SPRING 2022 | Vol. 34, No. 1
STUDENT INTERNSHIPS
MARINE BIOLOGY
Pages 8-9
Pages 10-11
M A G A Z I N E
FINE ARTS Pages 16-19
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, For 49 years, Wisconsin Lutheran College has been blessed to carry out its mission, and we are courageously planning for the next half-century to expand our reach across this hurting and broken world. We are preparing and sending Christian servant leaders to places where we cannot go. Whether it be the nursing floor of a Level 1 Trauma Center or helping nonprofits thrive in East Asia, our Wisconsin Lutheran College graduates are bringing the love of Jesus to places you and I cannot.
PRESIDENT Dr. Daniel W. Johnson VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT Richard Mannisto ’94 WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Melanie Buellesbach 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.
This spring has seen fewer pandemicrelated issues, and I pray COVID-19 is finally receding in the rearview mirror. Despite many challenges, WLC has continued to operate as normally as possible. Our gym was filled with fans cheering on our women’s basketball team to another trip to the Division III NCAA Tournament. We offered a full complement of performances and art shows that attracted larger audiences than we saw pre-pandemic. We are thankful to our alumni, friends, faculty, staff, and students who attend our events, show their support for our Warriors, and champion our cause of Christian higher education. WLC continues to draw upon its track record of academic excellence. We are thrilled to announce the accreditation of our sport and exercise science major, the first in the state of Wisconsin to be accredited and among a small handful of programs across the Midwest. In this issue, you will read more about this accomplishment and many other areas where God continues to bless WLC. 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. Already this year we have broken records for the number of visitors and applicants. We would love to host anyone you know who is looking for an exceptional academic experience in a vibrant, Christian culture. Blessings,
Dr. Daniel W. Johnson President, Wisconsin Lutheran College 2 | Spring 2022
IN THIS ISSUE 2
From the President
4
Campus News
6
Center for Christian Leadership
8
Student Clinicals and Internships
10
Marine Biology
12
Sport and Exercise Science
14
Athletics
16
Fine Arts Spring 2022 | Vol. 34, No. 1
FRONT COVER: Alexandra Demma, B.S., Biology, Chicago, Illinois, at December Commencement
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Class of 2021
Congratulations to the Wisconsin Lutheran College students who graduated in the Time of Grace Center on December 16, 2021!
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
JASMINE BUCK
HANNA GIBBONS
REBECCA GONZALEZ
M.A., Transition to Teaching, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
B.S., Biology, Markesan, Wisconsin, with Rev. Wayne Shevey and Rev. Dr. Michael Berg
B.A.S., Business Management and Leadership, Brookfield, Wisconsin
STEPHEN BAEHMAN 4 | Spring 2022
B.S., Psychology, Neenah, Wisconsin
Campus News
news
A C A D E M I C Wisconsin Lutheran College senior students majoring in psychology ranked in the 93rd percentile in the country based on outcomes of the 2021 Education Testing Services (ETS): Major Field of Study in Psychology test. This is the highest score of a WLC cohort in the past 19 years. In February, Jessica Moeller ’08, assistant professor of criminal justice, gave a presentation to the Wisconsin Public Psychiatry Network Teleconference titled “Chapters 51 & 55: A Legal Perspective from Both Sides of the Courtroom.” Her Zoom presentation maxed out with 500 participants. Moeller also was recently elected to serve on the Board of the Civil Rights and Liberties Section for the Wisconsin Bar Association for a three-year term. In March, Paul Burmeister, professor of art, and Dr. Amy Hermanson, associate professor of English, presented at the Council of Independent Colleges’ 2022 Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education Conference in Dallas. They shared their reflections on vocation in a session titled “Letters from One Humanities Colleague to Another.”
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
WLC ATHLETICS ANNOUNCES ADDITION OF ESPORTS
Austen Eppen
Wisconsin Lutheran College announced the addition of Esports as its 20th varsity athletics program, effective with the 20222023 season. Director of Athletics Skip Noon also appointed WLC graduate Austen Eppen ’20 as the program’s first head coach.
