Spring 2009 Bethany Report

SPRING 2009

Bethany report

the magazine of bethany lutheran college

7 Celebrating 50 years in education 10 Traveling the globe over Spring Break 14 Excellent performance on and off court

from the president

Achievements Y

ou might recall a time when an employer or an organization made special note of something you’ve done to achieve a goal, help a cause, or further a mission. While the goal of work is not for personal recognition, it can be humbling to be acknowledged for a job well done.

In this issue of the Bethany Report magazine, you’ll read about a number of achievements by some of our students and staff at Bethany Lutheran College. From senior athlete Eva Voss earning the top athlete/ scholar award from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference to a group of students bringing home a national award for a video production, we’re pleased to highlight some of the good things happening at Bethany.

The spring theatre production at Bethany was a world premiere. That’s right, a world premiere on the stage of the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center. Peter Bloedel, a faculty member in our theatre department, teamed with alumnus Benjamin Inniger to write a musical that saw it’s first production at BLC. There’s also a story about Silas Born, who is celebrating fifty years of teaching in Lutheran schools. What a pleasure it is to recognize Si’s commitment to the important work of educating young minds.

And you’ll read about two alumni who have enjoyed success in their careers and are now giving back to Bethany through the establishment of a scholarship that will President Dan Bruss assist more students in achieving lofty goals.

The array of achievements that are highlighted in this publication are no small feats. It doesn’t matter if it’s on the athletic field, in a musical concert, or in the classroom: Bethany students and faculty are excelling and being recognized for their extraordinary work.

But there is a difference in the way we measure success at Bethany.

While we are pleased with the work that happens on this campus, we also understand that knowledge, athletic prowess, or skillful playing of musical instruments are gifts from God. At Bethany we encourage the development of those God-given talents and we work hard at becoming the best we can be.

The students and faculty at Bethany are inspiring people. It’s exciting for me to witness the remarkable achievements that occur on the Bethany campus. This is work that is worthy of your support and prayers. I invite you to visit the campus anytime, we’ll be happy to show you around and you, too, will be able to see some of the outstanding things that are happening here.

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Bethany report editor, writer | Lance Schwartz design, photography | David Norris proofreader, writer | Emma Bauer 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: CXVI 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 2009 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.

Bethany Lutheran College Board of Regents: Harold A. Theiste, Vice Chair Rev. Kenneth V. Schmidt, Secretary Willis Anthony, Ph.D. Rev. Mark Bartels Paul T. Chamberlin Lyle Fahning Rev. Herbert C. Huhnerkoch James Minor Roland Reinholtz Rev. J. Kincaid Smith, D.Min. Rev. Joel Willitz Advisory Members: Pres. Dan R. Bruss, Ph.D. Rev. Lawrence A. Burgdorf Rev. John A. Moldstad, ELS President William Overn

On the cover: Michael Koepp (left) and Jason Sehloff began the race of three boats created by student teams in a general physics class.

Read about their projects on page 8.

report | spring 2009

from the chapeL April 2, 2009 John 16:23-27 (ESV)—“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.

24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 25I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.”

S

ome of you may know that I’m a fan of the Purdue Boilermakers. The main reason is that I went there for my first two years of undergrad.

And if you have followed the NCAA basketball tourney at all this year, you know Purdue made it into the “Sweet 16” for the first time in a long time. And then you also may know that’s as far as the Boilers made it this year, getting bumped off by the University of Connecticut.

Now, I don’t follow Purdue Rev. Michael Smith basketball so closely as to be able to tell you all the stats of all the players or even who all the starters are. But since I like watching college basketball, I do like to root for them.

I’ve decided, however, that I need to send a letter of apology to the Boilermakers. You see, even though I’ve jokingly blamed their exit from the tourney on one or two of my students (for rooting against them), I’ve realized that it was my fault that Purdue lost. Yes, I prayed for them to win. I prayed to Jesus that he would see fit to let them beat UConn. That was my mistake.

Now before you do any more head scratching on that one, listen again to something Jesus says in this text: “I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf….” So, why was I praying to Jesus? I think he’s confused me a bit, since at the beginning of this text he said, “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Does that mean, then, that if I had prayed only to the Father and in the name of Jesus that my precious Boilers would education that lasts beyond a lifetime

have made it to the Final Four?!

It’s not my goal to confuse you this morning. But when we hear the words of this text, we may come away a bit confused. Are we supposed to pray to Jesus or to our heavenly Father? If we add on “in Jesus’ name” to our prayers, is that a good thing or a bad thing? What did Jesus mean when he said, “I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf…?”

Really there are only two things we need to pay close attention to from this text. Number one: When we pray “in Jesus’ name,” we pray believing in him. If we don’t believe in Jesus, if we don’t trust in him as our Savior from sin, we have no right to pray to him. In fact, we can’t pray to him. Trying to pray to Jesus outside of a faith-relationship to him would be like trying to talk to someone through a ten-foot thick stone wall—it can’t be done!

That ten-foot thick stone wall is the wall of our sin that separates us from Jesus. When we’re born that wall of sin is there, and neither we nor our parents can do anything to breach that wall. But Jesus can and Jesus did! By his sacrificial death on the cross Jesus broke through that wall just like he tore through the curtain in the temple that walled off the Holy of Holies. And through our baptisms, through the powerful working of trust in Jesus in our hearts, there is no separation between us and Jesus.

Thus when we pray, we pray “in Jesus’ name,” trusting that Jesus has forgiven us our sins, that he is our Savior, and that he wants the best for us.

Note again that Jesus said, “Whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” So why didn’t the Boilermakers win?!

This is when we have to realize that our definition of “whatever” may differ wildly from Jesus’ definition of “whatever.” Our definition may be filled with selfish thoughts, a virtual “wish list” of sinful desires: more money we don’t have to work for, more “stuff” we don’t have to pay for, more admiration we don’t have to ask for. But Jesus’ definition of “whatever” probably includes fewer things, and none of them even remotely sinful!—More spiritual strength to endure temptations and life’s trials, more desire for him and his Word, more forgiveness for our many failures.

Chapel continued on page 5 3

campus news

Branstad traded journalism for ministry

By Tim Harlow, Star Tribune April 10, 2009 | Republished with permission

R

aymond Branstad was sure that he was going to have a career in journalism, but the Lord had other plans for him, said his daughter Nancy Luttman, of Vero Beach, Fla. As a high school student, Branstad had a job at his hometown newspaper in Lake Mills, Iowa, which offered to pay his college tuition if he promised to come back after graduation. But his pastor persuaded him to enter the ministry instead, Luttman said.

Branstad served as senior pastor at several churches within the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, established summer camps and synod conventions for young people and served as president of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato.

Branstad, 92, died of kidney failure April 1 at Luttman’s home in Vero Beach.

He spent much of his early time in the ministry developing programs for teenagers. He helped start the synod’s Camp Indianhead and organized yearly conventions and weekend retreats because “he felt strongly about keeping young people in the church,” Luttman said.

Branstad served parishes in Duluth, Holton, Mich., Suttons Bay, Mich., and Eau Claire, Wis., before he moved to the Twin Cities. He was senior pastor when two north Minneapolis congregations— Fairview and Emmaus—merged to form King of Grace Lutheran Church and moved to its current campus in Golden Valley.

