From The Foundation Chair

Iwill begin by confessing that I am really writing this letter prespring and, in fact, it is only mid-February. I wanted to complete it before Joan and I depart in about a week for three weeks in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Until last year this has been an annual event for probably 15 years but last year COVID broke that string. We are really looking forward to resuming the tradition and getting a little break from the Iowa winter. I have joked before that for those of us living in north Iowa three months of winter "promised" us by the calendar is far from accurate! But by the time we return in mid March I am hopeful that Spring will have arrived at the Waldorf University campus or at least it will be close to arriving. I look forward to those walks around the Waldorf campus once the grass and trees are turning green and the birds have started to sing. We are blessed with such a beautiful campus.

As you will see, this issue of the Waldorf Magazine is focused on the Education Department at Waldorf and the students who are pursuing degrees in education. As those of you who have been reading my letters over the years would know, I love to get acquainted with Waldorf students and find out about each of their "Waldorf stories." In the picture accompanying this letter you will see me with three Waldorf education majors, Chase Bulten, Jade Gasteiger and Kade Kloster-Hodak. They were pretty much picked at random from Waldorf education majors who had received scholarships through the Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation. As it turned out, none of them are far from home with Chase hailing from Manson, Iowa, Jade from Lake Mills, Iowa, and Cade from Mason City, Iowa. Chase is a senior and the other two are juniors.

I have mentored many high school and college-age young people over the years and I often talk to them about success – what it is and what it isn't. I tell them that it's not about making a lot of money, becoming CEO of a large corporation or reaching the pinnacle of social status but rather the real definition of success is a life and work that brings personal fulfillment and lasting relationships and makes a difference in the world. I sometimes quote Nelson Mandela who said: "What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what a difference we make in the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we live." I particularly make it a point to tell this to young people aspiring to become teachers. They obviously know that they will not make a lot of money but I tell them during their career they will "make a difference" in the lives of hundreds of their students and then I ask them: "What can be more important than that?"

Let me tell you about these three wonderful young people. I can say that they do understand how important teachers can be in "making a difference" in the lives of their students. Chase participates in cross country and track at Waldorf and wants to begin teaching and coaching at the high school level. His ultimate goal is to be a head cross country and track coach at the college level. He talks about his high school cross country coach having a huge positive impact on his life by challenging him and helping him to become a better person and open the door to running at the next level which he says would not of happened without him. He would like to have the same impact on the young people he coaches and teaches. Jade is majoring in elementary education and says that she has always loved working with children. She also mentions teachers she had who made an impact on her and she wants to do the same with her students. She talks of wanting to watch her students learn and grow and being by their side and cheering them on and enjoying her time with them. Kade plays football at Waldorf and says that he has always wanted to coach and to help better the lives of young people. He definitely wants to make a difference in the lives of his students while he is preparing them for the next step in their lives.

And what do these three students have to say about their "Waldorf experience?" Chase said that Waldorf has a very accepting environment and that he felt that the professors here are very personable and care about him on a personal level. Jade said that Waldorf has been a great experience and that she appreciated the small class sizes which made it easy to create relationships with the professors and classmates. She feels that her classes have prepared her for success in future teaching endeavors. Kade says that he has had a great time at Waldorf and feels that the small college environment allows you to know everyone and be involved with more activities.

So there you have it. Three more students who are definitely happy and passionate about their "Waldorf experience." And each is excited about "making a difference" in the lives of their students.

I always end by asking for your continued support of the Waldorf Foundation so that we can continue to provide scholarships which make that "Waldorf experience" attainable by more and more young people. You truly can make a difference in their lives.

Raymond M. Beebe Chair, Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation Retired Vice President, General Counsel Secretary Winnebago Industries, Inc. 1974–2012 Recipient of Honorary Doctorate Degree, Waldorf University (2021)