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50 years of activism: Luther’s Black Student Union
CONTENTS Share magazine stories online: The Luther magazine is online in a mobile and shareable format. Share stories through email, Facebook, or Twitter at luther.edu/magazine. Luther Magazine Volume 52, Number 2, Winter 2019 Published by Luther College Editor Kate Frentzel Art Director/Designer Michael Bartels Assistant Designer Sam Lahey ’18 Contributors Sherry (Braun) Alcock ’82 Sue (Franzen) Drilling ’78 Sara Friedl-Putnam Kirk Johnson ’82 Aaron Lurth ’08 Ellen Modersohn Anna Restemayer ’19 Judy Riha Nathan Riley ’18 Rachel Schunder ’20 Luther College Photo Bureau Luther Magazine welcomes articles and signed letters to the editor; submissions may be edited for style, clarity, or length. Inquiries and submissions may be sent to the Editor, Luther Magazine, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045; magazine@luther. edu; phone (563) 387-1350. Class Notes submissions and changes of address may be sent to the Alumni Office at the address above. Alumni news may be emailed to the Alumni Office at alumni@ luther.edu. Questions and concerns about the magazine may be emailed to magazine@luther.edu. Alumni Office (800) 225-8664; (800) 2 ALUMNI Admissions Office (800) 458-8437; (800) 4 LUTHER Web luther.edu luther.edu/magazine © Luther College 2019
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Black Student Union Former BSU members look back as the organization celebrates 50 years of activism at Luther.
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Network for life When Steve Shank ’98 faced a health crisis, the Luther alumni network came to the rescue.
Departments 2 President’s Letter 3 Campus News 26 Alumni 33 Class Notes 45 Marriages 46 Births/Adoptions 46 In Memoriam
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Homecoming Alumni young and old return for friends, fun, anniversaries, and awards!
48 Collections Calendar (inside back cover)
Above: Luther students worshipped by candleight in the Center for Faith and Life during a special service on December 9.
Cover: Craig Lee ’81 (left), Michael Jones ’82 (center), and Tony Jones ’80 (right) prepared circa 1980 for Black History Month on the Luther campus.
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PR ESIDENT'S LETTER
Our alumni are willing to extend themselves in this way because they’re remarkably invested in the success and well-being of our current students.”
It ’s January Term at Luther, a time when our students embark on learning adventures near and far. As they engage in J-term internships from Nashville to Phoenix and study-away courses from Honduras to the UK, often it’s Luther alumni who host, mentor, and teach them. Our alumni are willing to extend themselves in this way because they’re remarkably invested in the success and well-being of our current students. This investment was evident during Homecoming 2018, when the college arranged several events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Luther’s Black Student Union. Many former members of the BSU, some of whom had not returned to Luther in years or even decades, attended the events, recognizing how important it is to support current students by creating a strong presence of alumni of color on campus—and by sharing stories. As one former BSU member remarked, “I’m in a unique position because I’ve been where they are. When we as black alumni share our stories, as well our successes today, we help them.” Importantly, these alumni visits, as professor of religion Guy Nave writes in this issue, also serve as a means of “promoting campus dialogue and conversations regarding best ways of recruiting, retaining, and (most importantly)
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supporting racially underrepresented students at Luther.” Of course, our alumni are committed not only to current students but also to one another. Few stories illustrate this better than that of the Shank family. When Steve ’98 was diagnosed with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome in 2016, the Luther alumni network pulled together in astonishing ways to support him and Caren (Hanson) ’02 and their two young children. As Caren shares in this issue, “Steve’s crisis happened really fast, and there was a lot of divine intervention and a lot of Luther intervention, and we want students and alumni to know how important this community can be to sustain them.” Our students will venture into the wider world this J-term and, soon enough, as freshly minted graduates. They’ll make brand-new connections and do good and great things. Through it all, they’ll discover that the relationships they’ve forged during their time at Luther have the power to nurture and sustain them throughout their lives. Soli Deo Gloria!
Paula J. Carlson President
CAMPUS NEWS
Nordic studies center Maren Johnson, assistant professor of Scandinavian studies, has been named the inaugural director of the Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies.
Maren Johnson “Maren’s passion for and dedication to her work make her a fantastic choice for the first director of the Center for Nordic Studies. I know the students are excited to explore this expanded educational area with her,” says Kevin Kraus, Luther vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college. The Richard L. and Judith A. Torgerson Center for Nordic Studies was established in recognition of Luther’s sesquicentennial and more than 150 years of ties to Norway, and with the generous support of a lead gift from O. Jay and Patricia A. Tomson. The center builds on the strengths and resources already available on campus in order to forge new ties with Scandinavia and attract students who want to connect their interest in Nordic studies with a range of disciplines, including environmental science, immigration and multiculturalism, peace studies, health care, banking, political science, economics, and social work.
Sthela Gun Holly Hanitrinirina ’19 (back row, far left) trained 50 Madagascan youth leaders to educate their home communities on gender equality.
PEACEMAKERS Gender equality in Madagascar
As a 2018 recipient of a Davis Projects for Peace grant, Sthela Gun Holly Hanitrinirina ’19 wanted to address gender discrimination in her home country of Madagascar. She designed a project to implement the United Nations’ HeforShe campaign, which engages men and people of all genders to work toward gender equality, across Madagascar’s 22 regions. Hanitrinirina put out a call for youth leaders to apply to help educate Malagasy communities. She received a whopping 650 applications, and ultimately 50 youth leaders were chosen to receive training in human rights, gender-based violence, and gender as it relates to the environment. The youth leaders gathered for a conference in Madagascar’s capital city of Antananarivo and received HeforShe kits to use in their home communities. Hanitrinirina is proud that the project creates space for conversation and a platform for education. “To create a peaceful community is a process,” she says. “In Madagascar, peace will start with creating gender equity and justice through engagement of men and awareness of human rights.”
Access to health care in South Africa Biology major Tolith Gidaga ’18 used his Davis Projects for Peace grant to establish a primary health care facility in Umfala, South Africa. Gidaga lost a 24-year-old cousin to an undiagnosed illness because the cousin lay unconscious for an hour without health care or ambulance service within a 25-mile radius. The experience, Gidaga says, “made me acutely aware of the lack of access available to populations in rural areas.” In deciding where to situate the clinic, Gidaga chose a site close to high schools. This would have the added benefit of providing training, education, and employment opportunities for young people in the area who, he says, are “burdened with a high incidence of teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, and unemployment, with little mentorship and skill-development opportunities.”
Tolith Gidaga ’18
In implementing his vision, Gidaga faced challenges like paperwork delays and the withholding of bank funds, but he persevered and is optimistic about the clinic’s future, saying, “We hope that this project will help members of the community to live purposeful lives.”
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Class of 2018 grads Marcella Meza and Daniel Brown mentor Luther students through College Possible’s Catalyze program.
“College Possible research shows that students may be more willing to ask for help from people close to their own age.”
NATHAN RILEY ’18
—Michelle Boike ’13, Catalyze program coordinator
CATALYZE for student success Luther just upped its student persistence game. It recently became one of six colleges to partner with College Possible, a leader in college admission and success among lowincome students. College Possible has a proven track record: its students are four times more likely to earn degrees than their low-income peers not in the program. Luther is poised to leverage this success by hosting a branch of College Possible’s Catalyze program, which pairs low-income and firstgeneration college students with a near-peer coach (recent college graduate) who provides academic, emotional, and logistical help in navigating campus life. This can look like anything from helping students fill out a FAFSA, register for classes, find a work-study job or internship, get tutoring, pay bills, and generally maneuver campus systems to lending emotional support or connecting them with counseling services. One of the strengths of the Catalyze program is the near-peer model. “College Possible research shows that students may be more willing to ask for help from people close to their own age,” says Michelle Boike ’13, Catalyze program
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coordinator. “It’s often easier to be vulnerable with someone younger than with someone who seems like a person of authority.” Luther’s Catalyze program has the added advantage that each of its near-peer coaches are Luther graduates, so they’re already familiar with the processes and resources available on campus. Marcella Meza ’18 says that as alumni, she and her fellow coach, Daniel Brown ’18, are able to ask themselves: What did we struggle with as students here? According to College Possible, only 9 percent of low-income students earn a bachelor’s degree by age 24, compared to 77 percent of students in the top income quartile. But Luther’s Catalyze staff is hoping to turn that number around. Brown says, “We seek out all the resources and ways that students can be supported. Just because something may not be visible doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Meza agrees, adding, “Hopefully the resources we’re connecting students with will foster self-advocacy and help students realize that they can do this.”
CAMPUS NEWS
Green’s new book In September, Todd Green, associate professor of religion, published Presumed Guilty: Why We Shouldn’t Ask Muslims to Condemn Terrorism. In it, Green argues that blaming Muslims for terrorist attacks wrongly assumes that Islam is the cause of terrorism. He contends that people who practice Islam already condemn terrorism. Green’s publisher, Fortress Press, describes the book as “an invitation for self-examination when it comes to the questions we ask of Muslims and ourselves about violence. It will open the door to asking better questions of our Muslim neighbors, questions based not on the presumption of guilt but on the promise of friendship.”
Left to right: Shannon Baker ’20, Andrew Tiede ’19, Alexander Streitz ’19, Amy Weldon, Becca Buse ’19, and Connor Olson ’19.
LITERARY SALON
On September 6, professor of English Amy Weldon’s advanced creative writing class attended the Graywolf Press Literary Salon, “Voices for Our Time,” at Aria in Minneapolis. Featuring readings by and an editorial conversation with Jamel Brinkley (author of A Lucky Man), Tarfia Faizullah (author of Seam and Registers of Illuminated Villages), and Wayetu Moore (author of She Would Be King), along with Graywolf executive editor Jeff Shotts, the event inspired Luther writers to make professional connections, read widely, and dream deeply—because, as the illuminated sign over the stage reads, “The world is yours!” And, as ever, there was a Luther connection—Luther regent emeritus Diane (Baum) Thormodsgard ’72 is a member of Graywolf Press’s National Council.
Christmas at Luther recordings The recording of Christmas at Luther 2018: Every Voice in Concert Ring is available on CD from the Luther College Book Shop, where select recordings from previous Christmas at Luther performances are also available. This year’s concert includes the sound of many languages and musical traditions uniting in one beautiful, inspiring, celebratory program. All recordings by music ensembles at Luther may be purchased at lutherbookshop.com or by calling (888) 521-5039.
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REGENTS’
PROMISE SCHOLARSHIP CHALLENGE
Average unmet financial need for Luther students is currently $6,000 per year. This gap often means that students take on additional loans to make up the difference between the cost of attendance and their financial aid packages. For many families, this option is a hardship. As we navigate enrollment challenges and the growing need for financial aid, Luther seeks increased donor support for student scholarships that help address unmet financial need. To this end,
the Luther College Board of Regents has committed $1 million in current support and $10 million in endowed support toward creation of the Regents’ Promise Scholarship as inspiration for other Luther donors to join them. For more information on ways to support the Regents’ Promise Scholarship Challenge, please call the Development Office at (800) 225-8664 to speak with a development officer.
RECORD-BREAKING GIFT During Homecoming 2018, the class of 1968 donated a record-breaking reunion gift of more than $5 million! The gift more than doubles the amount given by the previous record-holding class. Thank you—and congratulations!
Luther College Book Shop luther.edu/bookshop 563-387-1036 Natalie Cote ’19, Saint Paul, Minn. Wyatt Anians ’19, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Your source for Norse apparel 6
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CAMPUS NEWS
Endow the FUTURE of Luther College with a CHARITABLE BEQUEST What kind of legacy do you want to leave? If your wish is to leave a lasting impact on the people and places most dear to you, a charitable bequest is an easy—yet powerful—way to benefit your loved ones and help Luther’s mission.
Charitable bequests • cost you nothing today to make • are free of federal estate tax • can be altered if you change your mind • may produce estate tax savings Learn more about how you can make a difference for Luther College. Contact Kelly Sorenson at 800-225-8664, or visit legacygiving.luther.edu.
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MUSIC ENSEMBLE TOURS 2019 Performances marked with an asterisk will be followed by a reception. Find more details about all performances at luther.edu/music/tours.
NORDIC CHOIR GREAT LAKES TOUR *January 26, 7:30 p.m. Austin High School Auditorium 301 3rd St NW Austin, Minn. To be broadcast live on KSMQ Public Television *January 27, 4:00 p.m. Bethesda Lutheran Church 1517 Northwestern Ave Ames, Iowa February 1, 7:00 p.m. St. Paul Lutheran Church 1701 16th Ave Sterling, Ill. February 2, 7:30 p.m. Bethlehem United Church of Christ 423 S 4th Ave Ann Arbor, Mich. February 4, 7:30 p.m. Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 5745 Brand Road Dublin, Ohio February 5, 7:00 p.m. Trinity English Lutheran Church 450 West Washington Blvd Fort Wayne, Ind. *February 6, 7:30 p.m. Grace Lutheran Church 7300 Division Street River Forest, Ill. February 7, 7:00 p.m. First Lutheran Church 612 N. Randall Ave. Janesville, Wis. *February 8, 7:30 p.m. Hope Lutheran Church 2226 Eddy Lane Eau Claire, Wis.
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*February 9, 7:30 p.m. Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Road Apple Valley, Minn.
March 25, 4:00 p.m. Community Performing Arts Center Green Valley, Ariz.
February 10, 4:00 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church 601 Milwaukee St. Charles City, Iowa
March 26, 7:00 p.m. Ascension Lutheran Church Paradise Valley, Ariz.
February 12, 7:30 p.m. Luther College
*March 27, 7:00 p.m. Lord of Life Lutheran Church Sun City West, Ariz.
April 27, 7:30 p.m. Des Moines Civic Center Performance with the Des Moines Symphony *pre-concert alumni dinner
March 28, 7:00 p.m. Palm Desert High School Palm Desert, Calif.
April 28, 2:30 p.m. Des Moines Civic Center Performance with the Des Moines Symphony
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA VIENNA RESIDENCY CONCERTS January 29, 8:00 p.m. Slovak National Theatre Bratislava, Slovakia January 31, 7:30 p.m. Kultur Kongress Zentrum Eisenstadt, Austria February 2, 7:30 p.m. Musikverein (Golden Hall) Vienna, Austria February 10, 7:00 p.m. Luther College
CONCERT BAND SOUTHWEST TOUR *March 23, 7:00 p.m. Advent Lutheran Church Maple Grove, Minn.
March 30, 7:00 p.m. Calvary Lutheran Church Solana Beach, Calif.
CATHEDRAL CHOIR WISCONSIN TOUR April 6, 7:30 Al. Ringling Theatre Baraboo, Wis. April 7, 2:30 p.m. Stoughton High School Stoughton, Wis. April 10, 7:30 p.m. Luther College
JAZZ ORCHESTRA MIDWEST TOUR April 11, 7:00 p.m. Fort Dodge High School Fort Dodge, Iowa
April 9, 7:30 p.m. Luther College
April 12, 7:00 p.m. Roosevelt High School Sioux Falls, So. Dak.
COLLEGIATE CHORALE MINNESOTA TOUR
April 13, 7:00 p.m. Waconia High School Waconia, Minn.
April 5, 7:00 p.m. First Lutheran Church Albert Lea, Minn.
April 14, 3:30 p.m. Pilgrim Lutheran Church St. Paul, Minn.
April 6, 7:00 p.m. Roseville Lutheran Church Roseville, Minn.
April 16, 7:30 p.m. Luther College
April 7, 4:00 p.m. Christ United Methodist Church Rochester, Minn. April 11, 7:30 p.m. Luther College
CAMPUS NEWS
MEN’S SOCCER
WINS BIG
The Luther men’s soccer team had a stellar season, finishing with a no. 8 ranking in the United Soccer Coaches DIII national poll. The team ended the season with an overall record of 19-4-1 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III national tournament before being eliminated by the University of Chicago 1-0 in overtime. Luther qualified for the national tournament for the ninth time after capturing the title of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Tournament, defeating regular season champions Loras College 2-1. Head coach Chris Garcia-Prats (137-66-23), who just completed his 11th season, and his staff were named A-R-C Coaching Staff of the Year and North Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Postseason honors also went to seven players who were named all-conference, four who were named all-North Region, and two who were named All-Americans— midfielder Aidan O’Driscoll ’19 and forward Rafael Broseghini ’19.
Men’s soccer finished the season with an overall record of 19-4-1, including a 3-0 win against Gustavus Adolphus College on Sept. 7.
Aidan O’Driscoll ’19
Rafael Broseghini ’19
Hall of Famers Inductees into Luther’s Athletic Hall of Fame during Homecoming 2018 were (left to right): Katie (Haseman) Asplund ’03, diving; Ellen Drewes-Stoen, former head volleyball coach (1979–2003); Barb (Wagamon) Aamodt ’93, volleyball, track and field; Maureen (Silberstein) Awtry ’93, track and field; Tyler Sherden ’08, football, track and field; Jesse Reyerson ’03, wrestling; and Todd Ancelet ’98, soccer. KIRK JOHNSON ’82
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50
Years of the Introduction by Guy Nave
During the 2018 spring semester, an act of racial and ethnic hatred took place on the Luther College campus. Two symbols of hate, racism, and antisemitism—the letters “KKK” and a swastika—were stomped into the snow on the football field. While the incident was upsetting, for some students it was not a surprise. As part of a Chips interview, BSU president Harleigh Boldridge ’18 stated, “I was shocked that I got the email but I was not shocked that something like this happened.” BSU vice president Daniel Brown ’18 said, “The climate on campus is not ‘peachy-keen.’ . . . It’s not ‘fine and dandy.’ We feel targeted. We don’t feel safe.”
