LUTHER LUTHER COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS
STORY
INSTALLATION OF
REV. DR. MARC JERRY BLACK IN SASK:
JUDY WANI ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE FAREWELL & THANK YOU TO
DR. BRYAN HILLIS
FALL 2020
STORY
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
MESSAGE FROM THE
PRESIDENT I am delighted to greet you for the first time as your new President in this fall edition of our Luther Story. I am incredibly grateful to have joined the Luther College team, and I look forward to deeply engaging in the exciting work that we have ahead of us as we look beyond the pandemic. Thank you for your engagement, participation, and significant support of Luther College and its work as an educational ministry. As you can imagine, the pandemic has certainly impacted our operations at both the High School and University campuses. After much work during the summer to prepare for the return of in person classes in the fall, the High School campus welcomed back almost 410 students to new physical distancing procedures, regular sanitization protocols, temperature checks, visitor restrictions, and new Plexiglas and safety equipment, all intended to help keep our Luther family safe. Even our daily chapel has been reimagined into a live online format, as we cannot gather in person in such large groups at this time. Regrettably, some of our beloved fall traditions – the musical, Founders’ Day Dinner, the LIVT volleyball tournament, and interschool sports – had to be cancelled for this year.
As I prepare to write my final column before Larry Fry, and Renee Wilkinson wh retiring from Luther College, I find it almost have reported directly but who w impossible to focus my thoughts. I started my confidantes in so many ways. Thes We are still operatinglife and at Luther College almost 46 years ago as an some among so many others who delivering classes remotely at the appreciate some the things undergraduate learningto from those I consider to ofcontributed so very much to the s University campus and expect that we crave most: gathering be legends now in the history of Luther College. College has enjoyed over these las to do so for the entire 2020in community, sharing meals Art Krentz, Paul Antrobus, Don King, Phil Whether they were faculty or staf 2021 academic year. For the few together, public worship, and students that are staying in our especially the worldalumni services, fo Engstrom, and Roland Miller all taughtin mecaring foradministration, student residence, the Luther around religion, us. lessons about vocation, education, and physical plant, they all have contr cafeteria is open for business and I still carry withI me today. that Luther College much to thehas College and to makin is following all of the integrity provincial believe work there. ministry of health guidelines in an essential role in educating our When I begansafe. teaching graduates at the university,toallunderstand of order to keep our community their the above together withvocation Rick Hordern, Stahl, people And thenand there is the group of de asBillfaithful What has impressed Mary me Vetter, the Bruce MacDonald, to beand theNick civically globally Terpstra andvolunteers we call Regents who h most in my first few months as minded leaders of tomorrow were all there as friends who mentored me. As I many hours strategizing over the President is the creativity and who will work to care for the moved into administration as Dean of the decisions; only those who have w ingenuity that our faculty and world around them. In my view, staff have brought touniversity their roles campus, againthere all of the were waywith is above no better to improve this selfless group of volunte as we serve our students during support they have made. there for me but so wereeconomic giants in inequality, contributions a pandemic. Luther College has environmental sustainability, and administration like Morris Anderson and Don a rich history of resilience and to work for social justice toone make On the hand, these people an Lee whose counsel was and adaptability and this will be ourremains worldsoa better place than associate with them are such an i one more chapter to valuable. add toTransitioning our through education. into the presidency of my memory and my being that century-long story ofunder steadfastness the guidance of Bruce Perlson was yet and perseverance. I am proud of what Luther and dear,College just like a good yesterda another gift for which I remain grateful. and look forward to has achieved the other hand, we seem separate For now, the plan is to continue what we can accomplish together Working with brilliant, creative, and completely something called a pandemic tha to focus on keeping our Luther as we navigate the uncharted dedicated colleagues liketimes Mark Duke, Mark I invite you physically distant, College community safe during ahead. to join us threatening ou this time of uncertainty. We Jodi Kydd, Yvonne andPetry, support us as weand continue Anderson, Sean Bell, making usto wonder just how a will continue to implement our help bring hope and renewal not Michelle Clark, and Maureen Harrison has made will all end. COVID-19 protocols and maintain only within our community but to my position as President a true joy. And this list a watchful eye on budgets and our the world! So how does one focus one’s thou only includes those people who report directly financial position to ensure that midst of all this? As trite as it may we remain in balancetoand well There Sincerely, me atare the present. are so many more perplexed and concerned as I am positioned for recovery following like Mary Jesse, Volker Greifenhagen, Shawn the pandemic. future, it’s gratefulness that domi Stieb, Nancy Ostime, Ed MacNeil, Herb Stoehr, thoughts. I have learned so much If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need to be able to adapt. It has also taught us
Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry President, Luther College
SENIOR EDITOR angeLa Bethune EDITORIAL ADVISOR miCheLLe CLark (u’04) EDITOR – Angela Bethune EDITORIAL ADVISORS - Michelle Clark (U’04), Hilary Schroeder EDITORIAL BOARD donna grant (u’93) hiLary sChroeder COPY EDITOR - Donna Grant (U’93) CONTRIBUTORS - Lynette Piper, Marc Jerry, Sean Bell, Angela Bethune, Michelle Clark, Hilary Schroeder DESIGN impaCt printers DESIGN AND PRINTING - Western Litho FRONT COVER
memBers of the 1990 L.i.t. Championship tea
(Cover: Pastor Sean Bell, Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry and Pastor Dennis Hendricksen at the installation service of Dr. koBie Brandt, ryan Lightfoot, Chad Christ Jerry as President of Luther College. Photo courtesy of University of Regina photography department) If you have a story idea to share, contact us: Email: lutherstory@luthercollege.edu Mail: 1500 Royal Street, Regina, SK, Canada S4T 5A5
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MESSAGE FROM THE
PULPIT
When I arrived at Luther College 5 years ago, there was a sense of stability… stable funding, stable financial numbers, and stable staff complement. Long-term programs were in place with longterm employees. Fast forward 5 years and we find ourselves in a world marked with instability. Even the title of this article — “Message from the Pulpit” — seems strange, since physical pulpits still exist but rarely are they a place spoken from… and when they are spoken from it’s only to a digital audience. I find that event and worship planning now include a whole new set of considerations, which can be summarized by the question, “What will this look like to the home audience?” Every task on every level seems to take longer and the type of energy needed to get things done is different. Zoom fatigue, now a common phrase, simply did not exist a short time ago. Add to this financial pressures and uncertainty about the future… and then add in retirements and changes in human resources. Instability is the new normal. We are all lamenting the things we didn’t get to do, and the things we will never get to do, and … it is good to abide with each other in this lament. Indeed, instability is everywhere. Yet there is also opportunity! The world changed almost overnight and it certainly won’t “go back to normal” at the same speed. The task we are now engaged in is to prepare our students for the progressive rebuilding of a new normal. Maybe even the building of a better new normal. Perhaps our great-greatgreat-grandkids will have more video of their ancestors than they ever wanted (but how cool to think they might hear and see the thoughts of a different era!).
Maybe there is something new happening (do you perceive it?). And perhaps the rootedness of our Lutheran heritage offers us a unique perspective and grace in this time.
when all things are made new. There is struggle and lament at Luther College right now as we engage the world’s chaos. But there is also new energy, new life, and new hope for what we can give to our students and where we will be as we move forward. In love and faith we continue to say, “Thanks be to God” as we learn to thrive now and always.
In Isaiah 43:18-19 we read: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The story of faith is the story of God’s creative spirit brooding over the chaos. It is light, life, hope, and love. It is rising and falling in a cycle of order-chaos-reorder. Our story has deep lament and incredible moments of liberation. It is full of despair in deserts and joy in new water and growth in the midst of wilderness. It is a story of dying and rising. It is God’s spirit suffering with us and celebrating
Pastor, Sean Bell Chaplain, Luther College at the University of Regina
Table of CONTENTS Ross Niebergall 4 Brad Hertz 6 Marcia Mitschke 8 Tara Smith 10
Farewell to Dr. Bryan Hillis 12 A Servant’s Heart: Mary Gurel 14 Black in Sask 16 President’s Installation 18 On Campus High School 20 On Campus University 22 Class Notes 24
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ROSS NIEBERGALL (HS’81, U’86) By Lynette Piper
While IBM was launching the world’s first “portable” computer in 1975, weighing a modest 55 pounds, a pre-teen Ross Niebergall was building his own computers in the basement of his Regina home, soldering silicon components onto printed circuit boards.
by the military and night vision equipment, to satellites providing GPS locations to your phones. We build communication systems needed by first responders. When you see any pictures of offshore hurricanes, they come from our weather satellite payloads. We also work closely with NASA in building space-based antennas used in government systems.” Ross adds that defence work is interesting because of the “incredible push to maintain a technology advantage on the battlefield. We develop technology that the commercial world has yet to see.”
