Concordia St. Paul
magazine
Science Has a New Game Overhauling the Concordia science department Page 2
Athletics Update Page 10
Concordia Means Family Page 12
Deployment Doesn’t Slow Online Learner Page 15
FALL 2015
Concordia University, St. Paul
1282 Concordia Ave St. Paul, MN 55104 651-641-8810 1-866-GROW-CSP ave.csp.edu facebook.com/concordiastpaul Publisher
Office of University Advancement Editor and Writer
Melissa Wolf
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Additional Editing and Writing Assistance
Josh Deer (’04, M.A. ’07) Tad Dunham Rhonda (Behm, ’88) Palmersheim Design and Layout
Jackie Nation
IN THIS ISSUE:
Photography
2 Cover Story: Science Has a New Game
Anna Rajdl Photography University Marketing and Communications: Jackie Nation, Reid Ridpath, Melissa Wolf Printing
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Athletics Update
12
Column: CSP Ministry
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Books to Business
Ideal Printers Inc. St. Paul, MN
15 Deployment Doesn’t Slow Online Learner 20
Class Notes
About Us
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Benefactor Report
Concordia University, St. Paul is a member of the Concordia University System, a national network of 10 colleges and universities of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Concordia University, St. Paul admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin.
From the Archives
Mission
The mission of Concordia University, St. Paul, a university of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, is to prepare students for thoughtful and informed living, for dedicated service to God and humanity and for the enlightened care of God’s creation, all within the context of the Christian Gospel. © 2015 Concordia University St. Paul ALUM-0315-0448
Basketball: 1917
Building the LMC: 1953
Thoughts
from the President
“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” Thus begins Psalm 136, the long prayer of thanksgiving that itemizes the many ways God had blessed Israel. It is also the prayer that many Christians still use today to “return thanks” after a meal. It is certainly a prayer that is on the hearts and lips of all who love Concordia University, St. Paul, for God’s mercies are abundant here every day. The 2015-16 academic year opened with yet another record enrollment, the fourth year in a row. Concordia’s reputation as a quality, affordable, relevant higher education experience continues to grow. By word of mouth . . . or perhaps more likely, by word of social media . . . several thousand prospective students are drawn to apply to our undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs each year and nearly a thousand are accepted for enrollment. The word is out that CSP is a place that helps students succeed. Not only are enrollment levels at all-time highs, but rates of retention and persistence to graduation are sharply rising. As a result, enrollment growth is happening not only from new students but also from current students staying to complete their academic programs. Last spring’s 1,257 degrees granted was by far the largest number of graduates in the history of the institution. As the university grows, we are investing in the infrastructure, technology, and human resources needed to improve our already high-quality academic programming. Thanks to generous support from a number of donors, major improvements were made in science facilities this year. But all universities are learning that no single institution can own all the laboratories, classrooms, and equipment needed for the broad spectrum of instruction in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. So our science faculty have become adept at forming partnerships with other colleges and universities, most notably the University of Minnesota. A number of upper level science classes use the facilities of this Research I institution in a partnership that frequently produces graduate students for the U of M. We have also invested in strengthening our historic church vocation programs by welcoming several bright new faculty members to our Department of Theology and Ministry, and strengthening our financial aid opportunities for students preparing to be pastors, teachers, Directors of Christian Education, church musicians, deaconesses, and Directors of Christian Outreach. The dialogue around faith and learning is a lively one and our faculty and staff embrace it. The incredibly caring nature of this university was demonstrated once again this past summer when a beloved student tragically lost his life in a drowning accident. Hundreds of students rallied to the family’s side, many traveling great distances from their homes, to grieve this great loss, but celebrate our victory in the risen Jesus Christ. Even when our hearts are broken, we say: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good.”
Rev. Dr. Tom Ries, President Concordia University, St. Paul
CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE • FALL 2015
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SCIENCE HAS A NEW GAME
Overhauling the Concordia science department and meeting the field’s evolving needs. The leadership of a science faculty ‘Dream Team’ (see faculty feature, p.6) is creating cutting edge opportunities for Concordia students, the likes of which are hard to find at similar institutions across the nation. Behind their efforts, prospective students, professionals and the research community are recognizing Concordia University, St. Paul as a science institution with highly skilled and talented graduates (see student feature, p.8).
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Cover Story
CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE • FALL 2015
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THE NEED FOR CHANGE The old days of science education at Concordia were filled with outdoor biology and courses for soon-to-be teachers. Teacher Buegel and Biology Bob taught about the world of science as it was: human development, fieldwork, and birds and animals. Then, a massive shift took place in technology and scientific discoveries that moved science to the cellular level. Career options and pathways for students looking to enter science professions have massively expanded and continue to grow; the majority of students will work in jobs that don’t exist yet1. This changes what college students should be learning, and more importantly, how they should be learning. “Students are knowledgeable, but they aren’t prepared with the technical skills and problem-solving that employers need,” said Concordia science chair, Dr. Leanne Bakke. “Especially in the world of science, workers need to be able to struggle through problems, to be innovative and persistent.” Employer expectations have changed, and at the same time, fewer U.S. students are entering Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, a trend that the U.S. is trying to change. Research shows that increasing student interest in STEM fields while challenging and supporting students are ways to attract, retain and help students persist to graduation2. This research coincides with Concordia’s overall strategic plan. As a university known for responding to changing needs in the marketplace, Concordia’s science department was
taking note of these trends. In 2008, Dr. Bakke began sketching out her own strategic plan for the department. She consulted with industry leaders – the employers of future graduates – and asked, “What can we, as educators, do to prepare students? What do you need?” After much research and examining every element of the department, Dr. Bakke drew up a game plan with the end goal of better preparing students for a new scientific reality. The plan included curriculum changes, facility improvements and the development of support networks. Most important was the faculty; the imminent retirement of dedicated faculty like Dr. Carol Stellwagen and Dr. Dale Trapp left Bakke with holes to fill, but also the opportunity to find the right experts to work in harmony and implement her plan. After several years of searching, the ‘Dream Team’ THE G has been assembled AME P LAN and there is a palpable sense of energy and intellectual community taking root on campus.
