SUMMER 2021 | Vol. 33, No. 2
M A G A Z I N E
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 Lindsay Carr ’07 Dr. Jarrod Erbe Adam Heinzen ’06 Lisa Leffel ’98 Jonathan Lorenzen ’11 Alissa Rauh ’17 Curtis Wech ’09, MA ’16 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 | Summer 2021
From the President Dear Friends of WLC,
President Johnson with his son, Connor, WLC Class of 2021
As the academic year drew to a close in May, we gratefully acknowledged our many blessings. Wisconsin Lutheran College remained open for in-person instruction as scheduled throughout the academic year, and our mission thrived. How great is our God!
In June, we presented Tim Tebow with our fourth Divine Servant Award at celebration event that was held at our Outdoor Athletic Complex. Tim exemplifies the values that WLC instills in all of its students, including Christian servant leadership and positively impacting the world through his Christian witness. It was a terrific event that allowed us to raise more than $578,000 for scholarships so that more students can attend WLC. It is vital to ensure that students have access to a world-class education in a Christian setting. The first step to making that possible is guaranteeing that our college is affordable. During the past academic year, we enjoyed amazing enrollment numbers in the midst of a pandemic. We are expecting another solid enrollment in August, thanks to our gracious God. This fall, we are striving to get back to normal on campus, which will mean no masks and no physical distancing. What an incredible sight it will be to see wonderful smiles at our opening worship service on Sunday, August 29. This summer, the campus is open, and we are ready to give tours, as we always enjoy welcoming future Warriors to WLC. We pray for a growing number of Warriors who will learn and become successful Christian servant leaders ready to impact their families, churches, workplaces, and communities within these challenging times. However, we cannot accomplish our goal for growth without your help, so please continue to share this magazine and news about WLC with your family, friends, and co-workers. Thank you for your support and prayers for the mission of WLC. We will continue on a courageous path of boldly sharing the message of Jesus and preparing Christian servant leaders for such a time as this. Blessings,
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson President, Wisconsin Lutheran College
IN THIS ISSUE 2 4
From the President Congratulations, Graduates!
6
Celebrating Christian Servant Leadership School of Business Updates
9 10
12 14 16 19
Research Collaboration Benefits Students, Faculty, and the Planet Faculty Authors Student Service Projects and Recognition Athletics News Fine Arts News Summer 2021 | Vol. 33, No. 2
ON THE COVER: WLC’s first class of neuroscience majors graduated in May 2021. Pictured with Dr. Megan Slaker (center), Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, are (left to right) Grace Asplin, Alyssa Leitzke, Brandon Kennedy, Ben Petersen, Kaylyn Shevey, and Ashley Bischel. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 3
Congratulations, Graduates! Wisconsin Lutheran College’s winter 2020 and spring 2021 graduates were recognized during a commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 22 at Franklin Field at The Rock Sports Complex. More than 250 students earned degrees from WLC in December 2020 and May 2021, representing 40 academic areas. They came to WLC from 16 states and four foreign countries. The keynote speaker was Steve Boettcher, a member of WLC’s Board of Regents and the Founder and President of Boettcher Media Group, a five-time Emmy Award-winning production company. Jason Van Acker ’00, WLC’s 2021 Alumni Service Award recipient, welcomed graduates to the ranks of WLC alumni during the ceremony.
4 | Summer 2021
Alyssa Charron ’21 was selected by her peers to be the student speaker. She graduated from WLC with a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education, broad field social sciences, and history, along with a minor in Spanish.
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 5
Celebrating Christian Servant Leadership 6 | Summer 2021
“You don’t know what the future holds, but I know Jesus holds your future. That is what gives us hope and peace.” - Tim Tebow
T
im Tebow was honored as the fourth recipient of the Divine Servant Award (DSA) on June 4, 2021. He addressed a recordbreaking crowd of 605 attendees at Wisconsin Lutheran College’s fourth DSA Celebration event. To respect COVID-19 precautions, the event took place in large tents at the college’s Outdoor Athletic Complex in Wauwatosa. This venue was especially fitting considering Tebow’s successful career in college and professional athletics. The evening was in celebration of Christian servant leadership and raised funds to provide financial support for scholarships at WLC. In total, the event raised more than $578,000 for need-based scholarships. This event is the major fundraiser for WLC annually.
