Fall 2013
Dear Friends of the Class of 2003,
It is good to be back in touch after another homecoming at Luther has come and gone, and especially after celebrating our 10-year reunion. Thanks to all who made it back to campus!
The fall colors around Decorah were beautiful for homecoming, and it was a splendid weekend: we heard that Friday evening there was a big turnout for the alumni dinner; the annual Hoslett lecture Saturday morning was about the science of hearing loss; a big win over Loras brightened Saturday afternoon; and the worship service and concert on Sunday are always major events–the performances by the Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, and Nordic Choir were terrific.
By all reports, David Tiede-the college's interim president, is an ideal fit for the role: unpretentiously brainy, warm, and congenial; committed to being more than a caretaker; and blessed with a lively sense of humor. Last year's presidential search is behind us, and a new search process is under way with the hope there will be news to report in the spring.
The number of new students this fall is at about the same level as in the past couple of years, up a bit from Midwestern states, down a bit from elsewhere in the U.S. Looking at the diversity breakdown for the entire student body, the largest contingent, after international students, is now Hispanic-American. The 41 internationals come from 32 different countries!
Luther’s development staff has been busy evaluating the recently completed Sesquicentennial Fund campaign, using "listening post" sessions in a variety of locations around the country to involve members of the constituency. One of the points highlighted in this evaluation is the need to stop the decline in the percentage of alumni contributing to the Annual Fund. The good news is that the past year has seen a reversal of that trend. But it needs to go further. Let's see what our class can do to improve its standing, giving at whatever level is feasible for us. Thank you!
If you are looking for good reading and haven't yet dug into the latest issue of the alumni magazine, open it to the profiles of a number of last spring's graduates. They include some amazing and inspiring stories that will make you proud of Luther.
We’ll write again in the spring; have a good winter,
Jessica (Romens) Schouten
2003 Class Agent
[email protected]
Joel Sommers
2003 Class Agent
[email protected]
Your gift. Every year. Put to work, right away, where it is needed most.
Each year nearly 10,000 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 2003 TOTAL GIVING: $13,145.82 FROM 16% OF THE CLASS*
Have you made your 2013 gift to Luther? Only 56 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 2014 class agent letter will include a listing of your classmates who gave to Luther during 2013. Be sure to make your gift before December 31 to be included.
*as of October 18, 2013
Class Notes
CARRIE ANDERSON earned a master of divinity degree from Wartburg Theological Seminary. She is the pastor at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Baldwin, Wis.
JEN RUST ANDERSON and MATT ANDERSON ’05 live in Eau Claire, Wis. Jen is a compliance officer for Group Health Cooperative.
TANYA (LEAKE) and MARK ANDERSON live in Middleton, Wisc. Mark is a software engineer for CUNA Mutual Ins. Group. Tanya is a payroll clerk for the City of Madison.
KRISTIN and MIKE BABINE-DINNEN live in Minneapolis. Kristin is a registered nurse and works in the cardiac catheterization lab of North Memorial Hospital. Mike is implementation project manager for U.S. Bank.
AARON BARNES, of St. Paul, Minn., is an independent contractor and content specialist for Michigan’s Integrated Behavior and Learning Support Initiative.
JESSICA BARRETT is director of operations for Aria at the Jeune Lune in Minneapolis.
BJORN BERG is branch manager for U.S. Bank in Des Moines, Iowa, and a graduate student at Drake University. He serves on the board of directors for Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa, serves on the education committee for the NAACP, and is a volunteer in Junior Achievement’s BizTown and Drake’s adultery literacy program.
BJORN BERG is a branch manager for US Bank in Des Moines, Iowa.
JODIE (JANSEN) CAMPBELL of Upper Moutere, New Zealand, is a fisheries consultant for MRAG Americas, Inc.
AMY CHRISTENSEN is co-owner of Sims TV & Electronics in Decorah with her husband Ryan.
COLLEEN (SMITH) CHRISTENSEN is project manager for Gage Marketing Group in Plymouth, Minn.
KATY DANE was named the teacher of the month at Byron P. Steele High School in Cibolo, Texas, for her work with the school’s production of Little Shop of Horrors.
ABBY (STRUCK) DAVISON is an attorney at the Iowa State Public Defender Office in Council Bluffs.
