FALL/WINTER 2021 | Vol. 33, No. 3
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS
Pages 6-8
Pages 12-15
M A G A Z I N E
ATHLETICS AND FINE ARTS Pages 16-18
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.
From the President Friends of WLC, We are grateful to God as we are enjoying a fantastic start to our 49th year with another large freshman class. In fact, we enrolled three of the largest classes ever in our history during the past four years. How great is our God!
PRESIDENT Dr. Daniel W. Johnson
Amidst a pandemic, WLC continues to offer daily face-to-face instruction, and we are blessed with a very low number of COVID-19 cases. Students have once again been able to enjoy a myriad of fall activities that were absent a year ago, such as a spectacular Homecoming weekend with many team victories, a fireworks show, and several on-campus events throughout the week.
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT Richard Mannisto ’94 WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Melanie Buellesbach Louisa Felgenhauer ’25 Adam Heinzen ’06 Michael Kuether ’24 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 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, or 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 | Fall/Winter 2021
As we embrace an increasing number of opportunities and challenges moving forward, our 2025 Strategic Plan positions WLC well for ongoing growth. Our mission of preparing Christian leaders will be enhanced as we prayerfully enroll a rising number of WLC students within our traditional undergraduate, adult degree completion, and graduate programs. We will expand our influence of Christian servant leadership by growing the Center for Christian Leadership and leveraging partnerships and existing programs to increase enrollment. You will find in this issue amazing stories of our students helping those impacted by Hurricane Ida, the hosting of more than 2,000 patrons for a Christian music concert, the impactful work of alumni, and so much more. We praise God for all of the blessings showered on WLC and thank you for your continued prayers and support. Now is a great time to recommend a future Warrior - please visit wlc.edu/refer. We have seen a record number of visitors this fall and would love to host anyone you know who is looking for an exceptional academic experience grounded within a Christian worldview. Blessings,
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson President, Wisconsin Lutheran College
IN THIS ISSUE 2
From the President
4
Campus News
6
Student Internships
9
Piecing Together the Past
10 Students Pursuing Dual-Degrees 11
Faculty News
12
Alumni Spotlights
16
Athletics News
18
Fine Arts News
19
Event News Fall/Winter 2021 | Vol. 33, No. 3
FRONT COVER: The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir returned to the Schwan Concert Hall stage for the first time in two years for the Christmas Festival Concert. BACK COVER: Rev. Greg Lyon, campus pastor, led the Service of Light in the chapel as part of WLC Christmas in December.
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Campus News
On October 9, Wisconsin Lutheran College welcomed families back to campus for Warriors Parent and Family Day. The event, which began in 2017, wasn’t held on campus last year due to pandemic restrictions. The 2021 event was one to remember with more than 350 people in attendance. The day began with a breakfast and welcome from President Johnson in the Campus Center before family members proceeded to Generac Hall for “Major in Minutes” miniclasses. Faculty members presented
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on a variety of topics and academic disciplines, which allowed parents to get a feel for student’s classroom experience. Lunch was provided by four of WLC’s Believe in the Green partner restaurants: Chick-fil-A, Jimmy John’s, Rocky Rococo, and QDOBA. The WLC Jazz Band provided entertainment in the Warrior Underground and a classic car show attracted the attention of hot rod and antique car enthusiasts.
After lunch, many families participated in a service project titled “Comforting the Community.” The activity consisted of families making tie blankets for children in foster care along with handwritten notes of encouragement. The blankets and notes will be distributed to foster families within Kingdom Workers’ support network, along with a Christian children’s book. Reflecting on the day, Debbye Hartwig, grandmother of WLC student Christian Lee, shared: “Everyone was enjoying themselves on this beautiful campus filled with love and Christ, who is at the center of all our lives. My husband, Jim, and I, along with Christian’s parents, thank all the people who gave excellent presentations and all the other staff who worked to make sure this was a successful day. WLC is truly a gift from God.”
CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP LUNCHEONS
HELPING THOSE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA and distributed in a timely fashion. At the end of August, Hurricane As I listened to the excitement being Ida made landfall as a Category generated and knowing I have some 4 hurricane, hitting Louisiana, flexibility on campus, it was a simple Mississippi, and Alabama especially decision to offer my time to transport hard. More than a million people the collected items,” Shevey said. were without power and there was widespread The donation drive flooding. In an was split up by effort to help, “We have to look at what is student residence WLC hosted a going on around us and be including Stimac donation drive willing to be uncomfortable, and Fischer Halls, with students, then act with compassion.” Aspire, apartments faculty, and and houses, staff donating commuters, as well items that could as faculty and staff. The grand total of be delivered down to New Orleans materials donated was around 3,000 by truck by campus Pastor Wayne pounds. Shevey. He was inspired to get involved in the relief effort after speaking with WLC’s head football coach Eric Treske about some Warriors football families being impacted by the hurricane. “Coach Treske shared the concerns that his players from New Orleans had for their hometown and asked what could be done. I knew that the WLC family could do something special by supporting the people suffering loss and needs in that area. If our students collected donations to be sent, there would be the issue of how to get those goods to New Orleans
Working on a relief effort like this one for Hurricane Ida also exemplified the college’s servant leadership mission. “We have to look at what is going on around us and be willing to be uncomfortable, then act with compassion. Jesus could read hearts and minds and we cannot do that, but we can show the heart of Jesus by caring for the needs of others,” said Shevey. “When people see how we care about them, the doors to the Good News of Christ’s most important work of salvation will open up so we can lead them closer to eternal life.”
In October, the Center for Christian Leadership hosted i3 power luncheons for business leaders in both Milwaukee and Madison. The keynote speaker at both luncheons was Dee Ann Turner, CEO of Dee Ann Turner & Associates, LLC, threetime best-selling author, and a 33-year veteran of Chick-fil-A. Turner was selected as the i3 speaker through a connection to Jeremy Bock, executive director of the Center for Christian Leadership. When they were introduced last year, Turner was finishing her book Crush Your Career and was looking for people to help with her launch team. About 20 students in WLC’s Leadership Certificate Program served on her launch team, along with some faculty and staff members. Turner asked how she could help WLC and was happy to address the audience at the i3 events.
WLC RECOGNIZED IN NATIONAL RANKINGS - WLC is ranked 18th in the nation by Washington Monthly in its 2021 listing of Bachelor’s Colleges. The publication also included WLC in its ranking of Best Bang for the Buck Colleges; WLC is 15th on a list of 371 ranked schools in the Midwest. For 2022, U.S. News & World Report rates WLC as one of the Top 20 Regional Colleges in the Midwest. WLC also was included in the U.S. News rankings for Best Value Schools, ranked 14th among Regional Colleges in the Midwest. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 5
Student Internships
Fighting the Alder Creek Fires her summer break D uring in 2021, ISABELLA
SCHEIBL, a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran College, interned in Wyoming with the Bridger Teton National Forest. In the middle of her internship, she was “loaned” out to help fight the Alder Creek Fires in Montana. “Before I worked at the Bridger Teton National Forest, I was thinking about going to graduate school after WLC. For me, this summer confirmed that I should pursue a graduate degree in this field because I want to keep learning about the natural world with an eventual goal of being a restoration ecologist,” Isabella said. This internship gave her the opportunity to use the background knowledge she’s acquired in classes at WLC, especially leaning on her environmental science classes.
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“Natural resources connections, stream ecology, marine science, geomorphology, and environmental science were all great classes for me because there is a little bit from each one that was applicable to at least some aspect of my summer. From
“
I got really close to a lot of fire that night. It was by far the coolest thing, and the scariest thing, I have ever done in my life! - Isabella
learning about the atmosphere, to crafting résumés, I found myself employing my education quite often. I saw of lot of natural phenomena that gave me ‘Oh, I learned about that!’ type of moments,” Isabella added. The biggest learning curve for Isabella came in the 16 days she
helped fight the Alder Creek Fires. The hazards of the work, dealing with the elevation while climbing the mountains, and learning how weather parameters can predict fire activity all presented new challenges. “To begin, there are a lot of hazards on fires, so you must keep your head on a swivel. I learned a lot about radio language and how to set the radio frequencies. I learned how to set up a 1,000-gallon porta tank and set up a Mark 3 water pump. I learned how to sleep under the stars and on gravel every night. I learned how to light controlled burns with a drip torch. I learned that you don’t take your boots off in the fire engine under any circumstances. And I learned that being on a crew with great people is everything. My experience would have been totally different if the other crew members hadn’t taken me under their wings,” Isabella commented.
