Fall 2009 Bethany Report

FALL 2009

Bethany report

the magazine of bethany lutheran college

4 Students give helping hands 6 Seeking The Truth in Media 10 Take a piece of art show with you

from the president

Culture of participation B

ringing a dynamic learning experience to our students doesn’t happen by chance at Bethany Lutheran College. Bethany professors value scholarship and professional development and are eager to bring the outcomes of their own study and experiences into the classroom.

Whether it’s our communication department’s involvement with the National Communication Association and the Broadcast Education Association or the theatre department’s success in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, to our biology department partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the value of participation and scholarship among our faculty is evident in many ways on our campus.

In addition to participation in regional and national organizations, there are many other avenues that our faculty and staff seek to broaden their personal horizons. Locally, our employees volunteer their time and bring their knowledge to a variety of community initiatives. They sit on local boards.

They help organize community events. These experiences, too, are brought back to the campus in measurable ways and provide a richer educational experience for our students.

A culture of participation in endeavors beyond 700 Luther Drive helps our students understand the changing world before them. Whether it’s the economy, demographics, or shifting employment opportunities, change is President Dan Bruss inevitable. The ability to adapt to change is the hallmark of a liberal arts education. The education our students receive through professors who themselves continue to broaden their own personal scholarship and experiences is an important component of a Bethany education.

Change cannot be effected without creativity, and creativity drives the learning process at a liberal arts college. At Bethany a student can participate in a wide variety of academic experiences that strengthen their appreciation for all of God’s creation and His plan for us. This can be accomplished by cross-fertilization of a wide variety of academic interests. For example the Christ in Media Institute which seeks to bring together ideas from many disciplines, is again featured in this publication.

Its purpose is to bring the Gospel message to new and broad audiences through contemporary media and it speaks highly of the effort to understand how change can foster new opportunities to share the Gospel.

And while we involve ourselves with our world that continues to change, we constantly seek the permanency of God’s plan for us. Knowledge is a blessing from God. We use that knowledge to steward the world God has provided and to help others understand their purpose.

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Bethany report editor, writer | Lance Schwartz design, photography | David Norris proofreader, writer | Emma Bauer Contributors: Joseph Baer; Rev. Mark Harstad; Lois Jaeger; Thomas Kuster, Ph.D. Please direct all correspondence, letters, news, corrections, and comments to: Bethany Lutheran College Bethany report 700 Luther Drive Mankato, MN 56001-6163 Email: alumni@blc.edu | www.blc.edu 507.344.7000 | 800.944.3066 FAX: 507.344.7417 ISSUE: CXVIII The Report is published quarterly by the Bethany Lutheran College public relations office and distributed free of charge to the college’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

All contents © COPYRIGHT 2010 Bethany Lutheran College. Articles, images or photographs may not be reproduced without written permission.

Mission: Bethany Lutheran College, owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a private, residential, liberal arts college committed to the teachings of the Bible as set forth in the Lutheran Confessions. Bethany provides studies culminating in a Bachelor of Arts degree.

The college serves Lutherans and others by offering a challenging, student-centered approach to education that fosters spiritual development, intellectual and creative growth, self-understanding, and responsible citizenship.

In keeping with its heritage, Bethany aspires to produce students with a clear understanding of Christian vocation, which encourages students to make the most of their God-given talents.

On the cover: Senior Jacob Weber was among the many participants in the Christmas at Bethany concerts held December 2-6, 2009, in Trinity Chapel. Read more about the concerts on page 11.

report | fall 2009

from the chapeL November 23, 2009 Hebrews 11:13-14 —“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”

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ur reading breaks into the middle of a context.

Hebrews Chapter 11 gives us that catalog of examples of faith from the Old Testament. It holds before our eyes the exemplary faith of many believers from the time before the coming of Christ. In the verses leading up to our reading, the writer of this letter to Jewish Christians had discussed this list of Old Testament believers: Abel, son of Adam and Eve, the victim of the first act of violence of one human being upon another, but whose faith in the promises of God made his sacrifice acceptable to God; Enoch, whose faith in the promises of God led to his translation out of this life and into the next without passing through the door of physical death; Rev. Mark Harstad Noah, whose faith and obedience to the word of God led to the deliverance of himself and his family in the days of the great flood; Abraham, whose faith in the promises of God led him to leave his father’s household and to go to the land that God would show him; And Sarah, who in her old age believed the promises of God, gave birth to a son, and became mother of the line of promise culminating in the coming of the Savior.

And then before he goes on with further description of the list of the Old Testament faithful, the writer includes the words of our reading. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

It is very clear from these words, and from many other places in Scripture, that there is a close connection between having faith and having hope. In education that lasts beyond a lifetime

this last week of the Christian year our attention is directed to that connection between faith and hope. In Jesus’ parable the five foolish bridesmaids were caught unprepared in that crucial moment of the arrival of the wedding party. Their lamps had gone out. They had no oil. Their faith was depleted.

And therefore they had no hope. They banged on the door where the wedding celebration was going on, and they pleaded in desperation, “Let us in! Let us in!” And that most terrifying, hope-destroying, despair-generating answer came back from within, “Go away, I don’t know you.”

When we try to conceptualize in our minds the nature of the place called hell, what is it that first comes to mind? Often times it is very physical images that portray bodily suffering having to do with unquenchable flames of fire. But the Renaissance Italian poet Dante Aleghieri captured an important, additional insight into the nature of hell by means of the inscription which he placed, in his epic poem, over the gate to hell: “Abandon all hope you who enter here.” Hell is the place of total, utter hopelessness.

It’s really quite amazing what human beings can endure if they are sustained by hope. Human history is filled with inspiring stories of people who endured hardships of every kind, physical pain, mental anguish, spiritual turmoil, all because they had hope of something better to come. I am frequently reminded of what my ancestors endured in coming to the United States of America, because they had hope that something could be better for them and their children. They packed a few possessions into a wooden box, endured a miserable voyage in the stinking hold of a ship, walked several hundred miles across the prairies of the Midwest, lived in the most rudimentary of shelters, ate the simplest food, worked until they dropped from exhaustion at the end of the day. Why? Because they had hope. Some of them did not live to possess the reality of what they hoped for, but they were sustained to their end by their hope nonetheless.

Now if these things regarding hope are true in the “kingdom of the left,” as we say, the kingdom of this world, they are all the more true in the Kingdom of God. Concerning those who die in the faith of Chapel continued on page 5 3

students

Photo by Allison Homan

Several groups of students participated in the Mankato Area ‘Rake the Town’ event.