DEREK DISTIN was selected to compete in season three of MasterChef on the Fox network. Derek is an independent sales representative of medical devices in Sun Prairie, Wis.
KRISTIN DOROW earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bellin College in Green Bay, Wis.
BETSY DREIER is a reading tutor for Minnesota Education Corps in St. Paul.
LINDSAY ESSEX SAUVAGE earned a master’s degree in counseling from Regis University in Denver.
BRANDON FRASEUR was elected the South Central District Representative for the Iowa Choral Directors Association (ICDA). He is director of choral activities at Solon (Iowa) Middle School, and coaches 8th grade volleyball and high school girls’ basketball and golf.
HEIDI (MONTGOMERY) GANSHERT owns and operates Whiteside Farms in Argyle, Wis.
LAURA GRAHAM is assistant to the city manager of Des Moines, Iowa.
JUSTIN GRITZMACHER works for ACTIVE Network in Avon, Colo.
KAREN (MEYER) GOBLE is the participations accounting manager for American AgCredit in Greeley, Colo.
EMILY (WENZEL) GUTIERREZ is the commodity manager for Emerson in Eden Prairie, Minn.
ANDREW HAEMKER is a teacher at Fairfax (Va.) High School.
MELINDA (KEZERLE) and GREG HANSON ‘04 live in Vadnais Heights, Minn. Melinda is a consultant in organizational effectiveness for Target.
KAJSA (SABATKE) HARLEY is education and curatorial initiatives manager for Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith, N.Y.
KARI (BLACK) HIRVELA is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Nursing in Madison.
RYAN HOLLENBECK is an interventional cardiologist for Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. He completed his general cardiology training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and is in his final year of interventional cardiology training at the medical center.
JESSI (CROTSER) HOSPER is a human resource administrator for Pinnacle Foods Group LLC.
SEAN HOULIHAN earned a master’s degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato.
ALLISON (SMITH) JONES is a registered nurse, AHA course director, and clinical nursing instructor for STAT Medical Training and the University of Phoenix in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
STEVE KEENAN is principal planner for Sangamon County in Springfield, Ill.
JANA (CHMELAR) KLAUKE is director of MBA Career Services at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
SARA KLOSTERBOER is a special education teacher at West High School in the Iowa City (Iowa) Community School District.
JIM KOWITZ and his high school classmate, Nick Banovetz, worked with the White Bear Lake Area Educational Foundation to establish the Mary Dahle Leadership Scholarship in honor of their former Spanish teacher and student council advisor. The pair hope to raise $25,000 for the endowed scholarship for graduates of White Bear Lake High School. Kowitz is a meeting and event planner for Ernst and Young in Minneapolis.
MIKE KNIPPER earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from the University of Central Missouri and is assistant athletic director for media relations at the university in Warrensburg.
KIM (HUFF) and ELIOTT KRANZ live in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Kim teaches choir for kindergarten through grade six. Eliott earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of St. Thomas and is the vocal director at Cedar Falls High School.
WENDY (UHLENHAKE) KUENNEN teaches second grade at St. Patrick School in Waukon, Iowa.
LISA (HIGHUM) KUSH is an account manager for MotivAction LLC in Minneapolis.
HANNAH LEUTHNER is a chef and director of Guest House Kitchen for St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minn.
KRISTINE (HOLLEQUE) and DAVID LOWER live in Minneapolis. Kristine is a modeling analyst for U.S. Bancorp.
KRISTA MAHLER is manager of community outreach for Connections Education in Baltimore.
KATIE (FLETCHER) and ALEX MARTINSON live in Woodridge, Ill. Katie is a lactation consultant and childbirth educator for OMG Women’s Healthcare. Alex is a postdoctorate fellow at Argonne National Laboratory.
CAMI (CONOVER) MISEKOW is the owner and operator of Prairie Wind Creations in Sioux Falls, S.D.
ANNA (RAUK) MITCHELL is an associate veterinarian at Ely (Minn.) Veterinary Clinic.
KariAn (LEE) MULFORD is an adjunct biology instructor at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
KARI (TWEDT) NELSON teaches kindergarten at Lincoln Elementary School in the Richland (Wis.) School District.
