Four MLC profs to be recognized

Four men have 115 years of church service

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Four Martin Luther College professors with 115 years of combined service to the church will be recognized at an anniversary service today.

Professors Rolland Menk, David Bauer, James Grunwald and Timothy Schroeder will be recognized at 3 p.m. at the Wittenberg Collegiate Center Chapel. Martin Luther College Social Studies Chairman Professor Mark Lenz is the guest speaker. Menk has served 40 years. Bauer, Grunwald and Schroeder each have 25 years of service.

Menk, an Education Professor and Nicollet native, supervised student teachers on the road before coming to MLC.

President of the Southwest Minnesota Reading Council and serving on the Parents in Partnership Board in New Ulm, Menk works with MLC Children's Literature and Language Arts teachers.

"I felt I could really help young people become teachers by making a difference to them," Menk said. "Teachers are special in their own way. We all have special gifts that make us unique. There are special challenges of meeting the needs of each person."

Among the things Menk likes most about MLC is its Christian community that creates a family-like atmosphere.

Menk earned a BS in Education at DMLC in 1963, an MS in Education at Wayne State, Neb. in 1967 and a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Minnesota in 1993.

He served as teacher and principal at Grace Lutheran School in Goodhue, 1960-61; Trinity Lutheran School in Hoskins, Neb., 1963-69; St. Martin Lutheran School, Watertown, S.D.,1969-78; St. Paul's Lutheran School in Green Bay, Wis., 1978-80; and Professor of Education at DMLC, 1980-95 and at MLC since 1995.

Bauer, a Bloomington native whose father taught at Bloomington Lutheran High School, said he appreciated the chance to make a difference and be a leader at MLC. He's been MLC's Professor of Music since 1998.

"It's been a special joy to work with students here," Bauer said. "Here, students have a real sense of mission which makes them wonderful to work with."

He taught at St. Paul's Lutheran School, Tomah, Wis., 1978-83; Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis., 1983-93 and St. Paul's Lutheran School, Saginaw, Mich., 1993-98. Bauer earned a BS in Education at DMLC in 1978 and a Masters in Music at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. in 1987.

Grunwald, a Sturgeon Bay, Wis. native and Professor of Academic Computing at MLC since 1998, said he enjoys working with students and adult workshops.

"I enjoy helping students learn the latest technology as they train to be teachers and pastors," Grunwald said.

He earned a BS in Education in DMLC in 1978, MS in Math Education at the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh in 1983, an MA in Computer Applications in Education at Clarke College, Dubuque, Iowa in 1990 and a Ph.D. in Computing Technology in Education at Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in 1999.

Grunwald taught at St. John's Lutheran School, Neilsville, Wis., 1976-77; Northwestern Prep School, Watertown, Wis., 1978-79; St. John's Lutheran School, Libertyville, Ill. 1979-80; Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis., 1980-93 and Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich., 1993-98.

Schroeder, a New Ulm native and Professor of English at MLC since 1995 and at DMLC since 1992, said he is grateful for his teaching colleagues, particularly here. His father taught at MLC.

He earned a BS in Education at DMLC in 1977 and MA in Education at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. in 1991. He also studied at the University of Wisconsin, Purdue University and St. Cloud State University.

Schroeder taught at St. Paul's Lutheran School, Wonewoc, Wis., 1977-80 and at Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac, Wis. 1980-92.