Defence work is interesting because of the “incredible push to maintain a technology advantage on the battlefield. We develop technology that the commercial world has yet to see.” “For as long as I can remember I’ve always loved technology,” Ross laughs. “I was a curious kid, always building things, asking questions and never satisfied until I saw results.” Today, the Luther alumnus (HS’81, U’86) and Ph.D. mathematician has propelled his curiosity, drive, and love of technology to become the Chief Technology Officer of one of the largest defence contractors in the world, L3Harris Technologies, based on the Space Coast of Florida. “We build information systems for processing and interpreting complex data,” he begins, “everything from tactical radios used
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One of those technologies is autonomous ships. “Everyone has heard how Tesla is building self-driving cars, but few people are aware that L3Harris is building the equivalent for naval ships.” Ross says this is the first for the U.S. Navy, and will be used for patrol and surveillance without a crew of any kind, able to operate away from port for days or even weeks at a time. So how did a self-professed computer nerd who grew up in Vancouver wind up at L3Harris in Florida, by way of Luther College? “My dad was a Lutheran pastor and we moved around a lot. My wife
Kathi’s father was also a pastor, and that common experience likely drew us together. We became good friends in high school while in Luther choir, attending competitions and travelling together. I used to joke that we had an arranged marriage, but I stopped saying that when too many believed it was true! What can I say? We’ve been married now for 35 years – high school sweethearts,” he smiles. Ross says he knew it was a match made in heaven because of their “shared values and shared experiences” fueled by Luther’s motto of excellence, innovation and hard work. “I left Regina to complete my Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Notre Dame, while Kathi got a degree in library sciences and wound up as an academic research librarian, so it was a great fit. She’s an incredibly special person to tolerate the demands of my career, and I love her all the more for it.” Ross wound up as a tenured math professor at the University of Northern British Columbia, but the lure of space was calling. “I just had this burning ambition to get into the space industry, so in 2003, I joined Raytheon (a leading aerospace and defence manufacturer) and did a tour of duty all over the world, from France to the Middle East, and Asia to Africa, ultimately winding up in Southern California. While in France, I worked closely with NATO, developing air defence systems and giving the European Union a protective defensive shield.” In 2017, Ross was invited to become Chief Technology Officer at L3Harris. Kathi fell into a career she “absolutely loves” – volunteering with special needs children
and working as a children’s librarian. “Our three kids have benefitted from their exposure to different cultures living and learning all over the world,” Ross says. “We have 26-year-old twins – Max, who has his degree in physics, and Alexandria, who’s pursuing her Ph.D. in earth and ocean science. Our third child, Eva, is studying neuroscience.” Ross and Kathi both credit their incredible start at Luther for giving them a “multicultural exposure” from a young age. “We’re still in contact with our high school peers from Hong Kong,” he says. “Luther is a special place and helped instill in me the belief that anything was possible.”
Ross and his son Max at NASA
The Niebergall’s — Ross, Kathi(HS’81, U’85) and their children Alexandria, Max and Eva
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BRAD HERTZ (HS’82) By Lynette Piper
with my dad’s company ensured I was up for the challenge.”
Brad and his wife Susan
Brad Hertz’s life reads like an action-packed adventure novel, full of nail-biting heroics and an adrenaline-fueled work ethic that has resulted in international business success. The Luther alumnus (HS ’82) began working for his father’s Hertz Bus company in Grade 10, changing oil and learning the insand-outs while excelling in high school basketball and football. Upon graduation, he entered a heavy-duty mechanics course in Saskatoon and worked his way up the ladder at Hertz. “There was no special treatment for the boss’s son,” he laughs. “I cleaned toilets, swept floors, and worked on buses.”
Brad started building his own bus empire, taking on Wood River and Tisdale School Divisions, the Regina Catholic School Board, and the Saskatoon and Regina Paratransit systems. In 2000, a company from Scotland bought all of Brad’s and his father’s companies, on the proviso that Brad manage them for one year. Up for a new adventure, Brad then took over the company’s entire Canadian and Alaskan school bus systems. “When I was up in Anchorage, I purchased four bus shops and hired 450 drivers. I implemented a $180M contract, having the buses built in North Carolina, driven up to Washington State, and then barged to Alaska. Soon after, 9-11 hit, and there was a bomb threat on one of our school buses. It was crazy times indeed!” After three years, Brad needed a break from school buses and moved to Ottawa in 2002 to
“I’ve led an extraordinary life, earned three masters degrees, and achieved more success than I ever imagined. Luther fostered that drive and allowed me to harness those dreams.” Knowing that one day he wanted to run a business, Brad went to business school in Toronto and wound up buying his uncle’s school bus company in 1985. “All of a sudden, I was 21 with 102 employees and I was the youngest guy on payroll. But those early years spent
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oversee their Paratransit system after bidding on and winning the contract. “I managed to retire when I was 38,” he says. Not one to sit still, Brad then tried his hand sitting on venture capital boards and investment committees, and even participated in seven Iron-
man triathlons. But everything came crashing down around him with a frightening cancer diagnosis in 2010. “They found a lump in my throat. After a six-hour operation, they removed the base of my tongue and a chunk of my neck.” When faced with their own mortality, most people tend to slow down, but Brad knew he had more fight left. He headed to the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, and managed to beat a one-in-four survival rate. Filled with renewed energy, Brad set his sights on taking over Sleek Signs, a Regina-based advertising company. “I managed to grow revenues six times over,” he says proudly. His secret? “I found customer pain points – times where customers found it difficult dealing with our product. I vowed to streamline the process, drive costs down and put the customer first.” It was a winning formula that saw his business delivery system drop from a five-day turnaround to printing next-day service. “Being that much faster allowed us to enter the Toronto and Vancouver markets – even with shipping factored in. I really like playing the game,” he grins. “I can’t wait to go to work. I’m up at 3 a.m. writing stuff down.” When COVID-19 hit and everything shut down, Brad found an opportunity to help and to get his employees back to work. “I paced the floor non-stop for two days figuring out what we could do and then it hit me. We pivoted our sign printing business to construct clear polycarbonate face shields, reverse engineering a way to cut down on unnecessary materials like elastic and foam, using less inputs and speeding up the manufacturing process.”
Former High School faculty member Coach Dick Stark, Brad’s son Gabe Hertz (HS’16), and Brad at a Luther Lions game
Brad says his face shields are lightweight, easy to disinfect, and easy to ship. Since the start of COVID, Sleek Signs has sold at least 80,000 shields to a host of businesses across Canada and the United States, including the City of Boston. “We had 5,000 face shields we were shipping by FedEx, but at the last minute we realized we needed our international brokerage papers. We lost a couple of boxes on the Ring Road as we flew back to get everything in order. After that, we put better shipping policies in place,” he says, focused, as always, on continuous improvement.
Brad with pallets of face shields manufactured by his company, Sleek Signs
With all his business success, Brad says his biggest win in life was marrying his wife, Susan, and watching their two kids, Gabriel and Adam, become great young adults. Brad credits his incredible work ethic and “zest for the best” to his grounding at Luther.
Face shields manufactured by Brad’s business.
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MARCIA MITSCHKE (U’16) By Lynette Piper
optometry instead of pharmacy!”
Optometrist Marcia Mitschke likes to tell her patients that seeing well is no excuse to skip seeing your eye doctor. In fact, the Luther College alumna (U’16) quietly confesses that she was one of those teens who rarely, if ever, saw the optometrist. “I thought that because I saw really well and didn’t need glasses, it wasn’t a priority. How wrong I was,” laughs the Moose Jaw Primary Eye Care Centre optometrist, who now advocates for regular comprehensive eye exams – at the very least, every two years.
Marcia was someone who “absolutely loved school” while growing up in Lumsden and actually thought she’d end up as a teacher. She naturally gravitated towards the sciences, especially chemistry, partly because she was “really good at it” and partly because of her role models at home: both her parents were high school science teachers. “I was always a nerdy kid, but you’d be more likely to find me with my head in a book rather than blowing experiments up in the backyard,” she jokes with good-natured, infectious humour. She wound up living in the residence of Luther College at the University of Regina, and there she met her future husband, François Boire, another chemistry major from the French community of
“Today, more than half of grads from optometry school are women. It’s a great career and one I’d highly recommend to anyone who loves people and loves the sciences.” “When I was 19 and getting my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, I’d spend hours poring over textbooks and doing homework on the computer. I was suffering from eye strain and made a point of seeing my optometrist for the first time in years. Not only did I wind up with a pair of reading glasses, but I was so inspired by the work they did, that I decided to pursue
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Gravelbourg. “Honestly, I attribute Luther to bringing us together. Living in the same building and eating at the same table for those three or more years really cemented our relationship. When I left to pursue my second degree at Waterloo (Bachelor of Science, Doctor of Optometry), we did the cross-country-long-distance thing for four years while he went to the
University of Saskatchewan to become a large animal veterinarian.” While in Waterloo, Marcia continued to work hard and was awarded a lifetime membership in the Gold Key International Optometric Honour Society. “I was one of six students selected from my class of 90 optometrists,” she offers, quick to deflect the enormous significance of such an achievement. “It’s a much bigger deal in the States where it’s given lots of fanfare – I just got to wear a special gold stole at convocation,” she grins. Marcia is not only one of the nicest optometrists you’ll probably ever meet, but she’s also likely the most humble. As part of her degree, Marcia did several placements across the country, with time spent in Waterloo, Lloydminster, Estevan, and Swift Current. “I was really lucky to spend the bulk of my placements so close to home, with my parents and younger sister (who is studying healthcare policy) just a short drive away, but also close to François.” The couple was planning a big wedding this past April with guests invited from all across the country. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so Marcia and François were forced to scale back to an intimate backyard wedding with only two close friends in their bubble serving as witnesses. “It wasn’t what I’d ever dreamed it would be, but it was still very lovely,” she smiles. COVID-19 not only changed her dreams of a big family wedding but also changed the way she works, with masks, temperature screenings, and additional cleaning measures the new norm.
“There’s a few added steps now but that’s no reason to postpone your eye exam,” she laughs again, always the cheerful advocate for her profession. Marcia lives the Luther principle of giving back. Not only does she coach rhythmic gymnastics but she routinely mentors high school students and undergrads – especially young women – about choosing a career in optometry. “It used to be that men totally dominated the profession, but today, more than half of grads from optometry school are women. It’s a great career and one I’d highly recommend to anyone who loves people and loves the sciences.” And just to make sure she’s driven the point home, she adds with a wink: “Do as I say, not as I did. Make sure you get that eye appointment in if it’s been a while.” Point taken, Doctor. Marcia and François on their wedding day
Dr. Mitschke at her clinic
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TARA SMITH (U’04) By Lynette Piper
business from your personal life, but these kids have become my life. They are my heart and the very reason why I’ve focused so many years working late into the night to help find a treatment,” she says passionately. In our instantaneous, hyper-speed world, it’s hard to imagine anyone poring over a scientific problem for 12 continuous years, with the solution not quite within reach. Most of us would have given up years ago, but not Tara Smith. The Luther bio-chem grad (U’04) with a Doctorate of Pharmacy from the U of S has dedicated her life to developing a treatment for two diseases: one of the rarest diseases in the world affecting children (a type of dwarfism), and, simultaneously, one of the biggest diseases in the world affecting adults (Alzheimer’s).
Tara and her team were the first to connect the dots between Rhizo patients, who have no plasmalogen in their brains, and Alzheimer patients, have decreased levels of the lipid. This has led to some state-of-the-art collaborative drug research spanning the globe from India to California to Saskatoon, offering new hope for those living with these diseases.
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She ended up doing her post doctorate work on Alzheimer’s in search of a viable treatment. “I was hired by Phenomenome Discoveries, a company that had already made the association that Alzheimer patients lacked plasmalogen. Similar to the way high cholesterol is a biomarker for heart disease, a
Tara is quick to credit her humble beginnings at Luther. “This journey has been absolutely amazing, and I know I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Luther’s unique science program, which kept students
“If we get to save one of those kids so we can give them a chance at life, or spare a loved one from the cruel decline of Alzheimer’s, then everything will have been worth it.” Children born with Rhizomelic Chondrodysplasia Punctata, or Rhizo for short, have an inability to make plasmalogen, a brain lipid that encourages growth and development. Five-year-old children with this disease regularly wear infant-sized clothes and rarely make it past their tenth birthday. Tara says she knows of only three cases of Rhizo kids in Canada, and fewer than 100 in the U.S. “As a scientist, you’re supposed to separate
do bench research in grad school. I never looked back.”
together in a small, core learning group. These core students have become lifelong friends and they’re the reason I made it through.” Tara knew she wanted to work in the sciences, but it wasn’t until a third-year summer internship in a lab that she found her focus. “I got to clone my very first gene, and suddenly I knew something before anyone else did. It was life-changing and made me determined to
Tara holding one of her patients, Ethan
lack of plasmalogen in the brain was a biomarker for Alzheimer’s,” she explains. “I came on board to better understand this deficit and evaluate treatments.” By the mid-2000s, she was doing research to determine if increasing plasmalogens might be therapeutic for treating Alzheimer’s. She eventually collaborated with a McGill University researcher looking into an animal model to test her theory. “Most people would be shocked to learn how long it takes to go from research to an actual
drug. I’ve been working on this for more than a decade and we’re still not at the point where we can test in humans. It takes years of meticulous research, and a ton of patience,” she says thoughtfully. Scientists already knew that Rhizo kids lack plasmalogens, based on
ly, we knew we had to give Rhizo kids a chance at a better life. We’re manufacturing this plasmalogen drug in India and it’s being formulated in San Diego. We’re doing as much research as possible, running ‘natural history trials’ (gathering as much data as possible on Rhizo patients without drugs or
placebos). We’re working closely with Dr. Michael Bober at the Wilmington, Delaware hospital, and meeting with families from all over North America.” Tara says before this drug can be administered to sick kids, it first needs to be administered to healthy adults to make sure there are no serious side-effects. In the meantime, her research with Alzheimer’s has come full circle. “Gray Space Therapeutics is raising funds to begin advancing towards our first clinical trial of the plasmalogen drug with Alzheimer patients, so it’s very promising!” While it has taken tens of thousands of hours to get to this point, Tara says the years of intense focus and sheer determination are paying off. “If we get to save one of those kids so we can give them a chance at life, or spare a loved one from the cruel decline of Alzheimer’s, then everything will have been worth it.”
Tara (second from left) with colleagues at the FDA
genetic testing. What they didn’t have was an effective way of increasing those plasmalogen levels. With Tara’s extensive research into Alzheimer’s, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “Here we were, sitting on a potential drug for Alzheimer’s that at the same time might also give Rhizo kids their best chance of raising their plasmalogen levels. It was fascinating!” In 2015, however, the company Tara worked for went bankrupt at the same time that she gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl. “To think that 10 years of my life’s work might be gone was devastating,” she recalls. But private investors from Saskatchewan (Med-Life Discoveries) bought the intellectual property to her work, and she was soon back up and running. “We honed our focus, and moral-
Tara with her children Annie, John and Penny
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WELL DONE, GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
DR. BRYAN HILLIS
Bryan with Yvonne Petry showing support for the University of Regina’s “You Belong Here” Campaign
President Dr. Bryan Hillis had a long-standing relationship with Luther College spanning over three decades. On June 30, 2020, Dr. Hillis’s service to the College ended with his retirement. The following are just two highlights of the many well wishes, thanks, and gratitude shared at the two virtual farewells hosted by each campus.