ALYSSA ERICKSON ’02 and KWAME OWUSU-ACHEAMPONG live in Minneapolis. Kwame is a program analyst for Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota.
KRISTIN (THOMPSON) and BRYAN PHELPS live in Shakopee, Minn. Kristin is a senior behavior therapist at Partners in Excellence. Bryan is a continuous improvement facilitator at Ryt-Way Industries.
KRISTIE (LUND) PALOVCSIK is project manager for Beacon Technologies in Madison, Wis.
KERSTEN (COOK) REICH is an annual giving officer for Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Roseville.
MEGAN SALLEY co-authored a chapter for the textbook Governing Illinois: Your connection to state and local government. Megan is a communications specialist at Highland Community College and a job coach at Ombudsman Educational Services for the Rockford (Ill.) Public School District.
COLLEEN SCHMITT and TIM HAMMOND live in Grinnell, Iowa. Colleen teaches English at Grinnell Middle School. Tim is the assistant men’s and women’s swimming and dive coach, natatorium coordinator, and director of intramural sports at Grinnell College.
SHANNON SCHULTE is an application specialist for SPS Commerce in Minneapolis.
TARA (WILKINS) ’04 and ERIK SHERIDAN live in Minnetonka, Minn. Erik is the digital operations manager for Best Buy.
KELLY SHOMPER teaches for the Sioux Falls (S.D.) School District.
ERIK SILL earned a master’s degree in education from Valley City State University and teaches business education at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School. He was DECA marketing teacher of the year in 2013.
LINDSAY SKIBBA is a behavioral health professional for Providence Service Corporation in Bangor, Maine.
LAURA (AMUNDSON) and ALEX SMITH live in Mabel, Minn. Laura is a special needs facilitator for Decorah Community Schools. Alex is head baseball coach and facilities director at Luther.
AARON SNYDER is a sweeteners logistics manager for Cargill Inc. in Wayzata, Minn.
JUSTIN SOLSVIG is assistant superintendent at Horseshoe Bend Country Club in Roswell, Ga.
SARAH SPRAU-McKAY is a children’s mental health case manager for South Central Human Relations Center in Owatonna, Minn.
TIFFANY (CURTIS) STRANDE is a clinical assistant at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She plays violin in the bluegrass band Root River Jam and is a member of the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
KATIE (HENDRICKSON) THOMPSON is a Title I teacher for Holy Rosary Catholic School in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
RICHARD URIO is a biomedical equipment specialist for the United States Army Reserve in Harrisonville, Mo.
MONICA (ROMMELFANGER) VAN DEN HEUVEL is a reimbursement analyst for Dean Health Systems Inc. in Madison, Wis.
NATE VELDMAN is a business development manager for Wolters Kluwer Financial Services in Saint Cloud, Minn.
MEREDITH (WELTON) ’04 and NATHAN VOIGHT live in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Nathan is the senior manager of financial planning and analysis with Rockwell Collins.
ARVID von TAUBE is an attorney for Masterman, Culbert, and Tully LLP in Boston.
REBECCA (LARSEN) WALKER is a residential director for Austin Special Chicago in Chicago.
SHANNON (YOUNG) WEGNER is a speech-language pathologist for the Richfield (Minn.) Public Schools.
JON WEST is national account manager for King Technology in Hopkins, Minn.
TIFFANY (ALLEN) WEST is a critical care educator in corporate education for Great River Medical Center in West Burlington, Iowa.
JENNA WHEELER ANDERSON is a pediatrician for the Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin, Minn.
Marriages
MIKE ADDUCCI and Tamara Leonard, Aug. 18, 2012.
EMILY BECKER and Ben Thompson, July 7, 2012.
ABIGAIL FROST and Adam Boyles, June 29, 2013.
RIAN HELGERSON and Tim Jentz, Sept. 7, 2013.
BECKY JOHNSTON and Richard Bole, April 30, 2011.
MIKE MUSKE and Megan Astry, July 19, 2013.
JACQUE RUEN and JASON HARTFIELD, May 26, 2013.
ERIK SILL and Sarah Schlueter, Sept. 15, 2012.
COLLEEN SMITH and Brett Christensen, Sept. 4, 2011.
