Welcome to your school - Michigan Lutheran Seminary! Since 1910, we’ve been fostering spiritual, academic, and personal growth for high school students from across the nation and the world. This growth happens through the truths of God’s Word, a rigorous slate of classes, and a campus culture that promotes involvement and service to others. It’s our hope that this growth serves students well in whatever career they choose, especially those who decide to continue training for the public ministry of the gospel. In this, find out not only what we do to grow as Seminary Cardinals, but why and how we do all these things. You’ll explore various parts of your school - academics, athletics, interest groups, campus life, and the family culture that helps students succeed in all aspects. We love sharing MLS with others, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions. Happy viewing!
SERVICE
FAMILY
ACADEMICS
SUPPORT
HOME
INTERESTS
mlsem.org
YOUR SCHOOL
WANT MORE FAST FACTS?
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Michigan Lutheran Seminary has called Saginaw, Michigan, home since 1887. As a city on the riverfront, Saginaw embodies many traditional American qualities such as hard work and a strong sense of community. Located in the heart of the Great Lakes Bay Region, Saginaw provides something for every age, travel taste and budget, including many free and family-oriented attractions year-round.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE!
Four international airports located within driving distance of MLS!
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YOUR ACADEMICS “While MLS offers courses that most traditionally expect in a high school curriculum, we enrich and deepen ours by placing particular emphasis on music, foreign language, and Bible instruction. When examined as a whole, the MLS curriculum offers superior and rigorous college and ministry preparation.” - Brian Kopp, Academic Dean -
WANT MORE INFORMATION ON COURSES WE OFFER?
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SAMPLE OF A TYPICAL FRESHMAN SCHEDULE TIME
CLASS
Period 1 7:50 - 8:35 am
Ancient History
Period 2 8:38 - 9:23 am
Piano
Chapel - 9:26 - 9:46 am Period 3 9:51 - 10:36 am
Latin 1
Period 4 10:39 - 11:24 am
Religion 9
Period 5 11:27 - 11:55 am
Lunch
Period 6 11:56 am - 12:41 pm
Algebra 1
Period 7 12:44 - 1:29 pm
General Science
Period 8 1:32 - 2:17 pm
English 9
Period 9 2:20 - 3:05 pm
Chorus 1
Advising/Activity Period - 3:10 - 3:40 pm
“MLS did an exceptional job of preparing me for college. The academic workload made me better at managing my time and allowed me to have a smooth transition into college life.” - Olivia Krueger, MLS Alumna -
“MLS helped me with punctuality, time management, communication, and how to get along with and work together with other people.” - Hunter Miller, MLS Alumnus -
mlsem.org/academics
YOUR INTERESTS MLS’ MHSAA SPONSORED ATHLETIC PROGRAMS • Football • Volleyball • Cross Country • Poms • Wrestling
• Girls’ Basketball • Boys’ Basketball • Softball • Baseball • Track
MLS also offers a wide variety of intramural programs.
“Being involved in extracurricular activities gives me the opportunity to be a leader. It gives me a chance to show my faith through how I play and show God’s love through my actions. The MLS family helps me and encourages me to remain in my faith and strengthens it daily. I love being surrounded by people who believe and have the same faith as me. I am very thankful for all the friendships I have with everyone at MLS.” - Lauren Blaine -
“Being involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities has made me a more responsible and productive student by being more focused. Also, they have given me opportunities to get closer to people who aren’t in my class.” - Dan Buth -
MLS offers many opportunities to use your God-given talents off the court as well! The first-class Fine Arts Department offers many opportunities to use your musical and theatrical abilities. Students can also participate in a variety of different clubs and interest groups.