Bryan enrolled at Luther College at the University of Regina (LCUR) as an undergraduate in 1974, just three years after the campus opened, and graduated in 1978 as the first student with a major in “Humanities - Religious Studies.” He was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, studied theology at Oxford, and by 1988 had completed a Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, working with the esteemed Lutheran scholar Dr. Martin E. Marty. In 1989, he returned home to his alma mater as a LCUR professor of Religious Studies, Dean from 1995 to 2005, and finally President of Luther College in 2010. As Dean and as President, Bryan was supportive of many faculty initiatives including Interdisciplinary Studies, Canadian Roots Exchange, Writing Across the Disciplines, and the Nonprofit & Voluntary Sector Studies Network. He was forward-thinking and proactive. Thanks to Bryan’s efforts as Dean, LCUR had some of the first smart classrooms on campus back when computers, data projectors, and PowerPoint were the new
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trend. As President, he worked closely with the University of Regina, Campion College, and First Nations University of Canada, as well as the provincial government to build and maintain positive relationships. As a leader, Bryan led by example. He worked hard and valued hard work in others. He had a remarkable amount of stamina and energy. He would also ask the hard questions, but they were questions that needed to be asked. I know that over the years he worried a lot about all of us and about the College. I imagine that Joanne and his family have a better understanding of the early mornings, long days, and sleepless nights that Bryan gave to Luther College. Bryan’s influence extended beyond the walls of Luther College through his work with the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America and the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities. He was one of the authors of Rooted and Open: The Common Calling of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities. One of the themes in that document is the concept of vocation. For Martin Luther, everyone had a vocation, a calling from God to serve others in whatever means, capacity, role, and occupation they held. Bryan, I believe you found your vocation at your alma mater, as a Religious Studies student and scholar, Professor,
Dean, and President. You have dedicated your life and career to the good of Luther College. I want to thank you for your tireless devotion to the mission and vision of a liberal arts and sciences education rooted in the Lutheran tradition. -Dr. Yvonne Petry, Dean
During his ten years as the leader of this historic institution, Bryan established himself as a sedulous, principled, servant leader, resolute in his commitment to “Quality Education in a Christian Context.” Bryan is a man of deep faith, living by grace and inspired by a calling to live out the gospel through his work at Luther College. For Bryan, “Christian context” means being rooted in our Lutheran heritage, but open to other religious and non-religious understandings. He was a careful steward, a relentless worker, an intelligent academic, a remarkably generous donor, a prescient and yet collegial decision-maker, and an energetic ambassador for Luther College. He routinely could be spotted at cultural or athletic events, socializing with alumni, and wearing his black and gold with pride. In his efforts to ensure the High School campus avoided becoming anachronistic or irrelevant, he — among many other achievements — oversaw the building of a new gym, stage, student commons, and three new classrooms. With unflagging drive, he raised funds for the campaign and mediated challenging committee work. Bryan also developed the parents’ association; travelled faithfully to visit alumni and donors; successfully lobbied the provincial government for increased funding; and improved financial support for both employee professional development and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Employees and parents alike valued his responsiveness, his commitment to equity, and his desire to be a transparent communicator. Bryan set and demanded high standards and expectations of everyone, but especially of himself, because he believed that a school as special as Luther College deserved nothing less.
Bryan and Joanne Hillis visiting alumni in Hong Kong
With Gavin Semple (HS’63) during construction of the Semple Gymnasium
On behalf of our community and the beneficiaries of his vision and his indefatigable safeguarding of the Lutheran traditions of faith and scholarship, I thank Bryan for ensuring that the College’s students and mission were given primacy in all decisions. At the core of his strong sense of vocation was an unshakeable conviction in the words of our namesake, Martin Luther: “When schools flourish, all flourishes.” We wish Bryan, his wife Dr. Joanne Hillis, and his four daughters (and alumni) Amy, Karla, Erin and Laura, God’s richest blessings in life’s next chapter. From our grateful community, “Congratulations and well done, good and faithful servant.” -Dr. Mark Anderson, Head of School/Principal
With Luther Professors Francesco Freddolini, Louis Awanyo, Iqbal Husain, Fotini Labropulu, and Yvonne Petry at the U of R Fall 2018 Orientation
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A SERVANT’S HEART FAREWELL TO
MARY GUREL
If you have watched period dramas, you know of the tireless “big house” staff, those who serve, anticipating every whim, each particular need of their employers: flowers held, tea ordered, doors opened, suits and dresses pressed. Mary Gurel, Dean of Women at Luther College High School from 2012 to 2020, never ceased to meet the needs (and sometimes whims) of resident students in her care. “Mrs. G.” gave to them with a servant’s heart. She was their biggest fan, their advocate, their disciplinarian, sometime chauffeur, confidante and social convener. In short, she was their “other mother”! Mary even said, “there are many types of family, and the dorm is my second family!” Mary did not work just “9 to 5” at Luther. Her dedication meant that she was available far more than that — day and night. Even when the small sign by her suite said she was “out,” she was actually “in,” speaking with an anxious parent or student, meeting with teachers to help Deans Mary Gurel and Tanner Brightman dressed up for Halloween motivate and encourage those in her care. It could be said that she lived Luther, often bringing her knowledge of boilers and the like to assist in an emergency! Her generous nature made her a friend to many; her baking brought joy to the staffroom. She cooked with “her girls,” helped them with hair and makeup for All College or the dorm Christmas banquet, and tirelessly ran the Lions’ Den at L.I.T. Because Mary’s warm presence was felt by so many, she is missed. Because her faith in the Lord remained strong, she was a community-sustainer, and because she still has energy to burn, she has retired to travel (post-COVID) and explore. Godspeed, Mary.
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Baking with “her girls” in the dorm
A group of dorm students with Mary at Buffalo Pound Lake
FAREWELLS We send best wishes to two others who left Luther at the end of the 2019-2020 school year: our Dean of Men Tanner Brightman and maintenance worker Paul Dickson. We wish Tanner (Mr. B) the best of luck as he takes on his new role as Operations Director and Head Coach of Elite Academy in Belgium. He was Luther’s Dean of Men and part-time athletic director for three years. We miss his basketball expertise as the senior boys’ head coach, and all the energy he brought to the campus each day! Paul worked at the high school from 2015—2020 doing all the projects that make a school ‘tick’ – heat and water and lights! Not to mention setting up risers, hanging up L.I.T. art panels and everything in between. Paul was a cheerful helper in every way and we wish him a relaxing retirement.
Mr. B at the ESL banquet
“Our goal is to continue offering an exceptional educational experience characterized by high academic standards and small class sizes, all within a safe and caring community. Every precaution within our means has been taken to make the on-campus experience as safe as possible for all the people of Luther College. Our pandemic protocols also encourage a culture of shared responsibility – including the students – for keeping all our facilities and community safe.“ Dr. Mark Anderson, Principal/Head of School, Luther College High School
SUPPORT THE COVID-19 FUND TODAY! GIFTS TO THIS SPECIAL FUND COVER THE COSTS OF PANDEMIC-RELATED ITEMS INCLUDING: • Plexiglas desk dividers • Bluetooth headsets & microphones for teachers • Improvements to Wi-Fi & bandwidth throughout the school • Floor decals & directional signage • Hand sanitizer stations • Non-contact infrared thermometers • Touchless water bottle filling stations • Automatic paper towel dispensers • Increased cleaning & disinfection measures • Hiring of additional custodial staff Help Luther College be a safe refuge in this time of uncertainty. For more information or to discuss your tax-deductible donation, please contact: Maureen Harrison Chief Development Officer (306) 791-9175 maureen.harrison@luthercollege.edu LUTHER STORY FALL 2020
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BLACK IN SASK OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE JUDY WANI (HS’17) TELLS HER STORY By Lynette Piper Few people get to experience a defining moment so profound that it sets the trajectory for the rest of their life. For Judy Wani, that defining moment came twice – the first time was when she was in Grade 7, prior to arriving at Luther College High School. “I was the class clown and always making other people laugh,” the composed and soft-spoken 20-yearold university student begins. “I had a disagreement with a boy who called me the ‘N-word’ and the next day, he and a bunch of boys swarmed me on the playground. One guy pushed me and I fell down. I didn’t move and was so shook up, I escaped to the bathroom. When I came back to class, all of my classmates were standing around my desk. That boy then handed me an article that read: ‘Negro For Sale’ – and it described me to a T. Everybody was silent waiting for my reaction, thinking, ‘Oh, Judy can take a joke.’ But it was very traumatizing. The whole class was in shambles for two weeks. The boy was suspended for one day, but no one talked about what had happened to me. In fact, the teachers questioned what I might have done to provoke the incident…”
that the crayon everyone was calling “skin colour” should actually be labelled “peach,” noting her own ebony skin tone. “It was a little thing, but it made a big difference to me,” she asserts. When the ‘N-word’ incident occurred in elementary school, Judy bottled it up until her high school English teacher encouraged students to write about their identity, and outline why they were the way they were. Judy wrote about what happened, and it was as if something ignited inside of her. Then this past May, George Floyd was killed. The 46-year-old Black man died at the hands of Minneapolis Police, who held a knee to his neck for nearly nine minutes – all because he allegedly bought a pack of cigarettes with a counterfeit bill. It was the second defining moment of Judy’s life. “I’ve always been a strong Black feminist, but this event made me so unbelievably angry,” she recalls, visibly shaken. “I knew I couldn’t stay silent. I started talking to aunties and friends’ parents, hearing so many ugly truths about realities of being Black in Saskatchewan. One of my cousins from Alberta was actually tied to a tree and spit and peed on! You can’t believe these things actually happen because they shouldn’t happen!”