Guy Nave, professor of religion, is a longtime faculty advisor for Luther’s Black Student Union. He is the founder of the online social media platform Clamoring for Change and guest contributor to a number of sites, including Luther’s Ideas and Creations blog series and Sojourners Commentary blog series.
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In my own attempt to process events on campus, I scrolled through current and past Chips articles. A particular student editorial stood out. It reads, in part, During the last few weeks, the usually serene face of Luther College has been disturbed by a rude awakening. In a series of incidents . . . racism and prejudice have come into the open with all their ugly results. . . . No longer has Luther been an insulated community shut off from the more profound conflict that exists in this country. Our campus has become a mirror of the ugly state of society. . . . The question that comes up now is, are we strong enough, do we have conviction enough to face the reality of racism and fight it with all that we have. I found myself both inspired and intrigued by the comments of this Luther student—especially because the student was commenting on events that took place 50 years earlier during the spring semester of 1968.
Black Student Union The student referred to the desires of black students on campus to form a Black Student Union, writing, “There is now a movement afoot to organize a black student union here at Luther. Such an organization can be beneficial for both the Negro students and the white. It can also be the cause of considerable conflict on campus.” The student’s reference to “considerable conflicts on campus” was most likely an allusion to all of the black student protests occurring on college campuses across the United States at that time. Ibram X. Kendi—Luther College’s 2019 Spring Distinguished Lecturer—highlights in his award-winning book, The Black Campus Movement, how black student activism during the late 1960s profoundly transformed campus culture and politics as well as the very character of American higher education. This year we seek to honor those student activists and the ongoing contributions of the BSU to campus life at Luther. In addition to lectures and performances, multiple screenings of the awardwinning documentary Agents of Change, and numerous other campus-wide events, the BSU has been collaborating with several academic departments and programs to bring black alumni to campus to share their experiences and to engage and interact with students across campus.
These alumni visits serve as a way of highlighting the presence, contributions, and achievements of black Luther College graduates as well as a way of promoting campus dialogue and conversations regarding best ways of recruiting, retaining, and (most importantly) supporting racially underrepresented students at Luther. Such conversations are especially important in light of the rapidly changing demographics of high school graduating seniors across the U.S. Within a rapidly changing landscape of fewer high school graduating seniors and more racial and ethnic diversity within those numbers, Luther has to ask itself, As so-called minority high school students move toward being an American majority within the next decade, is Luther College fully prepared to support racial and ethnic diversity, student success, and programming oriented toward shifting populations? We hope the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the BSU will provide opportunities for members of the Luther community to discuss and reflect upon this very question. The yearlong commemoration will culminate with a communitywide celebration, April 26–28, that will bring alumni to campus to honor BSU founders, to commemorate 50 years of BSU presence at the college, and to discuss how Luther can best continue the work of establishing racial equity and inclusion across campus.
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Below, we gather the perspectives of six former BSU leaders and members who share how the organization impacted the community and their own lives during their time at Luther and beyond. Responses have been edited for length.
Barbara Fuller ’72
Hematologist-oncologist in private practice in northwest Indiana; regent emerita TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT WITH BSU.
“The BSU validated our existence on the Luther campus as students who were diverse, serious, deserving, and willing to educate ourselves.”
Nineteen sixty-eight was a year that awakened Americans to some of the African American struggles for equality. Civil rights protests and events around the country brought both awareness and divisions. The movement for equality turned to anger, riots, and burning of neighborhoods in major cities throughout the country after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King that same year in Memphis, Tenn. This had an impact on black students attending colleges and universities around the country who needed a voice and an organization that represented them on campuses throughout America. The formation of the BSU gave them unity and a unified presence. The BSU at Luther came into being that year. Its presence helped me begin to understand why being Black and proud was a right and not a condition to be tossed aside. . . The BSU validated our existence on the Luther campus as students who were diverse, serious, deserving, and willing to educate ourselves. It became a tangible organization that helped to sustain awareness of African American culture in America as integral and equal, not as separate but equal. . . . BSUs on campuses were important catalysts that led to the formation of black studies departments that became permanent parts of curriculums of colleges and universities throughout the country, thus providing a means to continue the conversation and education about African American culture and history. HOW DID YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN BSU IMPACT OR SHAPE YOUR LIFE TODAY?
Looking back, I think that the time that I spent at Luther as a student was great. I might have said differently in 1972. “Good” has become “great” because I have learned to appreciate those years as formative years for me. My experiences were diverse and sometimes difficult. I had growing pains that were both social and academic, but they helped me to evolve into the person that I am. Part of my life and all of my career decisions were inspired by those who crossed my path at Luther. I hope and pray that my being there was inspirational to some individuals as well. To borrow a phrase, “I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey.”
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W.D. (Foster) Foster-Graham ’74
Retired elementary school teacher for the Minneapolis public schools; author of four novels DESCRIBE AN ISSUE THAT AROSE DURING YOUR TIME ON CAMPUS AND HOW THE BSU WORKED TO ADDRESS/CHANGE IT.
Issues arose all four years I was at Luther. Some of the things that came up involved culture shock, cultural sensitivity, and racism. Unfortunately those things are still there, if last year is any indication. We as black students had to fight to get a Black Studies Department. President Farwell had a good idea as far as getting students of color to Luther, but what happened once we got there fell short. We were, as black students, privy to direct action. It was the early 1970s. Internet and social media and smart phones weren’t in existence, so a lot of our communication was very direct.
“I would say that, solutionwise, it takes a collaborative effort on the part of the administration, the faculty, the staff, the students, and the alumni.”
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF BSU?
I would love to see a lot more direct action and an inclusiveness about it. What I see in this generation versus mine—it’s easy to talk about with emojis on social media, but oneon-one conversations are essential in moving forward. And since the demographics in colleges these days are changing, it’s important to have one-on-one conversations across the board. . . . I would say that, solution-wise, it takes a collaborative effort on the part of the administration, the faculty, the staff, the students, and the alumni. Each has a role to play in moving forward. When I came down last fall to Luther, it was the first time I set foot on that campus in 35 years because of my experiences as a student. As an alumnus, I look at it this way: the same things are going on, and if I am absent from that, then I am part of the problem. I said to myself, Okay, it’s time to take a new role here. There are many ways to network with students on campus, and an important one is having a stronger presence of alumni of color on campus aside from Homecoming and Commencement. As an alumnus, I’m in a unique position because I’ve been where they are. When we as black alumni share our stories, as well our successes today, we help them. It’s up to me to take an active role and step up to the plate. That’s something I live by: let it begin with me.
Greg Fields ’77
HR analyst for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; former vice president of BSU; regent emeritus WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF BSU?
It is my hope that enrollment of students of color, in particular African American students, continues to grow and that the BSU is seen as a vital part of the college community. I strongly believe that Luther is a great place to get a good education, and I would like to see more students of color get the same opportunity that I got more than 40 years ago. I also hope to find a way for the BSU to engage with Black alumni in a more long-term way and for the alumni to become resources for students at Luther.
“I strongly believe that Luther is a great place to get a good education, and I would like to see more students of color get the same opportunity that I got more than 40 years ago.”
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Maxie (Jones) Rockymore ’82
State of Minnesota manager of foster care and Title IV-E; playwright and poet DESCRIBE AN ISSUE THAT AROSE DURING YOUR TIME ON CAMPUS AND HOW THE BSU WORKED TO ADDRESS/CHANGE IT.
“I hope that Luther continues to recruit diverse faculty in order to attract and retain students of color.”
An issue that arose for us was that black first-year students, both male and female, were having a hard time adjusting to the rural, all-white environment of Luther and Decorah. Most importantly, when white freshmen and black freshmen were having skirmishes, the black freshmen were being disciplined and not the white freshmen. So we wrote a letter asking that the school address the mistreatment that black freshmen male students were experiencing. We met with the president and administrators to address these issues. We suggested that a black female and male resident assistant be assigned to the first-year dorms so that incoming freshmen would have someone to advocate for them and make adjustments to campus life. The administration agreed, and ironically I was assigned to be the RA for the incoming black freshmen girls. WHAT SHOULD THE LUTHER COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A LUTHER STUDENT OF COLOR?
When we were at Luther we had a few black faculty, namely Orchard and Lillian Mdzonga and Fritz Pointer. They were crucial in supporting black students and guiding and supporting our academic success. I hope that Luther continues to recruit diverse faculty in order to attract and retain students of color.
Akos Frimpong ’03
Elementary school teacher; former BSU president TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH BSU.
“Being a part of BSU was comforting in that we gathered together not only to share our experiences but also to try to brainstorm ways we could help.”
From very early on at Luther, BSU, in conjunction with the Diversity Center, was my second home. . . . It is through BSU that I discovered not only how strong I actually am, but also that I too have a voice. I learned very quickly that, while unfortunate, race played a huge factor in how I was seen, and being a part of the BSU helped me to better understand this. DESCRIBE AN ISSUE THAT AROSE DURING YOUR TIME ON CAMPUS AND HOW THE BSU WORKED TO ADDRESS/CHANGE IT.
The main issue that arose for me was when we started getting racist messages written on various flyers and walls in the dorms, in addition to students of color being harassed. I recall how confused, hurt, and hopeless I felt as I sat and listened to a student share his story of being pelted with eggs when he was walking on campus. Then there was the female student who was physically assaulted by a group of males, with them driving her head into the concrete. I myself was heckled one night as I was heading back from watching the movies. Initially, I felt so alone and began to wonder why I was here and whether this was truly the place for me. However, being a part of BSU was comforting in that we gathered together not only to share our experiences but also to try to brainstorm ways we could help. Around this time we looked into having a conference with a featured speaker that would touch on these incidents. It wasn’t much, but having [antiracism activist] Tim Wise, a white man, on stage, talking about race from his vantage point and not necessarily “whitewashing” it, was good. I say this because sometimes when it’s us—those who are actually affected—speaking, people don’t always listen, because they may see it as us “playing the race card.” However, hearing from someone of their own race may lead people to reach a moment of self-discovery.
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Harleigh Boldridge ’18
Americorps member and Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative coordinator; former BSU president DESCRIBE AN ISSUE THAT AROSE DURING YOUR TIME ON CAMPUS AND HOW THE BSU WORKED TO ADDRESS/CHANGE IT.
The mainstream issues during my time at Luther were complicated and never-ending. My time was marked by students feeling disconnected from the administration, disrespected by campus policies, underrepresented by faculty/staff/administration, racism in classrooms and on campus, lack of transparency with college operations and happenings, and a veiled history that could explain a lot of why Luther operates the way it does today. Racism continues to pervade campus, which has and will present serious issues concerning diverse recruitment and retention. There are many current students/faculty/staff that are doing amazing work on campus, but Luther as a whole is not ready to radically change its standard for how we engage with the “other.” WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE OF BSU?
I hope that BSU continues with strong leadership and activism. One of the pieces that sets BSU apart from other groups is its commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion. There was nearly a decade when BSU was dormant, and I don’t want to see that happen again. The BSU is incredibly strong right now, and I would love to see more outside financial and educational support for the group.
“I hope that BSU continues with strong leadership and activism. One of the pieces that sets BSU apart from other groups is its commitment to justice, equity, and inclusion.”
WHAT SHOULD THE LUTHER COMMUNITY KNOW ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE AS A LUTHER STUDENT OF COLOR?
That the struggles I had to deal with were at every level of my experience: in residence halls, shopping in the community, eating in the Caf, sitting in class, walking on campus— everywhere. BSU provided a space where I could be myself and find people who, even if we didn’t agree with each other, cared for me and made it obvious that they wanted me to succeed. I am now in the Decorah community, which includes Luther, and I am doing my best where I am to create a better town surrounding the college where students can feel more accepted and understood. Change starts with all of us, and it is wholly irresponsible to think that alumni cannot continue to make waves at Luther for current students and social justice. When Development calls for your next financial gift to Luther, you can choose to support the BSU financially and support opportunities for current students to survive and thrive.
An Invitation The yearlong BSU commemoration will culminate with a community-wide celebration, April 26–28, that will bring alumni to campus to honor BSU founders, to commemorate 50 years of BSU presence at the college, and to discuss how Luther can best continue the work of establishing racial equity and inclusion across campus. For details, visit luther.edu/alumni/events/bsu.
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A network for life The Shank family wants the Luther community to know what a valuable resource they have in each other.
This is a story that could have turned out tragically but instead has brought renewed life. A man considerate enough to check the organ donor box on his driver’s license, a skilled medical team willing to take a risk on a patient with rapidly failing lungs, and a network of old and newfound Luther friends combined to make sure that Steve Shank ’98 is still here and breathing deeply today.
by Ellen Modersohn LUTHER MAGAZINE
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teve Shank ’98 has always been an athlete. He played football and wrestled at Luther and has been a cyclist ever since. For seven years in a row, he rode a 100-mile course to support JDRF, formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Each year, Steve says, the ride got a little more difficult. He put it down to needing to get in better shape. Steve and his wife, Caren (Hanson) Shank ’02, had busy lives in North Liberty, Iowa, raising their children—Ani, now 9, and Elliott, now 6. They worked full time, Steve at Hy-Vee and Caren at Integrated DNA Technologies. Maybe he just needed to find time to exercise more. A couple months after the JDRF ride in 2015, Caren threw a surprise 40th birthday party for Steve in Decorah. Beforehand, he planned to ride the 11-mile Trout Run Trail around town with some buddies. But he got so out of breath he couldn’t finish. Caren raised the red flag then and urged him to see his doctor, but Steve still believed he could power through with exercise and regain his ability. It didn’t work.
When Steve did seek medical attention a few months later, he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. Genetic testing later confirmed that Steve had HermanskyPudlak syndrome (HPS), a rare condition that can cause albinism, vision problems, bleeding disorders, and pulmonary fibrosis. Steve is legally blind, bruises easily, and had been diagnosed with albinism at birth, but he had never been tested for HPS. A year after not being able to finish the Decorah trail ride, Steve received a double lung transplant at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Just one year from diagnosis to transplant is incredibly fast, Caren says, and the Shanks would not have been able to navigate to this gift so well without the help of strangers—primarily the lung donor they call Tommy, to whom they are forever grateful—and friends, many from their Luther network. When they’re in college, Caren says, students may not realize the friendships they’re building now can help them through a crisis later. “They are not just forming temporary study pals, pub bud-
Amy (Peterson) Burrell ’02 and Wesley Burrell
Laura Kairis, Kirk Kairis ’98, and kids Sydney, Weston, and Tyce
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dies, and teammates,” she says. “The diverse relationships they invest in have the power to nurture them the rest of their lives. And it’s okay if they don’t realize this now, but life is hard and one day, when faced with a tough life event, they’ll have this remarkable Luther community in their arsenal.” The Shanks’s Luther network sprang into action for Steve and Caren in an array of ways, each individual lending a particular expertise or ability. The next part of this story—while not an exhaustive list of all the people who gave of their time, skill, knowledge, wallet, and heart—shows the scope of that help. COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM
As doctors began diagnosing Steve, the Shanks suddenly had to learn a whole new language—the vocabulary of medicine. Helping them understand the terminology and process was Caren’s junior year Luther roommate Tara (Taylor) Federly ’02. “Tara helped talk me through and navigate
“The diverse relationships [students] invest in have the power to nurture them the rest of their lives . . . and one day, when faced with a tough life event, they’ll have this remarkable Luther community in their arsenal.” —Caren (Hanson) Shank ’02 the early diagnosis of the disease and the medical terminology,” Caren says. Tara drew on her own experience as a caregiver to help Caren. Her first husband, Jared Bly ’01, had been diagnosed with cancer shortly after his senior year at Luther. They went on to marry, and Tara was Jared’s primary caregiver, while she was in medical school at the same time, until his death in 2006. “Tara knew a lot about taking care of someone with a compromised immune system,” Caren says. “That was really critical information that helped with a big learning curve on my part. I needed support from a savvy caregiver.” Tara also advised Caren as she tried to secure out-of-network medical insurance for Steve, as did Corey Hoodjer ’99, who works in the health insurance field. Caren, who had grown up in Rochester and whose mother, Eileen Hanson Klema, had worked in the transplant unit at Mayo Clinic, wanted Mayo to do Steve’s transplant. His insurance, however, would not allow for out-of-state treatment.
Steve was waiting for a position with HyVee to open up in Rochester, hoping that he could get the job, move to Minnesota and change his insurance to cover treatment at Mayo. That’s when Nate Stewart ’98, an executive with the grocery chain, sprang into action. Working with the executive team and human resources, Nate was able to pave the way for Steve’s new job and change of insurance. Steve began working in Minnesota just five days before he had to be hospitalized. The oxygen he’d been using at home could no longer support his needs. At Mayo, Steve was put on the transplant list and, after four surgeries to connect his circulatory system to the device, spent 35 days on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine that kept oxygen in his blood until he could receive new lungs. It turned out that one of the ECMO operators, or perfusionists, was James Neal ’01. James and Steve had played football together at Luther. Having that connection during such a stressful time, Caren says, was very helpful.