Head Coach
“We are excited to offer additional athletics programming that will appeal to a new demographic of prospective students,” said Noon. “Austen brings a wealth of knowledge in the sport, and hiring an alum as our first head coach makes it even better. We are excited that he has joined our coaching staff.” Eppen, who graduated from WLC with a bachelor’s degree in sport and exercise science, has spent the last two years as an Esports officer and Rocket League team coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Eppen collaborated to build an Esports program, established a Rocket League team, and handled all budget aspects of the team. A co-founder of the Wisconsin Collegiate Rocket League, Eppen oversaw 210 students across 31 teams, established a following on Twitch and other social media platforms, and connected with high school Esports organizations. Eppen will complete his master’s degree in athletic training from UWM in May. “Esports is a growing community, and I am excited that WLC sees an opportunity for growth in Christian leadership, friendships, and life skills through this new program,” said Eppen. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 5
CASTING CROWNS The Healer Tour
Wisconsin Lutheran College and the Center for Christian Leadership hosted a sold-out concert featuring Grammy Award-winning artists Casting Crowns with special guests We Are Messengers and Jonathan Traylor. The event, which was part of “The Healer Tour,” took place April 1 in the college’s Time of Grace Center in front of more than 2,000 people. Photos by Michael Kuether ’24
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Competing to Make an Impact The fourth annual Serve2Lead Impact Challenge was held on Saturday, February 26 at Wisconsin Lutheran College in the Schwan Concert Hall. This challenge was established by WLC’s Center for Christian Leadership as an opportunity for students to create servant leadership impact plans that would positively impact the community. This year, four teams competed in the finals, and three were selected to receive funding for their projects. TEAM SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE focused on the issue of people in Milwaukee having a comfortable place to sleep. This team is partnering with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a national organization that hosts bed-building events for the community. The team will organize volunteers and not only build the beds, but deliver them to families in need as identified by the Lighthouse Youth Center. With an approximate cost of $250 per bed, the grant will allow the team to build 24 beds. Senior Sam Rodmyre, team captain, said: “I heard about this program last summer while I was working as a handyman. The initial draw for me was using my skills and being able to recruit people to build. As we got further into this project, it became entirely about the people to whom we would provide beds. I attribute much of my success in academics and general wellbeing to good-quality sleep, and I hope to be able to give the gift of good sleep to these children.” Due to the amount of poverty in Milwaukee, some people can’t afford hygiene products. TEAM HIGHLIGHTING HYGIENE plans to address this need by creating hygiene product kits and donating them to homeless shelters in the community.
Junior Brandon Schultz, team captain, shared: “This project means a lot to my team and me. We want to serve others out of our love for Christ. WLC has changed the way I lead in many ways, one of which was taking a class on leadership with Dr. Stacy Hoehl (’01, professor of communication). I learned valuable skills during that class; it had a big influence on the way that I lead.” TEAM MUSICAL EFFECTS wants to help get music back into local classrooms. They will work with students to build rhythm instruments that will be used as part of the music curriculum, and they will purchase additional instruments. Students from the team as well as from the music program at WLC will volunteer their time by teaching lessons and working with students at St. Philip’s Lutheran School in Milwaukee. The team’s captain, senior Lillyan Burmesch, said: “This whole experience has been such a humbling moment. Our goal with Musical Effects was to impact the lives of students right here in Milwaukee. I was surprised by the amount of support that we have received throughout this project. What is really exciting is that we have schools on a waiting list, and my dream is to keep Musical Effects going, expanding it to these other schools.” Special thanks to Tim Dittloff, Chellee Siewert, and Jeff Knudtson for taking the time to judge the competition and give feedback to the participants. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 7
Student Clinicals & Internships
CLINICAL EXPERIENCES HELP NURSING STUDENT CHOOSE A CAREER PATH
