Fall 2011
Dear Classmates:
The biggest change to the Luther landscape this fall is the arrival of the college’s wind turbine, which was erected in October and began commercial operation in early November. The turbine is expected to meet approximately one-third of the campus’s annual electricity needs, significantly lowering utility costs and the college’s carbon footprint. The turbine stands on the bluff just across the river valley and Highway 52 from the Union. Sitting in the football stadium during a game provides a fabulous view of the new turbine at work!
Another major change this fall is the absence of Academic Dean Bill Craft, who was hired away after 11 years of faithful service to the college. Dean Craft is now President Craft at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. While Dean Craft will be missed, Professor Kevin Kraus of the biology department has been appointed interim dean and will capably serve in this capacity for the next three years.
On the sports front, the men’s soccer and women’s cross country teams had exceptional seasons. The men’s soccer team was undefeated in the regular conference season; in fact they never allowed a goal during that portion of the season. After losing the final game of the conference tournament, the team received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament and served as a host during the first two rounds. They advanced to the round of 16 with two victories during the first weekend, including a 1-0 victory over St. Olaf. Unfortunately, their season came an end during the round of 16 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 tie vs. Hope College.
The women’s cross country team advanced to the NCAA championship meet again this year. The team performed well and senior Emma Spoon received All American honors. Live streaming of sporting events is increasingly available at http://sports.luther.edu. Our family found this resource very helpful this fall, as we’re living in Cedar Rapids for the year during my sabbatical from Luther. Check out the broadcast schedule and keep up with your favorite Norse teams!
Our family returned to Decorah for the sesquicentennial homecoming celebration in October. The highlight of the homecoming celebration was a visit by the King and Queen of Norway. A royal convocation on Thursday morning provided an opportunity for the campus community to have an ‘audience’ with the Royals. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with a number of friends and acquaintances from the class of 1991 at their 20-year reunion. It doesn’t seem possible that our own 20-year reunion is only a year away―October 5-7, 2012―please plan on attending and consider booking your hotel reservation now!
I look forward to your suggestions regarding how to make the reunion celebration and weekend as enjoyable as possible. Please send me a note at [email protected] with any ideas you might have! I look forward to seeing you all then!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Craig Rabe
1992 Class Agent
[email protected]
Don’t forget your Annual Fund giving!
Each year nearly 10,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $50,000. Strong support from alumni helps Luther secure additional funds from foundations and corporations, and your gift each year helps us to reach our goal of 30% alumni giving to the Annual Fund. Here’s how your class is doing so far this year:
CLASS of 1992 TOTAL GIVING: $16,313.00 from 13.13% of the CLASS*
Have you made your 2011 gift to Luther? Only 90 more gifts are needed to reach 30% for your class. Please visit www.givenow.luther.edu to make a difference for Luther students. Thank you!
Please note: Your Spring 2012 class agent letter will include a listing of your classmates who gave to Luther during 2011. Be sure to make your gift before December 31 to be included.
*as of October 21, 2011
Class Notes
NOEL COLLIER earned a doctorate in higher education leadership with an emphasis in student affairs from Washington State University. She is education director at Pullman (Wash.) Regional Hospital.
DIANNA (BELL) HITCHLER is CEO and CFO of Paws, Claws, Scales, and Tails in Abingdon, Ill., and assistant children’s librarian for the John Mosser Public Library. Vice president-elect of the local Kiwanis Club, she also serves as church council secretary, altar guild member, and children’s Bible class teacher at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.
LARS RENSMANN is the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst or German Academic Exchange Service) Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He coauthored (with Andrei Markovits) Gaming the World: How Sports are Reshaping Global Politics and Culture, published by Princeton University Press.
CATHY (SEVERSON) SEDACCA is operations manager at TCI Business Capital Inc. in Burnsville, Minn.
KELI (LARSON) TALLMAN is a youth development program specialist at Iowa State University in Ames.
TODD TRAVAILLE is operations manager for USA Insulation–Omaha.
KRISTINE (HAGEN) and DUANE THOFSON ‘91 live in Shakopee, Minn. Kristine earned a doctorate in education at Capella University; she is a senior test development specialist at Data Recognition Corp.
KYLE WIESE is IT manager at Cargill in Minneapolis.
Births
Carrie and ANDREW GRAY welcomed a son, Kyle, in June 2011.
LAURA (OLSON) and Randy Heuer welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth, in Aug. 2010. Elizabeth joins brother Robert (6).
JEAN (JONGERIUS) and Brad Hoffman welcomed a son, Garret, in Nov. 2009. Garret joins brother Brett (6).
MELISSA (WILT) and KEVIN OLSON '93 welcomed a son, Soren, in June 2010. Soren joins brother Lars (4).
Marriage
MIKE NASLUND and Kathy Greiner, Aug. 28, 2010
Comments
I got married to the Reverend Randall Mark Nicolai on August 12, 2011, at Cordelia Lutheran Church in Idaho. "Nick" is an ELCA campus pastor at Washington State University. I am now Noel Kristine Nicolai and pretty happy! :)
New Birth
November 2011, Son, Julian
My second son, Andrew, was born in January 2011. He enjoys his 4-year-old brother.
I live in southern California and teach at Western University of Health Science's College of Veterinary Medicine. I have a spoiled dog and a new horse!
We celebrated the adoption of our third child, Mateo, in March 2012! Mateo joins sister Samantha and brother Garth. We continue to live in Iowa City, where Mike is an associate professor at the University of Iowa, in the physiology, ophthalmology, and genetics departments. Kathi earned a doctorate in physical therapy and works in the NICU at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital.