Spring 2016
Dear Classmates:
Greetings from Luther College! As I write this letter, spring semester is well underway and the campus is excitedly preparing for anticipated spring break adventures!
This January students participated in nearly 20 away course offerings. These courses covered the globe, including Africa, Asia, Europe, New Zealand, the United States, Latin American, and the Caribbean. Course topics were equally diverse, including the following examples: People and Parks: Pastoralism and Conservation in East Africa; Stability and Change in Vietnam; In Frankenstein’s Footsteps: The Keats-Shelley Circle in London, Geneva, and Italy; Communication and Sport in New Zealand; Entrepreneurship and the Common Good, and “Tales of the Sea” on the Windjammer, Roseway. These locations and topics make me want to go back to school, if only for a J-Term! To learn more about these experiences, take a quick look at the J-Term course blogs at https://www.luther.edu/jtermblogs2016/.
If you’re looking for a little Luther adventure of your own, you might consider participating in the Tour of Dante’s Italy. This October 2016 travel experience includes time in Ravenna, Assisi, Siena, and Florence, and is being led by emeriti faculty Uwe Rudolf and Ruth Caldwell.
When you visit the student blogs, you may notice that Luther’s homepage has a new look. It has been redesigned to interest and inform prospective students and the parents, teachers, and counselors who advise them. Alumni can still easily find web content that interests you by using the search button at the top right corner of the page, or by clicking “Alumni & Friends” in the “Info for” box right next to the search button.
President Carlson recently began a new tradition by providing a mid-year in-person report to faculty and staff. At this recent gathering, she outlined a new strategic planning process focused on greater integration in students’ educational experience, curriculum innovation, staffing and budget priorities, and physical plant renovation. She also reported that the search for a new vice president for development is progressing well. So things are moving ahead at the college on multiple fronts!
In other news, professor emeritus of music David Judisch was awarded the St. Olav’s Medal by the government of Norway for his distinguished work in strengthening ties between Norway and Norwegian Americans as the long-time director of the Luren Singers, Decorah’s men’s chorus. This prestigious award was bestowed upon professor Judisch as part of the opening convocation for the spring semester.
My family is looking forward to an opportunity to cheer on the Luther wrestling team at the national meet in Cedar Rapids this weekend. I hope you will seek out an opportunity to connect with Luther athletes, musicians, or students when they are in your neighborhood!
In closing, I’d like to offer my thanks to all who made gifts to Luther in 2015 and/or during Luther Giving Day. The first of its kind, Luther’s Giving Day on March 10 raised $574,809 for the Luther Annual Fund. The entire campus community appreciates your support!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Craig Rabe
1992 Class Agent
450 Hickory Court
Robins, IA 52328
319-536-0032
[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 reach our goal of 27% alumni giving. Here’s how your class—and surrounding classes—did in 2015:
Class of 1991 total giving in 2015: $30,289 from 18.80% of the class
Class of 1992 total giving in 2015: $30,962 from 18.80% of the class
Class of 1993 total giving in 2015: $27,679 from 17.28% of the class
Your gift can boost the impact your class has on current students! Please use the enclosed envelope or visit givenow.luther.edu to show your support. Thank you!
WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE:
This list includes all gifts received January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2015. Making a gift each and every year is an investment in the lives of Luther students and a show of support for the Luther College community. Thank you for your support of Luther College through your giving.
Kirsten Akre
David Anderson
Kathi (Klink) Anderson
Lars Anderson
Michael Anderson
David Bartelt
Kara (Skatrud) Baylor
Matthew Beatty
Sarah (Neumann) Biscoglia
Amy (Brumm) Bjorklund
Kristofer Bjorklund
Dominique (Eells) Bockman
David Boese
Dawn Bondhus Mueller
Joel Boulanger
Amy (Carlson) Bruening
William Buenger
Debra Bullock
Lora (Maiers) Castleman
Kyle Christiason
Michele Cooley
Dana (Rehse) Dinndorf
Steven Dixen
Allison (Fishwild) Erickson
Daniel Fuhrman
G. Richard Geier
Laura (Smith) Gentry
Michael George
Amy Gilbertson
Erica Gilbertson
Kristi Groth
Spring Halland
Paul Halverson
Tami (Daiker) Halverson
Valerie Hansen
Carter Hanson
David Hanson
Nancy Hatle
Kristen (Anderson) Heffern
Scot Heggen
Laura (Olson) Heuer
David Hoover
Peter Johnson
Tracy Johnson
David Jorde
Christopher Kessler
Cynthia (Brown) Kjeldahl
David Klee
Kristin (Hohnbaum) Klein
Ellen (Krahn) Knautz
Keith Knautz
Julie (Mathews) Knudson
Heidi (Beane) Koopman
Sujay Lama
Peggy (Shindelar) Lensing
Darrelleen (Riehle) Lewis
Cindy Marlow McClenagan
Bethene (Kjellberg) McMahon
Janet (Gohrke) McWilliams
Christopher Meinen
Heather (Hirt) Miller
Kimberly (Gass) Mueller
Amie (Barsch) Odahl
Chanda (Asproth) Olson
Lars Olson
Marjorie Opuni-Akuamoa
Beth (Adams) Ostrem
Jodi (Schulze) Petersen
Marc Peterson
Bartt Pierce
Scott Putman
Tanja (Strom) Putman
Craig Rabe
Erik Rasmussen
Karin (Hagen) Richards
Jill Rocheleau
Ruth Ann (Lidtke) Sacquitne
Sonja (Parks) Sandquist
Kari (Amundson) Schmidt
Sara (Tandy) Schurr
Stephanie Shipman-Clemenson
Staci Sievert
Julianne (Flessner) Skaar
Diane (Johnson) Smith
Joel Spoonheim
Laura (Anderson) Stevens
Jennifer (Lutz) Suhr
Deborah Svec-Carstens
Elizabeth (Papa) Taylor
Chad Thomley
Karen (Titus) Trewin
Patrick Trewin
Christopher Tyler
Kristin (Finholt) Vande Krol
Anne (Potter) Walters
Staci (Danielsen) Waltman
J. Troy Whitehill
Kyle Wiese
Kelli (Dunne) Winchester
Brenda Zenk
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If an error has been made, please accept our apology and contact the Luther Development Office at 800-225-8664, or email [email protected].
Class Notes
STEPHANIE AGRESTA is owner of Stephanie Agresta Consulting in Little Silver, N.J. She created the Bloggers Lounge at SXSW, co-created TechSet, and co-authored Perspectives on Social Media. She was named #6 among digital creators, innovators, and strategists in public relations by PRWeek, and Business Insider named her as one of the top 25 advertising executives on Twitter.
MICHELLE (MALY) ’90 and CARTER HANSON live in Valparaiso, Ind. Carter is an English professor at the University. They are directing the university’s study abroad program in Reutlingen, Germany, from 2015 to 2017.
GREG IRVING is a student in conservation ecology in Bangkok, Thailand.
ERIC MONSON is the president of American Vocal Studio, Ltd., in Hong Kong and the founder of Metro, a professional vocal group.