For junior nursing student Evan Theis, a vocation in healthcare is “all in the family.” While his twin brother followed in their father’s footsteps toward a business career, Evan is taking the path of his mother and grandmother. “My mom is an occupational therapist and my grandma was a nurse for over 40 years. My grandma loved what she did, and my mom is passionate about working with patients in vulnerable situations.” Evan has long been told by his family that he has a caring heart and is a good communicator with a healing presence. Around his senior year of high school, he had made up his mind about becoming a nurse. “I realized that God had blessed me with an interest in healthcare and skills that lent themselves to a patientoriented career like nursing.” His other great talent and passion is baseball. Evan played for the Warriors during his freshman and sophomore years, but had to step down after injuring his rotator cuff. There’s no doubt in his mind that his experiences on the field will help him be a better nurse. “I know the leadership and teamwork skills that I gained in baseball will translate to role on a future medical team.” The nursing program’s reputation for excellence and its extensive partnerships with area hospitals are what led Evan to WLC. “Other colleges will send you to just one hospital for clinicals, whereas WLC gives you a variety of experiences at different facilities.” The program pushes Evan and other students to be the very best in their field. “Our professors
8 Spring 2022
push us to the next level. It’s a rigorous program, but we rely on each other to succeed. There’s a special tight-knit camaraderie within my cohort.” Evan is currently participating in his second clinical rotation in the medical-surgical unit at Ascension SE Wisconsin Hospital – Elmbrook Campus, where he is exposed to a wide array of patients and medical diagnoses. Evan has had several opportunities to communicate with patients in vulnerable situations. “I try to be reassuring without giving false hope. Last semester, I worked with an elderly patient who faced a long road to recovery after an invasive back surgery. She was, understandably, very discouraged. I provided her with ways to cope with her situation, especially encouraging her to look to her spiritual and family support systems.” Prior to the Elmbrook clinical, Evan was assigned to the post-spinal cord trauma unit at Froedtert Hospital. “During my first clinical at Froedtert, I was able to transfer my skills from the classroom and simulator labs to real life. The doctors and nurses on my unit included me in team discussions and treated me like a professional.” Evan is using his clinical experiences to identify the specific type of nursing he will pursue upon graduation. “I would love to become a nurse anesthetist or do something in orthopedics. I want to be bedside, working one-on-one with patients.”
Things have changed for the better Mikaela Sullivan, a senior majoring since her first trip to Mexico. Mikaela in Spanish and psychology, interned explained: “The most inspiring part in January at Iglesia Cruz de Cristo of this experience was seeing the in Mahahual, Mexico, as part of her incredible ways God has richly blessed Spanish major. She worked with Rev. His ministry in Mahahual since I was last Martin Valesky, helping with Sunday there. The beautiful School, tutoring, new church building and English as a My life has been greatly and servant leadership Second Language changed by the humble of additional staff classes. servant leadership I members have been witnessed, the work I wonderful blessings Mikaela recalled: “In was able to do, and the in spreading God’s high school I visited people I grew to know. Word and sharing the Mahahual, and the Gospel message with experiences I had many more people through classes and each day were so impactful. When I had outreach events.” an opportunity to return to Iglesia Cruz de Cristo this year, I was eager to go After graduation, Mikaela plans to back and build relationships with families attend graduate school for counseling and grow in my faith with other believers psychology to research the stigma while also enhancing my Spanish skills.” of mental health among specific populations. She said of the immersion experience: “My life has been greatly changed by the “Being in a community with such limited humble servant leadership I witnessed, resources for mental health care really the work I was able to do, and the opened my eyes and instilled a passion people I grew to know. Although we for raising awareness and providing come from such different backgrounds, access to mental health resources communities, and cultures, and even for underrepresented populations,” speak different languages, we share the concluded Mikaela. same faith.”
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Senior Trey Gnewikow took on a business marketing internship at the Wetherby Cranberry Company as part of his marketing major. Following his internship, Trey reflected on the fact that WLC had prepared him for success, not only through knowledge gained from his business classes but in terms of holding himself to a high professional standard in the workplace. Trey said: “Every business is different, so as an intern you have to be willing to adapt. After taking the internship, it was good to learn how different each work environment can be, but I also found out how willing businesses are to teach you.”