1. futurework. U.S. Department of Labor. Available Online. 2. Chen, X. (2013). STEM Attrition: College Students’ Paths Into and Out of STEM Fields (NCES 2014-001). National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC.
CURRICULUM The classroom is where a student’s experience begins, and accordingly, where meaningful changes have taken place. Science curriculum changes are impacting students across the board, from entry-level general education courses to adult undergraduate (continuing education) requirements to high-level, advanced science offerings.
and schedule adjunct faculty. Instead, two lab-based courses were created. For the first time, Concordia students are mailed an at-home lab kit and provided with the hands-on learning they need. This is another way of building a complete science community across all levels at Concordia and laying the foundation for an online science degree.
Concordia is addressing the growing expectations for problemsolving and the need for innovation by shifting teaching methods from content delivery (lecture) to skills-building (hands-on). This type of active learning helps increase student interest in science careers and builds intellectual strengths and the perseverance necessary for highly skilled professions like medical research.
A considerable classroom accomplishment was reached with the launch of an official chemistry major. Offering this major became possible due to the high-level courses constructed and taught by Dr. Taylor Mach and the commitment of the entire department to the additional responsibilities required for the major. Now, instead of a transcript reading ‘self-designed chemistry,’ graduates can clearly show employers and graduate programs that they have fulfilled a rigorous chemistry platform. The major offers more structure for students, better advising, and shows science students a clear commitment to the depth of instruction they will receive at Concordia.
At the online, adult undergraduate level, the department threw out the 12 continuing studies courses. It was difficult to both maintain consistent standards across all of these courses
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Cover Story
Facilities Inside the labs themselves, technology is being utilized to give students more time to problem-solve and dig deeper into topics during their lab periods. For example, instead of lab time being consumed with demos and instructions, students now watch a faculty-made video prior to their lab period. Filmed in their own classrooms with their own equipment, students are prepared to immediately jump into the experiment with more time to build the critical thinking skills that are vital to career success. The physical upgrade of classrooms and equipment in the Arndt Science Hall is being methodically made thanks to the support of large and small donations. Older equipment is being sold to help invest in the technology that students require and tiered lecture seating is being removed to make rooms more functional. A general clean sweep of the building’s nooks and crannies is creating a pristine, professional learning space for students and faculty. Windows looking into classrooms have been installed so everyone studying in or visiting the building can draw inspiration from the high level-learning happening inside.
Pr fessi nal Development Professional development and career planning is an important part of every college student’s experience, perhaps more so in the highly specialized world of science. Career possibilities have grown exponentially in science-related fields and students are often battling to distinguish themselves for placement in competitive graduate programs. When a Concordia student expresses an interest in science, a faculty mentor takes the time to look more specifically at their interests, discuss potential career options, and build a clear academic path to fulfill anticipated requirements and keep the student on track for timely graduation. “When I came to Concordia, I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career, I just knew biology was something I was interested in,” said CSP sophomore Adam Hildebrandt. “After meeting with a few professors, I narrowed down my goals and together we built a road map that includes the kind of courses I’ll need to get into med. school.” The Tetra Delta Science Club and emphasis on quality internships are helping students better prepare for their careers. Tetra Delta membership has boomed since becoming more career-focused. Professionals from the community are brought in to speak to the group’s most pressing interests. Activities including Chemistry on the Knoll and Be The Match donor drive are letting the CSP community know that science is alive and well on campus. Internships at 3M, Boston Scientific, the National Forest Service and others allow students to build upon and apply their skills in a professional setting while strengthening their resumes.
Dr. Mary Ann Yang works on a lab with a student.
A Culture Of Supp rt When a student chooses Concordia, they choose a university that is committed to their success. Student-faculty relationships have long been a differentiating aspect of a Concordia education. Dr. Bakke and the entire science faculty have paired these relationships with additional support systems to guide students toward graduation and prepare them for professional success. “I was struggling with a C- at midterm my first semester of college,” said Adam. “With the help of Dr. Mach, I went ‘all in’ and turned things around.” Adam was a regular in Dr. Mach’s office the remainder of the semester. Together, the two worked through every problem that Adam couldn’t figure out on his own. Adam not only earned an A in the course, his presence and persistence drew the attention of other professors and he was offered a lab assistant job, which in turn led to landing one of the eight positions on the research team.
“When you go in and make the effort, you end up really knowing a lot about the professors and other opportunities can come up,” said Adam. “Now I’m really challenging myself with my schedule, but I’m going into it knowing that the professors here will put in the extra work along with me.” ‘The Board’ is another faculty-led support concept. Adam Hildebrandt Lining an entire wall in the science building is a collage North St. Paul, MN of student photos and information. Upperclassmen list Biology & Chemistry their internship location and details and alumni boast of their jobs or continued education. New students just starting at Concordia can see the success of the program and get ideas of what they may want for their future. Many students take the listed contact information and end up with peer mentors, taking advice from others who have recently been in their shoes. The sense of community in the department has strengthened and there is a tangible feeling of pride among both faculty and students. CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE • FALL 2015
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Dr. Ben Harrison Manages the Laboratory Assistant program and has helped Tetra Delta grow as an important professional organization. Works to plug the faculty into the wider Concordia community and vice versa. Is getting the greenhouse up and running.
