wisconsin lutheran college magazine

M A G A Z I N ESummer 2015

What will the next decade hold in store for higher education in America? When speaking about Wisconsin Lutheran College, my answer is always the same. I have a bold confidence in WLC and its future. This assurance comes directly from God. Whether I am reflecting on the recent past or envisioning our next ten years, I am constantly drawn to the words of Proverbs 16:3: “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”

With God and the help of his people, a new residence hall was completed in August and now houses 200 grateful WLC students. Construction is under way at our Outdoor Athletic Complex, where new baseball and softball dugouts, scoreboards, fencing, and football field turf are being installed, thanks to committed Christians and financial supporters of this college.

Recently we received an amazing, transformational gift of more than $5 million to build a much-needed parking center to accommodate 350 students and visitors. We look forward to completion late this year. In addition, we have been blessed with other generous gifts that will fund significant and necessary renovations to our 23-year-old Recreation Complex gymnasium.

These “game-changing” gifts are some of the reasons for my bold confidence in WLC’s future. However, the most important reason I am so hopeful moving forward rests in our students. Ultimately this ministry is not about buildings or amenities; it is about the impact our students have on the world as they move beyond this beautiful collegiate setting.

We communicate on a daily basis about our mission – to prepare students for lives of Christian leadership – serving in their communities, workplaces, churches, and families. As you read this magazine, note how this phrase is reinforced through the news and stories about our students and alumni – as well as faculty and staff. They truly bring the words “Christian servant leadership” to life.

God continues to answer our prayers and “establish our plans,” and he continues to out-dream us not only in regards to the development of WLC’s campus, but most importantly in the lives of our students and graduates. They find purpose – and make a difference – leading lives as servant leaders for Jesus.

In His name and service,

Dr. Daniel W. Johnson

President, Wisconsin Lutheran College

From the President

2 | Summer 2015

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MISSION STATEMENTWisconsin 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.

PRESIDENTDr. Daniel W. Johnson

VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT AND MARKETINGJames Brandt

MANAGING EDITORMelanie Buellesbach

SENIOR EDITORVicki Hartig

DESIGNERAmy Kuether ’96

CONTRIBUTORSDr. Jarrod ErbeBill MeyerNicole Stahmann ’17 Bethany Unkefer ’16 Curtis Wech ’09Jeff Wilson

Wisconsin Lutheran College Magazine is published for and distributed free of charge to students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college. All correspondence, letters, news, corrections, and comments are welcomed and should be directed to the Office of Marketing & Communication, 8800 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, [email protected].

Wisconsin Lutheran College | 3

If you prefer to receive WLC Magazine electronically, email [email protected]. To receive regular enews updates from the college, please share your email address at [email protected].

2 From the President

4 The Class of 2015

8 Graduate Profiles

10 From Greenhouse to Grenada

12 End the Word

14 The Commons

15 Students in the Arts

16 Warriors Highlights

18 Nursing in Zambia

20 Leading by Serving

23 Accreditation Reaffirmation

24 Faculty Travel and Academic News

26 Warriors on Their Way

30 Center for Christian Leadership

32 Prayer, Patience, and Progress

34 Sandra Greenfield 1938-2014

35 Celebrating Your Support

Summer 2015 | Vol. 27, No. 1

In This Issue

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16

18

4 | Summer 2015

TO THE CLASS OF 2015!Wisconsin Lutheran College celebrated its largest graduating class in history, welcoming more than 200 new alumni. Commencement exercises took place on Saturday, May 16 in the Recreation Complex, followed by a reception for thousands of guests on the campus Quad.

Congratulations


TO THE CLASS OF 2015!

2118family & friends

at Commencement

14states

6foreign

countries

32majors

represented

204graduates

JACK ALBERT of La Crosse, Wisconsin, follows Dr. Jarrod Erbe, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, during the Academic Procession. Albert, a double major in digital cinema and media and English, was the college’s 2015 Impact Award recipient.

Student speaker DANIEL MOLDENHAUER of Hartford, Wisconsin, accepts his diploma from President Daniel W. Johnson. Moldenhauer, whose degree is in music education, received WLC’s Cantabile Award, presented to students who have demonstrated leadership and excellence in the choral program.

CLASS OF 2015 BY THE NUMBERS

President Johnson confers the Pro Gloria Dei Award to MARK AND JEAN WRIGHTSMAN. The award recognizes individuals for their lives of distinguished service to God and his people. Mark Wrightsman, president and CEO of PaR Systems in Shoreview, Minnesota, gave the Commencement address. He has served on WLC’s Board of Regents.

27students with double majors

Mathematics professors Dr. Kristi Meyer (left) and Dr. Mel Friske (right) pose with seven students who earned degrees in mathematics.

“Deciding to attend WLC was an easy choice for me. It gave me the opportunity to continue my Christian education, study what I wanted to study, and play basketball. I grew as a person and a player over the course of my time here, and I will forever use the skills I've learned in my professional career and personal life.”

– Kristen Schulz

KRISTEN SCHULZ, a mathematics and business administration double major from Safford, Arizona, is greeted by President Johnson after Commencement. Both are graduates of Arizona Lutheran Academy. Schulz, a member of the Warriors women’s basketball team, was WLC’s first-ever First Team All-American; she set numerous college, conference, and NCAA records during her career.

HEATHER BRISTOL-FLESCH of Missoula, Montana, earnedher Master of Arts in Education. She stands by the Divine Servant statue with Dr. Joyce S. Natzke, Dean of the College of Adult and Graduate Studies.

6 | Summer 2015


MATT NEUMANN ’04 welcomed his alma mater’s new alumni during the Commencement ceremony.

KIMBERLY NEUMAN, a theatre and English double major from Sparta, Wisconsin, greets Dr. Rebecca Parker Fedewa, assistant professor of English, following Commencement.

ABEDNEGO SAMUDERA, a communication major from Jakarta, Indonesia, was involved in WLC’s theatre productions since his freshman year. He’s pictured with Simon Provan, assistant professor of theatre.

81degrees and

sunny outside

40cases of

bottled water

1750Schwan’s ice cream treats

1440cookies

at reception

COMMENCEMENT BY THE NUMBERS

715online

viewers

94minute

ceremony

Rev. Wayne Shevey, campus pastor, congratulates biology major AARON ROESELER of Watertown, Wisconsin, after Commencement.

LEKEISHA REYNOLDS, a human social services graduate from Milwaukee, takes part in the Academic Procession.

8 | Summer 2015

Months before he donned his cap and gown in May, graduating senior Joel Wolfrath

knew where his post-WLC career path would start: at IBM in Rochester, Minnesota. He started as a software engineer in June in the operating systems area.

