Spring 2013
Dear Classmate,
It seems strange to be putting together a “spring” class letter when we are expecting a foot of snow here in the Twin Cities and the East Coast just received three feet of the “white stuff.” Spring cannot arrive soon enough.
The Luther website is a great place for alumni to stay connected in any season. I am including a number of links that provide great supporting content to the topics.
Winter at Luther is always kicked off by the incredible Christmas at Luther performance put on by the incredible Luther College music department. I have heard that this year’s performance was one of the best. Tickets to the event are tough to come by. But if you can find a ticket and can make it back to Decorah, the performance is a great way to share Luther with your friends or family.
The Luther men’s basketball team is in first place in the Iowa Conference with just a few games remaining in the season. It is exciting to see Coach Franzen’s team continue to build on previous success. And it is always a successful season if Luther can beat Wartburg twice in one season. The Norse already beat the Knights in Waverly this season and wrap up the regular season with Wartburg.
The Women’s basketball team still very young and continues to improve under Coach Amanda Bailey. The Norse women will be sporting pink jerseys in support of breast cancer awareness during their home game February 13th. The event is a fantastic opportunity for fans to support breast cancer awareness.
The men’s and women’s swim teams are looking forward to the completion of the new aquatic center. The Luther men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have recently dominated the national small college meet. The new aquatic center will be a huge boost to the swimming and diving programs and will also give Luther students expanded opportunities to try their hands at swimming (and improve the J-Term inner tube water polo event).
Melting of the snow this spring in the Oneota Valley will bring with it a change in Luther College leadership. Rick Torgerson will be ending his time at Luther this summer after spending 14 years leading Luther College. President Torgerson's accomplishments include the addition of three major facilities on campus -- Sampson Hoffland Laboratories, the Center for the Arts, and the completion of the Legends Fitness Center. Major additions and renovations to facilities included Valders Science Hall, Dahl Centennial Union, Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, Loyalty Hall, and all student residence halls on campus. I am thankful that President Torgerson has been a great steward of the college and has made it a place to which I aspire to send my children.
All of the improvements at Luther would not be possible without the support of Luther’s alumni. The Class of 1989 continues to rank highly in total number of donors. Laura, Maria, Kari, and I would like to thank all of you for your continued support of Luther College.
Luther students need more than just our financial support. Each year Luther seniors begin their search for employment. The Luther Career Center, headed by Keley Smith-Keller, is always looking for companies and alumni willing to recruit at Luther. Hiring a Luther student is a win/win for your company and the Luther student. The Career Center also needs help in placing students in internships and externships (job shadow). You can reach Keley at smitke09@luther.edu.
I will leave you with one final video. The video was put together by Luther students as part of their work study in the Luther marketing department. I will admit to watching the video more than once. But it puts a smile on my face every time I watch it.
Laura, Maria, Kari, and I wish all of you a joyful 2013.
Chris Hubbs
chrisjenhubbs@gmail.com
Laura (Charlson) Frazier
laura.frazier@parknicollet.com
Kari Christen Richards
jkcrichards@yahoo.com
Maria (Spieker) Mickelson
tmmickelson@charter.net
Class Notes
AMY (HALVORSON) HOLZWORTH earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Denver. She is a librarian at the Poudre River Public Library District in Fort Collins, Colo.
MARIA MICKELSON earned a master’s degree in literacy and mathematics from the University of Minnesota. She is an elementary school teacher in the Austin (Minn.) Public School District.
MARTY MONSON serves as CEO and executive director of the Barbershop Harmony Society in Nashville, Tenn., and president/owner of Visual Communications Advisors in Franklin, Tenn.
RON RICHARDSON earned a doctorate in worship arts from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies. He is the arts pastor at Epiclesis Church in Sacramento, Calif.
