MISSION STATEMENT Wisconsin Lutheran College, affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a Lutheran liberal arts college for Christian men and women. The college is committed to providing quality teaching, scholarship, and service that are rooted in Holy Scripture; promoting the spiritual growth of students, faculty, and staff; and preparing students for lives of Christian leadership. PRESIDENT Dr. Daniel W. Johnson VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT Richard Mannisto ’94 WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Melanie Buellesbach Jennifer Garbo-Shawhan Adam Heinzen ’06 Lisa Leffel ’98 Richard Mannisto ’94 Jeff Wilson DESIGNER Amy Kuether ’96 Wisconsin Lutheran College Magazine is published for and distributed free of charge to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college. For more articles and photos, visit WLC Magazine Online at magazine.wlc.edu. All letters, news, corrections, and comments should be directed to WLC’s Office of Marketing & Communication, 8800 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, publicaffairs@wlc.edu. If you prefer to receive WLC Magazine electronically or need to update your address, please email friends@wlc.edu. To receive regular enews updates from the college, please share your email address at friends@wlc.edu. 2 | Spring/Summer 2020
From the President WLC Friends, Well, the spring semester was one like we’ve never seen before. Over the past 47 years, our mission has surely been tested and refined, and this was certainly the case as we transitioned within this COVID-19 reality. I could not be more grateful and proud of our students, faculty, and staff as we flipped the switch to virtual learning. While much has changed around us, our mission continued on: • Our students were served by faculty who love their Lord, this mission, and our students. • All of our classes were taught from a Christ-centered, faith-affirming perspective - what a blessing within our current higher-education landscape. • We continued preparing our students for lives of Christian leadership, and I am convinced they will emerge from this episode stronger and more passionate than ever before. • We provided daily online spiritual growth opportunities like devotions and Bible studies. • Students used online tutoring opportunities, took advantage of mental health services as needed, had a blast playing virtual bingo with their classmates on a Friday night, and much more. As I reflect on the spring semester, my heart hurts for our students, especially our seniors. Our spring sports season ended before it really began. There was no choir tour home concert after Spring Break; there was no final spring theatre production or band concert. It all ended so quickly and abruptly. Rather than conduct a virtual commencement ceremony in May, we moved the service for our graduating students to August 29. We plan to celebrate the accomplishments of our grads while ushering in a new year of learning and opportunities. We can’t wait! To ensure a smooth and safe start to the 2020-2021 academic year, we have established the Warriors Back to College Task Force. We are eagerly looking forward to bringing our students back to campus in August and being together once more. Questions remain about the ongoing and lingering impact of COVID-19 on colleges like WLC. However, what is not questioned is this truth: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 We love God. God has WLC. We will come out of this stronger than ever before. In Christian joy,
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson President, Wisconsin Lutheran College