Photo by National Wildfire Coordinating Group
Isabella with Dr. Juanita Becker in Yellowstone National Park
There were also some great highlights from such an intense experience, things that Isabella learned to take in and appreciate. “For me, the highlight of each day was eating dinner and talking with everyone else on the crew. We got close since we spent every waking hour with each other, so there was a lot of teasing and many good laughs, especially at mealtime. The overall highlight was a huge burn operation that took place on our last day on the fire. I got really close to a lot of fire that night. It was by far the coolest thing, and the scariest thing, I have ever done in my life,” she added. Dr. Juanita Becker, professor of music at WLC, was camping at
Flagg Ranch, located between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, when she was able to meet up with Isabella on a day off from the internship. “Isabella had not seen the Geyser basins on the west side of Yellowstone, so with a little teamwork, she got to see all of them in spite of the crowds, as well as Old Faithful geyser. After that, we enjoyed an excellent buffet dinner at Old Faithful Inn. What made it even more memorable was hearing her compare forest fire fighting techniques with my campground neighbor, a member of the New York Fire Department,” Becker commented.
During this internship, Isabella learned a lot of new skills and picked up great collaboration skills due to ranger districts working so closely. She had the opportunity to learn to operate an ATV, how to use small engines, conduct maintenance on water pump systems, and interact with the public in a positive way while still enforcing the rules. All of this was in addition to the skills she picked up while working on Alder Creek. The internship had its scary moments but also allowed for some great reflection on her experiences. “I think my biggest takeaway from this summer was that attitude is everything. Going into this experience with an open mind and trusting that God brought me there with a purpose helped me to focus on doing my best to learn and grow from it instead of being scared and overwhelmed,” said Isabella. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 7
Student Internships
BROADCASTING WITH THE CHINOOKS WLC senior ETHAN ORTIZ interned with the Lakeshore Chinooks baseball team over the summer. Though he plans to go into broadcasting or work as a sports reporter, Ethan grabbed the opportunity when the Chinooks had an opening in video production. “I thought that it would be good for me to add to my résumé that I took on a new challenge like video production. I was providing the live feed of the baseball games that viewers watch at home,” Ethan said. This internship gave him the opportunity to use a variety of the skills he’s acquired at WLC, especially his communication skills. “I think a lot of my communication classes helped with becoming a well-rounded communicator, especially in this situation, when it came to gaining new skills and working with a group of new people, who I now call my friends,” Ethan added.
MARKETING THE SONG SUFFRAGETTES In the summer of 2021, WLC senior HAYLEY GIOVINAZZO traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to intern with the Song Suffragettes, an all-female country music singer-songwriter showcase held every Monday night at The Listening Room Cafe in Nashville. Hayley’s goal after graduation is to move to Nashville to pursue a career in the music industry, particularly in songwriting, so this internship was a chance to see how the industry operates. “My internship definitely aligned with my future goals, and having a marketing job in the music industry gave me a good idea on what I can do while pursuing my music dreams. I realized that there are jobs supporting what I love most, which is music,” Hayley said. This internship gave her the opportunity to use a variety of the skills she’s acquired at WLC, especially leaning on her marketing skills.
Adaptability was also the name of the game in this position with the Chinooks; Ethan relied on his abilities to quickly learn new skills and process information.
“My advertising and social media marketing class with Prof. Van Acker and my marketing class with Dr. Kudek prepared me well for the position. They taught me the language people in a marketing position use, which helped going into the internship,” Hayley added.
“When I am put in a situation that’s new or different, I have to figure out how I can get the job done and learn fast and not hold the group back,” Ethan commented.
Hayley pointed out how much this internship allowed her to see the rewards for taking a risk. When she first applied for the position, she didn’t have a plan for living in Nashville but she knew she was passionate about the organization and that applying felt like the right decision.