Upon his arrival, Tebow addressed a group of studentathletes and student leaders (pictured above) to share his experiences and encouragement on how to live life as a positive, outgoing Christian leader. This informal discussion took place on Catalyst Track in Raabe Stadium and was moderated by Warriors Head Football Coach Eric Treske ’08. Tebow shared with the students his thoughts on the future: “You don’t know what the future holds, but I know Jesus holds your future. That is what gives us hope and peace.” Following an elegant threecourse dinner from Bartolotta Catering, WLC’s President, Dr. Daniel W. Johnson, spoke to the audience. Coach Treske then shared his experience as a
student at WLC and the power that Christian servant leadership had on changing the course of his life. Through Johnson’s comments during the course of the evening and videos that were shown, the audience learned about what makes WLC a unique and special place. He told stories of alumni and students who are making an impact in all parts of the world, especially in relation to Tim Tebow’s work in Africa and how WLC nursing students have sought to help there. Johnson reflected on the importance of WLC in terms of helping to shape the next generation of Christian servant leaders: “WLC exists because God’s people, individuals like the people in this room tonight and across the country, believe in this place... and they believe in our students who one day will
Continued on next page
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 7
be confident Christian servant leaders who make a difference.” Johnson moderated an hourlong question-and-answer session with Tebow, who was enthusiastic about sharing his thoughts on how his life has been dedicated to servant leadership and how God has shaped his path through life: “God created each of us special, each with gifts and abilities like no one else’s. He created each of us different, fully intending that we would use our unique gifts and abilities to do what He created us to do.” Tebow shared stories about choosing a college and about overtly showing his faith during his Heisman Trophy-winning college football career. “Before and after every game, I would just get on a knee and pray. It was cool that people were talking about prayer. The verses [which Tebow wrote on his eye black] started my junior year at the University of Florida before the Tennessee game, and about 15 minutes before the game I decided to do Philippians 4:13. It’s an awesome verse for a football player, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ I wore it for 8 | Summer 2021
the rest of the season. Leading up to the national championship game, I was agonizing what verse to go with, but God kept bringing to my heart and head John 3:16, because really as Christians it’s the essence of our Christianity and our hope in one verse.” During that college football national championship game, 94 million people Googled John 3:16. Tebow also talked about his foundation, which has an impact on hurting and challenged people worldwide: “The first thing I did when I graduated from Florida was to start the Tim Tebow Foundation... . Our goal is to fight for people in every area with the good news of the Gospel and [let them know] that they’re valued because we believe that every single person has great significance.” In response to this discussion on Tebow’s life and his contribution to Christian servant leadership, Johnson presented him with the Divine Servant Award. Tebow also received a personalized WLC Warriors football jersey during his visit.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADDS PROGRAMS
BUSINESS CAPSTONE STUDENTS GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE Senior School of Business majors enrolled in the Business Capstone course are able to gain real-world experience through unique partnerships with sponsor companies that offer a critical business opportunity for which students research, analyze, and build recommendations based on their work during the semester. This spring, Weather Tight was the capstone sponsor. Twenty-one students in seven groups explored a critical business opportunity for Weather Tight, then presented their findings and business plans to Weather Tight executives on May 17 (pictured above).
The Wisconsin Lutheran College School of Business recently added new majors to existing offerings in an effort to provide even more options for students to craft a college experience that meets their career goals. In addition to existing programs in accounting and sports management, majors/ minors in finance, management, and marketing are now being offered. The existing business administration program was revamped as well. Due to the increased offerings, alumnus Jason Van Acker ’00 will be joining the School of Business as an academic staff member this fall.
