Summer 2020

Dear Members of the Class of 2009,
 
Many of us are making adjustments, sometimes daily or even hourly, to these uncertain times and, for a variety of reasons, a few Class Agents were unable to write their class letters this spring. We look forward to sending you a letter from your agent this fall, but, in the meantime, we wanted to send you an update from the college and your class notes.

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.

In the midst of the uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic, in the United States and at Luther, we also confront centuries of racism that has led to oppression, injustices, and inequities.
 
We must strive to make this world a better place for our neighbors who experience systemic oppression. Luther College is preparing to be a leader in the difficult and painful conversations that will take place over the coming months and years and I invite you to view Pres. Ward's message regarding the college's action steps .

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, please consider making a gift today.

We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy during these times.

Many thanks for your steadfast love and support.
 
Mariah Bringer Smith ‘95
Director of Development, Current Gifts
College Updates:



  • ICYMI (in case you missed it): the second issue of Norse Notes is available!

  • Luther is now a Bee Campus USA affiliate, recognizing the benefit to pollinators that Luther has been providing through our sustainability and land stewardship efforts over the years.

  • Luther's Ideas and Creations blog is an excellent way to keep up with what we're talking about in our community. The latest post, What is Juneteenth, by Professor of Religion, Guy Nave, is timely and informative.


  • Luther College and Northeast Iowa Community College are partnering in an effort to meet growing workforce needs in the social work field. The two institutions partnered to create an A.A. to B.A. Social Work Transfer Pathway. This agreement will provide students the opportunity to complete an A.A. at NICC with credits that directly transfer to Luther, allowing them to obtain their B.A. in social work in only two additional years.

  • Beginning in the fall of 2020, Luther College 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. Students will be trained to understand the complex interactions among social, political, environmental and cultural forces that shape the health status of populations across the globe.They will be encouraged to understand the implications of inequalities domestically and globally and begin to take steps toward positive change. After students graduate from Luther with a degree in global health, they will be qualified for careers such as health program coordinators or policy analysts in a variety of domestic and international health organizations. They will also be prepared to pursue a master's degree in public health, global health or another health-related field, and have the option to gain further expertise through a doctoral program.

‌

 CLASS NOTES

Hannah Armstrong earned a doctor of musical arts degree in vocal performance and pedagogy from the University of Minnesota. She is also vocal music and choir director at Southwest High School in Minneapolis, and performs with the choral ensemble, The Singers.

Johanna Bergan of Decorah was awarded the 2019 Certified Elected Municipal Official designation from the Iowa League of Cities for her commitment to continuing her professional development while in elected office. She serves on the Decorah City Council.

Tiffany Choi teaches French at East High School in Denver. She was elected president of the Denver Classroom Teachers Association with 54.2% of the vote from 2,784 teachers. Choi was cited in the Denver Post as, “a progressive young teacher who played a high-profile role in February’s teacher strike will be the new leader of the growing Denver teachers union.”

Sam Darnall-Werlinger earned the medical doctorate from Ross University School of Medicine. She is a resident physician with the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Family Medicine Residency.

Holli (McClure) and Christopher Huus live in Oakdale, Minn. Holli is a teacher at Oakdale Elementary School. Christopher earned the juris doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law and is a public defender for Washington County.

Beth (Cochrane) and Joe Koenig ‘07 are both certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Lee Meirick is quality assurance test lead at Energy Corporation in Kansas City.

Andrea (Johnson) Mierau is faculty and clinical education coordinator for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Rasmussen College in Eagan, Minn.

Anthony Snitker is marketing coordinator at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, Calif. In August he finished his second 100 mile race at the Angeles Crest 100 Mile Endurance Race finishing in the Top 10 with a time of 22:46:26.

Alex Stoppel is senior iOS engineer for Target in Minneapolis.

Kristin Swedlund is senior manager, annual giving and fundraising operations, at Morgridge Institute for Research in Madison, Wis.

Jen (Meuwissen) VanDeVoorde is pharmacy manager at Wal-Mart Pharmacy in Galesburg, Ill.

Joy Waughtal is a professional research assistant at the University of Colorado in Denver.


MARRIAGES

SARA BOURASSA and Roy Dorsett, June 25, 2018

BETH COCHRANE and JOE KOENIG '07, Aug. 31, 2019

SAM DARNALL and Tyler Werlinger, June 16, 2018

STACY DUREN and Santiago Nogueira, June 28, 2019

NICK NOLAN and Madeline Gage, July 26, 2019

JEN MEUWISSEN and Robert VanDeVoorde, Nov. 9, 2019

EHLER ORNGARD and EMILY WITTIG '10, Sept. 21, 2019


BIRTHS/ADOPTIONS

Raymond Duke, in July 2019, child of KRISTA (MORRIS) '10 and JOSH BLESSING

Noah Stephen, in October 2019, child of KATE (WESTBY) and ABE CAMPOS '10

Nicholas William, in June 2019, child of SARA (KESSLER) and GREG CROGHAN '09

Margaret, in June 2018, child of MEG (BERVEN) and CULYNN CURTIS '10

Joseph Soren, in July 2019, child of LIZ ERICKSON and Joe Krekeler

Taygan, in July 2019, child of ASHLIE (PATTEN) LEE '12 and CORY LEE

Marceline, in June 2019, child of Bethany and LEE MEIRICK

Sophie Christine, in April 2018, child of SARAH (GUSTAFSON) and Jeremy Peterson

Azalea, in August 2018, child of ADDIE (BEAN) and PHILIP SADLER '08

Sullivan Abraham in April 2019, child of JOY (WAUGHTAL) and Joshua Wise