“We aren’t exactly the largest institution when it comes to mathematics and computer science, but we certainly don’t hinder our students’ success in careers within our fields,” said Dr. David Schulz, professor of computer science.

Wolfrath indirectly attributes his new position at IBM to his time spent at WLC. Even during his freshman year, he was studying topics in computer science beyond the scope of the curriculum. “I’ve always been of the mindset that you only get out of something what you put in,” Wolfrath said. “Dr. Schulz’s classes were largely responsible for my growing thirst for knowledge in the computer science area. He’s been a huge motivator and great mentor for me.”

Wolfrath learned how to write Android and iOS apps during his freshman year. He began his operating systems research as a sophomore. The following summer he interned with Thrivent Financial. “By my senior year, I was studying different machine learning tools and researching a variety of ways in which artificial intelligence may improve the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms,” he said.

Wolfrath ended up declining an internship IBM offered him during his junior year because it required relocating to Austin, Texas, for the summer. However, the IBM team suggested he apply for a position at IBM after graduation. By January 2015, they had offered him a job.

“Students like Joel take what they’ve learned in class or in the lab and take it further on their own,” Schulz said. “Joel wrote an Android app just for fun. He writes operating systems from scratch. He’s been a very special student.”

Joel Wolfrath ’15Focus on

Dr. David Schulz with Joel Wolfrath

“Joel wrote an Android app just for fun. He writes operating systems

from scratch. He’s been a very special student.”


“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27

In May 2011, Rebecca Guagliardo was unsure about continuing

nursing school at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; she was contemplating her purpose in life. At her Germantown church she heard guest speakers from Harvesters Reaching the Nations, a Christ-centered organization that provides education and health care to orphans.

“The speakers shared an inspiring story centered on James 1:27 and its clear message to look after orphans,” said Guagliardo. “This couple took those words to heart, selling their belongings and moving to Sudan. After hearing them and praying, I was led to serve with Harvesters.”

Guagliardo landed in South Sudan two months after the country had gained its independence from Sudan. For 10 months she

volunteered at a Harvesters facility in the village of Yei. More than 150 orphans were served there, and hundreds from the village attended the school. She managed the orphan donor program, taught English and computer classes, and tutored.

“The greatest satisfaction I received from serving was the opportunity to love the precious children, awakening every day to their beautiful faces, and to have the ability to help nurse a malnourished baby girl back to health,” she wrote in a newsletter for Harvesters.

Her time in Africa helped Guagliardo decide to continue pursuing a career in nursing. She returned home and transferred to WLC because a friend recommended its nursing program. During her next three years, she gained experience in multiple clinical settings in the Milwaukee area, including Children’s Hospital of

Wisconsin, Milwaukee County’sHouse of Corrections, and Waukesha Memorial’s Heart Care Unit.

Guagliardo was the 2014 recipient of the Sharon A. Schoeneck Christian Women’s Leadership Scholarship. “It was such an honor and benefit to receive this scholarship,” she said. “Since I’d spent most of my savings in South Sudan, I had to work several jobs to afford my education at WLC while attending full-time classes and clinicals.

“Although exhausting, all the hard work has truly motivated me,” she continued. “Several years ago I was contemplating the life God had given me and my purpose in it. Today, I have a degree in nursing and will be able to serve and make a difference wherever He leads me.”

Rebecca Guagliardo ’15Focus on

In 2012 Guagliardo left South Sudan, where she hopes to one day return.

After graduation, Guagliardo plans to continue working on the orthopedic floor at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center in Milwaukee.

10 | Summer 2015

FROM GREENHOUSE

Growing lettuce in the greenhouse

Zachary Pappenfuss ’15


What do you get when you combine basic hardware-

store supplies with tiny fish and edible plants? A self-sustaining aquaponics system that will provide fresh food to countries in need. At least, that’s the hope of Zachary Pappenfuss, a 2015 biology graduate who has taken the results of his undergraduate research from WLC’s greenhouse to the island country of Grenada. In an aquaponics system, water from a tank of fish is used to water plants, giving them nutrients from the fish waste. In turn, the plants use the nutrients, then clean water is returned to the fish tank. This symbiotic process can provide protein and produce to a world with an increasing

population, limited fresh water, and dwindling land space for agriculture.

“I’m so blessed,” said Pappenfuss. “I’m excited

to use the skills I’ve gained at WLC to help people who have sustainability issues

and food shortages.” But it can be challenging to take a system created in a lab using readily accessible materials, and simplify it so it’s exportable and sustainable in less-controlled environments with inconsistent electrical service and limited supplies. It’s also important to choose materials, fish, and plants that are available where the system is being implemented.

Keeping those limitations in mind, in the summer of 2014, Pappenfuss, of St. Joseph, Michigan, built several types of aquaponics systems in WLC’s greenhouse. He maintained them and chose one to take to Grenada, where he taught residents how to create home-based systems this summer. The work done by Pappenfuss demonstrates the “something extra” WLC offers its students: They don’t just do research on campus. They are able to deploy it in the real world, helping people in need – in this case, teaching them to generate their own sustainable food sources.

FROM GREENHOUSE TO GRENADA

Pappenfuss teaching about aquaponicsGrowing lettuce in the greenhouse Implementing the system in Grenada

The work of Zach Pappenfuss is one element of an International Aquaponics Program directed by the current Greenfield Leadership Chair, biology professor Dr. Robert Anderson. The program is designed to provide an outreach tool for mission congregations in developing countries – such as Grace Lutheran in Grenada – while addressing local food security issues. Alumna Marilee Gloe ’13 provided the initial feasibility study for this work and led community awareness seminars in Grenada prior to Zach’s arrival in May. The Grenada component of this project is funded by the WLC Christian Leadership Chair grant and is carried out in collaboration with Kingdom Workers, an organization that engages Christian volunteers in Lutheran mission work, sharing the Gospel of Jesus.

On March 25, in WLC’s Schwan Concert Hall, more than 60 voices chanted this

phrase, along with guest speaker Cindy Bentley. The event was the culmination of WLC’s weeklong #EndTheWord campaign. This was part of a nationwide campaign that asked people to pledge to stop saying the word “retard(ed)” and replace it with people-first, respectful language, as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people.

The event began with an opportunity for students to network with representatives from area nonprofits in attendance, including Life Navigators, Best Buddies, the Autism Treatment Center, and Integrated Development Services.