Weather Tight Vice President Todd Schulz followed-up after the presentation: “As a group we were impressed with the students’ demeanor, attire, presentation skills, and a true sense for the importance and value of the information to Weather Tight. They very much represented the goal of the college in developing servant leaders. Thank you so much for partnering with Weather Tight on this project!”
PROFESSOR PRESENTS AT INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT Last spring, Dr. Donald Kudek, Chair of WLC’s School of Business, met with acting Milwaukee police chief Jeffery Norman and his leadership team to review the 2020 results of a survey that Kudek conducted with members of the Milwaukee Police Department. The 2020 study looked at the relationship between the servant leadership behaviors that officers see in their supervisor and their reported job satisfaction. The survey was a repeat of a study conducted in 2016. The survey results showed an increase in both servant leadership activities and job satisfaction, as well as a stronger correlation between the two. Kudek presented his findings at the 2021 International Servant Leadership Summit this summer. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 9
RESEARCH COLLABORATION Benefits Students, Faculty, and the Planet By Lisa Leffel ’98
W
isconsin Lutheran College Professor of Chemistry Dr. Dan Ebeling ’98 (pictured in inset) has a passion for analytical chemistry. Since 2007, while on a sabbatical from teaching, Ebeling has been collaborating with Dr. Joseph Stetter, President of KWJ Engineering and SPEC Sensors, to develop electrochemical sensors that detect and monitor a variety of gases including carbon monoxide, ozone, hydrogen sulfide, and other environmental pollutants. Why sensors? Ebeling shares, “There’s a human health aspect to the research that makes a difference in life quality, not only in the United States, but also abroad.” The sensors Ebeling has helped develop have been implemented across the globe to alert their users of dangerous
10 | Summer 2021
air quality, to build portable water purification systems, and to sterilize surgical equipment. Through a partnership with Intel, 100,000 sensors were distributed in the form of bracelets to women in Pakistan, where there is a history of low birth weights in children due to air quality from cooking in poorly ventilated areas. The bracelets alert women, in their own language, when the air quality is poor so they can avoid breathing in the harmful chemicals. According to Ebeling, there are hundreds of thousands of the sensors deployed in “smart cities” like Chicago and London. Connected to structures such as light poles and buildings throughout the cities, the sensors collect data to measure air quality.
On days when ozone levels are elevated, city officials can alert their residents – especially those with asthma and other breathing compromises – to avoid the outdoors. The sensors also can detect pollutants from factories that are not following government guidelines. In addition, the sensors can identify fires by measuring high levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the air, resulting in faster emergency response times. The technology used for “smart cities” is also available at the “smart home” level. The technology has advanced so far that sensors can be implemented into cell phones and other personal devices. Excited about the opportunities to share the sensor research with his
students, Ebeling has partnered with KWJ Engineering to write grants for the undergraduate research he performs with his students at WLC. In addition to funding from KWJ Engineering, Ebeling and his students have received grants from the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, and the Department of Defense. Since 2007, Ebeling has traveled each year to the Silicon Valley area in California to visit with Stetter and his team at the KWJ Engineering and SPEC Sensors headquarters. Ebeling reports on work that he’s been doing with his students and gathers new ideas to explore back in his lab at WLC. Stetter has also visited WLC several times to work with students on projects and to give guest lectures in chemistry courses, including earlier this year. Together, their work has resulted in a U.S. Patent for their printed gas sensor. With a focus on new ideas to develop smaller and more costeffective chemical sensors, students in Ebeling’s Instrumental Analysis class research and create their own innovative prototypes. Ebeling highlights: “Maggie (Simon) Paton ’12 designed a functioning prototype of possibly the smallest electrochemical sensor at the time. Jonas Gertsch ’12 and Aaron Vanderhyde ’11 helped develop the formulas necessary for making the sensing materials, and these formulas are in hundreds of thousands of sensors that are deployed across the world. AJ Armstrong ’13 worked on a project funded by NASA to clean water using ozone with a small plasma source. As a part of their thermodynamics lab, Jeremy Vanderhyde ’15 and Allee (Klug) Marti ’17 synthesized and
Left to right: Daniel Bronner, Logan Ascher, Dr. Joseph Stetter
tested a room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) for use in experimental sensors. These materials make it possible to use the sensors in extreme temperature and humidity conditions.” Through summer research opportunities for students and undergraduate research course credits, Ebeling has engaged even more students in the electrochemical sensor development project. In fact, for their significant contributions, Gertsch and Armstrong were named co-authors on two scholarly publications with Ebeling and other members of the KWJ Engineering research team. Gertsch just completed his Ph.D. at the University of Colorado Boulder in a physical chemistry and mechanical engineering group. Marti is finishing her Ph.D. in physical chemistry at Colorado State University. Aaron Vanderhyde is a coatings chemist at Engineered Custom Coatings, and Jeremy Vanderhyde is now the building manager of Generac Hall at WLC. “The project has definitely helped prepare them for their future,” according to Ebeling.