He got to learn about different opportunities in the broadcasting industry, which he can research further as he decides on his post-graduation plans.
“I knew that all the unknowns would work out if it was ultimately God’s will, and it was. Through this opportunity, God allowed me to be in Nashville pursuing my dreams and working at an amazing organization. If I had let the unknowns stop me from applying, I wouldn’t have had this amazing and fulfilling experience,” said Hayley.
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PIECING TOGETHER THE PAST A Forensic Reconstruction of Mummified Remains from the Ptolemaic Period of Egypt
A
senior capstone research project that draws from multiple academic areas is the hallmark of an education grounded in the liberal arts. THERESA TAJNAI, who graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in May 2021 with a degree in anthropology, developed just such a project. Prior to the pandemic, the Milwaukee County Historical Society acquired mummified remains from the Ptolemaic period. Thanks to relationships that Dr. Ned Farley, associate professor of anthropology, has built with local museums, the society contacted him to see if the college was interested in working with the remains, which the society could not use. WLC acquired the pristine remains, and Theresa began working with them on campus in September 2020 as part of her bioarcheology capstone. She worked with Dr. James Henkel, associate professor of biology, to analyze the mortuary rituals used, then developed her own protocol for reversing the embalming process so she could isolate tissue samples and rehydrate them to put on slides. As she conducted her research, she worked with WLC professors from multiple academic areas including anatomy and physiology, biology,
and anthropology. “I was blessed to have this multi-disciplinary research opportunity at the undergraduate level,” said Theresa, who plans to attend graduate school in bioarcheology. Theresa focused first on learning what she could about the remains. Working with Dr. Farley, she had them put through a CT scan at the Medical College of Wisconsin, did a dental analysis, and had the tissue carbondated. She determined that the person was a female who died between the ages of 19 and 25, was of Nubian and Egyptian descent, and lived about 2,300 years ago. Theresa then worked with Dr. Henkel to make a 3D print of the skull. From there she began a facial reconstruction project using clay, building up each layer of the head from the skull to the skin. Once the reconstruction is finished, she will make a silicone mold of it, then add periodappropriate makeup and jewelry. Theresa’s takeaway from her research? “This project has given me a strong foundation to reach out to other cultures, and the skills I’ve gained as a Christian servant leader at WLC will let me make a difference in the world,” she concluded.
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STUDENTS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
DUAL-DEGREE PARTNERSHIPS
To create pathways for students seeking advanced degrees, Wisconsin Lutheran College has partnered with other institutions to establish 14 articulation agreements in a variety of fields. These allow WLC students to earn two degrees – often in a shorter amount of time – saving on tuition costs and starting their careers sooner. WLC recently had its first students admitted under the 3+4 early-acceptance program with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM): Zach Jung and Emma Guld. WLC’s program with LECOM allows students to earn their bachelor’s degree from WLC and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from LECOM. Emma hopes to pursue her residency in anesthesiology. She said: “WLC gave me a clear path to the graduate degree of my dreams in a Christcentered atmosphere. The dualdegree program simplified and expedited the long and convoluted path to medicine. Knowing I had guaranteed acceptance allowed me to grow a passion for biology and basic sciences without the anxiety and burnout a lot of pre-medicine students experience. The education I received has allowed me to be academically competitive at a graduate level.”
Zach was awarded a competitive National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program scholarship that covers his tuition and fees for LECOM, along with a stipend for living expenses. He has committed to several years of full-time service postgraduation at an NHSC-approved site in a heath professional shortage area, serving communities in need. Zach plans to pursue family medicine. “I will always remember the care the faculty and staff showed for their students,” recalled Zach. “Many of my favorite memories at WLC involve faculty members, whether it was talking about strange insects with Dr. Degner or discussing obscure chemical reactions with Dr. Glaeske.”
Dr. Jason Badura (pictured in the front row), assistant professor of humanities, visited Marquette University Law School in November with WLC students who are part of the dual-degree program with Marquette. They met with dual-degree student Megan Kreier (front row), who is in her first year of law school.
