Bethany Lutheran College

Bethany Lutheran College
Motto	"ΕΝΟΣ ΕΣΤΙΝ ΧΡΕΙΑ" or One Thing Needful
Established	1927
Type	Private
Religious affiliation	Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Endowment	$28.7 million
President	Dan R. Bruss
Academic staff	75 (35 adjunct)
Students	600 undergraduate
Location	Mankato, Minnesota, USA 44°09′59″N 93°59′27″W
Campus	Medium city, 50 acres (20 ha)
Colors	Red and white
Mascot	Viking
Website	www.blc.edu

Old Main, built in 1911.

Trinity Chapel

For the nearby theological seminary, see Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. For other schools with similar names, see Bethany College.

Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) is a private residential liberal arts college in Mankato, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1927, BLC is a Christian coeducational college operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The campus overlooks the Minnesota River valley, a community of about 50,000.

History

Bethany Ladies College opened in 1911 with 44 students and a faculty of four. In 1927, the Norwegian Synod of the American Evangelical Lutheran Church (now known as the Evangelical Lutheran Synod) purchased the campus for dual use as both a high school (Bethany Lutheran High School; closed in 1969) and junior college (Bethany Lutheran College). In 1946 Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (BLTS) began as a department of the college; in 1975 it became a separate institution.

In 2001 Bethany awarded its first baccalaureate degrees, completing a five year transition from its 74-year history as a junior college.

Timeline

• 1911: Bethany Ladies College opens
• 1927: Norwegian Synod purchases college
• 1946: Seminary opens
• 1969: High school closes
• 1999: Baccalaureate programs begin
• 2001: First BA degrees granted

Licensures and certifications

• Secondary Education
  • Communication Arts and Literature (5-12)
  • Social Studies (5-12)
  • Visual Arts (K-12)
• Coaching Certificate

Extracurriculars

Students have the opportunity to participate in various activities on campus.

• Choir
• Drama
• Intramural Athletics
• Music
• Scholastic Leadership Society
• Speech/Forensics
• Student Activities Committee
• Student Leadership Institute
• Student Publications and Communications
  • BLC Studios
  • Fidelis
  • Inkwell
  • The Scroll
  • Yearbook
• Student Senate

Athletics

The Vikings are members of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference in the NCAA Division III. The school offers the following sports: baseball, men's and women's basketball, men and women's cross country, golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's tennis and volleyball.

Presidents

1. Rev. Holden Olsen 1927-1929
2. Rev. Walter E. Buszin 1929-1930 (interim)
3. Rev. Dr. Sigurd Christian Ylvisaker 1930-1950
4. Rev. Dr. Bjarne Wollan Teigen 1950-1970
5. Rev. Raymond Branstad 1970-1977
6. Rev. Theodore A. Aaberg 1977-1978 (interim)
7. Prof. Norman Holte 1978-1982
8. Dr. Marvin G. Meyer 1982-2002
9. Dan R. Bruss, Ph.D. 2003–present

Notable graduates

• 1949 - Marvin Schwan, founder of the Schwan Food Company.

External links

• Official website
• Official Athletics website