PUBLICATIONS: J. Gertsch, A. Armstrong, D. Ebeling, A. Shirke, J. Stetter. “Water Reclamation Using a Microplasma Ozone Source — E. coli and Organic Dye Destruction” International Ozone Association — Pan American Group Proceedings, Milwaukee, WI, Sept. 2012. “Novel Process Technologies for Disinfection of Potable Water: Wastewater Reclamation Using a Microplasma Ozone Source — E. coli and Organic Dye Destruction.” J. Gertsch, A. Armstrong, D. Ebeling, J. Stetter, A. Shirke, ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meeting, Cincinnati, OH, Oct. 2012.
PATENT: J. Stetter, E. Stetter, D. Ebeling, M. Findlay. “Printed Gas Sensor” U.S. Patent 8,795,484 B2 (2014). Wisconsin Lutheran College | 11
Faculty Authors
Two members of Wisconsin Lutheran College’s faculty recently had books published. Rev. Dr. Michael Berg, Assistant Professor of Theology, penned Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing, while Associate Professor of Education and Dean of Student Success Dr. Rhoda Wolle wrote Creating a Culture Where All Are Included: A Look at Bullying through the Lens of the Law and the Gospel. WLC staff member Jonathan Lorenzen ’11 met with each author to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their new writings.
REV. DR. BERG Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing
Rev. Dr. Berg literally “wrote the book” on the topic of Christian vocation. Earlier this spring, Berg published his work titled Vocation: The Setting for Human Flourishing (available from vocationbook. org). In it, he points the reader to the scriptural understanding of vocation, or God’s call to each Christian to be in continuous, outwardfocused service to his or her neighbor. “God puts us on as His mask. He uses us to show His love to our co-workers, friends, family members, and anyone we might come in contact with,” explained Berg.
To the Christian, vocation isn’t simply limited to one’s career; rather, it encompasses every aspect of life: work (or school), family, church, and citizenship. Berg’s book explains that when individuals view themselves and others as “the very hands and feet of God,” they approach serving one another with a renewed sense of calling and purpose. “Suddenly that ‘annoying neighbor’ down the street becomes the object of our delight,” said Berg. “When we recognize that we are God’s conduit of love, we then consider it a profound blessing and privilege to be called to do something larger than ourselves.” Berg wants readers to know that God’s gift of vocation isn’t just for a lucky, “talented,” few – it is
12 | Summer 2021
for everyone. “God says, ‘I call everybody.’ We don’t have to worry about chasing down our calling,” reassured Berg. “Your vocation is in the here-andnow. Whether you are a college student, a brand-new mom, a working adult, or a retiree, God has placed you exactly where He needs you to be to be.” Berg also stressed that uncovering your calling need not be a difficult endeavor, shrouded in mystery: “Simply ask yourself, ‘What am I good at… what gifts do I have?’ And ‘Where has God placed me?’ God has a plan for your neighbor to receive His love through you. God will always get His work done – the saint simply does the work in front of him.” Freedom to love our neighbor is a key concept that Vocation seeks to bring home to the reader. Berg said this begins when Christians take comfort in being fully justified by Christ: “The book starts with justification. Once we know we don’t have to please God through our works to win salvation, we are free to exercise love to others.” Having this freedom to love and serve, Christians can truly flourish with a divinely established purpose and calling. “Although it sounds like an oxymoron, God chooses to need us. This gives us real reason to get out of bed in the morning. We are not a waste of space,” said Berg. “Our work and responsibilities become gifts from God. We lose ourselves in our craft – it’s no longer just about earning a paycheck.” Berg wrote Vocation to be a practical resource, applicable to every age and station in life. When asked why he took on the project, Berg responded: “I felt there was a little ‘crack’ in the publishing world for a book about human flourishing with a divine purpose. I also think the topic of vocation had been largely ignored in Lutheran circles for a long time. I saw this as my opportunity to ‘sneak’ something into the conversation.”
