G

SPORTS•SPORTS•SPORTS•SPORTS SPORTS•S Andrew Loescher (KML) set a new conference record in the Javelin Throw at the UMAC Track & Field Championships with a throw of 59.18 meters. He won the Field Athlete of the Meet award for his throw, and provisionally qualified for the national tournament.

Erin Kelly (Shoreland) took second place in the High Jump competition at the UMAC Track & Field Championships.

Karina Luthra (LPS) was named All-UMAC after going 5-6 on the season for the women’s tennis team.

Softball player Karla Opperman (North Branch-Michigan) tied a season record with six home runs, and set a new MLC career record with 13 home runs. Opperman was named All-UMAC after hitting .293 on the season with 23 RBI.

Greg Holzhueter (MVL) was named All-UMAC as he led the baseball team in hits (39), runs (21), batting average (.394), doubles (six), and RBI (12).

Sarah Free (LPS) and Katie Kretsch (MVL) were named Honorable Mention All-UMAC in softball.

The women’s tennis team finished 7-3 in the UMAC, good for a second place tie in the regular season standings.

Joe Janke (WISCO) and Joe Schmudlach (LPS) were named Honorable Mention All-UMAC in baseball.

Men’s tennis players Scott Henrich (LPS) and Ryan Obry (WLA) were named All-UMAC after helping the men finish 5-7 on the season.

Andrew Loescher Greg Holzhueter

Karla Opperman

Stay connected!

Knight Vision: Watch live streams and recorded streams of Knight football, volleyball, and basketball: mlc-wels.edu/ home/athletics/vision Knights on YouTube: Catch interviews with athletes and coaches. Go to mlc-wels.edu and type “YouTube” in the search box.

cm

MLC Sports Update: A weekly e-newsletter with the latest in Knights competition.

It comes to your Lutheran high school every week.

Twitter: twitter.com/mlcknights Instant Alerts: Sports Information Director Mike Gibbons will send you game results by text or email. Contact him at gibbonme@ mlc-wels.edu and he’ll put you on the list.

Christopher 14 (Arizona Lutheran Academy) Mundstock

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Should he write lesson plans or screen plays? It was between MLC and going to school for screenwriting in Arizona. Ultimately, I decided that I have the gifts to serve and the desire, so why not try MLC? And it has been great.

First day, he looks around and says: Yeah, I don’t know anybody here.

What he misses: The glorious warmth of Phoenix, and my family too. I miss the sun, warmth, no snow, the dirty Phoenix air. My desktop background for my laptop is a picture of my house, but the real cure for homesickness is just keeping things in perspective and remembering why you’re here.

Dorm life: It’s a great balance of work and play and all your friends are steps away. (Poem boom.)

Maybe someday: I would love to be a staff minister helping with youth groups and other youth activities. I would also enjoy urban ministry.

First-Year, Elementary Ed / Staff Ministry MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE Football, Piano, Intramurals

a Glance—Spring Recap

TS•SPORTS•SPORTS•SPORTS SPORTS•SPORTS•S

By Sports Information Director Mike Gibbons

April Cook Wins Big

Basketball Honors

MLC’s April Cook (KML) was named the recipient of the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award. The 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.

It’s been a few months, but we don’t want to overlook the Knights cagers who grabbed conference honors.

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. The UMAC was impressed with April’s leadership record and her mature approach to leadership: “Leadership,” she told the committee, “is not just observed through formal positions on an athletic team or a school committee, but it is in the way an individual holds him- or herself.” She also noted her desire “to cultivate future leaders, scholars and athletes in my own class some day.”

First Team All-Conference Greg Holzhueter (MVL) Erica Babinec (Luther) Honorable Mention Nathan Bauer (Lakeside) Sarah Free (LPS) All-Defensive Team Greg Holzhueter (MVL) Erica Babinec (Luther) Conference Freshman of the Year Award Galen Holzhueter (MVL)

And she will certainly do that—at California Lutheran High School, where she was just assigned to be a math and science instructor and dorm supervisor.

Congratulations, April! We’re proud of you!

April Cook won the prestigious UMAC Scholar-Athlete Award.

Intramural hoops: You get to hang out with your friends and talk to people you haven’t talked to before. It’s also a good way just to clear your mind from homework and get out and relax.

At first he wasn’t sure: After high school, I went to a community college, and something just didn’t feel right. So I prayed for God to help me make a decision on what to do with my life, and he led me here to MLC. It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.

Stepping onto campus: My first impression was how friendly everyone was. I was a little nervous, but I found out that everyone was nice.

Cutting the apron strings: I relied on my parents a lot when I was home.

Coming to college I had to do everything on my own. Being away at college makes you appreciate your parents and what they did for you.

Ed with coaching minor w w w . mSophomore, l c - w e l s . eElementary du Intramurals, Piano

Galen Holzhueter earned UMAC’s Frosh of the Year Award.

a z

Zach (Illinois LHS) Apt15

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

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 teaching preschool in Baton Rouge, Louisiana?

Who’s playing organ in San Antonio?

Who’s an athletic director in Nebraska?

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

16