Fall 2009

Dear Classmate –

Greetings on this fall day!  It was even “chilly” here in Arizona today (I can’t believe I just said that!), so fall is definitely here to stay.  I hope you are looking forward, as I am, to the holidays just around the corner and spending time with family and good friends, maybe even some fellow Luther grads!

Some of my fondest holiday memories are from my years at Luther – making a Thanksgiving dinner with my fellow classmates, seeing the blue and white lights on the trees outside on the lawns, the first snowfall, Soli Deo Gloria in lights in Main’s windows, singing Christmas carols and hymns by candlelight in the CFL, and singing in Christmas at Luther….so many fond memories that come back to me every holiday season.

Many of you have been giving every year since we graduated.  Thank you so much!  You are getting close to becoming a member of the Luther Loyalty Society.  This society recognizes alumni that have given for five consecutive years, and it was started the year we graduated.  This would make four years in a row if you make a donation this year!  If you have not given yet, or have not been able to every year, why not make a five-year commitment starting this year?  You can easily give online or set up monthly giving at givenow.luther.edu.

Remember, many companies will match your donations, so be sure to check with them to see if your employer does this.  You can also check www.matchinggifts.com/luther/ to see if your employer is listed there.

Join me in making sure future Luther students have the same special holiday memories that we all have from our time at Luther.  Start or continue towards a five-year donation commitment.  The amount, no matter the size, shows we are thankful for what Luther gave us all, ensuring that current and future students can continue the legacy of proud Luther alumni. Without your gifts, they wouldn’t have that same experience.  You make it possible.

Soli Deo Gloria!!!!

 

Jamie Sue Schultz
2006 Class Agent
[email protected]

Chris Bellinder
2006 Class Agent
[email protected]

Class Notes
SONJA (NIELSEN) ’08 and EMERSON ADAMS live in Decorah. Emerson earned an associate of arts degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu and is a chef at La Rana Bistro.

ABBY BALLAIN is a graduate student in the specialized MBA program at the Bolz Center for Arts Administration and the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

RACHEL (WINWOOD) BECKER earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

SCOTT BUCCOLA is an IT generalist for Convey Compliance Systems in Plymouth, Minn.

HEATHER BUCKNER is assistant director of alumni programs at American University in Washington, D.C.

CINDI (BEIER) and JAMIE DAUBENDIEK live in Denver.  Jamie earned a master’s degree in telecommunications from the University of Colorado.

AMANDA FENNER is a graduate student in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.  She was selected to receive the ACSMEDI Predoctoral Fellowship sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb for 2009-2010.

EMILY FONS of Milwaukee, Wis., has been accepted into the Santa Fe Opera Young Artist Program.

KRISTI (MILLMANN) GARCIA is a nursing assistant at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minn.

AMANDA (OELRICH) HELLER of Fallbrook, Calif., is a youth services librarian for the San Diego County Library System.

KATHRYN HOBSON is a group leader at Mountain Top Preschool in Estes Park, Colo.

KATIE HOPP earned a master’s degree in entomology from Montana State University in Bozeman.

MARITA HERKERT-OAKLAND is a child and adult care food program manager for Community Coordinated Child Care in Madison, Wis.

LACEY (CURTIS) and ERIK IVERSON ‘08 live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Lacey teaches elementary music at the American School of Dubai.

KARA (KULZER) JORDAHL is a success case manager for the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools.

BETHANY (PETERSON) KRACL is a substitute teacher for the Omaha (Neb.) Public Schools.

JORDAN KUNDE-WRIGHT works in transformation sales at CH Robinson in Minneapolis.

BENJAMIN LARSON is a graduate student in divinity at Wartburg Theological Seminary and  pastoral intern at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Neb.

JANA LELM works in operations/data processing at the First National Bank of Northfield in Northfield, Minn.

MEGAN LEVISEN was selected as one of six nurses in the nation to receive the DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award by the Seattle Children’s Hospital’s DAISY Award subcommittee of staff RNs and managers. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the inspirational everyday efforts of nurses. Megan works in the Cancer Care Alliance Unit at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

AMANDA NOVAK teaches elementary art for the College Community School District in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

KATIE OSTREM teaches fourth grade for Independent School District 197 in West St. Paul, Minn.

MARISA RUEDA WILL and ADAM WILL live in Rochester, Minn. Marisa is a Spanish interpreter at the Mayo Clinic. Adam is a behavioral therapist for the Rochester Center for Autism.

HANNAH SCHEEVEL lives in Preston, Minn., and is catering assistant at Luther.

CRYSTAL SCHMIERER of Fridley, Minn., is a reading teacher for Minnesota Reading Corps and a library assistant at Mayo Clinic.

LAURA SCHNACK is an assistant director for residence life operations at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a graduate student in student affairs administration at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

GRETCHEN SPRINGER is a financial advisor at North Star Resource Group in Madison, Wis.

KATHERINE STROIK works at Rose Run Kennels in Cottage Grove, Wis.

ANNE STRAATE teaches high school Spanish at MFL Mar-Mac High School in Monona, Iowa.

JUSTIN TERBEEST is a law clerk at Mccullough and Kempe 6-in St. Paul, Minn.

LAURA (MONSON) ’08 and TONY VANDEN HEUVEL  live in Edina, Minn. Tony is a sales representative with Jeld-Wen, Inc.

KRIS WILLIAMS of North Liberty, Iowa, earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa.

ELI WILLIAMSON of Washington, DC, and ROY BROWN ’04 have created an organization called “Leave No Veteran Behind.”  It is a not-for-profit organization that repays student loans for qualified veterans not covered under current military programs.

ZACH ZUBOW earned a master’s degree in music composition from Illinois State University and is a substitute teacher for the Iowa City (Iowa) Public Schools.

Marriages
CELINA BORTZ and Eric Alvin, June 20, 2009
JOANNA LOVE and Isral DeBruin, Sept. 28, 2008
JUSTIN ELLIS and ANGIE MILLER '05, May 9, 2009
JENNA ZIEMS and Kevin Elmberg, Aug. 1, 2009
EMILY WILCOX and ERIC FREEBURG '07, May 2, 2009
MARCOS GRANO DE ORO '06 and JILL ROLLINS '07, Jan. 31, 2008
CLAIRE BRENTON and AARON HAEDIKE, June 13, 2009
AMANDA OELRICH and NEIL HELLER '05, June 28, 2008
LACEY CURTIS and ERIK IVERSON '08, Dec. 27, 2008
BETHANY PETERSON and Brian Kacl, Nov. 15, 2008
KAYDEE TROYANEK and Per Lee, April 4, 2009
DEBORAH FONKERT and Scott Schlittenhart, June 14, 2008
CATIE MOORE and Robert Scott, July 17, 2009
MAGGIE JONES and JAMES STANSFIELD '09, July 18, 2008
TASHA ALLEMANG and Justin Spratt, Oct. 25, 2008
JUSTIN TERBEEST and MELISSA BROOKMAN '08, Dec. 27, 2008
AMY ETTESTAD and Jay Untiedt, Nov. 1, 2008
JOSH WILSON and DARCI KUNZ '07, Aug. 1, 2009
ANDREA LENZ and Steve Woltjer, Oct. 4, 2008
JENNIFER MOON and John Zeuli, Aug. 2, 2008

Births
MICHELLE (KOHLMANN) and NICHOLAS BONIFAZI '05 welcomed a daughter, Arianna, in March 2009.      

KAREN (EGAN) and Eddie Frick welcomed a son, Devin, in March 2009.  Devin joins brother Dalton (2).