Dear Classmate,
I had hoped to write this letter without referring to the Covid-19 pandemic. It seems, however, that so much of our lives in the past few years has been affected by it that it is hard to ignore. Navigating the pandemic has been a challenge, particularly if it personally impacted your job, health, or a loved one. For the lucky ones among us, it has actually been an opportunity to do “other things.” Still, not being able to socially interact as we did before 2020 has taken a toll on all of us. One thing I now know for sure, Zoom is a poor substitute for face-to-face interaction! The good news is that we are now at a point where we have acquired sufficient knowledge and tools to cope with the medical impact of this harmful virus – at least with the variants we know so far. It was nice to read in the latest Luther Magazine that LC students are consequently re-engaging in off-campus study opportunities. These programs offer students first-hand exposure to experiences beyond campus life and help equip them with the skills needed to understand and operate in our global society. So, let’s be thankful and hopeful that “re-engagement,” as exemplified by Luther’s off-campus programs, continues to be a theme for all of us going forward.
It’s always fun for me to flip through the pages of the Luther Magazine and look for familiar names and faces before settling down to read the articles. In this latest issue, I particularly liked getting a glimpse into the recent activities of emeriti faculty. Many of the highlighted emeriti were our teachers and mentors in the 1970s and remain special to us today. I have to say, they continue to inspire as they remain engaged in lives filled with fellowship, learning and creativity.
Thinking of re-engagement, we all have a chance to catch up with fellow classmates face-to-face this fall. By now you should have seen an announcement from the Alumni Office that we have a 45-year class reunion celebration coming up on Saturday, October 9th at the South Winneshiek Golf and Country Club in Calmar.
Before I close out this letter, I want to let you know that I have heard from several recipients of the “Class of 1977 Scholarship” fund that we established five years ago. The fund balance stood at $49K as of May, 2021. A total of four, need-based scholarships have been awarded since it started. The scholarship recipient this past year was a first-year student who plans to major in nursing. She expressed her gratitude to our class for “… making [her] dreams a reality.” The year before that we helped another nursing major in her senior year. She received the scholarship while doing her clinicals at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. She, too, wrote a wonderful thank you note, saying in part “… this scholarship means the world to me, and I am so grateful to have received it.” It is very satisfying to know that our donations have real impact. Thank you for your generosity and for your help in making this happen.
Please consider coming to Luther Homecoming, October 7-9. It should be a great opportunity to “re-engage” with your classmates and the Luther College community.
