Midland University#Athletics

Midland University was founded as an educational institution in 1883 as Luther Academy. The original building, located in Wahoo, Nebraska, was dedicated on November 10, 1883, the 400th anniversary of Martin Luther’s birth.Christensen, W., & Wilhite, A. (2007). With Fervent Prayers and Buoyant Hopes. (p.3). Fremont, NE: Midland Lutheran College The current college is also a product of Midland College, founded in 1887 by the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.Christensen, W., & Wilhite, A. (2007). With Fervent Prayers and Buoyant Hopes. (p. 123). Fremont, NE: Midland Lutheran College Midland College, originally located in Atchison, Kansas, moved to the college's current location in Fremont, Nebraska in 1919.Christensen, W., & Wilhite, A. (2007). With Fervent Prayers and Buoyant Hopes. (p. 65). Fremont, NE: Midland Lutheran College Luther Academy, later named Luther College, combined with Midland College as Midland Lutheran College in 1962.

In October 1924, the Gymnasium-Commons building, now known as the Olson Student Center, was dedicated.{{Cite news |date=October 16, 1924 |title=New Midland Gymnasium-Commons Building is Duly Dedicated Amid Fitting Ceremonies. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-herald-new-midland-gymnasium-com/164038972/ |work=Fremont Trubine}}{{Cite web |date=2020-09-25 |title=Midland History Photo Gallery |url=https://alumni.midlandu.edu/midland-history-photo-gallery |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Midland University |language=en}}

In 1946, plans were announced to build a new all-men dormitory honoring the students who served during World War II. Costs were estimated to be at approximately $160,000. However, due to an increase in the cost of building materials, the price was upped to $200,000.{{Cite news |date=November 19, 1947 |title=Dorm Estimate at Midland Upped by Cost of Materials |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-dorm-estimate-at-midland/160140963/ |work=Fremont Tribune}} Men's Memorial Hall was officially dedicated in the fall of 1947 at a total price of around $250,000.{{Cite news |date=December 13, 1947 |title=Public Will See Midland Men's Memorial Hall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-public-will-see-midland/160141624/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}

On May 5, 1964, ground was broken for a new science hall, that would eventually be known as the Swanson Hall of Science.{{Cite news |date=May 5, 1964 |title=Science Is Big Key In Progress |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-science-is-big-key-in-pr/160388880/ |work=Fremont Tribune}} The science hall was officially dedicated on October 8, 1965.{{Cite news |date=October 8, 1965 |title=Dedication Rites Held At Midland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-dedication-rites-held-at/164184795/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}

In 1966, Midland announced the construction of a new physical education building.{{Cite news |date=April 21, 1966 |title=Midland Slates Record Budget For 1965-66 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-midland-slates-record-bu/160246449/ |work=Fremont Tribune}} In 1968, after getting a donation of $144,000 from Frank H. Hopkins, it was announced that the physical education building would be named, "the Frank H. Hopkins Physical Education Building."{{Cite news |title=June 3, 1968 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-discussing-facility/160246801/ |work=Fremont Tribune}} The building, now known as Hopkins Arena, was dedicated on May 21, 1969.{{Cite news |date=May 21, 1969 |title=Fremonters May Tour New Plant |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-fremonters-may-tour-new/160247419/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}

The Musbach Arts Center opened in October 1975.{{Cite news |date=January 25, 1977 |title=Musbach Art Center at Midland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-musbach-art-center-at-mi/167250726/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}

File:Clemmons Hall Midland.png

In 1983, Midland announced that it would be replacing original administration building with a newer facility that would later be known as the Anderson Complex.{{Cite news |date=November 4, 1983 |title=Midland College faces future aggressively |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-midland-college-faces-fu/160142594/ |work=Fremont Tribune}} Construction started in April 1984 and the building was dedicated in October 1985.{{Cite news |date=June 15, 1985 |title=Midland move elicits excitement, sadness |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-midland-move-elicits-exc/160142986/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}{{Cite news |date=October 14, 1985 |title=Homecoming crowd witnesses Midland dedication |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-homecoming-crowd-witness/160143562/ |work=Fremont Tribune}} After its completion, the original administration building was demolished in August of that same year.{{Cite news |date=October 11, 1985 |title=Remembering a venerable building |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-remembering-a-venerable/160185822/}}