Bentley, who was born in Milwaukee, then gave a speech titled “Spirit of a Champion” and signed copies of her book. Bentley has overcome many incredible obstacles, including 18 years of life in inadequate institutions for individuals with intellectual

disabilities. She has traveled around the world as an advocate for the Special Olympics, has been to the White House twice, and helped found People First Wisconsin.

A bubbly individual with a remarkable story, Bentley provided the cornerstone to the Spread the Word to End the Word Committee’s week of advocacy and action on campus. Bentley was born in 1957 with fetal alcohol syndrome, a disorder caused by alcohol exposure in the womb. Her mother was addicted to alcohol, cocaine, and heroin. Bentley said, “I was taken right out of my mother’s arms, and I was put in the foster care system.” Her mother went to prison. Eventually, Cindy was sent to a state institution, where she remained until returning to Milwaukee at age 26.

“Let me win, but if I can't win, let me

Students Campaign for Advocacy & Action

Students gathered in the chapel to show their support for the #EndTheWord campaign.

#End

TheW

ord

“We are all God’s children, and we should all be

respected.”

12 | Summer 2015


“I was teased a lot,” she recalled. She explained that she was so angry, she could have ended up in prison like her mother. What changed her life? She credits Special Olympics and her faith. “I decided to start going to my church,” she said. Now she is very excited about her faith and is eager to share it.

Bentley has lived in her own apartment for 29 years, currently sharing the living space with two four-legged feline friends, and has served as the director of People First Wisconsin for two years. “I’m happy,” she said. “I have caregivers, but they let me decide what I want to do … I make the decisions for what I’m doing in my life every day.”

Turning to the #EndTheWord campaign, Bentley said, “It [the R word] is a swear word. It is not to be used. …We are all God’s children, and we should all be respected. I’ve gone to a lot of schools and changed a lot of people’s attitudes, but I can’t do it by myself.”

The night was a call to action for all attendees, reminding them of the importance of advocacy for individuals with special needs. Bentley’s story truly shows the spirit of a champion and is a clear demonstration of one individual’s ability to catalyze change.

Students Campaign for Advocacy & Action

Written by Nicole Stahmann ’17. Her article originally was published in The Sword, WLC's independent student newspaper. Special thanks to the Christian Women’s Leadership Circle for its generous donation of an honorarium for Bentley. Student involvement and support for the campaign came from a variety of campus groups, including Future Teachers’ Education Association, Student Senate, and The Sword.

Guest speaker Cindy Bentley met with students and

signed copies of her book.

brave the attempt!”

14 | Summer 2015

Student Entrepreneurs CONNECTwith Area Business Leaders

Three of the WLC students who took part in The Commons meet with Michael Hostad, executive director of MiKE.

Business students at WLC were presented with a new

opportunity last fall to network with successful entrepreneurs through an innovative, local initiative that’s quickly gaining momentum.

It’s a recently created program called The Commons, an “industry and academic collaborative designed to attract, develop, and retain the brightest entrepreneurial and innovative minds in southeast Wisconsin,” according to Michael Hostad, executive director of MiKE (Innovation in Milwaukee).

Nine WLC students and alumni attended The Commons’ launch event last November. They interacted with 140 college students from 20 institutions, and with more than 40 individuals from the local business community, many of them top leaders. “I think this is a win-win opportunity for our students,” said Prof. Peter Eppen,

chair of WLC’s School of Business and an active steering committee member for The Commons program. “I couldn’t believe the amount of energy and buzz in the room. It was an incredible weekend.”

“I believe the most unique aspect of the program is its dual-track approach,” Hostad said. “One track is for student entrepreneurs, and the other is for students looking to get connected to existing businesses. The curriculum we teach is focused on entrepreneurship and business leadership skills, regardless of whether students want to start their own company or get involved with an established local corporation.”

Students work together as a team with their chosen corporation whose representatives serve as mentors during the event. “These leaders have applauded

our approach because it’s more reflective of their actual work environments,” Hostad said.

“The Commons program was a very worthwhile experience,” said WLC junior Andrew Mielke, a business major who attended the November event. “It was a high-pressure situation where we had very tight deadlines in which to brainstorm with our groups and pitch ideas...a lot like it’s going to be in the real business world. It also was a good chance to meet with potential employers and make connections for future internships and job offers.” Mielke worked with the Milwaukee Bucks on his project.

“We think The Commons is a model that can work,” Hostad said. “We look at it as an opportunity to show the community and the region that when universities come together and collaborate, good things can really happen.”


THEATREWLC’s Theatre Department is committed to presenting the nine plays of Horton Foote’s Orphans’ Home Cycle. Roots in a Parched Ground (pictured), the first play in the cycle, was performed in November 2014, while Lily Dale will be presented September 18-26. Shakespeare and Ibsen are on next season’s schedule as well.

BANDAt its mid-winter concert on February 27, the WLC Concert Band performed a monumental 11-movement work Music for a Festival by English composer Gordon Jacob. The concert band and an antiphonal brass ensemble alternated movements until the climactic 11th movement, when the two combined forces. The ensemble, called The Great Midwest Brass, was made up of members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s brass section.

CHOIRThe centerpiece of the Wisconsin Lutheran Choir's spring concert on May 1 was Ola Gjeilo's masterful Dark Night of the Soul. Epic music and 16th century mystical poetry united in a 14-minute, one-movement work. The composition offered dramatic exchanges between choir, piano, and string quartet. Dr. Juanita Becker, pianist and associate professor of music, and the Philomusica String Quartet joined the choir.

ARTThroughout the year, the Schlueter Art Gallery features a mix of shows by professional artists and by WLC faculty and students. Free receptions are held for each exhibition; the public is welcome to attend.

WLC students – regardless

of their major – have ample

opportunities to participate

in the fine arts on campus.

In 2014-2015, students

took part in the Concert

Band, Wisconsin Lutheran

Choir and Chamber

Choir, ensembles, theatre

productions, and gallery

exhibitions. They traveled to

Iceland, Florida, Missouri,

and Kansas on professor-

led trips and tours. Another

ambitious year is planned;

visit wlc.edu/arts for the

2015-2016 schedules and

ticket information.

Students in the Arts

16 | Summer 2015

THREE NCAA APPEARANCES

Women’s Basketball made its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, where the Warriors upset 10th-ranked Wheaton (Ill.) in the first round for their second tournament win in program history. Senior Kristen Schulz (pictured on next page) was named the college’s first-ever First Team All-American. Head coach Klay Knueppel was named Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Coach of the Year.

Men’s Golf won its first conference championship in its 37-year history and received the NACC automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Division III Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Head coach Adam Volbrecht was named NACC Coach of the Year.

