spring 2008 bethany report

SPRING 2008 the magazine of bethany lutheran college

5Ground broken for new academic building

6Commencement sees 103 graduate

8Art groups in pursuit of ultimate classroom

Bethanyreport

Fond memories of Bethany days for me include the countless hours spent in Old Main and the adjacent academic building—Luther

Hall. These buildings had a major impact on me. I’m sure many of our readers have warm recollections of them also. Their significance to the campus is, without question, considerable. Together Old Main and Luther Hall housed classrooms, science labs, the art room, the bookstore, the chapel, all of the faculty and staff offices, food service, Viking Village (the student lounge area), residence halls, and there are probably other important aspects that I’ve neglected to mention. And this was all at the same time!

But as the campus has grown and new buildings added, more of our students and faculty have moved into newer buildings and away from Old Main. We’ve been blessed to add no less than half a dozen buildings with a wide variety of new educational space in the past two decades. Undoubt-edly, these spaces were needed as the College grew and academic programs were added.

Luther Hall continues to be a busy place. Exceptional intellectual work is accomplished in its classrooms every day. Yet, Luther Hall was built nearly 100 years ago and its usefulness isn’t quite the same as when it was first constructed. In some ways, the facility has become significantly outdated in meeting today’s educational and environmental needs of students and faculty. Conversely,

the learning environments in our newer buildings are excellent and the resources available to instructors in them truly enhance their teaching.

An important phenomenon unique to Old Main and Luther Hall might be more difficult to measure, but certainly is a valuable characteristic that cannot be overlooked. The days of the entire campus living, learning, and worshiping in one space led to an integrative environment that fostered collaboration and idea sharing. The synergy of students, faculty, and departments interacting together evokes some of the best qualities of the liberal arts tradition. Today, departments are spread across multiple build-ings and there is a sense that maintaining that precious cross-pollination is a growing challenge.

On Sunday, June 15, 2008, we were privileged to break ground for a new academic center that will reunite a number of disciplines, provide state of the art teaching spaces, allow departments to learn cooperatively, and afford the College the opportunity to grow and expand its programs. Many alumni and friends have already committed financial support to this project. In the coming months, others will have the opportunity to lend theirs also. Thank you all for your continued support and prayers as Bethany grows and matures as a fine Christian, academic institution.

editor, writer | Lance Schwartz design, photography | David Norris proofreader, writer | Emma Baumann

Please direct all correspondence, letters, news, corrections, and comments to: Bethany Lutheran College Bethany report 700 Luther Drive Mankato, MN 56001-6163Email: [email protected] | www.blc.edu507.344.7000 | 800.944.3066FAX: 507.344.7417

ISSUE: CXII

The Report is published quarterly by the Bethany Lutheran College public relations office and distributed free of charge to the college’s students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends.

All contents © COPYRIGHT 2008 Bethany Lutheran College. Articles, images or photographs may not be reproduced without written permission.

Mission: Bethany Lutheran College, owned and operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, is a private, residential, liberal arts college committed to the teachings of the Bible as set forth in the Lutheran Confessions. Bethany provides studies culminating in a Bachelor of Arts degree. The college serves Lutherans and others by offering a challenging, student-centered approach to education that fosters spiritual development, intellectual and creative growth, self-understanding, and responsible citizenship. In keeping with its heritage, Bethany aspires to produce students with a clear understanding of Christian vocation, which encourages students to make the most of their God-given talents.

Bethany Lutheran College Board of Regents:Rev. John A. Moldstad, Sr., ChairHarold A. Theiste, Vice ChairRev. Kenneth V. Schmidt, SecretaryWillis Anthony, Ph.D.Rev. Mark BartelsPaul T. ChamberlinLyle FahningRev. Herbert C. HuhnerkochJames MinorRoland ReinholtzRev. J. Kincaid Smith, D.Min.Rev. Joel Willitz Advisory Members: Pres. Dan R. Bruss, Ph.D.Rev. Lawrence A. BurgdorfRev. John A. Moldstad, ELS PresidentWilliam Overn

On the cover: The new academic building as seen in an architectural rendering looking from the corner of Marsh and Division Streets. (Rendering courtesy of Paulsen Architects)

President Dan Bruss

Academic facilitiesBethanyreport

from the president

2 report | spring 2008

May 9, 2008Acts 1:12-14 —“12Then they returned to Jerusalem

from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusa-lem, a Sabbath day’s journey. 13And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. 14These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Years ago, two Christian women met at a Lutheran conference in Sweden. One was elderly, and

lived on a small island off of Finland, more than a hundred miles away from any church. There was no one of her faith nearby, and she quickly latched on to her new friend. They began writing letters to each other. The woman on the mainland would share cassette tapes of her local church services. The woman on the island truly craved this common unity they had in Christ, and considered it to be so essential to her continua-tion in the faith.

Fellowship and contact with other believers is something Christians naturally seek out. In fact, many have discovered that the further away from it you are, the more you crave it—just talk to missionaries in foreign lands.

Our Lord Jesus did not need to give commands about coming together as fellow Christians to help each other. He knew that by His grace through faith, there is a natural instinct in His sheep to flock together. The members of the Church, like stones built upon Christ and the Apostles, have a common mortar of love for each other which is binding.

When the Holy Spirit creates faith in the heart, it produces this automatic, wonderful bond in Christ. St. John writes, “We know we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren” (I John 3:14). This built-in, intrinsic love toward fellow believers is a natural by-product of saving faith in the heart.

In our text, we note how precise Luke is in describ-ing the spot of our Lord’s Ascension.

The life of Christ touched real history, real geogra-phy, and took place in real locations. He also lists the real people in Christ’s Church, “Peter, John, James, … Mary.” By His Holy Spirit, Christ touches real human lives and relationships.

Scripture records that the disciples met publicly for worship in the Temple courtyard, but they also assembled privately as a group in the upper room, which was possibly in one of their homes. Wouldn’t it have been fun to have been a fly on the wall and listen to their recollection of the events in the previ-ous month and a half?