Faculty It has taken several years to assemble the perfect combination of faculty. This cohesion has been critical to the success of the science department restructuring. Each member of the department brings particular strengths and skill sets that, when mixed together properly, has created a buzz of excitement and unlimited possibility. There are brainstorm sessions, crossing aisles between disciplines, sacrifices for the greater good, and an overall drive for continual improvement. Dr. Leanne Bakke The ‘Builder’ of the department. Starts or develops ideas, then finds the right person to hand it off to. Provides support and keeps everyone focused on the goals. Dr. Mandy Brosnahan Gives biology students the opportunity to gain experience with cell culture, rare at the undergraduate level. Responsible for ‘The Board’ and a key player in building the department’s student support systems.
Dr. Taylor Mach Introduced new high-level chemistry courses to CSP, which were instrumental for the launching of the chemistry major. Dr. Mach is a licensed teacher, opening doors for expanded opportunities in science education. Dr. Carolyn Wanamaker Known for her ability to break down complex concepts in core chemistry courses, encouraging students down the path to careers in kinesiology, math, health care and others. Students are often apprehensive about the required chemistry courses, and Dr. Wanamaker makes it achievable for them. Dr. Mary Ann Yang Responsible for developing rare and extremely valuable undergraduate research opportunities. Brings tangible energy to the department and is adept in career mentorship.
CONCORDIA SCIENCE DREAM TEAM Dream teams bring together passionate and productive members to work in synergy toward a goal. Concordia’s Science Dream Team is strategically assembled with faculty from varying areas of academic expertise who are contributing particular talents, all with the ultimate goal of creating a one-of-a-kind undergraduate experience for Concordia students.
DR. TAYLOR MACH
HEIGHT: 6’0” AREA: Physical Chemistry YEAR ARRIVED: 2014
DR. BEN HARRISON
DR. MANDY BROSNAHAN
HEIGHT: 5’6” AREA: Microbiology & Immunology YEAR ARRIVED: 2013
DR. CAROLYN WANAMAKER
HEIGHT: 5’6” AREA: Organic Chemistry YEAR ARRIVED: 2014
HEIGHT: 5’8” AREA: Cellular Biology and Genetics YEAR ARRIVED: 2013
DR. MARY ANN YANG
HEIGHT: 5’4” AREA: Neuroscience YEAR ARRIVED: 2011
Cover Story
Research
to experience the same depth of research found at R1 institutions but are often able to start earlier and lead projects instead of merely being an extra set of hands.
For students entering career fields where continued education is necessary, their involvement in research opportunities at Concordia have resulted in some of the most exciting success stories in the department (see student feature, pg.8). The depth and breadth of research opportunities at Concordia are truly unique among comparative institutions and is a main reason why Concordia is becoming known as an institution of science excellence.
Implementing and running a research program at Concordia would be impossible without departmental and donor support. Dr. Yang’s fellow faculty members have taken on additional teaching responsibilities to give her the time she needs to mentor students, build relationships with collaborators, and secure grant money. Nearly all of Concordia’s research has been possible thanks to the financial support of philanthropist Dr. Alan Branfman. Branfman supported Dr. Yang in her graduate work and, when told about Concordia’s goals with research, has been a dedicated supporter of the department.
Though Concordia is not an ‘R1 research institution’ (loosely defined as a university that gives high priority to research and awards doctoral degrees), Dr. Mary Ann Yang was hired specifically to bring research opportunities the university. Now, Concordia students are collaborating with Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota and others in high level research. These are not mere textbook projects, they are long term investigations into tissue engineering, disease diagnosis, and patient accessibility options with the intention of getting students published. Here, students are getting the chance
The caliber of research students at Concordia is impressive – they represent some of the brightest, curious minds on campus. Their work has been presented at national conferences and recognized with awards like the Edward J. Baldes Award for Excellence in Neuroscience. The research students are gaining a significant edge over others as they interview for highly competitive positions in graduate and medical school. As research continues to grow, it will be exciting to see the great things that Concordia alumni are offering the world.
PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER Changes in the science department have taken root quite simply because they needed to. The world in which sciencedriven students live and work has changed, and Concordia is committed to responding to such changes in order to prepare students for lives of meaningful service. Visionary faculty have responded to the challenge by transforming curriculum, facilities, mentorship and support, and research opportunities. As a result, the department has grown in its relevance and outreach. The caliber of students studying at Concordia and their exciting post-graduation successes are proving that the department’s game plan is on point. Students graduating from Concordia in the past five years have gained admission
to extremely competitive graduate programs at places like the University of Minnesota, University of Utah and Sarah Lawrence College. Historically, there have been a trickle of Concordia graduates bound for greatness in the world of science. With the department’s new game plan, Concordia is now positioned to consistently train and prepare a majority of students to excel, in addition to truly challenge the very high achieving. The game has changed for science at Concordia. God-given talents are being developed within future doctors, researchers, environmentalists, engineers, regulatory agents and educators. The sense of excitement is palpable - and the Concordia team is gearing up for the second half.
LED BY: DR. LEANNE BAKKE HEIGHT: 5’7” |
AREA: Physiology
|
YEAR ARRIVED: 2004
“We have a pulse on the wider market, and we’ve been fearless in creating change, where we’re at now is the culmination of the dream that I had for this program – and this is just the first phase.” Dr. Leanne Bakke
See what research students are working on and where they’re headed.
CALLING IN THE RECRUITS At Concordia St. Paul, students are collaborating with researchers from around the world and gaining unparalleled skills and experience - the exact things they need to vie for limited spots in advanced degree programs. Research is continuing to grow at Concordia, and the stories of students involved are proving that the department’s efforts and dedication are paying off.