Another Luther grad who lent her medical expertise and support was Alicia (Decker) Bravo ’02. She is a level-one trauma nurse at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. “She would visit Steve and me when he was on ECMO and was very comfortable in an ICU setting,” Caren says. Alicia coached them through the experience, Caren said. For instance, when Steve faced having a tracheotomy, “She said that’s the best thing that could happen to him.” Instead of being intubated, they put a small opening, a trach, into his windpipe so that when he came back from the operating room each time he wasn’t having to go through the panic attack and anxiety that waking up with a breathing tube in his mouth caused him. The Shanks are glad they went that route, and now the only evidence of the trach is a small scar. Alicia’s brother Brian Decker ’97, senior manager at Mayo’s Office of Information, also gave important advice, mentoring Caren through her job search at Mayo. She had been working remotely for her employer in Iowa, but later the Shanks decided to stay in Minnesota. Caren is now a sponsored projects administrator at Mayo.
Lindsey (Sieh) Sullivan ’01, Christopher Sullivan, and daughter Lainey Left to right: Steve, Matt Evans ’98, Dan Wick ’98, Eric Lund ’98, Nate Stewart ’98
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“First and foremost, we’re here because of Tommy. And then, we live in appreciation for life and our family, and we really value experiences and being together every day.” —Steve Shank ’98
When they moved to Minnesota, the Shanks moved in with Caren’s mother, who had a house with a finished basement near Rochester, in Chatfield, Minn. “We basically took over the basement,” Steve says. The transition was swift, Caren adds: “We showed up there in August and she took the kids school supply shopping and we got them registered in Chatfield schools and got their busing set up, and my mom just took the lead on being their mom for several months.” But most weekends, the Shanks’s friends from their old neighborhood or from Luther took over. Eric Lund ’98 took Ani and Elliott to his home in Stillwater, Minn.; Grete (Runningen) Blum ’02 took them to her home in Houston, Minn.; and Brent Storhoff ’97 and Brigit (Broghamer) Storhoff ’01 cared for the kids at their Decorah home. “Those really close families would come and take our kids and give my mom some relief,” Caren says. “I was so torn by being by Steve’s side and not being there for my kids. So to know that they were being entertained and loved by those people was the best gift.”
Some friends came by the ICU just to check in with Steve and Caren and try to cheer them up. “One of my good friends, Kirk Kairis ’98, would come visit me and, you know, the TVs in the ICU are this big [tiny], and with my vision problem, he was trying to convince the staff that he would go to Best Buy and buy a giant TV and bring it in,” Steve recalls. Caren says, “He asks me, Do you think they’ll mind? And I’m like, Yes! This is an ICU. He is such a ray of sunshine, just looking out for his buddy with low vision.” Everyone’s help and persistence paid off on Oct. 23, 2016, when Steve received a double lung transplant. And on this day, too, another Luther family was involved. Caren knew Abby (Wiese) Romme ’02 a bit from a January Term class they’d taken in Guatemala. “We had had classes together, and I recognized her when she walked into the waiting room the day Steve was getting transplanted. She came in with a woman I’d met in our support group, and it turns out she was Abby’s mother. I said, What are you doing here? Did you hear Steve’s in surgery, getting lungs? And Abby’s mother said, Yes, Steve is in surgery, getting his heart.”
Brett Schambow ’98
Left to right: Matt Evans ’98, Steve Shank ’98, Nate Stewart ’98
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And then Caren put it together: Abby’s dad, also named Steve, was a getting a heart from the same donor who was giving his lungs to Steve Shank. The Shanks later met donor Tommy’s family and have become close with his mother and sister. “She refers to heart Steve and lung Steve as the rainbow in all their pain,” Caren says. “We’re so grateful that Tommy checked the box and decided to donate and give life to Steve.” Throughout Steve and Caren’s ordeal, Caren kept friends and family updated through the Tour de Shank page on Facebook. She credits friend Ann Grimstad with being a great example for that kind of communication. When Ann’s husband, Joe Grimstad ’98, was undergoing treatment for cancer several years ago, she shared updates on him through social media. “She was really articulate about what Joe was going through,” Caren recalls. “It was earlier in the social media days and I remember reading it and at first thinking, Wow, she’s really putting it all out there. And then really appreciating it and needing those updates, knowing how important it was that we were all praying for Joe.” That gave Caren the confidence and courage
In January, the Shank family made it to the Rose Bowl Parade, where Steve rode a float with fellow organ recipient Renaye Fink. He carried a photo of his donor, Tommy Frankel.
over the last couple of years to blog and post about what Steve was going through. Another element of social media helped support the Shanks financially. Matt Evans ’02 told the Shanks about a crowdfunding website, One Mission, based in Mount Vernon, Iowa. Hundreds of Luther alumni and others have contributed to the page set up for Steve. The fundraiser, onemission.fund/support/shank-daddy, is now supporting the HPS Network as the Shanks spread awareness about the syndrome.
TAKING DEEP BREATHS AND SPREADING THE WORD
Seventy-nine days after entering Mayo Clinic, Steve left with a new, healthy set of lungs. A monthlong stay at the Gift of Life Transplant House near Mayo provided a transition for Steve and Caren after the hospital and before moving back in with her mother. They credit longtime Gift of Life volunteer Janell Nelson ’01 for encouraging them to take advantage of the home’s services.
With Steve’s transplant succeeding, they wanted to promote the work of Donate Life, a nonprofit whose mission is to increase the number of donated organs, eyes, and tissues available to save lives through transplantation. The Shanks have shared their story many times, and last fall Steve was one of 12 transplant recipients nominated to write letters describing why they should be selected as the Mayo Clinic patient representative to ride on a float sponsored by Donate Life in the 2019 New Year’s Day Rose Bowl Parade. Steve smiles wide in sharing the results: “They’re only sending one, and they picked us.” Caren says it was fun to reflect on the question of why they should go to the parade in Pasadena, Calif. “First and foremost, we’re here because of Tommy. And then, we live in appreciation for life and our family, and we really value experiences and being together every day. So it would be really cool to have this adventure with our kids.” The Shanks had planned to attend the Transplant Games of America in Colorado last summer, but Steve got sick a couple
of days before the games and they weren’t able to go. This time, Steve and Caren were waiting until Christmas to spring the Rose Bowl surprise on Ani and Elliott. “The main thing,” Caren says, “is that we’ve been working really hard to tell our story and be ambassadors for Donate Life and HPS, and the opportunity just parallels what we’ve been working for as a family.” In sharing their story here, Caren and Steve want the Luther community to know the importance of the relationships they have built with each other. “I heard a quote on the radio that was something like, one never knows when you are going to be thrown out of your life and be given the full-time job of not dying, or caring for someone who is,” Caren says. “Steve’s crisis happened really fast, and there was a lot of divine intervention and a lot of Luther intervention, and we want students and alumni to know how important this community can be to sustain them.”
Left to right: Dusty (Kendrick) Roden ’98, Sarah (Dewit) Graham ’98
Left to right: Aaron Holtebeck ’98, Steve Shank ’98, Jeff Bishop ’98, Eric Lund ’98, Kirk Kairis ’98
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HOMECOMING 2018
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ALUMNI NEWS
Clockwise, from top left: members of the Black Student Union celebrated the organization's 50-year anniversary during the Homecoming Parade; happy Homecoming paraders make their way down Water Street; the audience enjoyed swinging tunes during Jazz Night at Marty's on Oct. 26; the Norse faced off against Simpson College for the Homecoming game on Oct. 27; alumni and current student musicians sang together during the Homecoming Concert on Oct. 28; the class of 1968 marked their 50-year reunion with a group photo in Dahl Centennial Union; Luther's Nursing Department celebrated 40 years of the program with a full weekend of events, including an open house. For more photos from Homecoming 2018, see luther.edu/homecoming/photos-2018.
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HOMECOMING HONORS
SPIRIT OF LUTHER AWARD
Victoria and Gregory Fields ’77 Greg is a regent emeritus who served on Luther’s board from 2005 to 2017. He is an HR analyst at Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicagoland. Prior to her retirement, Vickie was a vice president at Bank of America. Over the years, Greg and Vickie have consistently been two of Luther’s strongest advocates and dedicated ambassadors in the Chicagoland area. Together they have attended (and often co-hosted) nearly every Luther event and gathering involving admissions, alumni, or development efforts in their region. Greg provided key leadership in developing a Luther College black alumni organization and was instrumental in planning, organizing, and hosting Luther’s black alumni reunions, as well as contributing to various strategic planning processes. The Spirit of Luther Award recognizes individuals who have provided significant sustained service to the college.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS Wayne A. Rohne ’53 Rohne spent two years in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, then earned a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law. In 1967, he opened his own practice in Arlington and worked until his retirement in 1994. He served for a decade as mayor of Pantego, Texas, and then as Pantego city attorney until 2006. Other leadership positions he has held include: president of the Norwegian Society of Texas, trustee of Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, president of the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, vice president of the board of trustees for the Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home, and regent on the Luther College Board of Regents.
Russell P. Loven ’58 Loven was deployed to Okinawa, Japan, after volunteering for active duty with the U.S. Army in 1954. After returning, he was an educator for 44 years, serving either as counselor, teacher, principal, or superintendent in northeast Iowa; Stoughton and Watertown, Wis.; and Grand Meadow, Minn. He has held various leadership positions, including: mayor of Guttenburg, Iowa; vice president of Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital Board; assistant rotary governor; president of the Clayton County Emergency Board; trustee of the Guttenberg Municipal Hospital and Clinic Board; and church council president.
Deborah Hafner DeWinter ’73 After ordination at First Lutheran Church in Decorah in 1986, Hafner DeWinter traveled to Hong Kong, where she developed ministries with Filipina migrant workers, began the Hong Kong Fellowship of Christian Artists and outreach programs for Vietnamese refugees in detention
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centers, and served on the founding board of Hong Kong’s first shelter for battered women, Harmony House. After her return to the U.S., she served as program director for resettlement at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, associate director of the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program, executive director of FilmAid International, and program executive for the U.S. at World Council of Churches. She now serves as pastor at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Marilyn (Wangberg) Brattskar ’78 Brattskar is a virtuoso organist, dedicated teacher, leader in environmental and social justice issues, and prominent figure in Norway's diplomatic community. A sustainability advocate, she single-handedly led the Holmen Church where she works in attaining the Norwegian "Green Church" accreditation. In 2015, she was appointed as a Paul Harris Fellow for contributions to Rotary International's work to help eradicate polio. She has given several solo organ concerts throughout the world and has served as a lecturer and host during Luther's J-term Paideia 450 course "Green Germany and Norway: Advanced Models of Sustainability."
Celia (Nybro) Manlove ’78 Manlove has held several highprofile positions in the field of health care, including: director of provider relations for Physicians Health Plan of Minnesota; senior vice president of health services at Northwestern National Life in Minneapolis; associate vice president of Provider Services for Amerigroup Corporation in Texas; and chief operating officer of Amerigroup’s Austin and
ALUMNI NEWS
San Antonio health plans. She now acts as president of Kentucky Medicaid. She has been active in Lutheran and Episcopalian churches and Girl Scouts and has served on boards of directors for the Kentucky Opera and the Neighborhood House, a center dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty.
David Lietz ’88 A graduate of Georgetown Law School, Lietz founded his own practice, which concentrates on complex civil litigation involving wrongful death and critical injury. His passion for learning and the liberal arts encouraged him to teach, with Bill Craft, a J-Term course at Luther called Literature, Law, and Justice. He served on Luther’s Board of Regents for 12 years, during which time he was valued for his keen insights, willingness to ask hard questions, and propensity to reach out to students and faculty.
J. Erik Beguin ’93 After moving to Austin, Texas, in 2000, Beguin became concerned with the inequitable mortgage lending terms offered to Spanish-speaking versus Caucasian families. To help address the inequity, in 2002 he became a licensed mortgage lender and in 2006 founded a bank to serve the Hispanic community. Now operating as Austin Capital Bank, Beguin’s enterprise offers traditional community banking, a digital mortgage lending division, and a fintech product platform to help low- to moderate-income consumers establish and build credit nationwide. He has been appointed to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s seven-member Community Bank Advisory Council and to the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank Advisory Council.
Anjela A. Shutts ’93 After earning a law degree from Drake University, Shutts began her career at Whitfield & Eddy in Des Moines, Iowa, where she continues to practice family law, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution. Her leadership in finding ways law can serve both the common good and guarantee individualized justice has resulted in many accolades, including the 2018 Iowa Supreme Court’s Voice of Justice Award. She currently serves as vice chair of the Access to Justice Commission of the Supreme Court of Iowa and on Luther’s Board of Regents. Criteria considered for Distinguished Service Award (DSA) candidates include meritorious service to society in areas such as education, government, the arts, business, church, labor, industry, agriculture, research, medicine, and community affairs; loyalty and service to Luther; fidelity to the ideals of Luther; and timeliness of the award. Though individuals nominated for DSAs typically have a strong Luther connection, they do not have to be alumni. Nominations may be made at luther.edu/alumni/services/awards.
MUSIC AWARDS Sperati Award Juan Tony Guzmán ’90, Luther professor of music, is director of the college’s Jazz Orchestra and jazz program and holds its Weston Noble Endowed Chair in Music. Guzmán is soughtafter globally as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Recently, he has given clinics and presentations for the Singapore American School, Choral Music Experience Institute, Association for Music in International Schools, Universidade Federal da Paraíba and the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, World Choral Symposium, Scottish Association for Music Education, and Festival 500 in Canada. Noble Award From 1979 to 2006, Paul Gulsvig ’73 was choral director at Onalaska (Wis.) High School, where he transformed a small swing choir into a nationally recognized program. From 1985 to 2006, the Hilltoppers swing choir won grand championships in 16 cities and seven states and won the national championships in 2004 and 2006. In 1986, he started the Parent Support Group, which has raised more than $1 million to support choral trips around the country. In 2016, Gulsvig was one of only a few educators ever to receive the “Mousker” Award by the Disney Corporation Foundation. Hemp Family Prize Michael Winkler ’19 of Sheboygan, Wis. is principal trumpeter in Luther’s Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2015, he toured as lead trumpet with Kids From Wisconsin for a three-month tour during which he performed in front of more than 100,000 people. In 2018, he was a semifinalist at the National Trumpet Competition, ranking him in the top group of undergraduate soloists in the nation. Presser Award Brenna Sherman ’19 of Rochester, Minn., plays flute in Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra and sings in Aurora, Cathedral, and Collegiate choirs. She held a lead role as Despina in Luther’s 2017 opera Cosi Fan Tutte. Her scholarships at Luther include a President’s Scholarship, All-State Music Scholarship, “Become” Award, Weston Noble Instrumental Music Excellence Scholarship, Preus Music Scholarship, and John H. Monson International Education Scholarship.