Having just witnessed the Ascension of the Second Person of the Trinity, they now await the special outpouring and arrival of the Third Person of the Trinity, on Pentecost, fully confident of their Lord’s proclamation, “Lo, I am with you always.” This must have been a special time of closeness, and connec-tion, as they strengthened each other before being sent around the world with the Gospel.

As you leave the halls of Bethany, and go through your life, you will find that you will naturally gravi-tate toward those with whom you share common values and faith and with whom you have a common perspective on life.

We are told by Luke, “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.” The Greek word for “accord” means “with one mind or purpose.” They had one unified understanding of their helpless, sinful condition, one common love for their Savior, one heavenly purpose and direction in life, one common mission, all bound together by the marvelous grace of God.

Christ Himself has promised, “Never will I leave you or forsake you.” Here He primarily directs us to His Word and Sacraments where He is present with His Church, but even this very unity, which He creates in His followers, is a fulfillment of this gracious promise.

As this school year comes to a close, we sometimes become a little more aware of one of the side benefits of Bethany, and that is this bond we enjoy in our common faith. It was brought home very clearly to me a few years ago, while attending the funeral of a fellow BLC alumna.

After the service, there was a nice dinner. As

Rev. Donald MoldstadBethany Chaplain

from the chapeL

Chapel continued on page 4

education that lasts beyond a lifetime 3

campus news

Brusses in China, celebrate Easter in Korea

people were leaving, a group of about twenty Bethany alumni gathered around one table. Besides the family members, we suddenly realized we were the last ones to leave. A woman who was hoping to convince her daughter to attend Bethany remarked, “This is what I want

my daughter to see.” It was a wonderful reminder of the bond of faith in Christ which God gives to the members of His Church.

What a privilege that our gracious Lord has chosen to give us the gift of faith in His Son! May we always cherish this gift, as we look forward to a heavenly reunion.

“Elect from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth,Her charter of salvationOne Lord, one faith, one birth.One holy name she blesses,Partakes one holy food,And to one hope she presses With every grace endued.” (ELH 486, v. 2, S.J.Stone)

President Dan and Mrs. Kathy Bruss traveled to United International

College (UIC) in Zhuhai, China, in March. They were the featured speakers on March 18, 2008, at UIC’s first High Table Dinner. The Brusses spoke on the topic “A Liberal Arts Education as Prepa-ration for Today’s Changing World.” The High Table Dinner is a special, formal occasion modeled after the Formal Hall in the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford and developed from the tradi-tions of Chinese colleges and Chinese classical culture. The Brusses also had the opportunity to speak with a signifi-cant number of administrators, faculty, and students from UIC. Bethany and UIC inked a formal partnership in Octo-ber 2007. During the spring semester, Bethany business professor, Janet Mold-stad, taught at UIC and three Bethany students, Daniel Tyrrell, Nancy Lendt, and Eric Anderson, enrolled at UIC during a semester abroad experience. UIC has grown from 200 students in the pilot spring semester in 2006 to 2,200 today. UIC plans to add new first-year classes of about 1,200 students each year.

The Brusses celebrated Good Friday and Easter Sunday in Seoul, Korea, at the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) Korean mission served by former

Bethany seminarian Pastor Young Ha Kim. Following the Easter service, Presi-dent Bruss delivered a presentation—translated by Pastor Kim—to more than 150 on the value of a Bethany education. The Brusses noted that Pastor Kim’s understanding of local culture is invalu-able.

Korean families are acutely aware of the importance of receiving a quality

college education. Pastor Kim is a strong advocate for Bethany in Korea. Parents of current Bethany students from Korea took turns hosting the Brusses for dinner as an expression of gratitude for the education their children are receiving.

In addition to the visit to ELS mission, the Brusses celebrated Easter with BLC alumna Amanda Fehr. Fehr is currently teaching English in the Seoul area.

Chapel continued from page 3

Above: Celebrating Easter with Pastor Young Ha Kim (bottom row left).

Right: UIC Executive Vice-President Prof. Kwok Siu Tong (left) with President and Mrs. Kathy Bruss on the trip to China.

Photos courtesy of Dan and Kathy Bruss


By Lance SchwartzDirector of Marketing and Public Relations

A sun-drenched afternoon was the perfect backdrop as the College held

groundbreaking for a new 66,000-square-foot academic building on Sunday, June 15, 2008. The event coincided with the opening service of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) Convention.

The edifice will occupy a prominent campus location at the corner of Marsh and Division streets. The yet unnamed building will be home to the departments of communication, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and religion. The academic facility will feature many state of the art technological enhance-ments and will include new spaces for the communication department’s studios.

Local firms will play a significant role in the construction of the building. Mankato-based Paulsen Architects are the principal architectural firm for the project and the general contractor is RW Carlstrom Inc. Actual construction on the building is scheduled to commence in late July 2008.

Future updates on construction prog-ress will be communicated in the Bethany Report magazine as well as the College’s Web site at www.blc.edu.

campus news

New building to house four departments

Rendering courtesy of Paulsen Architects

The new academic building as viewed from the corner of Marsh Street and Luther Drive.

Participants in the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, June 15, 2008, were (from left) Prof. Mark Harstad (Religion Dept.), Prof. Lars Johnson (English Dept.), Dr. Jonas Nissen (Communication Dept.), Rachel Anthony (chair of building committee), Zachary Pieper (student body president), Matthew Coulsey (alumni representative), Dr. William Kessel (Social/Behavioral Sciences Dept.), John Moldstad Sr. (chair, Board of Regents), Vice Pres. of Academic Affairs Ron Younge, Scott Umhoefer (contractor representative), Bryan Paulsen (architect representative), Mankato Mayor John Brady, President Dan Bruss, ELS President John Moldstad.

Marsh Street

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Elm Street

Luther DriveLuther Court

Luther Drive Marsh Street

Sports and

Fitness Center

GullixsonHall

CommunicationCenter

TeigenHall

LutherHall

OldMain

MemorialLibrary

LarsonHall

Meyer Hall of Science andMathematics

PhysicalPlant

EdgewoodPlace

TrinityChapel

YlvisakerFine ArtsCenter

Academic building location

PresidentsHall

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campus news

By Emma BaumannCommunication Specialist

As the 2007-08 academic year drew to a close, many Bethany students

were thinking about summer vacations, especially with the warm weather that emerged on commencement day after a cold and unpredictable spring season. But for the graduating seniors, the end of the semester meant a lot more than summer break—it meant the completion of their time at Bethany and moving on to a new chapter of life.