Student groups help community

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

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ne of the goals of a Bethany education is to “encourage students to make the most of their God-given abilities.” This is done in many ways, but often you can find Bethany students taking this message to heart by becoming involved with organizations that bring assistance to those in need. Often, student groups and organizations take on the task of volunteering at a variety of non-profits and community activities. Among the activities that Bethany students have participated in include: • American Diabetes Association Walk • American Cancer Society Walk • People Serving People Charities– School Supply Collections • Clothing Drives • Giving Tree for the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center • Highway Cleanup on U.S. Highway 169 and State Highway 22 4

• Volunteering at the Hennepin County Homeless Shelter • Volunteering for events at Mankato Area Elementary Schools • Assisting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with various wildlife surveys • Design work for local charities and community groups A recent example of student involvement was the large contingent of Bethany students who participated in a community-raking event that was organized by a Mankato community organization called VINE – Faith in Action. VINE is an interfaith volunteer care giving organization. The lawn raking was done for Mankato residents who are challenged to keep up with home maintenance. Several Bethany student groups participated, such as our Scholastic Leadership Society (academic honor society), World Club (for international students), and First Forward (first generation college students at Bethany). On that day, fifty-seven Bethany students participated. They

raked twenty-nine yards. This amounted to twelve percent of all the yards raked through the community effort.

Bethany students also recently organized a food drive competition. Several campus groups participated with this effort. The collected food was donated to the ECHO Food Shelf in Mankato.

Bethany students donated enough food to operate the shelf for nearly a full day. The ECHO Food Shelf distributes 43,000 pounds of food each month or about 1,387 pounds per day. Bethany students collectively donated 1,315 pounds and some money to the shelf.

While community volunteerism is not mandatory at Bethany, most of the students get involved in some manner.

The exposure Bethany students receive to these opportunities while they are here at Bethany will ultimately allow them to become positive Christian community members after graduation.

report | fall 2009

Faculty & Staff News Silas Born (education) was the presenter for two sectionals at the WELS Minnesota and ELS Midwest Teachers’ Conference at Martin Luther College on October 15 and 16, 2009. The title of his presentation was “Rubrics – An Old Word with a New Meaning.” The focus of his presentation was on using rubrics as an instructional tool as well as a tool for formative assessment.

William Bukowski and Andrew Overn (art) traveled with eight students to New York City for the department’s annual art trip. The trip visited museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. The group also visited with Bethany alumni Andrew Braun, Charis CarmichaelBraun, and Crystal Lonnquist.

Bukowski and Denice Woller (photography) were invited to participate in the show, “Winds of Inspiration, Winds of Change,” at the Hillstrom Museum of Art on the campus of Gustavus Adolphus College.

Chapel continued from page 3

every era from Adam and Eve to the present these words are true: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

The Christian Gospel message reaches down to us mortals to lift us out of that despair which is our lot and condition. We are in that condition because “that which is born of flesh is flesh,” we were conceived and born in sin and are therefore under the wrath of God and doomed eternally. But God did something to break through despair and give hope. He sent his Son into the world, education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Mark DeGarmeaux (languages, religion) had his translation of a sermon

by Martin Luther published in the newest volume of Luther’s Works: American Edition, Vol. 69.

Sarah Harstad (alumni relations) is currently serving as the president of the Mankato Sertoma Club for 20092010. The Sertoma Club is a service organization with the motto “Service to Mankind.” Sertoma supports the hearing impaired, the deaf, and others in the community including the mentally challenged and youth.

Erin Johnson (library) presented at the Minnesota Lutheran Education Conference at the Verizon Center in Mankato on October 15, 2009, with the theme of “How to Find Quality Children’s Literature.” Her sessions focused on both middle-grade and young adult books and picture books. She was also a co-presenter on October 19 at a session for Regional ExLibris User Group (REUG) at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul.

Dr. William Kessel (religion, social science) has been named to Missionary Terry Schultz’ doctoral committee as a reader. Schultz is completing a doctor of ministry degree in missiology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in

Deerfield, Illinois.

Peter Kjeer (physics, engineering) was the guest speaker for the annual meeting of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The title of the address was “Ethics and Teamwork in Engineering.”

Dr. Thomas Kuster (communication) presented a workshop on “How do Jesus’ Miracles Proclaim the Gospel?” at the General Pastoral Conference of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Dr. Steven Reagles delivered the sermon at the conference communion service.

Rob Pipal (athletics) was the guest speaker at the Mankato United Soccer Club All-City Awards banquet on November 8, 2009.

Dr. Steven Reagles (communication) delivered three papers and chaired a fourth panel at the National Communication Association Convention in Chicago.

Joni Wiederhoeft (financial aid) received her Twenty Year Service Award from the Midwest Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (MASFAA) at their 2009 Fall Conference. Wiederhoeft is also chairing the 2010 conference planning committee for the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MAFAA).

not to condemn that world, but that the world through him might be saved.

That work of salvation is now complete.

It was finished in the perfect life, death and resurrection of the Son of God. Now there is forgiveness and life. This Gospel is the power of God for our salvation. It gives and creates faith, that miracle that says in response to these things, “Yes, that salvation which the Son of God acquired for the whole world is now mine by faith.”

And that faith gives hope. Even though we don’t physically see and grasp right now the full reality of what God promises us, in faith we see it, and in hope we embrace and anticipate its coming.

And that faith and hope enable us to confess that here we remain strangers and pilgrims on a journey that may be long,

on a route that may be challenging in every way, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But a gracious God enables us to say from the heart: I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope.

My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning— Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, And with Him is abundant redemption.

And He shall redeem Israel From all his iniquities.

(Psalm 130) 5

The Truth in Media Christ in Media Institute leads students to explore the Gospel in life and in mission

By Thomas Kuster, Ph.D., Communication

T

he ratio is bad, and getting worse. That is, as world population increases rapidly, those who do not know or believe in Jesus Christ will outnumber those who do in larger and larger proportions.

We know the command of our Lord to teach everyone in the world the good news of what He has done.

But how do we reach them all? There is no substitute for person-to-person, face-to-face evangelism, nor for the preaching and instruction that takes place in our congregations. But there are not enough of us—not enough teachers and not enough congregations—to reach the vast numbers who still need to hear the Word, many for the first time.