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Alumni children who enrolled in fall 2018 ILLINOIS Island Lake: Kacy Morris, daughter of Thea (Tupy) ’88 and Jeff Morris Port Byron: Kirsten MelaasSwanson, daughter of Barbara MelaasSwanson ’82 (deceased) and Wayne Melaas-Swanson
INDIANA Carmel: Elijah Rotto, son of Pamela (Carrington) ’84 and Knute Rotto ’84
Julia Lassner, daughter of Jennifer (Clothier) ’85 and Jason Lassner • Amelia Morrow, daughter of Joni Howland ’86 and Reggie Morrow, Fairfax • Lindsey Parrott, daughter of Debra (Nowack) ’84 and Brian Parrott Johnston: Carsten Thompson, son of Mary (Sparks) Thompson ’86 and Craig Thompson, West Des Moines Marion: William Angstman, son of Chris and Jim Angstman ’83 • Kirsten Loynachan, daughter of Brita (Rulon) ’86 and Tim Loynachan
IOWA Burlington: Thea Good, daughter of Natalie (Luchterhand) ’86 and Phillip Good Clive: Greta Carlson, daughter of Beth and Eric Carlson ’89 Decorah: Sierra Duncan, daughter of Shannon (Gossman) Duncan ’95 and Todd Duncan • Indigo Fish, daughter of Tanya O’Connor Fish ’89 and Jesse Fish • Rye Hawley-Bourcier, son of Jane Hawley ’87 and Guy Nave and Tom Bourcier • Erik Johnson, son of Bonnie and Chris Johnson ’87 • Jarod Phillips, son of Lori (Butikofer) ’90 and Bradley Phillips • Rylea Ranum, daughter of Brenda and David Ranum ’83 • Marguerite Schwarz, daughter of Amy Chicos ’89 and Lane Schwarz ’89 • Andrea Sullivan, daughter of Rebecca (Ostermeyer) ’84 and Craig Sullivan ’83 • Abby Trewin, daughter of Karen (Titus) ’92 and Pat Trewin ’92 Denver: Colin Beck, son of Angela (Koschmeder) ’96 and William Beck Dubuque: Brianna Fry, daughter of Kristie (Tigges) ’89 and Dennis Fry • Heather Hostager, daughter of Brenda and Mark Hostager ’84 Hampton: Christopher Lamos, son of Wendy (Bockhaus) ’87 and Barry Lamos Iowa City: Ethan Goers, son of Kerri (Doeden) ’93 and Eric Goers ’93 •
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Sheffield: Sarah Retz, daughter of Nancy (Peterson) ’91 and Fred Retz Swisher: Megan Grimm, daughter of Jana (Hovick) ’95 and Doug Grimm ’95 Urbandale: Hailey Abbey, daughter of Kristen (Aslakson) ’98 and Evan Abbey ’98 West Des Moines: Danielle Nichols, daughter of Sandi (Sindt) ’94 and Phil Nichols
MINNESOTA Apple Valley: Hope Gilbertson, daughter of Lisa and Thomas Gilbertson ’85 • Kinsey Greenlee,
daughter of Mel (Upton) Greenlee ’93 and Tammy and Mark Greenlee ’90, Lakeville
Oak Grove: Eleanor Kriewall, daughter of Sarah (Kraabel) ’87 and Dan Kriewall
Chanhassen: Sydney Thompson, daughter of Carla (Schneider) ’93 and Mark Thompson
Rochester: Spencer Ketterling, son of Judi and Rhett Ketterling ’87
Duluth: Olivia Helland, daughter of Jennifer (Haskins) ’96 and Eric Helland Eden Prairie: Kaija Welter, daughter of Kjersten (Lund) ’93 and Scott Welter ’94 Fountain: Hunter Hobbs, son of Candy (Sanford) ’95 and Marvin Hobbs Hastings: Miranda Hanson, daughter of Annette (Hauglie) ’93 and Jeff Hanson Lindstrom: Naomi Weiss, daughter of Laura (Stevens) ’93 and Bill Weiss ’91 Lino Lakes: Sara Ostrem, daughter of Beth (Adams) ’92 and Jim Ostrem ’90 Mankato: Maya Mukamuri, daughter of Amy (Larson) ’90 and Alfred Mukamuri ’94 Maple Grove: Kyra Kjeldahl, daughter of Cindy (Brown) ’92 and Klint Kjeldahl ’91
Rosemount: Andrea Hernandez Delgado, daughter of Esperanza Delgado Juarez and Alfredo Chavez and Joan ’02 and Lalo Hernandez Lindeman, Rochester • Nathan Putman, son of Tanja (Strom) ’92 and Scott Putman ’92 Saint Charles: Cami Sternberg, daughter of Lori Jensen ’93 and Emily and Dan Sternberg ’94, Fergus Falls Saint Michael: Nora Weigle, daughter of Kirsten Bansen Weigle ’94 and Marc Weigle ’94 Saint Paul: Emilia Syers, daughter of Nica (Eisfelder) ’92 and David Syers ’94 Stillwater: Carolyn Wrightsman, daughter of Lauren (Eigenfeld) ’93 and Dave Wrightsman ’88 Watertown: Elsa Thonn, daughter of Emma (Oebser) ’90 and Vic Thonn ’88 Winona: Sarah Halverson, daughter of Amy and Scott Halverson ’89
WISCONSIN Brookfield: Barrett Poetker, daughter of Rebecca and Dave Poetker ’93 Eau Claire: Laurel Studt, daughter of Rachel (Braaten) ’89 and Larry Studt ’90 La Crosse: Annika Dome, daughter of Pam HelgersonDome ’82 and Greg Dome Marshfield: Lucas Brown, son of Jonel (Saracoff) ’87 and Todd Brown ’87 Middleton: Iris Ohlrogge, daughter of Anna Ohlrogge ’82 New Richmond: James Nysse, son of Alice Thomson ’92 and Jon Nysse ’92
ALUMNI NEWS
Ted Schacher ’08 (left) and Robyn (Frey) David ’87 (right) are proud to have had one of their referred students, Zoey Frey ’22 (center), enroll at Luther last fall.
4,000 more reasons to choose Luther In just over a year, Luther alumni have submitted more than 1,200 referrals to Luther through the Alumni Ambassadors program, which kicked off in fall 2017. Members from nearly every class back to 1945 have participated and, says program coleader Alyssa Ritter ’11, “Of all the recruitment programs Luther has invested in, this one has had the best yield rate” (the percent of accepted students who go on to enroll). The alumni referral yield rate for last fall’s class was more than twice that for the class overall. Every student referred through the program receives a $1,000 scholarship each year for four years if they enroll at Luther. When Alumni Council member Lisa Small Steinbauer ’88 referred a colleague’s child, the family became really serious about Luther. Steinbauer says her colleague told her the scholarship gave them “4,000 more reasons to consider Luther.” Alumni may refer family members,* neighbors, friends, children of coworkers, mem-
bers of their religious community, and others. There’s no limit on the number of students individual alumni may refer. Scot Schaeffer, vice president for enrollment management, is confident that alumni know which students will find Luther a good fit. He says nearly all of those nominated for last year’s entering class were accepted. Grant Preheim ’18, who recently made his first referral, says, “I thought of students who reflect the mission of Luther and would uphold those principles. After a conversation with my mentor from high school about her daughter’s college search process, I found that her daughter was seeking many of the ideals that I found within the Luther community. It only seemed fitting that I put Luther on the map for her daughter.” First-year Greta Carlson knew of Luther from her father, Eric Carlson ’89, but learned more from her high school choir director, Haley Gibbons ’11, who ultimately referred her via the ambassadors program.
Carlson chose Luther, she says, “because of the strong sustainability and music community. Also, I wanted to explore and be part of the overall community of Decorah.”
Schaeffer says, “The sooner a person is in our database, the better chance we have of them enrolling at Luther.”
The ambassadors program is gratifying for alumni participants as well as prospective students. “The college is a core part of who I am, and I enjoy knowing that one or two or maybe more students might feel the same way in 30 years,” says Steinbauer.
The program offers several ways to help recruit prospects besides referrals. Alumni can host or attend Admissions Office student receptions, represent Luther at a college fair, contact high school students who have indicated interest in Luther, or distribute information to schools, churches, and more.
In order to be considered for the scholarship, high school students must be referred by Dec. 1 of a student’s senior year. Nominations of younger students are encouraged too.
*Children of Luther alumni will receive the Legacy Scholarship ($4,000 total over four years) but may also receive the Alumni Referral Scholarship if referred by someone other than a parent.
GET STARTED Find more information and a referral form at luther.edu/ambassadors or contact Julie (Satre) Trytten ’01, assistant director of admissions, at Julie.Trytten@luther.edu; Alyssa Ritter ’11, associate director of alumni relations, at alyssa.ritter@luther.edu; or ambassadors@luther.edu.
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“That’s something we really learned at Luther: the story of the product is what makes it so exciting.” —Rewant Lokesh ’11
Lokesh (left), Burman (center), and friend Karuna Parikh are upending the status quo with their handcrafted, eco-friendly bags made in a global center of fast fashion.
It’s in the bag Sustainability guides eco-fashion entrepreneurs Samriddh Burman ’11 and Rewant Lokesh ’11 by Kate Frentzel Class of 2011 grads Samriddh Burman and Rewant Lokesh are swimming upstream. Their eco-conscious jute bag company, The Burlap People (TBP), is headquartered in Kolkata, India, a global epicenter of fast fashion—and the pollution, waste, and sweatshop conditions that the industry entails. But their decision to take a time-intensive, environmentally responsible approach to manufacturing goods is bucking local, cultural, and generational expectations to do things cheaper, faster, and in higher quantity. The result is not only a high-quality product that they feel good about, but also a platform to promote ethical choices and a community that celebrates and spreads their eco-conscious values.
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ALUMNI NEWS
Inspired by a Luther education Lokesh and Burman grew up in India— Lokesh, a Davis United World College Scholar, in Mumbai and Burman in Kolkata. They met as business majors at Luther, where they shared classes and worked as co-managers at Oneota Market. They returned to India after graduating in 2011. Lokesh went on to earn an MBA in marketing, and Burman started working for the family business, Aarbur, which has been manufacturing jute bags for more than 40 years. But, he says, “I became really frustrated because it was difficult incorporating what I learned at Luther. In our classes, there was a lot of talk about sustainability and community-building and creativity. That was a major part of learning at Luther. The way things work in India is very different, and a lot of the things we learned
in the classroom we couldn’t replicate back in Kolkata.” Lokesh adds, “There’s a big focus in this industry on exporting and creating large numbers. And cost is always the biggest factor. It takes away the story of the product. That’s something we really learned at Luther: the story of the product is what makes it so exciting.” The pair, along with master craftsman Nuruddin Mola and friend Karuna Parikh, who helped conceptualize the brand with Burman and who handles social media and PR, decided to start a business that truly reflected their ethos and that would, they hoped, resonate with like-minded people. If their nearly 23,000 Instagram followers are any indication, the TBP brand certainly resonates.
A platform to share values Each TBP bag takes about two weeks to manufacture—by hand—which is an expensive endeavor. But TBP is able to trim costs through an advertising campaign built entirely through social media and word of mouth, and it’s proved surprisingly effective. TBP launched in December 2015. In June of 2016, they made and sold about 30 bags. By March of 2017, they’d done about $50,000 in revenue. Last year, they doubled that. They grew from a skeleton crew in a small shed to a picturesque building that houses 17 employees. A lean advertising strategy has also given TBP the opportunity to grow slowly and cultivate a discerning, self-selecting fan base that really connects with the brand, which is of great importance to TBP since, as Lokesh says, “The brand turns out to be the people.” Burman agrees: “It’s not about the bags; the bags are just a medium. We try to make people more conscious about their choices. If you’re spending money on something, it should bring actual value to you and your
community and the world at large. We should be conscious about the impact our decisions have. That’s what we try to do through social media and the events we host and the pop-ups and markets we attend: engage with people and talk about things that are important.” Of course, challenges come with the territory, but Burman and Lokesh consider them an opportunity to educate. Burman says, “Sometimes we get people, especially in India, who compare us to fast-fashion brands that make synthetic bags. They question our prices or just don’t get it. But when I explain to someone why something is priced this way or why it takes time, it helps reinforce it in our own heads. It balances things out.” “We try to engage people about why this is the way it is,” Lokesh explains. “Integrity is something that was part of our upbringing and part of our Luther education, and now it’s a major part of our value system at TBP. It’s something we plan to maintain.”
Why jute? Jute, which is used to make burlap, is one of the most sustainable plants in the world. It grows naturally on the banks of the Ganges River, needing little to no irrigation; it reaches maturity quickly; it requires little space; it enriches soil; every part of the plant can be used; and it biodegrades in just a few months. The material TBP uses is colored with azo-free dyes and supplied by Fair Trade, non-GMO jute mills. Their leather is sourced from tanneries with certified environmentally friendly practices. In addition, TBP doesn’t use plastic and upcycles all scraps as smaller bags or pillow stuffing.
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Balsleys put the art in education Jessica (Schwab) ’07 and Derek Balsley ’05 built an online master’s degree in art education by Sara Friedl-Putnam
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ALUMNI NEWS
Artofed.com has a large variety of lesson plans, resources, courses, videos, and podcasts designed for the art educator.
“My liberal arts background has proved invaluable, because being well-rounded is a huge asset to any entrepreneur.” —Derek Balsley ’05
No ground was broken, no brick was laid. But this fall, Jessica (Schwab) ’07 and Derek Balsley ’05 “opened the doors” to the Art of Education University, the first secular graduate university to be accredited in the state of Iowa in more than 50 years. “It’s an entirely new kind of university,” says Derek. “It’s 100 percent online, and it’s hyper-vertical, meaning it services one type of student—the art educator—over a lifetime.” It also fills a void that has long frustrated art educators, says Jessica, recounting the limited professional-development options available to her when she began teaching art in the Ankeny (Iowa) Community School District in 2008. “I felt like I was stuck on the Island of Misfit Toys during professional-development days,” she says. “The school district offered virtually no specialized education to help art educators develop their skills.” Her frustration only mounted when she searched (without success) for a
university with a master’s degree program tailored to art educators. Derek, a born entrepreneur, immediately saw an opportunity to act. “I distinctly remember a car ride during which she was voicing her concerns,” he recalls, “and my response was, what are we going to do about it?” The seed planted, Jessica enrolled at Viterbo University in 2009 and decided to use her master’s degree studies to research how content-specific professional development (or lack thereof ) impacts teacher morale. Her first project entailed creating a website, the Art of Education, that offered a blog where she could share ideas to inspire art educators. By 2013, the venture had blossomed into an impressive e-learning platform providing a range of art-education options—from e-classes and podcasts to emails and online conferences. In October, after a rigorous four-year process, the Art of Education earned its accreditation. “We now offer a master’s degree in art education,” says Jessica, beaming. “It’s the exact
degree, in fact, that I wanted to earn when I began looking for master’s programs.” It was 2012 when the dynamic couple decided that if they were going to make a go of the Art of Education, it would be in their hometown of Osage, Iowa. While Derek spent his days doing marketing for Fox River Mills (and his nights doing marketing and technical support for their fledgling business), Jessica stayed at home with their daughter, Nora, now 7, and continued to develop online content. (The couple also have a daughter Cosette, age 2.) In 2013 Derek joined the business full-time, and in 2015 they opened an office on Main Street that provides both meeting space for visitors and workspace for their local employees (just seven of the more than 40 individuals who work for the Art of Education either full- or part-time). Both tout the role their Luther educations have played in the success of their startup. “My liberal arts background has proved invaluable, because being well-rounded is a huge
asset to any entrepreneur,” says Derek. Jessica says the passion for lifelong learning she developed at Luther has proved equally valuable: “I learned the importance of embracing different paths or directions in life.” Today, the Art of Education has 1 million homepage views per month, 70,000 email subscribers, 5,000 annual conference participants, 1,500 students, and thousands of art teachers in hundreds of school districts who continue to develop their skills through a video-subscription service. The couple admit it’s been a lot of work thus far, but also agree that the process has been smoother than it might otherwise have been because of one more thing they learned at Luther: the value of teamwork. “We did not set out to start a university, but we did,” says Derek. “And the reason we were able to was because we work together exceedingly well—it’s been total synergy from the start.”
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ALUMNI NEWS
1978 Football Reunion Members of the 1978 Norse football team reunited in Decorah in November. The group got together with former coach Bob Naslund ’65 at T-Bocks and Pulpit Rock, enjoyed a luncheon on campus, and watched the current football team play against Coe College on November 10. In the fall of 1978, Naslund took over the head coach position after serving for 11 years under 26-year head coach Edsel Schweizer. The team had lost eight offensive starters and six defensive starters when they’d graduated the previous spring, leav-
SAVE THE DATE
Reunion of champions: Luther College men’s track and field 1957–86 From 1957 to 1986, Luther’s men’s track and field teams won an unprecedented 26 Iowa Conference championships over 30 seasons. This summer, July 12–13, 2019, Luther will host a reunion for all the men who participated in this streak of winning seasons. Join us in Decorah for two days of fun, remembrance, and celebration of your days as Norse track and field champions. Learn more at luther.edu/alumni/events/ champions.
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ing the Norse a low second-division pick in the preseason poll. With the help of assistant coaches Paul Solberg ’61, Aubrey Taylor, and Doug Eckheart and class of 1979 senior cocaptains Steve Hinrichs, Kent Hugelen, Troy Pendleton, and Jeff Wettach, Naslund helped the underdog team clinch the 1978 Iowa Conference championship. By all accounts, the reunion weekend last fall was a blast. Hinrichs says, “Great stories, so much laughter, and tears to go along with it. . . . This was by far the
best reunion that I have ever attended in my life.” Mike Woodhouse ’82 agrees, saying the weekend was “one of the most uplifting experiences I can remember. Catching up with some guys I had not seen in 40 years like it was yesterday.” “The event truly set a high benchmark that will be tough to top,” says Gregg Hemish ’81. “Do we have to wait for the 50th?”
ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES By Rachel Schunder ’20
’62
Tom Odegaard of Sparks, Nev., is retired.
’65
Larry Peterson has worked on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota for 30 years. He spent the past four years living at Outlaw Ranch, serving as a full-time volunteer for programs that connect campers with Native American people living on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in North Rapid City, S.D.
’67
Paul Hanson retired after 40 years of teaching history at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif.
the ecumenical church. He lives in San Luis Obispo, Calif., with his wife, Ruth (Gordon) ’70, a retired vocal music teacher and church musician. Mark Wrolstad of Onalaska, Wis., retired as professor emerita of finance at Winona State University.
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Sandy Berg-Holte of Aitkin, Minn., retired as pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Cedarbrook and Bethesda Lutheran of Rossburg. Last fall, to mark the end of her 32 years of ordained ministry, she completed a 567-mile walk across the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain.
Dagfinn Høybråten was appointed general secretary of Norwegian Church Aid. Previously, he served as Norway’s minister of health, minister of labor and social affairs, vice president of Parliament, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and general secretary of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Fred Hedberg was named among the most powerful business leaders in Minnesota (Commercial Real Estate Brokers) by Minnesota Monthly magazine. He is cofounder and principal at Paramount Real Estate Corp. in Bloomington, Minn.
Christopher Cudworth held a solo exhibition titled Road Trip at Water Street Studios in Batavia, Ill. It featured a suite of paintings called Decorah Roads. Portions of the show will be exhibited in Luther’s Center for Faith and Life during Homecoming 2019.
Ken Meyer of Cedar, Minn., is retired after teaching high school biology, English literature, creative writing, and biomedical research.