AMIEN MASROUJEH (‘16) RESEARCH PROJECT Neuron growth and differentiation on silica-based nanomaterial mimicking the extracellular matrix
LAYMAN’S TERMS
The research is attempting to allow cells to grow on a 3-dimensional silica material (glass). In order for the cells to grow, however, researchers need to find ways to make the surface of the silica allow for cell attachment – cells can’t just grow on glass. Certain proteins are utilized, those that are known to attach to the glass material, and are genetically fused to another protein that allows for cell attachment. Amien is making a DNA recipe of this artificial protein. The DNA recipe is then put into fast-growing bacteria that turns into the desired protein. Finally, chemicals are used to purify the protein from the bacteria to then modify the silica material. From a big picture point of view, Amien is genetically engineering an artificial protein that does not exist in nature but can help cells to ‘sit down’ on a three dimensional glass scaffold and grow. Then, the hope is to further genetically engineer other instructions onto this artificial protein to tell the cell what to do. For example, the artificial protein can help tell a cell that doesn’t have instructions on what to be, to become a neuronal cell, muscle cell or heart cell. In doing so, desired cells or tissues could potentially be created for patients needing replacement due to accidents or degenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or heart disease. Concordia is collaborating with a partner in Taiwan by actively engaging in discussions and sharing materials, proteins, ideas and other resources.
ABOUT AMIEN A graduate of Southwest High School (Minneapolis), Amien knew from an early age that he would end up in a medical field - he wrote a book about cardiology when he was 16. A Concordia PSEO student, Amien planned to attend the University of Minnesota en route to medical school. He had thoroughly scrutinized college options and knew the
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importance of research and the impact it had on getting into medical school. When Dr. Yang ramped up Concordia’s research opportunities his second PSEO year, he decided he would have opportunities at Concordia that he wouldn’t be able to get at the U of M, a thought that has rung true for the Concordia senior. “I have friends at the U (of M) so I know how much harder it is to be in touch with faculty and to get a position where you’re actually doing research. Maybe by your junior or senior year you’ll get involved, but then there’s no time to progress.” Amien has been active with several research projects at Concordia. One of his first opportunities was working with Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Hasadri, a researcher and medical doctor. Amien proved that 9-month-old patient’s protein deficiency disorder was, in fact, genetic and hereditary, and therefore treatment should be covered by insurance. This is the type of research that emphasizes the impact that Concordia’s research has on actual people. Through the experience, Amien’s career goal changed and he plans to earn an MD PhD in neurology. He is driven by the altruistic aspect of an MD PhD, wanting to be able to help patients in the clinic and at the same time help advance science through research. “I will always be indebted to Concordia and the faculty here, nobody could have taught it better. It’s not just that they teach you difficult concepts, they also enhance your understanding of philosophy, ethics, interpersonal skills, leadership and so on. These are things that I’ll need to get into medical school and to best serve patients in my career.”
Cover CSP News Story
CHRISTINA MILLER (‘15) Enrolled in the Genetic Counseling Master’s program at Sarah Lawrence College, New York
RESEARCH PROJECT Interactive app to assist sensory disabled patients in donating to mitochondrial biobank
LAYMAN’S TERMS
The mitochondrial biobank at Mayo Clinic collects blood and tissue samples from patients with mitochondrial diseases for research and development of treatments. Christina proved there was an enrollment gap in patients with hearing or vision problems (common with these diseases), wrote and directed interactive consent form videos, and began the process of creating an app that will allow disabled patients to autonomously enroll.
ABOUT CHRISTINA
Originally planning to become a veterinarian, Christina discovered her passion and talent for genetics at Concordia. She has a knack for understanding complicated issues on the topic and is also skilled in finding multiple ways to explain the concepts to others, a talent that will be crucial when working with patients. Christina’s research hit a note with interviewers at Sarah Lawrence College and she started in the nation’s first and largest genetic (counseling programs) this fall.
MICHAEL TAYE (‘15) Studying for the MCAT and preparing to apply for medical school. Working at 3M doing research and development as a lab technician.
RESEARCH PROJECT Analysis of MLYCD protein in a deficient patient
LAYMAN’S TERMS MLYCD is an enzyme that breaks down fatty acids in our body. Lack of MLYCD can lead to delayed development, seizures, low blood sugar, heart conditions, etc. A young patient had known problems with this enzyme at the DNA level, but additional analysis was needed at the protein level to definitively prove it was deficient. This data can further affect the plan for treatment as well as the patient’s ability to have insurance expenses covered and future genetic counseling guidance.
ABOUT MICHAEL Michael was born and raised in Ethiopia where he saw the trials of people struggling to survive. The only member of an educationally driven family who didn’t like school, a trip to the U.S. in 2007 made Michael realize that something had to change in his life. Since he
ZACH RENGEL (‘16) RESEARCH PROJECT Purification of Karatan Sulfate for the Diagnosis of Mucopolysaccharidosis IV
LAYMAN’S TERMS It is known that a disease characterized by dwarfism could be diagnosed by analyzing levels of keratin sulfate (carbohydrates) in urine. Zach’s research takes these carbohydrates from cow eyes and purifies it for Mayo Clinic to use as a control when testing patient urine.
ABOUT ZACH A Golden Bear baseball player, Zach has shared his time at Concordia on the field and in the lab. He has learned about the patience and perseverance needed for a career in science – he spent a month troubleshooting bad results of his research, later finding the one step he was doing wrong. Zach plans to pay off medical school by serving the United States as a military physician. “My experience at Concordia has been invaluable for my future. Research has helped me understand that things aren’t always going to go as planned, that you need to persevere when things aren’t going right.”
loved helping people, he decided to become a doctor. This began Michael’s long road of hard work and dedication to knowledge.
“It’s still in my heart to become an ER physician, but my research at Concordia has exposed me to a lot of paths. I’ll end up where God takes me.”
