THE CLASS OF
The Biersack siblings - Korben (B.A. ’15; M.A. ’20) and Kaylan '20 - celebrated their accomplishments together.
T
he conclusion of their college careers at Wisconsin Lutheran College was nothing like they’d expected, but thanks to the adaptability of the Class of 2020, as well as the support of faculty and staff, WLC’s seniors finished their coursework and graduated in May. Dr. Rhoda Wolle, dean of student success, offered an excellent summary of the situation: “Absurd times call for absurd amounts of grace, flexibility, and patience. That has been my motto over the past few months. As we moved an entire college operation from face-to-face delivery to remote learning within two weeks, we needed grace, flexibility, and patience from all involved.” She added: “Our faculty and staff did an excellent job of transitioning learning and services to an online environment while still offering the high-touch, relational experience WLC is known for. Students were flexible and knew that they would need to finish their semester of coursework away from friends and activities.” The May commencement service was postponed until August, but students were given the option
4 | Spring/Summer 2020
of having their caps and gowns mailed to them so they could celebrate with their families. "I could not have imagined a better way to celebrate my graduation during a pandemic,” said Lacey Pfalz, a doublemajor in history and English from Hartford, Wisconsin. “My drive-by grad party was such a surprise and made me feel so loved and so special. It was a great way to end my college experience and help me get excited about the next chapter.”
To help recognize its graduates, WLC gathered personalized messages and greetings from faculty and staff. Campus pastors Wayne Shevey and Greg Lyon recorded a graduation day devotion. Staff members compiled a senior slideshow, and President Johnson offered his support to seniors via videos and emails.
She concluded: “WLC has been such a gift from God in so many ways. I trust that God will continue to lead me where He wants me to be, and will bless me with amazing friends, wonderful family members, and caring neighbors no matter where I am.”
Samantha Kalski and Lacey Pfalz enjoyed a graduation celebration.