How should Christians take on the ever-present issue of bullying? This is the question Dr. Wolle seeks to answer in her new book titled Creating a Culture Where All Are Included: A Look at Bullying through the Lens of the Law and the Gospel. According to Wolle, bullying starts as an issue of identity: “Bullies are not secure in who they are. Often they look for ways to build themselves up at the expense of others.” In most bullying situations, there are three roles at play: that of the bully, the target, and the bystander – a concept Wolle refers to as the “triumvirate of bullying.” Unfortunately, individuals of all ages will inevitably find themselves in the midst of a bullying scenario. Creating a Culture equips believers to respond in love to whichever role within the triumvirate they happen to encounter. “As Christians, we can make a difference by using the tools of the law and the gospel,” said Wolle. “The law serves as our curb, mirror, and guide – we use it when necessary. But it’s the gospel that changes hearts.” The key to disarming a bully is helping them realize their true identity in Christ. “We can help the person acting as a bully by making them feel secure in who they were made to be – a loved and redeemed child of God,” explained Wolle. There are also ways in which targets and bystanders can diffuse bullying situations. For example, a bystander can simply walk away from the interaction. “Something as simple as walking away can totally take the oxygen out of the bully’s fire,” remarked Wolle. The book takes an in-depth look at the background, causes, psychology, and types of bullying and explores how bullying can be experienced differently depending on age, gender, and power structures. It also contains a section with Christ-focused practical applications for parents, teachers, and school administrators. As an educational psychologist and former counselor for teachers, Wolle had run countless workshops to
help parents, teachers, and students handle bullying by following Jesus’ example. She would consistently receive requests from new groups to give talks to their respective organizations. The ongoing hunger for help with bully management gave Wolle the idea to write this book. “The book is about four years in the making. I was able to wrap it up and get it published during the pandemic,” she said. Plans are underway to translate Creating a Culture into Mandarin and distribute these copies to parents and teachers in China.
DR. WOLLE Creating a Culture Where All Are Included: A Look at Bullying through the Lens of the Law and the Gospel
Although applicable to any reader, the book is particularly designed for parents and educators, as identity development typically peaks in fifth and sixth grade. “At this age, kids are seeing bullying all the time. It’s important we train adults to feel equipped to handle these situations with the law and gospel,” emphasized Wolle. “Jesus gave us the example. He ‘hung out’ with the down-and-out. He made us realize our true identity in Him. When dealing with bullying, we should always try to follow His model.” Creating a Culture Where All Are Included is available for purchase on amazon.com in paperback and Kindle formats. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 13
PROJECT BRIGHT HORIZONS
SERVING THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY The Serve2Lead Impact Challenge, organized by WLC’s Center for Christian Leadership, began in 2019 as a way to encourage students to make a difference in the local community. Many Milwaukee-area groups and nonprofits are facing difficult times right now, and they need support, encouragement, and resources to overcome those challenges. Over the course of the three competitions, $34,000 has been awarded to 11 teams of WLC students to impact area groups and organizations. For this year’s program, students in WLC’s Christian Leadership Certificate Program formed three- to eight-person teams and created Servant Leadership Impact Plans to influence their community in a positive way. Selected teams each gave a short presentation on March 6, 2021, pitching their plans in a “Shark Tank”-style format in front of a live audience on WLC’s campus. A panel of judges offered comments, questions, and critiques to each team. Thanks to donors and corporate sponsors, three teams (see sidebar) received grants at this year’s event; they will be implementing their plans throughout the summer. 14 | Summer 2021
The Project Bright Horizons team (presenters: Zechariah Jung, Zach Kline, Ben Bateman) received a $5,000 grant to build new computers for Lighthouse Youth Center in Milwaukee, which will enhance digital learning opportunities in the center’s after-school programs. Students at Lighthouse Youth Center will participate with WLC students in the hands-on construction process to spark interest in technology.