Senior Alex VanCrete has been interning at Schwaab, Inc., in Brookfield, Wisconsin, as he works toward a double major in accounting and finance. Since Alex is also a part of the WLC men’s basketball team, he has been learning valuable time management skills. “I was able to juggle my work responsibilities with my basketball obligations by managing my time, working hard, and communicating with my supervisor,” said Alex. “I had to make sure I wasn't wasting time on social media or other unproductive hobbies, and I focused on schoolwork, the internship, basketball, and getting enough sleep. Any schedule conflict that arose, I made sure to communicate that with my advisor.” What Alex learned at WLC prepared him well for his internship. “Not only was I prepared academically, but also socially, and I was able to fit in well with everyone,” Alex said. After graduation Alex plans to study for the CPA exam before starting a job with Baker Tilly in fall 2022.
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10 | Spring 2022
Marine Biology Experience for Students in Florida Keys This past J Term, Wisconsin Lutheran College professors Dr. Ethan Degner and Courtney Moll ’09 (pictured above) took eight students down to Summerland Key in Florida to take part in marine biology activities and research. Degner, head of WLC’s marine biology program and assistant professor of biology, said: “We were excited to have the opportunity to start taking these trips again. Students took part in a number of projects including invertebrate collection and typing, conservation efforts, snorkeling, and doing a short course with the Mote Marine Lab.” The Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium focuses on emphasizing conservation efforts and also runs a coral marine restoration station, where students took part in a fourday short course with the lab’s scientists. This ties together
work that students have been doing at WLC, with the school’s successful program of growing coral in the marine biology program. Senior Taylor Kresa, a biology major, shared the impact that going on this trip had on her: “Overall this trip just really made me feel closer to nature and God’s creation. I am amazed at how awesome everything He made is. It’s inspired me to become more interested in marine conservation and do whatever I can to ensure future generations can experience the world like I got to on this trip.” This trip is an excellent opportunity for WLC students to learn in a more hands-on way about marine conservation. In addition to conservation-based learning, students also visited a turtle rehabilitation center and a dolphin research center, and they went tide pooling and kayaking.
Senior Jonathan Spaeth added his own thoughts on the activities during the trip: “My favorite part was absolutely the different diving and snorkeling outings of the trip. Almost every single day we were going around the Florida Keys for exploration of the different habitats and the creatures that allow them to thrive.” The next marine biology-focused trip is scheduled to take place in May, when students will travel to Grenada with Degner and WLC resident counselor Cassidy Avery as part of a long-term research project that Dr. Robert Anderson, WLC professor emeritus, started more than a decade ago. As this is a research-focused trip, students need to apply to go; this year eight students will be traveling to Grenada. Research on this trip will be focused on collecting underwater data and scuba diving on monitored reefs.
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Sport and Exercise Science
TEXAS TECH Graduate student assistant athletic trainer
DALLAS COWBOYS Athletic trainer intern
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO Resident athletic trainer
HANDS-ON LAB WORK HELPS ALUMNUS SUCCEED Theo Belhomme ’17 was introduced to WLC during a football recruiting event near his hometown of Kissimmee, Florida. After exploring his collegiate options, Theo knew that investing in his future at WLC was the right choice to prepare for his career as an athletic trainer. Prof. Rachel Kuehl ’96 met with Theo to plot out his courses for freshman year. “From day one, Prof. Kuehl has been awesome,” shared Theo. “We sat down in her office and laid out everything I had to get done – choosing the appropriate classes each semester to ensure my success.” After graduating from WLC, Theo went on to Texas Tech University Health Science Center to earn his Master of Athletic Training degree in 2019. Theo recalled: “Thanks to WLC, I was well prepared for graduate school. The improved study habits and extra knowledge I gained through WLC’s liberal arts curriculum helped me be successful at Texas Tech.” 12 | Spring 2022
Many of Theo’s graduate school peers didn’t have the hands-on opportunities like he experienced at WLC. For example, he learned to run equipment like the Biodex and VO2max machines in his labs. Theo also valued his anatomy and physiology classes – being able to learn with the use of human cadavers is an amazing opportunity. The anatomical kinesiology class he took at WLC was almost identical to the graduate class he took at Texas Tech. Theo was well prepared to conquer graduate school after earning his degree from WLC. Kuehl noted: “Sport and exercise science students have the unique opportunity to work with professors in multiple disciplines such as biology, psychology, and chemistry. They learn hands-on skills in diverse lab settings. These multiple academic perspectives provide the students with an enriched education rooted in the liberal arts and prepare them to be problem solvers as they enter their varied career settings.”
