DECEMBER 2019
A FIELD OF DREAMS Page 21
ALL THE VIKINGS!
ALL TOGETHER! Thanks for supporting Bethany in 2019. An example of this tremendous support is another successful "Give to Bethany Day!" > Number of Gifts: 537 > Total Dollars Contributed: $157,336 > Matching Funds Realized: $70,000 Throughout the 2019-20 academic year, you'll continue to hear about our "All The Vikings! All Together!" campaign. The donations to this ongoing, yearlong campaign help to raise important dollars for the Bethany Fund—making an immediate impact for all our students, and ensuring Bethany has the necessary funds to continue providing a quality, Christ-centered education, now and as we continue to row forward into the future!
Please help us to keep the Bethany Viking Ship moving forward!
blc.edu/donate
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS CAMPUS NEWS ____________________________
4 FROM THE PRESIDENT Engaging students for success
18 WHY BETHANY?
School needed more now than in 1926
FACULTY & STAFF ____________________________
24 MILITARY MONUMENT
6 UPDATES AND NEWS
Sculpture to honor Christian soldiers
Department and faculty news and updates
STUDENT ACTIVITIES ____________________________
7 NEW FACES ON CAMPUS We welcome new faculty and staff
14 MAJOR GOAL
8 FINISHED UNFINISHED
Wesley Shade played with U.S. Deaf Men's National Team
Art professor Bill Bukowski celebrates 40 years of teaching and creating
ATHLETICS ____________________________
CAMPUS NEWS ____________________________
20 HALL OF FAME
10 MORE THAN BOOKS
Five new members inducted
Bethany Bookstore takes on a new role and look
ALUMNI ____________________________
11 JUSTICE ON CAMPUS
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson visited campus
22 A GOOD NEIGHBOR
Alumnus helps bring Mankato community members together
12 TOP RANKED IN U.S. NEWS
25 ALUMNI NEWS
Bethany ranked #1 in Minnesota for social mobility category
News and updates from our alumni
27 RETROSPECT
13 ESPORTS ADVENTURE
ON THE COVER: The first games were played on the new artificial turf soccer field. Story on page 21. Photo by David Norris
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DRAW, PLAY, SCORE! Graduate leads team of illustrators for NFL Social Lab
Illustration courtesy of Ruth Wels
Time to decorate—wait, not like that!
Alumnus Erik "DoA" Lonnquist visits campus in support of new program
zine
Maga ISSUE: 144
All contents © COPYRIGHT 2019 Bethany Lutheran College. Articles, images or photographs may not be reproduced without written permission. The Bethany
Magazine is published three times yearly by the Bethany Lutheran College Office of Institutional Communication and distributed free of charge.
editor, writer | Lance Schwartz designer, photographer | David Norris Please direct all correspondence, letters, news, corrections, and comments to: Bethany Lutheran College Bethany Magazine 700 Luther Drive Mankato, MN 56001-6163 Email: editor@blc.edu Phone: 507.344.7000 | 800.944.3066
Mission: Bethany Lutheran College is a Christian
liberal arts college owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod and committed to the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the statements of faith known as the Lutheran Confessions. Bethany Lutheran College provides Christian higher education in a challenging academic environment where personal mentoring guides students to pursue knowledge, truth, and discernment for productive and fulfilling lives.
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from the
PRESIDENT BY G E NE PFE IFE R • PRESIDENT, B E THANY LUTHERAN COLLEG E
Engaging students for success U.S. News and World Report publishes a Best Colleges listing every September. It's a collection of rankings updated yearly. Colleges strive to be recognized by U.S. News, so they can be acknowledged as a "good choice," and in turn, help them to be attractive to prospective students. We were thrilled to see that Bethany received its first-ever ranking this year in a category called social mobility (related story on page 12). In life, our nature is to want to keep score—to compete, to measure ourselves against others, or at least against a benchmark. Like people, colleges do that, too. The U.S. Government even promotes a college ranking system in the fact they require colleges to post comparative data on something called the "College Scorecard." It makes sense that this is done. It provides prospective college consumers transparency with data so that they can compare schools in several categories such as average cost of attendance, most popular academic programs, and graduate outcomes. U.S. News and World Report compares colleges and universities
according to their Carnegie Classification. Such classification is determined by the types of degrees the institution offers and the fields in which those degrees are conferred. Bethany competes in what I like to call the "Major League." We are ranked in the category of National Liberal Arts Colleges. It's a prestigious grouping. Bethany is benchmarked against the most esteemed private colleges and universities in the United States. However, an overwhelming amount of new data related to the aspirations and needs of today's "Generation Z" students is beginning to suggest that perhaps the categories of information measured and benchmarked by U.S. News, may not be those items most beneficial for today's students. For example, last year the Wall Street Journal reported on a study of college rankings that actually indicated a more useful
Photo by Melissa Vandermause
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gauge prospective college students and families should be looking at measures how well the college "engages" their students. Dr. Denise Pope, co-founder of Challenge Success, a research and advocacy group at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education wrote, "We need to re-examine the issues that lead families to be so obsessed with a college's status ‌ As common sense would suggest, the students who study hard at college are the ones that end up learning the most, regardless of whether they attend an Ivy League school or a local community college." She further explains, "What students do at college matters much more than where they go. The key to success is engagement, inside the classroom and out." A recent Gallop study of over 30,000 graduates found no correlation between college selectivity and future job satisfaction or well-being. The study showed that graduates were just as likely to score high (or low) on a scale measuring their "thriving" as adults whether they attended community colleges, regional colleges, highly selective privates, or flagship public universities. What the Gallop study did find was a strong connection between certain forms of engagement in college and future job satisfaction and well-being. In particular, they found six key college experiences that correlated with how fulfilled employees feel at work and whether they thrive in life after college. The six are the following:
Bethany Lutheran College is well-positioned to aim its students toward future success based on these high impact engagement factors deemed important to adult satisfaction and the consideration of thriving in life. According to data collected in the 2017 National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) taken by our Bethany seniors, our students rated themselves above the norms reported in the Gallop study, and scored above the average of our comparison colleges in five of the six areas. Bethany performs very well in helping today's students achieve their goals, and carrying out our mission to prepare them for productive and fulfilling lives. And most importantly, as was recently shared with me by a colleague, these high impact practices mentioned are just "what Christians do" as we serve our Savior, Jesus, by helping the students with whom He has given us. It's our joy for Bethany faculty and staff to use our God-given talents and skills each day to their fullest so that we may serve our students. At Bethany, most importantly, we're focused on proclaiming to our students the message of "The One Thing Needful"- that message of the Good News by faith in God's Son, Jesus, we are saved eternally. While our mission will not change, it's gratifying to be acknowledged by national rankings and surveys for the good things happening at Bethany. Thank you, all, for the roles you play in advancing the mission of Bethany; for your prayers on behalf of the College; and for your support in making Bethany a great blessing to all who are served by it.
