Current Students

Noah Gernander

Noah Gernander was born in Dallas, Texas, but grew up in Jefferson City, Missouri, with his four siblings. He attended Bethany Lutheran College and received a B.A. in Biochemistry, after which he went on to the University of Iowa where he received an M.S. in Pharmacy. He met his wife Rebekah at Bethany, who continued to get her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. They have a 2-year-old boy named Everett, and they are expecting a daughter late in October! He decided to pursue the ministry and returned to Mankato to learn the Biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew. He is thankful to be teaching classes in chemistry, evolution, and ethics in science at Bethany Lutheran College as an adjunct professor while he continues his seminary training.

Noah grew up visiting the national parks and playing board games with his family, so he still enjoys that today. He also likes to play soccer, ultimate frisbee, or tennis when he has the chance, and, of course, he loves to spend time with his wife and son. Noah has thoroughly enjoyed his first year at the seminary, and he is excited to continue deepening his faith and knowledge as he pursues the pastoral ministry.

Cyril Palm

Cyril Palm was born in Saint Paul, MN. He spent nine years in Oak Harbor, Washington until his family moved back to MN for the remainder of childhood. In 2021 Cyril enrolled at Bethany Lutheran College where he majored in music with a minor in religion. Cyril enjoys playing music and was involved in the BLC music groups including choir, band, chamber orchestra and choraleers. During his time at Bethany, he met his wife Samantha, and they were married in July of 2025. Cyril teaches violin at Cornerstone Lutheran School and teaches band and violin lessons at Risen Savior Lutheran school in Mankato. In his free time, Cyril enjoys playing board games, reading fiction and philosophy, playing in the Bethany chamber orchestra with his wife, fishing, listening to music, weightlifting, and drinking coffee.

Matthew Schleusener

Matthew Schleusener was raised in Wisconsin with his two brothers—his twin brother Noah is also a seminarian, currently serving as a vicar at Holy Cross in Madison, WI. He attended St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran’s parochial school until 4th grade, after which he was homeschooled through high school. He went on to Hillsdale College in Michigan for four years, graduating with a degree in Classics. After taking two years to pay off some of that college debt, Matthew decided to head to seminary.

Matthew enjoys reading and discussing almost anything sufficiently nerdy, though he particularly enjoys theology, philosophy, and literature. C.S. Lewis is a favorite author of his in all three categories. When time allows, he enjoys baking and cooking. He also loves to sing and enjoys both board and video gaming.

Nicholas Schmid

Nick Schmid was born and raised in Mankato Minnesota. He attended Immanuel Lutheran School from kindergarten through high school, where he graduated in 2022. Afterward, he attended Bethany Lutheran College where he received a degree in Communication in the spring of 2025. Nick considers himself something of a musician, having been a member of Bethany’s concert band, chamber orchestra, drumline, and jazz band. He enjoys playing multiple instruments in his free time, church services, and gigs with his band, writes and arranges music, and takes great joy in repairing instruments.

Noah Schmid

Noah Schmid was born and raised in Mankato, MN, with his twin brother and younger sister. He attended Immanuel Lutheran School in Mankato from kindergarten through highschool, after which he attended Bethany Lutheran College and graduated in 2025 with a BA degree in Communication. During his time at Bethany, he discovered a passion for music and began a hobby of instrument collection and repair. Noah participated in numerous musical ensembles, including the concert band, chamber orchestra, drumline, jazz band, and the pit orchestra in the winter musical. Aside from music, he enjoys baking, playing games, taking walks, and reading the Bible with his girlfriend.

Scott Fassett

Scott Fassett was born in Houston, Texas. At the age of seven, his family moved to Alexandria, Minnesota where he spent the remainder of his youth. He attended Jefferson High School spending most of his time in the band room (percussionist), and was spiritually nurtured at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (LCMS) through the end of his high-school years. Upon graduating, Scott received a percussion scholarship to Bethany Lutheran College, where he majored in Business Administration (Finance) and a minor in Communication. During his time at BLC (2010-14) he directed the B-Town Drumline, participated in Theater Physics, created an award winning tv segment for the hockey broadcast, attended Peace Lutheran Church (North Mankato), and most importantly, met and married his wife Katy Fassett in 2015 (daughter of Rev. Daniel and Julie Faugstad ). After graduating, Scott worked as a Financial Advisor for Thrivent Financial in Mankato and Alexandria for 9 years before moving back to Mankato to enroll in the seminary. Scott and Katy are blessed with five children: Otto 9, Ole 7, Nels 5, and Irvin 3, and our first girl, Louann! In his free-time, Scott loves spending as much time as possible outside, biking, watching football, and playing with his boys.

Adam Hoeft

Adam Hoeft was born and raised in Oconomowoc, WI. He attended elementary and middle school at Holy Trinity Lutheran School in Okauchee, WI. He attended public high school, during which time he began to consider entering the public ministry. After graduating in 2019, he enrolled at Bethany Lutheran College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion, with minors in history and legal studies. During this time, Adam was involved with various musical ensembles on campus, including concert band, jazz band, and handbell choir. He was also involved in Bethany’s Mock Trial team, joining during the year after its inception. During his senior year, the Mock Trial team went to regional competitions for the first time. Adam served as a coach for the witnesses on the team for the 2023-2024 season. Apart from his activities at Bethany, Adam enjoys reading, going for walks, and various tabletop games, a pastime he shares with his father.

Arthur Langhorst

Arthur Langhorst spent most of his upbringing in Minnesota with his parents and seven siblings. He was homeschooled from 2nd grade up through high school, and later transferred from college in Virginia, MN to BLC in 2010. He graduated in 2013, from Bethany Lutheran College, with a BA degree in Communications. During his time at Bethany, he met his wife Constance. They have been happily married for twelve years and have three sweet sons, Philip, Frederick, and Winston.

Arthur enjoys the great outdoors, drinking coffee, singing, and playing cards/board games. His
wife is an accomplished musician. She plays piano beautifully and is skilled at encouraging her
students to love playing as much as she does. While working for some great companies, BizWiz Marketing LLC and Bloedel Builders LLC, Arthur began to prayerfully consider the ministry. He began his seminary training and now is starting his senior year at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary.

Noah Schleusener

Noah Schleusener enjoys reading and discussing books, stories, philosophies, and ideas generally, mostly theology, philosophy, a bit of history, and some fantasy. Apart from that, he also enjoys singing and music in general, with a slight preference for jazz and jazz-related genres. He also considers himself something of a mac-and-cheese connoisseur.

Noah finds joy diving deep into God’s word regularly with the seminarians and professors. He preached his first sermons last summer and is currently working on on his master’s thesis project.