’80
Peter Hovda retired as postmaster from the U.S. post office in Grand Meadow, Minn.
Bonnie (Price) Holst Cummings of Center Junction, Iowa, retired from teaching kindergarten.
’72
Frank Andersen is clinical education director of OB/GYN at Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University in Spokane.
Stan Kant retired in 2013. His former practice diagnosed and supported clients with dyslexia, attention deficit disorders, language disorders, and learning disorders.
Brian Martens of Forestville, Calif., is a full-time poet and creative consultant. His first book of poetry and haiku, Three Raven Gate, came out in December.
Susan (Kosowski) Keller of Pewaukee, Wis., retired from Westwood Health and Fitness.
’73
Greg Kovaciny retired in 2012 from his job as a personal computer specialist at the Iowa City (Iowa) Public Library.
’74
Susan (Curtis) Bies is director of accessibility and academic support services at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. Daniel Dahl is a pastor at the Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity in Mount Pleasant, N.C. John Rollefson is a retired Lutheran pastor who served in San Francisco; Milwaukee; Ann Arbor, Mich.; and Los Angeles. He recently published Postils for Preaching, a three-volume commentary on the lectionary texts for worship throughout
’79
Melissa (Pratt) Arthur of Bedford, Texas, retired as an elementary music specialist. She maintains a small flute studio, directs the Flutasia flute choir, and plays in the Brookhaven flute choir while finding time to quilt and enjoy her butterfly garden.
Cathy (Turner) Boulanger of Highland, Ill., was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Highland Rotary Club for her outstanding service. She was also asked to serve on the Highland Area Community Foundation Board.
’71 Roy Prigge of Carlos, Minn., received the 2018 Veteran Volunteer of the Year Award from the Minnesota Network of Hospice and Palliative Care for his work with the Knute Nelson Hospice. The award honors an individual who exemplifies the hospice philosophy and serves as an ambassador of hospice. As a Vietnam veteran, Roy spent six years in the U.S. Marine Corps and an additional 16 years in the Iowa and Minnesota Army National Guard.
’75
Solveig (Sperati) Korte of Vermillion, S.D., is an instructor emeritus in communication disorders at the University of South Dakota.
Lorenzo Creighton of Oxon Hill, Md., was given the Hester King Award by the Prince George’s County, Md., chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for his efforts to employ minorityowned businesses in the construction of a $1.4 billion casino resort in the Washington, D.C., area. Above, Lorenzo is pictured with his daughter, Loren. Harriet (Patchin) Parks of Burton, Texas, retired from teaching elementary physical education after a 43-year teaching career.
’76
Dan England of Cape Coral, Fla., is retired. Dee Gajewsky retired from Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency in Webster City, Iowa, after 32 years as a school social worker.
’78
Diane (Bandel) Padrutt of Marshall, Wis., is a piano accompanist for church, school concerts, solos, and ensemble groups. Kathy (Jacobson) Ruhser teaches K–6 music at MFL MarMac Elementary School in Monona, Iowa.
Jeff Peterson of Eden Prairie, Minn., retired from the Christensen Group. Chris (Althuis) Schafer is director at the Thomas Tredway Library at Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill. Kris (Skoglund) Tjornehoj is director of music and worship at Bethel Lutheran Church in Hudson, Wis., and conductor of the St. Croix Valley Symphony Orchestra in River Falls, Wis.
’81
Deb Olson retired as superintendent for the Clinton (Iowa) Community School District and is academy superintendent at Pangaea International Academy in Clinton.
’82
Charlie Busch is a recruiter for Kaiser Permanente in Denver. Geoffrey Lauer of Iowa City, Iowa, was selected as chair-elect by the board of directors of the United States Brain Injury Alliance. He is chief executive officer of the Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa. Gaone Masire of Gaborone, Botswana, retired from the African Union as head of the Division of Human Resources Management.
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ALUMNI NEWS Lindy Weilgart is an adjunct professor with the Biology Department at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
up in Waverly, Iowa, where her father served at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
Lynn (Everson) Tully is the athletics assistant at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.
Gregory Hager was elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He is professor of computer science in the Whiting School of Engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. His research centers on computer vision and robotics. He also directs the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare. Bonnie (Wilking) Penn is a physical therapist at Minnesota Head and Neck Pain Clinic in St. Paul, Minn.
Gary Fulsaas of Decorah retired as head athletic trainer at State University of New York–Oswego.
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Dave Baisden is a high school counselor for River Bend Community School District in Fulton, Ill.
Mark Birchard is director of network development at EHE International in New York City.
Dan Kuester is an outreach specialist for the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington, D.C.
Karen (Schmidt) Schlindwein is executive director of Chosen Inc., a fostering and adoption support nonprofit in Waukesha, Wis.
Kathryn Bader is director of social media in the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at the University of California, Berkeley.
Knute Rotto is executive director at Indiana Mentor in Indianapolis.
Diane (Davis) Barton is associate director of human resources at Cambridge Investment Research in Fairfield, Iowa.
Mary (Sparks) Thompson is market director of Behavioral Health at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Leah Vriesman is director of the executive education programs in health policy management and associate adjunct professor of health policy and management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. She was named 2018 Faculty Member of the Year by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration for her academic leadership.
Donn Sorensen is president of Mercy Health East Region in St. Louis and coauthor of Big-Hearted Leadership: Five Keys to Create Success through Compassion.
Scott Lien is CEO and cofounder at GrandPad in Orange, Calif. Jay Mathis is superintendent of the Allamakee Community School District in Waukon, Iowa.
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Brad Capener is superintendent for the Jefferson (Ore.) School District. He recently published a book, Achieving Incredible Results for English Learners.
Karen (Titus) Trewin is a financial advisor at Thrivent Financial in Decorah.
’93
Ryan Butzman is general manager at Cresswood Shredding Machinery in Cortland, Ill. Peter Olson operates Fiat Lux Window Cleaning Service in Roseville, Minn.
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Marshall Beckman is associate professor of surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Jennifer (Angell) Green earned an innovative instructional leadership certificate from Winona (Minn.) State University. She is a high school teacher in the Byron (Minn.) Community School District.
Kevin West was named Iowa School Social Worker of the Year by the Midwest School Social Work Council. He works for the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools, primarily with students and families at Hoyt and Weeks middle schools.
’94
Peter Strube of Mount Horeb, Wis., is CEO at Trollway Anesthesia and Education Seminars. He is also assistant professor at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, Ill. Rachel (Kintzinger) Harpham of Redding, Calif., and her family published their first children’s book, 2 Years Old and 3 Feet High: A Toddler’s Take on Family, Fun, and Fowl. Joan Meldahl Murnan of Bloomington, Minn., is reward solutions director at Thomson Reuters.
’91 ’88
Andrew Mangion of St. Julians, Malta, is the executive chairman at EC, an English-language teaching company. He recently graduated from Harvard Business School’s OPM program.
Eric Tvedt is pharmacy operations manager at UCare in Minneapolis.
Paul Wenz is a biostatistician at Illumina in San Diego.
Ellen (Hanusa Wonderlin) Wilke of Des Moines, Iowa, is author of Claimed: Writings of a Preacher’s Kid, a collection of stories reflecting on her childhood growing
Melinda (Green) Hugdahl is director of development at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid in Minneapolis.
’89
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Deborah HansonGerber, master gunnery sergeant, played clarinet as a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Chamber Orchestra for President George H. W. Bush’s funeral service at Washington National Cathedral in December.
’92
Cindy (Halom) Sorenson is a neuropsychologist and director of outpatient services and psychology training at Lakeview Neuro Rehab in Waterford, Wis.
’85
Karen (Wilken) Braun was named one of the top 50 professors in business by Poets & Quants for Undergrads. She is professor of accountancy at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland. Her Managerial Accounting textbook, now in its fifth edition, is used in classrooms at more than 200 universities across the U.S. and Canada.
’83
DeeAnne (Schultz) Marlow is chief human resources officer at Albemarle Corporation in Charlotte, N.C.
Steve McArthur was promoted to inspector in the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division and assigned to the Rowley Training Center in Beltsville, Md.
’95
Rebecca Klug is marketing and communications associate at Delaware Community Foundation in Dover. Matthew Manke is senior associate at Hacin and Associates in Boston. Karen Ryberg was a featured scientist in a U.S. Geological Survey publication, A Snapshot of Women of the U.S. Geological Survey in STEM and Related Careers. The women portrayed were selected by USGS associate and regional directors as representative of particular fields and to inspire future generations.
’96
Scot Reisinger is assistant director of workforce development and an adjunct faculty instructor at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
ALUMNI NEWS
During a humanitarian surgical mission to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Steve Hudak ’00 (right), harvests a graft of oral tissue that will be used to reconstruct the urethra of a Honduran patient. Honduran urologist Dr. Omar Velasquez, with whom he has collaborated since 2007, assists on the left.
Life-changing Through hands-on surgery and research, Steve Hudak ’00 helps patients regain quality of life What drew Steve Hudak ’00 to reconstructive urology is the complexity of the surgeries. “I found them to be technically challenging, interesting, and life-changing for the people who receive them,” he says. “They restore people’s quality of life in hidden areas that aren’t commonly talked about.” Hudak decided on his sub-specialty during his first humanitarian trip to Honduras as a urology resident in 2007. He’s returned to the country as a volunteer eight more times over the past decade. He describes the ratio of urologists to the general population there as staggering. In the U.S., a busy urologist numbers about one per 30,000 people. In Honduras, approximately 30 urologists serve a country of nine million. As a result, Hudak says, urologists in Honduras are inundated with prostate problems, kidney stones, and recurrent bladder infections. But, like anywhere in the world,
Hondurans also experience traumatic urogenital injuries, which require a lot of time and technical expertise to correct. Local doctors are so busy performing more common surgeries that they often don’t have the time, training, or resources to treat these people. “That’s the need that we, as volunteers, help try to address,” Hudak says. Hudak describes arriving at a clinic on the first day of his trips to find 200 people waiting in line before the doors open at 7:00 a.m., with looks of gratitude on their faces. “We learn a lot about personal resilience before the first surgery is even performed,” he says. He describes one patient in his early 80s who had to walk two hours to take a five-hour bus ride to receive monthly medical care. “To be able to help remedy that problem so that he didn’t have to do that anymore was really life-changing and career-impacting,” Hudak says. In his everyday life, Hudak
practices surgery as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. After completing his genitourinary trauma and reconstructive surgery fellowship in 2012, he began seeing a dramatic increase in the number of U.S. soldiers returning home from war in Afghanistan with urogenital injury. Compared to previous wars and conflicts, he says, “In Afghanistan, combat casualty care improved to such a degree that despite the injuries being more catastrophic, more people were surviving them. We began to see patterns of complex urogenital injury that in previous conflicts were unsurvivable and thus were rarely seen or treated.” Hudak admits that while he can provide material support in the form of surgical assistance, complex urogenital injuries have severe emotional and interpersonal impacts, and there’s no standardized care pathway in either military or civilian environments to com-
prehensively manage patients beyond surgical procedures. So Hudak and his colleagues have set out to lay the groundwork for one through the Trauma Outcomes and Urogenital Health (TOUGH) project, a long-term study that seeks to acquire data on soldiers who’ve sustained urogenital injuries overseas. The database that tracks these individuals stops receiving entries once a soldier returns home, but Hudak and company are following up to assess the scope of problems—sexual, urinary, reproductive, and interpersonal—five and ten years down the road. “The effects of urogenital injuries are always going to be sensitive and intimate, and public discussions about them are typically quite vague,” Hudak says. “But that’s where my excitement and my passion come from: giving a voice to an area of need that doesn’t have one.” —Kate Frentzel
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ALUMNI NEWS SiriAnna Strommen is pastor at Atonement Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Minn. Maren (Kirkegaard) Walz is executive director of integrated marketing and communications at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
Jaime Schultz is associate professor of kinesiology at Penn State University. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Australia in 2017–18. She is coeditor of Women and Sports in the United States: A Documentary Reader, recently released in its second edition, and author of Women’s Sports: What Everyone Needs to Know.
’97
Dave Coyle is assistant professor of forest health and invasive species extension in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation at Clemson University. He recently won awards for his extension work from the Southeastern Society of American Foresters and Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals.
Kari (Todnem) Wendroth directed the Buffalo (Minn.) Community Theater’s fall production of the Steven Sondheim musical Company.
’00
Ryan Bye is a process and solution advisor at Cargill in Hopkins, Minn. Katie (Brunner) Ellingson is an instructional aide in the West De Pere (Wis.) School District. Adam Johnson is a manager at Wipfli in Milwaukee.
’01
Phil Assmus is a senior staff associate at the National Association of Clean Air Agencies in Washington, D.C.
’02
Kate (Lawrence) Baker is an agent with Moore Creative Talent and co-owner of Bloom Events in Minneapolis. Brendan Dolan is dealer relations and commercial contracting counsel at Polaris Industries in Medina, Minn. Rachel (Johnson) Gens earned a specialist in educational leadership degree from Minnesota State University–Mankato and is the curriculum and instruction director for the Bloomington (Minn.) Public Schools. Jennifer Gulsvig of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., is a freelance music educator specializing in competitive show choir programs. Marta (Lane) and Mark Leach ’98 live in Shakopee, Minn. She is senior L&D business partner at Schwan’s Company. He is senior supply planner at Cargill. Stacie Mickens is associate professor of horn at the University of North Texas in Denton. Jennifer Putzier is director of the Batavia Depot Museum for the Batavia (Ill.) Park District.
Sara (Rebischke) Gallegos is a registered nurse at Calvert Health in Prince Frederick, Md.
Melissa Willenborg is an orthopedic surgeon at ArnotHealth in Elmira, N.Y.
’98
Mary (Wilgenbusch) Yamoah is principal at St. Michael Catholic School in Prior Lake, Minn.
Gina (Napoletano) Clinger is an administrative associate at Global Telehealth Services in Hudson, Ohio. Jessica (Peterson) Etten is senior director of alumni engagement and annual giving at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. Constantine Grancharov is senior product manager at IBM in Montreal, Québec, Canada. Corey Schmidt is a founding partner and wealth advisor with IntentGen Financial Partners and Thrivent Financial in Naperville, Ill. Angie (Poock) Schmitt earned a master’s degree in human nutrition and functional medicine from the University of Western States. She is a clinical nutritionist with Naturally Better Nutrition and a registered nurse at the Waverly (Iowa) Health Center. Ann (Bossard) Smith is director of student services and special education for Howard-Winneshiek Community Schools in Cresco, Iowa. Yer Vang is director of immigration legal services at Catholic Charities of Dubuque in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
’99
Matt Boulanger is a lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Chris Jacobson is a management consultant at Slalom Consulting in Scottsdale, Ariz.
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Mollie Busta Lange is the host of Mollie B. Polka Party, a national television show on RFD-TV. New episodes will air this year on the Farm and Ranch network. She was inducted into the International Polka Association Hall of Fame in September 2018. She also appears (as herself) in Clint Eastwood’s latest movie, The Mule, starring Bradley Cooper. Les Hollingsworth is director of the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin–Platteville. Melody Jordahl-Iafrato of Indianapolis is a physician and assistant program director at the Community Health East Family Medicine Residency and chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians Commission on Continuing Professional Development. Yuliya Maksimova is lead business system analyst at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Des Moines, Iowa. Natalie Mindrum is chief of staff to the CEO of United Airlines in Chicago. Erica (Rach) Winters teaches music at Meadowview Elementary School in Farmington, Minn., and was recently named Teacher of the Year for the Farmington School District.
Sarah (Belz) Zumbahlen is claims legal counsel at BITCO in Davenport, Iowa. In 2017 she won the Property and Liability Research Bureau’s Outstanding Presentations Award for her presentation on handling large liability claims. She is also the 2019 Gala Planning Committee chair for Gigi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center in the Quad Cities.
’03
Aaron Barnes is a supervisor in the Special Education Division at the Minnesota Department of Education in Roseville. Peter Eliason is director of analytics and data science at Revel in Minneapolis. Josh Klaetsch is a portfolio manager for real estate securities at Securian Asset Management in St. Paul, Minn. Jim Kowitz is an assistant director in brand, marketing, and communications at Ernst & Young in Minneapolis. Andrea Leibold is a competence engineer at ASML in Portland, Ore. Randy Mack is practice area director at Slalom Consulting in Chicago. Lindsay (Moss) Millard is owner of Lindsay’s Flower Patch in Orange City, Iowa.
John Povolny teaches band at John Glenn Middle School in North St. Paul, Minn. Justin Sands is director of choirs at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Joshua Westgaard teaches geography and coaches varsity football and baseball for the Bennington (Neb.) Public Schools. Beth Willer is the founder and leader of the Lorelei Ensemble. The Boston-based vocal ensemble’s mission is to uplift female singers and reimagine medieval, Renaissance, and baroque repertoire. Lorelai performed at Luther last fall as part of the Center Stage Series. Amber Wilson is a clinical social worker and therapist at Synergy Clinical Services of Central Iowa in Des Moines.