1 Taking a course with a professor who makes learning exciting 2 Working with professors who care about students personally 3 Finding a mentor who encourages students to pursue personal goals 4 Working on a long-term project taking a semester or more to complete 5 Participating in an internship that helps apply classroom learning to life 6 And being active in campus extra-curricular activities At first hearing, this seems like a rather commonsense list of high engagement practices colleges should strive to provide their students. And yet, as important as these various forms of engagement seem to be, relatively few college graduates reported in the Gallop survey they experienced them. 5
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From our faculty & staff Professor William Bukowski (Art) and his wife Sherri spent June 2019 in Lisbon, Portugal. The purpose of the trip was to experience Portuguese culture, viewing Bill Bukowski art museums, churches, monasteries, and ruins. Besides Lisbon, they also visited Evora, Coimbra, Cascais, Sintra, and Carvoeiro. In August, Bukowski restored the interior of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Elysian, Minnesota. He painted parts of the interior in a decorative style that dated from 1939 to match the earlier decorations. Bukowski celebrated 40 years at Bethany with an art exhibition during the month of October 2019, and presented a gallery talk on October 10 (related story on page eight). Mark DeGarmeaux (Languages, Music, Religion) gave a presentation on Norwegian Folklore and Folktales at the Mankato Sons of Norway on Saturday, September 14, 2019, speaking about the Norwegian counterparts to the Brothers Grimm, Mark DeGarmeaux about trolls, and about Askeladden (the Ash Lad). Ann Fredrickson (Music) adjudicated the Miss Hastings Scholarship Competition in July 2019. The competition was organized by Janelle Behny, parent of BLC alumni Tyler Behny ('16) and Brittany Boyum Behny ('16). Ann Ann Fredrickson mentioned, "Tyler and Brittany are very active in their community and their entrepreneurial music careers, and it was exciting to hear what they are doing!" 6
Lucas Fricke (Languages) spent seven weeks during the summer of 2019 at Middlebury College in an intensive German program pursuing a doctorate of modern languages.
Lucas Fricke
As a culmination of his 2018 Prairie Lakes Regional Art Council Grant, Associate Professor Benji Inniger (Music) presented original compositions and chamber arrangements from video games, theatre Benji Inniger productions, and other music performed by members of the Minnesota Orchestra, Mankato Symphony Orchestra, BLC staff and students, and the BLC Concert and Mary Martha Choirs. On Alyssa Inniger October 5, 2019, Inniger's composition: The Next Bend: A River Adventure for Orchestra, Songs from Deep Valley: A Betsy-Tacy Suite for Orchestra, and Fantasy for String was premiered by the Mankato Symphony Orchestra. Alyssa Inniger (Library) and Benjamin Faugstad (Music) also performed as members of the orchestra. Dr. Jeff Lemke (Admissions and Enrollment Management) presented at the 2019 WELS Leadership Conference on the topics of "Best Marketing Jeff Lemke Mediums for Outreach" and "Reach New Families with a Sustainable School." Dr. Lemke will present in January 2020 at the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership on the topic of "Financially Sustainable Models for Schools."
Dr. Ryan MacPherson (History) was an invited speaker for the inaugural Trotzendorf Lectures sponsored by the Center for the Advancement of the Lutheran Ryan MacPherson Liberal Arts at Concordia University, Chicago, where he presented "Epistemology and Science: A Lutheran Perspective" on July 17, 2019. MacPherson also presented "Spiritual Self-Defense Boot Camp: Learn How to Talk about Allen Quist Jesus without Losing Your Faith" to the Lutheran Youth Association Convention at Bethany Lutheran College on July 26–27, 2019. MacPherson also attended a Lutherans for Life (LFL) conference in Rochester, Minnesota, on September 14, 2019. He and adjunct professor Allen Quist (Religion) both serve on LFL's speakers bureau and Ryan has served as a contributing writer to LFL's quarterly LifeDate newsletter, an activity that runs parallel to his teaching at Bethany for SCIE 330: Ethics in Science. The LFL leadership invited Ryan to greet the 150 attendees at the Rochester conference on behalf of Bethany Lutheran College. Esther Peng (Business) published a book based on her master thesis, entitled "Is China Going to be the World's Largest Economy?-Comparing Standard of Living in China Esther Peng and the U.S. in the Next Twenty Years." Elisabeth Urtel (Library) spent two weeks in July 2019 as a guest researcher at the Herzog-August-Bibliothek in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. She was invited as a doctoral student representing Concordia Seminary
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by one of her advisors, Dr. Robert Kolb. During her time there, she collected dissertation materials and met with other doctoral and post-doctoral scholars studying European history.