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WLC also offers an accelerated 3+3 pre-law dual-degree program with Marquette University Law School. The agreement allows students to obtain a bachelor’s degree from WLC and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Marquette University Law School (Marquette) in six years. Megan Kreier, a first-year law school student at Marquette, said: “I have full confidence in my preparation for law school. It’s exciting to apply what I learned at WLC to my classes at Marquette. I’m really interested in tort law. I found this topic to be interesting in Dr. Badura’s jurisprudence class, and my fascination with discovering who bears the blame has continued at Marquette.”
Faculty News
In November, DR. ANGELA EBELING ’99, professor of biology and environmental science, attended the International Soil Science Society of America Conference in Salt Lake City along with Karson Hilgendorf (pictured above), a senior biochemistry major. Karson presented their 31P NMR biosolids research at a five-minute rapid oral presentation and also at a poster session. Karson received a leadership initiative award from the Christian Women’s Leadership Circle to fund her travel and registration.
DR. STACY HOEHL ’01, professor of communication, and DR. DONALD KUDEK (pictured below), assistant professor of business administration, presented in October at the International Leadership Association Global Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Hoehl’s presentation was titled Creativity in the Leadership Classroom: Developing the Resilient, Resourceful Leaders of Tomorrow. The topics of Kudek’s sessions were Understanding Leadership and Followership Together – The Students’ Perspective and Job Satisfaction and Leadership Characteristics in a Large Metropolitan Police Department, which included his research with the Milwaukee Police Department.
DR. JERRALYN MOUDRY, professor of communication, had a chapter published in the book Normalizing Mental Illness and Neurodiversity in Entertainment Media: Quieting the Madness. The book earned Honorable Mention in the category of Best Edited Collection at the Midwest Popular Culture Association book awards ceremony in October. DR. MARK MURPHY, associate professor of teacher education, completed post-doctorate coursework in school district administration, which included a year-long school district superintendent internship at Whitefish Bay Public Schools, adding the Wisconsin PreK-12 superintendent licensure to his credentials. REV. DR. JOEL PLESS, professor of theology, served as chairman of the Program Committee for the 2021 Virtual Meeting of the Lutheran Historical Conference in September. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 11
Alumni Spotlights
Alumna gives back
M immigrated to the United argarita Avila ’12
States from Durango, Mexico at the age of 14. Her parents, grocery store owners, didn’t have the opportunity for higher education and wanted to make sure all four of their children received the best education to ensure their success, which would mean leaving their hometown in Mexico. Jesús Avila ’01 is Margarita’s eldest sibling. He had graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College with a degree in chemistry and was working in Madison, Wisconsin, when he suggested to his parents that Margarita could stay with him while she pursued her education in the United States. With her parents’ blessing, Margarita moved to Wisconsin where Jesús, 11 years her elder, took on the role of parenting her. Margarita fondly remembers those years. She said although it was not easy, she learned to become more independent, and her brother made sure she stayed grounded in her faith. They spent their Sundays together, which always included attending church. Margarita’s sister Nancy Avila ’08 graduated from WLC with a degree in business. As a senior in high school, Margarita visited Nancy at WLC and even participated in an overnight event where she got to experience what it would be like to be a Warrior. Margarita shared: “I had a great time. I got to meet so many
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BY SERVING AND MENTORING OTHERS
incredible people. I loved the environment. I knew then that I would also attend WLC.” During her time on campus, Margarita was blessed with great mentors. She appreciated that the faculty and staff were Christian servant leaders, as modeled by the Divine Servant statue on the campus quad. Christian servant leadership impacts how Margarita approaches her career today, “The statue is a great symbol and what I think of when I remember my time at WLC. We should think of ourselves as servant leaders and stewards, not bosses or CEOs. We need to set good examples and be role models.” As a communicative arts major, Margarita took many classes taught by Amanda Retberg ’95, a professor in the Communication Department at that time. Retberg stressed to Margarita the importance of being professional in all you do. “I learned so much in her classes. She was a great mentor and instructor. She was always there to answer questions.” Margarita earned credits toward her WLC degree with an internship at ESPN in Milwaukee. She learned a lot, became a sports fan, and was even promoted to a new role during the experience. Margarita met many people and expanded her network through the events she was able to attend during her internship. She was ultimately offered a position to
work for ESPN after graduation in a sales role, but decided a better fit would be with MiVoz. com. Margarita put to use the marketing, social media, and public relations skilled she learned at WLC to help the online community calendar company thrive in Milwaukee and expand to Chicago. At WLC, Margarita was a student worker for Pathways to College, a program for firstgeneration college students and their families. A connection from that position networked Margarita to her next career move. Margarita followed mentor Azure’De Williams from Pathways to College to the American Heart Association. Margarita began as an administrative assistant and worked her way up to a director within three years. After a stint in real estate, Margarita was encouraged by her brother Jesús to consider a position with the Latino Academy of Workforce Development in Madison. She applied and now two years later is their director of workplace development.