Athletic Update
CSP Baseball Leader Paralyzed in Swimming Accident
Athletics
Lacrosse Coach Hired
Mo Gaitán has been hired to lead Concordia’s new women’s lacrosse team, which will begin competition in the 2016-17 season. Gaitán has plenty of experience getting new programs off the ground, founding the St. Cloud State club team as an undergraduate and most recently serving as top assistant for Minnesota’s first NCAA team at Augsburg College. Gaitán continues to spend time as an assistant coach and United States liaison for the Colombia U19 National Team. Concordia’s inaugural lacrosse program is the first scholarshipoffering NCAA lacrosse program in the state of Minnesota.
Pozzani Named to NSIC Hall of Fame Golden Bear standout and multi-sport athlete Jennifer Pozzani (’05) was inducted this summer into the NSIC Hall of Fame. Pozzani held Concordia’s basketball scoring record (1,647) for 10 years and continues to lead all players for steals (245). On the softball field, Pozzani was named NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2002. She finished her career with a .309 batting average, including a .355 average as a senior. Pozzani helped both teams to multiple post-season NSIC Tournament appearances.
2009 graduate and baseball standout, Kirk Ingram, was paralyzed August 1 in a swimming accident. A newly minted father two weeks prior to his accident, Kirk has transitioned to a rehabilitation facility where his progress and condition will be monitored. A two-time CSP Top 4 Student-Athlete, the southpaw left Concordia as the career leader in appearances (71) and saves (14). As a senior, Ingram was honored with the NSIC Britton Award, which goes to distinguished athletes who exemplify outstanding character and achievement in the classroom, community and on the playing field. “Kirk always had a positive attitude and is extremely strong in his faith,” said Concordia baseball coach ‘Lunch’ McKenzie. “I pray that all of the members of the CSP family will continue to pray for Kirk and for his family, and that God will provide for them.” To follow Kirk’s journey, visit his CaringBridge site. The Concordia baseball team has organized a Concordia 4 Kirk slowpitch softball tournament on September 26 to support the family. Visit www.cugoldenbears.com for more information.
Pozzani is Concordia St. Paul’s second inductee to the NSIC Hall of Fame behind Lisa (Harfield, ’03) Borowitz, inducted in 2014. Pozzani currently teaches in her hometown of Beloit, Wis.
A LOOK AT THE 2015-16 GOLDEN BEARS BASEBALL : Three straight promising runs to the NSIC Tournament have the baseball program gaining momentum behind a strong emphasis on pitching and defense. Six of the nine starters return and six of the top pitchers all come back to a cohesive program that has infused its largest (13) and arguably most talented recruiting class, according to skipper Mark “Lunch” McKenzie. MEN’S BASKETBALL : Led by first year head coach Joey James, the Golden Bears had the third most wins in program history and the top turnaround in program history in 2014-15. They won 11 more games over the previous season and finished 19-11 overall. The team is led by senior guard Cole Olstad and will be buoyed by a 6-player recruiting class, including five freshmen.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : One year removed from their first ever trip to the Elite 8, the women’s basketball team will look to make its 11th trip to the NCAA Tournament this season. They are led by NSIC All-Defensve Team performer, Kionda Nicks. CROSS COUNTRY : The men’s team boasted the highest team grade point average in 2014-15 and both teams earned the USTFCCCA Team GPA award last year. This year, the squads will run within an hour of the Twin Cities in four of their six meets, highlighted by hosting the NSIC Championships October 24 at Les Bolstad Golf Course on the campus of the University of Minnesota.
FOOTBALL : The Golden Bears look to keep the momentum rolling from a 2014 season in which the team rallied for four straight wins to close the season. They finished third in the NSIC South Division, their top finish since the league went to division play. The team will play a full six-game home schedule, all with noon start times at Sea Foam Stadium. The program has two players in NFL training camps, Zach Moore (‘14, New England Patriots) and Tom Obarski (‘15, Cincinnati Bengals). GOLF : The women will be looking to qualify for the NCAA regional in a seventh straight year in 2015-16. They return four of the key players from last year’s lineup, including national qualifier Rachel Gray. The men return three of their five starters and carry a deep and experienced 10-player roster. A new golf coach will be hired this fall.
Athletic Update
Athletic Director Set for Retirement Tom Rubbelke has announced that he will retire as Concordia Director of Athletics following the 2015-16 academic year. The department will be conducting a nationwide search this fall and will have a new AD in place near the end of the academic year. The 2015-16 academic year marks the department’s 12th year under Rubbelke. In that time, the Golden Bears captured seven NCAA Division II National Championships, made 19 Sweet Sixteen appearances, and won 26 Northern Sun championships (regular season and tournament). Off the field, Golden Bear athletes have consistently succeeded in the classroom, as well. Concordia teams have earned 46 team academic awards and 11 teams have ranked in the top-10 in the country for team grade point averages. Six teams had the highest GPA in Division II in their sport. Rubbelke was named the 2011-12 NACDA Under Armour Region Athletics Director of the Year following the volleyball team’s fifth consecutive National Championship and two student-athletes signing professional contracts. Rubbelke has gone above and beyond to increase student-athlete engagement while improving athletic facilities. Rubbelke spent his first 15 years at Concordia as an assistant softball coach and was named head coach in 1998. He then transitioned the team to NCAA Division II play and won regular season and NSIC Tournament championships in 2001. In seven years as a head coach, Rubbelke put up a 220-124 overall record.
Football’s Hank Goff Featured in SI.com Story Former U.S. Marine and current Concordia football player Hank Goff was featured in a June article on SI.com. Hank, who at age 28 is entering his senior season as the starting defensive end for the Golden Bears, served four years in the Marines prior to enrolling at Concordia.
Scan the QR code to read how football saved this American soldier.
WWW.CSP.EDU/GOFF
‘Rubes’ has been with Concordia for over 30 years as coach, administrator and athletic director.