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Chapel Podcasts are here! Elisabeth Urtel
Greg Vandermause (Studio Manager) graduated from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida, on September 6, 2019, earning a master's degree in mew media journalism.
Now you can listen to full chapel services or just the sermon messages on your favorite podcast applications! Visit blc.edu/chapelcast and check out all the options available!
Greg Vandermause
WELCOME NEW EMPLOYEES Several new faculty and staff members joined Bethany in 2019. We are pleased to welcome these new employees as they use their gifts and talents in service to Him and the mission of the College.
Full Time Faculty Installed in 2019
• John Gunderson (Associate Professor, Spanish / Study Abroad Coordinator) • Angie Johnson (Assistant Professor, English and Writing Center Coordinator) • Benjamin Kohls (Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling) • Esther Peng (Associate Professor, Business Administration) • Sergio Salgado (Registrar)
Professional Staff
John Gunderson
Angie Johnson
Ben Kohls
Esther Peng
Sergio Salgado
Karee Henrich
KatieJo Kuhens
Emma Morris
• Karee Henrich (Visual Media Specialist) • KatieJo Kuhens (Coordinator of Sports Information) • Emma Morris (Head Women's Soccer Coach Career Services)
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FinishedUnfinished Photos by David Norris
BY A MB E R MURRY, B E THANY JUNIOR • E XCERPTS FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE B ETHANY SCROLL
Art Professor Bill Bukowski during his lecture to a packed house in the Sigurd K. Lee Theater of the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center.
Work over forty years shows love for arts, students
Bukowski celebrated his fortieth year of teaching at Bethany with a retrospective art show and lecture.
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Professor William (Bill) Bukowski has been teaching studio art classes at Bethany Lutheran College for forty years, and has announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2019-20 academic year. In celebration of these forty years, Bukowski prepared a career retrospective gallery show and lecture with the name, Finished Unfinished, in October 2019. "I first heard that term used regarding a work by Michelangelo. It seemed like a weird term, but I like it because Finished Unfinished suggests that my own work is finished, but the work of teaching, of bringing students along, the work of Bethany is not done," said Bukowski of his chosen title for the show. This career-spanning show is not only in recognition of Bukowski's works of art and service to Bethany, but a remembrance of how much both he, and Bethany itself, have changed over the forty years that he has been at Bethany. "The abilities of the staff have really changed. We have such a wealth of talent here at Bethany," said Bukowski. "Not that we didn't before, but now it covers a broader range of specialties." Bukowski began working at Bethany in 1980 and has remained at the College since then, working both as a professor and a professional artist.
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Bethany President Gene Pfeifer (left) and Art Professor Andy Overn gave introductory remarks.
Bukowski was at Bethany to witness the construction of the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center (YFAC) as a new fine arts building in 1990. It was the result of many generous donations, particularly from the Schwan family. "Just to have the YFAC was like getting a different job. To be in a beautiful space and have studios that were nice was huge. I'll always feel indebted to the Schwan family and Foundation for what they gave to Bethany because it enriched my own life so much," said Bukowski. Undoubtedly, Bukowski's most renowned painting among the Bethany community is the stunning triptych, Christ's Life Altarpiece, which beautifies the campus's Trinity Chapel. Bukowski was also commissioned to paint the large Creation Fresco located in Bethany's Meyer Hall. "Both are statements of faith for the College, and they are seen every day by someone, they're not locked away somewhere, and as an artist, you have to appreciate that," said Bukowski of his two largest works of art on Bethany's campus. On his impact for the College Bukowski said, "My goal was always to create a place where a conservative Christian could develop as an artist in a place that was safe for their beliefs, but challenging for their artistic talent. If I had to say what my legacy is, I think that would be it." On the day of the event, the gallery of the YFAC was filled with paintings by Bukowski and so was the theater. The lecture itself was so well attended that many guests watched on closed circuit TV outside the lobby of the packed Sigurd K. Lee Theater. The Bethany community will certainly miss Professor Bukowski, but they wish him all the best as he continues with his travels and creations of art throughout his retired years.
Above: Before Bukowski's lecture, attendees were treated to a selection of music written by the Beatles—a favorite band of Bukowski—performed by the Bethany Chamber Orchestra. After the reception the Bethany Jazz Band concluded with more Beatles selections. Below: Bukowski's artwork was on display in the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center Gallery from October 4–31, 2019.
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More than Books
Photo by David Norris
BY L ANCE SCHWARTZ • DIREC TOR OF INSTITUTIONAL COM MUNICATION
Bookstore manager Dan Gerdts has updated the look and offerings.
Bethany's campus bookstore has been a mainstay in Old Main for almost 100 years. "The Bookstore" first opened in 1920 when the institution was still called Bethany Ladies College. While the store primarily serves the needs of the students at BLC, it also doubles as a Christian book and supply store, and is the occasional publishing outlet for the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. While the bookstore has continuously served the needs of students for nearly a century, like so many brick and mortar businesses it recently needed to adapt to a changing retail landscape. Online shopping has changed the way students purchase textbooks and supplies. It's not that the students aren't using textbooks, but rather, they are able to order their books online more easily. Consequently, the bookstore no longer stocks course materials on store shelves, but through a partnership with eCampus, Bethany students have the option of ordering textbooks through the online partner. So, as the retail textbook business changes, the product line at the Bethany Bookstore does as well. The store now focuses on Bethany apparel and insignia items as well as Christian books and gifts. Recently, the store took on an updated look under new manager Dan Gerdts. Under Gerdts' watch, the textbook section of the store was removed and attractive new shelving for Christian books and gift items was installed, and the apparel section of the store was expanded. The beautiful, new shelving was designed and built by Joel Grunke of
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New custom bookshelves were installed in the fall and seating areas were added.