As part of his coursework at WLC, Theo was able to shadow sport and exercise science professionals. Those experiences cemented his decision to be an athletic trainer. Providing the same type of experiences to the next generation of Warriors is something Theo now enjoys doing. Kuehl said: “Theo, like other alumni, has stayed in contact with our program and has served as a guest speaker in the foundations course. He is able to give advice to underclassmen considering this major and share with them what a ‘day in the life’ of an athletic trainer is like. Students appreciate hearing about his experiences.” Theo has reached one of his goals since graduating from WLC: to work for an NCAA Division I university. During his career thus far, he has been a graduate student assistant athletic trainer for the men’s basketball team at Texas Tech, interned as an athletic trainer with the Dallas Cowboys, was the resident athletic trainer at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and now serves as the assistant
Academic Program Gains National Accreditation
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE Assistant athletic trainer
athletic trainer for University of Louisville Athletics working with the football team. Theo Belhomme, MAT, LAT, ATC, CES, continues to grow and broaden his knowledge in his field and is working toward additional certifications. Although Theo’s goal was to work at a large university, personally he preferred the smaller, close-knit experience he received as a student at WLC. Theo touted: “I’m a proud alum. I grew so much at WLC. I took a lot from my time there. I knew everyone – administrators, professors, coaches, and classmates – you don’t get that anywhere else!”
In January, Wisconsin Lutheran College’s exercise science program was awarded initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The college’s B.S. in sport and exercise science degree program becomes one of 64 baccalaureate programs nationally – and the only exercise science program in Wisconsin – to be accredited by CAAHEP. The national accreditation standards are established by CAAHEP, CoAES, American College of Sports Medicine, American Council on Exercise, American Kinesiotherapy Association, American Red Cross, National Academy of Sports Medicine, and National Council on Strength & Fitness. “Since the launch of WLC’s sport and exercise science major in spring 2011, the program has seen curriculum enhancements, new labs and equipment, and increasing enrollment. The CAAHEP accreditation is a testimony to the students and alumni who have provided feedback and continue to stay involved, and it’s also a reflection on the wonderful faculty who teach within the program,” said Prof. Rachel Kuehl ’96, department head of sport and exercise science and assistant lecturer. “CAAHEP accreditation recognizes that our students are well prepared for the workforce or graduate school upon graduating from WLC.” Students enrolled in the college’s sport and exercise science program learn by doing, taking advantage of small, participatory lab experiences. In 2019, a new exercise science lab was added to Generac Hall. The lab features gold-standard equipment, including a hydrostatic weighing tank for underwater weighing and body composition measurements, Watt and Monark bikes, force plates, and a force plate treadmill. In addition to extensive lab training, students engage in experiential learning through internships, undergraduate research projects, and dual-degree opportunities.
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SENIOR SPOTLIGHTS BRADEN
ABBY
BEIERMANN ’22
VAVRA ’22
Lincoln, Nebraska Men’s Basketball Marketing and Management
Mukwonago, Wisconsin Women’s Basketball Nursing
Memorable Moment In the locker room after our season ended this year at St. Norbert, I really appreciated all the relationships and bonds I had formed along the way. I’ll remember how proud I was of the growth from pretty much everyone on the team, both on and off the court.
Memorable Moment Last year in the NACC North Championship game, we hosted Edgewood. I played good defense and took two charges. The atmosphere was cool, and I loved how my teammates played their hearts out.