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Bridget BoehmerCampbell is a clinical social worker for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Thomson, Ill. Henry Cruz is owner of Northland Trucking Enterprises in Los Angeles. Sarah (Braun) Ekenberg is marketing manager, PR and media for Protolabs in Maple Plain, Minn. Anna Haugen is a pastor at Naselle Lutheran Church in Chinook, Wash. Mandy Henderson is a mental health practitioner for the Open Door Autism Project in Lafayette, Colo.
Jen (Rogers) Levisen is communications director for Mortarr, an online inspiration and networking platform for commercial construction and design in Albert Lea, Minn. Rachel Miller-Bleich is a nonprofit governance consultant at MillerBleich Consulting in Arlington, Va. Phil Pappano is manager of clinical applications for Epic Learning and Development at HealthPartners in Minneapolis. Nick Peter is the orchestra hall event and facility sales manager at Minnesota Orchestra in Minneapolis. Ryan Sommers is director of clinical services at the Wilshire Group in Sierra Madre, Calif.
ALUMNI NEWS Elise (Chesley) Hasche is office administrator and director of youth and family ministry at West Nidaros Lutheran Church in Crooks, S.D.
manager at CUSB Bank in Cresco, Iowa. In November, he was reelected as commissioner for the Winneshiek County Soil and Water District.
Elliot Jordan is a senior Mac engineer at Nordstrom in Seattle.
Amy (Schmeidel) Klein is a palliative care physician and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Kim (Williams) Michlin is a learning specialist at Mounds Park Academy in St. Paul, Minn. Karisa (Jensen) Thompson is an adoption finalization coordinator at Lund Family Center in Burlington, Vt. Last summer, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute gave her the Angel in Adoption Award for her work in the field of adoption and permanency. Hans Thurmer is a chiropractor at Park Nicollet Health Services in Minneapolis. Cherise (Olson) Weber is an operations analyst for Wells Fargo in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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Rachel BreitenbachDirks teaches sixth-grade writing, ninth-grade English, eleventh-grade speech and creative writing, and twelfth-grade American literature and world literature. She is also the extracurricular drama director for oneact and spring plays for the MabelCanton (Minn.) Schools. Sarah (Gibson) Elliott is category manager for North America nutrition at PepsiCo in Chicago. Rachel Faust is a cardiac transplant social worker at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Tammy (Michels) Folstad is a pharmacy technician and inventory manager at Donlon Snyder Pharmacy in Decorah.
Stephanie Mock is manager of the Victim Resource Center for the Wisconsin Department of Justice in Madison. Dain TePoel earned a PhD in American studies (sport studies) from the University of Iowa and is an assistant professor at Lock Haven University in Lock Haven, Pa. Yasmin Wilkinson is director of strategic relationships and initiatives at BP Oil in Houston.
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Celina (Bortz) Alvin earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Viterbo University. She is a technology integration specialist at Fall River School District in Beaver Dam, Wis. Angela (Reichert) Griffin is an intensive care unit nurse at Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville, Mich. Kristen (Thompson) Moon teaches orchestra for the Hastings (Minn.) Public Schools. Laura (Elliott) Nelson teaches K–2 music at Northeast Elementary School in Glenwood, Iowa. Justin Papka is senior manager of grants and contracts at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C.
Nelli (Salwolke) Logan is a project specialist at Midwestern BioAg in Blue Mounds, Wis. Karin Maxey is a visiting lecturer at the World Languages Center at Northeastern University in Boston. Carissa Sojka is assistant professor at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. Morgan (Waterstraat) Woods is associate doctor at Erickson Chiropractic in Faribault, Minn.
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Jordan Anderson is a security analyst at RAND Corporation in Arlington, Va.
Kelly Rodger earned a master’s degree in children, youth, and family ministry from Luther Seminary. She is director of elementary ministry at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, Minn. Kyle Schroeder is assistant baseball coach at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. Margit (Severson) Speckeen is a strings instructor at Leithold Music in La Crosse, Wis. Amanda Weber earned a doctorate in conducting from the University of Minnesota and is interim director of choral ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis.
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Liz (Hansen) and Steve Cox ’07 live in Huntersville, N.C. She is a major gifts officer at LenoirRhyne University. He is business development manager at HandCraft Services in Charlotte, N.C.
Sadie (Hemmerich) Ash is owner of SE Hemmerich Tax and Accounting Services in Milaca, Minn.
Thomas Ingram Jr. earned a master’s degree in education from DePaul University. He is lead counselor at Theodore Roosevelt College and Career Academy in Gary, Ind.
Lindsey (Bulger) Bina is pastor at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minn.
Ashley Johnson is a fiduciary advisory specialist 2 at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.
Joey Corbin is head engineer for the Department of Academic Administration at the University of Oslo in Norway.
Andrew Paa is enrollment marketing associate at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.
Kylie (Toomer) Gougler earned a doctorate in music from the University of Iowa and is assistant professor of voice at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.
Brie (Corfman) Taralson is director of clinic operations for Allina in New Ulm, Minn.
Lauren (Schauer) Ronning is a classified assistant at Lund Food Holdings in Edina, Minn. Carrie (Harris) Schmitz earned a master’s degree in literacy education from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.
Veronica (Alzalde) Wells of Stockton, Calif., is coauthor of The Historical Dictionary of the American Music Industry.
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Duffey Ainsworth is IT project manager at Cummins in Nashville, Tenn. Margaret Gill is assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. This year, she received the school’s Clarence F. Dissinger Award for Junior Faculty. She was selected for her tireless effort to include and engage students in the research process and for supporting students presenting and attending professional meetings and conferences.
Kelsey (Mackereth) Blinn of Mounds View, Minn., is a certified occupational therapy assistant for Encore Rehabilitation Services.
Aaron Grey is system director for Allina Health in Minneapolis.
Amber Hill is owner and mediator at Hilltop Mediation in Denver.
Kurt Gulsvig works for Movement Talent Agency in North Hollywood, Calif. Katie (Treichel) Hallum is the lead speech-language pathologist at Adventist Health Bakersfield (Calif.) Medical Center.
Mark Jensen is vice president and commercial/agricultural loan office
Katie (Meyer) Hunerdosse of Austin, Minn., illustrated the children’s book The Monster Dog: A Small Dog with a Big Attitude by Carmen Tribbett. Kris Klein is assistant professor of planetary sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Anthony Snitker is a police dispatcher for the San Marino (Calif.) Police Department. Last June, he finished the San Diego 100-Mile Endurance Run in 22:42:42, placing first in his age group and eighth overall.
Rachel (Donahoe) Marquardt is counsel at ACT in Iowa City, Iowa.
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Nicole (Johnson) Pachon is a registered nurse at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.
Bonnie (Garvens) Brown joined the faculty at the University of Montana Family Medicine Residency in Missoula. Alexandra (Larson) Groten earned a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of Minnesota. She is a registered dietitian for the Dakota County Public Health Department in St. Paul, Minn.
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ALUMNI NEWS Nana Kwapong is an inbound marketing consultant at Avidly Agency in Oslo, Norway. Sky Macklay earned a doctor of musical arts degree in composition from Columbia University. She is assistant professor of music at Valparaiso (Ind.) University. Efe (Mensah-Brown) Sellu teaches seventh-grade math at St. Louis Park (Minn.) Middle School. Aaron Shatzer is lead associate actuary at PacificSource Health Plans in Springfield, Ore. Tiffany (Malanaphy) Zweibohmer is a certified registered nurse anesthetist at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.
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Katie Deaver is director of music at Marquette (Mich.) Hope United Methodist Faith Community.
Braulio Dumba earned a PhD in computer science from the University of Minnesota and is a research staff member at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Lucas Holsten graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and is associate pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jamestown, N.D. Lisa (Harney) Lansdon earned a PhD in genetics from the University of Iowa. She is a laboratory genetics and genomics fellow at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Rewant Lokesh earned an MBA from Symbiosis International University in India. Kyle McGivney was promoted to corporal and designated assistant zone commander of zone 9, Marion and Ralls counties, for the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
No regrets For one hardworking Luther alumna, big risks equal big rewards
Alex Pehler teaches at Lincoln School in Heredia, Costa Rica. Charles Rasmussen is on the cello and Suzuki faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. Centaur Records recently released his solo cello CD, Joseph-Marie-Clément Dall’Abaco: 11 Capricci. Karl Streufert is director of finance at Saint Francis Center in Denver. Katie Terhune and Kacey Wyttenhove are co-owners of Cream and Amber, a new and used bookstore serving Minnesota craft beer and coffee in Hopkins, Minn. Rick Westermann is vice president of marketing and sales at LCS in Des Moines, Iowa.
Jens Erickson is a health and safety consultant at the Institute for Environmental Assessment in Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Emerald-Jane (AggreyAppiah) Hunter ’03 has grit. After graduating from Luther with a communication studies major, the Ghanaian-born powerhouse of hard work and positivity moved to Chicago. There, in just four years, she went from selling Cutco knives to starting an Emmy Award–nominated production company and creating and producing her own television show. In 2016, she launched a second company. How? By working hard, taking risks, cultivating skills, and being prepared for anything.
behind-the-scenes trips to the Oprah set firmed up her desire to work in the field. She soon transitioned into an associate producer position with Central City Productions, whose mission was to create positive African American programming. But, she says, “I felt like there were gaps within the company where they could do better. They weren’t quite ready for that, but I’ve always been one to push the boundaries.” So she made the bold decision to strike out on her own. “I googled how to start a production company,” she says nonchalantly, as though that’s a thing people just do. She hired someone through Craigslist and paid her $100 to register Emerald-Jane Productions Inc.
Katie Carnes and Michael Noltner work in boost services at Epic in Verona, Wis.
After a string of less-than-inspiring gigs as a new graduate, Hunter scored a job as frontoffice support for a production company owned by the director of the Oprah Winfrey Show. Hunter had already developed a keen interest in television from an internship at Decorah’s Telnet station, but her
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Adam Dane is an academic advisor at the University of Colorado–Boulder.
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Alex Clark earned a master of divinity degree from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and was ordained at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. He is pastor at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Be prepared 24/7
Around this time, Hunter and a colleague created a concept for a show they called 24/7 Chicago, a half-hour entertain-
ALUMNI NEWS Aaron Hoffland is an IT analyst at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Hannah Janaky of Kettering, Ohio, is the youth services assistant at Washington Centerville Public Library. Jasper Kange of Baltimore is a graphic designer at 2U. Paige (Ofstedahl) Knight is a research and policy analyst with New Mexico Voices for Children in Albuquerque. Dane Larson is senior mortgage consultant at Tradition Mortgage in Lakeville, Minn. Kim Larson is program manager at Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin in Madison. Samuel Libra completed coursework for a doctor of musical arts degree in organ performance at the University of Washington and is associate organist at St. James Cathedral in Seattle.
ment magazine-style show that would interview local celebrities and recommend the best places to visit, shop, and eat. She hired someone to design a logo, ordered some clipboards and mic flags, found a cameraperson willing to work for free, mocked up some media badges, and set out to create a sizzle reel. Even though she was bootstrapping the project, Hunter had no reservations about pouring all her time, money, and energy into it. “It’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not get it than to to get an opportunity and not be prepared,” she says. Her preparation paid off. While filming at a Wounded Warrior fundraiser, her team caught the attention of the general manager of NBC. “We did everything professionally, and because I had produced before, I was steering the ship with well-produced interviews and camera angles and everything,” Hunter says. “The general manager was impressed by
Allison Schnier is a general music specialist for the Elmbrook School District in Brookfield, Wis. Collin Schultz earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from A.T. Sill University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Mo. Katie (Johnston) Vick is senior account credit manager at John Deere Financial in Madison, Wis. Xiao Xie of Charlotte, N.C., is a quantitative finance analyst at Bank of America.
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Devan Benjamin earned a master’s degree in literacy education from Drake University. She is an instructional coach for the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools. Andrew Bentz is a lab technician at DuPont Industrial Biosciences in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
what he saw, and we pretended we were in negotiations with a bunch of stations.” In the middle of December, they got a phone call that NBC wanted to test their show on New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t much lead time, but Hunter hustled to make it happen. NBC picked up the show, which aired in the time slot after Saturday Night Live. She was thrilled to have her own show, but the first few years sound like a fever dream. “They gave me air time for free,” she says, “But any money I made, I had to use to pay camera people and editors. My husband [Ronney Hunter ’02] was making $40,000 a year at that time and supporting us and a new baby. I had a pack-and-play in my office, and I’d pick our daughter up from school and spend nights there.” To cut down on expenses, Ronney, an IT professional, learned how to code closed captioning, and the family would camp out at
Emily (Banitt) Conery is an admissions coordinator and mental health practitioner at People Incorporated in St. Paul, Minn. Anna DiCecco is community relations specialist for the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers in Sunrise. Sophia (Brown) Engelman earned a master of science degree in education from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. She received the 2018 CAS Academic Achievement Graduate Student Award and was the 2018 University of Wisconsin–La Crosse Graduate Student of the Year. She is assistant director and academic specialist at the Student Success Center at North Central University in Minneapolis. Tyler Hagy is director of choral activities at Iowa City (Iowa) High School. He conducts the select concert choir, the 9–12 grade choir, and the 4th Avenue Jazz
the office overnight, EmeraldJane often working 24 hours with no sleep. “It was a tough time, but I was doing what I love, and the ability to have my own show was worth it to me,” she says. Live without regret
In 2011, Oprah aired its final season, and ABC filled the popular time slot with a new talk show, Windy City Live. Hunter couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with such a big platform, and she signed on as the show’s lead guest booking producer, a position she held until she left the show. In 2015, the ever-aspiring Hunter branched out into marketing and content development and started myWHY Agency, an integrated marketing firm helping brands and mission-driven companies develop and share their WHYs using public relations, social and digital marketing, content develop-
varsity show choir. He also serves as the artistic lead for the biennial Masterworks concert. Megan Hatfield of Durham, N.C., was one of 36 Duke University Health System nurses to win a 2018 Friends of Nursing Award, the Norma L. Harris Award for Excellence in Nursing Practice. Phoebe Jan-McMahon earned a master of fine arts degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She is an art instructor at Clinton (Iowa) Community College. In October, her exhibit The Adjacent was on display at Luther’s Kristin Wigley-Fleming Fine Arts Gallery. Adam Lapp is a project accountant at M.A. Mortenson Construction in Minneapolis. Teddy Ortega of Grover Beach., Calif., is senior front-end engineer for 1stdibs.com in New York City.
ment, brand connectivity, and more. About owning her second business, she says, “The joys come with the pain come with the stress come with the frustration. But at the end of the day nobody can give me a pink slip, and I know I won’t ever give up on myself. As long as I’m at the helm of this, I know I will succeed.” While some people call her brave to so often trade stability for high-risk ventures, she doesn’t see it that way: “I’m not brave, but I also don’t want to have any regrets. When you know something and feel something, it weighs so much on you until you make that move. The universe is never going to point you in the wrong direction. It’s up to us to look for signs and listen.” She pauses, then says coyly, “But while you’re waiting on that sign, make sure you’re prepared for what you’re dreaming of.” —Kate Frentzel
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The Kobler family has Luther pride! Back row (left to right): Bill Kobler ’70, Carolyn (Peterson) Kobler ’70, Jill (Ellinghuysen) Kobler ’96, Mike Kobler ’96, Dan Kobler ’99, Erin (Sovick) Kobler. Front row (left to right): Addy, Ellie, and Evan (Mike and Jill), and Charlie and Leo (Dan and Erin).
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Go Norse! Five Luther staff and alumnae hiked 110 miles through France, Italy, and Switzerland on the Tour du Mont Blanc this summer. Left to right: Peg (Petersen) Matter ’77; Amy Webber, international student coordinator; Karla Presler ’76; Vicky Jaeger, assistant director of wellness; and Carole Engelhart Sand ’80.
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Alumni educators proudly display their Luther pride at the American School of Dubai. Back row (left to right): Adrienne (Moyer) Gerst ’00, high school vocal music teacher; Jake Dibbert ’02, middle school principal; Kristi (Peterson) Heath ’07, high school math teacher; Aaron Gerst ’01, high school math teacher. Front row (left to right): Jason Mott ’10, high school instrumental music teacher; Donny Hansen ’98, high school visual art teacher; David Stone ’04, middle school math teacher.
Tiwonge Chirwa ’19 (left) and Rebecca Buse ’19 (right) attended the PLEN Women in Health Policy seminar, which focused on making an impact in the legislative and political processes, exploring hot-button issues on Capitol Hill, and expanding professional networks. While there, the two Luther students met with Ellie Shaw ’94 (center), director of federal government affairs for American Express.
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Thirteen 1964 grads and former Pi Sig members and their spouses got together in September for their 20th annual reunion, hosted this time by Ron and Barb (Erikson) Dodd ’67 in Naperville, Ill. Next year they plan to gather at Luther for their 55-year class reunion. Left to right: Jim Boyce, Dave Kundert, Dennis Birkestrand, Jim Matter, Dick Ashland, Rich Amundson, Jim Weigle, Jim Fogdall, Bill Upton, Steve Messer, Erik Saxvik, and Luther Nervig, with Ron Dodd seated in front.
