Don't forget your Annual Fund giving! 

Each year nearly 10,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $3 to $25,000. Strong support from alumni helps Luther secure significant funds from foundations and corporations, and your gift each year helps us reach our goal of 30% alumni giving to the Annual Fund.  Here’s how our class—and surrounding classes—did in 2009: 

Class of 1999    Total giving in 2009:  $21,257 from 22% of the class

CLASS OF 2000      TOTAL GIVING IN 2009:  $16,585 FROM 24% OF THE CLASS

Class of 2001    Total giving in 2009:  $14,515 from 19% of the class

Your gift can boost our class impact on current students!  Visit givenow.luther.edu to show your support.  Thank you!

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Class Notes
ELLEN (SANDBERG) ABERNATHY of Prairie du Sac, Wis., is strategic marketing manager of CPM marketing group in Madison.

ALICIA (SEALES) ABRAMS is assistant manager of customer care at Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., in Coralville, Iowa.

BRADLEY ANCELET is controller for T. Wall Properties in Middleton, Wis.

ERIN (ELLERBUSCH) ANDERSON is music director at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd, Minn., and she teaches piano lessons.

MEGAN (HAUGEN) ATKINSON is director for intersegment accounting and forecasting at UnitedHealth Group in Minnetonka, Minn. 

ERIKA BACKSTROM and BRADLEY BRANAM live in Gunnison, Colo. Erika earned a master of science degree in nursing from the Research College of Nursing. Brad earned a master of fine arts degree in theatre design and technology from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a technical director at Western State College.

ELIZABETH BROGAARD-ALLEN of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, is an operations director for Population Services International.

BRIAN CHRISTENSEN earned a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.  He teaches third grade at Northside ISD in San Antonio, Texas.

SARAH (RUDE) COFFEY is a licensed school counselor for the Hopkins (Minn.) Schools. 

COLIN FARBOTKA and MARNEY OLSON ’99 recently began retrofitting their home for wheelchair accessibility.  Colin has ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and a group of friends organized a fundraiser in September to help with costs.  Check out his blog at www.colinfarbotko.com.

JENESSA (STOVERN) GERLING is an instructor of communication at Hennepin Technical College in Brooklyn Park, Minn.

JODI (SOLBERG) GOLDSBERRY is a physician/general internist at Roper St. Francis Physician Partners in Charleston, S.C.

CHRISTINE (WILLIAMS) HINZ earned a master’s degree in clinical laboratory science from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), where she won a 2010 Academic Excellence Award.  She is the 2010-11 president-elect of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science.

MINDY (FREEMAN) and STEVEN HUDAK live in Dallas. Mindy is a stay-at-home mom. Steven recently graduated from the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium urology residency program, where he was named the outstanding graduate; received the Major David S. Berry Award for Academic Excellence, Dedication to Duty, and Compassionate Care; and earned the Army Commendation Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement during his residency. He is an assistant instructor in urology and fellow in reconstructive urology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; he remains on active duty as a major in the U.S. Army.

ANGELA DOSS and DUANE HUFFER ‘97 live in Ames, Iowa. Angela is senior counsel, Office of General Counsel at Nationwide Insurance.

ELLEN (KRETZSCHMAR) KOHLMEIR earned a doctorate in biological sciences from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., and is a postdoctoral fellow at the university.

HEATHER LANDE of Plymouth, Minn., is an account manager for Robertet Flavors, a worldwide supplier of flavors, fragrances, and raw materials.

BRIAN LARSON is a compliance consultant at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.

BRIAN LENSCH is a senior marketing analyst for Paradysz Analytics in Minneapolis.

SARAH (HEIDT) MAUCH of Pittsburgh, Pa., is project manager of Microbicide Trials Network.

MARIA MILLER-RINALDI is a general dentist at Park Dental Group in St. Louis Park, Minn.

SANTIAGO NAVARRO is co-owner and director of Wine Ventures Limited in London.

RACHEL NICHOLAS earned a master’s degree in teaching from Hamline University. She is an English teacher for South Washington County schools in Woodbury, Minn.

KELLY NYE is a training coordinator at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

REBECCA OLTHAFER is an assistant professor of music at North Park University in Chicago.

MIKE PIEHL of Hudson, Wis., is a capability architect at Allianz Life.

SANDY REISHUS earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Iowa. She is a teacher and librarian at West Liberty (Iowa) High School.

