Gideon Armah-Amissah receives Jenson Medal

Luther College graduating senior Gideon Armah-Amissah received the college’s Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal for the class of 2026 during Commencement on Sunday, May 24.

Gideon Armah-Amissah received Luther’s Jenson Medal at Commencement on May 24, 2026.

“To receive the Jenson Medal is such an honor,” Armah-Amissah said. “To be selected by peers that I interact with daily is humbling and a sign of trustworthiness and stewardship.”

Luther’s Elizabeth A. and Paul G. Jenson Medal is presented each year to an outstanding senior, selected by the graduating class, who best demonstrates the ideals of the college through service to students and the college community. Established through an endowment gift from Luther alumni Paul, class of 1948 and Elizabeth (Dybdal) Jenson, class of 1949, of Vassalboro, Maine, the Jenson Medal supports Luther College’s mission of service.

Armah-Amissah was a two-sport athlete for Luther and competed in basketball and track and field. He was a leader on campus and represented Luther at the conference and national level. An officer of the Norse Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC), Armah-Amissah was president of the American Rivers Conference SAAC. In 2025, he was a member of the NCAA Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

An economics major, Armah-Amissah was a Sorenson Scholar and an active participant in TRIO programs. He served as a leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was vice president of the Black Student Union and worked as an ambassador in Admissions. He received the Krahn Family Student Life Service Award in 2025 for his positive impact on student life. He is the son of Emelia and Richard Amissah.

A humble student-athlete with a servant-leader mindset, Armah-Amissah acknowledged his Christian faith and thanked the Luther community during his acceptance speech at Commencement.

“First, I want to give all glory and thanks to Christ my Lord, who has guided me, strengthened me and carried me through this journey. Without Him, I would not be standing here today,” Armah-Amissah said. “…To my teammates and friends, thank you for becoming family. The practices, games, meets, road trips, wins, losses and everyday moments are memories I will carry with me forever.”

Armah-Amissah, of Columbus, Georgia, recalled the first time he visited Luther College.

“I remember people saying hi and the numerous people smiling,” he said. “I had this warm feeling and I felt that Luther was a place where I would succeed and connect with people that truly cared about me.”

Luther Men’s Basketball Coach Mark Franzen was among those who encouraged Armah-Amissah to attend college in Decorah.

Luther College men’s basketball player Gideon Armah-Amissah (far left) attends the 2025 NCAA National Convention, Jan. 14-17 in Nashville, Tennessee. Armah-Amissah represented both Luther College and the American Rivers Conference at the convention.

“Gideon lived out his faith by showing a genuine concern and interest in others during his time at Luther College. We will greatly miss his positive impact on campus and in our program,” Franzen said.

Armah-Amissah planned to study nursing at Luther but switched to economics during his third semester. Steve Holland, professor of economics, was one of the reasons why Armah-Amissah decided to change majors.

“Professor Steve Holland was someone who was not just an advisor or professor, but someone who stretched my way of thinking,” Armah-Amissah said. “When I first stepped into his office, he gave me a clear plan of what I needed to do, how to do it, and with an objective goal. Every single class I took with Steve was filled with lessons outside the realm of economics — these same principles apply to everyday life.”

Holland said Armah-Amissah’s positive impact was felt throughout campus.

“It didn’t matter what the class was or what time of day, Gideon entered every classroom with a huge smile on his face and always treated everyone with kindness and respect. Other professors have shared how Gideon’s positivity was so contagious that it transformed the tone of their classes,” Holland said. “Gideon’s humility, servant-leader mindset and love for his community make him exactly the kind of graduate Luther strives to send into the world.”

Armah-Amissah received his bachelor’s degree in economics on May 24. His next step is to take his talents into the corporate world. He will be working as a carrier account representative for Arrive Logistics in St. Paul, Minnesota.

“‘I’ll be living with a few friends and hopefully still be around campus every now and then,” he said.

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