Biggest Impact I learned so much about the game of basketball from Coach Aaron Aanonsen, but beyond that he taught me what it meant to be a young Christian man as well as so many lessons that I can apply to life beyond basketball.
Biggest Impact Dr. Stephanie Armstrong (’13, assistant professor of nursing) has helped me a lot. I was able to go to her whenever I felt overwhelmed. All the nursing faculty and staff have been great, helping me throughout the year and supporting me with my sports as well.
Sage Advice Enjoy the journey with your teammates. The memories and friends you make throughout the course of a season stick with you forever, so just soak it all in.
Sage Advice Be yourself; don’t worry about what others think about you. Make the best of every situation and take life day by day, because the whole world can change in a second.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL WINS 11TH NACC CHAMPIONSHIP Wisconsin Lutheran College returned to the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time overall and first time since 2019 after capturing its 11th Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Women’s Basketball Tournament championship. “It was a great year,” said 18th-year head coach Klay Kneuppel. “I’ve been blessed with some great players, and I’m really going to miss this senior class. I think we showed why we were deserving of our rankings all season long.” WLC (23-2, 15-1 NACC), which started the season 20-0 for the first time in program history, was ranked for 10 straight weeks in the D3hoops.com Top 25 poll. Senior Jenna Mace and sophomore Sam Leisemann were named First Team All-NACC. Sophomore Kaitlyn Shadoski became the fifth WLC player to earn NACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, while also being selected Second Team All-NACC. Coach Knueppel won his 350th career game and earned his sixth conference Coach of the Year award.
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The Warriors ranked third nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 46.7 points per game, and fourth in fewest turnovers, committing just 11.8 per contest.
Athletics
Schumacher Secures Program’s First All-American Honor Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Kendra Schumacher of Little Chute, Wisconsin, became the first student-athlete in WLC women’s track & field history to earn AllAmerican honors after finishing fourth in the 200m final at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 5 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was the second national championship appearance for Schumacher, who made her debut on the national stage at last season’s outdoor championships. “My appearance at the outdoor championships last year definitely motivated me to come back for one last season,” said Schumacher. “While I cherished the experience, I left with a bitter taste knowing I was one spot away from earning All-American in both of my events. “When I joined the program, I was a soccer player with no background in track. Five years later, here I am as an All-American! I’ve absolutely adored and cherished my time as a Warrior. I came
into this season with big goals in mind, and while I’ve already achieved some, I know that there is so much left in store for the outdoor season.” Schumacher, a senior who qualified in both the 60m and 200m, finished fourth overall in the 200m to earn All-American honors. After clocking in with the top 200m preliminary time of 24.88 seconds, Schumacher sprinted to a 200m final time of 24.96 seconds to place fourth among the event’s eight finalists. She penciled her name on six school records and two conference marks during the 2022 indoor season. Third-year head coach Eric Kramer said: “After so many close calls in school history, Kendra finally earned the program’s first All-American award. She battled and proved she belonged at the national championship meet. I’m so proud of her and what she accomplished the entire indoor season.”