Senior Jenny Ebeling (left), the first WLC Women’s Track & Field athlete to qualify for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, finished 20th in the Heptathlon. Ebeling was a co-recipient of the Roger Fleming Senior Scholar-Athlete Award, along with football player Luke Sebald.


Wisconsin Lutheran College was presented the NACC Men’s Sportsmanship Award for the second consecutive year and fourth time in the last five seasons, as voted on by the NACC head coaches and approved by the Directors of Athletics Standing Committee. Additionally, 17 WLC student-athletes were named to the 2014-2015 NACC All-Sportsmanship Team.

In 2014-2015, 38 Warriors student-athletes received all-conference honors, including four conference players of the year and eight first team all-conference selections.

Football won its first conference championship in program history. Head coach Dennis Miller was named NACC Co-Coach of the Year.

Junior Chase Robles was named the NACC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year and Track Athlete of the Meet at the NACC Indoor Championships.

Senior men’s tennis player Lee Johnson (top) was named NACC Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Senior baseball player Aaron Roeseler was named to the 2015 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Midwest Region Third Team.

Visit the new wlcsports.com to read more about Warriors student-athletes!

International Study ExperienceNURSING IN ZAMBIAFollowing a semester-long course, 20 Global Health Nursing students from Wisconsin Lutheran College embarked on the fifth annual trip to Zambia in May. Students observed healthcare practices in multiple settings and participated in the Lutheran home-based care program. They provided health education at schools in Lusaka, at the Mwembezhi Lutheran Rural Health Center, as well as to the Lutheran Church of Central Africa seminary wives. Read about the students’ experiences in their own words; see more at wlczambia.wordpress.com.

“Once we got settled in at Kamamba village, we went on a walk with the village children. I loved meeting our neighbors because everyone is so welcoming. They greet us like family members they have not seen for a long time.” - Emily Way

18 | Summer 2015

”“Yesterday I had the privilege of observing at the Chelston Clinic. It was

such an eye-opening experience. I was able to sit in with a doctor and a counselor in the antiretroviral portion of the clinic. It amazed me how many people were there, wall-to-wall people. It is so hard to know that they all have HIV, but it is also great to see how many recognize their health status and are seeking help and treatment. - Alicia Wichman

Next stop, Victoria Falls! Needless to say, we got soaked! We paused on the Knife Edge bridge, where on one side we saw the falls, and on the other side were beautiful trees glistening with mist, overarched by a rainbow. I will never understand how someone could deny there is a God after seeing His beautiful creation. Psalm 8:1: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.” Victoria Falls is truly a work of art. - Shelly Tellier

Psalm 147:2-3: “The Lord builds up Jerusalem. He gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” These verses serve as a wonderful illustration of the things we have encountered here in Zambia. We have seen that the Lord IS building up Jerusalem. He is building up his church on earth, giving them strength, and preparing to take them home with him someday. When we imagine heaven, picture our Zambian brothers and sisters with us. I think that subconsciously I have pictured heaven as all Americans, … but now from this day forward, we can imagine our new Zambian friends right by our side. - Charisse Miller

In our lives, it is so easy to get distracted and put other things first, whether it is school, work, friends, a relationship, or maybe a hobby. In a world where it seems we may have everything, there is definitely something to be learned from those who have nothing. Here in Zambia, we have witnessed the poorest of the poor having the biggest of faith. If there is a lesson to be taken back with us, it is to recognize our distractions, put them aside, and strive to always put God first in everything that we do. - Madelyn Austin


20 | Summer 2015

Serving others is how many Wisconsin Lutheran College students choose to

spend a significant portion of their limited free time on campus. In fact, caring about and helping others defines the campus culture. WLC students seek and find ways to assist others, share their time and energy, and show their Christian love to those in need.

Hundreds of students volunteer every year to serve others in the greater Milwaukee area and beyond, taking part in service opportunities throughout the United States and internationally in Grenada (right), Mexico, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kenya, and more. These programs impact the educational, medical, nutritional, and/or spiritual needs of God’s people – no matter where they live.

What distinguishes WLC students from the thousands of other college students committed to helping improve the lives of others? “WLC students distinguish themselves in leadership because of their source of motivation: Christ!” said Rev. Wayne Shevey, campus pastor.

“As Christian servant leaders, our students understand how the sacrifice of Jesus changes everything in their lives, so they serve with a spirit of thankfulness and appreciation for their gifts. In this way, they willingly bring glory to their Savior!”

On the following pages is a glimpse at the myriad places WLC students serve each year.

LEADINGby Serving


HOME RUNS 4 AUTISMWarriors Baseball held Home Runs 4 Autism camps in the summers of 2014 and 2015. Korben Biersack ’15, who graduated with a degree in special education and elementary education, organized the project that helps youngsters with autism practice baseball basics and experience teamwork through camp sessions held at the Outdoor Athletic Complex.

WLC CAMPUS MINISTRY PARTNERS WITH LOCAL CHARTER SCHOOLThrough the Office of Campus Ministry, WLC students read Bible stories and lead activities for one hour each week for 150 students who attend Bruce Guadalupe School, a public charter school in Milwaukee. Amanda Wendt ’16, a Campus Ministry student worker and education major, supervises the program. Shown is volunteer Rachel Heyn ’16.

Step Up: Step Out - Student Leadership Summit

ON CAMPUS…

RE

SP

ITE

D

AY

Blood Drives

FRIENDS

Cans Across the Conference Food Drive

Bioengineering High School Summer Camp

Heroes for Health Middle School Nursing Camp

Wounded Warrior ProjectNEW senior challenge

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us...if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:6-8

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE CAUSES MAJOR CHANGESometimes a service project impacts the student as well. Randall Strutz ’16 was interested in pursuing a medical career; however, “I volunteered alongside other members of the Warriors basketball teams at a Special Olympics basketball program through Milwaukee Public Schools,” he recalled. “It was through that experience I discovered my love of working with children with special needs. I knew at that moment that teaching was the right path for me.” Strutz is now majoring in elementary education and special education and plans to become a special education teacher.

22 | Summer 2015

SERVING HANDS/SERVING HEARTSServing Hands/Serving Hearts is a one-day project during which WLC students devote several hours of volunteer work both on campus (shown) and throughout the community on a Saturday in May. For the past two years, students have helped by raking and cleaning up the property of the Lighthouse Youth Center in Milwaukee as part of the day-long experience.

WARRIORS FOOTBALL SUPPORTS MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATIONWarriors Football supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation last fall by adopting Sylvester, a five-year-old from Milwaukee who has Wilms’ Tumor, a rare form of kidney cancer. The team held several fundraisers, including a rummage sale and brat fry at the Outdoor Athletic Center (pictured), to help Sylvester realize his dream – a trip to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando – this summer. “We wanted to do something as a team to help out and hopefully brighten Sylvester’s future,” said Josh Langenohl ’15, who served as the project’s leader.