Branstad earned an associate in arts degree from Bethany Lutheran College and his bachelor’s and master of divinity degrees from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He took graduate-level journalism courses at the University of Wisconsin and studied at Harvard University.

In 1970, he earned a master’s degree in education administration from the 4

Raymond Branstad

University of Minnesota.

He returned to his alma mater, Bethany, in 1970 as president of the college and seminary. Under his leadership from 1970 to 1977, the school dramatically revised its curriculum in the Religion Department and increased the breadth and depth of courses offered. His major achievement was getting the two-year school to meet the standards necessary to become a fully accredited institution, said Ronald Younge, vice president for academic affairs.

“He enjoyed his time as president and he loved the school,” Younge said. “He interacted with the students quite a bit. ...

He was a good leader, and his gregarious personality fit in well.”

Branstad continued to serve Bethany

for 20 years as chairman of its Board of Regents.

He loved music and directed several choirs and played piano and organ until a week before he died.

Branstad led tour groups to sites in Germany made famous by Martin Luther and loved spending time at his cabin on Hay Lake in northern Minnesota, Luttman said.

In addition to his daughter Nancy, Branstad is survived by three other daughters, Margaret Ostman and Kirsten Burcham, both of Vero Beach, and Judy Kassulker, of Plymouth; a son, John, of Plymouth; a sister, Avis Amundson, of Northwood, Iowa, 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

report | spring 2009

Chapel continued from page 3

speaks these words as part of a very long discourse on the night he was betrayed.

And Jesus gives us these things and He’s explaining to his apostles what’s more when we pray to him! As we’ve going to be happening not just in the been concentrating on this week, Jesus next few days (his betrayal, crucifixion, is our “high priest,” the one who stands and resurrection), but also beyond that. before God the Father and pleads our The apostles were somewhat confused case before him. That’s the second thing and bewildered at all Jesus told them, you really need to pay attention to in because they didn’t want him to leave this text. Jesus is our Advocate, the one and be killed, and so Jesus assures them who calls out to God on our behalf. He’s that everything was working according our Mediator, the one who constantly to plan, to his plan. He tells them that reminds God that he himself has taken they would definitely see him again (on the punishment we deserved because of Easter and beyond), and that even after our sins, the one who has paid the ulti- he visibly left this earth they still had a mate price of giving his life so that we powerful connection to him: they could pray for whatever they needed! don’t have to.

Jesus gives you that same assurance So when we pray to Jesus and he intercedes for us, really we’re praying to our today. No, you don’t see him right now, heavenly Father also. In this text, Jesus but he is with you. He’s with you in his is not laying out for us a precise method Word that brings forgiveness of your sins. of praying. He doesn’t tell us to whom He’s with you in his precious sacraments we’re supposed to pray about what, such of baptism and communion, which as that for certain things we pray to him forgive you also and grant you strength. and for other things we pray to the Father Your High Priest is forever and right now and for other things still we pray to the pleading your case in heaven as he hears Holy Spirit (and he doesn’t even mention and answers your prayers. Pray to him him in this text!). The bottom line is that whenever you need to and for whatever you need to. To him be the glory forever.

Jesus wants us to pray!

Here’s where the context of this text Amen. helps us understand Jesus’ point: Jesus

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faculty news

Browne completes work on Ph.D.

By Emma Bauer Communication Specialist

B

ethany employees strive to make the most of their talents and abilities in serving the College and its students. This often includes furthering their education through higher learning degrees. Polly Browne, professor of education at Bethany, was recently honored for the successful defense of her dissertation and completion of Polly Browne her Ph.D. Dr. Browne has been a member of Bethany’s faculty since 2003. She teaches education courses and also serves as the coordinator of the student-mentoring program, a free tutoring program offered to all Bethany students. This spring, Browne earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Studies under the School of Human Services from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Browne focused her research on the process of interpersonal forgiveness, and her dissertation topic was “Forgiveness therapy: A qualitative study of the forgiveness experience of people who have undergone forgiveness as a counseling intervention.”

Bethany Lutheran College congratulates Dr. Browne on her recent achievement, and thanks her for her dedicated service to the College.

Located on the second floor of Old Main.

800-944-1722 | 507-344-7777

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

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Faculty & Staff News

recent Ylvisaker Drawing Invitational exhibition “In the Details.” The catalog was designed by current student Amanda Scharlemann and includes work and words by twenty-seven artists, including faculty members Bill Bukowski, Orrin Ausen and Erin Johnson Eric Ouren, and Andrew Overn. It is (library) attended the following confer- the first-ever catalog produced by the ences in March 2009: ACRL 14th Bethany Art Department and can be National Conference Seattle, Wash., and purchased at the Bethany Bookstore. the Midwest Technology Conference at Mark DeGarmeaux (religion, foreign Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn. languages) attended the second annual Polly Browne (education) attended Emmaus Conference at Parkland three sessions of the Minnesota Literacy Lutheran Church in Tacoma, WashingTeacher Educators Symposia, a series of ton. He was a reactor to a paper given workshops for literacy teacher educators by Dr. Arthur Just (Concordia Theological Seminary) on the account of the in higher education.

Emmaus disciples. The other reactor John Boubel (history) and members was Professor James Tiefel of Wisconsin of his History 117 class, Modern World Lutheran Seminary. DeGarmeaux also History, attended the West African served as organist and spoke in the Bible Drumming Workshop for Modern World class at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church History at Minnesota State University, in Yelm, Washington. He also recently Mankato. The class had just finished attended his tenth Norwegian language reading Chinua Achebe’s famous novel, weekend near Bemidji, Minnesota.

Things Fall Apart, and learning about the Tom Kuster (communication) impact of neo-imperialism on indigenous African culture. This workshop was an returned on March 23, 2009, from a opportunity to learn something about the seven-week trip to China, where he taught survival of some of that culture, not only for six weeks at United International in the use of drums, but also their place College, the school in Zhuhai, Guangin West African society and how they dong Province, with which Bethany has reflect African ideas of individualism vs. established a cooperative arrangement. group identity. The workshop consisted While there, he lectured on informal of both hands-on playing of instruments logic, introduced several dozen students to competitive debating, and arranged an in a drumming circle and brief lectures. intramural debating competition which

Bill Bukowski (art) showed five oil was held on two successive evenings. paintings in a show at the AWP Gallery The competition featured twenty threein New York City borough of Queens person teams of debaters, and played to in March 2009. The show was entitled, audiences of between 150 and 200 each World of Imagination-Volume II. Each night. Tom’s wife Judy served more than painting was restricted in size to a twelve 150 students and faculty members in inch square. Bukowski’s work is featured both large groups and individual sessions, on his blog at: www.bukowskipainting. working on “accent modification,” helping people for whom English is a second blogspot.com The Bethany Art Department language to speak it more like Americans produced a sixty-page catalog of the do.

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Janet Moldstad (business) has been selected to serve on the planning committee for the Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning’s February 2010 conference: Assessment for the Changing Learning Environment.

Daniel Mundahl, (chief financial and administrative officer) was awarded The Harold J. Fitterer Service Award by Minnesota State University, Mankato.

The award recognizes twelve Minnesota State alumni for personal and professional accomplishments.