“Sadly, I think some people still don’t understand when they’re being racist with their micro-aggressions. I actually had one adult tell me, ‘Oh Judy, we’re tired of you always playing the race card.’ But I will never stop fighting for what’s right.” Judy was born in a Kenyan refugee camp to South Sudanese parents. Her family immigrated to Canada and wound up in Newfoundland, and then Calgary, before moving to Regina when she was seven. “I grew up in the church. My dad would make me recite Bible verses instead of apologies,” she laughs. The first time she even knew she was Black was in Sunday school, when she drew a picture of a black Jesus and the teacher made her re-draw her artwork. “My dad always taught me that Jesus was made in my image, so I couldn’t understand what happened. It’s odd, because I think Jesus is more about his actions than his physical appearance.” As she got older, Judy remembers taking a stand against pencil crayons, convincing her classmates
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Prior to George Floyd’s death, Judy’s sister Jennifer and cousin Vibya Natana had established a new group called “Black in Sask” to provide a voice for the Black community. Judy came on board to handle social media and marketing. With George Floyd’s passing, everything was brought into razor-sharp focus for her. “The Black Lives Movement was really taking off, and suddenly Black in Sask was asked if we wanted to host a rally at the Legislature,” she says. “Over a thousand people attended. We had a lot of speeches, but the most moving speaker was a nine-year-old girl called Ola Njoku. She came to the mic and said it was sad that a little kid like her had to remind people that her life mattered. She pointed her mic to the crowd and told them to ask her: ‘Who are you?’ She then responded: ‘I’m Black and intelligent…I’m Black and strong…I’m Black and I matter.’ It was so powerful, she brought people to tears. She was absolutely fearless! It was so beautiful to see myself in her, and I regretted
not having her strength when I was her age, unable to speak up…” At the rally, Judy publicly shared her story of what happened to her in Grade 7, reconciling that moment and vowing that no other child should ever experience what she went through. “Sadly, I think some people still don’t understand when they’re being racist with their micro-aggressions. I actually had one adult tell me, ‘Oh Judy, we’re tired of you always playing the race card.’ But I will never stop fighting for what’s right. Through Black in Sask, I’ve worked with School Board Trustees to help change the curriculum so teachers know how to respond to racism, and not make Black students feel like they’re making a big deal out of nothing.” Head of School, Principal Mark Anderson says the school has an important role to play in all issues of social justice. “We take seriously our responsibility as educational and Christian leaders to denounce and repudiate discrimination in all its forms.” Luther College made a strong statement condemning the racism that led to George Floyd’s murder. He adds, “the school has in place a revised Harassment and Discrimination Policy, and chapels have drawn attention to social justice causes, such as Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Black History month and Martin Luther King, Jr. day. He also notes the Communication Studies 20 class did a six-week study of African American literature, and the school has dedicated a half-time teaching position and several bursaries to ensure visible minorities from challenging economic backgrounds who would benefit from the Luther experience can attend and succeed at the school.
Photo Credit: Helen Barnaba
“I think these are positive steps, but we can’t be complacent. I will never be anything but Black,” says Judy pointedly. “This impacts me every single day of my life, and for that reason, I can never be silent.”
Photo Credit: Wyatt Heiberg
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PRESIDENT’S
INSTALLATION
Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry was installed on Sunday, October 18, 2020 as the eighth President of Luther College. The installation served as the official ceremony where he was formally conferred the responsibilities and duties of Luther College through a small, private worship service at Christ Lutheran Church in Regina, SK. “Luther College has an exciting future ahead and I am so grateful for the chance to be a part of the team. Since arriving at Luther, I have been most impressed and proud of the compassion, dedication, and resilience of our highly talented faculty and staff, who continue to work tirelessly for our students and their families during the pandemic. I look forward to continuing Luther College’s tradition of providing academic excellence so that our graduates are able to succeed in a post-pandemic world by helping to care not only for their own community but also on a national and global scale, no matter what vocation they may pursue.” Dr. Jerry has been with Luther College since July 1, 2020. This service can be watched at www.luthercollege.edu/installation. Photo credit: University of Regina Photography Department
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TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR LUTHER COLLEGE Luther College has elected two new members to its Board of Regents: Marie Digney and Jim Vadeboncoeur. The new Regents, elected at Luther College’s Annual General Meeting held on Saturday, October 17, will each serve a four-year term from 2020-2024. Marie Digney is an associate with Kanuka Thuringer LLP and an alumna of Luther College High School, Class of 2011. Marie holds her Juris Doctor from the University of Saskatchewan College of Law with a Certificate in French Common Law from the University of Ottawa. She also has a Baccalauréat en Éducation and Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Regina.
Rev. Dr. Richard Hordern reading the gospel.
Jim Vadeboncoeur is a Certified Professional Accountant, Certified Management Accountant and is currently the accounting manager at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina. Two of his children (Abby and Luke) are graduates of Luther College High School and his daughter Megan is currently a Grade 11 student at Luther. They join the following current Board members, also serving four-year terms: - Karl Tiefenbach (Chair) (HS‘73, U’76) - Janet Bjorndahl (Vice Chair) (U’79) - Daryl Nelson (Treasurer) - Gregory Swanson (Corporate Secretary) - Robert Davis (HS‘04) - Beth Drozda (KS‘84, U‘87) - Laurel Garven (HS‘06) - Daranne Harris (HS‘95) - Helga Hein (HS‘76) - Jody Hilderman - Victoria Mwamasika - Dwight Nelson - Andrea Wagner (HS‘85, U‘90)
Bishop Sid Haugen officially installing Rev. Dr. Jerry as President.
ANNUAL REPORT
Read it on our website www.luthercollege.edu.
ANNUAL REPORT LUTHER COLLEGE 2019-2020
R E G I N A•C A N A D A
(L-R): Pastor Sean Bell, Rev. Dr. Jerry, Pastor Dennis Hendricksen
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On Campus HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic meant that graduates of the Class of 2020 had to quickly shift their graduation plans from one of in-person ceremonies and banquets, to drive-by parades and YouTube live streams! Luther College High School was able to present diplomas to our 102 graduates with their immediate families in order to maintain the tradition of the ‘crossing the stage’ experience. We also celebrated each grad with a drive-by parade, with grad families driving down Royal Street as faculty and staff looked on with fanfare! Josh Soifer was the valedictorian of the Class of 2020, and the Principal’s Gold Medal recipient was Jasnoor Guliani. Josh is now studying at Oxford in England, and Jasnoor is attending the University of Toronto. Class of 2020 graduation parade down Royal Street
WELCOME HOLLY ROBINSON AND JOEY LYNNES
There are two new faces in our dorms: Dean of Women Holly Robinson and Dean of Men Joey Lynnes. Our Deans supervise the residence and look after all the students who live in the dorms. Holly says, “I am originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and like many of you, my first home in Regina was right here at Luther College High School
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when I worked as a resident assistant. I moved here for post-secondary school to become a teacher and to play for the University of Regina Cougar’s rugby team. There are many things I love to do, like singing along to my guitar or ukulele, and drinking coffee, especially if it comes with a good conversation.” “I have worked at Luther College High School for two years now as a resident assistant,” says Joey. “This is my third year here but now in this new role. I love basketball, photography, and sci-fi novels!” In the late 90’s, Joey’s dad was the Dean of Men. They were living at Luther when Joey was born.
