Archive for category: News & Notes

MLC preseminary juniors hopped on a bus Sunday, February 4, and traveled six hours to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to discover what will be in store for them in a few short years.

On Monday they visited classes, hung out with sem students, and soaked up the feeling of unity that saturated the campus. “The message of the hymn ‘We All Are One in Mission,’” says Andrew Stoner (Resurrection-Chesapeake VA), “is shown clearly in all the work that happens here.”

On Tuesday they joined WLS students at the Mission and Ministry conference, where they got a close-up look at foreign missions. A visit to Grace Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and to the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha rounded out the trip.

On Wednesday they were back at MLC and the Greek and Hebrew homework that awaited—but with a renewed focus on their future and stronger relationships with their brothers. “It was great getting closer to our brothers from MLC and from the seminary,” says Erik Lund (Parkland-Tacoma WA). “Joining together around God’s Word was a blessing.”

Pictured: Seminary visitors Donovan Williams (Loving Shepherd-Milwaukee) and Hugo Ugalde-Bemer (Good Shepherd-Cedar Rapids IA)

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This feature was originally published in the MLC InFocus, Spring 2018 issue.

Avi, the Newbery Award-winning children’s author of more than 75 books, is coming to our campus April 4.

We’ve invited hundreds of grade school children in the area to come for one of two presentations.

He will also present to MLC students during the day and to the public that evening at 7:00 pm.

Click here for more details on this event.

In the second of the three lectures in MLC’s Reformation 500 Lecture Series, Dr. John Brenner (pictured) presented “Educating Pastors at the Time of the Lutheran Reformation.” His February 11 lecture explored how the Lutheran Reformation changed the way students were trained for pastoral ministry and how these changes have been a blessing to pastoral training in our college and seminary down to this very day.

The series includes two other lectures as well. On November 1, 2017, Pastor Paul Prange read Professor Arnold Koelpin’s essay, “Educating Youth at the Time of the Lutheran Reformation.” (Professor Koelpin passed away a few days later, on November 13.)

And on April 15, 2018, Dr. Gottfried Hermann (of the Evangelisch Lutherische Freikirche of Germany) will present “Educating Society at the Time of the Lutheran Reformation.”

The Reformation 500 Lecture Series was coordinated by MLC Professor James Danell WLS ’90.

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This feature was originally published in the MLC InFocus, Spring 2018 issue.

According to LendEDU, Martin Luther College was ranked #49 when it came to small private colleges and universities with the lowest average student debt figures in the United States. The data is reflective of the Class of 2016.

Thank you to all who support MLC! It is because of your generosity that we are able to offer low tuition rates to our students.

Click here to view the rankings

 

Grace Schultz (First-Lake Geneva WI) admits that scoring wasn’t always her thing. During her high school basketball career at Fox Valley LHS, her main role was defense. But that didn’t stop her from setting high goals for her college career.

One of those goals was reached on December 4, when Schultz became the third player in MLC women’s basketball program history to score at least 1,000 career points. Schultz joined Erica Babinec ’12 and Emma Babinec ’06 as the only players to reach that milestone.

Schultz says that was one of several goals she set before her debut season in 2014, and the feeling of accomplishment after reaching that goal was special.

“I sat in the locker room and just absorbed all that had just happened,” she said. “It took me a little while to register that I had actually accomplished a big goal of mine. Sitting there, I couldn’t help but think of all the teammates and coaches that had challenged me to improve in practice and games throughout my life, knowing that none of my personal successes would be possible without them.”

Schultz hasn’t allowed the other aspects of her game to suffer as her scoring role increased. This season, Schultz set a new MLC single-season record with 97 steals, and finished second in program history with 265 career steals. She also finished second in program history with 666 career rebounds, and ranks sixth with 210 career assists. She finished her career with 1,299 career points, and ranks third in both career field goals and free throws.

While she has established herself as one of the premier athletes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) during her career, Schultz credits her coach, Professor Dan Gawrisch ’08, and teammates for helping her game develop.

“I remember having conversations with Coach Gawrisch about what my role was on the team in every preseason meeting and how scoring became an important factor of my role,” she said. “Knowing his expectations and my own, along with hard work and a lot of shots in the gym, I have grown as a basketball player, and I give that credit to my coaches and teammates.”

Basketball is only part of Schultz’s athletic career at MLC. This fall Schultz finished her four-year career as a right-side hitter for
the volleyball team, where she was a two-year captain and finished with 436 career kills. During her career on both the basketball and volleyball teams, Schultz has helped her team qualify for the UMAC Postseason Tournament in all seven tries.

One of the things that made her athletic career special is sharing her experiences with friends and classmates. Jade St. Germaine (St. Mark-Watertown WI), Kira Grev (Divinity-St. Paul), Taylor Weber (Bethlehem-Germantown WI), Heidi Moldenhauer (St. John-Manitowoc WI), Jenna Miller (Riverview-Appleton WI), and Rylee Weisensel (St. John-New Ulm MN) were part of a seven-player senior class on the volleyball team, while St. Germaine and high school classmate Hailey Johnson (St. Paul-Green Bay WI) played all four years with Schultz on the basketball team.

“As my eligibility decreased, my love for sports turned into a love for family, the family that was created through these sports,” Schultz said. “I still enjoy sports, but what I enjoy more are the memories and friendships that have been created. The special thing about MLC, besides training for a lifetime of public ministry, is that you realize how blessed you are to be surrounded by God-fearing friends and future colleagues every single day.”

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This feature was originally published in the MLC InFocus, Spring 2018 issue.