Every five years since 1943, Dorothy (McMillen) Anderson gets dressed up and makes it over from her hometown of Mabel, Minnesota, to attend Luther College’s Homecoming and class reunions. Even at 101 years old, she wasn’t going to stop that tradition, so she came to Decorah for the Luther reunion luncheon Oct. 7.

Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward is proud to announce the 2023 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to alumni or individuals with strong connections to Luther College who have exhibited admirable service to society in areas such as education, government, the arts, business, church, labor, industry, agriculture, research, medicine and community affairs.

Luther College announces that three alumni will begin service on committees for the Luther College Board of Regents beginning in October: Mark Lovelace, class of 1996, Andrew Carney, class of 2001, and Lisa Small Steinbauer, class of 1988. As committee members, they will contribute their expertise on resource development and management, investment and campus life.

Audrey Fashimpaur, class of 2023, studied Mandarin Chinese. She was one of 500 students – both undergraduate and graduate – from across the country selected for the program this year.

The three Luther alumni “represent a forward-looking mindset with a love and respect for the way their own Luther experience shaped them,” said President Ward.

“This season highlights one of Luther’s core values: understanding ourselves and the world by being both grounded and global,” said Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming.

Weber has pursued her calling as a musician while working in service to her community. One Voices of Hope singer said, “We are given many tools at Shakopee, but none have healed me like music.”

Luther College has awarded the inaugural Joy Tlou Memorial Award to Mychal Shed ’23.

During the month of February, Luther College alumna Vanessa Frazier ’90 is leading the United Nations Security Council as its president.

Matthew Benson ’22 has been awarded a graduate medical education scholarship through the Torrison and Williams Scholarship Program for the 2022-23 academic year.