Natural Sciences

Gift Amount
$

The Roger and Eleanor Ault Scholarship, established by Roger '63 and Eleanor (Roe) Ault '64, shall be awarded to qualified students with a demonstrated need for financial assistance. Preference shall be given to students majoring in the natural sciences.

The George Baalson Memorial Scholarship, established through the estate of George Baalson, class of 1915, shall be awarded to one or more qualified students in science who can show evidence of need for financial assistance.

The Glenn and Delia Bergland Scholarship, established by Glenn Bergland '39, to express appreciation to all past and present members of the Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association (RTA), formerly known as the Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association, and the Winnebago County Rural Electric Cooperative Association (REA), whose entities were organized and managed by Glenn for 25 years and 35 years, respectively. Recipients must be U.S. citizens who are members of families served by Winnebago RTA or REA at present or in the past, with first preference going to students and who are intending to pursue majors in the natural sciences. In the event that there are either a) no qualified students majoring in the natural sciences, or b) remaining funds after being applied to those majoring in natural sciences, then further preference will be given to qualified students meeting the criteria above, regardless of major.

The Brekken Family Scholarship, established by Alvin (Bud) '54 and Marion Brekken, shall be awarded to qualified students in need of financial assistance majoring in biology, chemistry, physics, or math, and shall be selected by the science faculty based on academic achievement.

The Leslie and Lois Bunt Scholarship, established by Donald Bunt '83, shall be awarded to qualified students majoring in business, science, or mathematics with demonstrated need for financial assistance.

The Roger C. and Carolyn J. Eigenfeld Scholarship, established by Roger and Carolyn Eigenfeld, shall be awarded to qualified students majoring in the sciences, mathematics, or music with a demonstrated need for financial assistance.

The Spencer A. Gedestad Scholarship, established by Dr. Spencer A. Gedestad '44, shall be awarded to qualified students with demonstrated need for financial assistance, with preference given to those majoring in the field of science.

The Elizabeth A. Hacker Scholarship, established by Darvin Hacker '59, Michael Hacker, and Karen (Hacker) Kinnett, to celebrate Elizabeth (Kirchner) Hacker '59 and her more than thirty years of teaching young. The scholarship shall be awarded to junior or senior students who show talent and promise in science education, with or without regard to financial need.

The Jackson Family Scholarship, established by Dale and Marlys Jackson, shall be awarded to qualified students majoring in the sciences with demonstrated need for financial assistance, with preference to those students who do not qualify for other academic scholarships.

The Kai Thomas Kaasa Scholarship, established by Haldis (Solem) Kaasa '81 in honor of her son, Kai, shall be awarded to qualified science majors with demonstrated need for financial assistance.

The Luther College Science Scholarship, established by the George I. Alden Trust in tribute to Mr. Alden's science background, shall be awarded to qualified students with an interest in science who can show evidence of need for financial assistance.

The Kay and Dale Lyndahl Scholarship, established by Dale and Kathleen Lyndahl, shall be awarded to qualified students with demonstrated need for financial assistance from Green Bay, WI first, then Sturgeon Bay, WI, or if none, from the state of Wisconsin. Preference shall be given to students majoring in education, one of the sciences, technology, pre-engineering, or mathematics.

The Marvin T. Nystrom Endowed Scholarship, established by Marvin Nystrom, shall be awarded to qualified junior or senior students who show evidence of need for financial assistance, has a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and is a citizen of the United States. Students selected may be in any academic discipline in the sciences or the humanities.

The Rebassoo Family Scholarship, originally established by the college as the Herbert J. Rebassoo Scholarship in recognition of the service of the late Dr. Herbert J. Rebassoo, professor emeritus of mathematics, who taught at Luther College from 1949 until his early death, at age 59, in 1971. The scholarship has grown largely through the support of his wife, Niina, a 1958 Luther graduate who taught German at Decorah High School for 25 years; his son Vaho, a Math Ph.D. who enjoyed a career as an IT executive; and David Knudson ’61, a student of Rebassoo’s at Luther who went on to receive his Ph.D. and later teach at the University of Washington, where Vaho was in his graduate algebra class. Dr. Rebassoo was forced to flee his native Estonia in 1944; having worked as Minister of Education, his life was at risk under the impending Soviet occupation. He fled with his wife to Germany, where they lived in a refugee camp under American administration for 5 years, and their sons Peep and Vaho were born. A third son, Arvi, was born in Decorah. In 1949, with sponsorship from the Lutheran Church in Iowa, the Rebassos immigrated to the U.S., with the promise of a custodial job at Waldorf College. As he had done most of his work for a math Ph.D. at Tartu University before the war, Rebassoo applied for an instructor position at Luther, and was hired. He finished his Ph.D. work at Wisconsin while on sabbatical and became known for his dedication to teaching and for setting high expectations for his students, as he did for himself. He was particularly proud of students who applied themselves, who did well, and who were accepted to graduate programs. Niina Rebassoo was for many students a favorite teacher, as she brought the German language to life with stories of Germany, Estonia, and European culture; and commentaries on social mores. She consistently had students rank among the top German students in Iowa. The Rebassoo family wishes for this scholarship to now honor the memories of both Herbert and Niina Rebassoo. The scholarship shall be awarded to qualified students with demonstrated need for financial assistance. Preference shall be giving to students in mathematics or science.

The Irving L. Riveland Science Scholarship, established by Clara Riveland in honor of her husband Irving '34, shall be awarded to qualified students with a demonstrated need for financial assistance majoring in the natural sciences.

The Strandjord Family Scholarship, established by Sarah Strandjord '70 to honor the generations of the Strandjord family and their connection with Luther College. The scholarship shall be awarded to qualified students majoring in the sciences or education who can show evidence of need for financial assistance.

The Martin H. Studier Memorial Scholarship, established in memory of Martin Studier '39 by his wife, Eleanor, shall be awarded to qualified students who are majoring in the sciences and who can show evidence of need for financial assistance.

The Thormodsgard Family Scholarship, established by Diane (Baum) '72 and Gaylord Thormodsgard, shall be awarded to qualified female students with demonstrated need for financial assistance, in excellent academic standing, whose permanent residence is outside the upper Midwest (in this case defined as Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and the Dakotas), and who desires to pursue a major and career in business and/or medical research.

The Tokheim Scholarship, established by Paul '69 and Elizabeth (Tenold) Tokheim '70, shall be awarded to qualified students with demonstrated need for financial assistance. Preference shall be given to junior or senior students with a math or science major.

The Aaron Wrobleski and Kristin Kahle Wrobleski Endowed Scholarship, established by Aaron Wrobleski '99 and Kristin Kahle-Wrobleski '99, shall be awarded to qualified students in the sciences with demonstrated need for financial assistance. First preference shall be given to students studying environmental studies with an interest in climate change.