Fairfax, Minnesota. Grunke is the father of two Bethany alumni, Michael ('12) and Megan ('15). Gerdts says the reaction to the changes has been very positive, "They love it, some have said 'I feel like I can spend time in here, it's so open and welcoming!'" The Bethany Bookstore is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and some merchandise is available online. Call the Bookstore at 800-944-3066 or visit them online at bookstore.blc.edu or on their Facebook Page.
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Photo by David Norris
Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson (left) with Legal Studies Professor Sara Edwards.
Supreme Court Justice visits campus The Bethany Lutheran College Legal Studies and History Departments welcomed Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Natalie Hudson to the campus for the College's annual Constitution Day Presentation on Thursday, September 19, 2019. Justice Hudson currently serves as a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice appointed on Oct. 26, 2015, by Governor Mark Dayton and elected in 2016. Justice Hudson's presentation included a debate by a student panel on the Separation of Powers doctrine reflecting on a recent Minnesota case. Bethany legal studies student Silas Petersen ('19) said the event provided two meaningful reminders for him. Petersen explained, "Constitution Day is important to observe because it provides an opportunity learn more about our Constitution and to be grateful for the stable political structure we’ve been blessed with, and it was nice to meet and interact with Justice Hudson and hear her speak on an important legal topic. It made me even more interested in studying law."
Legal Studies Students Department News Eight Bethany Lutheran College legal studies students and graduates took the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) in the summer of 2019. All eight test takers intend to enter law school next fall, or have already been accepted to law schools across the country. One of the Bethany students scored in the top 3% of all scholars nationwide with a scaled score of 169—a remarkable achievement. Another scored in the top 8% with a scaled score of 165. Bethany students and aspiring lawyers are being prepared well through the BLC Legal Studies Department.
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Bethany Top-Ranked in U.S. News
CoreDESIGN/Shutterstock.com
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In September 2019, Bethany Lutheran College earned its first official recognition badge from U.S. News and World Report as part of their annual college and university rankings. Bethany placed number one in the State of Minnesota and 42nd nationally (U.S. News College Rankings – National Liberal Arts Category) for graduates' social mobility—the ability to climb the success ladder. While perusing today's college rankings, it's not surprising to see the same highly selective institutions at the top of the lists. However, both the U.S. News and competitor Washington Monthly are now recognizing and ranking colleges that are doing a great job educating students from a variety of academic and socioeconomic backgrounds. That ranking falls under the term social mobility. Social mobility refers to the ability of a person to move upward in income and social class. U.S. News ranks schools in four categories – National Liberal Arts Colleges, National Universities, Regional Colleges, and Regional Universities. Explaining the criteria for placing a school in one of the four categories is quite involved. That said, Bethany falls in the National Liberal Arts classification, and was the top Minnesota school in that category for its social mobility ranking. This is an important segment to highlight. After all, not every aspiring college student will attend, or even be interested in a top-ten school. Not every student can afford the tuition at a highly selective school, even with enticing financial aid packages. Bethany President Gene Pfeifer commented, "I recently read an opinion piece from Inside Higher Ed where author Matt Reed lauded colleges and universities that are recognized in the social mobility category. He said, 'A college whose students consistently outperform what their demographics would have predicted is doing something right.' For ninety-two years, Bethany's ambition has been centered on mentoring students to become sound contributors to their vocations, families, churches, and communities. It's a caring, Christ-centered approach focusing on undergraduate students while helping them to develop their talent to the fullest. Our alumni and supporters have always known and valued this about Bethany, and perhaps now this is being recognized by a broader audience."
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Alumnus visits campus in support of new program BY L A N C E S C H WA R T Z D I R EC TO R O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L COM MU N I C AT I O N
Bethany welcomed alumnus Erik "DoA" Lonnquist to campus in October 2019. Since graduating from Bethany in 2007, Lonnquist has become a world-recognized esports broadcaster. Lonnquist is a professional commentator for Blizzard Entertainment as a caster in the Overwatch League with commentator Christopher Kjell Mykles, better known in gaming circles as MonteCristo. During his visit to campus, Lonnquist presented "DoA's Esports Adventure!" during which he explained in detail what he does, how he got there, and how his Bethany education prepared him for this unique career. Lonnquist has high hopes for the Bethany esports program. He commented about the addition of the esports team, "I was pretty elated to hear about the esports program at Bethany. I think the campus' resources and Minnesota's weather make BLC and esports a great fit!" Lonnquist also noted that Bethany's history of producing well-qualified graduates in communication and broadcast will be an advantage for the esports program. "Bethany is uniquely positioned to become a leader in training future esports broadcasting talent and crew because of their ability to let students get 'hands on' with sports production through the Maverick hockey broadcast and their
Photos by David Norris
Erik "DoA" Lonnquist gave a presentation to a group of visiting high school students which included a Q&A afterwards. Many of the students were able to talk with him personally after the presentation.