JAN (SCHNELL) and STEVE RIPPENTROP ’01 live in Iowa City, Iowa. Jan is the associate pastor at Zion Lutheran Church.

KERRI RUTTER of St. Paul, Minn., is in human resources at Thomson Reuters.

TARA (HENDERSON) SCHILLING is center director at Knowledge Learning Corporation in Madison, Wis.

HEIDI (REBISCHKE) and COREY SCHNEIDER live in Adel, Iowa. Heidi is a stay-at-home mom, and Corey is a high school mathematics teacher for the Woodward-Granger School District.

LINDSEY (RENDALL) SCHREURS teaches physical education and health for the Grafton (Wis.) School District.

JENNIFER SKIDGEL is a global awards manager for the Leo Burnett advertising agency in Chicago. 

CANDICE SMITH of Decorah is an emergency and family medicine physician at Acute Care, Inc., in Ankeny, Iowa.

TIMOTHY STATON is the brand manager at Planet Propaganda in Madison, Wis.

CASSIDY (JOHNSON) STEINER of Edina, Minn., earned a master of education degree from Hamline University. She stays at home with her daughter, Penelope. 

LEAH (SCHMITT) and KEVIN TAYLOR live in West Des Moines, Iowa. Leah is an elementary education teacher for West Des Moines schools, and Kevin is an operations manager at Wells Fargo Bank.

Births
ELLEN (SANDBERG) and Mike Abernathy welcomed a son, Finnegan, in Dec. 2008.

Kelly and GENE ADAMS welcomed a daughter, Ellie, in Aug. 2008.     

Christa and BRAD ANCELET welcomed a son, Jack, in Oct. 2008.  

CAROL (TISINGER) and Adam Boeka welcomed a son, Samuel, in June 2010.  Samuel joins brother Maximillian (3).

CARRIE (MILLER) and CHARLES BOERGER ’99 welcomed a son, Charles, in April 2008.

JULIE (SHEWMAKE) and JASON BOERGER welcomed a son, Blake, in Sept. 2009.  Blake joins brother Braeden (5) and sister Ella (4).

Eleanor and TYLER CHRISTIANSEN welcomed a son, Wesley, in April 2010.  Wesley joins sister Margaret (3).

HOLLY (WENDT) and Aaron Crowser welcomed a son, Caleb Edward, on June 8, 2010.  Caleb joins brother Andrew (5) and sister Grace (2).

SARAH (EDWARDS) and Wesley Davis welcomed a daughter, Eleanor, in Nov. 2009.  

ANN (BLADO) and ANDY DYBVIG '98 welcomed a daughter, Naomi, in March  2010.

TRACY MOHRHAUSER and Thomas George welcomed a daughter, Colette, in Dec. 2009.  Colette joins brother Armand.

JENESSA (STOVERN) and Scott Gerling welcomed a daughter, Blair, in Dec. 2008.       

JODI (SOLBERG) and Grant Goldsberry welcomed a daughter, Grace, in May  2008.

ALYSSA (WYSE) and Harry Hellen welcomed a son, Harvey, in Dec. 2009.  Harvey joins brothers Harrison (6) and Hank (4).

JOY (KORSMO) '02 and JOSH HERRELL welcomed a son, Caleb, in April 2009.  Caleb joins brother Nathan (14).

MINDY (FREEMAN) and STEVE HUDAK welcomed a son, Anderson, in Sept. 2008.  Anderson joins brother William (4).

WENDY (MOELLERS) and Keith Huinker welcomed a son, Cooper, in May 2009.      

SARAH (NORQUIST) and David Irwin welcomed a daughter, Anna, in Sept. 2009.  Anna joins brother William (3).

SARAH (REISINGER) and DAN JOHNSON welcomed a daughter, Kaya, in Sept. 2008.  

HEIDI (HINGEVELD) and MICHAEL JUNG '98 welcomed a daughter, Katie, in May 2009.  Katie joins sister Marissa (3).

TAMMY (SWENSON) '02 and KEVIN KAMPFE welcomed a son, Caleb, in March 2010.  Caleb joins sister Kaylie (3).

KATE (BROTHEN) and MARK KEIPER '01 welcomed a son, Jack, in Jan. 2009.    

ELLEN (KRETZSCHMAR) and John Kohlmeir welcomed a daughter, Abby, in Feb. 2009.  Abby joins brother John (5).