We believe that God in these last days has given us a tool for addressing this challenge: the technology of mass media.

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What’s out there This is not a new idea, of course. Every day millions of people turn their eyes toward the television screen, and many others attend the movies. With more frequency they are seeing messages with spiritual, even religious content. But from a biblical perspective, many of these messages are perverse, promoting immorality, false gods, or pantheism. Even if the message makers try to reflect biblical ideas, their products often carry flawed themes, teaching for example that everyone who dies goes to heaven, or that we earn God’s favor by doing good deeds, or that if we do this or that to please God he will make us rich. Such distortions of God’s Word are being placed in front of millions in our country and around the world every day via mass media.

report | fall 2009

to our Institute’s core values: the use of mass media to bring the Gospel, as clearly understood in biblical Lutheran theology, to the vast numbers of people in many cultures and throughout the world.

In the spring of 2009, a generous grant from the Antioch Foundation enabled the Institute to begin making plans.

At the ELS Convention, 2009

Photos by David Norris

Jas Lonnquist (left) and Sean King shared their experiences with a class in November.

What we can do

Emily Clare Zempel (left) and Jonathon Roberts specialize in bringing biblical messages to unlikely audiences through music and performance.

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

At Bethany we have determined to give special attention to learning how to harness the potential of media technology in the service of the Gospel. This determination has prompted the formation of a unique structure promoting this study, an “institute” with this mission: The Christ in Media Institute, empowered by the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, promotes research and education focused on employing God’s gift of mass media to bring the Gospel message to vast audiences both in the United States and abroad.

True to the educational mission of Bethany Lutheran College, the Christ in Media Institute is not to be a production company, making films and videos, but rather a place where students can study, learn, and gain the expertise needed to respond to the Great Commission through using media technology. There is no other agency anywhere dedicated

Some visitors at the Evangelical Lutheran Synod convention last summer enjoyed the first offerings of the Institute—a series of late night viewings and discussions of films with religious themes, and a public panel of ten Bethany professors from various disciplines exploring the contributions each could make to the Institute’s venture.

November conference Late November saw the Institute’s first major offering, a conference focused on the theme, “Creativity and Lutheran Theology in Media.” Five professionals working in creative areas of media production and performance came to campus to present to some ninety students, faculty, and guests their views and experiences with the conference theme. Sean King, a Bethany alumnus, brought his experience as an actor and writer in Hollywood. Jas Lonnquist came from Silicon Valley to draw from her work as screenwriter, teacher, and producer, and to report an effective use of media in cross-cultural ministry. Steve Zambo, from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, described the plans and activities of his studio, Salty Earth Pictures. And Jonathon Roberts and Emily Clare Media continued on page 8

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Media continued from page 7

Zempel brought the perspective of the New York theatre scene, where they specialize in bringing biblical messages to unlikely audiences through music and performance.

Bethany students, too, contributed to the conference through presentations of a variety of research projects exploring the conference theme.

Spring competition Building on the momentum from the conference, the Institute has launched a “screen story competition” for the spring of 2010. The contest challenges participants to create story ideas that clearly reflect Christian beliefs, and that could be developed into a short film or a fulllength motion picture for showing to the general public in theatres or on television. Entries are invited in two divisions: “College Students” and “Non-students.”

Anyone who understands Lutheran theology is welcome to enter in the latter division.

Since good stories emerge from the experiences of their writers, the contest

may prompt many Christians to examine their own lives more deeply to realize the difference the Gospel has made for them, and then to spin that experience into a story compelling for others. Contest entries are suggested in six categories: romantic relationship stories; sports stories; science/science fiction stories; history-based stories; performing arts (theatre, music) stories; and other (for stories that don’t fit into any of the above categories). Contest rules and deadlines can be found on the Institute website at www.blc.edu/cmi, or by emailing tkuster@blc.edu.

The Institute’s future: questions to explore As interest in the work of the Institute grows, more ways will be found to gather and share expertise on such questions as these: • How can media be used to bring the message of the Gospel to vast audiences in the U.S. and around the world?

• What is a “Christian Movie?” How can we make one?

• How do you write a screenplay carrying a Gospel message?

• How is “the Word” affected when it is conveyed by visual or moving images?

• What business models can provide Christians with the opportunity to make and distribute films?

• What is special about a Lutheran approach to telling media stories?

• How can challenges—technological, creative, cultural, legal, political, and systemic—be identified and met in order to successfully convey Gospel messages through various mass media to audiences in many parts of the world?

• What are the particularly relevant aspects of American culture, and of cultures around the world, that must be addressed with biblical messages of Law and Gospel?

The challenge faced by the Christ in Media Institute is large, but so is its potential. At the very least, it promises to supplement the mission of Bethany Lutheran College by prompting students and others to give more thought to how the Gospel has brought them new lives, and how their educational and career specialties, whatever they are, can contribute to spreading the Gospel.

2010 Women’s Retreat | April 9–10

Finding Our Purpose in God’s Creation City Center Hotel, Mankato, Minnesota Hosted by Bethany Lutheran College

• Do you feel torn by your commitments?

• Do financial questions leave you puzzled?

• Is taking care of yourself a priority?

• Are you struggling with the fine line between planning, concern, and worry?

• Do you need your battery recharged?

For more information and registration visit: www.blc.edu/womensretreat or call 507–344–7314.

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report | fall 2009

students

Harting receives Army ROTC honors T

im Harting, a Bethany Lutheran College senior, has received a prestigious honor from U.S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Each year in the fall the Army publishes an ROTC Order of Merit List (OML) that rank orders every senior Cadet scheduled to commission in that particular year. The OML score for each Cadet is a compilation of academic standing, military qualification, leadership acumen, and school/community involvement. The Army subsequently uses the OML to provide higher-ranking Cadets component and branch of choice upon commissioning. This year out of 4,702 Cadets on the OML, Harting placed in the top one percent of all Cadets nationwide at twenty-ninth overall.

Photo by David Norris

Tim Harting was recently honored on the Army Reserve’s Order of Merit List.

Anderson elected to statewide position K

Photo by David Norris

Kelci Anderson was elected as the new co-chair of the Minnesota Association of Private College Students.

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

elci Anderson, a Bethany Lutheran College senior from Princeton, Minnesota, has been elected co-chair of the Minnesota Association of Private College Students (MAPCS). All students who attend an institution that is a member of the Minnesota Private College Council are eligible to participate in meetings and events sponsored

by MAPCS. The stated goal of MAPCS is to “empower our member student governments, educate students on matters of public policy, and advocate for their interests as private college students.”