Jonas Nissen (communication) recently played the role of Sam Truman in the Saint Peter Area Children’s Theatre production of “The Boxcar Children.” A series of screenplays written by Nissen have been produced by Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and will be available this summer. The screenplays are part of CPH’s summer 2009 Vacation Bible School (VBS) series. He has also written a series of short skits that will be used for CPH’s summer 2010 VBS series. Nissen recently directed the world premier of a play called “Matt Talbott” by local playwright Pat Ryan.

Estelle Vlieger (admissions) has accepted a three-year term as tri-chairperson of the Minnesota Education College Fairs committee for the Minnesota Association for College Admission Counselors (MACAC).

The Bethany Men’s Basketball team and coaching staff combined with four Mankato-area banks to support Coaches vs. Cancer. Collectively, they raised $1,225 for the American Cancer Society.

The banks helped by donating one dollar for every three-point basket made by the men’s team. The team made 245 three pointers this past season.

report | spring 2009

By Emma Bauer Communication Specialist

M

ilestones in one’s career can be celebrated in many different ways—a big party, an office get-together, or some other kind of celebration to congratulate the guest of honor.

But for Silas Born, Bethany’s Coordinator of Christian Education, the ideal way to celebrate fifty years of Christ-centered teaching within Lutheran schools is simply to thank the Lord for guiding and directing his life.

Silas Born began teaching when he was only twenty years old at St. John Lutheran School in Sparta, Wisconsin. He was at Sparta until 1971 when he accepted a call to start a school at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin. After watching the school grow from fifty-three to 248 students over a span of twenty-one years, Born accepted a call in 1992 to start a mission school in Plzen, Czech Republic. Again, the Lord blessed the efforts of the teachers, and the school more than doubled its student body in five years.

In 1997, Born accepted his current position as Coordinator of Christian Education at Bethany Lutheran College.

Not only did Born teach many different subject areas, including special education courses, at all three Christian day schools,

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

he also served as principal, directed adult choirs, children’s choirs, and bell choirs, and played organ for church services at each school, not to mention all the school and church boards he has served on. At Bethany, Born also “wears many hats,” as he puts it. His primary position at the College involves working with Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations and schools as the Coordinator of Christian Education. But he has also served as the Coordinator of the Student Success Center and has had a major role in developing the elementary education major at Bethany. Born also teaches several upper division education courses as a professor in Bethany’s education department.

Despite all the success Born has had throughout his career, he always points the attention back to the Lord and thanks God for all the opportunities he has been given to share the “One Thing Needful.” Born also thanks the Lord for giving him a patient and supporting wife, Mary, whom he met while teaching in Sparta, Wisconsin. This year the couple will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary—yet another milestone in Born’s life.

Bethany is thankful for Silas Born’s commitment to the important work of educating our future teachers and congratulates him on this occasion of thanksgiving.

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academics

floating forces Physics students test out their final projects in a race on Hinker Pond

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

L

et your mind wander back to a time when you were about ten years old—A time when anything seemed possible. Dreams were plenty and they were (at least in your own mind) attainable. What were those childhood dreams—A future as a professional athlete, exploring space, climbing a mountain, building your own boat and taking it out for a spin on the local pond?

For those old enough to remember, perhaps you can recall the television show Leave it to Beaver. The show featured an episode in which the Cleaver boys built a kayak in the garage and then set out to launch it at Miller’s Pond with the Beaver as navigator. The inevitable happens as the kayak sinks and Beaver emerges from the pond completely soaked. Of course, there wouldn’t really be a story if the brothers didn’t find a way to hide the mishap from their parents. The elder son, Wally, attempts to dry his younger brother’s clothes by stuffing them in

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furnace ductwork. Later, the father finds the clothing smoldering, the boys fess up and they receive a firm talking to about the dangers of taking a homemade boat out onto the pond. Poor kids—the story didn’t need to end this way.

Consider the spring 2009 general physics class at Bethany Lutheran College.

Three teams of students find their way to the local home supply store to purchase some plywood, epoxy, screws, and paint. The students take the supplies back to the Bethany campus (usually not more than $100 worth of items) and begin a learning odyssey based on Archimedes’ Principle. For the nonphysics crowd, Archimedes’ Principle is “a result stating that a body totally or partially immersed in a fluid is subject to an upward force equal in magnitude to the weight of fluid it displaces.” (New Oxford American Dictionary) Basically, the principle explains buoyancy (the ability of objects to float).

And float they did.

That’s right, Bethany physics students

Photos by David Norris

One of the obstacles of building the boats was making sure they could fit out the door.

made their own boats. The student teams built three boats with the intent of making them seaworthy. One of the boats resembled an ancient Viking longboat, another looked very much like the 14-foot fishing boat parked next to the neighbor’s garage (save for the color of the boat).

The process started about a month into the second semester—mid-February.

Building a boat doesn’t happen overnight (that is if it isn’t going to meet the same

fate as the Cleaver Clipper that sank in Miller’s Pond). All three of the teams developed sophisticated Gantt charts to keep them on task beginning with the purchasing of supplies to the application of the final coat of paint in late April.

Duties were discussed and handed out.

Team members calculated, drew designs, cut pieces of plywood, sanded, glued, and painted until the final products were ready for their maiden voyage around the deep waters of Hiniker Pond (known to some alumni as The Pit).

Peter Kjeer teaches the course. Different physics principles have been used as the object lesson for the course’s required major lab experiment. In previous years, students have constructed instruments and performed concerts featuring selfmade guitars. It’s all about making the student’s classwork real and relevant for Kjeer.

“Our purpose is to bring physics to life, give the students a chance to really learn about physics, and bring some hands-on applicability to their studies,” said Kjeer.

If the christening of the new boats wasn’t enough, the teams competed in a race around Hiniker Pond in order to see which team’s design proved to not only be the most buoyant, but also which cut through the waters at the fastest clip. The results were impressive, but the manner with which one of the boats remained leak-free brought about a few chuckles.

It was the Viking longboat inspired vessel that sprung a few leaks. The method of repair was nothing short of, well, simple in design: a few strategically placed pieces of chewing gum kept the leaks at bay for the maiden voyage.

The teams presented a post-race lecture on the experience to a large group of students and faculty members where they explained the role of each of the team members, described the mathematics and physics behind their designs, and presented video compilations of

Photos by David Norris

Above: When one of the boats sprung a leak or two, it was time for an old-fashioned remedy: gum.

Top: Friends, family, and other spectators came out to see the boats in action.

Left: (From left) Richard Kammer, Katrina Kniesz, and Jacob Holbird spent a late night sanding to try and complete the boat in time for launch.

their experience.

As a capstone to the class, the presentations allowed the students to reflect on what they learned and provided some well-deserved recognition for an academic exercise that required planning, patience, and perseverance from all the team members.

Sophomore Jason Sehloff summed up the whole experience quite well.

“As for the boat, well, it was quite the experience. I would have never thought

that we could build a boat like this. After weeks of having our lives controlled by this boat, it turned out great. We had an awesome group and we made so many memories through the countless hours we spent working on it. And finally, all our hard work paid off when we got to test it out on the water and it performed flawlessly. Our group took so much pride in the design and construction of this project, and it’s one experience I’ll never forget!”

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academics

Photos courtesy of John Boubel

The travelers to Egypt in the middle group photo were (from left): Derek Schuettpelz, Brandi Bethke, Timothy Harting, Stephanie Ranthum, Charles Pratt, and Christa Redmann. Dr. John Boubel, who led the group, is pictured in the upper right on the camel (right).