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Luther singers and audience members posed for a photo after an Aug. 11 performance, conducted by Andrew Last ’97, of the Minneapolis PopUp Choir. Back row (left to right): Bradley Beale ’14, Dietrich Jessen ’15, Colin Eral ’17, Jonathan Springer ’17, Johanna Beaupre ’18, Forrest Schrader ’18, Genevieve Kalland ’17, Andrew Last ’97, Josue Silva ’16, Chris Nelson ’04. Front row (left to right): Bryan Waznik ’15, Kalle Akkerman ’15, Bridget Keenan ’14, Damara (Stanley) O’Malley ’05, Heather (Ciernia) Nelson ’01, Sarah (Webb) Siggelkow ’13.
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Alumni raised a glass to Luther College in Cancún, Mexico. Left to right: Bob Churchill ’74, Caryl (Spooner) Churchill ’74, Ruth Ulvilden-Klaas ’74, David Klaas.
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Christopher Meunier ’09 and Desiree Bradshaw ’18 took a road trip to Colorado and made sure to represent Luther from the top of the Manitou Incline!
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Luther alumni performed in Hudson, Wis., for the 2018 Phipps Festival Chorus Christmas concert. Left to right: Stephen Dahle ’13, Susan (Burns) Christian ’75, Steven Sorensen ’72, director Thomas Dahle ’75, Melvin Olson ’68, Barb (Westacott) Letourneau ’91.
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Several alumni attended the third annual iColin Classic Sept. 24 in Lakeville, Minn. The iColin Classic is an annual event created by Luther classmates of Colin Farbotko ’00, who died of ALS in 2012. It raises funds for an endowed art scholarship at Luther College and for assistive devices to support those living with ALS. This year’s iColin Classic raised a total of $22,000 and celebrated the first recipient of the Colin Y. Farbotko Memorial Scholarship, Nate Orton ’18. Standing (left to right): Gabe Philibert ’00, Paul Nelson ’01, Ryan Thompson ’00, Evan Rusch ’00, Andrew Peter ’14, Pete Schonebaum ’00, Barry Nelson ’01, Dianne (Rahn) Frantz ’70, Chris Anderson ’00, Kevin Frantz ’00, Brandon Sampson ’98, Timothy Baardseth ’00, Matt Chadwick ’00, Nate Orton ’18, Ryan Bies ’00, Valerie (Recker) Radner ’00. Kneeling (left to right): Marney Olson ’99, Kim (Turner) Frantz ’00, Heather (Wass) Zimmerman ’99.
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This family bleeds blue! They captured their school spirit on camera during a family reunion in Flagstaff, Ariz., in July. Left to right: Matt Suhr ’90, Daniel Suhr ’20, Abby Suhr ’18, Luke Spencer, Noah Bowers, Rachelle (Lutz) Spencer ’95, Jennifer (Lutz) Suhr ’92.
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Chosen Inc., a foster care and adoption support ministry based in Waukesha, Wis., hosted its inaugural gala on Nov. 9. Executive director Karen (Schmidt) Schlindwein ’86 says the event drew more than 200 people and raised more than $60,000. The gala featured guest speaker Chris Norton ’14 and his wife, Emily, who parent four foster children in their Port Saint Lucie, Fla., home. Left to right: Tom ’85 and Karen (Schmidt) Schlindwein ’86, Emily and Chris Norton ’14 (seated), and Amalie and Jason Bowling, the Schlindweins’ daughter and son-in-law and cofounders of Chosen. Chosen’s next event is its third annual Friends of Chosen Walk on May 11 at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Beth (Robey) Wilson ’79 (left), Mark Potvin ’01 (center), and Sarah Lemon ’13 (right) were serendipitously assigned to coteach the upper-level musical theatre workshop at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Summer Music Clinic in June. Mark served as artistic director, Sarah as choreographer, and Beth as collaborative pianist.
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Members of the class of ’69 gathered at the home of Luanne (Haag) ’70 and Eric Prestegaard ’69 in Bath, Ohio, for a surprise visit. Back row (left to right): Gary Kittelson ’72, Artie Melhoos ’69, and Bryn Henderson ’69. Front row (left to right): Scott Addington ’69, Eric Prestegaard ’69, and Luanne (Haag) Prestegaard ’70.
Alumnae from the class of 1965 gathered in Hilton Head, S.C., to celebrate their 75th birthdays. Many happy returns, ladies! Back row (left to right): Beverly (Nelson) Clark, Becky (Simmering) Anderson, Diane (Mallu) Thompson, Nancy (Bonde) Evenson, Mary (Kaasa) Ulland, Joyce (Behrens) Wallman, Elaine (Voss) Monis, Sue Schwager Baum, Marcia (Peterson) Van Vleet. Middle row (left to right): Kathy (Larson) Throdahl, Mary (Schafland) Hutson, Marie (Peterson) Marin, Barbara (Forland) Neils, Barbara (Brustuen) Gens. Front row (left to right): Judy (Larson) Fogdall, RuthAnn (Johnson) Atkinson, Karen (Nilsestuen) Peterson, Lori (Wogen) Haaland.
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A group of Luther alumnae have reunited every year for the past 16 years. In 2018, they gathered at their alma mater. Left to right: Lois (Moe) Anderson Ursin ’58, Marilyn (Will) Brill ’58, Gwen (Bierstedt) Good ’58, Joyce (Olson) Smith ’60. Not pictured: Phyllis Engebretson ’61.
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Some of the many Luther grads teaching high school choral music in Iowa took the opportunity to pose together in Ames during the 2018 festival of the Iowa All-State Chorus, conducted by Tim Peter ’86.
Luther friends for more than twenty years recently gathered for a fantasy football draft party. Standing (left to right): Todd Fuzzey ’95, John Dahl ’94, Kevin Porterfield ’95, Nate Lindall ’95, John Holt, Michael Jung ’98. Sitting (left to right): Brad Olson, Christian Rovn ’95 and Kris Moe ’93. Not pictured: Eli Hill ’95.
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Barb (Perry) Lutz ’80 (left) celebrated Bob Lee ’50 (right) when he received the Wartburg Medal in December. Bob directed the Wartburg College Band for 36 years, retiring in 1995. He also founded the college’s Knightliters Jazz Band in 1959, passing the baton in 1986, and directed the Wartburg Community Symphony from 1959 to 1964.
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This photograph by Dick Oltman ’68 of Evergreen, Colo., was selected as the cover for the 2018 Mt. Evans Home Health Care and Hospice calendar.
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ALUMNI NEWS Emily (Schneider) Stelken is a computed tomography technologist at Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. Katy (Lindstrom) Van Heest is an occupational therapist at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. Chelsea Wyman is an outreach librarian at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. Jessica Zenchak earned a master’s degree in neuroscience from Central Michigan University. She is a doctoral student in veterinary medicine at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
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Benjamin Anderson teaches math and science for the Willmar (Minn.) Public Schools. Ingrid Baudler earned a juris doctor degree from the University of Colorado Law School. She is an attorney at Redfern, Mason, Larsen, and Moore in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Ellen Behrens is a research technologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Jaimie (Rasmussen) Burk is senior account executive at Catapult Marketing in Minneapolis.
degree in professional school counseling from Buena Vista University. Leah Broderick Niedermann works in admissions and recruiting for Elon (N.C.) University. Cassie Campbell of West Des Moines, Iowa, is a home preservation specialist at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Becca Chapin is a stitcher for Bethany Joy Costumes in New York City. Christine (O’Brien) and Jimmy Deignan live in St. Louis Park, Minn. She teaches seventh-grade English at Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School. He teaches vocal music at PiM Arts High School. Rigzin Dolma earned a master’s degree in data science from the University of St. Thomas. She is a data analyst at Allina Health in St. Paul, Minn. Michael Ehrecke is an admissions counselor at Midland University in Fremont, Neb. Megan Gelsinger is a graduate student in statistics at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.
Del Ciucci earned a master’s degree in business administration from Bemidji State University. He is the assistant athletic performance coach at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Becca Dugdale is senior financial reporting analyst at SPS Commerce in Minneapolis. Kelsey Gunderson is a digital marketing analyst at cj Advertising in Nashville, Tenn. Jocelyn (Petersen) Kalal teaches first grade at College Prep Elementary School in St. Paul, Minn. Hannah Lindblom is a teller at Viking State Bank and Trust in Decorah. Alexandria (Bandy) Morgan is a registered nurse at Prairie River Home Care in Rochester, Minn. Naomi Sandgren teaches fourth grade in the New Prague (Minn.) Area Schools. Anna (Murray) Schwering was elected to the board of directors of Cooperative Performance Milwaukee, a professional performing arts company in Milwaukee. Amanda Take of Forest City, Iowa, earned a master’s degree in curriculum design and instruction from Buena Vista University.
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Mullen (Wacker) Beisker of Waukon, Iowa, earned a master’s
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Aaron Kvale teaches high school Spanish for the Howard-Winneshiek Community Schools in Cresco, Iowa.
William Hatungimana is a teaching assistant at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
Katherine Langston is a registered nurse at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Margaret (Homeier) May teaches grades 6–8 math at All Saints Catholic Academy in Albany, N.Y.
Jacob Lembezeder is a business development representative for Sovos Compliance in Minnetonka, Minn.
Riley Samuelson is an education and outreach librarian at Hardin Library for the Health Sciences at the University of Iowa in Iowa City.
Tanya Meyer earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences in Rochester, Minn. James Odegaard is a sales coordinator at Epic Systems in Verona, Wis. Laura Peterson teaches fourth grade for Wayzata (Minn.) Public Schools. Abby Powell is headquarters coordinator at Arlo Hotel Soho in New York City. Katelynn Richman is a graduate student in the physician assistant program at the University of Dubuque in Iowa. Kaia Sand earned a master’s degree in music from the University of Oklahoma. She teaches ESL online for VIPKID and is a self-employed freelance oboist and teacher. Ashley (Brown) Swanson is a psychiatric associate at the University of Minnesota Medical Center (Fairview) in Minneapolis.
Maggie (Steinberg) Hagen led a discussion on Luther College’s history and her experiences on campus during a public forum in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall last October. The discussion, “Here We Stand: Reflections on Luther’s Radical History and Legacy,” was part of Luther’s yearlong commemoration of the founding of the Black Student Union 50 years ago. Hagen is program assistant for workplace justice and education at the National Women’s Law Center in Washington, D.C. Kayla Herman is an HR generalist for National Flood Services in Chicago. Dietrich Jessen is a client development and education specialist at Traust Consulting in Minneapolis. Hanna Knutson is a product and brand developer for Colored Organics in Minneapolis. Katherine Kust earned a master of social work degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and works as a mental health practitioner II at Fraser Autism Center in Coon Rapids, Minn.
Kelli Golinghorst and Seth VanderHorst live in Bettendorf, Iowa. Kelli earned a juris doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and is an associate attorney at Brooks Law Firm. In March, she published an article in the Iowa Law Review called “Meet Me in the Middle: The Search for the Appropriate Standard of Review for the APA’s Good Cause Standard.” Seth is a regional diagnostic sales associate at Snap-On Tools.
Andy Todd teaches tenth-grade U.S. history and seventh-grade civics in the Fillmore Central School District in Preston, Minn. He also serves as a football, basketball, and golf coach. Lenny Ulloa Silva is a Spanish teacher and specialists co-lead teacher at DaVinci Academy of Arts and Science in Ham Lake, Minn. Ellen Widerski is a software engineer for Google in Mountain View, Calif. Jane Wilson is an environmental educator at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, Minn. Selam Woldemariam is a customer service officer at the British Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Andrea Woodberry earned a master’s degree in museum education from Tufts University and is coeditor of Tufts’ museum studies blog. She is also interim interpretive services coordinator at the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. Noorullah Zafari is a financial advisor at Tangerine Bank in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
’17
Penelope Barbour is a consultant at SPS Commerce in Minneapolis.
Kaitlyn Wieland is an emotional behavioral disabilities special education teacher at Grant Wood Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
’16
Ben Beaupre teaches vocal music for the Medford (Minn.) Public Schools. Makayla (Marinack) Dahleen is a pastoral intern at Abiding Hope Church in Littleton, Colo. Alexander Erickson is a clinician-in-training at the Palo Alto (Calif.) VA Health Care System and a research assistant in the Interpersonal Relationships and Applied Methodologies Lab at Palo Alto University.
Kristen Carlson was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and is an English teaching assistant at Jazeps Vitols Latvian Music Academy and Riga Teika Secondary School in Riga, Latvia. Noah Casterton is assistant property manager at Bigos Properties in St. Louis Park, Minn. Emily Kuhn is a TOPS coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County in Madison, Wis. Mollie Mickelson is an elementary music specialist for the Albert Lea (Minn.) Area Schools.
ALUMNI NEWS Greta Schmitt is an attendance and behavioral interventionist at Chaska (Minn.) High School.
Eli Bowe is an AmeriCorps VISTA worker at Montana Campus Compact in Bozeman.
Sara Byom teaches elementary music and middle school band for the New Richmond (Wis.) School District.
Jacob Schwartz is a data analyst for Mortarr, an online inspiration and networking platform for commercial construction and design in Albert Lea, Minn.
Desiree Bradshaw teaches vocal music for the Prairie Du Chien (Wis.) Area Schools.
Aaron Herman is a DevOps engineer at IBM in Rochester, Minn.
Nicole Weber is a research assistant at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.
Hannah Potter is a family reunification specialist at Heartland Alliance in Chicago.
Jenny Woods Benitez is a lab assistant and phlebotomist at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.
Elizabeth Budahn teaches K–5 music and 6–12 vocal music and is codirector of this year’s musical for the Onamia (Minn.) Public Schools.
’18
Jared Barnes is the senior high youth ministry director at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior, Minn.
Frances Stevenson is a reporter for the Daily Journal in Fergus Falls, Minn.
Laila Sahir is an acting apprentice with Festival Theatre in St. Croix Falls, Wis. She played the elephant trainer in the summer production of Elephant’s Graveyard.
MARRIAGES
’84 Ellen Hanusa ’87 Jane Hawley ’01 Phil Assmus
and Steve Wilke, Nov. 4, 2018
and Guy Nave, Nov. 13, 2017
and Priyanka Anand, May 13, 2017
Matt Herrick and Alissa Fulton, Aug. 4, 2018
’03 Elizabeth Bolinger
and Thomas Kinlen, Aug. 3, 2018
Tammy Michels and Jason Folstad, Aug. 26, 2017
’05 Kyle Knutson
and Emily Donaldson, July 7, 2018
Yasmin Wilkinson and Harry Adu, June 21, 2017
’07 Jen McCrary
and Matthew Braaksma, Sept. 22, 2018
Jon Rosborough and Katlyn Niederee, Sept. 15, 2018 Katherine Treichel and John Hallum, Feb. 25, 2017
’08 Jess Anderson
and Colin Stoerzinger, Oct. 13, 2017 Alyssa Cheadle and Paul Pearson, June 23, 2018 Sadie Hemmerich and Roy Ash, Sept. 29, 2018 Kalli Ledel and Jud Taylor ’07, Aug. 11, 2018
’09 Kirsten Hansen
and Jeremy Lindquist, June 29, 2018
’10 Sarah Knoploh
and Ted Horan, June 17, 2017
Anthony Snitker and Mark Herman, July 8, 2017
Kristin Mattes and Brian Dahl, Aug. 4, 2018
’11 Lisa Harney
’13 Beth Korleski
and Cody Hardy, April 28, 2018
Emily Schneider and Andy Stelken, Sept. 8, 2018 Kelsey Tarbert and Skyler Brantley, Aug. 11, 2018
’14 Tallie Berkvam
and Andrew Peter, Aug. 25, 2018 Eve Christensen and Severin Mombauer, Oct. 4, 2018 Jessica Landgraf and Katrina Nichols, Nov. 25, 2017 Aimee Lenth and Dan Hanson, Sept. 16, 2017 Clara Lind and Zachary Aschim, Sept. 15, 2018 Sara Nikolai and Matt Moore, July 29, 2017 Marissa Schuh and Stanley Karas, Oct. 6, 2018 Jennifer Vaith and Del Ciucci, Aug. 28, 2018
’15 Paige Clark
and Erik Anderson, July 21, 2018 Kelli Golinghorst and Seth VanderHorst, Sept. 8, 2018 Austyn Potterton and Jon Franklin, Oct. 14, 2017 Breanne Rosonke and Judd Landers ’14, Sept. 15, 2018 Aldon Severson and Brittany DuPay, Oct. 13, 2018 Kiersten Sorenson and Brett Meyer, Oct. 20, 2018 Mullen Wacker and Seth Beisker, June 26, 2018
’16 Maggie Homeier
and Alex May, June 29, 2018
Katelynn Pankratz and Ben Beaupre, June 16, 2018 Lindsey Pielage and Colin Scott, Aug. 4, 2018 Caroline Pedersen and Jacob Shearer, Aug. 31, 2018
’17 Shelby Gebhardt
and Preston Ballard, Aug. 11, 2018
and Patrick Lansdon, May 6, 2017
Sarah Krog and Shawn Schmitt, Sept. 15, 2018
’12 Katie Carnes
and Michael Noltner, July 14, 2018 Alex Clark and Kelly Mack, Oct. 8, 2017 Ian Fitzgerald and Nicole Serbus, Sept. 15, 2018 Chris Hanson and Audrey Phillips, Sept. 29, 2018 Collin Schultz and Haritha Yedla, Sept. 2, 2018
LUTHER MAGAZINE
45
ALUMNI NEWS BIRTHS AND ADOPTIONS
’06 Megan (Finnegan)
and
Nick Kelley, a son, Owen Michael, Sept. 2018
March 2018
’00 Melissa (Ahlstrom)
Vertloo, twin sons, Cole David and Edwin Jon, July 2018
Oct. 2017
’04 Anne (Burmeister)
and Nate Booth, a son, Harrison Glenn, Nov. 2017
son, Leland, July 2018
Morgan (Waterstraat) and Devon Woods, a daughter, Onnika Lauren, June 2018
’08 Annelise (Berg)
and
Tyler Draheim, a daughter, Bethany Grace, April 2018
Kelsey (O'Connell) and Brad Nelson, a daughter, Ingrid, June 2018 Melanie (Thompson) and Brian
Amanda and Henry Cruz, a daughter, Caroline, Dec. 2017
Johnson, a daughter, Arianna Elise, Dec. 2017
Sarah (Braun) and Randy Ekenberg,
Rebecca (Frederick) and Sam
a daughter, Isla, July 2018 Allie and James Gregg, a daughter, Genevieve Mae, Aug. 2018
William C. Kurth, 86, of
daughter, Stella Rose, Dec. 2017
Sarah (Putnam) and Sean Windt, a
Sarah (Belz) and Rick Zumbahlen, a son, Jack Andrew,
Professor emeritus
Katie (Treichel) and John Hallum, a
’01
and Chris Sloan, a son, Harry Addison, April 2018
Michelle and Jerry Jaeger, a daughter, Maren Janice, Nov. 2018
and R.J. Logan, a daughter, Dorothy Jane, Oct. 2017
Heather and Paul Stellmacher, a son, Luke, Dec. 2017
’02 Erin (Hilton)
Danika (Klaus) and Jamie Hansen, a daughter, Rosalind,
’07 Nelli (Salwolke)
and Brian Gregg ’98, a daughter, Amanda Grace, Aug. 2018 Priyanka and Phil Assmus, a son, Kiran Anand, Aug. 2018
Amber and Robbie Coe, a daughter, Lyla Jean, Sept.