KYERA LEVESQUE (HS’14), PFEIFER MEMORIAL CHAIR OF MUSIC
Kyera completed a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Regina and a Bachelor of Music from Luther College at the University of Regina. During this time, she has been performing Kyera Levesque with the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Campion College’s Musica Sacra, the Prairie Chamber Choir, the University of Regina Wind Ensemble, and the University Chamber Singers. Maintaining her connection with Luther, Kyera served as an Assistant Dean in the high school dorms and played in the pit orchestra for several musical productions. She is both excited and honoured to take on her new role as Pfeifer Memorial Chair of Music, teaching the students of Luther.
HOMECOMING – 2021
In a ”normal“ year, hundreds of alumni would have been at Luther in September to celebrate their Homecoming. We plan to hold a reunion in September 2021, if public health guidelines allow us to do so. To the Classes of 2011, 2010, 2001, 2000, 1996, 1995, 1991, 1990, 1986, 1985, 1981, 1980, 1976, 1975, 1971, 1970, 1966, 1965, 1961, 1960 and beyond, we hope to see you next year!
Joey Lynnes & Holly Robinson
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John and Wenda Persson
CHEMISTRY LAB DEDICATED TO JOHN PERSSON Mr. John Persson taught senior science at Luther College High School from 1975 until his retirement in 2000. John’s family recently approached us with an idea for recognizing his long service to Luther. Now, the Chemistry Lab has been dedicated in honour of him. A new sign has been installed on the door to recog-
Persson family (L-R): Derek, John, Wenda, Will, Thomas, Karla, and Kate nize his faithful service and continued support of the school. Donors and philanthropy play an important role in providing financial support for our work and programs here at Luther College. We are grateful to the Persson family for their generous support!
Socially distanced choir
A COVID CAMPUS
Students working at their Plexiglas-divided desk (Left)
After much planning and preparation, high school classes began in person in mid-September 2020. Students and employees are all wearing masks; we have added 15 more hand sanitizers around the building; everyone entering the campus checks their temperature at the door; and signage has been posted around the campus.
The SRC continues to hold events like the annual fall Fun Day to help new students feel connected with our school and to give returning students a chance to have fun and reconnect! Small groups participated in a combination of outdoor and in-class activities, like non-contact relay races, an escape room, and trivia games.
Classrooms have socially distanced desks and dividers, and for those who choose to learn at home (or who are self-monitoring/isolating), the option exists for students to log on to a Zoom (video conference) version of their class, in real time.
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On Campus UNIVERSITY “I am humbled to be receiving the University Medal. Throughout my time at the U of R and Luther College, I have had the benefit of learning with some incredibly bright and dedicated students,
SPRING & FALL 2020 VIRTUAL CONVOCATIONS
Luther’s Spring and Fall Convocations were held virtually, and although we could not celebrate with our graduates in person, we prepared a special address for each virtual celebration available online: Spring 2020: www.luthercollege.edu/spring-convocation; Fall 2020: www.luthercollege.edu/ fall-convocation. Luther awarded 59 degrees and seven certificates to 63 Spring 2020 Luther graduates and eight degrees and three certificates to eleven Fall 2020 Luther graduates.
Brendan Anderson Two Spring graduates also received the following University of Regina Convocation awards: Brendan Anderson, Faculty of Arts Dean’s Medal; and Shelby Brandt, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) Gold Medal.
Kaitlyn Verret Kaitlyn Verret received the Spring 2020 Luther Medal of Distinction Award: “Being awarded the Luther College Medal of Distinction is a true honour and reflection of my personal growth during the four years I have spent at Luther College. Receiving this medal as a representation of the rewards and challenges of my academic and leadership growth is something that I am forever grateful for. Although my days as a Luther College student have ended, I will always remember the heart and soul of Luther College: the students and staff who have supported me, challenged me, and made me the person I am today.”
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Shelby Brandt
STUDENT RECIPIENT OF THE 2020 UNIVERSITY MEDAL
Nigel Olesen, a third-year Luther student, was the recipient of the 2020 University Medal. The University Medal is presented annually at the University of Regina’s Spring Convocation to the most distinguished student at the University based on academic achievement during the previous 12 months.
Nigel Olesen while being academically challenged by faculty who are both generous with their time, and rigorous with their teaching. I also attribute a great deal of my accomplishment toward the terrific staff at Luther, who consistently have helped me choose the best classes, and find the most engaging research material; the genuine care and attention that Luther staff give to their students has always put myself and others in the best possible situation to succeed. I am proud to be a Luther student, and look forward to continuing my studies in such a great environment.”
LUTHER AWARDS
Luther College awarded over $110,000 in awards to 138 Luther students in 2020. The 2020 awards ceremony is typically held each year in October to recognize the outstanding achievements of our students but was cancelled due to the pandemic. Seventy-nine students with exceptional academic standing, a minimum GPA of 85 percent, were named to the Dean’s Honour Roll.
suspect, or customs/security officers are searching for a person of interest. With this grant, Dr. Bruer will be able to continue investigating the mechanisms that allow people to accurately identify the faces they encounter.
ZERO-COST MATERIAL COURSES
Student success is a top priority at Luther, even in times of crisis. Many of our hard-working students are facing financial hardship as a result of the pandemic. In an effort to help lessen this burden, a number of Luther faculty/sessional instructors offered zero-cost material courses for the Fall 2020 term. A zero-cost material course exclusively uses teaching materials and resources freely available and easily accessible to students. For example, Laura Ambrose, a Luther Biology sessional instructor and lab instructor, used the open textbook Concepts of Biology for her BIOL 140 – Human Biology course, which had 145 students enrolled. “The last time I used a proprietary text was in 2015 when the textbook cost about $270,” explains Ambrose. “If every student in the current class purchased a textbook, based on 2015 prices, the total savings for all 145 students would be about $39,000.” These savings can make a significant impact toward improving the affordability of education for students. Luther zero-cost material courses will also be offered in the Winter 2021 term.
ORANGE SHIRT DAY
Orange Shirt Day is held each year on September 30 to promote awareness and recognition of the impact of the residential school system, to honour survivors, and to remember Dr. Kaila Bruer those lost or hurt by the system. Luther staff and faculty wore the shirts THANK YOU, ESSENTIAL as a symbol of our commitment to SERVICES STAFF redressing the past and moving into When COVID-19 caused the building healing relationships based on recto close and faculty and staff to work onciliation and true partnerships. remotely, Luther’s cafeteria staff remained on campus to ensure there PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR was no disruption to food services RECEIVES RESEARCH GRANT for students living in the Luther and the University of Regina residences. Dr. Kaila Bruer, Luther Professor of Psychology, has been awarded a Over several months, they have Natural Sciences and Engineering adapted to official health guidelines, Research Council (NSERC) Discovmaintained enhanced sanitation ery Grant of $132,500 towards her procedures, followed social distancresearch entitled “Cognitive meching regulations, and worked hard anisms underlying face recognition to prepare and serve three daily memory reports.” take-out meals to students living at Luther and in the U of R dorms. Dr. Bruer’s research explores how They have gone above and beyond, humans are able to remember the and we cannot thank them enough! faces of people we encounter, and why sometimes our memory fails when trying to accurately remember and recognize a face. Specifically, recognizing and identifying unfamiliar faces has long posed a difficulty for people, with sometimes problematic implications, such as when police require a witness to identify a
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CLASS NOTES IAN MCLEOD
1960’s Marilyn Sinclair (HS’60) sends her best wishes to her classmates, who marked their 60th anniversary from their Luther High School graduation this year. In September (when Homecoming was to be held), Marilyn was in Warsaw, Poland, attending the International Chopin Piano Competition. She continues to teach piano and organ. Robert Lindsay (HS’65) retired from farming in Saskatchewan and moved to Nova Scotia in 2017. He’s enjoying the nice weather along with his daughter and grandchildren.