The group sponsors and organizes a series of Private College Days at the Minnesota State Capitol where students spend the day visiting with elected officials about the importance of need-based aid for all students attending a college or

university in Minnesota. Anderson said of the election, “I am extremely honored to have been given this opportunity. It has been wonderful to experience first hand the strengths and weaknesses of student governments from all over Minnesota and to apply these experiences to what we cover in our conferences. I am very fortunate to have met so many motivated, passionate, and involved students who attend our conferences in hopes to better their leadership skills and to gain valuable resources by networking so they can improve their institutions.”

Anderson is a pre-med student majoring in human biology. She is also interested in becoming a teaching assistant at United International College in China after graduation.

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fine arts

Ouren art show is give and take

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

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t could certainly be argued that the appreciation of art can be subjective.

What one sees and appreciates in a work of art can differ from what another will see.

Eric Ouren teaches sculpture and ceramics at Bethany. He applied that subjective nature of art appreciation to his recent show of ceramic pieces in the Ylvisaker Gallery.

The pieces in Ouren’s show (mostly vases, mugs, cups, and jars) are part of a post-sabbatical study of ceramics for Ouren. During his recent sabbatical, Ouren studied ceramics at his alma mater (University of Minnesota). Ouren said he valued the sabbatical for a variety of reasons, but first and foremost it gave him the opportunity to bring a new approach to his own ceramic pedagogy.

“Being primarily interested in sculpture, my sabbatical study at the U gave me a new level of excitement for ceram-

Photo by David Norris

Sculpture and ceramics instructor Eric Ouren created over 175 ceramic works for his postsabbatical show titled ‘The Aesthetics of Desire.’

ics,” said Ouren. That “level of excitement” could certainly be seen at his recent Bethany exhibit.

The show featured 175-200 ceramic

pieces made by Ouren. The reason for the varied number of pieces—the show was meant to be interactive. Ouren wanted the viewer to connect with the art at his or her own level—the subjective component of the show. Each piece was numbered and a corresponding response medium was placed next to each of the ceramic pieces. Viewers were encouraged to tell the artist why they connected to the piece on the response medium. The viewer, after writing their thoughts, was welcomed to take the piece home after making a monetary donation of their choice, thus the need to bring additional pieces to the show throughout its run.

The outcome really was a win-win situation. Those that appreciated the ceramic pieces enough to comment learned something about art appreciation and the donations will be used to fund some needed projects in the Bethany Art Department.

campus news

Honsey Hall nearing completion, dedication will be on June 20

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inishing touches. Painting is coming to a close; tile, carpet, and technology are now the items that are being installed throughout the interior of the soon-to-becompleted Rudolph E. Honsey Hall. It’s possible that by the time the next issue of this magazine is in your hands the building keys will have been handed over to the College and boxes will begin to find their way into the offices and classrooms in the largest academic building on the Bethany campus.

Several special events will be held in conjunction with the dedication and 10

opening of Honsey Hall. Please make plans to join us as we celebrate the opening of this marvelous academic space.

Dedication Sunday, June 20, 2010 — Following the Synod Sunday Service of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod Annual Convention

Mankato Chamber Business After Hours November 2, 2010 — Join Mankato community members for tours and hors d’ oeuvres in Honsey Hall.

report | fall 2009

Christmas at Bethany

By Lois Jaeger Director of Fine Arts

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here is no mistaking the season on the Bethany campus when the calendar turns to December. Trees are set up, decorated and lighted in every building on campus; garlands festoon the balconies indoors and the colonnade out; nativity scenes appear in Old Main, the chapel, and on the lawn.

But most distinctively, the music of Christmas echoes through Trinity Chapel and wafts through the air as the choirs and instrumentalists prepare and present the annual “Christmas at Bethany” concerts.

The 2009 concert series that was performed Thursday, December 3 through Sunday, December 6, involved a record 120 students between the Concert Choir, Mary Martha Singers, Handbell Choir, Concert Band, String Ensemble, and organists. Advance reservation requests were so overwhelming that an additional concert was scheduled for Wednesday, December 2.

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Directors Ann Fredrickson, Adrian Lo, and Dennis Marzolf led the various ensembles in a wide range of selections from familiar a cappella carol tunes such as the Mary Martha offering of “In dulci jubilo” to cantatas, anthems, and motets like the Buxtehude “Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Prince of Peace” or F. Melius Christiansen’s arrangement of “Wake, Awake” by the Concert Choir with elaborate and beautiful instrumental accompaniment.

Choral offerings were interspersed with instrumental works for band, strings, and handbells.

Throughout the five concerts, a total of approximately 1,450 audience members also enjoyed the opportunity to raise their voices in the hymns of Advent and Christmas as they welcomed the season and the Christ Child. “Christmas at Bethany” is treasured by many as the best way to usher in their holiday season!

Photos by David Norris

Above: A portion of the Mary Martha Singers.

Top: The end of the concert brings all the choirs and instrumentalists together and everyone sings one last hymn together.

Enjoy more concert photos here: www.blc.edu/christmasatblc09

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By Joseph Baer, Sports Information Intern

Photos by Sport PiX

VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS

Fall athletics

Matthew Behmer

Mitch Koepp

Abigail Lecy

Cross Country

Men’s Golf

Women’s Golf

The 2009 Bethany Cross Country season marked the first year the school entered Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) competition. And for an inaugural season when expectations were up in the air, the teams still made a splash, notching two All-Conference runners and improving throughout the season.

Coach Michael Willitz noted, “We got our first season under our belt and made vast improvement. We started out a little behind, but by the end of the season we established a presence in the UMAC.” At the UMAC Conference Championship, the men’s team bested two already established programs. Sophomore Matthew Behmer and freshman David Blumer ran tough against the best in the UMAC and were rewarded AllConference honors. Brittany Rodgers led the women’s team with a thirty-first place finish, out of a field of ninety-eight runners.

Looking on to 2010, Coach Willitz is hoping to add new faces to the young, growing program. “We were short on numbers in 2009, which caused struggles for both teams. We will be adding new faces in an effort to assemble a team that will run with the best in the conference.

We will also be running in more races next year and hope to host one in the Mankato area.”