MASSART SELECTED TO LEAD WLC TENNIS PROGRAMS Master tennis professional Jay Massart is the new head coach of the WLC men’s and women’s tennis programs. He brings nearly 40 years of tennis coaching and teaching experience to the Warriors. A USPTA Certified Master Professional and USTA High Performance Coach, Massart has touched most sectors of the tennis industry including coaching, managing, and years of volunteer work with the USTA and WTA. Specializing in high-performance tennis, he has developed hundreds of nationally ranked juniors who have gone on compete at all levels of collegiate tennis. From 2000-2015, Massart served as the executive director of the Milwaukee Tennis & Education Foundation, where he developed an inner-city, nonprofit youth organization into a viable program that sent players onto college and tennis careers. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 15
Fine Arts “The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir has always had a special place in my heart, since both of my older sisters were very involved in the choir during their time at WLC. I grew up going to the Christmas Festival Concerts and looking up to this group of singers. When I became a student at WLC, I didn’t know anyone, but the choir became my community and family from the start. The strength and comfort that singing with this choir provides is unlike any other group experience at WLC. Thank you, Wisconsin Lutheran Choir, for the lifelong friends and memories.” – Hayley Giovinazzo ’22 Stow, MA
“The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir has always been a safe haven for me. Dr. Nowack encourages us to leave our stressors and troubles at the door when we come into rehearsal. Choir participation is certainly an extremely gratifying experience. Nothing compares to the feeling of singing with a large group of people, everyone putting their whole hearts into it, and hearing the results of all our hard work. The Wisconsin Lutheran Choir has been a huge blessing in my life for these four years, and I will never forget the times I’ve shared here.” – Mason Zuehlke ’22 Watertown, WI 16 | Spring 2022
Choir Resumes Touring
In March, the Wisconsin Lutheran Choir and Chamber Choir, under the direction of Dr. James A. Nowack, returned to the road for the first time in two years to perform four concerts in Georgia and Florida. The 2022 Spring Tour concluded with a home concert in WLC’s Schwan Concert Hall on March 25. The inspirational concert program of sacred choral literature spanned several periods and genres, concluding with Is He Worthy? by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive, arranged by Dan Forrest. This stirring anthem blended call-and-response questions posed in the book of Revelation with musical passages from Handel’s Messiah. The 28-voice Chamber Choir performed sacred repertoire including Z. Randall Stroope’s Lamentations of Jeremiah and Lord of the Dance by Larry Fleming. Sophomore Michael Kuether reflected on his first trip with the Wisconsin Lutheran Choir: “Choir tour was an amazing experience! It truly was a gift to be able to travel with this choir and sing God’s praises to people who I know deeply appreciated it. Being able to do this, especially after not touring my freshman year due to the pandemic, was greatly impactful to me. Getting to know everyone in the choir better and bond with them was great! I’m definitely looking forward to the next tour!”
PROFESSOR’S RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION
LEARNING FROM A VIOLIN VIRTUOSO
WLC was honored to have violinist Frank Almond teach a master class for students in March. Almond, who held the concertmaster chair with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra for 25 years, offered feedback and instruction to WLC students Sophia Kerkow ’25 (pictured left with Frank Almond) and Kathryn Rausch ’24, while other music students, faculty, and staff observed the class in the Schwan Concert Hall. “The master class was a great experience that I was happy to be a part of,” said Sophia. “I learned a lot about performing on stage in a musical and dynamic way. Frank Almond was friendly and approachable, and all of us who participated enjoyed ourselves.”
From February through early April, about 50 paintings and drawings by Paul Burmeister, professor of art at Wisconsin Lutheran College, were on display in the Schlueter Art Gallery. The wonderful retrospective exhibition featuring artwork from more than 30 years of Burmeister's career was titled “Subject Matter 1987-2021.” On February 17 during the opening reception, he gave a talk to a capacity crowd in the Reichel Lecture Hall describing his background and the works on display. “Among the multitude of choices necessary to making art, choosing a subject matter is crucially important,” said Burmeister. “My choice of this particular subject matter owes to my lifelong, intimate familiarity with it, its availability, and its capacity to serve my core interests in abstract design.” Burmeister has explored a variety of subject matters since receiving his M.F.A. in 1987, and his ongoing interest in the forms of vernacular architecture was curated in this show. His creative explorations of common Midwest building types have received regional attention; his paintings have been shown in juried and invitational exhibitions.