ANDREA (BURTON) '01 and DEREK LANZ welcomed a son, Amos, in Oct. 2009.       

JILL (COOPER) and ELI LARSON welcomed a daughter, Claire, in Jan.  2010.     

JEN (MANN) and Eric Leiberg welcomed a daughter, Lily, in April 2008.  Lily joins sister Eva (5).

KOREN (HAUGEN) and MARC MELCHER '01 welcomed a son, Brady, in May 2010.  Brady joins brother Brandon (3).

HOLLY (RIEBE) '01 and TRAVIS MOREHEAD welcomed a son, Maxwell, in March 2010.      

Kim and RYAN NIEDFELDT welcomed a son, Max, in May 2008. 

JACI (GERDTS) and Kyle Olsen welcomed a son, Grady, in Dec. 2009.  

JENNIFER (TESMER) and Colin Pickett welcomed a son, Cooper, in June, 2009.  Cooper joins sisters Morgan (6) and Kathryn (4).

KATIE (ZERGER) '02 and JASON RICHARD welcomed a daughter, Charlotte, in March 2010.

ELISSA (MAGEE) and Jacob Richmond welcomed a son, Andre, in Feb. 2010.  Andre joins brother Jonas (3).

MARIA (MILLER) and JOE RINALDI welcomed a son, Rasmus, in Feb.2009.  Rasmus joins brother Joseph (3).

JAN (SCHNELL) and STEVE RIPPENTROP '01 welcomed a daughter, Ana, in Oct. 2009.  Ana joins sister Tessera (4).

Amanda and BOB ROSS welcomed a daughter, Laine, in March 2010.  Laine joins brother Jack (3).

Brandi and NICK SAUKE welcomed a daughter, Brittyn, in July 2009.  Brittyn joins brother Aidan (8).

TARA (HENDERSON) and Mark Schilling welcomed a daughter, Victoria, in Sept. 2009.  Victoria joins brother Daniel (2).

MISSY (JOHNSON) and Scott Serwe welcomed a son, Spencer, in Jan. 2010.  Spencer joins sister Madeline (2).

JOY (THOMAS) and Jeff Slater welcomed a son, Patrick, in Jan. 2010.  Patrick joins sister Betsy (3).

MINDY (HALL) and Jeff Steinlage welcomed a son, Drake, on Jan. 30, 2010.  Drake joins brothers Brock (6) and Brogan (3).

MELISSA (MANNING) and DOUG SUMMERFIELD welcomed a son, Garrett in Nov. 2009.   

LEAH (SCHMITT) and KEVIN TAYLOR welcomed a daughter, London, in Nov. 2008.  London joins brother Kaden (4).

KARRIE (HINES) and Nathaniel Theoharis welcomed a daughter, Elyse, in March 2010.          

Heidi and AARON THIESE welcomed a son, Jonah, in June 2010.

LINDSEY (ANDERSON) and RYAN THOMPSON welcomed a daughter, Elsa in Nov. 2009.  Elsa joins brother Kyler (6) and sister Anya (3).

KAREN (KNUTSON) and Keith Wain welcomed a son, Soren, in Feb. 2009.      

JESSICA (ERLANDSON) and Alex Wallerstedt welcomed a daughter, Anna, in June 2010.  Anna joins brother Isaiah (4) and sister Rebekah (2).

CRISTIN (GRANT) and Robert Waterbury welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth on Sept. 2009.  

KELLY (STYBA) and Andrew Worth welcomed a son, Elijah, in May 2010.  Elijah joins brother Isaac (3).

Marriages
MEGAN HAUGEN and John Atkinson, May 9, 2009
RACHEL MOSBO and Joseph Collins, Oct. 22, 2008
ANGELA DOSS and DUANE HUFFER '97, April 16, 2010
BRIAN LENSCH and Carleen Fuchs, Nov. 14, 2009
JASON LEONHART and Denise Weber, Nov. 28, 2009
SHELLEY KUBITZ and RYAN MAHANNAH, April 18, 2009
LEAH ROHLFSEN and Patrick McManus, Sept. 12, 2009
JENNIFER SKIDGEL and Scott Neidl, Oct. 21, 2006
LINDSEY RENDALL and Paul Schreurs, May 30, 2010
TIM STATON and Ryann Paszko, June 5, 2010
TODD WOJCHIK and ERICA ROBERSON '99, May 14, 2010