HOOKED ON FISHING The Hooked on Fishing team (presenters: Isabell Scheibl, Hannah Cook, Grace Kortens) was granted $4,000 to host fishing clinics for Milwaukee-area children. Clinic activities will include learning to tie knots, how to cast, how to clean a fish, and more, culminating in a chance to catch fish in a stocked pond. Participants will leave with their own set of fishing gear, and the clinic should spark a new passion for enjoying the outdoors and the sport of fishing.
MILWAUKEE MENTORING The Milwaukee Mentoring team (presenters: Brevin Jegerlehner, Amelia Bock, Carter Schneider) received $3,000 to host football and basketball camps for high school athletes. Following the camps, there will be an on-going mentorship between camp attendees and WLC student-athletes, who will go through a mentor training program so they can help support the high school students as they transition to college.
Recognizing Student Achievement Three traditional events returned to the Wisconsin Lutheran College campus this spring: the Undergraduate Research Symposium, Honors Convocation, and the Impact Award Celebration. Students Laura Sanford and Connor Boinski (pictured) presented on a relevant topic at the Undergraduate Research Symposium: “Ozone Sterilization of Mask Material.”
After a one-year hiatus, the Undergraduate Research Symposium took place on April 28. Those who were accepted to present at the canceled 2020 symposium were invited to present at the 2021 event, along with current students. Students gave 29 presentations, covering a variety of topics in the sciences and liberal arts. Dr. David Schulz, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, gave the keynote address in the Schwan Concert Hall. Abigail Bloomquist received the Mary Heins Scholarship for Excellence in Communication at Honors Convocation. Bloomquist is pictured with Prof. Mary Heins, Professor Emeritus of Communication.
WLC held its Honors Convocation in the Time of Grace Center on May 6, where scholarships and special
Newly inducted members of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society are pictured after Honors Convocation with members of WLC’s School of Nursing faculty.
awards were given to recognize more than 65 students from nearly every academic program. Prof. Chad Lindemann, Professor of Art, was the faculty speaker at the event. Celebrating student leadership is the purpose of the college’s Impact Award Celebration, which was held on May 12 in the Schwan Concert Hall. The keynote speech was given by Karen Fischer, Program Manager at WLCFS-Christian Family Solutions and former Director of Student Health at WLC. Students from the following groups were recognized at the event: Warrior Events Board, Student Senate, seniors who were members of the Conduct Board, and resident assistants. Dr. David Schulz returned to campus to present the 2021 Impact Award to John Sell.
Finalists for the 2021 Impact Award were (left to right) Abigail Raasch, John Sell, and Kyle Brandenburg.