Spring Break: From the Great Wall to the Pyramids

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations Contributions by John Boubel and Dean Shoop

A

Bethany student’s Spring Break can take on a variety of different forms, whether it’s baseball or softball in warm weather states, a band trip across the country, or time at home to reconnect with family. Yet, for others a trip to the other side of the world might be on the agenda.

Egyptian enlightenment In March 2009, a group of six Bethany students travelled to Egypt accompanied by Dr. John Boubel of the Bethany History Department. The trip was the culmination of a World History “Special 10

Topics” course concentrating on Ancient and modern Egypt.

The main purpose of both the course and the trip was for students to become more knowledgeable about Ancient Egypt’s people, art and architecture, and religious beliefs and practices. While the emphasis was on Ancient Egypt, since the trip obviously had to take place in the present time, students also learned about the political situation, social problems and possible solutions, religious beliefs, and moral values of modern Egypt. The group visited all of the major ancient monuments from Memphis to the Aswan Dam, the Medieval Citadel in Cairo, as well as the Egyptian Museum.

One highlight of modern Egypt for

the students was a visit to a large modern Coptic Church in Aswan City. Dr. Boubel commented, “It was good to see some forms of Christianity continue to exist in what was once one of its major strongholds.”

Another interesting highlight was a visit to a Nubian village on the upper Nile. This trip gave the students some sense of the difficulties facing modern rural Egypt, from poverty to the necessity of raising pet crocodiles to restock Lake Nasser and the Nile above the Aswan Dam. In visiting both ancient and modern Egyptian sites and hearing and reading different interpretations of both, students learned to recognize the disparity that always exists between ideals and report | spring 2009

reality, particularly in politics and religion and between experts in fields of history and archeology as well. The capstone of the course included the students giving a presentation on the trip to the Bethany community.

The Far East Another group of Bethany students visited China during Spring Break. Two Bethany faculty members, Dean Shoop and Dr. Angela Murilla, travelled with the students. Three friends of the College, as well as one alumnus, also travelled with the group.

The trip was advertised as “Business in China.” According to Shoop, the groups toured a number of Chinese businesses and enjoyed a business lecture dealing with finance at a university in Shanghai. The group travelled throughout the country. While in Beijing, they toured the Great Wall of China, visited the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square. They also toured a government-run steel plant that stretches over three miles and employs 40,000 workers. This facility, run by the communist government, had its own school, hospital, and stores.

Other points of interest included visits to the Terracotta Warriors, an art museum where a Chinese art professor demonstrated Chinese art techniques, and touring a soap factory where detergents and various soaps and lotions were made. While in Shanghai they visited the Jin Mao Building, the Jade Buddha Temple, the Bund, and attended a Chinese acrobatics show.

Shoop said of the experience, “Having the opportunity to interact with the local people gave us a sense of the Chinese people. Whether it is a store clerk, someone walking up the Great Wall, a street vendor or a conversation you start on the street, you got to learn about somebody who looks at life differently than you. It gave the students an eye-opening experience about a country and people, who up to thirty years ago, were living in a closed society.” education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Photos courtesy of Dean Shoop

Travelers to China included (back row from left): Megan Mulligan, Benjamin Schweim, Kosan Meyerson, Kelsi Anderson, Dyani Ladd, Dean Shoop, Kathryn Renner, Deb Berghuis, Steven Woodgate and Danielle Woodgate. Front row from left: Nicholas Halvorson, Jaclyn Ausen, Melissa Ausen and Angela Murilla.

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VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS

athletics

Spring athletics

By Joseph Baer Sports Information Intern

Baseball The Bethany baseball team finished the 2009 season with a 29-10 record, including a 17-3 record within the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). The team fell one win short of a UMAC postseason championship.

Five individuals earned all-conference recognition, with two others making honorable mention. Juniors Justin Schwecke and Ashton Dorris were named UMAC player and pitcher of the year respectively. Schwecke led the team with a .456 batting average, 68 hits, 16 doubles, 6 triples, 57 runs scored, 62 runs batted in, and 20 stolen bases. He also led the UMAC in hits, RBIs, runs, and triples. Schwecke also posted a 1.72 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched. He finished with a 1-0 record on the mound and saved five games. Bethany’s ace, Dorris finished the season with an undefeated 8-0 record on the mound.

He posted a 3.06 ERA and struck out 84 hitters in 70.2 innings.

Other all-conference bids went to Nick Johnson, Trent Sonnickson, and Wade Dollerschell. Michael Greibrok and Travis Fisher both received honorable mention. Sonnickson and Dollerschell both finished the season batting above .400. Johnson and Fisher led the team in home runs with five a piece and Johnson drove home 47 runs. Greibrok started 11 games for Bethany and finished the season 6-1 with a 5.04 ERA. He showed great control, striking out 40 hitters while only walking 13 in his 60.2 innings.

Photos by Sport PiX

Softball The Bethany softball team finished the 2009 season with a record of 9-27, including a 7-14 record within the UMAC. The team of 16 players included 10 freshmen and just one senior, Anna Ristow.

Individually, freshman Amanda Edmison received all-conference honorable mention and outfielder Britney Schlomer was named to the UMAC all-defensive team. Edmison batted

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.348 on the season and led Bethany with four home runs and 31 RBIs. She also pitched 13.1 innings and posted a 4.20 ERA with a 3-1 record. Susan Hegstrom led the Vikings with a .394 batting average and 14 stolen bases. Ristow drove in 25 RBIs on the season.

Abigail Popp started 13 games and made 23 appearances in the pitcher’s circle. Popp pitched 86 innings and struck out 46 hitters. Whitney Madison started 12 games for the Vikings and posted a 5.94 ERA in 70.2 innings. Popp and Madison both won two games for Bethany.

Men’s tennis An improved Bethany men’s tennis team finished the 2009 season with a 4-9 record (4-5 UMAC). The Vikings finished third in both the conference regular season and postseason tournament.

Senior Michael Lukasek played number one for the Vikings and always faced the top competition. Lukasek finished the year 4-11 and Coach Adolph Harstad noted his victory against rival North Central University’s number one as a season highlight. Paul Webber finished the season with a 5-9 record and played number two for Bethany. Webber and Lukasek also combined for a 4-10 record in doubles matches.

Bethany’s depth played a big role in their improvement from a year ago. Freshman David Blumer and senior Jeff Huber played in the three and four spots respectively for the Vikings.

Blumer finished with an 8-6 record and Huber ended the year at 7-8. The two combined for an 8-7 record in doubles matches and were both named to the UMAC all-conference first team.

The deep team also featured David Buchs who faced off in 11 singles matches for Bethany and Christopher McClure who ended the season 6-4 in singles matches.

Women’s tennis The Bethany women’s tennis team 2009 season proved to be very successful.

Athletics continued on page 13

report | spring 2009

campus news

Student film wins national BEA award T he Bethany Lutheran College Communication Department annually attends the National Association of Broadcasters convention. The event is the world’s largest new media show and attracts nearly a billion dollars in communication technology. For the 2009 Convention, Bethany had a large presence with ten current faculty and students attending and nine alumni taking part.

Collectively, the nineteen members of the contingent combined to speak at ten conference presentations. This type of exposure at the national level is vitally

important to the continued growth of the communication program that has already seen its share of success with students landing jobs at such prestigious organizations as ESPN, Disney, and a variety of television stations across the country.