facilities. Honsey Hall is also a great place to host aspiring esports pros, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some great players emerge from the student ranks over time!" And Lonnquist is certain that Bethany will be a great place to host a new esports team and promote esports broadcast training. "I hope our players find a lot of success, but more importantly I see this is a great boon for the industry, in that it'll be able to produce great broadcast production staff who are also deeply knowledgeable about gaming. Right now, that's still a bit of a rarity in esports and BLC's esports program could really make a difference!" Bethany's new gaming team is off to a great start competing favorably with some established national powers in the esports arena. 13
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Photo by Rodkay Photography
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| MAJOR GOAL | BY K ACI SCHNE IDAWIND • B E THANY LUTHERAN COLLEG E SENIOR
When Wesley Shade ('21) first found out he was named to the United States Deaf Men's National Team, the junior soccer player was understandably ecstatic. The news, which came only a few weeks before school started, was even more special as it was the culmination of a personal journey that "I've been on since I was two years old," said Shade. You see, Shade has played soccer his whole life. The sport defines him. What doesn't define him, but remains a significant part of his story nonetheless, is the fact that he was born deaf and has worn cochlear implants in his ears since early childhood. "Without my implants, I can't hear anything at all," Shade said. Around two or three years ago, Shade found out about the Deaf National Team through a camp that he used to go to. "One of the counselors there was like, 'Hey, you should try out for this team,'" Shade said. He decided to give it a shot, which led to an opportunity to play with 14
the team in Boston at a tryout this past winter. Afterwards, Shade received a call from the head coach informing him that had he had qualified for the next round of tryouts, which took place in Dallas only a few months after the initial round. Shade's performance there resulted in an invite to the final round, where there were about 25 men — compared to the original 40 or so with whom he had been going through the tryout process. After the final tryout, five more were cut. Shade wasn't one of them. He made the team. To qualify for the Deaf National Team, one has to have a hearing loss of at least 50 decibels. Though some on the team can hear partially, "they're right on the cutoff," said Shade. Some of these other players don't have implants like Shade, so he communicates with them in American Sign Language. More than that, Shade said, it's illegal for a player
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Photo courtesy of U.S. Deaf Men's National Team/@ussoccer_dmnt
Wesley Shade (left) with U.S. team members who each scored a goal during a game vs. Terminus FC in July 2019.
Photo by SPX Sports
Shade on the Bethany soccer field in 2018.
have a hearing device on them during a game. Therefore, the team relies on signage to "talk" with one another while they play together. "It's definitely different for me," said Shade, who wears his implants while playing soccer with the Bethany men's soccer team. Though he prepped for this change while practicing with the National Team, Shade is still adjusting to it. "I have always played with my implants [turned] on. I have always had hearing people communicate with me, but going into the [training] camp, I had no idea what to expect. "The first game that I played in [with the National Team] was a whole different ball game. I'm used to having people yell things at me, but [with them] it's
completely silent—nobody can hear anything. I had to be a lot more aware of what was going on," said Shade. He found help from more experienced teammates who have been on the squad for years. "With the National Team, I definitely feel comfortable because they're in the exact same shoes as I am, versus here, where some [teammates] may not necessarily understand [my situation] because they've never been exposed to that. "When I'm playing or just talking with [the "This is a journey National Team], it's definitely easier for me I've been on to be more outgoing and interactive," Shade said. since I was two That isn't to say that the Bethany boys haven't been supportive of Shade's situation. years old." He said that both his coach and his team- W E S LE Y S H A D E mates were "beyond excited" for him when he told them his news. "I've had a couple guys talk to me about the culture of Chile because some of them are from that area," said Shade. That's right: Shade will be representing not only his school, but his country, on the world stage. The tournament in which the National Team will participate is located in Temuco, Chile, in November 2019. "I get to go to another country and play soccer there. To be able to experience a different culture, and interact with other deaf people will be really fun," Shade said. The tournament, held Nov. 9-19, will feature six teams in total: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. We at Bethany applaud and wish Shade well as he goes after his goals. View the team's website at www.usdeafsoccer.com. 15
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Draw, play, score! Photos courtesy of Ruth Wels
BY A M A N DA QU I S T • A S S I S TA N T PR O FE S S O R O F A R T
Ruth Wels in her NFL Social Lab office.
Graduate leads team of illustrators for NFL Social Lab "Sometimes it still hits me how crazy it is that I get to draw for a living. I honestly never thought I'd be able to do that." - R U TH W E L S
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Bethany Lutheran College alumna Ruth Wels ('12) is taking her BLC education to an ever-increasing-in-size national audience. Wels has been working as the lead illustrator for the NFL Social Lab. She's part of the team that creates content for the league's social channels, which includes @NFL and @TheCheckdown as well as a few other accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Wels heads up the illustration team which includes four other artists, and simply put, their work is amazing. When Wels was initially hired by the NFL as a freelancer, she was generating other types of content. But when they found out she could draw; she began to create playful and clever illustrations. The NFL social platforms continue to post all sorts of content, but among those content types illustration is highly engaging—often more so than a photograph. For example, an illustration Ruth created of Tom Brady is the NFL's most liked Instagram post of all time, reaching well over 1,000,000 likes. These illustrations are beautifully stylized and rich in detail, which is Wels' favorite part of the job. She works with her team in a room equipped with state-of-the-art monitors and several TVs so they don't
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Illustrations courtesy of Ruth Wels
Top: Minnesota Vikings receiver Adam Thielen set the record for receiving 100+ yards in eight straight games. Above: Deshaun Watson of the Houston Texans.
Top: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady with his sixth championship ring. Above: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (who's a major fan of ketchup) feasting at Thanksgiving.
miss any of the action on game day. Wels was a casual Minnesota Vikings fan before she landed this job and never expected to know so much about the NFL. In addition to the stories she's telling for the fans, she is able to put herself into the work. "Sometimes it still hits me how crazy it is that I get to draw for a living. I honestly never thought I'd be able to do that."
Top: former Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch on a throne of Skittles candy (he's famous for loving the candy). Above: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott with his supporting receiving cast.
Ruth's illustrations aren't just appreciated by the fans. She has met a couple of the players featured in her work—Cam Jordan (Saints) and Derrick Henry (Titans)—who complimented her creations. To see more work by Wels and her team, take a look at Ruth's website, ruthwels.com/illustration and check out the illustration section on the NFL Social Lab website nflsociallab.com and follow one of the NFL's accounts on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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BY R E V. T H E O D O R E G U LLI X S O N • A R CH I V I S T, E VA N G E LI C A L LU T H E R A N S Y N O D
We need Bethany Lutheran College even more now than in 1926. Today, we see how some colleges relentlessly attack the Christian faith and morals. The culture seeks to destroy the truths of God's Word.
