Fall 2015
Dear Classmates:
The Luther campus celebrated Homecoming on an October weekend that featured crisp, sunny weather and fantastic fall foliage. The football team thrilled the crowd with a 41-34 overtime victory over Buena Vista, part of a 4-6 campaign that included a key, early season victory over St. Olaf. The weekend included the usual mix of performances, concerts, reunions, and other opportunities for alumni to celebrate their own Luther experience. While it doesn’t seem possible, we will be celebrating our 25th reunion in just two years! In 2016, Homecoming will be celebrated the weekend of October 1-2, so you may want to add a reminder to your calendar to book your 2017 hotel reservations soon after that date! Homecoming 2017 is scheduled for October 6-8.
Dr. Paula Carlson has completed her first full year of service as Luther’s president, which has included traveling across the country to participate in alumni events. President Carlson is very pleased with the successes during her first year with respect to both enrollment and fundraising. While speaking to alumni at class reunions during Homecoming weekend, Dr. Carlson described a defining moment in her first year at Luther: During commencement, following the tradition of her predecessors, she asked those graduates who were continuing a family tradition of graduating from Luther to stand and be recognized. A large number of students rose. Next, she asked all the “first generation college” Luther graduates to stand. When the first generation students rose, the previous group acknowledged them with a vigorous roar. Dr. Carlson was very moved by this response and now calls Luther a place with “deep roots and wide open arms.”
After several years of decreasing enrollment, new student enrollment this fall is up more than 10 percent over 2014, from a pool of applicants that was the largest in the college’s history. Luther’s entering class this fall has 655 enrolled students: 31 percent were in the top ten percent of their high school class; 21 students were valedictorians; 78 are alumni children; and 58 are siblings of previous or current students. The gender balance continues to get closer to even, and among the 149 international students on campus, 66 different countries are represented, and U.S. students of color now number 222.
Luther’s Career Center has become more fully integrated into the student experience, with planning now part of the first year experience. One way you can help this effort is by joining the “Luther College Career Network” LinkedIn group. This professional group aims to provide an opportunity for current Luther students to network with alumni to learn more about various career opportunities. Alumni also can use the Career Network group to connect with other alumni who live in their region, work in companies or fields of interest, and/or who could assist with career transitions. To join, simply create a profile on LinkedIn if you don’t already have one, search for Luther College Career Network, and click “join.” Another area where alumni can help is with internships. If you, or those you know, can offer internships to Luther students during January Term or the summer, please contact the Career Center at [email protected] for more information.
As always, I encourage you consider joining me in making a gift to our alma mater as we approach the close of 2015!
With warm wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season,
Craig Rabe
1992 Class Agent
[email protected]
Your gift. Every year. Put to work, right away, where it is needed most.
Each year over 9,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $75,000. 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 27% alumni giving. Here’s how your class is doing so far this year:
CLASS OF 1992 TOTAL GIVING: $15,452.56 FROM 11.07% OF THE CLASS*
Have you made your 2015 gift to Luther? Only 85 more gifts are needed to reach 27% for your class. Please visit www.givenow.luther.edu to make your gift today. Thank you!
Please note: Your Spring 2016 class agent letter will include a listing of your classmates who gave to Luther during 2015. Be sure to make your gift before December 31 to be included.
*as of October 1, 2015
Class Notes
TODD FISHER is president of Fisher Mortgage, which was acquired by North Shore Trust and Savings in Lindenhurst, Ill. The company can now lend in all fifty states.
ANDREW GRAY is wealth advisor for Thrivent Financial in Northfield, Minn.
MILO JAPENGA is general manager at Greg’s Lawn & Landscape in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
KRISTIN (HOHNBAUM) KLEIN is a student teacher at Stanton School in Island Lake, Ill.
SUJAY LAMA received the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) “Coach of the Year Award” for the second time. He is head women’s tennis coach at the University of North Texas in Denton.
ANDREW MANGION of St. Julians, Malta, is owner and executive chairman of EC English Language Centres. The company opened two new schools in the U.S.: one in Washington, D.C., and the second on the campus of University of New York in Oswego. The company operates schools in 21 locations worldwide.
AMY (GRAHAM) NEWELL is executive director of the Arc of Winnebago, Boone, and Ogle Counties, in Rockford, Ill.
AMIE (BARSCH) ODAHL is associate pastor of Hosanna Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, Minn.
BETH (ADAMS) and JIM OSTREM live in Lino Lakes, Minn. Beth is vice president of Farm Credit Foundation. Jim is senior software engineer for Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
EMBER SALVESON earned a master of education degree from Weber University.
DAVE SCHNEIDER is senior director and head of global marketing for Red Wing (Minn.) Shoe Company.
DIANE (JOHNSON) SMITH is a field case manager for UnitedHealth Group in Centennial, Colo.
CHANEY (CARR) YEAST received the Excellence in Victim Service Award at a celebration in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This is the first time this award has been granted in Iowa and is the highest honor bestowed on an individual who is not in law enforcement. The award was presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Chaney’s exceptional leadership in developing the Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children’s Hospital 13 years ago, as well as her continued advocacy for child abuse awareness and collaboration with numerous local, regional, and state entities. She is director of Government Relations & Medical-Legal Project and manager of Regional Child Protection Center at Blank Children’s Hospital/UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, Iowa.
Births
Holly and DAVID JORDE welcomed a son, Tor Knut, in March 2015. Tor joins sister Teela.
STEPHANIE (AGRESTA) and Chris McCaffrey welcomed a son, Dillon Christopher, in January 2011 and a daughter, Chloe Lane, in August 2012.
Obituary
STEVE ROOT of Plymouth, Minn., died Nov. 29, 2014, at age 45. He is survived by his parents, emeritus professor Ken Root and his wife, Barbara.
Are you an eligible Thrivent Financial member with Choice Dollars® to direct?
Do you know you can direct those dollars to Luther College? You can have an impact on current and future students with the click of a mouse (or a quick phone call)!
Online:
- Visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice.
- Scroll down and select the “Get Started” button in the “Direct Choice Dollars” section. Log in and enter your user ID and password, and answer your security question. (If you haven’t yet registered on Thrivent.com, click “Register for account access” to do so.)
- Find the number of Choice Dollars available to direct on the right side of the screen.
- Search the catalog of organizations to find Luther College.
- Click on “Direct Now” to direct designated Choice Dollars.
By phone:
- Call 800-847-4836 and when prompted, say “Thrivent Choice.”
- Press 1 to direct Choice Dollars or 2 to hear Thrivent Choice program terms
and conditions. (If prompted, say or enter your phone number and date of birth.) - A representative will work with you to direct Choice Dollars.
You may be able to DOUBLE OR TRIPLE YOUR IMPACT
WITH EMPLOYER MATCHING GIFTS
Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, visit www.matchinggifts.com/luther or ask your human resources representative.
If your company is eligible, you can request a matching gift form from your employer, fill it out, and send it to Luther with your gift. We’ll do the rest!
The impact of your gift to Luther College may be doubled or possibly tripled! Some companies match gifts made by retirees and/or spouses, too.
Questions? Give us a call at 1-800-225-8664, or email [email protected]