A number of communication students also attended the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) annual Festival Awards ceremony to collect a “Best of Festival” award. Of the hundreds of entries into the national competition, Bethany students were selected as the “best” in their category. Their film,

Summer Grasses, was shown at the gathering where they gave a speech about the project and collected $1,000 prize money as well as professional editing software worth $1,600.

This is no small achievement for Bethany and particularly these students: David Kelly, Jeff Hendrix, Juliana Schreyer, and Dena Pech.

God continues to bless Bethany Lutheran College with one of the finest departments for television and video production in the nation.

Athletics continued from page 12

Dahlke all finished the year with even records of 7-7 in singles matches.

Kopacek and Dahlke were also named to the UMAC all-conference first team. The team’s number four, Madara Matveja, had a successful season, finishing 8-6 in singles play. Matveja also reached the number four singles championship in

the postseason tournament before finishing runner-up. Kayln Ivers finished the year 6-7, while Laura Gehlhar was 3-7 in singles matches.

The Vikings also had success in doubles matches earning a record of 21-21 with Felthous and Kopacek leading the way with six doubles wins together.

The Vikings finished the season with a record of 7-5 (5-4 UMAC). They placed third in the conference regular season and fourth in the postseason tournament.

The team’s 1-2-3 punch of Elizabeth Kopacek, Caitlyn Felthous, and Meaghan

ff

Join us for Alumni Reunions for all classes ending in 4 or 9, Family Weekend, Arts on the Green, Theatre Physics, and much more!

fall festival September 18–20, 2009

athletics

academic athlete Challenging herself both on and off the court, Eva Voss has excelled in athletic competition and her classes

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

I

t’s not unusual for college students to juggle many responsibilities. But, very few juggle the demands of a full credit load and a varsity sport every semester of their collegiate career. Meet Eva Voss—A four-year starter at Bethany Lutheran College in both volleyball and basketball.

Voss is a driven competitor. On the volleyball court she routinely led the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in kills and she capped her senior season netting an all-conference first team award—the only Viking to earn the honor. As a senior on the women’s basketball team she also earned an allconference first team award and was among only a handful of Viking cagers ever who have scored 1000 career points while also hauling down over 1000 rebounds.

But the hardwood was merely the beginning of a successful collegiate career for Eva Voss. While Voss certainly put in her prep time on the court in order to achieve the type of success she’s had, it’s in the classroom where she’s been able to carve her name in the record books too. While logging countless hours in the gym, Voss logged even more hours with the textbooks wide open. Voss was recently honored for her diligence in the classroom and community earning the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award for 2009.

Voss earned the award by simply working hard. She gives an extraordinary effort to all that she does. On game days she would always spend her free time on the team bus with her elementary education coursework spread out in front of her. Her initial motivation came in the form of a calculus class she took early in her collegiate career. “I was terrified of not passing that class,” said Voss. “When I got my grades and realized that I had earned an ‘A’, I thought that this is kind of cool and that maybe I could keep it going.” And “keep it going” she did, maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average just a semester from closing her academic career at Bethany.

For most, success on the court and in the classroom would have been enough but Voss forged ahead with even more. She is also a community volunteer helping with a number of causes including assembling meals for Kids Against Hunger, walking 14

Photo by David Norris

Eva Voss was awarded the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award for 2009.

dogs for the humane society, and serving as a volunteer youth volleyball coach.

Voss will graduate from Bethany after the 2009 fall semester when she completes the final component of her elementary education studies at Bethany—student teaching. She’ll be certified to teach kindergarten to grade eight; but it’s seventh and eighth grade math that she’d most like to teach.

In the meantime, you’ll be able to find Eva Voss back on the Bethany courts this summer where she’ll be helping with both basketball and volleyball camps. As far as the future goes, she says, “I am little nervous about graduation, but I’m certain that God has plans for me.”

With an effort likes she’s demonstrated during her Bethany days, a successful and satisfying career in education can’t be far off for Eva Voss. report | spring 2009

campus news

Commencement 2009

Photos by David Norris

T

he commencement ceremony for the 2009 Bethany Lutheran College graduating class took place on Friday, May 15, 2009. Among the 88 graduates who received their bachelor of arts degrees were 42 honor graduates (those who achieved a grade point average of 3.2 or higher during their academic career at Bethany).

Dr. Thomas Kuster of Bethany’s communication department was the commencement speaker. Kuster has been a faculty member at both Bethany Lutheran College and Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary since 1991. He currently holds the Eleanor Wilson Chair in Speech/English Communication.

This year’s Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to the Reverend George Orvick during the commencement ceremony. Orvick was both a parish pastor and served as the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (the church body that owns and operates Bethany Lutheran College).

To view more photos from commencement day activities you may log on to blc.edu/commencement.

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Above: Rev. George Orvick received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Bethany President Dan Bruss.

Right: Dr. Thomas Kuster was this year’s commencement speaker.

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fine arts

Musical registered at national festival

By Emma Bauer Communication Specialist

A

s the world premier of the musical Jam Jar Sonnets came to an end in April, some may have thought they had seen the last of this original play.

But there may still be hope for another production of Jam Jar Sonnets, which was written and directed by Bethany’s theatre professor Peter Bloedel.

The Bethany theatre department has registered Jam Jar Sonnets as a participating production in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, which means that the musical will be considered to go to the regional festival in Overland Park, Kansas, next January.

Although it isn’t yet certain that Bethany will be invited to the regional festival, there is a real possibility that come 2010, the cast and crew will be packing everything up—including the set components and props—and heading for Kansas.

“We’ve been informed that our show has been ‘held’, and that means that we’ve cleared the first hurdle so to speak,” Bloedel explains.

The next step will be supplying the selection administrators with supplemental materials like a DVD of the show, which is still in the process of being edited by studio director Chris Johnson and student editors.

Musical collaborator for Jam Jar Sonnets, Ben Inniger (a 2001 Bethany graduate), is quick to point out that this is not a competition, but rather “…a celebration of new and innovative work and an opportunity to share that good work with others, which is one of the fundamental purposes of theatre.”

Any show that is brought to the regional festival will be seen by thousands of students and faculty throughout the region, and will also be considered to move on to be presented at the national festival in Washington D.C. in April 2010.

16

Photo by David Norris

Amanda (Sarah Weber), and Charles (Mathias Leyrer) are the main characters in Jam Jar Sonnets.

Director Bloedel has even higher hopes for the musical.

“Since Jam Jar Sonnets is an original production, this could be a tremendous opportunity to get the show seen by an audience of people who potentially might want to produce the play,” he explains.

The final selection for the regional festival won’t be announced until December. In the meantime, the Bethany theatre department will continue to move forward with the selection process and prepare the show for the festival.

report | spring 2009

campus news

Rockin’ the campus with Luthapalooza

T

he Bethany campus hosts a wide variety of musical events throughout the year ranging from professional chamber music artists to choir concerts and student recitals. These musical events are always highlights of the academic year. Exceptional music events stand as examples of the College’s commitment to not only the arts, but also to an undertaking that espouses the use of music to proclaim the mission of the College.

While events such as the Bethany Chamber Music Series and the annual Christmas at Bethany concerts have a loyal following, there is another music event that many Bethany friends and alumni aren’t so familiar with—Luthapalooza.