Fine Arts: Plays and musicals, Children’s Theater, five choirs (including a touring Concert Choir), band concerts, instruction in piano, organ and other instruments Clubs & Groups: Art Club, Sight & Sound, Yearbook, Photography Club, Court Street Players, Red N’ White, Student Council, Dorm Council, VIP (Student Ambassadors)
92%
OF ML PA R S S T U EXT TICIP DENT S R AC AT E U AC T R R I C I N U IVIT L IES AR
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YOUR FAMILY Over half the students at MLS live on campus. Living with your friends leads to lasting memories, lifelong friendships, and experiences that will never be forgotten. Your classmates become “Your Family”! MLS dorm supervisors (called “tutors”) work with the Deans to supervise the dormitory and enrich life on campus. The tutors, all recent graduates of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary or Martin Luther College, live in apartments on each dormitory floor and serve as an extension of the parents in helping young adults mature.
“I would describe the MLS family as just that...a family. Going to a smaller school has its advantages. One of those being that everyone knows everyone. What it means to me is that I know that these people that I go to school with will always have my back even when times are tough. That is what a family does.” - Elijah Zelenka -
“The MLS family provides a support system that everyone needs. No matter who you are or where you’re from, these people will love you.” - Dan Hilgendorf -
“During my years at MLS I grew as a person, but more importantly, I grew in my faith. The Christian environment in the classroom, the dormitory, and the football field laid the foundation for me to be a Christian leader at church, our school, and in my home. I can’t wait for my boys to attend MLS.” - Mike Scharrer, MLS Alumnus -
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YOUR HOME
The area that serves as the student “living room” is called the Commons. It’s a place to meet up with friends, kick back in the evenings, or catch a quick study break between classes. With a wide variety of entrees and sides, the MLS Dining Hall offers all-you-can-eat meals seven days a week, on a rotating schedule. We work with students who have dietary concerns by offering item such as lactose-free milk, nut-free desserts, gluten-free breads and pasta.
Many MLS students live in the dormitories during the school week. Because of that, we try and offer students all the luxuries of home. MLS has 116 recently refurbished, customizable dorm rooms to house students. Students can pick between 2, 3, and 4-person rooms.
MLS DORM HIGHLIGHTS • • • • • • • • •
On-site, self-serve laundry Game room Fitness room Private study rooms Movie theater room Weight room / exercise room Bicycles and sports equipment Piano and organ practice rooms Outdoor basketball court
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YOUR SUPPORT “From the first day a freshman steps on campus to graduation day of senior year, the MLS student is surrounded by the one thing needful: God’s Word. The pastors and teachers on the MLS faculty preach and teach, encourage and uplift with Scripture in the classroom, the chapel, the athletic field, the stage, the commons, and the dorm. It is truly awesome to see the work the Holy Spirit does in the hearts of the young people at MLS. God’s Word is our great heritage.” - Rev. David Koehler, Dean of Students -
ACADEMIC SUPPORT • Peer tutoring • Group counseling • One-on-one adviser meetings
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT MLS partners with WLCFS Christian Family Solutions, which maintains an on-campus counseling office with scheduled appointment hours. The WLCFS licensed, professional counselor at MLS provides professional counseling for a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, worry, and many others. “WLCFS is proud to support the staff and students of Michigan Lutheran Seminary with on-site professional Christian Counseling. By integrating clinical interventions with God’s Word, we bring hope and healing to hurting individuals, providing real solutions to life’s challenges.” - Kent Robinson MA LPC, Christian Family Solutions Counselor
“Talking with Kent gives me an opportunity to connect with my thoughts. I don’t have to worry about talking about my problems because it is a place where I can relieve stress and let my emotions out. Kent has given me tools to cope with my internal struggles. I am grateful and happy for this program.” Anonymous MLS student
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YOUR SERVICE Michigan Lutheran Seminary works to prepare young people for future service in the church, but we believe students should start that service already in high school. Students at MLS have numerous opportunities to get involved and serve others. These opportunities also help students decide if public ministry is for them.