The position seems to be a perfect fit and has brought her full circle from where she began. “I love the mission and love what I do. I develop, identify, and provide meaningful opportunities for stronger education and training tracks that lead to sustainable employment for Latino Academy’s participants,” shared Margarita. “I provide the same resources to Latinos in my community that I needed when I immigrated to the U.S. I connect people to resources, new employment opportunities, continuing education, and support them in their new journey professional and personally.” Just as Margarita has been blessed with mentors in her life, she enjoys mentoring others. She is a volunteer within the Latinos Professional Association (LPA) in Madison. The organization’s mission is to cultivate a community that inspires, develops, and empowers Latino professionals to pursue success. During Hispanic Heritage Month, Margarita was one of four Latino leaders from LPA who were recognized by The Capital City Hues newspaper in their article titled Yo Soy LPA. Her mentoring was also highlighted in the September issue of Brava Magazine.
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Alumni Spotlights
WLC ALUMNI CONTRIBUTE TO WORLD-CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
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uring last season’s NBA Championship run, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday competed on the court, but the NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks’ winning team also included WLC alumni Andrew O’Herron ’15, Anthony Rodriquez ’17, and Josh Schedler ’06. Andrew started with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2015. Today, he is a group sales account executive who not only sells a wide variety of ticket packages, but also focuses on organizing and facilitating large group outings and events like the Bucks Youth Basketball and Bucks Band programs, as well as Public Safety Night for first responders.
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Anthony, who has been with the Milwaukee Bucks for four years, is an account sales executive. He connects companies with experiences inside Fiserv Forum that help enhance and create long lasting relationships with their clients and employees. Josh served the Milwaukee Bucks for 18 years, of which 14 years were in sales. As a premium sales manager, he helped create the team’s home court advantage by filling up Fiserv Forum with fans. His focus was on premium spaces including the suites, lofts, club spaces, and courtside seating.
The three WLC graduates felt well prepared for their roles within the Milwaukee Bucks organization. Andrew shared: “I walked in to WLC for the first time as a brighteyed, immature teenager who still had a lot of growing up to do. I walked out with a résumé I was proud of and a confidence I’d never had before. The real world would have been a major shock to me if WLC had not prepared me the way it did. We were held to a higher standard, not just as students, but as leaders. Whether it was in the classroom, on the basketball court, or even in social settings, my professors and coaching staff always challenged me to keep learning, growing, and improving.” Anthony added: “As a communication major, I spent a majority of my time in college presenting in front of others. Classes like Communication and Gender, Professional Communication, and Communication and Conflict are examples where the material was directly applicable to my daily life as a salesman communicating with clients and team members in the office.”
Andrew O'Herron ’15
Anthony Rodriguez ’17
“WLC not only gave me a quality education with a degree in business management and a minor in communication, but more than anything it was the servant leader mentality that I value the most.” - Josh Schedler ’06
Bucks won their first National Championship in 1971, so it had to be an unforgettable experience to be a part of the excitement in 2021.
Josh noted: “WLC not only gave me a quality education with a degree in business management and a minor in communication, but more than anything it was the servant leader mentality that I value the most, which has allowed me to help both customers and teammates grow and develop.”
Andrew said: “I won’t ever forget all the love and support the team got from the city this past summer. The Bucks logo was everywhere; we painted the town green. Having the opportunity to travel to Atlanta to watch a crucial road playoff game was incredibly memorable. The energy around Game 6 in Milwaukee was unreal. Having an opportunity to then celebrate with colleagues, friends, and family members who fought through some dark days, I will never take for granted. Sharing a parade float with colleagues I have the utmost respect for was nothing short of surreal. Ultimately, I will never forget the people I had by my side along the way.”