On Friday, May 16, 2008, these young men and women received their bachelor’s degrees at commencement. The cere-mony began with the traditional proces-sion of graduates from Old Main, which was shown live in the auditorium via a video screen. President Bruss welcomed the graduates by reminding them that commencement is “an event that ushers in a new and exciting period of life.” One hundred three bachelor of arts degrees were awarded at the ceremony, forty-eight of them to honor graduates.

Alumnus Rev. Larry Burgdorf, a 1950 graduate of Bethany, gave the commence-ment address. The theme of his address was “Are You Happy Now?” during which he pointed out the differences between the world’s view of happiness and the happi-ness that is produced by the One Thing Needful. He stressed how important it is for the graduates to keep a solid founda-tion in their future. Burgdorf also spoke briefly about the late Marvin M. Schwan who had been his roommate at Bethany and lifelong friend.

A 1949 graduate of Bethany, Schwan was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award posthumously later in the cere-mony. Schwan is the late president and founder of the Schwan Food Company of Marshall, Minnesota. He was an active church member whose philanthropy made the growth and expansion of

Bethany Lutheran College possible. Marvin’s brother, Alfred, accepted the award on behalf of the Schwan family.

As commencement ended, many tearful eyes were seen among family and friends of the graduates during the choir’s last anthem. After the ceremony, graduates and their families gathered on the lawn to celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy a beautiful afternoon. Congratula-tions to all of the 2007-08 graduates of Bethany Lutheran College.

For more commencement photos and information, visit: www.blc.edu/commencement

Photos by David Norris

Top: (from left) Lucas and Regina Hendricks, Elizabeth and Paul GansenAbove left: (from left) Ashley Uecker, Jamie Trebesch, and Meghan HenningAbove: (from left) Laura Fehr and John Henry III

Commencement


campus news

Distinguished Alumnus Award honors the late Marvin M. SchwanBy Emma BaumannCommunication Specialist

The Schwan Food Company is well known in the Bethany community.

Not only is the company famous for its ice cream and delivery trucks, but it is also known to the College for another reason. Marvin M. Schwan, founder and late president of the Schwan Food Company, was more than just a businessman—he was a strong Christian who was dedicated to spreading the Gospel.

At the Bethany commencement cere-mony on May 16, 2008, Schwan, a 1949 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, was honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his generosity toward the college and his dedication to the work of the Church throughout his life. His brother and business partner, Alfred Schwan, accepted the award on behalf of the Schwan family. Schwan spoke fondly about his brother, pointing out that Marvin was very humble and always wanted the focus to be on the One Thing Needful rather than on himself.

From the beginning of his career, Marvin Schwan showed generosity toward Bethany. He began by sending ice cream to the Bethany food service. In 1969, he helped establish the first Reserve Fund, which helped Bethany earn North Central Accreditation. Later on, Schwan helped plan and fund the construction of the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center. Not only did he give gifts to the college during this time, but he also challenged his fellow alumni to donate as well. Schwan’s gener-osity toward Bethany is apparent not only in the physical expansion of the campus, but also in the way he supported schol-arship funds, faculty development, and

endowments. He helped motivate Beth-any to work for a broader support base so that the institution could survive into the twenty-first century.

Aside from the support he gave to Bethany, Schwan funded mission work in countries around the world as well as home missions. As his brother Alfred explained, “Marvin wanted to spread the gospel to people all over the world.” According to Alfred Schwan, the most outstanding thing about Marvin—more outstanding than his business accom-plishments and humble nature—was “his tremendous love for his Lord Jesus Christ.”

Top: (from left) President Dan Bruss, Alfred Schwan, and commencement speaker Rev. Larry Burgdorf.

Right: Alfred Schwan spoke about Marvin after his acceptance of the award on behalf of his brother during the commencement ceremony on May 16.



fine arts

Ultimate ClassroomBy Lance SchwartzDirector of Marketing and Public Relations

Bethany professor of art Bill Bukowski has traveled at least 62,000 miles with student art

groups during the past fifteen years—and that’s just miles in the air—it doesn’t count the miles walked through the streets of Rome, Venice, Florence, Paris, London, and New York and in the renowned museums found in these famous cities. The hours are long; the days are filled with interesting art tours and lectures conducted by Bukowski in the world’s greatest museums.

Without a doubt, the experience is enriching, if not—at times—tiring. In today’s world of high-definition (HD) video and virtual tours, the classroom experience is certainly more visual and vivid than ever.

So what would drive a professor to log thousands of miles traveling the globe to study works of art?

“I really love to share something that I value so much,” says Bukowski.

“Visiting these cities, conducting a tour in these world-renowned art museums verifies everything I teach in the classroom and gives my students the most vivid educational experience possible.”

“Even though the days are long, I can say that, as a teacher, the entire experience of studying art in its natural setting refreshes and revitalizes me and the students as well.”

Pursuing the

Top left: Bill Bukowski with his wife, Sherri, who accompanies him on almost all of the art trips.

Photos courtesy of Bill Bukowski, Peter Poplaski, and Kevin and Judy Madsen

8

Bukowski’s first trip to New York with students was in 1991. Since then he’s taken groups to the Big Apple fifteen times and has traveled to Europe with students eleven times. In addition, he has traveled to and lived in Europe for academic enrichment and study. One of his residences was in Italy as he studied the painting process of fresco in preparation for the beginning of his work in the College’s Meyer Hall entitled “The Creation Fresco.”

The process of planning an art tour usually begins well over a year in advance of departure.

“I visualize a trip and plan every day based on what I think the students can handle,” says Bukowski.

“When I have the perfect trip on paper, I work with a travel planner to iron out the details.”

Flexibility is the key to a good trip for Bukowski.

“Things do come up and with proper plan-ning, if something doesn’t pan out, you can just go to plan B.”

For instance, during last spring’s trip to Paris, a rumored strike at the Louvre materialized while they were in Paris and forced Bukowski to opt to tour another museum.