Ronald McDonald House

IN THE COMMUNITY…

KA

TH

Y’S

HO

US

E Habitat for HumanitySALVATION ARMY

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

American Heart Association - Heart Walk

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - Breath of Life Gala

Milwaukee Rescue MissionGoodwill

Wisconsin Humane Society

DINNER AT KATHY’S HOUSEThe Office of Student Programming helps organize and support more than 40 clubs and organizations on campus. Each organization is required to do two service projects per year. This year, the Human Social Services Club and Sisters in Service (shown) volunteered to cook and serve dinners at Kathy’s House, a home in Wauwatosa for family members of nearby hospital patients and for outpatients.

KING

DOM

W

ORKE

RSGREENFIELD PARKMake-A-Wish

Foundation

BRIGGS & AL’S RUN & WALKMenomonee River Parkway

HARTPARK

NU

RS

ING

HO

ME

S

Milwaukee Center for Independence

“WLC students – as well as faculty and staff – were living and demonstrating Christian servant leadership long before that phrase became trendy in leadership discussions. In my opinion, WLC students are Christian servant leaders because they want to show Christ’s love to people by the way they live their lives and serve others.” – Barb Westness ’02

Director of New Student Orientation and Student Programming

For the past 27 months, a team of WLC faculty and staff

has led a campus-wide self-study process to prepare for the college’s periodic evaluation by its accrediting body, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association, Chicago.

WLC, which has been accredited since 1987, hosted its last visit from the HLC in 2005, when it received a 10-year accreditation status, the maximum timeframe given to colleges and universities by the Commission.

Four peer reviewers spent three days on the WLC campus in February 2015. The report from their visit resulted in “continued accreditation status with the next reaffirmation evaluation scheduled for 2024-2025.”

“The HLC visit and subsequent report were affirmation of the excellent higher education experience offered at Wisconsin Lutheran College,” said Dr. John D. Kolander, WLC’s provost. “The process identified both strengths to build on and areas to

address for ongoing improvement. Ultimately, the team validated the commitment of all at WLC to carry out the foundational Christ-centered mission of the college.”

Dr. Erik Ankerberg, professor of English and assistant provost, and Prof. Paul Burmeister, associate professor of art and assistant dean of advising, co-chaired the WLC self-study team. They worked closely with Provost Kolander and his office in coordinating the process and writing the self-study report. Collecting and organizing documentation, conducting surveys, and gathering input from multiple constituencies all constituted an exhaustive undertaking as the team prepared for the February site visit.

“The self-study process demonstrated over and over to me the macro- and micro- ways in which this college is a dynamic balance of blessing and challenge,” said Burmeister. “My involvement as co-chair was a humbling and awesome experience, akin to a graduate level education in this process. I am most grateful that I was able

to serve with Provost Kolander and Dr. Ankerberg in particular, and with a host of great people within this campus community.”

Reaffirmation of WLC’s Accreditation

During the self-study process, Joni Panitzke, executive assistant to the provost, and student workers Cody Morse (pictured) and Bethany Berg conducted much of the documentation, information-collection, and self-study coordination required for the HLC site visit project.


24 | Summer 2015

Dr. Joel Pless (left) of WLC, Dr. Glen Thompson (third from right) of ALS, and WLC board member Dr. Gerald Fischer (right) with students at an ancient Delphi temple

Prof. Sibylle Krause and Dr. Jason Badura (right) with students in Berlin, Germany

Faculty Travel & Academic NewsGREECE AND TURKEYIn January 2015, 51 people, including ten members of the WLC family, enjoyed a study tour of biblical Greece and Turkey under the theme “In the Footsteps of Paul and John.” The tour was co-hosted by Asia Lutheran Seminary, Hong Kong; Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon; and WLC. Academic credit was offered to students from all three institutions.

Highlights of the trip included visiting all seven cities of the book of Revelation, the Pauline sites of Philippi, Thessalonica, Athens, and Corinth in Greece, the ancient site of Troy – site of the Trojan Horse legend – and two days in Istanbul, Turkey, where the group toured the Church of St. Irene, site of the Nicene Creed being adopted by the Council of Constantinople. A study tour to Israel is planned in January 2017.

ITALYIn January 2015, Dr. Martin Moldenhauer, associate professor of English, accompanied nine students to Italy to study the literature, art, architecture, and culture of this ancient land. They stayed in Orvieto, a walled city on top of a small mountain. From there they took train trips to Florence, Rome, Assisi, and Arezzo.

“What wonders we are beholding, and what thanks we give to a gracious God who has preserved, protected, and blessed us with good weather and invigorating experiences,” observed Moldenhauer during the trip. He had led students on several trips to England and Italy over the past five years.

GERMANYIn May 2014, a study tour was conducted in Germany: “The History, Politics, Economy, and Culture of Modern Germany.” The course, led by Prof. Sibylle Krause, assistant professor of German, and Dr. Jason Badura, assistant professor of humanities, provided students with an educational and cross-cultural experience. “Through both classroom and travel, our students were able to examine the history, politics, economy, culture, and society of modern Germany,” Krause said.

The group visited Berlin, Erfurt, Potsdam, and Weimar. “A student commented on how much more impactful it was to experience and observe the material first-hand after having learned it in the classroom,” she added. Another travel course to Germany will be offered in the spring of 2016.

Dr. Martin Moldenhauer (left) with students in Assisi

KOLANDER, GLAESKE CHOSEN FOR SELECT GROUPS

Dr. John D. Kolander, WLC’s provost, was selected to serve on the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Chief

Academic and Chief Financial Officers’ Task Force, which assisted in planning the program for the 42nd annual Institute, “Fostering CAO-CFO Partnerships for Institutional Success.” The institute was held in November 2014 in Portland, Oregon, and attended by 571 lead administrators. Kolander and two other task force members were named as Service Award recipients.

Dr. Kevin Glaeske, professor of chemistry, was chosen to participate in an Ancient Greece in the Modern Classroom

seminar on the Odyssey, held in July 2014 at Harvard University’s Center for Hellenic Studies located in Washington, D.C. This select group of 20 college professors examined and explored new, effective ways to teach the Odyssey to today’s college students across the country. Glaeske was the first mathematics/science faculty member ever chosen to participate in this annual workshop, which is sponsored by the CIC. Glaeske will co-chair WLC’s Honors Program with Dr. Aaron Palmer, associate professor of history, in 2015-2016.