The three WLC grads were not even born when the Milwaukee
Anthony shared: “I, too, will never forget how crazy of an
experience it was being part of the parade. Being able to ride the float, cruising downtown and seeing all the people gathered around to celebrate what the team accomplished, and throughout the crowd I was able to actually spot friends and teammates from WLC all sharing the experience.” Josh concluded: “The NBA Championship run offered enough drama to write a book about. To think we climbed out of a global pandemic and went from zero fans in the stands all the way to welcoming hundreds of thousands of faithful fans flocking to the Deer District as we rode down Wisconsin Avenue on a parade float with confetti filling the sky. I feel truly blessed to be part of a historic climb from one of the bottom three teams in the NBA in both basketball and business ops to being at the top of the world in both!”
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Athletics
SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS WLC Athletics continues its Take 10 series by featuring senior student-athletes. Read more at WLCSports.com.
DAYTON PYE '22
Zion, Illinois Women’s Volleyball Sport and Exercise Science
What are your plans after graduation? I plan to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree in athletic training to become an athletic trainer.
What advice would you give to your freshman self? I would tell my freshman self to stop stressing so much and be patient; everything will soon fall into place.
Which WLC faculty member impacted you the most? Prof. Rachel Kuehl has helped me out so much and has always been there for me no matter how many questions I have...and I have a lot! She has confidence in me and has always believed in me, and that is the greatest feeling to have from a professor.
Which WLC staff member impacted you the most? Mrs. Suz Otto has made the greatest impact because of how caring she has been since I have been here. She has been the mom in Wisconsin who is here for me, helping me adjust to a new life far away from home.
What would you like us to know about you? I am very hard working. If I have a goal in mind, I try very hard to achieve it and to give more than 100% to get there. What is your most memorable moment as a Warrior? The most memorable thing is not a game, but rather the teammates I have had over the years. Every year on the volleyball team has been amazing because of my teammates. Everyone is so nice and they accept everyone, and that is just truly amazing to me.
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TY
CASTILLO '22 Palmetto, Florida Football Business Management
Which WLC class would you like to take again? I would retake College 101, because within that class I created a lot of friendships that I still hold today. What is your most memorable moment as a Warrior? It was playing against Eureka College my sophomore year. I played well despite an overtime loss, and I had a career-high 20 tackles with one forced fumble as well as a pass breakup.
FALL 2021 HIGHLIGHTS HOMECOMING FIREWORKS
WOMEN’S SOCCER
The Warriors football team smashed several school records, including points scored and total yards, in a 68-41 Homecoming rout of Eureka on October 23 at Raabe Stadium. The postgame fireworks show was sponsored by Gateway Associates of Thrivent Financial.
Senior defender Gabi Tomlin was named a NACC Honorable Mention for the second straight year after anchoring the Warriors’ backline. She started all 17 games played and averaged over 88 minutes played per match.
MEN’S SOCCER WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL Juniors Jenna Charron and Ally Goba received postseason recognition from the NACC. Charron, an outside hitter, was named to the 12-member First Team All-NACC for the second straight season. Goba, a defensive specialist, earned her third straight NACC postseason honor after she was selected Honorable Mention. Goba and junior Emily Sarles reached career milestones in October: 1,000 digs for Goba and 1,000 assists for Sarles.
Senior forward Jason Cano was named First Team All-NACC for the second time in his career. He was one of three players on the team who started all 18 games, while leading the league in points (32) and goals (13).
WOMEN’S TENNIS Ali Schmidt was named the NACC Freshman of the Year. She is the first Warriors women’s tennis player to earn this honor. Schmidt was 14-1 in singles
play this fall, posting the best mark of any NACC player appearing in more than one match. Sophomore Jena Smith was named to both the All-NACC Singles and AllNACC Doubles Teams. Sophomore Kaytlyn Hartfield was named to the All-NACC Doubles Team for the second straight year.
