President August F. Ernst
Dr. August F. Ernst (1841-1924) served Northwestern College for 50 years, 48 of those as president (1871 to 1919). Known affectionately as “The Old Man” or “Oley,” he was well-loved by his students. “It was he,” said his obituary, “who to a great extent cultivated [his students’] individuality and brought their innate powers to light.” During his tenure as Northwestern’s third president, the “Joint Synod” (Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin and Other States) was born (1892), the beloved Kaffeemuehle burned down (1894), the name of the college was changed from Northwestern University to Northwestern College (1910), the Sprinter was gifted to the college (1912), and the country endured World War I (1914-1918). Said college historian and later NWC president Erwin Kowalke, “If any man shaped the destinies of Northwestern, it was he.”
This grant was established in 1996 by the Northwestern College Alumni Society. Northwestern was the WELS pastor-training college from 1865 to 1995, when it amalgamated with Dr. Martin Luther College to form Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota.
Grant winners are preseminary students selected by the faculty based on their general academic achievement, campus citizenship and participation, potential for pastoral ministry, and excellence in confessional languages.
