Fall 2015
Dear Classmates,
It was a beautiful Homecoming weekend at Luther October 16-18, with crisp, sunny weather that made the fall foliage especially brilliant. The football team thrilled the crowd with a 41-34 win over Buena Vista University in overtime, and, throughout the weekend, there were many occasions for Luther’s outstanding musicians to perform, which they did exceptionally well. I hope many of you will come back for Homecoming next year—September 30-October 2, 2016; it’s a glorious time to visit campus.
President Paula J. Carlson has worked tirelessly in her first year at Luther, traveling to events across the country. She has definitely made a difference, as both giving and enrollment are up from the previous year. While speaking to alumni at their 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 they rose, the previous group acknowledged them with a roar. Dr. Carlson was very much moved by this response and now calls Luther a place with “deep roots and wide open arms.”
After several downward trending years, new student enrollment this fall is up more than 10 percent since last year, from a pool of applicants that was the largest in the college’s history. Luther’s entering class this fall has 655 enrolled; 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 students. The gender balance continues to get closer to 50/50. 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 beginning right away the first year. One way alumni can help this effort is by joining the LinkedIn group “Luther College Career Network.” This professional group aims to provide a space where current Luther students can network with alumni to learn more about various career fields. 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 help with 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.
Best wishes for the upcoming holiday season,
Jess (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 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 2003 TOTAL GIVING: $12,489.16 FROM 13.57% OF THE CLASS*
Have you made your 2015 gift to Luther? Only 70 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
MATT BEATTY is director of international recruitment for Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn.
BJÖRN BERG is business development executive for ATW Training and Consulting Inc. in Des Moines, Iowa.
ANGIE (DEMMER) HIETALA teaches third grade for the Kodiak Island (Alaska) Borough School District.
JOSHUA KLAETSCH is an investment officer in real estate securities for Securian, Advantus Capital Management, in St. Paul, Minn.
KENDRA KORTE is requirements analyst for PARE XEL Informatics in Nottingham, United Kingdom.
JIM KOWITZ is entrepreneur of the year program manager at EY in Minneapolis.
AMANDA LINDBERG-AGANGA is assistant public defender for the State of Minnesota in Rochester.
BRONSON POWER earned an MBA degree from Minnesota State University-Mankato. He is senior financial analyst for Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.
ALISON (DOUGHERTY) ’02 and ADAM PULS live in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Adam is an IT for the University of Northern Iowa.
JOSHUA SHANK was commissioned to write a choral piece specifically for the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus’ history-making trip to the Middle East. “Peace” is filled with powerful responses from the choral members about when they feel most at peace. The work was performed in Israel and Turkey from June 18-29, 2015. Shank travelled with the chorus on its Mideast tour, documenting the journey for another commissioned piece.
ARVID von TAUBE is an associate attorney at Ropes & Gray, LLP, in Boston, Mass.
Births
JEN RUST ANDERSON and MATT ANDERSON '05 welcomed a daughter, Eleanor, in October 2014. Eleanor joins sister Alaina.
ABBY FROST and Adam Boyles welcomed a daughter, Sonia Catherine, in August 2015.
MELISSA STULL and JASON BURGART welcomed a son, Lucas Jarold, in April 2014. Lucas joins sister Emma.
RACHEL (HILDEBRAND) and DAN CORRON welcomed a daughter, Ainsley Patricia, in September 2014. Ainsley joins sister Isla.
LIZ (LANGKAMP) and DAN GULLICK '06 welcomed a daughter, Clara Margaret, in June 2015. Clara joins sister Eleanor.
Erin and ANDREW HAEMKER welcomed a daughter, Emerson Christine, in January 2015.
STEPH (SCHMIDT) '05 and DAN JOHNSON welcomed a son, Anders Stephen, in March 2014.
Mary Ann and STEVE KEENAN welcomed a son, Charlie, in October 2014. Charlie joins sister Helen.
KIM (HUFF) and ELIOTT KRANZ welcomed a daughter, Adeline Constance, in May 2014.
JOY (GRUETTNER) and NEIL MICK welcomed a daughter, Anya Emily, in February 2014. Anya joins brother Rhys.
AUNY (KERNDT) and Ethan Pole welcomed a daughter, Oletta Karen, in November 2014. Oletta joins brother Gus and sisters Eloise and Stella.
Amber and BRONSON POWER welcomed a son, Royce Gardner, in May 2014. Royce joins brother Daynen.
Meghan Ferol and JUSTIN SANDS welcomed a daughter, Finlee Ferol, in August 2014. Finlee joins brother August.
ASHLEY (SLOAN) and RYAN SHERLOCK welcomed a daughter, Ellie, in June 2014. Ellie joins sister Jessa.
LAURA (AMUNDSON) and ALEX SMITH welcomed a son, Brandt Alexander, in June 2015. Brandt joins brothers Bennett and Barrett.
SARAH (COOLEY) and Dan Solberg welcomed a daughter, Margaret Josephine, in February 2015. Margaret joins sister Isabelle and brother Sawyer.
CHERILYN (HYNDMAN) and DAVID WICKS '04 welcomed a son, Wyatt, in May 2015. Wyatt joins sisters Sydney and Kylie.
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]