AMANDA SPILDE and Bret Maki, Oct. 29, 2011.
Births
STACY (EGTS) and Luke Abar welcomed a son, Eli Thomas, in March 2012. Eli joins brother Noah.
LAURA (REIER) and ADAM ANDERSON '04 welcomed a son, Monroe, in August 2012. Monroe joins brother Mason.
KRISTI and MIKE BABINE-DINNEN welcomed a son, Henry James, in January 2013. Henry joins sister Cora.
ROBYN (GRUSSING) and Gene Bach welcomed twin sons, George and Henry, in December 2011.
KENDRA (NORDICK) and Kevin Binger welcomed a daughter, Lindy Kamaya, in March 2012.
JODIE (JANSEN) and Mitchell Campbell welcomed a daughter, Hazel Katherine, in June 2011. Hazel joins sister Holly.
KATE (SWENSON) and JOSH CINNAMO welcomed a daughter, Tess Elaine, in August 2013. Tess joins brother Tate.
ANA (MEYER) '05 and PETE ELIASON welcomed a daughter, Vera Mae, in September 2012.
ALLYSON (PRATER) and Todd Ellis welcomed a daughter, Gwendolyn Jane, in November 2012.
Leah and MATT ENGELKES welcomed a daughter, Anna, in March 2011. Anna joins brother Noah.
KRISANNE (LINDE) and Josh Forsman welcomed a daughter, Isabelle Grace, in July 2013. Isabelle joins sister Abigail.
KAREN (MEYER) and Aaron Goble welcomed a daughter, Haley Marie, in January 2012.
MEG (SCHMOLKE) and Chad Halsten welcomed a daughter, Josephine, in September 2012. Josephine joins sister Eleanor.
Erin and PHIL HAUG welcomed a daughter, Yona Solveig, in May 2011.
ANGELA (DEMMER) and Derek Hietala welcomed a daughter, Aviella Marie, in November 2012.
ANN (DEHNING) and Andy Hintz welcomed a daughter, Shelby Lynn, in January 2013. Shelby joins sister Annabelle.
KARI (BLACK) and Andy Hirvela welcomed a son, Cameron, in March 2012. Cameron joins sisters Julia and Brynn.
Amanda and RYAN HOLLENBECK welcomed a daughter, Adalyn Saylor, in May 2013.
JESSI (CROTSER) and Nathan Hosper welcomed a daughter, Rose, in September 2012. Rose joins sisters Avery and Cassandra.
RILEY (MCNURLIN) and Bill Huebsch welcomed a son, Ezra, in February 2013. Ezra joins brother Miles.
Jen and NATE JENSEN welcomed a daughter, Coraline, in November 2011.
JULIA (WANGBERG) and JIM JESPERSEN welcomed a daughter, Daphne, in October 2011. Daphne joins sister Gretchen.
Jen and DUSTY JOHNSON welcomed a daughter, Lily Susan, in March 2013. Lily joins brother Noah.
MARISSA (WARNKE) and Rob Kamrowski welcomed a son, Grayson, in August 2012. Grayson joins brother Elliot.
Mary Ann and STEVE KEENAN welcomed a daughter, Helen, in January 2012.
STEPHANIE (CITTA) and Scott Klein welcomed a son, Elijah Scott, born April 2013, adopted in October 2013. Elijah joins sister Evangelyn.
RACHEL (YOW) and KYLE KNOEPFEL '04 welcomed a son, Isaiah, in February 2012. Isaiah joins sister Lydia.
MELINDA (PHILIPSEN) and Chaitanya Kotagiri welcomed a daughter, Mira Faye, in June 2012.
Amanda and CHAD KRAUS welcomed a daughter, Paige Elizabeth, in November 2011.
SARAH (ROBINSON) and Ryan Lee welcomed a daughter, Avery, in June 2012.
MEGAN (LARSEN) and Mike Lovinguth welcomed a son, Quinn Marshall, in March 2013. Quinn joins brother Connor.
AMBER (KOBLER) and Ryan Lynch welcomed a daughter, Nora, in October 2012.
LEAH (THOMSEN) and Lee Malmstrom welcomed a daughter, Jenna Marie, in February 2013.