1970’s Thomas Fahy (LCUR Resident from 1973-1977 and 1979) recalls that a fellow Luther Residence student used to tease him about American politics and would affectionately call him “Mr. President.” He finds it ironic that twelve years after leaving Luther he was, in fact, working for a future American president. He worked in congressional politics for several years and held senior political campaign posts before becoming a lobbyist. Recently, Thomas successfully lobbied to enable private sector satellite companies to sell their data to the federal government. He has lobbied on weather legislation and, until recently, served on two boards for the American Meteorological Society. He currently serves on the board of the National Institute for Lobbying Ethics. Married for twelve years to Sheila, a broadcast news journalist, he has no plans to retire, since he still very much enjoys working on clients’ lobbying needs. Thomas recalls that life in the Luther Residence Quads created a special bond among the residents. Part of one’s identity was, what quad are you from? Thom-
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LINDSAY COLLINS
as fondly recalls the friendships he made on First North, including with international students from Ghana, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran and Pakistan. Thomas appreciated learning about their cultures, languages, religions and traditions. Gail Reitenbach (HS’77; LCUR Resident from 1977-1978) started her career with three years as visiting assistant professor at the University of Wyoming, during which time she taught and published academic articles about novels. After this, she edited novels and nonfiction books, eventually taking a position in marketing communications and publications at the University of Colorado. She then spent nearly two decades writing and editing for the energy and power-generation industries. Now she has just published her first novel – Optics: A Novel about Women and Work and Midlife Muddles which came out in September 2020. She has found writing novels to be both more difficult and more satisfying than her prior relationships with fictional narratives! Gail was drawn to Luther by the musicals. For two years prior to enrollment, she was in the audience with her small town Luther League friends and wondered what it would be like to play piano in the pit orchestra. While attending Luther for her last two years of high school, she found out! Ian McLeod (U’78; LCUR Resident from 1973-1975) is now retired in Surrey, BC, after 40 years in the computer business, and the last 25 in a series of senior IT management positions in post-secondary institutions. He is now enjoying time with his five grandchildren. He particularly remembers the first classes taken in Computer Science, and how impressive that big Xerox Sigma 9 was. (He thinks that when he started univer-
SHAWN FRASER
sity, it was only the second year that Computer Science was offered at the University of Regina.) Ian particularly remembers the close camaraderie with fellow residents at Luther: the regular gatherings to play bridge and chess, and of course, broomball tournaments in winter and Muckby in the spring! Dr. Carmen Johnson (HS’79) was named the Family Medicine Teacher of the Year (2019) by the Saskatchewan College of Family Physicians. She is the Medical Director of Palliative Services for the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
1980’s Bentley Hicks (U’83) turned 60 this past April, and has served with the Federal Government for nearly 28 years. He started his career with what was then Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) in 1992, then moved to Justice Canada as Regional Coordinator for the Aboriginal Justice Strategy in Saskatchewan and Alberta. In 2002 he moved back to Ottawa to work with Health Canada. In 2011, he returned to INAC and developed the first comprehensive renewal of the On-Reserve Income Assistance Program in over 40 years. He is currently Senior Research Manager in Social Policy with Indigenous Services Canada. He met Leslie MacDonald when they were both Ph.D. students at the University of Ottawa. They married in 1989. Leslie works at Carleton University as the Coordinator for the Committee on Ethics involving Human Subjects. Their daughter, Kesley, is studying Anthropology at Carleton. In recalling his time at Luther, Bentley speaks highly of his academic advisor for his B.A., Dr. Arthur Krentz, Philosophy. Bentley credits Professor Krentz with instilling in him a desire and a drive to know and understand
HEATHER GETZ things, which has served him well in his career, and he appreciates that Professor Krentz always had time and empathy for students. Heather Getz (HS’84, U’89) got married to Lee Sinclair on February 22, 2020, and they luckily had their wedding and honeymoon right before everything changed with the pandemic. Between them, they have six (grown) children. Two of Heather’s three are high school alumni, and both completed their post-secondary studies in 2019: Isaac Becker (HS’11) completed his B.Sc. in nursing at the University of Saskatchewan and is living in Regina. Emilia (Becker) Wolfmueller (HS’13, U’19) achieved her B.A. with Great Distinction with a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology and is now working at the U of R Student Support Centre as a Student Advisor, managing the Summer Bridge Program. Emilia also got married in August 2019. Marlene (Kolybaba) Harper (U’86) earned her undergraduate degree at Luther College at the University of Regina. Dr. Paul Antrobus was her thesis advisor for her Masters in Psychology (Clinical Stream), and she earned a Ph.D. from California Coast University. She provided psychologi-
cal services in Regina until she retired in 2018, and also taught Psychology courses at Luther and the Department of Education. She volunteered throughout her career, including teaching mindfulness meditation courses, chronic-pain management and mental training for athletes. Marlene competed in Masters Kayaking for 25 years and received awards for Program Development from Canoe Kayak Canada and a Life-Time Achievement Award from the Wascana Racing Canoe Club. She and her husband are enjoying retirement in Regina while focussing on family, friends, and hobbies. Travelling to visit their daughter and her husband are their happiest times. Marlene was in her thirties when she entered University full time. She says that there were only a few “older students” then, and that she will be forever grateful to Dr. Paul Antrobus for encouraging her to join the Luther family and for his mentoring. Everyone at Luther made her feel welcome – administrators, office staff, and cafeteria staff. Lindsay (Ganson) Collins (U’87; LCUR Resident from 1981–1984) started her teaching career in Gull Lake, and then Val Marie. She has spent the last 30 years at the Estevan Comp. She is still teaching and loves her job. She has two sons who are the biggest part of her life and she still competes with her horse. Lindsay recalls that Luther was the best place to live. She made many great friends that she still keeps in touch with today.
1990’s Dr. Shawn N. Fraser (HS’90, U’95) is the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and a Professor of Health Studies at Athabasca University. He has taught as a faculty member at
Athabasca University since 2006 and has served as the Program Director for the Master of Health Studies and Master of Nursing programs and as Associate Dean in the Faculty of Health Disciplines. He holds degrees from the University of Regina (B.Sc.), the University of Saskatchewan (M.Sc.) and the University of Alberta (Ph.D.). His main area of research involves understanding the health behaviours of cardiac rehabilitation patients. He is also involved with research in teaching and learning for health professionals and belongs to the learning analytics research group at Athabasca University. In his spare time, he maintains a statistics blog which aims to make statistics accessible. He resides in Edmonton, AB. Dr. Holly (Shipley) Bardutz (U’91) is a brain research associate and linguistics instructor at the University of Regina. Her achievements and passion for higher learning have underscored her nearly two decades on campus, holding positions in five different faculties, including Director and Teacher for English as an Additional Language, and Research Associate at Luther College. A 2018 YWCA Woman of Distinction, Holly has raised some $3.5 million in funding for brain health studies. She recently moved to the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies as part of the launch of the Brain Health Initiative. She is currently working as Principal Investigator on a number of research projects with the University of British Columbia Brain Centre and with colleagues at the U of R. Holly also designed and teaches Brain Health and Fitness classes through the Dr. Paul Schwann Centre. She has two children and is married to Regina veterinarian Dr. Patrick Bardutz.
ALUMNI BUSINESS DIRECTORY ARE YOU A GRAD WITH YOUR OWN BUSINESS? DO YOU HAVE A KEY ROLE IN AN EXISTING BUSINESS?