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 15
Warriors Basketball Teams Sweep NACC Titles FIRST CONFERENCE SCHOOL TO SWEEP HOOPS TITLES IN SAME SEASON WLC became the first school in the 15-year history of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) to claim both the men’s and women’s basketball conference tournament titles in the same season. Head coaches Aaron Aanonsen and Klay Knueppel (pictured above) were each named NACC Coach of the Year for their efforts. Aanonsen, who wrapped up his fourth season at the helm at WLC, led the Warriors to an 11-3 mark overall and the North Division title with a 7-3 division record. His charges then captured the overall NACC title with a 78-71 victory over Rockford in the NACC Tournament championship game. The overall title was the second
16 | Summer 2021
in succession for WLC, while the tournament crown was the first for a WLC men’s basketball squad since winning the Lake Michigan Conference Tournament in 2006 – that league’s final season. The Warriors were the NACC’s top rebounding squad, outrebounding opponents by 7.4 boards per game. That number jumped to 8.4 rebounds per game in league play. WLC also experienced success getting to – and converting from – the free throw line, leading all NACC schools in free-throw makes (16.8) and attempts (22.7) per game. This was Aanonsen’s second consecutive NACC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year honor.
Knueppel led WLC to a 12-1 mark overall, including a 9-1 record within the North Division, and secured the NACC’s overall crown with a 78-53 win over host Benedictine in the championship game of the NACC Tournament. Under the 17th-year head coach, the Warriors have won eight NACC championships and 10 NACC Tournament titles in the league’s 15 years of existence. WLC finished second in the NACC in scoring (69.4 points per game) and allowed the fewest points per game in the league (45.9). This is Knueppel’s third NACC Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year honor in the last four seasons and his NACC-record fifth honor overall.
FOUR NEWCOMERS NAMED NACC FRESHMEN OF THE YEAR Three males, one female earn league’s top newcomer award Wisconsin Lutheran College freshmen student-athletes Puma Galvan (men’s soccer), Sam Leisemann (women’s basketball), Andrew Muffler (baseball), and Jacob Stoltz (men’s basketball) were named Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference North Division Freshmen of the Year for their 2020-2021 seasons. GALVAN, a goalkeeper from Racine, Wisconsin, started all 10 games for the Warriors and led the NACC with 69 saves. The freshman recorded four shutouts and allowed 1.12 goals per game on a .852 save percentage. Galvan allowed just one goal over the final five games of the season and stopped a season-high 17 shots in WLC’s 1-0 overtime win over Concordia Wisconsin in the NACC North Division Tournament Semifinal. LEISEMANN, a forward from Fall River, Wisconsin, averaged 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting 54.0 percent from the field. Among NACC players, she ranked second in rebounding and posted the fourth-best shooting percentage from the field. Leisemann reached double-figure scoring in eight of 13 games, highlighted by a 15-point, 16-rebound performance in WLC’s 66-58 NACC North Division Tournament Final win over Edgewood. MUFFLER, a pitcher from Waukesha, Wisconsin, made 12 appearances and seven starts on the mound for the Warriors. The freshman right-hander tossed a team-high 53.2 innings and finished fourth in the conference with a 3.02 earned run average while posting a 3-0 record. Muffler struck out 38 batters and recorded four quality starts. In his final start of the season on May 9, Muffler held Concordia Wisconsin to just one run on one hit across six innings to secure the victory.
Unprecedented Year Culminates with Unrelenting Spring Season Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented, WLC Athletics was able to provide its studentathletes with a high-quality experience during a time where other colleges and universities chose not to participate in outside athletics competition. With the shifting of the Warriors’ nine traditional fall sports and an already busy spring season, all 19 WLC sports teams trained during the same time frame for the first time ever. From pre-dawn practices to team devotions at dusk, practice space was at a premium. From the home-opening night of women’s basketball on January 29 to the final home baseball doubleheader on May 9, a total of 223 athletics contests took place during the 101-day span. Of those 200plus events, 101 were home competitions. Forty-seven home contests were held during the month of April, and Saturday, March 27 turned out to be the busiest day for the Warriors, as nine teams were in action that afternoon.