What certainly could be billed as a “trip of a lifetime” for students really isn’t the way that Bukowski would like to frame the experience.

“I tell the students, don’t consider this the ulti-mate art trip—consider it your first big art trip.”

Bukowski considers the trip successful if the experience leads the student to a lifetime love of art.

In order to capture the emotion of an art trip (and to earn academic credit), Bukowski requires

students to keep a personal journal of their expe-riences. He explains, “Writing down experiences is more vivid than a snapshot. Writing evokes your senses in a way that a photo cannot.”

Judging by the reaction of current Bethany sophomore, Stephanie Ranthum, there is no limit to the effectiveness of an art trip. An excerpt from her personal journal reads, “There are some things that people need to feel and find out for themselves and this is one of those instances. I cannot express enough the benefits of travel. You learn things in a moment that years of school may not be able to burn in your brain.”

A small contingent of alumni and friends of the College usually join Bukowski and his students on the trip.

Bukowski’s wife, Sherri (’74), has accom-panied the group on nearly all of the trips. He says that having Sherri along is special for many reasons.

“She really provides a comforting influence for the students and understands the limita-tions that all day art tours can pose. She keeps me grounded during the times that I may push a little too hard.”

As far as future trips, don’t expect to see a lot of itinerary changes. Bukowski knows the best museums and really has the process down to a science. The smile on his face and twinkle in his eye when he talks about the trips gives the answer the next participants are looking for—there will be many more rewarding art travel experiences for future students at Bethany Lutheran College.

9

athletics

Spring sports teams receive honorsBy Joe BaerSophomore, Business Administation

BaseballThe Bethany men’s baseball team finished

the season with a 22-15 record, including a 12-6 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) record.

Individual All-Conference awards went to Tyler Carlson, Pete Harstad, Darin Hendley Ashton Dorris, and Justin Schwecke. Trent Sonnicksen, the Vikings’ freshman shortstop, earned honorable mention and was awarded UMAC Rookie of the Year honors. Alex Smith also earned honorable mention. The team placed second in the conference tournament with four individuals making the All-Tournament team (Dorris, Harstad, Smith, and Schwecke).

“I am going to miss the seniors that we lose this year,” said head coach Ryan Kragh. “They were the first kids that I recruited here at Beth-any, and they have helped to build this program at the Division III level for Bethany. They are great kids, students, teammates, and citizens.”

The Vikings will be strong on the mound next year and look to use their depth and young players to build on a great 2008 season.

SoftballThe Bethany women’s softball team finished

off the 2008 season with an 8-21 record, and went 8-12 in the UMAC earning a fifth place finish in league standings.

The Vikings were led by designated hitter Anna Ristow in many offensive categories. Ristow, a junior, earned UMAC honorable mention team for her efforts. Brittany Schlomer also received UMAC honorable mention on the All-Defensive team for her play in center field.

Sophomore Susan Hegstrom was the only Viking to be awarded UMAC First Team All-Conference. She also received All-Defensive team honors for her play at third.

Only two Vikings were on the mound this season, proving an amazing feat. Senior Amy Stevens pitched a staggering 118.2 innings and appeared in 22 games, while starting 20. She

pitched 17 games from start to finish. Abigail Popp pitched the innings Stevens couldn’t fill. Popp pitched in 12 games, and started nine. She finished the season with 51.1 innings pitched.

As for next season, head coach Leigh Ann LaFave said, “We lose two seniors, Amy Stevens, our starting pitcher, and Bridget Burger, our starting first baseman.”

The Vikings will welcome several new play-ers to the team next season. LaFave added, “We should have more depth in every position and look for these incoming students to contribute right from the start.”

Men’s tennisThe Bethany men’s tennis team finished with

a humble 1-13 record (1-7 UMAC). A bit of inexperience and tough match-ups plagued the Vikings.

Senior Ryan Latterman played number one for the Vikings and always faced the top compe-tition. It was Latterman’s third year in the number one spot. Coach Adolph Harstad noted that the two seniors, Ryan Latterman and A.J. Hafner, “will be missed for their play and good character.”

Juniors Jeff Huber and Paul Webber played number five and six for the Vikings and mustered the most success against the oppo-sition. Huber finished the season 6-9 while Webber put up a 4-7 record in single matches. Michael Lukasek, also a junior, won four games for the Vikings.

In doubles, the combination of Lukasek and Webber went an even 4-4. The Londgren brother combination of Peter and Trevor also won three doubles matches throughout the year.

“Last year we did not win a meet. This year we had a good chance to win at least half of our meets. The team matured and showed it by not giving up,” said head coach Adie Harstad of the season.

VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS VIKINGS

Sports continued on page 11

Photos by Sport PiX


fffall festivalSeptember 26–28, 2008

Join us for Alumni Reunions for all classes

ending in 3 or 8, Family Weekend,

Arts on the Green, Theatre Physics, and much more!

Women’s tennisThe Bethany women’s tennis team

finished off their 2008 season with a 5-9 record, while going an even 4-4 in the UMAC. They placed third in the confer-ence standings.

The women had four 9-0 sweeps, two against UM-Morris, and one each against Martin Luther and UM-Crookston. In the second meet against Martin Luther, the women continued their winning ways

with a 6-3 win. Elizabeth Kopacek, Meaghan Dahlke,

and Kalyn Ivers were all awarded All-Conference honors. Dahlke won five singles matches of her own and Ivers combined with three other Viking players to post a 4-2 doubles record. Caitlyn Felt-hous won four singles matches and Emily Birnstengel, Alison Stavig, and Madara Matveja all won three singles matches for the Vikings throughout the year.

“It was a lot of fun to go into all our meets this year knowing that we could be

highly competitive,” said head coach Adie Harstad.

“And yes, it was fun to win five meets in rather convincing fashion. But God also knows how to keep us humble, and he used Scholastica, NWC, and Hamline to do that and to show us that there is room for improvement.”

The Vikings will look to build off this promising year and improve as they take on the UMAC with their added experi-ence.