FACULTY AUTHORS

In November 2014, faculty, staff, and students celebrated the publication of Dr. Aaron Palmer’s book, A Rule of Law: Elite Political Authority and the Coming of the Revolution in the South Carolina Lowcountry, 1763-1776. Palmer offers a fresh examination of how South Carolina planters and merchants held an iron grip on political power in the province. Their authority, rooted in control of the colonial legislature’s power to make law, extended into local government, courts, plantations, and the Church of England, areas that previous political studies have not thoroughly considered. In March, Dr. Kerry Kuehn, professor of physics, spoke to the campus community about the recently published first two volumes of his planned four-book series, A Student’s Guide Through the Great Physics Texts. The series grew out of a four-semester undergraduate physics curriculum designed to encourage a critical and circumspect approach to natural science.

The following promotions took effect prior to the 2014-2015 academic year.

James Brandt was named vice president of enrollment and marketing. Formerly serving as the vice president of adult and graduate studies, Brandt now manages institutional marketing, communication, financial aid, and enrollment.

Prof. Paul Burmeister, associate professor of art, was promoted to assistant dean of advising. In his expanded role, he provides advising and academic coaching to students, develops resources and supports faculty in their advising responsibilities, and contributes to efforts of retention and persistence.

Rev. Nathan Strobel, formerlycampus pastor, was named vice president of student life, initially on an interim basis. After a search committee’s evaluation and interview process, he was named WLC’s new vice president of student life.

Dr. Rhoda Wolle, associate professor of education, was promoted to dean of student success. Wolle continues to oversee the WLC Academic Success Center and additionally oversees internships, career services, retention, persistence, and the Christian Leadership Certificate Program.


Faculty Travel & Academic News KEY PROMOTIONS NOTED

26 | Summer 2015

Matt Krug came to WLC from San Diego as a sophomore, and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology three years later. He earned a Master of Arts degree in Exercise and Nutritional Science (with specialization in Sport Psychology) from San Diego State University, followed by a Master of Arts degree in Counseling at Marquette University. He also earned a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Marquette.

In addition to his professional career as director of psychological services with the Milwaukee Brewers, Krug teaches at WLC on a part-time basis. He is married to Anne, an engineer for UPS, and they have a 3-year-old daughter, Elise. The Krugs support WLC as Hall of Fame Lifetime Warrior Club members. Matt also has served as a board member for Lighthouse Youth Center in Milwaukee.

Krug talked about the impact his WLC education has had on his career: “Dr. (Leanne) Olson is the reason I went to graduate school. She took the time to help me develop and conduct a research project. This allowed me to have a stronger graduate school education and taught me the language of research. My athletic experiences (including baseball, basketball, and golf at WLC) helped me understand multiple sports, which is invaluable in my work.”

Warriors on Their Way

Dr. Matt Krug ’97Director of Psychological Services, Milwaukee Brewers Baseball ClubMilwaukee, Wisconsin

After they graduate, alumni of WLC pursue a variety of professions. Many remain in Wisconsin, while some head overseas. Here’s a closer look at four alumni – all with liberal arts backgrounds – who truly are Warriors on Their Way.



Steven Sobeck graduated from WLC with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in biochemistry and minoring in theology. He earned a Doctor of Medicine degree in 2012 from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Currently in his third year as an anesthesia resident at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, he lives in Madison with his wife, Ruth (Brown) ’09.

“I chose to major in biochemistry as part of WLC’s pre-med program,” said Sobeck. “The curriculum, the dedication of the faculty, and the state-of-the-art facilities all helped prepare me for medical school. Additionally, my WLC education fostered a desire for lifelong learning that continues to guide my residency training.”

He added that he received an excellent academic foundation, and the challenging coursework helped him to develop self-discipline and a strong work ethic. “Most importantly, I found an environment in which my faith could be strengthened, and that has greatly impacted my medical training, patient care, and interaction with co-workers,” he said.

Sobeck volunteers as an alumni mentor for WLC, willing to share his knowledge and experience with current students interested in becoming physicians or in pursuing other health care careers.

Dr. Steven A. Sobeck ’08Third-Year Anesthesia Resident, University of Wisconsin Hospital and ClinicsMadison, Wisconsin

Liz Meister ’01Founder and Thailand Director of Thai Village, Inc.Chiang Mai, Thailand

28 | Summer 2015

Liz Meister grew up as a “missionary kid” in Asia and moved to the United States for the first time to attend WLC. She majored in interdisciplinary studies, then earned an M.A. in linguistics at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she also is completing her MBA. “I arrived at WLC interested in art, culture, and anthropology, but wasn’t sure how it would all fit together in my future. WLC allowed me to design my own major, aligning studies with my passions,” said Meister. “I didn’t know at the time that I would go on to start a business and ministry in Thailand after graduation, but that liberal arts base helped me pursue the direction that God already had set in motion from my childhood.” After graduating from WLC, Meister returned to Thailand as a WELS Kingdom Worker, living in Chiang Mai where her parents were

serving as missionaries. “I saw with new appreciation the beauty and value in the traditional art forms of the different tribal groups,” she recalled. “I also began to recognize a need for self-generated income for people in financial need as opposed to handouts.” This evolved into the start of Thai Village, Inc., a nonprofit, fair trade, artisan project that gives sustainable work to local people in northern Thailand and connects them to Christians through the local Thai church. “Now I’m working full time and devoting my energy to developing this organization and ministry, humbly aware that it is because of the passions that God placed in me, and that He guided me to each specific step along the way,” she said. “To Him be the glory for the great things He is doing!”

Background image: Chiang Mai, Thailand



Sara Zondag, who came to WLC from Randolph, Wisconsin, majored in biology, then earned an M.S. in medical genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After finishing graduate school, she worked for six years as a pediatric genetic counselor at Spectrum Health Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

In 2011, she decided to “step out in faith,” and moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to volunteer with the medical department of the Free Burma Rangers, a mainly Christian, pro-democracy humanitarian group that works throughout Burma (which borders Thailand), delivering emergency medical care, shelter, food, and clothing to sick and injured internally displaced people. Two years ago she was hired as a part-time genetic counselor for Counsyl, which she says was a huge blessing, as it has allowed her the financial stability to stay in Thailand for the foreseeable future.

How did she end up pursuing a career in genetics? “My major at WLC required an internship,” said Zondag. “Dr. (Jarrod) Erbe helped me look outside the typical avenues, and I found an internship at the genetics clinic at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. This introduced me to the possibility of a career in genetics counseling. From early on during that internship, I knew it was the career path I wanted to pursue.”