The 2009 Bethany men’s golf team returned four seniors and entered the fall season with high expectations. “The men’s team played pretty well all fall,” Coach Rick Jeddeloh said, “As a team we were a little disappointed in not winning it all this year, but we finished second. I think our guys are proud of the fact that in the past three seasons we have been first, third, and second in the conference.”

The team notched three team victories in the regular season and had three different individuals receive medalist honors at meets throughout the year.

Seniors Joseph Baer and Mitch Koepp finished their four-year golf careers in a strong way. Baer was the medalist at the Northwestern Invitational and finished runner-up by one stroke at the UMAC Conference Championship. Koepp was co-medalist with freshman teammate Tyler Pendleton at the Bethany Golf Invitational at Le Sueur Country Club.

Both Baer and Koepp received UMAC All-Conference Honors and have won the award in multiple seasons.

Coach Jeddeloh noted the season’s biggest highlight: “Probably the biggest highlight was how we played in our own tournament at Le Sueur. We had our lowest score of the season and noted the three lowest individual scores at the meet, all on the most challenging course we play all season.”

The 2009 women’s golf team only fielded two players, but both were prominent players in the UMAC all season long.

Senior Abigail Lecy and graduating Junior Kelsey Schlicker each notched three top five finishes during the regular season and played tough through the cold, wind, and rain at the UMAC Conference Championship in Alexandria, Minn. Lecy, who was a two-time UMAC Individual Champion, fell short by three strokes of winning her third. She did however claim UMAC All-Conference honors. Schlicker narrowly missed her third straight All-Conference bid.

Coach Rick Jeddeloh reflected on the season, “Our girls played well this fall and gave it their all. I know Abby was disappointed in not winning her third title, but she finished strong. Kelsey played well, as always, for us.”

The team will look to bring in a whole new group next fall. The team loses two individual championships and a combined six all-conference awards to graduation this spring. Coach Jeddeloh added, “Kelsey and Abby were great and really enjoyed competition. It’s sad to see them go; they will be missed.”

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report | fall 2009

Women’s Soccer

Volleyball

In 2009, the Bethany men’s soccer team tallied a record of 6-14 (5-9 UMAC) and finished one spot out of the final four in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC).

Highlights of the 2009 season included a season sweep of Martin Luther College (MLC) and playing the UMAC Champion St. Scholastica tough in both games, losing narrowly 0-1 and 1-2. Coach Pipal responded regarding the close conference games, “We had a chance to win both games against Scholastica, which was very encouraging to the team. Beating Northland and MLC in the last six minutes of those games was very exciting and rewarding.”

Despite some unfortunate injuries, many players stood out for the Vikings in the season. Junior forward Evans TackieYarboi and midfielder Felipe Ortega notched UMAC All-Conference honors, and sophomore forward Joe Nuah was UMAC Honorable Mention.

Coach Pipal showed a great degree of optimism when talking about next season, “We will have the largest senior class we have ever had at Bethany Lutheran College. The most we have had in the past is five, next year we will have nine. The leadership and talent of this group are very good and I expect we will make a strong push for the UMAC final four tournament. We finished seventh in conference in 2008, fifth in 2009 and our goal is to make the next step in 2010.”

The women’s soccer team battled injuries (78 games missed by 24 players), but managed a record of 8-11-1 (5-9-1 UMAC), their best record since 2002 and second best in school history.

Coach Derick Lyngholm reflected on the season, “The biggest challenge the team faced this year was injuries. With everything from high ankle sprains, to concussions, to torn knee ligaments, to broken noses, to broken toes, to an appendicitis, luck never seemed to be on the team’s side this season. While injuries plagued us, the season proved to be one of tremendous growth and improvement.”

Sisters Kristin and Katie Renner helped lead the team to success in 2009 and along with defensive player Haley Kratovil, received UMAC All-Conference honors. Sophomore Anna Potz received UMAC Honorable Mention. Kristin Renner and Potz led the team with thirteen and seven goals respectively. Kristin also led the team with six assists. Freshman Maggie LaPlante added six goals and four assists in a successful collegiate debut. 2008 scoring leader Joelle Pipal was limited to six games due to a knee injury, and finished with three goals.

Despite losing three starting seniors next year, Lyngholm expects big things in 2010. “A number of underclassman got the chance to get more playing time than they had perhaps expected. If the team can avoid some of the injury issues of 2009, 2010 could see Bethany’s first-ever appearance in the UMAC final four.”

The Bethany Volleyball team played a competitive season, but struggled for victories in their first season under head coach Mike Walters. The team tallied an 8-20 (5-9 UMAC) record and finished sixth in the conference.

The team was led by an established senior libero, an experienced setter, and a deep rotation of hitters. Senior libero Laura Parochka made a successful tour of the UMAC for one last time. Parochka received first-team All-Conference honors and recorded fewer than twenty receiving errors despite having close to 500 digs.

Setter Nicole Jones received UMAC Honorable Mention and averaged 7.5 assists per set.

At the end of the season, Coach Walters resigned from his coaching position to attend to his full time job. Bethany replaced Walters with assistant Sue Forrey. Forrey has numerous years of head coaching experience. From 2002-08, Forrey served as head coach and director of the Eagles Junior Olympic program in Mankato. Before joining Bethany, Forrey also coached three seasons of high school volleyball from 2006-08 at Mankato Loyola Catholic School.

Coach Forrey touched on the team’s season and the goals moving forward.

“Overall, I think the team adjusted well to the coaching changes, yet we failed to reach our goal of the UMAC post-season.

Next year, we look to achieve that goal.”

Evans Tackie-Yarboi

Kristin Renner

Laura Parochka

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

13

VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS

Men’s Soccer

faculty news

Hanna untwists Dickens’ early writings

Photo by David Norris

Boyhood letters, poems and plays are among the recently published early Charles Dickens writings researched by Dr. Robert Hanna.

D

r. Robert Hanna (English) has so established his credentials as a Charles Dickens scholar that he is now regularly contacted from overseas for research assistance. Recently, Hanna provided prepublication findings to Dr. Michael Slater of Birkbeck College (University of London) for his forthcoming biography of Dickens; Dr. Paul Schlicke of the University of Aberdeen for his forthcoming edition of Dickens’s Sketches by Boz; Dr. Aled Williams of the University of Wales for the literary journal Llên Cymru; and Dr. Christine Alexander at the University of New South Wales (Australia) for the Dickens Quarterly. Nonetheless, Hanna was taken by surprise when he answered his office telephone in early 2008.

