May the peace of God be with you

March 2022

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Dear fellow alumni,

Is it just me, or do you, too, find that another alumni newsletter brings with it a good time to reflect? With the recent freezing rain in southeast Wisconsin, we experienced extreme icy conditions providing another type of reflection for the day. With the addition of so much ice, the sometimes dreary winter reality was transformed and a renewed beauty was revealed. Just like the surrounding area, when the sun broke through the clouds, the campus was glistening with ice reflecting the sun so brilliantly that it created an array of light and scenes of splendor that are rarely seen. Maybe you can relate?

As I reflected, it struck me that such a barren wintery landscape could shine with such artistry. There was no doubt that others felt the same way as I joined a host of photographers that morning capturing the scenes around campus. It was amazing how transformational things became when the light reflected consistently and how profoundly it impacted so many.

As we reflect on all that is going on in the world, the passage from Philippians came to mind. I pray it encourages you.

And the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Greg Witto '94

Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

P.S. Consider joining us in person for the Week of Service activities, especially Hearts Together – the special student alumni service event.

Join us in Thanksgiving to celebrate a beloved music professor as he prepares to retire.

Celebrate with your alma mater as the men’s basketball team made it to the conference final.

Painting Hearts Together: You're invited

April 7 and 9

(Left to right): Alumni Director Greg Witto, student Mattson Wick ('23), alumnus Josh Kastens ('21), alumna Sarah Deheck ('20), alumnus Rick Adams (84'), and Dr. Randall Ferguson, director of Christian Service recently met to discuss the event.

Concordia's Week of Service is approaching and alumni can participate this year by joining students – in person – to produce Hearts of Mercy & Compassion (HMC). These unique wooden hearts are crafted in partnership with Lutheran Church Charities and serve as a physical and spiritual symbol for families and friends who have suffered loss or serious illness of a loved one. Given as a gift, each HMC provides a reminder of the constant love and hope of Jesus through presence and prayer. To learn more, click here.

Thank you for participating in our Day of Giving

On March 9, the entire CUAA and CUW community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends—joined in the FUN to make a difference in the lives of our UNCOMMON students. March MATCHness, a special day of giving, returned for a second year. Various MATCH challenges were unlocked throughout the day to magnify the impact of each gift.

We are grateful for each gift, which supported one of the following categories:

Concordia Fund
Athletics
Campus Ministry
Fine Arts
Scholarship Support

At the time of this writing, more than $71,000 was raised with still time to give! The site will remain open until March 20.

Don’t miss Kammerchor’s Spring Concert tour

We look forward to seeing you as the CUW Kammerchcor tours America's heartland in March 2022! We hope you can join us at one of the upcoming scheduled concerts on our spring tour.

Kammerchor (German for “chamber choir”) is an auditioned mixed voice ensemble which sings a wide variety of choral literature from the Renaissance to the present. As a touring ensemble, Kammerchor has sung in worship and concert virtually all over the continental USA, several times to Canada, and overseas to locations as varied as Brazil, China, and several locations in Europe. For more information about the concerts, click here.

Mark your calendars for Dr. James Freese's

retirement celebration

April 23

Join us as we celebrate Dr. James Freese and his more than 20 years of teaching at CUW! This event will feature an organ recital performed by CUW music alumni: Lindsey Fuguill, Silas Hasselbrook, Joseph Meador, and Charlie Russel. This is a FREE event! Click here to watch for more details.

Alumna wins LEA award

Congratulations to 2021 alumna Michaela Wilaby, who was recently named the 2022 LEA Outstanding New Lutheran Early Childhood Teacher. Michaela teaches kindergarten at Pilgrim Lutheran School in Green Bay, Wis. She also serves as the girls' basketball coach.

In the media: The Washington Post touts

CUW’s excellence in caring for students’ mental health

In a Washington Post story that also appears in the prestigious Hechinger Report, award-winning journalist Laura Pappano outlines the innovative and proactive ways CUW helps students cope.

Pappano spent a day on Concordia’s campus in early February, sitting in on classes, observing mental health services and discussions in progress, and interviewing faculty, staff, and students. To learn more, read here.

Falcons bid for NACC finals

The last part of the men's basketball season was full of twists and turns as they made their bid to the NACC finals. To see their journey and how it ended, click here for a series of articles.

Introducing Aaron Yurk: the rest of the story

Last month in our Uncommon Impact section, we featured the Forward in Faith Lutheran Teacher Scholarship and its first recipient Aaron Yurk. We promised to tell you more about this ambitious future alumnus, so here it is! Just click here.

Two men and a boat: Reflections on Fishers of Men

The sky, weather and the water join to form a perfect backdrop for the Fishers of Men statue on our campus. The impression the statue makes and the mood it establishes depend a great deal on its immediate surroundings. Enjoy this photo gallery and reflection inspired by the iconic statue and how it represents what our university is really all about.