STOLTZ, a guard from Kewaskum, Wisconsin, led the Warriors in scoring (17.6 points per game), assists (3.7 per game), and steals (1.9 per game) while starting 13 of WLC’s 14 games. He ranked among the top 10 in the NACC in all three categories. Also one of the league’s top free-throw shooters, he led all NACC players in made free throws (77) and ranked third in free-throw percentage (86.5 percent). Stoltz had 10 games with 10 points or more, including a 30-point game at Concordia Wisconsin on February 20. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 17
SCHUMACHER COMPETES AT NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Finishes one place shy of qualifying for All-American honors in two events WLC senior Kendra Schumacher (Little Chute, Wisconsin) competed at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships May 27-28 in Greensboro, North Carolina. “I was blessed to have the opportunity to compete at the national championships,” said Schumacher. “It was such a special and exciting way to end my senior season. I was overwhelmed with support from my teammates, family, and alumni. Each race was very anxiety-filled and emotional, but it was very exciting to race against the best competition in Division III. Finishing the year ninth in the nation is something I will cherish and forever be proud of.” Schumacher, who qualified in both the 100m and 200m, became the first Warriors student-athlete to qualify in multiple events at the same championship. She joined Amanda (Markham) Frier ’15 (2016/400m Hurdles) and Jenny (Ebeling) Biebert ’15 (2015/Heptathlon) as the third NCAA outdoor qualifier in program history. Seeded 12th in the 100m and seventh in the 200m, Schumacher finished ninth out of 19 competitors in each event, narrowly missing All-American honors by one place. The USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region performer posted a school-record time of 11.98 seconds in the 100m preliminaries, besting her previous school record and entry time by .07 seconds. In the 200m prelims, Schumacher recorded the second-fastest time of her career of 24.63 seconds in the lone heat that ran into a headwind. “Before the season, we were talking about maybe breaking school records, but we never really talked about nationals as an option,” said second-year Head Coach Eric Kramer. “On one hand, it’s disappointing to be the first one out in both events. But on the other hand, what a way to go out. Kendra had never run a 100m in her life before this season, yet came one spot from being an All-American while running a lifetime best in the 100m, and she had the second-fastest 200m of her life into a headwind! I could not be more proud of the growth she had over the entire season. I’m so happy for Kendra and proud of the example she has been for our program!” Schumacher, a four-time NACC Student-Athlete of the Week, concluded her Warriors career with nine school records. 18 | Summer 2021
SPRING 2021 FINE ARTS RECAP
THEATRE The WLC Theatre Department presented The Electra Project (below), adapted from Sophocles’ Electra, in the Raabe Theatre April 30 and May 1. Sophomore Hannah Centinario portrayed the title character. The Theatre Department also live-streamed A Time of Hope: Songs from Broadway March 25-28 from the Raabe Theatre.
ART
MUSIC
The Wisconsin Lutheran College Art Department held a spring exhibition of student artwork in the Schlueter Art Gallery February 12-April 16. The annual Senior Thesis Art Exhibition opened on May 7 with a reception (above) in the Schlueter Art Gallery, showcasing the works of 10 members of the Class of 2021.
On May 1, WLC’s Jazz Band held a concert in the Warrior Underground. The next day, the Chamber Ensemble performed in the Schwan Concert Hall. The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir live-streamed its spring concert (above) on May 7 from Trinity Lutheran Church in Waukesha. On May 14, the Concert Band performed for a live audience in the Time of Grace Center.
Looking Ahead Last season would have marked WLC’s 25th Season of Arts Programming at Wisconsin Lutheran College. While it was disappointing that we were unable to offer these programs, with the bitter comes the sweet. As we prepare to present the “Best of the Best” from the past 25 years, it is with a rekindled passion for the arts and a deepened appreciation for the ability to truly come together and connect. We hope you will agree that the upcoming shows were worth the wait! We are eager to welcome you back to the Center for Arts and Performance for the 2021-2022 Guest Artist Series season, as well as performances and exhibitions by our talented students. Tickets - along with a complete list of upcoming events - will be available at wlc.edu/arts later this summer. - Loni Boyd ’04 General Manager of Fine Arts Programming and Operations
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 19
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 3335 Milwaukee, WI
Sport and Exercise Science graduates at Commencement
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 (NIV) WLC.EDU | 414.443.8800