Sports continued from page 10

academics

Students end academic year with many projects

The academic work of Bethany students extends far beyond the

classroom. The closing weeks of each semester are especially interesting and exhilarating times as seniors and other students showcase the best of their studies.

During the final weeks of the term, a variety of individual and class proj-ects are presented and displayed on the campus. The majority of these proj-ects, performances, and presentations are open to the campus community and the public. From entertaining and informative physics shows, inspiring

art exhibits and musical performances, theatrical presentations, and thought-provoking academic projects, Bethany students display their best works at the close of the academic year.

Left: Jessica Benesh presented her psychology research findings.

Below: Brittany Zabel, Kristian Botten, Amun Bordain, and Joseph Finlay during part of a physics presentation.


faculty news

Dr. Robert Hanna is contacted from overseas to lend his expertise on identifying the author of a Welsh poem

When the editor of the premier Welsh literary journal Llên Cymru

needed assistance in identifying an obscure Welsh poem, handwritten in an album containing an original Dickens poem, he knew whom to contact. Dr. Aled Williams, Professor of Welsh at the University of Wales asked Bethany’s Dr. Robert Hanna, Professor of English, to provide him with as much information about the poem as possible, even before Hanna’s reference book Dickens’s Nonfic-tional, Theatrical, and Poetical Writings: An Annotated Bibliography 1820-2000 was published (see Bethany Report, Fall 2007, page 9). Williams then translated Hanna’s account and published it in the journal.

“The Welsh poem is really quite a mystery,” says Hanna. “It’s highly unusual to find someone writing Welsh in London in the 1830s. However, with the album’s connection to both Dickens and his sister Fanny, the odds of learning the identity of the poem’s author significantly increase.”

Here is Hanna’s original article about this literary mystery, published for the first time in English with the kind permission of Llên Cymru.

IDENTITYA case of mysterious

Photo illustration by David Norris

12

For my volume in the AMS Press series of anno-tated bibliographies of the complete works of Charles Dickens, I have been examining some of Charles Dickens’s manuscripts. His poem titled “A Fable. (Not a gay one)” is found in an album which once belonged to Ellen Beard, sister of both Thomas Beard, Dickens’s lifelong friend, and Francis (Frank) Beard, later the Dickens family physician.

In reviewing the contents of Ellen Beard’s album, one finds on its third page an original Welsh poem, composed just for Ellen. It reads:

Moesau da, a calon lon,Pob hedd, a golud ddigonVo i ti, tra dan y nen,Y lana un, vy Elen.

As this poem is unsigned and is in a handwriting not found elsewhere in the album, it raises several interesting questions.

First, who was the family member or friend who wrote this to Ellen? Second, how did this person know Welsh? Third, what was the relationship, if any, between this person and Dickens? It is not

unreasonable to suppose that this person was known to Dickens in some capacity, inasmuch as Dickens recorded his poem for Ellen on pages 7 and 8, which might indicate that both poems were recorded on the same day, assuming that Ellen started soliciting contributions as soon as she received the album on 20 September 1834, a little more than a month after her twelfth birthday.

In 1834, the entire Beard family resided at 42 Portman Place on Edgeware Road, between Great North Street, since renamed Frampton Street, and Princess Street, since renamed Boscobel Street, in London. The Beards first moved there in 1832, and, as Ellen never married, it is likely she still lived at this address at least until 1855, when her father Nathaniel died at their residence. The Beard family members were Nathaniel Beard (1776-1855) and Catherine Charlotte Carr, parents of Thomas (1807-1891), Catherine Charlotte (1808-1893), Nathaniel (1810-1855), William (1812-1905), Fran-cis Carr (1814-1893), Jane Frances (1818-1886), Margaret Mary (1820-1891), Ellen (1822-1915), and Marian (1824-1902).

If it is still possible to determine whose writing in Welsh appears in Ellen Beard’s album, the mystery can most likely be solved by identifying the hand-writing or by discovering who among the Beard family or Ellen’s friends knew Welsh, or possibly who among Charles Dickens’s family or acquain-tances knew Welsh.

— Dr. Robert Hanna

The unknown Welsh poet among the Dickens and Beard circle in 1834

May you have good manners, and a glad heart,Constant peace, and ample wealth,While under heaven,The fairest one, my Ellen.

Hanna is pleased that his research is already aiding other scholars across the globe.

Just months after the publication of his Dickens reference book, Dr. Christine Alexander, Professor of English at the University of New South Wales in Australia, wrote “The Juvenilia of Charles Dickens: Romance and Reality” for the March 2008 issue of Dickens Quarterly. In her article, she states, “I am particularly grateful to Hanna for his work,” and

refers to his commentary and conclusions six differ-ent times.

Hanna adds, “My research on the Welsh poem and Dickens’s juvenilia is a direct result of a grant approved by Bethany’s Faculty Development Committee. It’s this support which is enabling faculty at the University of Wales and the Univer-sity of New South Wales to monitor what Bethany faculty members are researching and publishing.”


Bethany Lutheran College is seeking comments from the public about the

College in preparation for its periodic evaluation by its accrediting agency. The College will undergo a comprehensive evaluation visit October 27-29, 2008, by a team representing the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Asso-ciation of Colleges and Schools. Bethany Lutheran College received candidate status for accreditation in 1969 and has been fully accredited by the Commis-sion since 1974. The team will review the institution’s ongoing ability to meet the Commission’s Criteria for Accreditation.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding the College to:

Public Comment on Bethany Lutheran College

The Higher Learning Commission30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400Chicago, IL 60602

Comments must address substan-tive matters related to the quality of the institution or its academic programs. Comments must be in writing and signed. Comments cannot be treated as confidential.

All comments must be received by September 26, 2008.

Pursuing Balance2008 Bethany Lutheran College Women’s Retreat

October 24–25, 2008 Country Inn & Suites, Chanhassen, Minnesota

• Does your to–do list never get shorter?• Is your health the last thing you have time for?• Struggling to find personal time for your faith?• Wondering how to feed your family and save money?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, join us as we relax together and focus on faith, health, families, and finances.