You could be featured in the new Luther College Alumni Business Directory! The business directory is a service to encourage networking and the support of alumni-owned and affiliated businesses and professionals. All requests to be listed in the directory are subject to approval. Interested in adding your business to the list? We are continually adding alumni businesses to our directory. Learn more at: www.luthercollege.edu/high-school/alumni-friends/alumni-business-directory-listing LUTHER STORY FALL 2020
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JAMES TRETTWER Dennis Wilson (HS’92, U’01) married Jamie Gibbons on July 6, 2019, which was a nice mini-reunion of some Luther friends. Since 2016, he has been working at CAA, which has been very fulfilling. Dennis remembers when Luther won LIT in 1990 – “that was pretty huge!” He still keeps in touch with his friends from high school. James Trettwer (U’97) published his first book in 2018, a story collection entitled Thorn-Field. The collection was nominated in the 2019 Saskatchewan Book Awards (SBA) Muslims for Peace and Justice Fiction category and won in the SBA City of Regina Book Award category. The collection was also a finalist in Montana’s High Plains Book Awards, Short Stories Category, 2019. Also in 2019, James was a runner-up for the City of Regina Writing Award for his new novel in progress. James currently lives in and writes from Regina, Saskatchewan.
2000’s Max Schmeiser (HS’00) is the Head of Data Science at Twitter Inc. Prior to joining Twitter, he was the Head of Data Science at Convoy and the Head of Research, Analytics, and Machine Learning for Connections at Amazon. He also spent five years at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC. He was previously an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Ben Cherland (HS’01) was ordained into the Lutheran Ministry of Word and Sacrament on September 19, 2020, at Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he has been a member for 11 years. Because of COVID-19 precautions, the ordination service took place in an outdoor courtyard with only 12 people present, including Ben’s
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ELISABETH & BEN CHERLAND parents, Carl and Meredith Cherland, and his sister Elisabeth Cherland (HS’97). Bishop Ann Svennungsen of the Minneapolis Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America presided. Elisabeth provided the music. Pastor Ben has been called to Messiah Lutheran Church in Red Lodge, Montana. Brandi Good (U’03; LCUR Resident from 1998–1999) is in her 9th year of self-employment! She received her B.A. Honours in Psychology in 2003, then took a break to teach English in Japan with the full intention of returning and pursuing a master’s degree. But when she came back to Canada she re-entered the workforce, working in a series of interesting and often unexpected jobs: childcare, office administration, software testing, and project management. During this time, her husband fell critically ill, and Brandi began to re-evaluate her priorities and question whether she was truly happy with her career. Several years later, when her husband’s health was failing again, she quit her job and started BLG Business Solutions. Over the years she has been blessed to work with many amazing people around the world, all from the comfort of her home in Regina. As a bonus happy ending, in 2017 her husband received a heart transplant and is doing amazing! The thing Brandi remembers most vividly about Luther is the Academic Office, where the staff and Dean Hillis were always so warm and welcoming and available to help with any concerns or even just chat for a few minutes. Carley (Winter) Ellergodt (HS’06) graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Fine Arts degree. She always had entrepreneurial pursuits, and now works in strategic planning with Alberta Health Services. She is married to Jeremy
BRANDI GOOD Ellergodt, a Calgary lawyer, and they have two young boys. Stephen Sharpe (HS’08) was ordained a priest by Raymond Cardinal Burke in Florence, Italy in July 2020 for the Institute of Christ the King, after seven years of formation. His first assignment is near the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Dr. Gregory Akulov (High School math faculty member) and his son Alex Akulov (HS’07) recently published a short math article in the Ontario Mathematics Gazette. The pair’s article is entitled “Some from London, Some from Rome, Plus Some Classroom Math from Home.” Jamie (Gibbons) Wilson (U’09; LCUR Resident from 2000-2003) married Dennis Wilson (HS’92, U’01) in July 2019, and had a bit of a mini-Luther reunion with friends on both sides. She says it was great to get together and make some wonderful memories. Jamie had a lot of fun living in residence at Luther and made some truly great friends. From watching Whose Line in the quad lounge to the Christmas decorating contests and finals hot tub parties, there was always something fun going on.
2010’s Remington Winter (HS’11) attended Acadia University in Nova Scotia and received a Bachelor of Science (Biology). He then entered medical school at the University of Ottawa, graduating in spring 2019. As a senior intern, he is currently a doctor specializing in internal medicine in Winnipeg, MB. Valerie Leitch (U’14) began her university adventure in 2005 when she decided to honour a promise she had made to herself in 1969: to go back to learn Spanish after having
DENNIS AND JAMIE WILSON
OLIVIA ROBERTSON
SHELBY BORSTMAYER
STEPHEN SHARPE
ASHLEY HALSTEAD
studied it for a year. She took a Saturday class, then, later, night classes. She enjoyed the learning experience so much that she decided to work toward a Liberal Arts Diploma. Her motto was, and continues to be, “the day it’s not fun, I’m done.” Valerie’s Luther career began in 2011 when she took a history class from Mark Anderson. This changed her whole outlook on going forward. Dr. Brenda Anderson “strongly” suggested that she belonged at Luther, a decision Valerie has never regretted. Since then, she has focused on Religious Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and History, and hopes to convocate from Luther with a major in Spanish, and minors in History and Religious Studies, in 2021. Fulfilling that long-ago promise to herself has turned into her retirement hobby, and she savours every minute, taking one class per semester. Valerie says her educational journey is enhanced by wonderful friendships with both staff and students.
Dr. Ashley Halstead (U’16) graduated from Luther College at the University of Regina with a B.Sc. in Chemistry with Distinction. Since her time at Luther she attended the University of Saskatchewan in the College of Dentistry DMD program. She completed her four-year dentistry program in April 2020. Convocation was scheduled for June 4, 2020, but was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Olivia (Philippon) Robertson (U’15) is graduating as a Doctor of Medicine from the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, and will be joining the Family Medicine Residency program in Regina. Since graduating from the University of Regina with a B.Sc. Honours degree (’15), her honours thesis has been published in the Journal of Psychology, Health and Medicine. While in medical school, she has also com-
Stewart Kerr (U’16) graduated in April 2016 and that September began a job with the Canadian Red Cross in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the Community Outreach Coordinator for Southeast SK. His main duties included disaster preparedness and response, volunteer management and engagement, and community outreach. During his one-year contract, he deployed as a Red Cross Disaster Responder to
pleted research in neurology and published an article in the Journal of Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders. She has been married for three years, and she and her husband recently celebrated their son’s first birthday. Katy DeCoste (HS’16) was “thrilled and honored” to be one of two recipients of the Alberta Playwriting Competition Novitiate Prize for her play Many Hollow Mercies, a poetic dystopia about a couple wandering a waterless world.
Fort McMurray fires in 2016, and in 2017 to BC wildfires and small-scale flooding and forest fire responses in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Through these amazing experiences he discovered new talents, such as working with databases and helping people during a crisis. After that contract ended, he traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to complete his M.Phil degree in International Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin. After graduating in August 2018, he joined Canadem, a Canadian international NGO located in Ottawa that works in International Peace and Security through the rostering, rapid mobilization and mission management of experts committed to international service with the UN. Stewart’s Luther memory is the Luther College Library, which he describes as “a nice little library tucked away in the corner of the university.” He appreciated that it was always quiet with plenty of computers available for use. Shelby Borstmayer (U’17) is entering her fourth year of Optometry at Pacific University College of Optometry in Oregon. She will always remember her days at Luther College, especially studying in the halls and eating snacks at Luther Link. Her favourite part of Luther College was the small class sizes, because this allowed students to develop great relationships with both professors and classmates, and to engage in great discussions.
IN MEMORIAM
With sorrow, we remember these Luther College alumni on their passing. Mary (Belcher) Houston (HSU’45) Ernest Simpson (HSU’46) Neil Gillespie (HS’49) Keaton Bradley (HS’50) Doug Brown (HS’50)
Morley Bruce (HS’53) Gordon Millin (HS’55) Gerald Dixon (HS’57, HSU’58) Peter von Stackelberg (HS’61, HSU’64) Merle Henry Harth (HS’62)
Ron Toews (HS’67) Roger MacKay (HS’80) Christina (Carter) Demyen (HS’97)
CORRECTION - We sincerely apologize to Gary Madsen (HS’77). In our last issue, we reported his passing when
it was his father Ross Madsen (HS’50) who passed away in December 2019. We regret our error and apologize to Gary and his family for the mistake.
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n o i t n e t At s t n e d u t s al
All students from kindergarten to grade 8 are welcome to join the Future Luther Student Program. Go online to www.luthercollege.edu to register.