Don't forget your Annual Fund giving! Each year nearly 9,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $50,000. Strong support from alumni helps Luther secure additional funds from foundations and corporations, and your gift each year helps us reach our goal of 27% alumni giving. Here’s how your class—and surrounding classes—did in 2012:
Class of 1988 total giving in 2012: $66,079 from 24% of the class
Class of 1989 total giving in 2012: $34,502 from 23% of the class
Class of 1990 total giving in 2012: $38,028 from 22% of the class
Your gift can boost the impact your class has on current students! Please use the enclosed envelope or visit www.givenow.luther.edu to show your support. Thank you!
WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE:
This list includes all gifts received January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012. Making a gift each and every year is an investment in the lives of Luther students and a show of support for the Luther College community. Thank you for your support of Luther College through your giving.
Marc Al*
Richard Anderson*
Jeffrey Arndt
Sarah (Molldrem) Bachmeier*
Eric Beckman
Perry Bekkerus
Brent Benrud
Jeffrey Bigler*
Marnie (Kleven) Bigler*
Bonnie Black*
John Boehmer
D. Allan Boettger*
Ann (Carson) Brcka
Kurt Brennan
Brian Brown
Karin (Sandness) Bruwelheide
Karrie (Knutson) Craig
Cari (Halling) Cummins*
Jean Dickson*
Andrea Doeden
Thomas Dumbaugh
Christina (Zuber) Engelby*
Karla (Luzum) Erdman*
Todd Fogdall*
Lois Forde-Kohler
Paul Frana
Laura (Charlson) Frazier*
Larry Geno
Trudi (Sands) Greaves*
Sarah Grow
Kristine (Olson) Gunderson
Mark Gustafson*
Jeffrey Guthrie*
Jill Hallenberger*
Kristin (Fretheim) Hanneman*
Karen Hansen
Mary Hanson-Busch*
Lori Happel-Jarratt*
Pamela (Brown) Haugen*
Christopher Haupert
Tiffany (Seymour) Hauptman*
Staci (Dullum) Heimsoth
Leann (Hovden) Herman*
Christopher Hubbs*
Herman Jass*
James Jensen*
Jon Jensen*
Elisabeth Johnson*
Jennifer Johnson
Michael Kinsel*
Beth (Womeldorf) Kregel*
Kimberly (Stone) Kros
Amy (Larsen) Krull*
Thomas (Mcconnell) Laird-McConnell
John Laughlin*
Rhonda (Englert) Lawrence*
Stacey (Gill) Lindahl
Susan (Gause) Long*
Miriam (Pitcher) Mackey*
Dawn Mathson Al*
Noelle (Natte) Mehltretter*
Rochelle (Sullivan) Meyer*
Maria (Spieker) Mickelson
Ramona (Henriksen) Mitchell*
Martin Monson
Jonette (Ross) Moore
David Morgan
Tanya Oberg
Tamara (Stelling) Olson*
Dan Owens*
Theresa (Anderson) Owens*
Laura (Beckman) Palmer*
Joseph Paulus*
James Putman*
Jill (Schroeder) Putman*
Paul Reimann*
Michelle Rejman
Kari (Christen) Richards*
Heidi Ricks
Kari (Palm) Roskens*
Jean Ryan*
Ryan Sather
Sonia (Albertson) Sather
Diana Schmidt*
Diane (Hearn) Schmidt
Deborah (Savage) Schunder*
Barbara (Gibbs) Scott*
Bryant Siefken
Jami (Dueland) Siefken
Scott Stevens*
Ann Streufert
Kecia (French) Stroot
Karen Swenson
Tracy (Peterson) Thacker
Adrian Ting
Eric Tvedt
Eunice (Sersland) Veeder
Jill (Voss) Wachholz
Michael Waschevski*
Beth (Ray) Westlund
Susan (Ellefson) Wolle
Leisa (Mechling) Wyman
Jana Zimmerman
* made a gift in each of the last five consecutive years.
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If an error has been made, please accept our apology and contact the Luther Development Office at 800-225-8664, or e-mail giving@luther.edu.