In April 1998, the Kimmel Theatre was completed, located right behind the Swanson Hall of Science. The theatre replaced the original theatre located on the upper level of the Olson Student Center.{{Cite news |last=Beck |first=Margery |date=April 25, 1998 |title=Taking center stage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-taking-center-stage/164037485/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}

The Wikert Event center officially opened on August 29, 2006 and was later dedicated on October 9, 2006.{{Cite news |date=October 4, 2006 |title=A new destination for family fun and entertainment |work=Fremont Tribune}}{{Cite web |date=2006-12-30 |title=Year in Review 2006 List |url=https://fremonttribune.com/news/local/year-in-review-2006-list/article_a3d0c6ed-210e-58aa-9590-ce175f18dc7a.html |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Fremont Tribune |language=en}}

In 2009, Midland Lutheran College had a seven-figure financial deficit and its lowest enrollment since WWII, at 598.{{cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/news/ben-sasse-says-he-can-whip-government-into-shape/article_44b87b70-f5d1-5c72-997b-4277dc4465da.html |title=Ben Sasse says he can whip government into shape – Omaha.com: News |website=Omaha.com |date=2014-04-07 |access-date=2016-03-07}}

Following the closure of nearby Dana College in 2010, Midland Lutheran College allowed former Dana students to transfer all Dana credits, honored all Dana academic, athletic and need-based scholarships and grants and waived enrollment deposits for Dana students. Of the roughly 600 Dana students, approximately 275 enrolled at Midland in the fall of 2010.{{cite web|url=http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-and-regional/nebraska/midland-lutheran-to-take-in-half-of-dana-students/article_07c1825e-89fa-11df-a073-001cc4c03286.html |title=Midland Lutheran to take in half of Dana students | Nebraska news |website=Siouxcityjournal.com |date=2010-07-07 |access-date=2016-03-07}}

Midland Lutheran College was renamed Midland University in 2010. Along with the name change, the institution also changed its official colors from black and orange to navy blue and orange.{{cite news |url=http://journalstar.com/news/local/education/article_22f1164c-bebc-11df-804b-001cc4c03286.html |title=Midland Lutheran College now Midland University |date=September 12, 2010 |agency=Associated Press}} To attract students, the college also began investing in new programs and athletic teams in 2010. In 2010, the institution added five new varsity and club teams, including men's and women's wrestling, men's and women's bowling, competitive cheer/dance, and women's lacrosse. In 2011–12, according to government statistics, Midland spent $5.5 million on athletic scholarships and operations and received $9.5 million in tuition and fees paid by athletes.{{cite news|url=http://norfolkdailynews.com/sports/midland-using-sports-to-increase-enrollment/article_027e0dfa-074a-11e3-b7e3-0019bb30f31a.html |title=Midland using sports to increase enrollment – The Norfolk Daily News : Sports |newspaper=The Norfolk Daily News|access-date=2016-03-07}}

In 2011, Midland introduced a program guaranteeing that participating students would graduate in four years. The school's freshman enrollment increased by 32% from fall 2011 to fall 2012; then-president Ben Sasse (who went on to serve as United States senator from Nebraska from 2015 to 2023, and was the 13th President of the University of Florida, Gainesville) attributed this growth, in part, to the new policy.O'Brien, Maggie. [http://www.omaha.com/article/20121002/NEWS/121009967 "Midland U's 4-year graduation guarantee credited for record freshman class".] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130619220402/http://www.omaha.com/article/20121002/NEWS/121009967 |date=2013-06-19 }} [http://www.omaha.com/ Omaha World-Herald.] 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2013-11-13.