“Luthapalooza, what’s that?” Well, let’s just say it’s an alternative music event for the campus. The big difference between Luthapalooza and say… a chamber music event is that Luthapalooza is much louder.

That’s right, Luthapalooza is a rock show put on by Bethany’s student services office and it features a variety of Bethany student and alumni rock bands. The event has been in existence since 2002 beginning its run at Mankato’s Sibley Park. The event is now held on the BLC campus (usually the first weekend in May). Having the event on campus gives

Photos courtesy of Brandon Carr and Allison Homan

the organizers the option of moving indoors in the event of inclement weather.

The 2009 version of Luthapalooza not only featured Bethany students and

faculty and staff, but two bands from New Ulm, Minnesota’s, Martin Luther College were also part of the all-day lineup.

Become a fan, follow Bethany on Facebook and Twitter

I

s social media your thing? Do you Tweet? Are you on Facebook? If you’d like to connect with fellow BLC classmates, ask a question about the College, follow the news of BLC, or just drop by and say “hi” you can now do that from your computer or your mobile device. Check us out on Facebook or Twitter.

Bethany has a Facebook fan page—just search for Bethany Lutheran College and you’ll find it.

You can also find us on Twitter at: twitter.com/thinkbethany Log on and follow Bethany Lutheran College!

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

17

alumni profiles: Joshua Birkholz, ’94; Nate Birkholz, ’93

Photo by David Norris

Josh Birkholz (left) and his brother Nate honored their late grandfather, Martin (photograph), and grandmother, Lila, by establishing a scholarship at Bethany in their name. Rev. Birkholz was pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mankato for over 40 years.

Making an impact for

student success

By Lance Schwartz Director of Marketing and Public Relations

A

t some point in your life, someone probably did something for you that you’ve truly appreciated. A Good Samaritan on the roadside helping you change a tire. Or perhaps it was a friend offering words of support during a difficult time. Maybe it was a simple acknowledgement for a job well done from your employer. These all could be considered “acts of kindness” for which you’d certainly be grateful.

So place yourself in the shoes of a college-aged student who is facing the prospect of paying for four years of a private college education without the

18

monetary means to do so.

Enter a Bethany donor who initiates a scholarship to support students needing financial help. Suddenly, the burden isn’t quite so daunting. There are hundreds of them—dedicated supporters who understand the value of a Bethany Lutheran College education.

Yes, these are people who believe in a BLC education so much that they willingly give thousands of dollars to the institution with the simple intent of helping those college students with the greatest financial need achieve the dream of receiving an “Education That Lasts Beyond a Lifetime.”

This story is about two young men who certainly report | spring 2009

understand the needs college students have when it comes to tuition bills. Joshua Birkholz earned degrees from Bethany Lutheran College, Concordia University-St. Paul, and St. Mary’s University and his brother Nate holds degrees from Bethany, Minnesota State-Mankato, and the University of Nebraska. Josh is employed as a principal for Bentz Whaley Flessner, a nationally recognized fundraising consulting firm. Nate is a wealth management specialist with Wells Fargo Trust. Yes, they understand tuition bills and the need to help college students— Bethany students—succeed in earning a college degree.

While both of these Bethany alums have seen success in their careers, neither of them is particularly interested in notoriety. In fact, after talking with Nate, who together with Josh, recently started a scholarship at Bethany for students of need, I was reaffirmed in my belief that for donors supporting Bethany, the most important aspect of a scholarship is not the amount a donor gives or the name on a recognition plaque (although in this case there is a special story), but rather, it’s the impact the gift ultimately makes. It’s the legacy that initiating a scholarship provides— the legacy of academic achievement and blessings from the Lord.

Honoring a loved one Back to the special story connected to the scholarship that the Birkholz brothers have established. The brother’s grandfather, Martin Birkholz, was a Lutheran pastor in Mankato for forty-two years.

Perhaps his long tenure at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mankato was in part due to the fact that upon graduation from seminary there were only two pastoral calls available for graduates and he didn’t receive one. During the summer after graduation, Birkholz sold brooms until September when a call came to start a mission church on the west side of Mankato. He knocked on doors and started holding services at a rented building. Finally in June 1942, enough education that lasts beyond a lifetime

members were gathered to form the St. Mark’s congregation, which he faithfully served until his retirement in 1984.

While serving St. Mark’s, Pastor Birkholz also became the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod campus pastor in Mankato and was instrumental in starting Lutheran Collegians (WELS Campus Ministry). He also established a place for Lutheran students to call their own—the Campus House, which is now known as The Beacon. Birkholz was a respected pastor who found new ways to reach everyone in his care. He had a special gift in his ability to relate to people of all ages. Pastor Birkholz passed away at the age of 92 in January 2009. His obituary mentioned his love for his grandchildren;

In these words of wisdom and encouragement from Pastor Birkholz, you can see the motivation that Nate and Josh have for helping the next generations, and not just their own children but others, too, including many Bethany students who will benefit from their generosity.

Matching funds provided incentive When Josh and Nate Birkholz established the Martin and Lila Birkholz Scholarship at Bethany Lutheran College they were able to take advantage of matching opportunities through the College and through Nate’s employer. Many companies have matching programs that

“Your kids will build something wonderful, but you will have to endure the pain of getting them there. God gave you a thick skin and strong back for a reason.”

“His eight grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren were always special to him, remembering them by name.”

He certainly made an impact on Josh and Nate as they chose to name the scholarship they’ve established at Bethany in their grandparents’ name.

Nate recalled his grandfather’s words of advice after one of his last visits with him before he passed away.

Pastor Birkholz said, “There are problems in this world but everything looks bigger under a microscope. Keep your head up so you can see where you are going instead of staring at where you are.

You are raising America’s next heroes.

[Your children] and all the other kids in our country have better healthcare and more knowledge about the world than any other generation. Your kids will build something wonderful, but you will have to endure the pain of getting them there.

God gave you a thick skin and strong back for a reason.”

encourage employees to support institutions of higher education. These matching programs will ultimately help the Birkholz Scholarship to grow at an expedited pace. Nate noted, “The matching opportunities really helped us from the thought that this is a good idea to a point of action.” He continued, “The possibility of helping a student in a meaningful way so soon after establishing the scholarship was very much due to the matching funds that we could tap into.”

Yes, the future is in the hands of the young and is being directed by our Lord.

Bethany Lutheran College is grateful to Josh and Nate Birkholz and the hundreds of others who have established scholarship funds that benefit America’s next generations. If you’d like to learn more about establishing a scholarship at Bethany Lutheran College and matching opportunities that are available, feel free to contact Art Westphal, Bethany’s Chief Advancement Officer at 800-944-3066.

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alumni news

alumni

news 1943 Robert “Robbie” Rickels retired from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1992 after thirty years of teaching in the art department there. He and his wife, Thelma, then moved to their current residence of Billings, Montana, where Robert volunteers as a docent at the Yellowstone Art Museum, conducting gallery tours and regularly presenting museum-related programs to sixth graders in the Billings school system. Despite arthritis limitations, his studio activity continues in ceramics and sterling silver jewelry. Considering all, Robert and his wife enjoy good health and an active lifestyle together with their son and daughter and their spouses.

remember many of the things she learned while attending Bethany, one thing has stayed with her for the sixty years since she graduated—and that is the “One Thing Needful.”

