June 9, 2025

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58

On Saturday, May 17, we congratulated those students who earned undergraduate degrees, completing their ministerial training at MLC: 95 earned Bachelor of Science in Education or Bachelor of Science degrees, 30 earned Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Languages degrees or Seminary Certification, and seven earned Bachelor of Science in Staff Ministry or Staff Ministry Certifications.

The Commencement Service also included MLC’s first student to complete an Associate of Science degree and 17 students who graduated with master’s degrees.

Following the commencement service, graduates receiving assignments gathered with the campus family and community for the Call Service. Complete lists of May and summer assignments are available to view on the MLC website.

Watch the 2025 Commencement Reflections video on the MLC YouTube channel.

Pictured: Abigail Schewe (Peace-Janesville WI) and Julia Hallman (St. John-Watertown WI) smile as they enter the Commencement Service.

At the Faculty-Graduate Banquet on May 14, MLC presented Senior Achievement Awards to nine members of the 2025 graduating class. These awards honor graduates for outstanding achievement and service in academics, athletics, fine arts, and student government.

Front:

• Morgan Behnke (Trinity-Brillion WI) - Leading Scholar-Studies in Educational Ministry
• Isabel Monday (St. Peter-Appleton WI) - Fine Arts Award
• Joseph Ehlke (Good Shepherd-West Bend WI) - Jerome Kruse Knight Award for Athletic Achievement
• Emma Dorn (St. John-Redwood Falls MN) - Jerome Kruse Knight Award for Athletic Achievement & UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award

Back:

• Matthew Hillmer (St. Matthew-Oconomowoc WI) - UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award
• Ryan Boggs (St. Luke-Watertown WI) - Via Veritas Vita Award & Brooks Scholarship
• Noah Uhlenbrauck (St. Peter-Appleton WI) - Service Award
• Justus Borgwardt (St. John-New Ulm MN) - Leading Scholar-Studies in Pastoral Ministry & Student Body President Recognition

Not pictured:

• Grace Russell (Grace-Waupun WI) - Leading Scholar-Studies in Educational Ministry

Congratulations to this year’s 12 preseminary students who received Northwestern College Alumni Society Presidents Fund Grants for excellence in academics and student life!

Front:

• Preston Ballentine (Abiding Peace-Simpsonville SC) - Pres. Carleton Toppe Grant for GPA and Religion
• Ben Springstroh (St. Luke-Little Chute WI) - Pres. August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages (Latin)
• Jordan Otto (St. John-St. Paul MN) -Pres. Adam Martin Grant for Living Languages (Spanish)
• David Fenske (Our Savior-Brookings SD) - Pres. John A. Braun Grant for English
• Johannes Bourman (Mt. Lebanon-Milwaukee) - Pres. John A. Braun Grant for Leadership
• Jason Horn (Reformation-San Diego) - Pres. E.E. Kowalke Grant for Biblical Languages (Hebrew)

Back:

• Drew Esmay (Trinity-Temple TX) - Pres. E.E. Kowalke Grant for Biblical Languages (Greek)
• Tim Manning (St. Paul-New Ulm MN) - Pres. August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages (German)
• Thomas Balge (St. Paul-New Ulm MN) - Pres. August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages (Latin & German)
• Matthew Koelpin (Calvary-Dallas) - Pres. Robert J. Voss Grant for Student Government
• Stephen Wietzke (Crown of Life-Pueblo West CO) - Pres. Robert J. Voss Grant for Student Life
• Zach Maedke (Trinity-Coleman WI) - Pres. Carleton Toppe Grant for Worship and Music

Martin Luther College student-athletes received recognition across several sports this spring, as the UMAC announced its All-Conference awards.

Baseball:

• Parker Winghart (pictured, Our Savior-Brookings SD) - First Team All-UMAC
• Carlos Walta (Christ-Big Bend WI) - Honorable Mention All-UMAC
• Mark Vogel (Holy Trinity-Wyoming MI) - Honorable Mention All-UMAC

Women’s Track & Field All-UMAC:

• Jemimah Habben (Mt. Calvary-Flagstaff AZ)
• Elise Nolte (Riverview-Appleton WI)
• Madelinn Romsdahl (Emmaus-Phoenix)

Men’s Track & Field All-UMAC:

• Arthur Robinson (St. Paul-New Ulm MN)
• Daniel Ertman (Bethany-Fort Atkinson WI)
• Daniel Reinke (Trinity-Waukesha WI)
• Lucas Holtz (St. Paul-Appleton WI)
• Matthew Hillmer (St. Matthew-Oconomowoc WI)
• Micah Schibbelhut (St. Paul-Onalaska WI)
• Ryan Schmidt (Shepherd of the Hills-Tucson AZ)
• R.J. Perry (Our Savior-Brookings SD)
• Sam Plocher (Holy Trinity-Des Moines WA)
• Stephen Wietzke (Crown of Life-Pueblo West CO)

Women’s Tennis:

• Britney Prahl (St. Paul-New Ulm MN) - Second Team All-UMAC

Softball:

• Chloe Berg (David’s Star-Jackson WI) - Honorable Mention All-UMAC

See First-Team All-UMAC selections for the entire year on the MLC website.

On May 16, MLC held the Commencement Concert and the Honors Recital, celebrating the end of the school year and our student body’s musical gifts. The Commencement Concert included performances from every choir, the Wind Symphony, and the Hosanna Ringers.

The Honors Recital featured students selected for their demonstrated excellence in musicianship. See the list of recitalists below, and visit our SmugMug gallery for pictures of the concert and recital!

• Annemarie Backus (St. Mark-Watertown WI) - piano
• Ben Foster (Emanuel First-Lansing MI) - organ
• Joe Panning (St. Paul-Litchfield MN) - baritone (voice) & saxophone
• Emma Pufahl (Emmanuel-Tempe AZ) - soprano
• Emma Pufahl and Hope Sulzle (Peace-Cottonwood AZ) - pianos
• Abby Schmitz (St. Paul-New Ulm MN) - mezzo-soprano

There’s nothing better than welcoming the start of summer with yard games, softball, and barbecue!

The Swine Sizzler and Spamball tournament gave students not only a break from studying for exams, but also a chance for fellowship in beautiful weather.

See pictures from the weekend in our SmugMug gallery.

From Sunday, May 18, to Thursday, May 22, the MLC Wind Symphony presented their spring tour, Dances, Songs, and Legends, at congregations and schools throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

In addition to the regular concerts, the students also participated in worship services, presented demo concerts, and made classroom visits to talk about their experience at MLC.

View pictures from the tour in our SmugMug gallery.

Pictured: The MLC Wind Symphony presents a concert at St. Peter-Appleton WI.

The Summer 2025 MLC InFocus is almost here!

Learn about how our campus is “Grounded and Growing” in academic programs, worship ensembles, faith-building opportunities, and more!

Plus, see highlights from our year-in-review.

Calls Received:

• Dean James Danell received a call to serve as pastor at Divinity-St. Paul MN.
• Vice President Jeffrey Schone (student life) returned a call to be the part-time retirement pastor at Shepherd of the Hills-Fredericksburg TX.