In 2012, it added varsity men's and women's shotgun sports. In 2013, the university added varsity men's and women's ice hockey.{{cite web |url=http://fremonttribune.com/sports/college/midland/mu-announces-addition-of-men-s-women-s-ice-hockey/article_1b68e930-bc52-57ec-b51b-d670337aaf6f.html |title=MU announces addition of men's, women's ice hockey |date=May 29, 2013 |work=Fremont Tribune}} These additions brought the school's total number of varsity sports programs to 27 as of 2013.

From the fall of 2009 to the fall of 2013, Midland's enrollment more than doubled from a low of 590 in 2009 to 1,288 in 2013. During the same time, Midland went “from a seven-figure deficit to seven-figure surpluses.”

In 2018, plans were announced to replace Men's Memorial Hall with a new 98-bed facility known as the Miller Hall.{{Cite web |last=FARRELL |first=JAMES |date=2018-11-15 |title=Midland University announces new residence hall |url=https://fremonttribune.com/news/local/education/midland-university-announces-new-residence-hall/article_4b9ba6fb-4506-5826-9779-3de0a0c36b0f.html |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=Fremont Tribune |language=en}} Groundbreaking was held on April 2, 2019 and the Miller Hall officially opened in August 2020.{{Cite news |date=October 19, 2019 |title=Midland continues to invest in the student experience |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-midland-continues-to-inv/160143721/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}{{Cite news |date=August 21, 2020 |title=A new class |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune-a-new-class/160142155/ |work=Fremont Tribune}}

Midland University offers bachelor's degrees in more than thirty fields of study as well as three master's degrees.

In 2010, the school claimed to have a graduate placement rate of 100% for nursing students and 90% for education students.Midland University Office of Admissions, Aug., 2010, statistics

In addition to offering Master of Education in Leadership and Master of Professional Accounting degrees, the junior college announced the offering of an MBA program in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.omaha.com/article/20120610/NEWS01/706109947 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130213039/http://www.omaha.com/article/20120610/NEWS01/706109947 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-01-30 |title=Midland MBA mixes online work, Omaha class - Omaha.com |publisher=Archive.is |access-date=2020-03-15}}

In 2012, the school's accrediting agency, the Higher Learning Commission, placed it "on notice", expressing "concerns related to the University's finances and planning and its processes for assessment and utilization of student learning outcomes". The HLC called for Midland to file final reports in 2014, demonstrating that these concerns had been resolved.{{cite web |url=http://www.ncahlc.org/download/_PublicDisclosureNotices/Midland_University.pdf |format=PDF |title=Public Disclosure Notice on Midland University |website=Ncahlc.org |access-date=2016-03-07 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In November 2014, the Higher Learning Commission confirmed that its concerns were resolved by removing the “on notice” sanction.{{cite web|url=https://www.hlcommission.org/download/_ActionLetters/Midland%20University%20Action%20Letter.pdf |format=PDF |title=Letter from Higher Learning Commission to Dr. Benjamin Sasse, University President |website=Hlcommission.org |access-date=2016-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721121831/https://www.hlcommission.org/download/_ActionLetters/Midland%20University%20Action%20Letter.pdf |archive-date=2015-07-21}}

Midland University offers over 60 student clubs and organizations and several intramural sports offerings, including basketball, sand volleyball, dodgeball, ultimate frisbee, and softball.