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Senior Chris Krahn collected All-NACC honors for the fourth straight year and sophomore Peyton Hartman added his second straight all-conference finish, as the men’s cross country team placed third out of 13 teams represented at the 2021 NACC Championships.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Junior Mikaela Sullivan finished 14th overall to receive All-NACC honors for the second time, as the women’s cross country team placed sixth out of 13 teams represented at the 2021 NACC Championships.
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Wisconsin Lutheran College enshrined eight new members into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame on October 2, 2021, at the Radisson Hotel Milwaukee West. Members of the 2021 induction class included (pictured left to right) Chris Glasel ’08 (baseball), Jamie Hennen ’96 (baseball), Amanda (Markham) Frier ’16 (track & field), Michael Reeves ’15 (football and track & field), Kristen Schulz ’15 (women’s basketball), Wayne A. Smith (coach, women’s basketball), Lee Johnson ’15 (men’s tennis), and Sean Esenberg ’16 (men’s golf). Learn more about each inductee at wlc.edu/HallofFame. Nominations for the Class of 2023 may be submitted online at WLCSports.com beginning in January. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 17
Fine Arts
Guest Artist Series Pianist Robin Spielberg returned to the Schwan Concert Hall stage for the first time in a decade as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the college’s Guest Artist Series. Prior to her evening concert, Spielberg led a master class for students and faculty, offering a glimpse into her successful career as a performer and composer, and offering feedback on a student piano performance. The “Best of the Past 25 Years” Guest Artist Series continues through spring 2022. For tickets and more information about upcoming student performances and guest artist events, please visit wlc.edu/arts, or call the Box Office at 414.443.8802.
18 | Fall/Winter 2021
ART
This fall, the Schlueter Art Gallery was transformed into a woodland wonderland with the works of guest artists Beth Stoddard and Sara Meredith. The exhibit, titled “Interconnected,” featured dramatic floor-to-ceiling mycelium art pieces, large layered printworks of branching wilderness, panoramic woodland paintings, and correspondent mushroom drawings. Together, the artworks told the story of a forest lifecycle and the interconnectedness of all living things. WLC art students visited the gallery and drew inspiration for their own creations.
BAND
In October, the WLC Concert Band and Jazz Band made their season debut on the Schwan Concert Hall stage for the Fall Showcase Band Concert. The concert band began the program with the percussion section loudly parading down the aisles for “Jazz March,” a Brazilian percussion feature. The number was followed by a march of a completely different character – John Philip Sousa’s “The Washington Post March.” Other pieces on the program were Morton Gould’s “American Salute” and Jan Van der Roost’s four-movement “Puszta,” and more. The Jazz Band’s performance included Dixieland favorite “Lil’ Liza Jane,” the theme from “Sesame Street,” and jazz standards.
THEATRE
The WLC Theatre Department opened its season with eight performances of the well-known musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Directed by Prof. Simon Provan, this revised version of the 1967 hit Broadway hit brought to life familiar characters from the lovable Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz. The cast included Abigail Berg ’25, Abigail Bloomquist ’22, Hannah Centinario ’23, Emily Junker ’22, Brianna Neuberger ’23, and Johnathan Spaeth ’22, plus a production staff of many students and alumni, including musical director Tim Rebers ’06.
Wisconsin Lutheran College and the Center for Christian Leadership finally hosted “The Rescue Story Tour” on October 14. This sold-out concert in the Time of Grace Center featured Christian artist Zach Williams with We the Kingdom and Cain. The concert originally was scheduled for March 2020 but was postponed several times due to the pandemic. Jeremy Bock, executive director of the Center for Christian Leadership, commented on the importance of hosting community outreach events like this concert: “People leave the concert having a great experience on our campus, and now we have 2,000-plus WLC ambassadors out in the community!” [Photos by Michael Kuether ’24]
PLEASE JOIN US! DIVINE SERVANT AWARD CELEBRATION Friday, June 3, 2022 Time of Grace Center WLC.EDU/DSA
2022 Recipient Kathie Lee Gifford Emmy Award-winning Host and Playwright
Wisconsin Lutheran College | 19
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“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” - Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV) WLC.EDU | 414.443.8800