1949 Marilyn (Lee) Larson comments that Bethany is a very special place for her. She and her late husband, Don Larson (’50), graduated from Bethany, as did their three daughters: Jan (Larson) Madson (’73), LuAnn (Larson) Shoop (’75), and Linda (Larson) Eckberg (’80). The three of them also met their husbands on the Bethany campus: David Madson (’72), Dean Shoop (’75), and Tod Eckberg (’79).

1949 Sigurd Lee announces the birth of his granddaughter, Agnes Celine Lee, daugh-

1948 Charles “Chuck” Anderson spent four years in the Air Force after leaving

ter of Erik Lee (’92) and wife Tessy of Winona, Minnesota. Agnes was born September 17, 2008, at 12:08 a.m.

Bethany. He was married in 1951 and returned to Minnesota. Charles spent the next six years as an aircraft mechanic and then went into the missile industry. He worked as a propulsion specialist on the Gemini and Apollo programs, helping test and tune the engines that sent men to the moon. Charles and his wife retired to a small town in northern California in January of 1985, where they still reside today.

1949 Eileen (Trygstad) Anderson comments that even though she doesn’t 20

1951 Dick Bode continues to do volunteer work at the Racine County Convention and Visitors Bureau and for Racine Lutheran High School in Wisconsin.

This past spring he was asked to come back and assist in the track program at Lutheran High. He reports this was a “stretch” for a 75-year-old but he managed to get a few athletes to State so he felt rewarded.

1955 Miriam (Gutekunst) Matthews was able to return to the Bethany campus since her husband Larry taught mathe-

matics at BLC during the 2008-09 school year. Miriam and Larry rent a house in Mankato near the College and have enjoyed the daily chapel services, informative lectures, fine arts performances, seeing old friends and meeting new ones.

Miriam comments that Bethany is an excellent institution, and God-willing she and Larry will be back for the next school year.

1962 Naomi (Geistfeld) Burns’ daughter and family moved back from Australia to San Diego, California. Naomi and her husband Robert have a new grandson as well.

1963 Kay (Tyler) Jimenez has been working as a registered nurse for the American Red Cross for fourteen years. She has thirteen grandchildren.

Mary (Dorn) Lippert and her husband John will be celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary in June.

They have three married children, six grandkids, and have lived in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the last thirty-seven years.

Mary has been writing Christian contemporary music since 1980 (www.faithsings. com). You can reach her at mlippert@ new.rr.com

1966 Daniel Turpen’s newly-released book, “The Savvy Vehicle Buyer,” was published

by CreateSpace and is now available at Amazon.com.

1968 Charles and Linda (Doehling ’67) Bode celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary in April 2009. Charles worked for forty years at the United States Postal Service before retiring, while Linda stayed home to raise their two boys. They currently live on a ranch in Pinon, New Mexico, and are enjoying retirement.

1969 The fifth grandchild of Tim and Jan (Weseloh) Krentz was born on report | spring 2009

alumni news 1977

February 13, 2009. This is also the fifth great-grandchild for Harold Krentz. Tim and Jan live in Palatine, Illinois. Tim is a teacher and athletic director at Quest Academy, a school for the academically advanced and gifted. Jan and Tim both compete on the Chicago Area Runners circuit.

Last September, Mary Marozick celebrated her twenty-fifth anniversary of teaching at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She teaches physical education and coaches track and tennis. Mary states that her time there has been a blessing.

1972

1979

Char (Bloedel) Bezanson is married to Doug Tschann. Char recently changed jobs and is now teaching chemistry in Faribault, Minnesota.

1972 Michael and Jane (Overn ’76) Van Norstrand moved from Duluth, Minnesota, to the La Crosse, Wisconsin, area in January of 2008. Mike is a gastroenterologist at Franciscan Skemp Healthcare.

Mike and Jane have two adult children in Rochester, Minnesota, and their youngest will be a senior at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

1976 Jim and Emily (Trier) Faugstad’s youngest daughter, Kristin Faugstad (’07), was married to John Capp on

January 3, 2009, in Austin, Minnesota.

Family members attending the wedding were Glenn Smith (’92, Sem. ’03), Maria (Faugstad) Smith (’98), and their four sons Gabe, Philip, Micah and Isaac; Joel Faugstad, Jim and Emily; John’s daughter Ryan; Peter Faugstad (’05, Sem. ’09), Kristin (Lussky) Faugstad (’07), and their daughter Marit; Eric Harstad (’95), Laura (Faugstad) Harstad (’00); Ben Faugstad (’07), and Ashley (Curtis) Faugstad (’07).

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Steve and Ruth (Chang ’83) Petermann are living in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. Ruth is currently working as an account executive at the Parade of Homes. Steve is an electrical engineer at LSI Corporation. Daughter, Emily, is starting her junior year at Bethany.

Daughter, Abigail, is a high school sophomore, and son, Daniel, is going into seventh grade.

Rev. Timothy Vaughan was installed on May 17, 2009, as senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church and School (LCMS) in St. Francis, Minnesota.

1981 Eric and Debbie (Lillegard) Blumer invite all to preview their book “According to His Purpose: Missionary Letters From China” on www.lulu.com. It’s a story of faith in the face of personal tragedy, political turmoil, and church conflict. Debbie assembled many letters, photos and documents from her grandparents, George and Bernice Lillegard, from their time in China in the early 1900s. Eric made the cover and orchestrated the online publishing.

(Rev. Shawn Kauffeld (’75) of www. booksoftheway.com published the previous first edition.) The George Lillegard family were members of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod; Rev. Lillegard was also a pastor and later a professor at Bethany Seminary. Debbie thanks all of the Lillegard family members who contributed in some way to the book: her father, David Lillegard (’55), provided materials, Laura Lillegard (’48) provided materials and answered questions, George

(Jr.) Lillegard (’47) provided his father’s letter file boxes, Kirsten (Lillegard) Udry sent Bernice’s letters, Larry Lillegard (deceased) translated a German letter, Nancy Reid Gallo sent pictures, David Furholmen (’59) sent pictures, Matt Lillegard (’84) allowed use of his China painting on the cover, and the Honseys participated in many ways. Betty (Lillegard) Honsey (’43) volunteered her baby pictures from her birth in China. Professor Emeritus Rudolph Honsey (’40) translated the Norwegian segments of the letters, along with the Latin. He also proofread the whole book and contributed to the understanding of church history.

1982 Jim and Lori (Urban ’86) Wall moved to Mankato, Minnesota, four years ago and have enjoyed living there with their three children: JJ (13), Alexi (10) and Jackson (6). Lori was recently promoted to Vice President of Human Resources at Taylor Corporation. You can reach Jim or Lori at wallfamily5@charter.net. They would love to hear from you!

1988 Jane (Zimmerman) Duesterhoeft was married to Dean on September 6, 2008. Her former Bethany roommates Melissa (Statlander) Decker and Sheila (Anders) Ous were in attendance.

1989 Scott and Kristin (Van Eps ’90) Sorenson have been married for seventeen years and have two children, Amber (16) and Kyle (11). The family resides in Caledonia, Minnesota, where Scott has taught high school health for the past thirteen years. He is also the head coach of the girls basketball team, which recently ended its season with a record of 31-0 and a state title in class 2A, the first in the school history. Kristin is currently employed for SAP in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

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alumni news 1991 Amy (Selvey) Engh has been married to Brady Engh since 1997. They have been living in Florida for almost four years. Their children Hunter (10 ½), Parker (9), and Garret (6 ½) keep Amy busy along with her career as a consultant with Mary Kay Inc.