SOCCER : The soccer schedule opens with three home scrimmages followed by six regular season games at Sea Foam Stadium. The Golden Bears return two All-NSIC and 11 NSIC-All Academic performers and add eight new freshmen to the mix this fall. SOFTBALL : With only one senior graduating from last season, the softball team will look to use a depth of experience to make their sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament and first since 2012. TRACK AND FIELD: The program is coming off a season in which a school record five athletes were sent to the NCAA Championships between the indoor and outdoor seasons. The team as a whole also combined to set 14 school records in 2014-15.
VOLLEYBALL : The volleyball squad returns all six starters, with three All-Americans and an All-America honorable mention. 2013 All-American Emily McDonough also returns after missing nearly the entire 2014 season with an injury. The team is also bringing in three of the top in-state recruits along with a pair of D-I transfers to further add to the team. Seven members of the 2013 national championship team still remain on the roster. HELP COMET CHEER ON THE GOLDEN BEARS THIS YEAR!
View team schedules at cugoldenbears.com CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE • FALL 2015
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Column: CSP Ministry
Concordia Means Family When families consider investing in a degree at Concordia, they wrestle with the topic of value. It was something my family considered as I started the Director of Christian Education program 10 years ago. When I think of the value of what I gained at Concordia, academics are just the beginning: when I was given my key to a freshman room, I was also given a new family. It has been a trying summer for our Concordia family with the sudden death of third-year student Devin McCauley and the diving accident that has left Kirk Ingram (’09) paralyzed. In the responses to these tragedies, I am reminded of the irrefutable value of being part of this Christ-centered family. It was a hard day when music major Devin McCauley went home to be with Jesus while swimming over the Fourth of July. There aren’t many people like Devin. He was a bridge-builder and teacher of many, a bright light of Christ on our campus. Devin was a gift to us and his passing continues to be a great loss for our community. In the days following Devin’s death, I witnessed love in action. Campus rooms were opened to house students. Generous individuals stepped forward to pay for some of Devin’s out-ofstate friends to fly back. The Cross of Christ Fellowship Center became the living room of campus, offering a space to simply be together. I was so proud of our students, faculty, and staff that week, as they demonstrated what it meant to take care of each other, reminding one another not to go through this loss alone. Students and alumni drove and flew back to the Cities throughout the week to be together and attend services. When I greeted many of them with “I’m so glad you’re here,” a common
response was, “it’s good to be home.” Devin’s mom shared at the vigil that Concordia feels like a home to her because it was a home to Devin. Home means family. Four weeks later, the CSP family felt the weight of another devastating event, as Kirk Ingram, an ’09 alum and baseball player, was paralyzed in a swimming accident. This accident occurred only two weeks after he and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their first child into the world. I continue to see support on social media and their CaringBridge and GoFundMe sites. Greetings and donations from CSP alumni, faculty and staff, coaches, and others from our community fill the feeds, not to mention a fundraiser softball tournament in the works. From Kirk’s leadership in the math department to the baseball team and lots of places in between, those connections he built as a student still exist even years after he has left campus. Kirk has been an important part of the CSP family and family persists beyond graduation. Lots of people come to Concordia because it’s a great school for gaining knowledge in a variety of disciplines. I know I did. The education I received at CSP was top notch, and yet even more significant to me now are the gifts of being part of this Christcentered family. Even though these two young men have touched very different cross-sections of the CSP family, the response and the hope has been the same. Jesus is our hope and we’re in this together. That’s what shows up and encourages us through a summer like this one. It’s the love of family. The Concordia family.
Shelly Schwalm CSP Ministry Associate & Director of Church Relations
Visit CSP Ministry Online! www.csp.edu/CSPMinistry 12
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Books to Business Concordia empowers graduates with knowledge and confidence. For Lorraine Frias (’13), her entire bachelor’s in Marketing and Innovation experience culminated in a business plan for the successful opening of the family’s South Minneapolis restaurant, Peppers & Fries Burger & Burrito GrIL “Without my experience at Concordia, I would not have the confidence level that I have in our business and we definitely wouldn’t be as prepared as we are,” said Lorraine. “I used everything I learned in my program to build our business plan.” Lorraine’s chef-husband, Steve, had previously owned a suburban neighborhood restaurant. It survived five years before Steve chose to close the doors. A few years and Lorraine’s Concordia degree later, the couple felt they were prepared to make another, more planned go at it. Lorraine put her education to work, building out a thorough business plan that analyzed everything from the location to financial projections to the menu. They looked at traffic patterns, neighborhood demographics, top-selling food, and liquor and labor costs. When it came time to talk to the bank, Lorraine felt so prepared that she was comfortable standing firm and explaining her data on areas of concern. The bankers were impressed with their plan and, with a few changes, the Frias’ were given the green light to move ahead with land purchase and architectural remodeling. Peppers & Fries is an unpretentious sports bar that, according to market data, gives people what they want – burgers and burritos.
Nearly everything on the menu is made from scratch, including the pepper jam for the PB & J burger and the mini corn dog and cheese curd batter. Though the self-proclaimed ‘St. Paul people’ didn’t start out looking for a Minneapolis location, Lorraine’s research helped them settle on what has proven to be a great location. The neighborhood has embraced Peppers & Fries, happy to have the long-closed, eyesore gas station replaced by a bustling restaurant serving great food. Open since January 2015, Peppers & Fries has beat its target goals each month and has received great press from Heavy Table, Star Tribune and others. Their architect won an award in June for his work on the building, and Peppers & Fries even took third place in both the People’s Choice and Judges’ categories the Twin Cities Burger Battle in May. Lorraine serves as the restaurant’s ‘behind-the-scenes’ marketing and business manager. She continues to work full-time as an Innovation Product Director at UnitedHealthcare while her husband, Steve, and daughter, Marie, manage the day-to-day running of Peppers & Fries.
