MEET Karson (Hilgendorf) Bateman '22

Major: Biochemistry

Science Program Coordinator since August 2025

What do you enjoy most about your role at WLC?

I love basically every facet of my role, but my favorite has got to be either going to local elementary and high schools to do cool science demos (like Bill Nye) or the fact that I get to use what I learned in graduate school to teach fermentation science classes.

Who has had the greatest influence on you during your time at WLC?

Greatest influence? That’s a hard question. I am going to cheat by giving two answers. Dr. Angela Ebeling took me on as a student researcher when I was a junior and continues to inspire and encourage me as I am learning how to be a college instructor. Likewise, Dr. John Werner and I started as research advisor and advisee and now we get to be coworkers and friends who plan courses and summer camps together. The support they have both shown me since I was a student has absolutely changed my life.

How can alumni and the college’s supporters impact what you do for WLC?

Fantastic question! Alumni (especially science alumni) can share their contact and current career info with the alumni office. Knowing what you are up to these days and how WLC prepared you for it makes a HUGE difference for current and prospective students. Another way to support WLC is to spread the word about our upcoming Summer Science Camps! If you haven’t heard about these camps yet, take a look at the summer events webpage ... we’re going to have a lot of fun this summer.

What is one thing you’d tell a freshman they need to experience during their time as a student at WLC?

I’m going to stray from the obvious answers (Afternoon Tea, Vespers, Bingo Night) and say having a campus job or being part of another small group on campus (RA, WEB, etc.). You get to work closely with and learn directly from faculty/staff, build up technical skills, and form strong bonds with a small group of people. Not only does that prepare you for life after college, but you will make friendships and connections that truly last. (Special shout-out to the Health Services crew!)

Name one area where WLC has seen the most growth since you were a student?

I am always impressed by the forward-thinking vision of our administration. The introduction of new graduate degree programs is especially exciting to me. In the rapidly changing world of higher education, it is so cool that WLC is offering relevant master’s degrees. These programs are giving our students a seamless path to further study and opening the door for students from other institutions to experience WLC’s mission and passionate teachers.

What hasn’t changed at WLC since you were a student?

That God is still clearly moving at WLC. The other-focused, servant-minded students, staff, and faculty are acting as the hands and feet of Jesus to do meaningful work and make a difference in the world around them. The worship, learning, and service that happen on campus have a joy and hopefulness beneath them that is clearly the work of God.

Share one fun fact about yourself that others may not know.

While working on my master’s thesis, I got to (had to? struggled to?) make miniature cheese in the lab! Not many people can say they have made hundreds of tiny queso frescos.

Tell us your favorite WLC story.

I have so many fun memories from WLC, from dancing with my roommates, to Dr. Degner sharing his snacks with us as we studied late in Generac Hall.

My favorite story, though, is a really long one about how two strangers at a Pre-Health Vocations Club meeting became friends who ran an iGEM team together, then teammates who ate dinner in the dining hall together every night as freshman RAs, then best buddies who shared tissues and soup and advice while navigating post-college life. The story is full of twists and jokes and friends saying, “I told you so,” but here’s my favorite part: God aligned their circumstances just right so that they realized they were in love with each other after five years of friendship. The story doesn’t have an end yet, but they are happily married and doing life within a beautiful community full of connections made at and through WLC. (If you didn’t catch on, I’m talking about how I met my brilliant husband, Ben.)