Home” which you can check out at www. tracyfedke.com.

1999 Erin (Ekhoff) Mensching moved to Aurora, Illinois, in June of 2008 with her

is employed with Scott County as a welfare financial worker in Shakopee, Minnesota, and David is a sous chef at Crave Restaurant in the Mall of America.

2002 Rev. David and Toni (Smith) Koelpin are delighted to announce the birth of

1992 Gregory and Julia (Tweit ’96) Schmidt were blessed with a baby boy, Soren Gregory Schmidt, on October 1, 2008. He joins brother Bjug (7), sister Karina (6), brother Anders (4), and sister Kjersten (2).

1994 Robert Magambo and his wife Masuka moved to Shawnee, Kansas, in August of 2008. Their two sons are Michael (10) and Benjamin (6). Robert continues to work for the Hormel Foods Corporation in sales.

1994 Jeff Olberding and his wife Erin welcomed a daughter, Camryn Marie, on March 30, 2008.

1995 Mike and Heather (Kastens) Minning announce the birth of their fourth child, Hannah Joy. She is welcomed by proud brother, Isaiah (6), and sisters, Abigail (4) and Mara Grace (2).

husband Brian and two daughters, Greta (3) and Brooklyn (2). Brian is principal and teacher at Resurrection Lutheran and Erin enjoys staying home with their busy little girls.

Sara (Baumann) Stuebs and her husband Joel live in West Salem, Wisconsin, where Joel is pastor at Christ Lutheran Church. They have three children, Samuel (6), Sawyer (4 in July), and Oliver (6 months). They live in the country and love slow, healthy living.

2000

Amanda Madsen and David Schultz were married on November 15, 2008, at

1996 Micah and Tracy (Lemke) Fedke welcomed daughter Autumn Elise Fedke on March 17, 2009.

The Fedke family resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Micah is employed at Astronautics Corporation of America in Milwaukee, and Tracy is taking a break from teaching to be home with Autumn. Tracy finally recorded a solo album last year called “Child At 22

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop, Minnesota. Alumni participating in the wedding were Amanda’s sister, Sarah (Madsen) Harstad (’04), brother-in-law Derek Harstad (’05), friend Kristen (Bode) Duenes (’00), and cousin Emma (Baumann) Bauer (’05). Amanda and David make their home in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Amanda

their third child, Libby (Elizabeth) Kate Koelpin, born into God’s grace on October 10, 2008. Siblings, Thomas (5) and McCall (2), are thrilled to now have a third pea in the pod!

2006 Benjamin and Leah (Rider ’09) Matzke welcomed their first daughter, Natalie Marie Matzke, on April 16, 2009. Natalie was 9 lbs, 3 oz, and 21.5 inches long.

Benjamin is working as an editor and director at KEYCTV Mankato and Leah loves staying home in Nicollet with Natalie and working on freelance design projects.

2008 Allison Czer appeared as Venus in Offenbach’s opera “Orpheus in the Underworld” at the University of Iowa in May. Czer was also selected to participate in the Asolo Song Festival and Institute— a four-week opportunity for intense interpretive engagement with Art Song held in northern Italy, just outside Venice.

Each summer, eight world-class artists report | spring 2009

alumni news travel to the program’s home in Paderno del Grappa to offer master classes and workshops, supplementing the excellent musical training offered by the institute’s primary faculty. Only twenty or so singers from throughout the United States are accepted into this program each summer.

After graduating in December, Erin (Peek) Kempfert is now living happily with husband Ben Kempfert in Eagle River, Wisconsin, while Ben finishes his vicar year at dual parishes Christ Lutheran and St. John’s Lutheran. They will be returning to Milwaukee this coming August so that Ben can finish his last year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

In Memoriam 1957 Gretchen (Krueger) Boughton has gone to live with her Savior on February 3, 2009.

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____________________________________________________________________________________________________ City____________________________________________ State___________________________ Zip ________________________ Phone ( _________ ) ____________________________ Email______________________________________________________ Spouse’s name __________________________________________________________________ Class year _________________

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

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

Join us for a Twins game!

Join the Bethany Alumni Association for a thriller at the Metrodome on August 16 as the Minnesota Twin’s battle the Cleveland Indians starting at 1:10 p.m.

This popular event fills fast so register early.

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)

#

The Bethany Alumni Association has reserved tickets in the Home Run Porch including a hotdog and soft drink for $23 each.

To reserve your spot, call 507-344-7519 or email alumni@blc.edu.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

23

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 august 3 22 23 25

Bethany Sports Classic Golf Tournament Resident Halls Open Opening Service, Trinity Chapel, 3:30 p.m.

Classes begin

September 1 Men’s Soccer @ Gustavus Adolphus St. Peter, Minn., 4 p.m.

4 Women’s/ Men’s Soccer @ Wisconsin Lutheran Milwaukee, Wisc., 5/7 p.m.

5 Women’s/ Men’s Soccer @ Wisconsin-Platteville Milwaukee, Wisc., 1/3 p.m.

5, 6 Volleyball @ Illinois College Invite Jacksonville, Ill. 8 Women’s/ Men’s Soccer @ North Central Blaine, Minn., 2/4 p.m.

8 Volleyball vs. Gustavus Adolphus SFC, 7 p.m.

9 Volleyball @ Bethel St. Paul, Minn., 7 p.m.

11 Women’s Soccer vs. Bismark State HOME, 4 p.m.

12 Women’s/ Men’s Soccer @ Bethel St. Paul, Minn., 2/4 p.m.

13 Men’s Alumni Soccer Game HOME, 4 p.m.

17 Constitution Day, Meyer Hall 101, 7 p.m.

18 Fall Festival, Campus wide 18 Men’s/Women’s Soccer vs.

Minnesota-Morris, HOME, 2/4 p.m.

18 Theatre Physics, YFAC Theater, 7 and 9 p.m.

18, 19 Volleyball @ St. Benedict’s Tournament St. Joseph, Minn., 4 p.m.

19 Men’s/Women’s Soccer vs. Presentation HOME, 12/2 p.m.

19 Theatre Physics, YFAC Theater, 7 and 9 p.m.

20 Theatre Physics, YFAC Theater, 2 p.m.

22 Men’s/Women’s Soccer vs. Martin Luther HOME, 5/7 p.m.

Attn: Alumni of Bethany Lutheran College From: Office of Alumni Relations Re: Alumni Director y Pr oject Bethany Lutheran College has pa firm, PCI, to assemble a We undergo this project

rtnered with an outside

new printed director y of alu

mni.

to update our records an d offer

you an updated listing of your classmates. You are not obligated to purchase th e director y. You will be as ked to verify or update your na me, address, family, and career information. You may also choose how mu ch or little of your information is printed in the director y.

This book is only for sale to fellow alumni of Bethan y Lutheran College and th e information won’t be us ed or sold to anyone else. We ho pe you will participate in this director y so that we can list your name with all of the other alumni of Bethany.

Watch your mailbox for mo re information.

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

Key: SFC – Sports and Fitness Center; YFAC – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center. 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.

Printed on recycled paper