Oct. 2017
Laura (Tonkin) and Michael Van
and Drew Genszler, a daughter, Brooke Alyce, Sept. 2015, and a son, William Henry, Aug. 2017
’09 2018
Kirsten (Boettner) and Reese Shanahan, a daughter, Emilie Grace,
’99 Alycia Ashburn
IN MEMORIAM
Jordan, a son, Dominic Finn, March 2017
Rachel (Donahoe) and Michael Marquardt, a son, Jacob, May 2018
’10 Emily (Boland)
and
Adam Bogh ’12, twins,
daughter, Molly, son Charles, Jan. 2018
Samantha (Reiser) and Ryan Collins, a son, Leo Markus, Oct. 2018 daughter, Stella Rose, Dec. 2017
’11 Katrina (Sikkink)
and Nathan Sand, a daughter, Adelaide Lucille, April 2017
’12
Audrey and Chris Hanson, twins, daughter, Krista Hannah, son Hans Bob, Sept. 2018
Janson, a daughter, Josephine Grace, Sept. 2018
Haritha and Collin Schultz, twins, daughter Eileen, son Robert, born March 1, 2018, adopted Sept. 2018
Erica (Crowser) and Josh Klaetsch '03, a son, Ezra, Aug. 2018
’13 Amanda (Wiger)
Kelly (Flynn) and Christopher
and Brandon Leisinger, a daughter, Ellie Jean, Nov. 2017
’05 Yasmin Wilkinson
and Harry Adu, a son, Haiden, April 2018
’14 Katherine (Ollman)
Joy (Stuber) and Jake Alsop ’06,
and Alex Gisleson ’11, a son, George Aarik, Aug. 2018
a daughter, Annika Rose, Aug. 2018
Stephanie Mock and Ryan Nilsestuen, a son, Johan Rodney, March 2018 Laree and Russ Schouweiler, a daughter, Isla Harriet, May 2018
Jenessa (Bonikowske) and Justin Reid, a daughter, Ella Amelia, June 2018
Jennifer (Lambrecht) and Jason Silverman, a daughter, Hazel Lila, Aug. 2018
Andrea (Hoeksema) and Ben Tigges, a son, Simon Craig, June 2018
46
WINTER 2019
’15 Sammy (Barron)
and Joseph Russell, a son, Barron Lee, Aug. 2018
Decorah died Dec. 12, 2018, surrounded by his loved ones. Born in Waterloo, Iowa, he served in the U.S. Army and eventually earned a PhD. He married Eleanor Ann Alton, and the couple had three children. In 1967, he began teaching in Luther’s Classics Department. He was happiest in the classroom and is remembered for fresh baked bread, pipe smoke, overloaded bookshelves, houseboat and sailing trips, a booming voice, an engaging smile, and classic attire. Kurth spent 27 years with his partner, Judy Koutny. Together they enjoyed camping, cooking, and traveling. He was very involved in the Association for Retarded Citizens. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and a grateful member of a 12-step program. After his Parkinson’s diagnosis 10 years ago, he became a supporter of and contributor to the Parkinson Research Foundation. His visits from the Luther emeriti group during this time were a favorite part of his week. Kurth is survived by his children, Amelia Kurth ‘84 of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Emily Kurth-Christensen (Michael Christensen) of Harlan, Iowa; William Alton Kurth of Iowa City, Iowa; grandchildren Grayson and Ainsley Christensen; his sister, Jacqueline Hanson of Eureka, Illinois; and his long-time companion, Judith Koutny of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
ALUMNI NEWS IN MEMORIAM Notices as of Nov. 30, 2018. Obituaries are posted at luther.edu/in-memoriam.
’43 Percing “Cap” Orves
Fure of Beaver Dam, Wis., died Oct. 25, 2018, age 99.
Lloyd Wilson Ruid of Littleton, Colo., died Jan. 20, 2018, age 99.
Orrin Spencer Tovson of Indianapolis died Feb. 4, 2018, age 96.
’44 Rosemary (Leitch)
Hanson of Sumner, Iowa, formerly of West Union, Iowa, died Oct. 30, 2018, age 93.
’46 Jeanette Esther “Jo”
(Kosbau) Fintel of Greer, S.C.,
’51 Edward Walter Barth
of Westminster, Md., previously of Rockville, Md., died July 19, 2018, age 88.
Gloria Harriet (Melby) Thorson of Dallas, Texas, died Dec. 31, 2016, age 85.
’52 Wanda June (Gardner) Doyle of Albert Lea, Minn., died Sept. 15, 2018, age 88.
Solveig (Ausen) Eliasen of Bridgewater, N.J., died Jan. 21, 2018.
Joan LaVonne (Scharberg) Thoreson of St. Cloud, Minn., and
’55 John Thomas Bond
of Ft. Myers, Fla., died Sept. 13, 2018, age 85.
Conrad O. Engebretson of
Karen Hall Johnson of McKinney,
Decorah died July 15, 2018, age 85.
Marlys (Wilkens) Lien of Decorah died Sept. 28, 2018, age 82.
’58 Marilyn Christine (Hoff) Freeze of Topeka, Kan., died Sept. 14, 2018, age 82.
David R. Tuff of Robbinsdale, Minn.,
Arlawayne “Arly” C. (Doerr) Rosendahl of Decorah died Oct. 1,
Theodore “Ted” Myron Thoreson of St. Cloud, Minn., and
’59 Eugene R. Hanson
’47 Arthur Peterson
of Columbus, Ohio, died May 25, 2018, age 94.
’48 Quinton Richard Olson
of Clermont, Iowa, died May 3, 2018, age 89.
Robert “Bobbie” Pleiss of Albert Lea, Minn., died Sept. 17, 2018, age 97.
’49 Ruth Marie Lunde
of Edina, Minn., died July 16, 2018, age 93.
Olin J. Storvick of Moorhead, Minn., died June 16, 2018, age 92.
’50 James R. Anderson
of Decorah died July 11, 2018, age 87.
Arne Brekke of Grand Forks, N.D., died June 25, 2018, age 90.
Donald L. Ellickson of Eau Claire, Wis., died June 20, 2018, age 89.
Harold Emil “Doc” Krueger of Sioux Falls, S.D., died July 2, 2018, age 90.
John Richard “Dick” Kulaas Sr.
’53 Donald Dean Ambroson of West Des Moines, Iowa, died Aug. 21, 2018, age 86.
Inez (Cocker) Dolley of Decorah died Oct. 21, 2018, age 87.
Keith Russell Gordon of Red Wing, Minn., died Oct. 11, 2018, age 90.
Ruby F. (Totman) Hermeier of Edina, Minn., previously of Decorah, died Nov. 26, 2018, age 86.
Barbara Lucille (Kells) Raymond of La Crosse, Wis., formerly of Sioux City, Iowa, died Aug. 8, 2018, age 83.
Clyde William “Bill” Sagvold of Spokane, Wash., died Nov. 20, 2018, age 90.
John A. “Jack” Stueber of Austin, Texas, died July 30, 2018, age 87.
’54 Roald Allen Nelson
of Coralville, Iowa, died Aug. 18, 2018, age 86.
3, 2018, age 76.
’66 Dennis Vernon Christian
of Harpers Ferry, Iowa, died Sept. 10, 2018, age 87.
Venice, Fla., died May 12, 2018, age 87.
Venice, Fla., died Nov. 10, 2018, age 87.
Mahaffay of Monona, Wis., died Aug.
’57 R. Neale Downing
formerly of Roanoke, Va., died Aug. 30, 2018, age 93.
2018, age 92.
’64 Lester “Les” Wilbert
died Oct. 25, 2018, age 95. of Davenport, Iowa, died Sept. 18, 2018, age 81.
Paul Henry Knutson of Edina, Minn., died July 16, 2018, age 80.
Dean William Maas of Tulsa, Okla., died Aug. 4, 2018, age 81.
Stephanie Thorpe (Ofstedal) Tesch of Richland, Wash., died Oct. 17, 2018, age 81.
’61 Douglas A. Reasa
of Hartland, Wis., died July 20, 2018, age 80.
Owen Dean Thorson of Maquoketa, Iowa, died Sept. 18, 2018, age 78.
’62 Russell “Duff” Duffner
of Mills River, N.C., died Sept. 18, 2018, age 78.
’63 Rolf Victor Brende
of Greeley, Colo., died Sept. 10, 2018, age 77.
Jerrold E. Lerum of Gig Harbor, Wash., died Sept. 29, 2018, age 77.
of Minneapolis died Nov. 3, 2018, age 74. Texas, died July 9, 2018, age 74.
’67 Joanne (Tesch) Ortman of Munster, Ind., died Aug. 7, 2018, age 72.
’68 Cheryl H. Barsness
of Starbuck, Minn., formerly of Glenwood, Minn., died Aug.13, 2018, age 72.
Warren C. Meyer of Rapid City, S.D., died Nov. 12, 2018, age 72.
’70 Margaret “Maggie”
(Syverson) Gillard of Rosemount, Minn., died, in Sept. 2018, age 70.
John H. Halvorson of Perham, Minn., died July 29, 2018, age 70.
Axel Kristinius Olsen of Tucson, Ariz., died May 24, 2018, age 71.
David Fred Peschau of La Crosse, Wis., died Oct. 15, 2018, age 70.
’76 David Bruce Muether
of
Decorah died July 17, 2018, age 66.
’78 Susan JoAnn Wilke
of Dubuque, Iowa, died Oct. 30, 2018, age 62.
’84 Tracey Ann Hovda
of Leicester, England, formerly of Grand Meadow, Minn., died April 18, 2017, age 54.
’91 Anne (Ketelsen) Mullin of Goose Lake, Iowa, died Sept. 2, 2018, age 49.
Donald Eugene Melchert of Missoula, Mont., died Aug. 22, 2018, age 77.
of Wenatchee, Wash., died Oct. 22, 2018, age 91.
LUTHER MAGAZINE
47
COLLECTIONS
NATHAN RILEY ’18
Indigo buntings line a drawer in Luther's Hoslett Museum of Natural History, which houses plants, eggs, nests, vertebrates, and invertebrates.
FINE SPECIMENS
Luther’s Hoslett Museum of Natural History houses many specimens, but among the most arresting are the drawers full of birds—387 and counting—that died after hitting windows in northeast Iowa. These window-strike birds were collected over a 36-year period by at least 123 people, but mostly by Tex Sordahl ’73, professor emeritus of biology and museum director emeritus. He, assistant biology professor Dawn Reding, and Yifeng Zhang ’17, a microbiology grad student at the University of Iowa, recently published a survey of these window-strike birds in Iowa Bird Life, the quarterly journal of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union. While the window-strike study is of particularly long duration, Sordahl says that the Hoslett collection—which includes plants, eggs, nests, vertebrates, and invertebrates—has inspired many shorter-term research projects among Luther students. “The collection is like a library,
if you know how to read the books,” he says, adding, “It’s up to the cleverness of the researcher to pose the question.” Reding notes that while the collection is valuable today, it may prove even more so tomorrow. Just as scientists 150 years ago didn’t imagine comparative DNA studies, she says, “We may not be able to envision how these specimens will be useful in the future.” Hoslett Museum student-workers realize the collection’s value in multiple ways. “I’m surprised by this work every second,” says apprentice bird skinner Anila Bano ’20. “Each time, it’s a different level of understanding. Textbook learning is so different from having a bird in your hands for three hours. You form an almost emotional connection.” “Students often tell me that bird skinning is their therapy,” Sordahl says. “At the end of the day, you’ve got a product, and it’s beautiful.”
The Hoslettt Museum is funded in part through the Sherman A. Hoslett Memorial Endowment Fund, established by the Hoslett family in 1972 to honor Sherman Hoslett ’30 and strengthen Luther's environmental biology program. Hoslett taught biology and influenced Luther students for 30 years.
48
WINTER 2019
C A LENDA R
Nordic Choir Receptions
Reception and Dinner Concert—Des Moines Symphony, Simon Estes, and Nordic Choir
Sunday, January 27 Bethesda Lutheran Church Ames, Iowa
Saturday, April 27 Des Moines Civic Center Des Moines, Iowa
Wednesday, February 6 Grace Lutheran Church River Forest, Illinois
Commencement
Friday, February 8 Hope Lutheran Church Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Sunday, May 26 Luther College
Norse Athletic Association Benefit Golf Tournament
Saturday, February 9 Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church Apple Valley, Minnesota
Monday, June 3 Oneota Golf and Country Club Decorah
Twin Cities Lunch Connection
Dorian Choral Retreat for Alumni and Friends
Friday, February 15 Roseville Lutheran Church Roseville, Minnesota
Friday, June 28–Sunday, June 30 Luther College
Giving Day Thursday, March 7 Luther College
Reunion of Champions: Men’s Track and Field Teams, 1957–86
Twin Cities Lunch Connection
Friday, July 12–Saturday, July 13 Decorah
Friday, March 15 Roseville Lutheran Church Roseville, Minnesota
Luther Comes to the Heartland Picnic
Luther Evening Prayer Service Friday, March 22 Tuscany Falls Golf Club at Pebble Creek Goodyear, Arizona
14th Annual Kent Finanger ’54 Golf Classic Saturday, March 23 Tuscany Falls Golf Club at Pebble Creek Goodyear, Arizona
Concert Band Receptions Saturday, March 23 Advent Lutheran Church Maple Grove, Minn.
Alumni visited the Memorial Chorten of Thimphu, Bhutan, during an alumni and friends hiking tour of Vietnam and Bhutan in October. Front row (left to right): Ann Highum, vice president for student life emerita and tour coleader, Beth (Moody) Shields ’75, Doug Sill, Suzanne Sorom. Middle row (left to right): Cindy Peterson, Betty Borden Miller, Sharon Sill, Jan Clark, Dick Clark, tour guide Mr. Torji. Back row (left to right): Terry Sorom ’62, Bill Shields, Jerry Freund, retired city manager of Decorah and tour coleader.
Wednesday, March 27 Lord of Life Lutheran Church Sun City West, Arizona
Alumni Council Meeting Saturday, April 6 Luther College
Twin Cities Lunch Connection
Diversity at Luther Celebration, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Student Union, Alumni Reunion
Sunday, July 21 Park Rapids, Minnesota
Homecoming 2019 Friday, October 4– Sunday, October 6 Luther College
Ireland and Northern Ireland Alumni and Friends Tour Tuesday, October 8–Saturday, October 19 Hosted by Paul Gardner, professor emeritus of political science, and Rebecca Wiese
Friday, April 26–Sunday, April 28 Luther College
Friday, April 26 Roseville Lutheran Church Roseville, Minnesota
Luther alumni events are open to all alumni and friends of the college, including parents and other family members of graduates and students. Please note that some dates listed are tentative; specific information about upcoming events will be mailed or emailed to alumni, friends, and parents who live near the event sites. If you need more information or if you’re interested in planning an event in your area, call the Alumni Office at (800) 225-8664. We’d love to hear from you!
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOLINGBROOK,IL PERMIT NO. 467
NONPROFITORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID BOLINGBROOK,IL PERMIT NO. 467
Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, Iowa 52101-1045
More than 40 employers participated in the Fall Career Fair, held October 4, 2018. During the event, students had the chance to network and explore opportunities with representatives of companies that regularly hire Luther graduates.