Spring 2020

Dear Members of the Class of 2006,
 
Like colleges all over the country (and the world), Luther College has just wrapped up a spring semester like no other. Our students participated in remote learning, connecting with their professors and classmates online and on Sunday, May 24, we celebrated the Class of 2020 with a virtual commencement . It certainly wasn't the spring semester we imagined, but the Luther community responded with resiliency and creativity.
 
Many of us are making adjustments, sometimes daily or even hourly, to these uncertain times but we wanted to be sure to connect with you and to send you Chris's letter. We think you'll enjoy reading what he has written to your class.
 
Especially now, gifts to the Luther Fund can make a big difference in supporting students as they navigate all that's ahead. If you can ,   I hope you will consider making a gift today.

We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy during these times. For updated information about Luther's response to the pandemic, visit luther.edu.

Many thanks for your steadfast love and support.
 
Mariah Bringer Smith ‘95
Director of Development, Current Gifts
Greetings Luther Class of 2006!
 
Times are so very strange right now and we hope this letter finds you and your family doing well and staying healthy! It has certainly been a strange start to 2020, but we have enjoyed seeing how everyone has adapted to the immense change COVID-19 has forced upon our society. To say the least, I believe we all agree our Luther education has prepared us to lead in times of such great change.
 
Just looking at some of the great things our class is accomplishing makes clear the dividend we are receiving on our investment in a Luther education. On that topic, we have a class of seniors who just experienced the most unusual spring semester one could imagine. In a regular year, the Alumni and Career Center offices need our help as alumni to connect with graduating students, but this year it is especially important. If you or anyone you know can connect with a graduating student to offer career advice, network for job placement, or just generally offer words of encouragement about entering the “real world,” please reach out to the A lumni Office and let them know how you can help make this new reality a little more “normal.”
 
Now I know this is hard to believe, but we are a little over a year from our 15-year reunion, and that means we are entering planning season for that event. It takes more than just a couple people to plan these reunions, so please reach out to us if you are interested in helping plan this awesome event to happen during Homecoming 2021, October 1-3. The Alumni Office is also working on organizing our Class of 2006 Facebook community to be a more consistent and centralized source for info related specifically to our class year…so be on the lookout for more information soon!
 
In closing, please be sure to check in on one another and keep a watchful eye for anyone being left behind during this challenging time. As a Luther community, we are better prepared than most to care for our friends and neighbors and personally, that makes me proud to be a Luther Grad!
 
Soli Deo Gloria
Chris Bellinder


2006 Class Agents:
Chris Bellinder
3236 Hunters Rest Drive
Charleston SC 29414-7533
785-760-2132
chris.bellinder@gmail.com
Jamie Sue (Schultz) Knight
50261 Rebecca Drive
Paw Paw, MI 49079-8420
262-442-0284
jamiesue.knight@gmail.com

CLASS NOTES
 
Andrew Allen earned an associate degree in wind energy and turbine technology from Iowa Lakes Community College. He is a service technician for Vestas Americas on a wind farm near Montezuma, Iowa.
 
Helissa (Stevens) Bell teaches elementary music for the Chippewa Falls (Wis.) School District.
 
Alissa (Jacobson) Gambrel is director of operations at Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention - Midwest in Minneapolis.
 
Brad White is founder of Link Public Schools in Minneapolis.
 
 
MARRIAGES
IAN CAWLEY and Emily Johnson, Sept. 14, 2018
 
LAURA FRISTAD and Nick Saetre, Aug. 3, 2019
 

BIRTHS/ADOPTIONS
 
Hazel Grace, in January 2019, child of HELISSA (STEVENS) and Tim Bell
 
Edith Louise, in November 2019, child of Emily and IAN CAWLEY
 
Bruin, in November 2019, child of KATIE (OSTREM) and Eric Holten
 
Mari Ruth, in November 2019, child of MICHELLE (MONSON) and Michael Klisanich
 
Hazel Elizabeth, in August 2019, child of Allison and JOHN SILL
 
Olin Svien, in December 2019, child of ERICA (SVIEN) '07 and MIKE SWENSON
 
Harper Grace, in June 2019, child of ANNA (WINTER) '07 and ADAM TLOUGAN
 
 
OBITUARIES
 
Kathryn Marie (Kerswill) Dragseth of Centennial, Colo., died Nov. 3, 2019, age 35.
 
Paul Andrew Goddard of Los Angeles, formerly of Montevideo, Minn., died Aug. 31, 2018, age 35.