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Those who purchased Bethany Lutheran College for the Evangelical Lutheran Synod recognized these important truths: 1) an education grounded on the truths of the Bible provided the tools needed to maintain one's faith, 2) a liberal arts education provided the important basic information to discern truth from error, and 3) the young people of the ELS needed a sound education to maintain the doctrinal integrity of the synod. From the earliest beginnings in 1926, the struggle to support this institution and to meet the goals of a Christian liberal arts college has been a challenge. Consider that only three years after purchasing Bethany, the Great Depression started. It is truly a miracle that from 1929 to 1941 Bethany continued to operate. Some teachers lived in the dorms, some professors did not get paid much if at all, and some students were helped by their congregations so that they could attend. In spite of their limited income, members of the Synod continued to contribute to Bethany Lutheran College to keep it open. In the 1950s, the challenge was getting students to attend. In some years, the High School Department was larger than the College student body. That changed in 1960 when the high school lost a third to a half of its enrollment. Now that Bethany Lutheran College is a four-year school, the challenge is to attract students who want a liberal arts education and desire the Christian truths to be taught to them. Another important challenge is to provide enough credentialed professors who will teach their subjects in line with the Lutheran faith and confessions.
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hany? Over the past 92 years, Bethany Lutheran College has provided many students with a solid, Christian, and liberal arts education. What does this mean? At present it means professors getting doctorates so they know the latest research in their field of study. It means integrating learning through different college departments to educate the mind, the soul, and the body. It means teaching subjects from the worldview of Bible truths, so that students can integrate secular information with God's revelation about the world, about human nature, and about the purpose and goal of life. It means pushing students to learn from a wide range of classes to perceive how languages, literature, math, science, history, social sciences, and religion relate to each other and inform each other. It means providing opportunities to use this information in painting and other arts; in choir, orchestra, piano, organ, and band; sports; computer graphics; and broadcasting. For some, education at Bethany meant hearing the gospel for the first time, being baptized,
and learning what it means to know Jesus as their Savior. We need Bethany Lutheran College even more now than in 1926. Today, we see how some colleges relentlessly attack the Christian faith and morals. The culture seeks to destroy the truths of God's Word. A positive, Scripture-based, thorough education at Bethany that challenges the secular worldview will prepare the next generation of people to remain faithful to God's Word, to deal with the challenges of living in this world, and to be a help and influence to people in the world as they carry out their vocations. Operating a college in the 21st century continues to be a challenge on many fronts. Each student who attends Bethany Lutheran College is a testimony to God who provides the excellent professors, the supporting parents, and you, who support the College with your prayers and gifts. May God continue to bless this College so that many more students can be educated to know the truth of God's Word and continue in it. Rev. Theodore Gullixson, alumnus of Bethany High School ('65), College ('67), and Seminary ('76) has been a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod for 38 years, and has sent three children to BLC.
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L L A H C I T E L E H M AT A OF F
BY DON WESTPHAL • DIREC TOR OF ATHLE TICS
Bethany Lutheran College is proud to announce the Class of 2019 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. The honorees were officially recognized at the annual Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, September 20, 2019. Kayla (Jacobs) Binde played women's basketball at Bethany from 2001-03. She was a Minnesota Community College Conference (MCCC) First Team All-Division, First Team All-State, and a First Team National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Region XIII player during her freshman year when the Vikings finished sixth in the nation in offense and were ranked Kayla Binde 16th in the nation. As a sophomore, Binde was again All-Division, All-State, All-Region First Team player, and Third Team NJCAA All-America ending her career with 1,273 points. She averaged 43% from behind the three-point line over her two seasons, shooting 167-of-394. After earning her associate's degree from Bethany, Binde was a two-year starter at the University of South Dakota. Mike Dibbini starred for the Vikings in soccer in the 1994 and '95 seasons. As a freshman, he was named All-Region and All-American as he led the team in scoring with 25 goals. During his sophomore season, Dibbini once again earned All-Region honors as the team's leading goal scorer. After two years at Bethany, Dibbini went on to play at Kansas Wesleyan where he Mike Dibbini earned All-Conference, All-Region, and All-American honors during two seasons there. After college, he began his coaching career and is currently the head women's soccer coach at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Chad Heminover was a baseball pitcher and third baseman for Bethany in 1996 and 1997. Heminover was voted the Vikings Rookie of the Year in '96 (ERA of 0.97) and followed that up as a sophomore with All-MCCC Southern Division and All-State honors in addition to being named MCCC Player of the Year (8-2 with a 1.19 ERA). In two years, he complied a 11-3 record Chad Heminover with 103 strikeouts while giving up just 14 earned runs. At the plate, Heminover had 61 hits, 39 runs, and 20
49 RBI over two years. After Bethany, he went on to play NCAA Division I baseball at Tennessee Tech, and finished his career at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Cliff Pringle played first base for Bethany in 1999 and 2000, earning All-MCCC Southern Division and All-Region XII honors. After a stellar sophomore year in 2000 that saw Pringle set Viking records for hits (63), batting average (.521), Cliff Pringle on-base percentage (.619), slugging percentage (.826), and tying records for RBI (49) and doubles (16), he was named MCCC Player of the Year and NJCAA All-American. He was also a team captain and voted Most Valuable Offensive Player by his teammates. Among his Viking career records were hits (102), RBI (98), and on-base percentage (.530). After Bethany, Pringle played for Minnesota State University, Mankato. Tom Stierlen was a dominating pitcher for Bethany from 1991-93. An All-MCCC Southern Division player as a freshman, Stierlen was 5-2 with a 1.51 ERA and 32 strikeouts. A key member of the Vikings 1993 MCCC State Championship club, he was 6-1 Tom Stierlen with a 1.19 ERA, only giving up eight earned runs over 47 innings with 39 strikeouts. Those numbers earned him All-Division, All-Region XIII, and Honorable Mention All-American accolades. After finishing his career at Bethany, Stierlen went on to pitch for two years at Huron University (S.D.) where after his senior year, he was named All-Conference and Academic All-American.
