ILC NEWSLETTER
Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening recently at our
Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
In addition to welcoming our freshmen and other new students this fall, we are blessed to be joined by new staff. Paul and Courtney Agenten are serving as the dorm supervisors, and Marcy Gurgel will be teaching art for the high school seniors. (For info about our new professor, David Schaller, see the July Lutheran Spokesman)
Courtney and Paul are no strangers to living in dorms as supervisors. Courtney served as a dorm parent for four years at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. While there, she trained an RA staff and helped upper-division women navigate academics and relationships. She also helped students resolve roommate issues by using her training in communication and conflict resolution. One of her roles as dorm parent was building communities through activities. What she enjoyed the most, though, was providing comfort and advice from Scripture and her experience to girls under her care. Courtney has a degree in education and experience teaching history, math, and Old Testament to 7th-12th grades at a Classical Christian School in Montana. Courtney also has done a significant amount of work in archaeology, including field experience, presentations and publications. She is owner and coordinator of Minnesota Project Archaeology, where she continues to work as a curriculum writer and professional development teacher.
Paul graduated from Bethany Lutheran College with a B.A. in Liberal Arts and later served alongside Courtney in the dorm while attending Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. We are thankful to the Lord of the Harvest that Paul will be attending seminary here at Immanuel. While he trains for the pastoral ministry, Paul is looking forward to ministering to the youth here at Immanuel as the boys’ dorm supervisor. Indeed, since the dorm supervisors have such a large role in our students’ lives, we are grateful that the Lord has provided us a couple committed to serving our young people and guiding and disciplining them, using God’s Holy Word as the foundation. In addition to being an accomplished trumpet player, Paul is also a dedicated athlete with experience in ultra-running and triathlon. He also served for one year as an assistant coach for Bethany Lutheran College’s cross country and track & field teams.
Paul and Courtney will be joined by their two daughters Hallie (5) and Havana (2). The girls are excited about living in a dorm again and especially look forward to all the “big sisters” and “roommates” they will have. It will definitely be a pleasure hearing the echoes of young children on campus throughout the year.
Marcy Gurgel, our new art teacher, has been a lifelong lover of the arts, with experience in both performing and visual arts. Marcy holds an B.S. in Art (with an emphasis in photography) and a music minor from Carroll University. In her studies, she was exposed to a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, 2D/3D design, electronic imaging, printmaking, and photography. After college, she continued to work in the creative arts as an assistant in commercial photography, as a booking coordinator, and as a fine arts office and events manager at a college. In 2006, she left work to be a stay-at-home mother and homeschooled some of her children in their early years. She is looking forward to working with our students and to sharing her love for the arts in a Christian environment. Marcy resides in Eau Claire with her husband, Nathan, and their five children.
We are excited to welcome the Agentens and Marcy to Immanuel. It is truly a blessing to be able to find such dedicated, caring, and gifted Christians who are willing to serve the Lord by devoting their time and talents to nurturing and educating our students.
Dr. Daniel Schierenbeck is President of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.