Fall 2015
Dear Class of 2001,
Homecoming at Luther for 2015 has just ended, the leaves are falling, the weather is cooling down here in Minnesota, and I (Joy) am realizing that next year at this time we will have just celebrated our 15-year Luther reunion. Hard to believe it’s almost been 15 years since we graduated and said good-bye to a campus that we knew as home for 4-5 years. Homecoming 2016 is September 30-October 2.
Our days at Luther sometimes seem far away, but I am blessed to occasionally run into Luther alumni, and I love the sense of connection these meetings always seem to bring. My family brought home our daughter from China this spring and, of the 14 other families we traveled with, we met a fellow Luther alumnus who was traveling with his wife to bring their son home. Another Luther alum has become a colleague of mine at work in this past year. We fondly share memories of Luther and Decorah, which always bring smiles to our faces as we compare stories. These examples remind me of the importance of the connections and sense of community that Luther College alumni share.
The Career Center works hard to help students find employment, graduate programs, volunteer programs, and the skills needed to succeed after their time on campus. One way you as an alum can help is to connect with the LinkedIn group “Luther College Career Network.” Through this forum, current students can connect with alumni, and alumni are also able to network with others. To join, create a profile on LinkedIn, and join the Luther College Career Network group.
We were fortunate to graduate from a wonderful college with connections, memories, and skills to last a lifetime. Thinking this fall of the many first-year students starting their time at Luther makes me appreciate all that we experienced during those years. As a class, we can give back to benefit those students who are embarking on their journeys and support them in the same way alumni and friends of the college supported us. Last year our class had a participation rate of 18.8 percent to all funds and 17.9 percent to the Annual Fund. To compare, other classes have between 20-50 percent participation. Gifts of all sizes are welcome, and the value in increasing our class participation is priceless. A very special thank you to all who are able to give, have given, and support Luther in so many ways. Visit givenow.luther.edu to make your gift!
Remember that you can also connect with Luther in many different ways, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn – go to www.luther.edu/connect/.
We wish you and your families a wonderful fall season!
Our best,
Joy (Christian) Stevens
2001 Class Agent
[email protected]
Laura (Ahlstrand) Bunch
2001 Class Agent
[email protected]
Paul Hoyem
2001 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 2001 TOTAL GIVING: $10,017.54 FROM 10.79% OF THE CLASS*
Have you made your 2015 gift to Luther? Only 91 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
ABBEY ALMELIEN BANH died of sarcoma cancer in 2013 at age 34, however, her spirit lives on through the journal she kept from August 2008 until shortly before her death, which has now been published. Proceeds from sales of the book, titled "Love, Abbey: A Memoir of an Undying Spirit," are going to sarcoma cancer research at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
DAN BELLRICHARD of Decorah is the regional beef marketing manager at JBS in Colesburg.
MOLLIE BUSTA LANGE was inducted into the Iowa Polka Music Hall of Fame (Promoter Category, 2015) by the Polka Club of Iowa, Inc.
JEFF CURRY is a staffer for Wisconsin State Representative Travis Tranel District 49 in Madison.
VICTORIA (CALDWELL) ’02 and DANIEL DRASHER live in Eagan, Minn. Daniel is a senior quality assurance specialist, regulatory compliance for Ecolab.
GREG FOSHEIM earned a juris doctor degree from Georgia State University College of Law and a master of public health (MPH) degree in epidemiology from Emory University. He is an associate attorney and a member of the litigation practice group at McKenna Long and Aldridge, LLP, in Atlanta.
HILARY (TESLOW) GANSEN is senior pricing consultant for OptumInsight in Eden Prairie, Minn.
LAURA (CAULUM) GRATTON is a family physician and the medical director at Mosaic Medical Clinic in Prineville, Ore. She also serves as the public health officer of Cook County.
STEPHANIE HEISHMAN is principal of Freya, LLC, a marketing, fundraising, and event partner and collaborator in Washington, D.C.
LINDSAY (WEIER) HOLLINGSWORTH earned the Ed.D. degree in curriculum and instruction from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Va., and received the Liberal Arts and Education Outstanding Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she is assistant professor in the School of Education.
PAUL HOYEM was featured in the article “Financial planners help take the mystery out of saving, investing” that appeared in the business section of the Chicago Tribune last November. He is a financial planner for Thrivent Financial in Downers Grove, Ill.
JOHN MILLS is the emergency communications operator for Rice/Steele 911 Center in Faribault, Minn.
HOLLY MOREHEAD works in accounting at Target Corporation in Minneapolis.
KOFI ODOOM of St. Petersburg, Fla., is group chief financial officer for QUALMS Group Limited.
ANNA ROEDER is visiting professor of biology at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
DANA SANDSTROM is senior manager, capacity building, in the Office of Business Strategy, Development and Advocacy for Management Sciences for Health in Lusaka, Zambia.
GENE TESDAHL is assistant professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and director of development for Leave No Veteran Behind.
ARIANA (ANDERSON) WRIGHT is the PK-4 principal at Kasson/Mantorville (Minn.) Elementary School.
Marriages
AMANDA HAMP and Matthew Simpson, June 12, 2015
MICHELLE OLSON and Angel Navedo, July 24, 2015
HILARY TESLOW and Dustin Gansen, Aug. 16, 2014
Births
GAIL (CARPENTER) and Benjamin Baggett welcomed a son, Andrew Alder, in June 2014. Andrew joins sister Johannah.
ELIZABETH GRICE and Michael Cornelius welcomed a daughter, Elena Anne, in December 2014.
VICKI (CALDWELL) '02 and DAN DRASHER welcomed a daughter, Samantha, in September 2013. Samantha joins brother Benjamin.
MINDY (MOORE) and BRENT EBLING '99 welcomed a son, Kellen Joseph, in September 2014. Kellen joins sister Addison.
TIFFANY (SELLNER) '02 and JOE ECKBERG welcomed a son, Bertram Clark, in May 2015. Bertram joins sisters Evelyn and Ashwinn.
KATIE (ANDERSEN) and ROB GERDTS '02 welcomed a son, Nolan Andersen, in May 2014.
Melina and PAUL HOYEM welcomed a daughter, Olivia Grace, in August 2014.
KIRSTIN LARSON and LARS LARSON welcomed a daughter, Leah Julie Mae, in November 2013.
ALLISON (CHURILLA) and Alex Liuzzi welcomed a daughter, Hazel Winter Grace, in January 2015. Hazel joins brothers Arius and Avery.
HOLLY (RIEBE) and TRAVIS MOREHEAD ’00 welcomed a son, Eliot, in April 2012. Eliot joins brother Maxwell.
JESSICA (SIME) and Ben Singer welcomed a daughter, Rachel Anne, in February 2014.
JOY (CHRISTIAN) and Joel Stevens welcomed a daughter, Emma Huixin, born in February 2013, adopted in March 2015.
GWEN (MOWRY) and CHRIS VAN GERPEN '02 welcomed a daughter, Brynn, in April 2015.
REBEKAH (RUSCH) and Brandon Vogelsberg welcomed a son, Reid Patrick, in February 2015.
ROBYN (SIEDSCHLAG) and AARON WANGBERG welcomed a daughter, Ruby Johanna, in March 2015. Ruby joins brother Quinn and sister Cora.
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]