Information and registration can be found at: www.blc.edu/womensretreat

Accreditation comments welcome


By Emma BaumannCommunication Specialist

s a young aspiring artist, Jason Jaspersen lamented that his high

school, Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) in New Ulm, Minnesota, didn’t have an art program. Now, as an art teacher there, he is thankful for the oppor-tunity to watch firsthand as the MVL art program expands and improves.

Since Jaspersen could not study art during the school year at MVL, he opted to spend a few weeks each summer attend-ing the Young Michelangelo Art Camp at Bethany Lutheran College.

“One or two weeks during the summer kept me going all year,” he explains.

Although he hadn’t initially planned on attending Bethany for college, Jaspersen’s experience with the art camp influenced his decision.

“I would definitely credit Bethany with my choice to become an artist,” he says.

He received his associate’s degree from Bethany in 1997, and then went on to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2000.

In his current position at MVL, and as a freelance artist, Jaspersen always has a steady stream of work. But it didn’t start out that way. His commissioned work came about through a set of unlikely circumstances that got him to where he is today.

“Crisis and controversy…and emergen-cies have been good for me,” Jaspersen says of the opportunities that emerged from difficult times.

The same is also true about his call to MVL. What was supposed to be a one-year temporary call turned into seven years of teaching, and Jaspersen couldn’t be happier.

Thanks to recent renovations at MVL, the art department has been transformed from a small one-room classroom to two large studio art rooms, complete with

enough space and equipment needed for every art class.

As for Jaspersen’s commissioned proj-ects, he explains that public art is special because it becomes part of a person’s experience when they visit a certain place. For example, his latest project—four cement-cast relief sculptures—can be seen at the entrance of the Watonwan County Library in St. James, Minnesota. The relief sculptures portray ‘what’s in a library,’ including three images of differ-ent readers and one six-foot long image of a book.

“It was a particularly good experience,” Jaspersen comments.

He hopes the sculptures will leave an impression on visitors of the library.

From a high school student looking for a place to study art, to an art instruc-tor teaching at his former high school, Jaspersen has come full circle.

Although there are more public sculp-tures in the works, Jaspersen isn’t quite sure what’s in store for the future. His advice: “God is in charge. Just do your work.”

A

Jaspersen’s turn to influence young artistsalumnus profile: Jason Jaspersen, Class of ’97

View more photos of Jason Jaspersen’s work at: flickr.com/photos/jjjaspersen

Some of Jaspersen’s relief sculptures in progress for the Wantonwan County Library in St. James, Minnesota.

Photo courtesy of Jason Jaspersen

Photo by David Norris

Jason Jaspersen in one of the art classrooms where he teaches at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School in New Ulm, Minnesota.


1948Elsie (Busch) Gruenewald has been

married to her husband, Richard, for fifty-seven years. They are both enjoying retirement, watching grandchildren in sporting events, volunteering, and help-ing at their church. Elsie and Richard have six children, sixteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Vera (Ewert) Lundquist and her husband Lynn are celebrating their fifti-eth wedding anniversary in June 2008. Vera sends greetings to her former class-mates.

1964Dale and Carol (Solli) Ander-

son (’66) are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary on June 22, 2008. They have three children and five grand-children. Their daughter is a marine at Cherry Point, North Carolina. They hope everyone will keep the nation’s military in their prayers.

1966Daniel Turpen says hello to old friends

and classmates at Bethany. He plans to return to Bethany for a class reunion in the future.

1968Doug Hitch retired in 2004, but is now

back to work teaching neon sign technol-ogy at Evergreen State College in Olym-pia, Washington, as well as working as a CAD drafting instructor at Washington State Prison.

Dorothy Wezler retired in June of 2006 after teaching second and third grade for thirty-six years in the St. Paul public school system.

1969Charles Narges currently works as

an HVAC/refrigeration specialist in Wisconsin, where he lives with his wife Mary. Their daughter, Christy (Narges) Madigan (’93), has three children and works as a strategic consultant of infor-mation technology at Mercury Marine. Their son, Brent Narges (’92), has three children and is the deputy chief at the Pittsburg Police Department in Kansas.

1981Lois (Gullixson) Johnson and her

husband, Steve, live south of Mankato, Minnesota, with their son, Joshua, who is a junior in high school. Lois works at The Lighthouse Book and Gift Store, and is involved in music at Mount Olive Lutheran Church. She invites Bethany friends to visit her.

1982Allison (Cain) DeRaad continues to

work as director of activities at Samaritan Bethany Home in Rochester, Minnesota. She also works as a peer trainer of the organization Culture Change, and is the secretary, organist, and choir director at her church. Allison and her husband, Les, celebrated their twenty-third wedding anniversary in May. They have two daughters: Holland (21), who is working as a graphic designer, and Hailley (17), who is active in cheerleading and music at school.

Richard Hendricks is still serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He and his wife, Theresa, have five chil-dren: Rick (27) in Bremerton, Wash-ington; Luke (24) who graduated from Bethany in 2008 with his wife, Regina (Langhorst); Lena (22) in Atlanta, Geor-gia; Lauren (18) in Virginia; and J.T. (17) in Kentucky. Richard will complete his master of arts degree in marriage and family therapy from Amridge University in December 2008.

1986Mitchell Krauss will be deployed in August to Okinawa for two years. His family will remain in Virginia. Mitchell’s oldest son, Zachariah, will graduate from Colonial Beach High School in Colonial Beach, Virginia, on June 15, 2008.

1987Michele (Johnson) Rysavy is married

to Brian and they have two children: Anna (18) and Daniel (16). Michele teaches fourth grade in Owatonna.

1989Jill Blekestad-Ruehling has been

married to her husband, Rick, for seven-teen years. Jill is a nurse at Madelia Clinic. Rick is the director of store opera-tions at Hy-Vee in New Ulm, Minnesota. The couple has six children: Kaleb (17), Chantel (15), Chania (11), Kolten (8), Kavan (5), and Chakylin (4).

1991Tara (Underdahl) Parmenter is preg-

nant with her second child, due August 28, 2008. Her first child, Eli, will be in first grade in the fall. Tara’s husband, Todd, recently started a new job in Minnesota. The family is currently living in Chaska, Minnesota.