“I’m usually contacted by e-mail through Bethany’s website,” Hanna explains. “When I answered the phone, a reporter from the London Times wanted to know about my work on publishing Dickens’s earliest unpublished writings.

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‘Dickens has been so popular an author that his books have never been out of print.’

- Dr. Robert Hanna

He found out about my research from Mark Charles Dickens [great-greatgrandson of Dickens], who oversees copyright clearance for these last remaining unpublished writings.” The reporter interviewed Hanna for forty-five minutes and requested a copy of Hanna’s work when published.

According to Hanna, “Dickens has been so popular an author that his books have never been out of print. 2012 is the two hundredth anniversary of his birth.

New editions of his works keep coming out, attendance at the Charles Dickens Museum is up, and London is going to

display its first statue of Dickens.”

Hanna’s authoritative and annotated edition of Dickens’s writings from age eight through twenty-one has now been published in the 2009 volume of Dickens Studies Annual under the title “Before Boz: The Juvenilia and Early Writings of Charles Dickens, 1820-1833.” Specifically, Hanna tracked down thirteen surviving works from this time period, seven of which were previously unpublished in whole or in part.

Hanna says his project necessitated consulting manuscripts held by libraries across America (Folger Shakespeare, Pierpont Morgan, Huntington, Harvard, Yale, and Old Dominion), along with others still found in London (British Library, Guildhall Library—City of London, and Charles Dickens Museum).

“I could never have completed my work without the support of President Bruss, Vice President Younge, and Bethany’s Faculty Development Committee,” Hanna relates.

Readers of Hanna’s edition will find boyhood letters, five poems, documents prepared for Dickens’s first two employers (a law firm and an ecclesiastical court), two plays, and a list of his own “theatrical regulations” for anyone Dickens cast in his amateur productions. Hanna also includes three works falsely attributed to Dickens since 1871 and proof of their actual authorship. He expects his edition to be consulted by scholars for years to come, as over half of it constitutes new additions to the Dickens canon.

What is next for Hanna’s ongoing Dickens research? “The editor of The Dickensian just asked me to read and write a review of a new book, Dickens, Christianity, and ‘The Life of Our Lord.’

He must know that this was the identical focus of my dissertation,” answers Hanna, with a wide smile.

report | fall 2009

advancement

Generous family legacy supports Bethany

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

W

hen Peter Oslund emigrated with his father from Telemarken, Norway, to the United States in 1881 the path to his (like so many immigrants) future was uncertain, especially after his father passed away not long after the two settled on the prairies of western North Dakota.

Peter took care of himself working a variety of jobs and eventually met a young woman who was working as a cook on a threshing crew that he was part of. The young cook was Sophie Huso and the two were married in 1899. The couple was blessed with a daughter, Effie.

The young couple led a difficult existence continuing to take on a variety of jobs simply to “make ends meet.” But they persevered and eventually purchased 160 acres of land in McKenzie County, North Dakota, in 1911 with the hopes of beginning a farming venture. When the hopes for a successful farm did not materialize the Oslunds left North Dakota. They held jobs in Iowa and Wisconsin before they were recommended by Albert Huso (a Bethany Board of Regent member and Sophie’s brother) to join the staff; Peter as the school’s custodian and Sophie as the cook in the cafeteria. According to an article in the October 1939 issue of the Bethany Scroll, the Oslunds were a popular couple on the Bethany campus.

After they retired, the Oslund’s daughter Effie also found her way to the Bethany campus with her husband John Nerison and held similar positions to her parents.

And like the Oslunds, the Nerisons also became well-liked members of the Bethany community.

Now think back to the failed farming

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Submitted photo

Linda (Madson) Browning with Effie Oslund (right) at her 80th birthday party.

Before her passing in 1993, Effie transferred mineral rights from property in North Dakota to Bethany Lutheran College.

enterprise in North Dakota. Through the years, Peter Oslund retained mineral rights ownership of the 160 acres of farmland he purchased in 1911. That land has proven to become an important part of the Oslund family legacy. You see, in the mid-twentieth century the Oslunds signed an agreement with the Amerada Petroleum Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma, that detailed their rights to minerals taken from the property. Peter and Sophie Oslund eventually willed the mineral rights to their only child, Effie.

She held those mineral rights until her later years when she transferred them to Bethany in gratitude for the all that the school had done for her family throughout years. Effie passed away in 1993.

Several years later, the land that

Oslunds purchased sits directly in America’s next oil drilling hot spot—the Bakken Shale Formation that encompasses parts of North Dakota, Montana, and two Canadian provinces. Numerous articles have recently been written about the emergence of North Dakota as the next big oil boom state. While the original predictions for production estimates have been somewhat tempered, the deposit is quite productive. Since September 2009, the Oslund land has been producing in excess of 100 barrels of oil per month.

While the production continues, Bethany Lutheran College will receive gifts from the Oslund/Nerison legacy in McKenzie County, North Dakota, a special gift from special people and a wonderful blessing for Bethany Lutheran College.

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alumna profile: Becky Breitbarth, ’08

Breitbarth takes on Washington D.C.

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

W

hen we first wrote about Bethany alumna Becky Breitbarth (’08) she was still a college junior returning from New York City and an internship with FOX News.

That internship and a variety of learning experiences while at Bethany have been a catalyst to move her into rewarding and fast-paced positions in the political arena.

Bethany produces live broadcasts of Minnesota State University hockey games and also assists in the production of a political news show called “Between The Lines.” As a communication major, Breitbarth participated in some of these opportunities and talked about that studio experience at Bethany.

“On the hockey production crew I mostly worked a variety of producer roles.

As a freshman I was the assistant producer for the men’s broadcast. Sophomore year I headed up the women’s hockey broadcast as producer/director. As a junior I was the pre-game producer. Finally, as senior I came back to the broadcast as “Camera 5”, the camera in between the benches, just because it was so much fun!” She continued, “The experience I gained on the hockey broadcast was invaluable. The games presented a real world situation that could be high-stress and high-action.

Opportunities for learning were constant.

For example, every game taught me methods for working as a team and how to make good decisions quickly.”

After graduation, Breitbarth saw the

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opportunity to use her communication training for something she is passionate about. “Growing up, my parents instilled in me a passion for politics and even while at Bethany I stayed active in the process. I always found politics to be an area of strong interest, but I had never pictured myself working in the field.” She adds, “While at Bethany I focused most of my attention on the broadcasting field.

