Waldorf College

Infobox University
name = Waldorf College


established = 1903
type = Private
president = Dr. Richard Hanson
city = Forest City
state = Iowa
country = USA
students = 650
motto = "Lux et Veritas" Light and Truth
colors = Purple and Gold
nickname = Warriors
affiliation = Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
website = http://www.waldorf.edu/

Waldorf College is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Forest City, Iowa.

History

Waldorf was founded in 1903 by C.S. Salveson, then pastor of what is now Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, as an academy and business college. In 1920 it became a junior college and in 1994 the college began to offer accelerated bachelors degree programs in select disciplines. By 2001, the college changed its emphasis to a four year baccalaureate curriculum, and at the same time changed its athletic programs to membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Waldorf’s character is shaped by the values and beliefs of its Norwegian Lutheran founders: veracity, discipline, the dignity and responsibility of the individual, a commitment to service, and faith in God.

Long known as an excellent two-year junior college that prepared students from the region for four-year study, Waldorf has since become a four-year baccalaureate residential institution with a nationally-drawn student body and a strong international student program.

Featured Programs

The college is home of a music program, whose Waldorf Choir is recognized as one of the oldest a cappella choirs in the United States. The music program at Waldorf is one of the college's flagship departments. Waldorf College is also known nationally for the strength of the communications program, which features intensive television, radio, and media work as well as design, marketing, and public relations study.

In recent years, as the college has transitioned from a two-year junior college to a four-year baccalaureate program, several programs have emerged as particularly strong for the region. These include programs in Wellness, Education, Biology, English, Math, History, Psychology, Social Science, Creative Writing, and Theatre.

The College has one of the few undergraduate programs in the country to specialize in Shakespeare studies. The Minor in Shakespeare allows students who complete a satisfactory course of study at Waldorf to continue graduate work at the program in Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature in Performance at Mary Baldwin College and the American Shakespeare Center.

Athletics

The College is home to strong and growing inter-varsity collegiate athletics including football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and others.

Notable Alumni

Alumni include Brad Anderson, CEO of Best Buy, who received his A.A. from Waldorf College in 1969. Other distinguished alumni include Winnebago Industries founder John K. Hanson; Irving "Bud" Alne, former Lockheed executive; and Dennis N. Highby, CEO of Cabela's.

Major Benefactors

Waldorf has been the recipient of many large donations from the John K. Hanson family, founders of recreation vehicle-maker Winnebago Industries, also located in Forest City. Brad Anderson, CEO of Best Buy, gave the college 5.5 million dollars, its largest ever one-time financial gift.

External links

* [http://www.waldorf.edu/ Official Site]
* [http://www.waldorf.edu/alumni/distinguished.htm Distinguished Alumni]
* [http://www.waldorf.edu/alumni/recent_alumni_recipients.htm Recent Alumni Honored for Service]
* [http://www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMW/Waldorf]