Staying Connected

The Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Office is your connection to Bethany! We organize special alumni events, keep you informed about what's going on at Bethany, and help you to connect with your former classmates and friends.

Summer golf events

You are invited to join us for any or all of our three golf events this summer: The Joel Laube Memorial Golf Tournament  is Friday, June 20, the Madison Golf Classic  is Monday, July 14, and the Bethany Sports Classic  is Monday, August 4.

Browse the Directory

Click on one or more decades listed here, and then check the boxes of the years you want to search. Then, click the "Go" button below:

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News

Seeking Accreditation Comments
Thursday, July 17, 2008

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 Association of Colleges and Schools. Bethany Lutheran College received candidate status for accreditation in 1969 and has been fully accredited by the Commission 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:

Public Comment on Bethany Lutheran College
The Higher Learning Commission
30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602

Comments must address substantive 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 27, 2008

Spotlight on Marvin Schwan
Thursday, May 22, 2008

By Sarah Harstad, Director of Alumni Relations

On Friday May 16, 2008, 103 graduating seniors completed their time of study at Bethany and received their baccalaureate degrees. With this occasion, these women and men have successfully transitioned from Bethany students to Bethany alumni.

At this time of transition, Bethany recognized another alumnus. One year shy of what would have been the 60th anniversary of his graduation from Bethany, the College awarded Marvin Schwan the Distinguished Alumnus Award posthumously. Accepting the award on behalf of the Schwan family was Marvin’s brother, Alfred. In addition, the 2008 commencement speaker was Marvin Schwan’s Bethany roommate and lifelong friend, Rev. Larry Burgdorf.

Here is an excerpt from President Dan Bruss’ presentation of Marvin Schwan as Bethany Lutheran College Distinguished Alumnus:

“Today, we honor Marvin Schwan as a distinguished alumnus of Bethany Lutheran College. Marvin Schwan graduated from Bethany Lutheran College in 1949 and went on to become a successful businessman in Marshall, Minnesota. He parlayed a one-truck ice cream route into a billion dollar frozen food business. Certainly, Marvin Schwan may have been one of Bethany’s best-known graduates.

Marvin Schwan supported Bethany with exceptional financial support. From the beginning of his business career, he supported his alma mater. In the early years, Schwan was known to help by sending ice cream to the Bethany cafeteria. In 1969, he was instrumental in establishing the College’s first Reserve Fund that helped Bethany earn accreditation from the North Central Association. But it was after Marvin Schwan’s passing that the full extent of his support and love for his alma mater, and more importantly his Lord, became evident.

But the support flowed much deeper than dollars. It was in recognition of Bethany President S.C. Ylvisaker, as the college celebrated the anniversary of his birth, that Marvin Schwan first challenged his fellow alumni. When the developing began for the Ylvisaker Fine Arts Center began, Schwan was there, shoulder to shoulder with other alumni, staff, and friends of Bethany helping to plan the new building. Former Bethany president, Marvin Meyer, noted that Schwan was especially interested in ‘motivating Bethany to work for a broader base of support,’ simply because he wanted to see the college which had done so much for him survive into the 21st century.

Bethany has always wanted to see in its graduates humble and ethical Christian people. Marvin Schwan freely acknowledged that his values came from his home, church, and Bethany. When one met Marvin, it did not take long to realize that he was a humble man. He was shy, but his humility went beyond shyness. Marvin Schwan was not in the spotlight simply because he didn’t want to be. He wanted attention aimed away from his person and toward others. He didn’t want to be held up for adulation. And so, his support never focused on himself, but always for the institution.

People associated with Marvin Schwan in the business world and those who were the recipients of his philanthropy understood very quickly that he was a man of integrity. A commemorative booklet produced after Marvin’s death by the Schwan Corporation, established the theme by using Marvin’s own words: ‘Work had, be enthusiastic, keep improving, have integrity, and help others.’

Bethany’s primary mission is to educate young men and women in the humanities and liberal arts, to understand and live their Christian faith so that they can take an active role in the life of the church and society. And that Marvin Schwan did in an exemplary way.
Marvin Schwan insisted on using his wealth to further the preaching of gospel and for Christian education. We, at Bethany Lutheran College, have benefited greatly form Schwan’s generosity.

Most likely, Marvin Schwan would not have been comfortable receiving the Distinguished Alumnus Award that we present to his family today—he would not want to be celebrated, rather he’d instruct us to focus on the One who has given ‘The One Thing Needful.’

So today, we remember Marvin Schwan that way—as a Distinguished Bethany Alumnus who represented the qualities and the values that Bethany holds highest: humility and integrity, and a life of faith under the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.”