My internship at FOX News was a wonderful opportunity and I even saw myself moving back to New York someday.” But career interests changed for Breitbarth when Saint Paul, Minnesota, was chosen to host the 2008 Republican National Convention.

“I saw it as a good opportunity to step into the communications field.

From there, I just continued in politics, learning more with each experience, all while supporting the values I believe in.” Breitbarth stayed active after the convention working for “Virginia Victory” which was run through the Republican National Committee assisting GOP candidates throughout the state of Virginia. She is now working as the staff assistant for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (Republican from Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional

District) at the U.S. House of Representatives. Breitbarth started with Congresswoman Bachmann in January 2009 and works in the area of constituent relations including planning D.C.-area tours for visitors and facilitating the internship program. The job holds a great deal of variety for Breitbarth, “Depending on what Congress is voting on, my job can really change pace.”

As for the future, Breitbarth would like to remain part of the Washington D.C. scene. “I thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere on Capitol Hill and plan to continue in the legislative process. Ideally, I’ll be able to apply my communication background into the press area.” And while work occupies the majority of her time, Breitbarth is also excited to be planning a September wedding to her fiancé, Noah Rogness. Rogness is currently stationed at The Pentagon and the couple met at their church in D.C. Bethany Lutheran College wishes the couple a successful and happy future.

alumni news

alumni

news 1944 Marvin Fitzthum and his wife Elaine have a daughter, Janelle Koenders, born January 30, 1949, and a son, Lynn Fitzthum, born March 21, 1952. Janelle is an LPN, and Lynn is an athletic coach and teacher at Sartell High School.

1957

writer and photographer, and the southern Minnesota Correspondent for Minnesota Moments magazine. Her writing has provided her many opportunities to be a witness for Christ. She and Randy, her husband of 27 years, live in Faribault, Minn. They have two grown daughters and a son who is still at home.

1985

Gail (Kamrath) Carbonaro with her two children, Ruth (Otten) Rethermeyer with three children, Ronda (Hendrickson) Staloch with three children, and Tiffany Young Klockziem with her two children.

Shawn (Sem. ’00) and Amy (Rasmussen) Stafford (’95) are pleased to announce the adoption of Anju Grace

After graduating from Bethany, Mani Boniek ended up settling in Colorado where he continues to operate the production company he started in Mankato.

They do the production for events of all sorts, from coast to coast. Some are very high profile, some are more specific and local. Mani has been married to Patrisha since 1992 and they have four children.

1985

James Borcherding and his wife Audrey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 6, 2009, with family and friends.

1960 Luther Dorr retired in March 2007 after 33 years as a newspaper editor and 40 years as a sports columnist. He continues to live in Princeton, Minn., where his two children and five grandchildren also live. He officiates baseball, football and softball as he has for the past 45 years since being discharged from the U.S. Army. A good share of his spare time is spent following grandchildren to various athletic events and monitoring recesses at a local elementary school.

Carolyn (Holm) Krueger announces that her husband Rev. James Krueger (Sem. ’94) received a call to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Medford, Wisconsin. Their daughter Hannah is a student at the Art Institute International of Minnesota in downtown Minneapolis, son Cody is a senior at Luther High School in Onalaska, Wisc., (and is staying with a classmate), Christopher is a sophomore at Medford Area Senior High and Michael is in 8th grade at Immanuel Lutheran School.

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

1994

1994

1976 Audrey (Kletscher) Helbling invites Bethany friends to check out her Minnesota Prairie Roots blog at mnprairieroots. wordpress.com. Audrey is a freelance

Stafford. Anju was born April 16, 2007, in Bangalore, India. She came home to Lengby on November 20, 2008, and was adopted on September 9, 2009. Anju’s big sister, Solveig (10), and big brother, Jonah (7) share in the joy.

Several Bethany alumni from the class of 1994 got together last summer:

Lance Nelson, John Milkovich, and Marcus Knox (’93) recently attended a Vikings-Steelers football game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. All three men played on the Bethany men’s basketball team together, and they have been lifelong friends ever since.

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alumni news 1997

2006

Jason Bjork, his wife Sarah, and daughter Anna have moved to West Union, Iowa. Sarah has taken the position of director of English as a second language at Upper Iowa University. Jason is serving as an assistant coach for Upper Iowa University’s baseball team.

1998 Ella (Petersen) Owens and Shawn Owens, children of Kathy (Solli ’68) and continuing musician (Disaster March) by night/weekend. Nell is project managing for a commercial design firm and can be reached at nell_speer@yahoo. com.

2001 and Steve Petersen (’70) of Mankato, and Mike and Bonnie Owens of Holloway, Minnesota, were married at Trinity Chapel on the Bethany campus on May 23, 2009. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. Steve Petersen and Rev. John Petersen. Other BLC graduates who participated in the ceremony were: Seth Petersen (’96), Ted Petersen (’03), Lisa (Burcham) Petersen (’01), Anika (Jaeger) Rychner (’98), and Jill (Frank) Masek (’98). Ella is employed by Harris IT Services in Eagan, Minn., and works in finance. Shawn is employed by Landmark Recruiting, LLC in Chaska, Minn., as a client manager. They reside in Farmington with their dog Maggie Lou.

1998 Dave Kruse is running for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the district that includes the Bethany Lutheran College campus.

1999 After ten years of marriage, Mark and Nell (Merschman) Speerschneider are proud to announce the birth of their daughter, Charlotte James, on August 17, 2009. Mark is a window installer by day

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Kevin Peterson and his wife Angela currently reside in Rochester, Minnesota. Kevin has a weekly position playing organ at Hosanna Lutheran Church, and they are members at Redeemer Lutheran.

2004 Adam Cowell and his wife Sarah announce the birth of their first child, Adeline Aurora Cowell, on November 9, 2009, in Waconia, Minnesota.

2005

Luke Hagen married Christina Handberg (’05) on September 5, 2009, at King of Grace Lutheran Church in Golden Valley, Minn. Members of the wedding party included: Jake Krier (’06), Darron Culbert (’07), Justin Turner (’04), Taylor Blomquist (’08), Amanda (Rank) Reese (’05), and Deanna (Damico) Browning (’05).

Christina is the daughter of Marty and Lynn (Rank) Handberg (’72). Luke and Christina currently reside in Hopkins, Minn. Luke is a banker at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis and Christina is the dance team coach at Eden Prairie High School and is a dance instructor at various studios throughout the metro area.