Almond emphasized to the students the need to “sell” their performance to the audience by expanding the “vocabulary” of their music; don’t say the same thing over and over while playing the piece. Tell the story of the music in a bigger way by exaggerating it. He advised that they project the sound beyond the front of the stage, and play with more emotion than they think they need to. His advice was useful for all music students, both vocal and instrumental. Special thanks to the generous donors who sponsored this wonderful opportunity! In the evening, Almond returned to stage with master accordion player Stas Venglevski for a sold-out Guest Artist Series concert. Almond also performs at WLC with his chamber music series, Frankly Music. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 17
Alumni Collaborate with Students on Theatre Production In February, Wisconsin Lutheran College’s Theatre Department presented the third edition of its TenMinute Original Play Showcase, a collection of short plays written and directed by WLC students and alumni. “The term ‘showcase’ identifies that these plays are being presented primarily for the benefit of the playwrights, directors, and actors, and that while the preparation is held to a high standard, the script and production elements are not as refined or elaborate
as a regular production,” shared Prof. Jay Sierszyn, the showcase’s faculty producer and WLC’s director of theatre. With characters portrayed by WLC student actors, the eight plays featured fresh forays into comedy, drama, and places in-between, with each work having its own set, props, costumes, and music. WLC staff member Jonathan Lorenzen ’11 interviewed three playwrights and directors for a look “behind-the-curtain” of the showcase.
Senior theatre and communication double major Abby Bloomquist (pictured left) wrote Best Person To Me Always and directed alumna Amanda Schumacher’s Smart Girls. What was your inspiration for Best Person to Me Always? “I drew inspiration from something that happened to a friend in real life and felt it was a story worth telling. I wrote the play for myself – from the heart – rather than trying make it fit a particular cast.” How did you feel after watching your play being performed for the first time? “The play I saw performed in the showcase did not turn out how I had imagined it would. But theatre is very much subject to interpretation – otherwise it wouldn’t be unique. With more time and work, I feel it could be a published piece.” What was it like directing Smart Girls? “I let the actors lead me (at first) with their creative expression rather than forcing my vision on them. After seeing the play for the first time on opening night, I felt grateful and exhilarated. The satisfaction of knowing I could stand by my work while doing something I love confirmed that I am right where I’m supposed to be.” 18 | Spring 2022
Amanda Schumacher ’12 (pictured left) jumped at the opportunity to submit her play Smart Girls and serve as a director for this year’s showcase. What was your reaction to being asked to write a play for your alma mater? “Returning to WLC always feels like coming home. It doesn’t matter how much time has passed – the moment we walk into the Raabe Theatre, it’s as if time stands still. All the worries and stressors of adult, post-college life melt away, and it’s just you and this group of people focused on one thing – and that’s making beautiful, thought-provoking (and sometimes laugh-inducing) art.” What did you gain from participating in the showcase? “As a director, it’s an opportunity to do better – to step up and hold yourself to a higher standard. As a playwright, seeing your work on a stage where you spent countless hours rehearsing yourself. It’s magical, it’s empowering, and it’s beyond satisfying. For some alumni (and students), this was the first time they were seeing their work being performed; sometimes, that one experience can help motivate someone to keep trying and to keep writing.” How did students benefit from working with alumni playwrights and directors? “I think it’s healthy for students to have positive interactions with alumni who are a little bit older than them. I often approach directing and my overall interactions with students by being the type of grown-up I wish my younger self had when I was in college – someone who could reassure me, gently nudge me, and remind me that God is bigger than all of us.”
Zach Beierle ’10 (pictured left) directed The Grass Withers by student playwright Elisa Hatton ’24; it was his first experience as an alumni director. How did it feel to direct a student’s play? “It honestly made me nervous. First, because it’s a play that’s never been produced before. Second, this might be the first time a student has seen their work produced. There’s a lot riding on that.” How did you visualize and interpret the play? “Elisa was very gracious to sit and talk it over, listen to a first read-through, and give her thoughts on my interpretation. From there, I had to stop trying to figure out the truth of the play and let the process take over. It was a meaty play, and I’m thankful for the students’ hard work.” What wisdom were you able to impart to students? “I hope I showed them that they are capable of more than they think. Do the hard work – just create, and it will show. I also hope I showed them that collaborating is about respecting each other, yourself, and the process.” Reflecting on the overall impact of the showcase, Zach concluded: “It was an awesome experience to work with students, to connect with them, and share our post-college, real-world experience.” For a complete list of plays, cast, directors, and playwrights, visit wlc.edu/tmops. Wisconsin Lutheran College | 19
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