“Project Titus helped me gain confidence in my own capabilities to teach and, more importantly, in Christ’s ability to use me to spread his love.” - Emily Rothfuss, MLS Alumna -
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Taste of Ministry: Seniors spend several days “on the job” with a parish pastor or classroom teacher. Project Titus: Perhaps the most influential ministry experience MLS offers, Project Titus allows students the chance to travel during the summer to help churches run soccer camps, vacation Bible schools, and other outreach events. “Over the years, the young Christians of MLS Project Titus have proven to be a blessing in my mission field and among my members. Additionally, they have been a blessing to me. Each one of them is uniquely gifted. It has been a delight to see their raw potential for ministry. It has been exciting to see them enjoy serving our church. It has been moving to see them, perhaps for the first time, envision themselves as future workers in our church.” - Rev. Harmon Lewis Messiah, Johns Creek, GA MLS Alumnus
Leading Worship: Students have the opportunity to lead worship in a variety of ways. Choirs, music groups, and individual musicians beautify services. Students accompany hymns during chapel. Senior boys have the opportunity to write and deliver a devotion for evening worship. Student Council: The MLS student government helps students discover and develop their leadership and organizational skills. Cardinal For A Day: Students get the opportunity to teach classes to elementary students who are on campus to learn more about MLS.
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YOU’RE INVITED Come and see for yourself everything that MLS has to offer. There are several different opportunities for students and families to explore your school. Don’t let distance deter you from visiting - MLS has a travel assistance program to defray costs for families and groups from a church or school. The Admissions Department is here to help your visit be informative and fun. To schedule a personal visit to school or to have an admissions counselor come visit you, send an email to admissions@mlsem.org or call 989-793-1010 ext. 252. We hope to see you soon!
Open House: MLS offers two open houses during the school year - typically in the fall and winter. 6th-8th grade students and their families explore MLS for themselves, meet faculty members, and learn about the school’s academics and extracurriculars. Cardinal for a Day: Twice a year, K-8 students can attend mini-classes taught by MLS students, check out the dorms, play sports, and attend chapel - just like they would as full-time Cardinals! Local WELS schools often bring their students, but families are also welcome. Shadowing: Individuals can get the full experience of life at MLS by shadowing. They’ll get to attend classes, watch practices, eat the dining hall, and even stay in the dorms - all with their own personal MLS student ambassador. Summer Camps: 5th-8th grade students are invited to all the different camps MLS hosts in June each year. These overnight camps are a great way to make new friends and improve in your athletic or musical skills. Basketball, football, volleyball, and fine arts are offered throughout the month and are directed by faculty members and coaches. Jr. Cardinals: The Jr. Cardinal program is open to all grade school students. You get free entry into MLS games and events and are entered to win awesome prizes at the end of the year. The program also offers a flag football league and cross country invitational in the fall and two poms clinics in fall and winter. All these programs are led by MLS coaches and athletes.
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IT’S YOURS...BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU. IT’S ABOUT HIM.
While this campus and its curriculum were designed with you in mind, we hope that when you come here you will realize that you are part of something much bigger. As a preparatory school for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, we hope that when you walk these halls you recognize the thousands of people who have made this education possible. As you learn from ministry-certified teachers of the highest character, we hope that you will be inspired by their love for the calling they have. As you compete in the wide variety of interscholastic sports we offer, we hope you realize that the lessons learned through fierce competition are applicable in a wide array of ministry settings. As you participate in the theatrical and musical groups on this campus, we hope you recognize that you are preparing for a stage that is far more meaningful. So, while this is all designed for you, it is also about being a part of something much bigger than you. It is all about him! It is about the life-saving message of Jesus Christ. It is about the ministry of our Savior and preparing the next generation of messengers to communicate that life-saving message. You probably do not know right now if ministry is for you. But that is why this school is for you. MLS is designed to prepare you to make the decision to continue on in ministry training or to serve the Lord in a different way. In either decision, MLS is the right choice for you because we are for him.
CHECK US OUT Questions?
Reach out to our admissions staff. admissions@mlsem.org
Visit
Schedule at mlsem.org/visit or call (989) 793-1010 ext. 252
(989) 793-1010
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