She said the thing she valued most about WLC was the people: “From my classmates to staff to coaches to professors, they are some of the most caring and genuine people I’ve ever met.”

Zondag is an active servant leader, assisting as a volunteer coordinator for the Jungle School of Medicine-Kawthoolei in addition to her work with Free Burma Rangers. She also volunteers at Thai Village, Inc.

Sara Zondag ’01Genetic Counselor, Counsyl, Inc.Chiang Mai, Thailand

Warriors on Their Way Through their WLC connection, these two former classmates and basketball teammates now serve side-by-side in Thailand.

30 | Summer 2015

Agustin “Gus” Ramirez, executive chairman and retired president

and CEO of Husco International, delivered words of encouragement and more during his keynote address at WLC’s first Christian Business Leaders Summit in March 2015. Invited to speak on campus by President Daniel W. Johnson, Ramirez, a well-known, highly respected Christian businessowner, community leader, and international philanthropist, spoke about perpetuating one’s Christian faith while immersed in a business environment.

By all accounts, Ramirez has walked that walk. In 1985, he led a management buyout of HUSCO, an engine components manufacturing company, and through wise risk-taking and solid business judgment, grew the firm from $13 million in sales revenue to nearly $400 million in 2014. During those years, HUSCO expanded from a single location to a global company. Throughout the growth and its related challenges, Christian values guided Ramirez’s steps.

Beyond the business world of manufacturing, Ramirez and his family have contributed to major educational initiatives including a Ramirez-HUSCO Chair at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the foundational gift to launch Schools That Can Milwaukee, and major funding for the United Community Center and Bruce Guadalupe School, and St. Marcus Lutheran School.

Additionally, the Ramirez family has helped build Christian schools in Central America, positively affecting more than 50,000 students there since 2003. “Our goal is that over the next 10-20 years students from these schools will become leaders in their countries,” Ramirez said. “By having a good education, discipline, good values, and a Christian faith, they can change what has been

prevalent in all these countries for hundreds and hundreds of years, and that’s bad governance.

“My challenge to all of you,” Ramirez concluded, “particularly to the business leaders here, is to get involved, walk the walk, make the world a better place, and if you can do that, the glorification of God will allow you to become not only a better human being, but a better Christian leader. May God bless you in all ways.”

To expand the reach of the college’s Center for Christian Leadership, the summit concept was formed as a vehicle for regional Christian business leaders to network with and strengthen one another. This summit also featured a panel of business leaders who shared ways to infuse Christian leadership in the work environment. Future summits will be hosted by WLC in October 2015 and March 2016. Details will be posted this fall at wlc.edu/speakerseries. Contact Rich Mannisto, [email protected], for more information.

CHRISTIAN BUSINESS LEADERS SUMMIT WELCOMES RAMIREZ

“Most people think they can’t make a significant difference in the world. But all of you do have a chance to be world-changers, with God’s help.”

Center for Christian Leadership

INAUGURAL YEAR FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATE PROGRAM“The purpose of our Christian Leadership Certificate Program is to thoroughly equip students with a framework for Christ-centered servant leadership, and to provide them with tangible evidence of their leadership experience to use once they’re in the work world,” said Dr. Rhoda Wolle, dean of student success and director of the certificate program. “The launch of the program is the result of six years of planning and preparing, and we’re excited to have an excellent group of 15 students enrolled in the pioneering class.”

WLC students who exhibit integrity and have a passion for leadership are encouraged to enroll in the certificate program during their sophomore year. They will spend more than 200 hours participating in workshops, volunteering in the community, developing an electronic portfolio demonstrating their growth, working with a leadership coach on campus and a leadership mentor off-campus, attending two academic classes focused on leadership, and taking responsibility for planning and leading service initiatives both on and off campus.

Dr. Stacy Hoehl, assistant professor of communication, and Adam Volbrecht, director of resident life, serve with Wolle as leadership coaches to students in the program.

“Our certificate program is a profound differentiator for our institution,” said President Daniel W. Johnson, a strong champion of the initiative. “Every WLC student – regardless of major – has the opportunity to fully develop his or her leadership skills and positively influence others for Christ’s sake. That’s why we’re so passionate about this program.”

CWLC EXPANDS SUPPORTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH WLC THROUGH LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES

The Christian Women’s Leadership Circle (CWLC) continues to grow, raise funds, and financially support WLC events, people, and programs that promote and encourage Christian leadership. The CWLC funded three student grants and a faculty grant in 2014-2015. It awarded two $5,000 Sharon A. Schoeneck Christian Women’s Leadership Endowed Scholarships for 2015-2016 and a $1,000 Christian Women’s Leadership annual scholarship, and continued to contribute to a second endowed scholarship.

CWLC was a sponsor of WLC’s Christian Leadership Speakers Series and Leadercast event. It also funded two student-worker positions, one to assist in the Christian Leadership Certificate Program and another to serve as a campus ambassador for StrengthsQuest, a strengths-based assessment program.

In March 2015, the CWLC hosted its annual Butterfly Brunch. Teri Jendusa-Nicolai (below), a domestic violence survivor and nationally known speaker, shared her story of survival, hope, and faith with the 250 women who attended the brunch. The event raised more than $12,000 to be used for scholarship and leadership initiatives.

Jenny Tenyer ’17 (second from left), who is enrolled in the certificate program, volunteered with Kingdom Workers in January 2015, assisting with a roofing project in Bylas, Arizona, on the White Mountain Apache Reservation.

Two years ago several significant challenges confronted WLC, all related to physical campus needs. Today, these obstacles are being resolved – by generosity, ingenuity, and God’s grace.

“In retrospect, it is so clear to see God’s hand in all of these developments,” said President Daniel W. Johnson. “Four major issues we faced – more student housing, Outdoor Athletic Complex upgrades, increased parking, and Recreation Complex renovations – have been addressed beyond our wildest dreams. Who but a loving and awesome God created these resolutions?”

PROGRESSPrayer, Patience, &

WLC’s newest residence hall, Aspire, was completed in August 2014. Located at 8901 W. Wisconsin Avenue, the six-story facility replaced three of WLC’s oldest apartment buildings and features 54 apartment-style suites. It also added three large classrooms as well as 30 new student parking spaces.

“The upper five floors of this beautiful new facility will be home for more than 200 WLC students in the upcoming years as we relocate our sophomores and juniors from older apartments to these,” said Rev. Nathan Strobel, vice president of student life. “Aspire is a great contribution toward the college’s goal of providing a quality, community experience for our resident students.”

