Spring 2019 

Greetings to 1951 Graduates of Luther, 

I begin my letter with a quote from a letter sent to me from Jim Jermier, Vice President for Development. “Student scholarship support remains one of the most important, and ever-present, institutional needs at Luther, and we are extremely grateful for your generous investment in our students...most of whom could not otherwise afford to be here.” Elizabeth Johnson, a senior in nursing from Spring Grove, Minn., is the recipient of our 1951 class scholarship. She is among the 1,100 students who received donor-funded scholarships that totaled $6 million. Elizabeth sent a personal letter of thanks saying she came to Luther because of the excellence of the nursing program. I have not received the report of how much her scholarship is for this 2018-2019 year and how much remains in our fund. Thank you to all who contributed.

I was in attendance at the fall Class Agent luncheon on October 26^th prior to Homecoming events. We had presentations by three V.P.s. The one titled “Brand Strategy Update” by Aimee Viniard-Weideman, Communications and Marketing V.P., was especially meaningful. In this climate of competition for students, she asserted how important it is for Luther to have a “brand” that defines who we are as a four-year liberal arts college, our diversity, and our fields of excellence. Wherever we live we can all relate to our younger generation friends and family, what the Luther “brand” meant to us, and how attending Luther could further their life goals.

This is the 50^th anniversary year of the college's Black Student Union. Many outstanding alumni have been invited back to speak during the year. It will conclude with the Don Kemp Memorial Lecture delivered by Maxie (Jones) Rockymore '82, during their alumni reunion April 26-28. Though the Black Student Union came 15 years after our graduation, I think it is important for us to acknowledge how significant it is to recognize and honor these graduates for their accomplishments in our society.

I have been reminded of the many special programs Luther hosts during the summer. I know two of my granddaughters attended Dorian Music Camp several times. The name Dorian also reminds me of when that was first proposed and initiated while we were on campus, through the efforts of my husband Luther's brother, Leif Monson. There is now a Dorian Choral Retreat for Adults being held this year June 28-30. Maybe some of you still have a voice to participate in the joy of singing. This gives me the incentive to conclude my letter with an invitation to hear Christmas at Luther if possible, or at least on their recording. I was in attendance again, along with my Washington D.C. daughter, Solveig ('85) and husband. Each year I say “it is the best ever.”

Best wishes for a happy spring.

IvaNell (Mundt) Monson
1951 Class Agent
7500 York Avenue S, #842
Edina MN 55435-5633
952-835-8248
[email protected]

OBITUARIES

Edward Walter Barth of Westminster, Md., previously of Rockville, Md., died July 19, 2018, age 88.

Gloria Harriet (Melby) Thorson of Dallas, Texas, died Dec. 31, 2016, age 85.

The full obituaries of classmates listed in this letter can be found on the Luther College website at: luther.edu/in-memoriam.

If you would like a printout of the obituaries listed above in their entirety mailed to you, please contact us at: [email protected], or 563-387-1509.