The university has six social fraternities and sororities: Beta Sigma Psi fraternity; Sigma Rho fraternity; Kappa Phi fraternity; Phi Omega sorority; Pi Epsilon sorority; and Tri Phi sorority.[https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxEfNRkV5xISYmRmMjYzMTEtMzUxMS00OTk5LWIyZTMtODg1OGYwNDcwMTdl/edit?hl=en&pli=1 "MU Student Handbook 2011–2012".] [https://my.midlandu.edu/ics MyMidlandU Intranet.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311223729/https://my.midlandu.edu/ics |date=2013-03-11 }} pp. 45–6. Retrieved 2013-05-09. Other student organizations include Phi Beta Lambda – Students in Free Enterprise (PBL- SIFE), Student Art Association, Campus Crusades for Christ, Student Education Association, Blue Key, Cardinal Key, Anderson Scholar Leaders, Student Ambassadors, and Short Attention Span.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}}

In 2017, Midland revived its speech and debate team. In its early days, Midland had been a member of the Pi Kappa Delta national forensics honor society. The team is regionally successful and took third place in individual events at the 2024 national Pi Kappa Delta tournament.https://www.midlandu.edu/midland-speech-debate-team-shines-midlanduarts/

The Midland athletic teams are called the Warriors. The university is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) for most of its sports since the 1969–1970 academic year. The university's official colors are navy blue and orange.

Midland competes in 33 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, flag football,{{cite news |last1=Sautter |first1=Mike |title=Midland University adding women's flag football as a varsity sport with help from NFL |url=https://www.omaha.com/sports/local-sports/midland-university-adding-womens-flag-football-as-a-varsity-sport-with-help-from-nfl/article_1eaaf06e-a9f4-57fb-bb0b-87473434e054.html |access-date=11 May 2020 |publisher=World-Herald |date=11 May 2020}} golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, powerlifting, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track and field (indoor and outdoor), volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports include cheerleading, dance, eSports and shotgun sports.

Midland expanded the athletic department since 2010. Midland has added men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's bowling, men's and women's wrestling, shotgun sports, men's and women's ice hockey, women's flag football, powerlifting, men's and women's swimming, and eSports.

The Warriors softball team appeared in two Women's College World Series (WCWS) in 1970 and 1971.{{cite book|title=A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series|first1=William|last1=Plummer|first2=Larry C.|last2=Floyd|year=2013|publisher= Turnkey Communications Inc.|location= Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States|isbn=978-0-9893007-0-4}} The Midland Wildfire dance team has won the Great Plains Athletic Conference title from 2014 to 2019, plus the 2017 and 2019 NAIA national titles.

After a six-day shoot at the ACUI National Championships, Midland University emerged as the 2017 Division II National Champions. Midland University won both the men's and women's raw titles at the 2019 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals. This makes back-to-back national championships for the men, while the women earn their first national title. In its second year of competition, Midland University's powerlifting team won its first national championship, winning the 2018 USA Powerlifting Men's Raw Collegiate National title.

The NAIA announced the Scholar Teams for the 2016–17 academic year. Midland's (Neb.) women's volleyball team, Arizona Christian's women's cross country team, and Indiana Tech's women's golf team and all tied with a NAIA-best combined grade point average of 3.90 this year. The three teams have been selected to share the title of Scholar-Team of the Year.

• Jim Buchanan, baseball player
• Jon Christensen, politician
• Clifton Hillegass, publisher, creator of CliffsNotes{{cite web|title=Acacia Fraternity: Notable Acacians |author=Acacia Fraternity |url=http://acacia.org/about_notables.php |access-date=2012-01-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204223942/http://www.acacia.org/about_notables.php |archive-date=2012-02-04 }}
• Gwen Howard, politician{{cite web |url=http://nlcs1.nlc.state.ne.us/statepubsonline/pubs/LegisBios/leg2004-2005.pdf |title=Nebraska Blue Book 2004–2005 |page=303 |access-date=2017-05-28}}
• Toni Jeričević, actor, TV host
• Henry Margenau, physicist
• George Mendenhall, professor, Lutheran theologian
• Raymond S. Miller, soldier
• Paul Norris, comic book artist, creator of Aquaman

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• [http://www.midlandu.edu Official website]
• [http://www.midlandathletics.com Official athletics website]

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