1994Tiffany (Britt) Vaughn is currently

living in Marion, Alabama. She works as the director of the Perry County Public Library and is active in the community. Tiffany has been married since 2000, and has a son named Isaac. The family lives in a historic home that was built in 1830.

1995Andrew and Anne (Hansen) Mundt

live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Andrew is a professor of chemistry at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Anne works part-time as the program director for the Lighthouse Youth Center, an inner-city outreach mission. They have a daughter, Claire, who arrived on August 11, 2007.

alumni news


alumni news

Ann Sturm-Leshovsky married Dan Leshovsky in September 2004. They had a son, Charlie, in May 2006. The family currently resides in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Sean and Rachel (Crites) Kreutzen-spitz welcomed a new baby, Lady Isabella, on April 22, 2008. Their pet Pomeranian, Izzi, celebrated her first birthday on May 28, 2008.

1997Ben Boche graduated from medi-

cal school in May 2008. He is currently undergoing residency training in San Diego, California. Ben serves as a Lieu-tenant in the United States Navy.

1998Elizabeth (Reagles) Bruns lives in

Faribault, Minnesota, with her husband, Lynn, and three children: Katherine (5), Jacob (3), and Annaliese (1). She works as a registered nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester.

Nathan Menges married Edie Groeb-ner on July 29, 2000. They have three daughters: Maggie, Sammy, and Natalie. The family is currently in the process of moving from New Ulm to Roseville, Minnesota, where Nathan works as a project engineer.

2001Samuel Gullixson taught English as

a Second Language in South Korea and Chile for a year each. He is now in his second year at Bethany’s seminary. His expected graduation date is May of 2010. While attending seminary, Sam and his wife, Anna (Norman) (’06) are living in Teigen Hall as resident managers. Anna is currently working as a substitute teacher for the Mankato School District.

2003Tasha (Ruser) Cartwright and her

husband, Joseph, announce the birth of their daughter, Hannah Marie Cart-wright, on November 13, 2007. Tasha is an event planner and marketing director for Sweet Financial Services in Fairmont, Minnesota. Joseph has recently expanded his business, Cartwright Body & Paint in Winnebago, Minnesota.

2004Estelle Tesch was married to Michael

Vlieger on June 17, 2007. Alumni who

were part of the wedding included Ryan Tesch (’07), Jennifer Krueger (’07), Rebecca Ringen (’04), Rebekah (Hervey) Cyphers (’02), and Eric Woller (’92). The couple resides in Fair-fax, Minnesota, where Michael teaches grades 5–8 at Prairie Lutheran School. Estelle continues to work in admissions at Bethany Lutheran College.

Charis Carmichael Braun earned her Master of Fine Arts from the New York Academy of Art, and is now working on paying her student loans. Her husband, Andrew Braun (’99), is a bench cabi-netmaker for a Brooklyn woodworking firm catering to high-end clients. They are actively volunteering in their church, Sure Foundation, Queens, where Andrew serves as President of the congregation and church development coordinator. Charis is the interior designer, and will be working on paintings for the sanctuary. Living in “Little India” in New York City, they plan to stay there until the Lord decides to move them elsewhere!

Jana Lancette was married to Brent Kodesh on September 8, 2007.

Sara Schneider will be married on July 26, 2008, in Duluth, Minnesota, to Daniel Ellenwood, a graduate of the University of North Dakota.

In Memoriam1976

Marilyn K. Petersen, 52, of Milton, Wisconsin, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2008, at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Mequon. She was born on Nov. 25, 1955, in Mason City, Iowa, a daughter of the Rev. Paul and Lois (Bergum) Petersen. Marilyn gradu-ated from Bethany Lutheran College in 1976, and also graduated from Edge-wood College in Madison, Wisconsin. She received her Masters of Social Work Degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison. Marilyn’s professional career was in the area of alcohol and drug coun-seling, most recently serving as clinical director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program at Beloit Memorial Hospital. Marilyn was a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, and she served on the state of Wisconsin Certification Review Board. She is survived by her mother, Lois Petersen of Janesville, Wisconsin; broth-ers and sisters: the Rev. Steven (Kathleen) Petersen of North Mankato, Minnesota, Elizabeth (the Rev. Christian) Morales of Chesapeake, Virginia, the Rev. John (Joyce) Petersen of North Mankato, Minnesota, and Emily (Paul) Lewan-dowski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; close friend, Larry Delaney; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, an infant sister, and an infant nephew. Funeral services were held at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Janesville, Wiscon-sin, on Friday, March 21, 2008.


alumni news

Juul Madson — 1920-2008By Kyle Madson and Erling T. Teigen

When Juul B. Madson died April 3, 2008, 74 of his 87 years had

been lived in close connection to Bethany Lutheran College. He came to Bethany in 1934 as a freshman in high school, graduated from junior college in 1940, and returned briefly in 1942 to teach German and coach high school basketball. After serv-ing in the parish ministry from 1946 to 1970, he returned to the campus, serving in both the College and the Seminary, teaching Greek, and reli-gion in the college, and New Testament Isagogics and Exegesis in the seminary. Even after retiring from full time teach-ing, he was called to serve the College as chaplain from 1990 until 1995.

Born November 17, 1920, in Iowa to Norman and Elsie Madson, Juul Benja-min Madson spent his first years in the parsonage at Bode, Iowa. While Norman Madson had friends in the small group of pastors and congregations who refused to join the merger of some of the Norwe-gian church bodies in 1917, by 1925 he had come to the conclusion that he could not continue in the “merger church” and joined the fledgling “little Norwegian Synod.” Thus he was on hand when the Norwegian Synod purchased Bethany Ladies College in 1927, and was always a staunch supporter of the school.

Juul was the second of seven children, all of whom would attend both high school and junior college at Bethany on their way to their various vocations. Having watched his elder sister, Vivian, head off to Bethany one year prior, it was Juul’s turn to be introduced to Bethany Lutheran High School, a freshman in the year 1934.

While certainly distinct in name, Juul distinguished himself early in life as an exceptional student as well, even by-passing a grade during his

childhood education in the one-room school house outside Princeton, Minne-sota. His academic success continued to flourish under the faculty of the high school at Bethany. Juul excelled in diverse disciplines, demonstrating an extraor-dinary knack for English and other languages as well, a gift which would continue to serve him in his future minis-try. Many of his colleagues, in the minis-try as well as in education, would single out his keen eye for punctuation, spelling, grammar, and above all, style.