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All-Star Skills for All-Star Game God’s Plan at Work The 2014 MLB All-Star Game brought as many as 160,000 visitors to Minneapolis last summer. Overseeing security on the event as Incident Commander was 2004 Concordia graduate Matt Clark (M.A. Human Services, Criminal Justice emphasis). Clark drew upon his education and experience to keep things orderly in Minneapolis, a goal he will continue to pursue in his new position as Chief of Police at the University of Minnesota.
Drew Bayless (’07) is pastor of Serve and Reach Ministries at Woodbury Lutheran Church, a position that puts him in touch with many different people from across the world. Drew’s mission works heavily in Africa, where he recently witnessed God’s work in action. His flight delayed in Nairobi, Kenya for an additional 26 hours at the end of a 2.5 week trip in May, Drew just wanted to get home to the Twin Cities to see his wife. God had other plans.
“One of the things that opened my eyes during my time at Concordia was the emphasis on partnerships and how you work with others to accomplish your goals,” said ClAR “I learned a lot about those relationships early on and how to not only utilize them when needed, but to also pay it forward and help others.”
“God knew what was going to happen in that next 24 hours after my flight was delayed,” Drew said. “I would have never known that He would have placed me in the lives of two people that really needed to talk, but that is exactly how things turned out and were meant to be.”
Partnerships between Minneapolis police and local businesses, and a partnership with other law enforcement agencies allowed Clark to balance tremendous man-hours with a relatively small budget. Security cost Minneapolis police $121,000 at the AllStar game, compared to the $250,000 that Kansas City paid in overtime costs alone in 2012.
Drew first crossed paths with a cabbie named Peter. The two began chatting about life and their beliefs while en route to the hotel when Peter began opening up to him about his struggles with alcohol. Drew listened and they discussed how God still loves us and that Jesus is an advocate for us all.
Clark had been implementing the Concordia lessons on relationship-building for a decade by the time the All-Star game came to the Twin Cities. He was able to successfully reach out to nearly 20 other metro area agencies who donated up to 300 officers per day during the event. Around 700 police personnel were required, so Clark’s skills contributed greatly to keeping costs down while ensuring security. Clark served the Minneapolis Police Department for over 20 years, including stints as Investigator, Academy Supervisor, Emergency Services Unit Commander and leadership positions in two precincts. He led all MPD operations and was responsible for a staff of nearly 1,000 in his final role with the department as Assistant Chief of Police from 2012 through his U of M appointment. His new role at the University of Minnesota includes overseeing the comprehensive public safety for the entire Twin Cities campus.
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The next morning at a crowded café, an Indian doctor shared that she and some colleagues were planning on discussing science and religion at their next monthly meet-up.
“She asked me to tell her everything I knew,” Drew said. “Our dialogue went deeper into my beliefs as a Christian and hers as a Hindu, and how we view some of the same things.” Ultimately, Drew invited her to read the Gospel of John and left his email address to keep the conversation going as he could tell she was interested in learning more. Drew has a special place in his heart for Africa that first developed at CSP when he befriended and was intrigued by the culture of African immigrants living and studying in the Twin Cities. An internship in Kenya with The World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) brought him to ‘the beautiful continent’ for the first time, with many return trips to come.
CSP News
Deployment Doesn’t Slow Online Learner Concordia’s online degree programs give students necessary flexibility, especially when life takes you to places like Bulgaria and Estonia. Rachel Lawrence (’15) had started the Organizational Management and Leadership bachelor’s program when her position with the Minnesota Air National Guard put her in exactly those places. An Operations Analyst with the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, Rachel navigated not only the cultural differences and language barriers of working abroad, but also continued her Concordia degree program without missing a beat despite 8-hour time differences and often spotty internet. “While I was deployed my education traveled with me, so establishing a routine was key,” Rachel said. Twice a week, Rachel would wake at 3:30 a.m. to chat with her cohort members back in the States, sometimes needing to walk a half mile across the base to find a reliable internet connection. Those early morning chats added to her already busy 10-12 hour workdays, but Rachel stayed focused and motivated to continue her educational goals.
“I communicated closely with my supervisor regarding my homework load and we worked together to make sure it was getting done. I feel fortunate to have an employer that takes my education seriously and made every attempt to accommodate it into the schedule.” What little free time Rachel had was booked solid with homework, papers and discussion boards, but she’s happy about the sacrifices she made in order to complete her degree at Concordia. Rachel was back Stateside to attend her Concordia graduation and give the student farewell. She continues to work full-time for the Air National Guard and has enrolled in Concordia’s online Human Resource Management master’s program.
Saylor Gives Back By Building Concordia’s Dr. Thomas Saylor has spent the past nine summers helping build homes in Central America as part of Habitat for Humanities Global Village program. The volunteer-driven program strives to fight poverty by building affordable and decent housing all over the world. For volunteers like Thomas, what is retained the most are the personal connections made with the families.
“If we think about the times we’ve had hands-on experiences helping people in need, those are the things we remember,” Thomas said. “We often remember faces and stay in contact with people after that fact and it’s because of that personal experience.” Thomas said that from the very beginning of the building process, volunteers get to know the families they are helping and often get to work alongside them daily. That personal interaction with the families is what Thomas says makes the work so gratifying. Since volunteers may be working on a home at any time during the construction process, and more than likely never see the finished product, Thomas said Habitat makes sure each volunteer receives a picture of the completed house, which he said gives a sense of closure. “The completed photos are an important part of creating enduring memories and making it a meaningful experience.” Saylor first got involved with Global Village as a volunteer in 2007, allowing him the opportunity to fulfill his desire to contribute to Habitat’s cause in Central America. After three trips as a volunteer to Nicaragua, Saylor completed a team leader training program and now leads teams of 12 volunteers, including several trips by CSP Vice President of Finance, Rev. Dr. Michael Dorner. Saylor estimates he’s been a part of eight or nine home building projects over the years, as they typically work on one home per year during the nine-day visits. The 550 to 850 square-foot homes take between 6-8 weeks to complete.
