Distinguished alumni

Virgil Muilenburg Distinguished Service to Northwestern College

Virgil Muilenburg graduated from Northwestern Classical Academy in 1958 with valedictorian honors and then attended Northwestern Junior College, graduating salutatorian in 1960. In 1962, he was a member of the second graduating class of the new four-year Northwestern College, graduating magna cum laude and with faculty honors. After earning a master’s degree in natural science from the University of South Dakota, Muilenburg returned to Northwestern in 1963 to teach biology. Answering to the name “Prof,” Muilenburg taught at Northwestern College for 37 years. In addition to the numerous students he impacted in classes and labs, he also has served over 6,000 pizzas to almost 700 students throughout 40 years of bi-weekly late-night pizza parties at his house. When he retired in 2000, Muilenburg said, “There never was a day I couldn’t wait to get to campus. The students are my family.”

Award year: 2003