Spring 2020

Dear Members of the Class of 1993,
 
Like colleges all over the country (and the world), Luther College is experiencing a spring semester like no other. Our students are participating in remote learning, connecting with their professors and classmates online. It certainly isn't the spring semester we imagined, but Luther is responding with resiliency and creativity.
 
Many of us are making adjustments, sometimes daily or even hourly, to these uncertain times but we wanted to connect with you and to send you Kris and Mitch's letter that they wrote to you, the Class of 1993, just weeks before we became immersed in the COVID-19 pandemic. We think you'll enjoy reading what they have to share, knowing, of course, that any events referenced may have been cancelled or postponed.
 
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
Dear Classmates:

Happy spring and Easter! Hopefully you are receiving this letter via our new electronic format, and it finds you well.

Since our last letter, it’s been a busy time for the Luther community (as usual). President Jenifer K. Ward was inaugurated in November as Luther’s 11 th president, an amazing honor in Luther’s 158-year history. Christmas at Luther delighted and entertained thousands of students, alumni/ae, and guests in early December—if you were unable to attend in person, we hope you tuned into Iowa, Wisconsin, or Minnesota Public Radio to listen. March 5 th marked the fifth annual Giving Day for the college. It was a fun day of social posts, trivia, and live-streaming with President Ward, faculty, and staff. And, we managed to raise over $900,000 for the Luther Fund! If you were able to give this year, we thank you!

In academic news, Luther is partnering with Northeast Iowa Community College and has created an A.A. to B.A. Social Work transfer pathway. This transfer pathway will provide students the opportunity to complete an A.A. at NICC with credits and directly transfer to Luther as juniors, allowing them to obtain their B.A. in social work in only two additional years.

Additionally, beginning in the fall of 2020, Luther will offer a program to equip students with the knowledge and skills to improve the health and wellness of people worldwide. The new program,  Global Health , is an interdisciplinary field that addresses health, health equity and socioeconomic concerns of people around the world. This new major would prepare graduates in today’s growing need for solving global health issues, in turn requiring an increase in workers with an appropriate educational background and training.

Have a wonderful spring and Easter season--Soli Deo Gloria!
Kris (Felsman) Freiling
1993 Class Agent
9407 Jasmine Avenue S.
Cottage Grove MN 55016
612-325-4277
Mitch Thompson
1993 Class Agent
5691 Camerata Way
St. Louis Park MN 55416
612-987-3873

CLASS NOTES

Erik Beguin of Austin, Texas, is CEO and founder of Austin Capital Bank and serves on the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC) for the Federal Reserve Board, and is president of the council for 2020.

Catrin (Nilsson) Diamantino is CEO at Bell Educational Services in Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Mike Grimm has been the voice of the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the past 14 years. This season has been extra special, as the Gophers were ranked seventh in the country, which was their highest ranking since Nov.19, 1962 and the team’s 9-0 start was its best start since 1904. Mike was named the 2019 Minnesota Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. This is the fifth year he has earned this honor, as he was also recognized in 2013, 2010, 2009, and 1999.

Jackson Ode is divisional vice president at Sammons Financial Group in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Rebecca (Scheibe) and David Ross live in Maple Grove, Minn. She is operations manager at Pottery Barn and he is an attorney at Carson, Clelland & Schreder.

Mark Zobel is director of development at Hennepin Theatre Trust in Minneapolis.
Jay Wilson is principal at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Indianapolis.


MARRIAGES

ANNETTE LAITINEN and CHRIS FRANTSVOG '84, Jan. 17, 2020