SHERYL (GERBER) and CHRIS MCCAMMON '00 welcomed a daughter, Allison, in January 2013.
SARAH SPRAU-MCKAY and Lonny MCKAY welcomed a daughter, Adeline Claire, in November 2012. Adeline joins sister Lillian.
LINDSAY (MOSS) and NIGEL MILLARD welcomed a daughter, Halle, in May 2012. Halle joins brothers Cael and Asher.
CAMI (CONOVER) and Rand Misekow welcomed a son, Stig, in April 2012. Stig joins brother Dane.
KariAn (LEE) and Kyle Mulford welcomed a daughter, Elsa Marie, in January 2012. Elsa joins sister Elizabeth.
KJERSTI (ELLISON) and Danny Nayar welcomed a son, Leif Daniel, in November 2012. Leif joins sister Rowan.
KARI (TWEDT) and Kyle Nelson welcomed a daughter, Macey Renee, in August 2013. Macey joins brothers Carter and Cayden.
KARIN (HANSON) and JEFF NINNEMANN welcomed a son, Zander, in July 2012.
KRISTIE (LUND) and Michael Palovcsik welcomed a son, Christian, in June 2012. Christian joins sister Clare.
Emily and NATE PETERSON welcomed a daughter, Grace, in July 2011.
KRISTIN (THOMPSON) and BRYAN PHELPS welcomed a daughter, Kailey Ann, in October 2011.
ALISSA (BROWN) and Josh Plumley welcomed a daughter, Camille Elizabeth, in September 2013. Camille joins sister Savannah.
JESSICA AGUILAR and ANTHONY PIZER welcomed a son, James Richard, in August 2012.
ANDREA (KERNDT) and Ethan Pole welcomed a daughter, Eloise Nola, in December 2012. Eloise joins brother Gus and sister Stella.
Amber and BRONSON POWER welcomed a son, Daynen Robert, in January 2013.
Lisa and BILL REECE welcomed a daughter, McKinley, in October 2012. McKinley joins sister Lauren.
KERSTEN (COOK) and John Reich welcomed a son, Everett John Carl, in November 2012.
ANGIE (WILSON) and Robert Richards welcomed a daughter, Kacey Ann, in February 2012. Kacey joins sister Kendall.
LINDSAY (HAGEN) '04 and DANIEL RIEBE welcomed a son, Gavin, in September 2012. Gavin joins brother Grant.
TERRA (SCHWERIN) and JIM ROWE welcomed a daughter, Mica Joy, in October 2011.
AMANDA (ZINCHUK) and Andrew Schuett welcomed a son, Elijah Walter, in February 2012. Elijah joins brothers Spencer, Jacob, and Caleb.
LAURA (AMUNDSON) and ALEX SMITH welcomed a son, Barrett Amund, in April 2013.
RANDI (GRANEY) and Mike Snowberry welcomed a daughter, Kaylyn, in September 2011. Kaylyn joins sister Brielle and brother Tanner.
AMY (MODRELL) and Chad Stensland welcomed a daughter, Zoe Jean, in July 2012.
GWEN (LYKKEN) and ADAM STRAND '04 welcomed a daughter, Keira Joy, in April 2013.
DARA (ISAACSON) and Kent Swanson welcomed a daughter, Brynn, in November 2012. Brynn joins brothers Tate and Cole.
Elizabeth and RYAN THOMPSON welcomed a daughter, Adalyn, in March 2013. Adalyn joins brothers Benjamin and Evan.
STEPH (BECKER) and NATE VELDMAN welcomed a son, Grant, in October 2012. Grant joins sister Ava.
AMBER (WILSON) and ANDY WEISPFENNING welcomed a son, Emmett Davis, in June 2013. Emmett joins brother Barrett and sister Luella.
KATIA (BEINIK) 04 and JOSH WESTGAARD welcomed a son, Jackson Joshua, in February 2011. Jackson joins sister Sofia.
TIFFANY (ALLEN) and Jim West welcomed a daughter, Odessa Kincade, in February 2013.
Stacey and RYAN BEEMAN WIELAND welcomed a daughter, Lydia, in January 2012. Lydia joins brother Jonathan.
HEATHER (LEHMANN) and Joseph Witts welcomed a son, Ian McKay, in June 2013.