ASPIRE

32 | Summer 2015

OUTDOOR ATHLETIC COMPLEX

NEW PARKING CENTER

Thanks to a gift of $500,000, the first phase of upgrades to Neumann Family Fields at WLC’s Outdoor Athletic Complex has been completed. Additions include new baseball and softball dugouts, tie-back backstop systems, scoreboards, fencing, and landscaping.

“We’re especially grateful for this gift because this baseball and softball field area serves as the first impression guests and

visitors receive as they enter our Krauss-Miller-Lutz Outdoor Athletic Complex,” said President Johnson. “With 40% of our student body participating in Division III athletics, it’s important that we provide top-notch facilities for their use.”

An additional gift of $500,000 will fund the replacement of Raabe Stadium’s football field turf this summer.

After months of working with the City of Wauwatosa and the college’s neighbors through a sometimes challenging sequence of open houses, public hearings, committee meetings, and city council sessions, WLC has an answered prayer. It may proceed with its plan to build a new parking center on campus.

Through patience, steadfast efforts, and compromise, the project has cleared all municipal hurdles and is

slated to be completed by the end of 2015. The facility will provide 350 parking spaces, virtually doubling the current on-campus parking. Though its primary purpose is to provide parking for WLC students, the parking center also will be available to campus guests and visitors for evening and weekend events. WLC is able to construct its much-needed parking center thanks to an anonymous $5.5 million gift in 2014 designated for that purpose.

FOR THE REX

In 2015, anonymous donors presented WLC with an $800,000 gift designated to fund key renovations needed in the college’s Recreation Complex. Built in 1992, the Recreation Complex has served the needs of students and has hosted athletic competitions, special events, high school graduations, and other activities for up to 160,000 annual visitors.

“This incredible gift will allow us to replace our aging gym floor and install new bleachers,” explained President Johnson. “Together with these renovations we also will rename our gymnasium the Time of Grace Center as a witness to God’s grace in our lives.” The new name also will serve as an outreach effort to encourage visitors to hear the Gospel, shared through Time of Grace, a multimedia Christian ministry headquartered in Milwaukee.

In addition, WLC has received a donation for naming rights to the main court of the gym, which will be known as Catalyst Court. Proceeds from this naming opportunity will fund a new scoreboard, basketball goals, and repainting of the gym, along with other improvements.

A rededication ceremony will be incorporated into the August 28 Opening Service. “This will be a time to thank and praise God for his people and his gifts, and to celebrate a renewed, refurbished Recreation Complex,” said President Johnson.


Sandra Lee Greenfield (nee Harris), wife of the late Dr. Gary

Greenfield, first full-time president of Wisconsin Lutheran College, was called home to heaven on November 29, 2014, at the age of 76 years.

A mother of four and grandmother of three, she will be remembered for living her Christian faith through her teaching, writing, church and civic volunteer work, and through her devotion to her family and to WLC.

Sandy intuitively modeled servant leadership during the 28 years that Gary served as WLC’s president, from 1975 until he retired in 2003. Not only was she at his side during countless meetings, presentations, and donor visits, but she also spent many weekends on campus scrubbing floors or cooking dinners – whatever it took to help get the fledgling Christian college off the ground.

Sandy taught elementary school, serving in the Milwaukee area for more than 50 years – at Redemption, Bethesda, Siloah, Jordan, Fairview, and St. John’s Lutheran schools – during the course of her public ministry. By all accounts, especially those from former students, she was an excellent and caring teacher. She was a published author, a gifted writer, seamstress, and gardener, and an energetic, loving wife, mother, and grandmother.

She also loved WLC. “God has showered WLC with blessings that were humanly impossible to attain in the short time they have happened,” she wrote in 2013 as she prepared remarks she’d been asked to make for a WLC video presentation commemorating its 40th anniversary. ”He’s blessed the college not only by giving it a beautiful physical campus and athletic fields, but also with the wonderful Christians who have devoted their lives and their treasures to ensure that servant leadership thrives at WLC.

“Please continue to keep the college in your prayers,” Sandy concluded, “and to serve with your gifts, your time, and your talents to carry out WLC’s mission of educating and preparing servant leaders for Jesus.”

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants. – Psalm 116:15

REMEMBERING AN EXTRAORDINARY WARRIOR

Sandra Greenfield June 25, 1938-November 29, 2014

The creation of a memorial garden on campus to honor Dr. Gary and Sandra Greenfield is being discussed. Memorial gifts may be made to the WLC Gary and Sandra Greenfield Christian Leadership Scholarship or to St. John’s Lutheran School, Wauwatosa.

At WLC’s 2014 Commencement, Sandra Greenfield was happy to gather with her family (left to right): daughter Wendy ’91, daughter-in-law Kathy, son Jim, Sandra, granddaughters Brianna, Erin ’14, and Alayna ’14, son Mark, and daughter Kristyn ’95.

Sandra and Gary Greenfield were surprised at the 1999 Board Recognition Banquet when they were presented with an “official” WLC Warrior suit of armor, worn by Brett Valerio ’97.

34 | Summer 2015

As Wisconsin Lutheran College celebrates the close of its 42nd academic year, I marvel at just how richly God has blessed our Warriors family. Since the college’s earliest days, we have been fortunate to have the support of many faithful friends, parents, and alumni who believed in not only the vision of our founders but the bold promises of God.

“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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12

God continues to guide our steps and bless us with friends and donors who remain committed to our success today. And in order that we might joyfully express our thanks and appreciation to those who have been key financial partners in the college’s mission, I am pleased to announce the establishment of our lifetime giving society – the 1973 Society. This newly created giving society recognizes our generous donors whose cumulative giving exceeds $50,000 during their lifetime.

The 1973 Society now stands alongside our other giving societies as an important way for us to say thank you for your faithful support and thank you for your prayers. You are helping us impact the world – one Christian leader at a time.

Richard Mannisto ’94Vice President of [email protected]

Donors may be a member of one, two, or all three societies based on their giving. For more information or to make a gift call 414.443.8823 or visit wlc.edu/gift.

EVERY GIFT MAKES AN IMPACT. NO MATTER THE AMOUNT.

Whether your gifts are directed to scholarships, campus ministry, fine arts, or athletics, they make an impact on current students and on the students of tomorrow. Warriors benefit from your gifts of any amount, or with gifts qualifying for membership in the giving societies below. Together we can make a difference!

The 1973 Society recognizes living donors who have made lifetime contributions of $50,000 or more as of July 1, 2014 – the inception of the society.

The Ella Post Legacy Society recognizes those who have informed us of their intent to make a planned or estate gift.

The Servant Leader Society recognizes donors who give $1,000 or more annually.

Celebrating Your Support


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