Spring 2020

Dear Members of the Class of 2008,
 
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 Carl'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
Hello, classmates and friends,
 
I’m writing this letter against a backdrop of public health and economic concerns due to COVID-19 and societal unrest in response to continued state violence against black people . It is a dark and challenging moment. I hope that wherever you are, you are safe, healthy, and surrounded by loved ones.
 
As many of you may know, Luther moved entirely to virtual classes for the second half of the semester and is taking a variety of steps to facilitate a safe return to campus over the coming year. It hurts to think of the seniors who missed their final months together, and the first-year students who may not experience the embrace of the full Luther College community during their first semester, but I am thankful that the College is taking steps to protect students and our broader society.
 
Despite this difficult time, good things are happening at Luther. The college’s new president, Dr. Jenifer K. Ward, hit the ground running in her first year. She led Luther’s 2020 Giving Day, which raised nearly $1 million to help fund the school’s student financial aid and other incredible programs. In line with Luther’s strategic plan to create new opportunities for transfer students and students coming from community colleges, President Ward recently signed an agreement with Northeast Iowa Community College for students who complete their A.A. degrees at NICC to obtain their B.A. degrees in social work in only two additional years at Luther. Learn more  here .
 
You can probably guess where this is going: a request to give back to Luther. You’re right. You can do so anytime on this website:  givenow.luther.edu . Giving to the Luther Fund continues to be the best way to support student financial aid programs and other initiatives on campus.
 
Please reach out at any time – it would be lovely to hear more fulsome updates about how you all are doing.  
 
 
Very best,
 
Carl Westphal and the whole 2008 Class Agent team
2008 Class Agents:
Carl Westphal
1303 Clifton Street NW, Apt. 4
Washington, DC 20009-7015
608-797-4669

Ryan Fordice
1234 W. Carmen Avenue, Apt. 1A
Chicago, IL 60640
563-599-7780
ryan.fordice@gmail.com
Sarah Carnes
421 N. Phillips Ave., Apt. 209
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
712-229-1216

Andrea Kruse
3455 Holdrege Street, Apt. 300
Lincoln, NE 68503-1429
402-316-6152
Cale Nelson
722 Grand Avenue, Unit C
Saint Paul, MN 55105
612-799-4440

CLASS NOTES

Elizabeth (Koenig) Appel is training manager at Propel Nonprofits in Minneapolis.
 
Brad Ernst is Audi brand specialist in vehicle sales at Lithia Motors in Johnston, Iowa.
 
Ethan Grev is senior analyst at Allianz Life Financial Services in Minneapolis.
 
Candice Grimes is a paralegal and hearing officer for the Housing Authority of Cook County in Chicago.
 
Tyler Hendrickson of Iowa City, Iowa, teaches piano at Preucil School of Music in Iowa City and viola and violin at Schultz Strings in Cedar Rapids. On Oct. 1 he performed on campus in Luther’s guest artist recital, “Best of the Rest: Forgotten Gems from the 1919 Berkshire Festival Competition.”

Ashley Holland completed medical school at Des Moines University and a general psychiatry residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine, and completed fellowships in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry and Cognitive Neurology at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, Mass. A psychiatrist, she recently joined the Mayo Health Systems “Behavioral Health Care Program” in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Dane Jensen is a real estate advisor at Engel & Völkers in Minneapolis.
 
Emily (Workman) and J.P. McGinnis ‘10 live in Houston. Emily is an adjunct professor at San Jacinto Community College, and J.P. is a resident physician in the Department of Neurosurgery at Baylor College of Medicine.
 
Niki Mosier is technical SEO manager at Seer Interactive in Philadelphia.
 
Janelle (Ackerman) Novak is terminal bulk supervisor at Ecolab in St. Paul, Minn.
 
Kaycee (Green) Rogers is an ESL faculty associate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
 
Janelle (Ackerman) Novak is terminal bulk supervisor at Ecolab in St. Paul, Minn.
 
 
MARRIAGES
 
JANELLE ACKERMAN and Andrew Novak, April 14, 2018
 
NINA CATTERALL and Marty Schultz, Jan. 11, 2020
 
ELIZABETH KOENIG and Phil Appel, Sept. 21, 2019
 
AARON ZUTZ and Natalie Smith, Sept. 1, 2019
 
 
BIRTHS/ADOPTIONS

Twins, June and Julius, in October 2019, children of ASHLEY (HOLLAND) and Andrew Murray
 
Roman Jack, in June 2019, child of CHANDRA (SKINNER) and SCOTT JENNINGS
 
Samuel, in August 2019, child of CAROL (REECE) and MIKE LUDEKING '07
 
Loren Paul, in November 2019, child of MARIE (PALMQUIST) and PAUL SCHOLTZ '10
 
Azalea, in August 2018, child of ADDIE (BEAN) '09 and PHILIP SADLER