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A Field of Dreams Photo by Matt Maisch
BY L A N C E S C H WA R T Z • D I R EC TO R O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L COM MU N I C AT I O N
An official ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 9, 2019, for Bethany's new turf, multipurpose athletic field. The event coincided with the Viking men's and women's soccer games vs. Martin Luther College. A group of Ambassadors from Greater Mankato Growth spoke and helped to facilitate the College and community event. The new field is positioned on the site of Bethany's former baseball field near the corner of Marsh and Division Streets in Mankato. The field is part of a larger, ongoing renovation of the College's athletic complex. Robert W. Carlstrom Company of Mankato managed the project. Other companies involved include: • FieldTurf Corporation installed the artificial turf playing surface. FieldTurf has more than 20,000 installations worldwide, 6,500 in North America. • BLK Electric (Mankato) was the electrical contractor responsible for relocation of electrical utilities. • Holtmeier Construction (Mankato) provided excavation services. • Musco Lighting fit the field with new, state-of-theart lighting. • Seating & Athletic Facility Enterprises LLC installed new bleachers. • American Fence erected new perimeter fencing.
Photo by David Norris
A group of ambassadors from Greater Mankato Growth gathered as Bethany's Director of Athletics, Don Westphal, cut the ribbon to officially open the athletic field for play.
In addition to the new field, site improvements on the athletic complex also occurred during the construction including a storm water retention pond near the intersection of Division and Mulberry Streets, and a new parking lot at the corner of Marsh and Division Streets. The athletic field covers 95,880 square feet with a price tag of $1,600,000 which included earth moving, base, and the turf. The entire project's budget was $3,000,000. Bethany Director of Athletics Don Westphal spoke about the project's impact for the College, "A turfed athletic field is another element in a long line of physical plant enhancements that indicate Bethany's commitment to enrich the collegiate experience of our student body." And Westphal remarked the impact of the new field will extend beyond the athletic program. "Beyond our Viking soccer teams and other varsity sports, a turf surface will enhance our intramural program and be utilized by numerous students." 21
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My Neighbor? Photos by David Norris
BY L ANCE SCHWARTZ • DIREC TOR OF INSTITUTIONAL COM MUNICATION
Chad Davey ('04) at the Night to Unite event.
Alumnus helps bring community together Hats off to alumnus Chad Davey ('04) who is the President of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association in Mankato. Davey served his community as the neighborhood coordinator for what is likely the largest Night to Unite event in Mankato. This year's event took place in August 2019. "As a homeowner in this neighborhood for the past six years, the most common thing I've shared with my neighbors has been offering them assistance during bad snowstorms. It is my hope that the ongoing result of the Night to Unite event is that residents of this neighborhood interact with each other, and get to know their neighbors and develop ongoing relationships," Davey commented. He said the interaction is especially important for the Washington Park neighborhood. "[This] is an extremely diverse neighborhood. Vast ethnic backgrounds, as well as the age and abilities of the population. Between Madison Avenue and Main Street there are five churches of different faiths, several large apartment complexes, and many rented homes." Several Bethany students also volunteered their time for the event which takes place just below the hill from the BLC campus. Davey says it's a group effort. "We have several community members who have helped plan 22
Local vendors were brought in to make t-shirts for the Washington Park Neighborhood Association.
for several years. We also receive donations and volunteers from several churches, schools, and organizations. The Washington Park Neighborhood Association also appreciates students from Bethany Lutheran College who volunteered at this year's Night to Unite." Kudos to Chad Davey for his important work in the Washington Park neighborhood of Mankato.
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Scenes from the Night to Unite at Washington Park in Mankato on August 27, 2019.
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Sculpture will honor
Christian Soldiers
BY LANCE SCHWARTZ • DIRECTOR OF INSTITUTIONAL COMMUNICATION
Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) has been chosen as the permanent home for a commissioned monument honoring Christian soldiers. The monument is a project by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). The ELS owns and operates Bethany Lutheran College. The bronze casting will be positioned in the area east of Division Street and west of the Edgewood Place residence hall on the BLC campus. The monument/sculpture, featuring two bronze statues depicting both Reformation Dr. Steven Reagles addressed those in attendance at the age (Sixteenth Century) and modern-day groundbreaking ceremony. soldiers preparing for battle while reading the Holy Bible, is being designed and sculpted by Bethany alumnus and artist Jason Jaspersen ('97). Groundbreaking for the site took place on Veterans Day, Monday, November 11, 2019, with a special chapel service after which the guests gathered for an outdoor groundbreaking ceremony where Bethany Professor Dr. Steven Reagles (U.S. Army Veteran) delivered the address.
Rendering by Jason Jaspersen
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About the monument
The ELS military monument was first proposed in 2012 has been planned by the ELS Board for Christian Service. The purpose of this monument is to commend those Christians who have served their fellow citizens through the honorable vocation of military service and to enhance its value and appreciation among the members of the ELS, Bethany Lutheran College's student body, and the Mankato community. In addition to erecting this military monument, the ELS Ottesen Museum will work together with Bethany's Christ in Media Institute in developing and hosting an electronic kiosk to recognize ELS veterans and provide their information for further reflection and research.
