| Midland Lutheran College > | ||||
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| Founded in 1883, Midland Lutheran College educates students to learn and lead in the world with purpose. Midland is a four-year, liberal arts and sciences college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Faith, learning, quality, respect and stewardship are the core values which guide its mission. Located in Fremont, Neb., students choose from nearly 50 majors and pre-professional programs leading to bachelor and associate degrees. In addition, a wide variety of co-curricular activities complete a total education for the MLC student. A variety of local and regional events and conferences are also hosted at the College. To learn more, visit Midland Lutheran College on the web at: www.mlc.edu or call (402) 721-5480 or (800) 642-8382. Midland Lutheran College, “A New World of Possibility.” | ||||
| Building the way to “A New World of Possibility” A brief look at the history of Midland Lutheran College |
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| Midland Lutheran College’s rich history is rooted in both college and church mergers. On September 15, 1887, Midland College was founded in Atchison, Kansas by the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. The name of Midland College was selected because of its central location in the United States. | ||||
| Although many things have changed over the years, one thing remains the same—Midland Lutheran College exists for students and remains focused on attending to and growing the whole human being. | ||||
| Midland Lutheran College president, Dr. Steven E. Titus, believes fully in this mission. “Our Lutheran theology makes for wonderful educational philosophy, the cornerstone of which is the discernment of vocation, of calling,” Titus said. “It is our responsibility to help awaken people to the possibilities in their lives—help them discern their own gifts and talents, and then help them find ways to deploy those gifts and talents in the service of others.” | ||||
| Midland started out much smaller than it is today. Originally only three courses of study were offered: the classical, which led to a Bachelor of Arts degree; the Latin-scientific, which led to a Bachelor of Science; and the literary, which led to a Bachelor of Letters degree. Seventeen freshmen attended Midland during its first year and tuition for the year was $40. | ||||
| Another institution, the Western Theological Seminary, was established in connection with Midland in 1893. Though technically a separate entity from the college, it was housed in the same building, Atchison Hall, and was included in the academic catalog; the college faculty also taught its courses. | ||||
| Midland remained in Atchison until 1919 when it moved to its present location in Fremont, Nebraska. The College merged with Luther Junior College in 1962. Founded in 1883, Luther was located in Wahoo, Nebraska. With the merger, Midland College officially became Midland Lutheran College. | ||||
| The early years of Midland in the Fremont community were highlighted with growth in the numbers of students, faculty and facilities. In the fall of 1919, the College opened its doors at its new home in Fremont. The property acquired by Midland had previously been called Fremont Normal School and Business College. Although Midland replaced the previous school, key elements of the normal school were integrated into the academic course offerings, including a School of “Commerce”, a strengthened music department and summer school. Because of these changes, Midland more than doubled the enrollment of its last year in Atchison from 201 students to 456 students. The number of faculty also increased to meet the needs of the enlarged student body. | ||||
| The “Warriors” became the school nickname for Midland in 1919. A change was needed to avoid confusion because Midland’s first nickname was the “Tigers”, which was the same as the nickname for Fremont High School. Orange and black were established as the official school colors in Atchison, Kansas, and remain the school colors today. | ||||
| The first building acquired after the move to Fremont was the Nye mansion on Nye Avenue. It was purchased in 1921 for $35,000 and became the home of the Seminary. This opened space in the science hall (later renamed Clemmons Hall) for other classes. | ||||
| Additional needs were served by the construction of a new multi-purpose building, the Gymnasium-Commons, in 1924. When constructed, the gym had the largest playing floor in the Nebraska Church College Conference, which was Midland’s athletic conference at the time. At one end of the floor was a stage, which allowed the playing floor to double as an auditorium. There was also a kitchen and dining room with an apartment for the cook and a central heating plant to provide heat for the campus buildings. Now named the Olson Student Center, in honor of Dale and Fern Olsen, the facility is alive with activity as the home for student services, and the student union. | ||||
| Excavation began on a new residence hall for women in 1924. After its completion in 1927, it was named after the first head of the women’s residence hall in Atchison, Helen Beegle. | ||||
| The Great Depression was a difficult time for the College, but enrollment was still surprisingly high. In 1931, it reached its highest point in the history of Midland until the 1970s, with a total of 848 students. With the increase in enrollment, a new residence hall was needed. Unfortunately, insufficient funds were available for construction, and it became the practice for men to live off-campus in private homes until the completion of Men’s Memorial Hall in 1947. This hall was named to honor the 23 Midland students who died in service during World War II. | ||||
| During the post-World War era, a number of significant improvements were made at Midland. Probably most important was the full accreditation of Midland in the North Central Association in 1947. Student health services were established, and two new degrees were offered, the Bachelor of Science in Education and the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. | ||||
| Midland continued to grow during the 1950s and 1960s. The library was completed in 1954. To acknowledge the Luther College roots, the building was named Luther Library. Other Luther memorabilia has been placed outside the library including the Luther arch, sundial and a large boulder from the Wahoo campus. Wings were added to the east and west ends of Beegle hall in 1958 and 1962. In 1959, Augustine Hall was built. It provided additional housing and a new dining hall. | ||||
| To help adjust for the growing enrollment and shortage of classroom space, a new two-story classroom building was completed in 1961. The building was named Fremont Hall in recognition of the financial support Midland had received from the Fremont community. | ||||
| The scientific needs of students and faculty were provided in 1965 with the completion of Swanson Hall of Science. The building included classrooms, laboratories, an auditorium, an observatory and a planetarium designed by Dr. Gilbert Lueninghoener. Two additional residence halls, Gunderson Hall and Benton Hall, were added in 1966 and 1967. In 1968, the Frank H. Hopkins Physical Education Building was completed. The largest facility on campus, it includes a large indoor arena for basketball volleyball and track, a swimming pool, handball court, fitness center, weight room, classrooms and office space for faculty and coaches. | ||||
| In 1975, the Musbach Art Center was completed to provide for the needs of the art department and its students. A new administration building, named the Anderson Complex in honor of Marie and John Anderson, was completed in 1984. It houses classrooms and offices for business, education, humanities, journalism and nursing, as well as administrative offices. | ||||
| Kimmel Theatre was added to the College in 1998. Named in honor of Richard P. and Laurine Kimmel, the 26,200 square foot theatre features a platform stage, digital lighting and sound systems, as well as dressing rooms and a scene shop. | ||||
| In 1999, the addition of the “Cross at the Center” fountain added beauty to the campus green. A focal point of the mission and vision of Midland as a college of the church, the Cross at the Center fountain flows with the water of baptism. | ||||
| Just completed in the summer of 2004, the L. Dale and Ruth Lund Hall and Atchison Hall are the latest additions to the Midland campus. Lund Hall is named in honor of former Midland Lutheran College President, L. Dale Lund and his wife, Ruth. Atchison Hall is named in honor of the City of Atchison, Kan., where Midland was founded. The halls will be home to 96 Midland students and feature apartment-style living. | ||||
| Midland Lutheran College has undergone numerous physical changes throughout the years, but its concern for students, regard for academic quality and a commitment to human values has remained the same. With a foundation based on faith, learning, quality, respect and stewardship, Midland Lutheran College’s tradition of growing and nurturing the whole human being will continue to enrich the lives of students — the leaders of tomorrow — offering “A New World of Possibility” for centuries to come. | ||||
| For additional information regarding Midland Lutheran College, please refer to the following web sites: | ||||
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