Fall 2016
Dear Classmate,
Another Homecoming come and gone. In case you missed it like I did, here were a few of the highlights: the traditional Luther Homecoming parade marched around town; sustainability awareness and tours were available; a Homecoming concert featured the Luther College Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, and Nordic Choir; and, of course, the football game against Nebraska Wesleyan University.
In other news at Luther, a neuroscience major was recently approved. As this is my current field of study, the news was very exciting for me! This major will give students an understanding of neuroscience from an interdisciplinary perspective. As a liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,150, the 60+ majors and pre-professional program options are quite impressive!
The Sophomore Reflection Initiative is another new program Luther has started. Goals of this program include creating an environment where sophomore students can reflect upon their first year, connecting students to the four-year career planning guide, and communicating the need for students to create their focus for the next three years in college. Hopefully connections can be made between students, advisors, and the Career Center. I think this is a great initiative!
As you reflect on the many ways Luther guided and shaped you during your four years here (as the current sophomores are doing), consider joining me and more than 10,000 other alumni, family, and friends, and make a gift to Luther. Gifts to the Annual Fund go to work as soon as they are received. This support helps each and every student, professor, and staff member on campus. It’s so easy to make a gift of any amount, simply visit givenow.luther.edu.
Don’t forget Christmas at Luther is December 1-4 this year. I hope to see many of you there!
As always, go Norse!
Jessie Zenchak
2013 Class Agent
[email protected]
Clara Bergan
2013 Class Agent
[email protected]
Your gift. Every year. Put to work, right away, where it is needed most.
Each year more than 10,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $100,000. 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 2013 TOTAL GIVING: $7,824.92 FROM 22.10% OF THE CLASS*
Have you made your 2016 gift to Luther? Only 27 more gifts are needed to reach 27% for your class. Please visit givenow.luther.edu to make your gift today. Thank you!
Please note: Your Spring 2017 class agent letter will include a listing of your classmates who gave to Luther during 2016. Be sure to make your gift before December 31 to be included.
*as of October 19, 2016
Class Notes
Katie Baratto earned a master’s degree in library and information science from St. Catherine’s University. She is a library assistant at the University of Minnesota Law Library in Minneapolis.
Emma Benson teaches kindergarten for the Winona (Minn.) Area Public Schools.
Jordan Burkhart is a graduate assistant at Iowa State University in Ames.
Shannon Curtis is the 6-8th grade band director at Zimmerman (Minn.) Middle and High School.
Emily Davis earned a master’s degree in vocal performance from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She is an adjunct voice faculty member at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis.
Anna DiCecco earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Northwestern University. She is Play Ball liaison for the Miami Marlins in Miami.
Mara Dobervich of Sacramento, Calif., is a job coach at Community Integrated Work Program.
Kelsey (Krall) Dralle is absence management team lead for Sedgwick CMS in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Dan Fernelius is individual giving manager at Hennepin Theatre Trust in Minneapolis.
Mary Ferrian is environmental health and safety technician of the Institute for Environmental Assessment Inc. in Minneapolis.
Mark Gisleson is a quality control entomologist analyst at Valent Biosciences in Osage, Iowa.
Melanie Grangaard is copy editor for The Vail Daily in Avon, Colo.
Tyler Hagy is a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati (Ohio) College-Conservatory of Music.
Kayla Hatting is head softball coach at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.
Kaylee Helgemoe is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Eric Hild is a digital press operator for Sigler Printing in Ames, Iowa.
Zach Hruska is a software developer for MEDITECH Inc. in Minnetonka, Minn.
Phoebe Jan-McMahon is a graduate student in painting and a teaching assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
RICHELLE JOHNSON graduated from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, last spring.
Rachel Jungwirth was awarded the David LeClair Award for her active volunteering on the Professional Development Committee of Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters and continued professional representation of the health insurance industry. She is a sales representative with the Principal Financial Group in Minnetonka, Minn.
Matt Key, an intelligence specialist, 2nd class, in the U.S. Navy, performed the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the opening of the Battle of Midway remembrance ceremony in June. IS2 Class Matt Key from Oshkosh, Wis., pose for a photo during a Battle of Midway remembrance ceremony in the ship’s aft mess decks.
Nicole Kivo is an account associate for News America Marketing in Minneapolis.
Shannon Koenders is a doctoral student in optometry at the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in San Antonio, Texas. She won one of 21 national tuition grants for her submission of an original case report.
Hannah Krystosek is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and also a competitive bodybuilder.
Jess Landgraf is an instructor at Voyageur Outward Bound School in St. Paul, Minn.
Michelle Lursen is an independent business accountant at SuperValu in Eden Prairie, Minn.
Quinn Meyer earned an Ed.S. degree from the University of Northern Colorado. She is a school psychologist for Hiawatha Valley Education District in Winona, Minn., and a program coordinator at Camp Knutson.
Kelsey Moler earned a master of social work degree from Colorado State University. She is a behavioral health clinician for SummitStone Health Partners in Fort Collins, Colo.
Paxton Molinari is assistant men’s basketball coach at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Thabiso Monyakane is in the graduate student programme at Deloitte in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Hannah Myott is a freelance writer and translator in New Zealand.
Emily Ramos is a visitor services associate at the Toledo (Ohio) Museum of Art.
Kennedy Reed is a school psychologist at Southern Door County Schools in Brussels, Wis.
Kimmy Rooney is a teaching assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Amy Shishilla is assistant cheese maker at the Lone Grazer Creamery in Minneapolis.
Anthony Smith is a claims specialist at Nationwide Insurance in Des Moines, Iowa.
Kelsey (Rohs) Spohn is a veterinary technician for Twin Cities Animal Rehabilitation in Burnsville, Minn.
Sarah Thell earned a master’s degree in library and information science at St. Catherine University. She is marketing coordinator at KeyStone Search in Minneapolis.
Kathleen Towell teaches English at Parnassus Preparatory School in Maple Grove, Minn.
Niki Tryggestad is administrative assistant of legal and outside sales for Marvin Windows and Doors in Eagan, Minn.
Ryan Turnacliff is a post-closing reviewer at Venture Bank in Golden Valley, Minn.
Isaac van Bruggen earned a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University. He is a tenant services coordinator for Zeller Realty Group in Minneapolis.
Nick Vondrashek is an IT analyst and programmer at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Ashley Wright earned an MFA degree in theatre management from Florida State University in Tallahassee.
Marriages
ELISE ALLEN and TYLER ZINNECKER, June 4, 2016
NICK CLARK and CHELSEY VICKERMAN '15, Oct. 10, 2015
MICHELLE GOHMAN and Koby Lursen, Jan. 16, 2016
KELSEY KRALL and Andy Dralle, Jan. 23, 2016
ARI MAGUINA and NATHAN MALONEY '15, Nov. 28, 2015
KIM MALEK and Keith Langum, Nov. 21, 2015
TREVOR MALONEY and Ellie Brunner, July 29, 2016
CLARE NAGEL and PHIL BRAY '12, Sept. 20, 2014
KRISTINA NIENHAUS and Tim Mansheim, Nov. 14, 2015
TRINDA PHELON and Paul Jevne, Aug. 15, 2015
REECE RICKERTSEN and JILLIAN TESLOW '12, July 25, 2015
KELSEY ROHS and Clinton Spohn, Aug. 29, 2015
AMANDA RUDNICKAS and Daniel Frerichs, June 20, 2015
TORI SERRA and DAN SCHOESS, May 7, 2016
AMANDA WIGER and Brandon Leisinger, June 25, 2016
Births
MARA DOBERVICH and Dustin Tapp welcomed a son, Simón, in December 2015.