Military Monument Committee members and others taking part in the groundbreaking ceremony included (from left) Reverend Larry Wentzlaff (U.S. Army Veteran), Mr. Raymond Pederson (U.S. Navy Veteran), Mrs. Rebecca DeGarmeaux (ELS Ottesen Museum Director), The Honorable Najwa Massad (Mayor of Mankato), Dr. Gene Pfeifer (President of Bethany Lutheran College), Reverend Glenn Obenberger (Vice President of the ELS), and Reverend John Moldstad (President of the ELS).
Photos by David Norris
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from our
ALUMNI 1950s
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Britta (Monson '98) Fisher was appointed by Mayor Michael B. Hancock to serve the Cit y & Count y of Denver as Executive Director of the Department of Housing Stability. Fisher oversees policies and investments for affordable housing and to serve people experiencing homelessness. Fisher serves on the Mayor's cabinet. Britta and her husband Ryan are pleased to announce their third child Adele born October 28, 2018.
2010s During local elections in November of 2018, Zachery Hendrickson ('12) was elected Mayor (two-year term) of the City of Clarkfield, Minnesota, where he continues to serve. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in the Minnesota Army National Guard, and has also recently obtained his firefighter (State) and EMT (National) certifications.
2000s
p Marian (Solli '57) and Bruno ('56) Wilinski are pictured here with their great granddaughters, Harriet Vivian and Margot Marian. Their parents are Alex (grandson of Bruno and Marian) and Anna (Handberg '09) Rank. Alex, Anna, Harriet, and Margot live in Faribault, Minnesota, and Bruno and Marian still live in Mankato and are enjoying their retirement.
1990s p Emily Drews ('03) married Eric Krans of West Bend, Wisconsin, on March 29, 2014. They have two daughters: Sylvia (age 2) and Holly (7 mos.). Emily is a homemaker and Eric is a maintenance mechanic. They are passionate about creating with LEGO, and they display at about five shows per year around Wisconsin. In September, the couple was featured for their creations on the PBS program Wisconsin Life. Some of their displays and LEGO news can be found on Facebook at Eric & Emily Krans - LEGO Creations. p Ann Haselerhansen and her husband Corey announce the unity in marriage between their daughter Elise, and her husband, Jake Bush. They were wed in a lovely ceremony performed by Jake's father, Rev. Matt Grunewald, in Monterey, California, on June 1, 2019. Fellow alumni and daughter, Christina ('14) and current BLC student and daughter, Dorothea ('22) were the maids of honor.
Maggie (Tweite '09) Brooks and husband Koel Brooks welcomed their daughter Sofie into the world on Januar y 28, 2019. She weighed 6 lbs. 14.8 oz. and was 19.5 inches long. "What a blessing she has been to have in our lives."
p Ronald Franklin ('14) & Alyssa Loest were married at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Madison, Wi scon sin, on July 27, 2019. They live in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Ronald is a sales manager for Identit-e in Madison. Alyssa is a music teacher for Columbus Elementary School in Columbus. Britleigh (Menk '15) Garcia graduated from Augsburg University's master of science in physician assistant studies program in August. She spent her last year of school completing nine clinical rotations throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin and took the opportunity to do her women's health rotation in Quito, Ecuador. She is planning on working as a PA-C in the St. Paul area where she and her husband, Julio ('15), currently reside, and is particularly interested in community health and dermatology.
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attendants included many friends who also attended BLC, including Grace Merchant ('14), Grace (Stromer '16) Maunula, Nick Bruss ('17), Zeffie Woods ('18), Lily Springer ('19), Bob Dott, Will Meyer, and Gideon Ripley ('20). The Merchants are happily settling in Rochester, Minnesota. They are looking forward to adopting a bunny in the near future, which Brian hopes to name Attila the Bun. p Aimee (Bruss '15) married Benjamin Belke on the Spirit of Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on June 16, 2019.
p Noella (Wigtil '19) and Brian Merchant ('17) were joined in marriage on October 5, 2019, in Golden Valley, Minnesota, at King of Grace Lutheran Church. Their wedding party and
In Memoriam Owen August Swenson ('51 high school) was called to his heavenly home on the morning of June 17, 2019, at Mayo Hospit al in Mankato, Minnesota. O wen, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, uncle, and brother always enjoyed time with his family who were the joy of his life. He was a dedicated dairy farmer and especially enjoyed purebred Holstein cattle. He was a lifelong member of the Norseland Lutheran Church and was active in many church and community organizations. Owen and, and his wife Evie, enjoyed working on family genealogy and participating in activities related to Owen's Norwegian heritage.
We want to hear from you
Esther (Paysen '43) Kragh passed away on March 9, 2019. Caroline (Hellwinckel '45) Kohrs passed away on September 18, 2019. Zona (Meyer '47) Rademacher passed away on July 26, 2019. Channing P. Handberg ('50) passed away on July 20, 2019. Patricia (Nolte '52) Miller passed away on June 29, 2019. Joel Albrecht ('53) passed away on May 26, 2019. Sarah J. Bostelmann ('55) passed away on July 14, 2019. Janet (Neubert '58) Schultz passed away on September 12, 2019. Doris (Dickson '61) Fenske passed away on October 29, 2019. Linda Ann (Reiter '67) Becker passed away on July 28, 2019. Gary N. Thompson ('69) passed away on August 5, 2019. Edwin Beiswenger ('70) passed away on September 26, 2019.
ALUMNI NEWS
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Bethany
RETROSPECT
Remembering a campus moment from years gone by. IS THAT ENOUGH TINSEL?: Students decorating for Christmas is still a tradition at Bethany. Do you recognize anyone from this photo or what year it was taken? Send your response to editor@blc.edu. Find more photos from years past on archives.blc.edu.
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