2007 Kayla (Zahn) Ottmar was married to Scott Ottmar on April 28, 2008, at

Travis and Kallie (Sparby) Dougherty, along with their 3-year-old son, Payton, welcomed their second child, Taylor Sue, into this world on August 25, 2009.

2005 Amber Danckwart and Erik Becker had a baby girl, Aleaya Harriet Becker, on August 15, 2009. She was 9 lbs, 5 oz and 21 inches long. Amber is currently an LPN working in a longterm care facility.

She will be returning to school in January to finish registered nurse schooling.

Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minn. The couple now resides in North Mankato, Minn., after selling their business in New Ulm in early 2009.

Currently, they both work for the Mankato School District. Kayla works as the secretary in the adult basic education program. Scott is working in the adult basic education program and is also a FastTRAC instructor at South Central College. report | fall 2009

alumni news In Memoriam 1939 Naomi (Rolf) Peterson, who attended Bethany from 1938-1939, passed away on

We want to hear from you We need your personal and professional updates to include in our alumni news.

You may also submit alumni news and photos by emailing them to alumni@blc.edu, or through our Web site at www.blc.edu/submitnews.

alumni

news

Name___________________________________________________________________________ Class year__________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________

October 4, 2009, in Miles City, Mont., where her only child Paul lives. Her time at Bethany was limited because of monetary restrictions. Naomi and Renata (Rolf) Winsor (’40) were roommates and remember with fondness the choir trips with director was Oswald (Ozzie) Hoffmann. Since Naomi and Renata were double cousins, they wrote over a period of several years the geneology of the Hertwig (mother) and Rolf (father) families. Renata currently lives in Wayzata, Minn., and would be pleased to hear from alumni.

1943 Carl Annextad passed away in May of 2009.

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Phone ( _________ ) ____________________________ Email______________________________________________________ Spouse’s name __________________________________________________________________ Class year _________________

(first name/maiden or birth/current last name)

news (attach additional information and photos as necessary) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

birth/adoption announcement Parents’ names_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Name___________________________________________________________________________ Class year__________________

(first name/maiden or birth/current last name) Spouse’s name __________________________________________________________________ Class year _________________

(first name/maiden or birth/current last name) [ ] Daughter’s name [ ] Son’s name____________________________________________________________________________

First Middle Last Date of Birth/Adoption___________________________ Place of Birth_______________________________________________

marriage announcement Name___________________________________________________________________________ Class year__________________

(first name/maiden or birth/current last name)

#

Ruth Abrahamson, wife of Harvey S. Abrahamson Jr. (Sem. ’86), went to her eternal home on Tuesday, October 6, 2009, at home surrounded by her family after a seven-year courageous battle against appendiceal cancer (appendix cancer). In lieu of flowers Ruth requested that memorials be given to Bethany Lutheran College Scholarship Fund.

Ruth and Harvey were blessed with six children: Julie (Michael) Schlief, Michael (Karen) Abrahamson, Rebecca (Daniel) Jensen, Tabitha (Brian) Kraft, Nathanael Abrahamson (’08), and current Bethany student Jacob Abrahamson. They were also blessed with ten grandchildren.

City____________________________________________ State___________________________ Zip ________________________

Spouse’s name __________________________________________________________________ Class year _________________

(first name/maiden or birth/current last name) Date of Marriage ________________________________ Current Residence __________________________________________

Cut out (or photocopy) and send to: Alumni News, Bethany Lutheran College, 700 Luther Drive, Mankato, MN 56001

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address service requested

Non Profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN PERMIT No. 4656

700 Luther Drive Mankato, Minnesota 56001-6163 education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Calendar of Events march 4 Baseball vs. Augsburg Minneapolis, Minn.

5-14 Band Tour 15 Band Homecoming Concert Trinity Chapel, 7 p.m.

16 PLUM #5 Debate Tournament 17 Baseball vs. St. John’s Minneapolis, Minn., 5 & 7 p.m.

25 Softball vs. North Central HOME, 2 & 4 p.m.

27 M/W Tennis vs. St. Scholastica, 10 a.m.

St. Peter, Minn. (Swanson Tennis Center) 27 Softball @ Macalester St. Paul, Minn., 1 & 3 p.m.

29 Softball vs. Carleton HOME, 3:30 & 5:30 p.m.

30 Baseball @ Buena Vista Storm Lake, Iowa, 2 p.m.

april 2 Softball vs. UW-River Falls HOME, 12 & 2 p.m.

2 Baseball vs. Minnesota-Morris HOME, 3 p.m.

3 Baseball vs. Minnesota-Morris HOME, 12 & 2 p.m.

5 Softball @ St. Olaf Northfield, Minn., 3:30 & 5:30 p.m.

6 Baseball @ Martin Luther New Ulm, Minn., 3 p.m.

7 Softball @ Martin Luther New Ulm, Minn., 3 p.m.

For more calendar events, visit: www.blc.edu

Annual Report Available Online at

blc.edu/annualreport

Value and Affordability at Bethany • Do you think going to college is too expensive?

• Are you concerned about loan debt after college?

• How long do you think it should take to earn a college degree?

At Bethany, we have excellent teachers who are committed to your success.

Bethany graduates find jobs at great companies and enroll in top graduate schools. When we talk about value and affordability, we are referring to the entire Bethany experience. That’s why we are confident to say that Bethany Lutheran College is an affordable private college where our goal is to help you finish your program on time without a load of debt.

What you need to know: • Bethany is the least expensive private, residential, liberal arts college in Minnesota • Our four-year graduation rates are among the best – private or public • 98% of Bethany students receive some financial aid • Our advertised cost is BEFORE financial aid is applied • Through a combination of sources our financial aid packages averaged over $20,000 for the 2008-09 academic year Go to blc.edu/value to learn more about the real cost of enrolling at Bethany Lutheran College. We think you’ll discover why Bethany represents value and affordability in a college decision.

Job Openings Bethany Lutheran College has the following staff and faculty positions available: • Vice President for Academic Affairs • Coordinator of Residential Life/Resident Manager • Mathematics Information about responsibilities, minimum qualifications, and application process for each position can be found at blc.edu/jobs.

Dates and times are subject to possible changes. Please call in advance to confirm dates and times of events before traveling: 800.944.3066 or 507.344.7000.

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