Juul was academically gifted, but not at all to the exclusion of extra-curricular interests. In his six years of schooling at Bethany, Juul’s activities ran the gamut from the a cappella choir and the Beth-any chorus to jumping center on the basketball team, from student body president and Scroll staff member to the Camera Club and contributing member to numerous baseball teams. In his years as a parish pastor and college and semi-nary professor, however, he especially

distinguished himself as a golfer, putting to shame many a younger man (at least one of the undersigned included).

Though perhaps known best in later years for his stoic demeanor and his sage counsel, even Juul himself is archived as having been a member of Bethany High School’s own Nit-Wit Club of 1937 whose motto read, “when you don’t do anything, do it right.” Regarding the myriad of activi-ties in which he was involved, Juul himself remembered one most fondly from the book, With Hearts and Lips

Forever, We Shall in God Rejoice: “Of all my experiences at Bethany…

I remember most fondly the choir trips even though they were not expeditions to more exciting places such as the British Isles and Norway. We were quite content with travels to Northern Minnesota and Iowa…and (the folks) couldn’t do enough to make us welcome.”

A Seminary student from Latvia, Gundars Bakulis, who had turned from being a doctor of medicine to the ministry at about the time of the fall of the Soviet Union, studied under Juul at Bethany Seminary in the 1990s and summarized his impact as a teacher:

“Juul Madson had some of that gentle-men dignity which today is pretty much lost. For me he always was a bright reminder of the generation of my coun-try… Even though the Atlantic ocean was lying between the very different history and life stories, amazingly I saw in Juul much similarity with his contemporary youth of the so-called, ‘golden youth’ of my country.”

Bakulis also captured what distin-quished Juul in the classroom:

“His distinct ability during my study years at Bethany was that he was able to direct attention to the importance of

in memoriam

Photo courtesy of New Generation Studio

Madson continued on page 19


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a single little phrase or even a prefix in Scripture, not in a vain scholastic manner, but in a meaningful way.”

Juul’s wry humor, sometimes outra-geous, but always dignified, was also typified by this recollection:

“[My wife] remembered his joke, when she and a bunch of Bethany ladies accom-panied by Juul Madson attended a cafe after a play in Minneapolis. The male waiter who attended their table, after they had the main course, not paying much attention to Juul’s presence at the table, asked: ‘Would you care for some dessert, ladies?’ To which Juul replied on spot: ‘No, thank you madame.’”

Juul Madson’s service to the Evan-gelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) cannot go unremarked. He served in many capaci-ties, on various boards and committees. Most notable, however, was his long time service on the Doctrine Committee of the Synod, much of that as its most meticu-lous secretary. That long time service, ending in his retirement in 2007, was interrupted by three and a half years of service as President of the ELS from 1966 to 1970, when he accepted the call to the College and Seminary.

Through six years of sturdy academic and spiritual instruction, the fostering of priceless Christian companionship, and countless opportunities in athletics and the arts, Bethany High School and College had left an indelible mark on Juul Benjamin Madson. In time and accord-ing to God’s plan, Juul would have the opportunity to return the favor.

Madson continued from page 18


august4 Bethany Sports Classic and Brunch Mankato Golf Club4 Open House, 9 a.m.23 Residence Halls open, 8 a.m.24 Opening Service, 3:30 p.m., South Gym26 Classes begin, 8 a.m.

september26-28 Fall Festival26 Theatre Physics, 7 p.m., YFAC Theater27 Arts on the Green, 10 a.m.27 Theatre Physics, 9 p.m., YFAC Theater28 Theatre Physics, 2 p.m., YFAC Theater

october9 Lutefisk Supper24, 25 BLC Women’s Retreat Chanhassen, Minnesota30 Reformation Vespers 4 p.m., Trinity Chapel

november14, 15 “Romeo and Juliet” 7:30 p.m., YFAC Theater16 “Romeo and Juliet” 2 p.m., YFAC Theater21, 22 “Romeo and Juliet” 7:30 p.m., YFAC Theater25 Fall Semester Honors Recital 7 p.m., Trinity Chapel

december4-7 Christmas at Bethany Concert 4 p.m., Trinity Chapel4 Fall Semester Student Art Show and Reception, 7 p.m., YFAC Gallery

For more calendar events, visit: www.blc.edu

Bethany Lutheran College is offering a number of opportunities for prospective students to visit the campus this year. Open House events will include a multi-media presentation and a tour of the campus with a current Bethany student.

Open HousesSeptember 27, 2008 December 6, 2008October 16, 2008 February 7, 2009October 17, 2008 April 18, 2009November 15, 2008

There are also opportunities to chat online with current Bethany students and ask them questions about college life. Go to our website and click on the CHAT icon to get started.

Chat Dates

November 25, 2008 February 16, 2009January 18, 2009 April 14, 2009February 5, 2009

For more information on any of these events call the admissions office at 800-944-3066 or visit the Web site at www.blc.edu/admissions.

Visiting Opportunities

Bethany Quick FactsLocation: Bethany is located in Mankato, Minnesota, an area of approximately 52,000 residents (eighty miles southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul).Campus: Overlooking the beautiful Minnesota River Valley, the campus occupies fifty acres with thirteen buildings and two athletic fields.Enrollment: While Bethany is continually growing, the average full-time enrollment is 550 students, with approximately thirty additional part-time students. Bachelor of Arts degree: Nineteen majors and twenty minors are offered. For more information, please visit www.blc.edu.

700 Luther DriveMankato, Minnesota56001-6163

education that lasts beyond a lifetime

Non ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDMinneapolis, MNPERMIT No. 4656

ADDReSS SeRViCe ReQUeSTeD

Key: SFC – Sports and Fitness Center; YFAC – Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center. Dates and times are subject to possible changes. Please call in advance to confirm dates and times of events before traveling: 800.944.3066 or 507.344.7000.

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Calendar of Events

spring 2008 bethany report

Documents

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