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Improving Lives One Mile at a Time David Saving (’78) has always had a spot in his heart for the bereft. As a child in Kansas City, he frequently brought stray animals home. As a DCE in Houston, he brought home the church’s janitor who had been living in a car. Six years ago, David began putting real mileage in – he has biked 5,000 miles to fundraise for less fortunate children in underdeveloped countries around the world. LeadaChild (also known as the Children’s Christian Concern Society) operates under the mission of “sharing the love of Jesus with children around the world through Christian education.” Founded in 1968, David serves as Executive Director of the organization that serves 26,000 children in 30 countries with more than 270 education sites. David bikes across U.S. states and even foreign countries to raise money to support LeadaChild. Trips like 2014’s ride across
David Saving (left) on the Guatemala ride. Kansas and 2013’s span across Guatemala have totaled close to 5,000 miles and raised nearly $250,000. David and fellow cyclist Scott Averill have upped the ante this year with a P2P Ride Across America campaign. They left Portland, Oregon on July 24 and are currently en route to Portland, Maine with the goal of raising $250,000 so children can receive ongoing education in indigenous parts of the globe. The ride is scheduled to cover more than 3,500 miles of terrain by late September. Follow their progress online at www.LeadaChild.org.
Concordia Fills Church Work Faculty Positions Rev. Mark Koschmann Professor of Missiology Director of Hoffmann Institute
Rev. Mark Koschmann joins the theology faculty and takes over as Director of the Hoffmann Institute. Koschmann’s area of expertise is the study of missions and their methods and purposes, specifically focusing on urban ministry. Koschmann comes to Concordia from St. Louis, where he was a missions and outreach pastor at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran and was active in the LCMS response to the Ferguson crisis. An American Studies scholar, Koschmann frequently addressed issues of racial inequalities and poverty in his church and among fellow Lutheran churches. Following the death of Michael Brown, Koschmann walked the streets of Ferguson, talking and praying with people, but mainly listening. He returned to his congregation to continue preaching the Gospel, a Gospel of hope and healing. Koschmann is excited about the profound opportunities available at CSP to share the Gospel with the world by simply walking out Concordia’s front doors. He will help students grow in their faith by investigating how mission work happens today, in the church and throughout our communities.
“Concordia St. Paul has a reputation of being an innovative institution that leads the way to share Christ with neighbors of all types. It’s a great opportunity to come to CSP to train and prepare students for urban and cross-cultural ministry.” 16
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Heath Lewis Instructor in Christian Education Heath Lewis joins the Concordia community this October, leading the Director of Christian Education programming and helping restructure and rebuild the program. He has worked with a wide swath of people in responsibilities that range from ministry to youth education to church development. Lewis has served nearly 10 years as a Director of Christian Education at a large church in Edmond, Okla. In addition to developing youth ministry there, Lewis’ focus has been to build relationships and develop a holistic ‘cradle-tograve’ discipleship plan. This approach aims to integrate the many areas of discipleship to create a church-wide system, rather than having many separate entities of involvement in a congregation. Lewis has also been deeply involved in the church’s vision process and developing a strategy to implement the vision. He is gifted at breaking down big concepts into actionable steps, which will be helpful at Concordia as the department continues to grow and analyze its processes.
“I’m excited to help build the theology program at Concordia, to get to know the students and engage them in their faith walk and educational journey.”
CSP News
Dr. Eric LaMott Teacher Education Programs Receive State Selected for National Approval, Await CAEP Accreditation Leadership Development Concordia has been notified that its teacher education licensure programs have received full approval by the Minnesota Board Program of Teaching through June 2022. The seven-year approval is the
Dr. Eric LaMott, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, is one of 23 senior-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in a year-long Executive Leadership Academy.
Individuals chosen for the program are vice presidents or cabinet officers in higher education who aspire to the presidency of an independent college or university. LaMott will participate in two seminars held in Washington, DC, as well as readings, webinars, and a mentoring program. In addition, he will develop an experiential learning plan focused on specific areas of presidential responsibility. “The CIC’s Executive Leadership Academy is a highly competitive professional development opportunity for senior leaders in higher education. I am not at all surprised that Eric LaMott was selected to participate,” said Concordia President Rev. Dr. Tom Ries. “He is an incredibly gifted person and over the past twenty years has played many key roles in helping Concordia University evolve into the strong, comprehensive Lutheran university that it is today.”
Ed.D & MAT Programs Introduced Concordia University, St. Paul is expanding its degree offerings with the addition of a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) and a Master of Arts in Teaching programs. The development and execution of these programs are part of Concordia’s strategic goal to grow enrollment by offering market-driven programs and are also a response to alumni requests for these degree offerings. The Ed.D is the second doctorate degree available at Concordia; the Doctor in Physical Therapy program began two years ago. The Ed.D gives educators the tools and skills to become effective leaders for future generations. The MAT allows professionals looking for a career change to get into the classroom in two years. Both programs offer online and in-class cohorts.
Record Enrollment Continues
Concordia is expected set another year of university record enrollment. Though fall 2015 numbers aren’t final until late September, it is highly expected that enrollment will surpass last year’s record of 4,057. Traditional undergraduate numbers (on-campus) appear to be 3-4% higher than last year’s record of 1,395. Cohort enrollment is also expected to be a few percentage points higher.
maximum allowed under Minnesota statute and is applicable to initial licensure programs, endorsements and advanced licensure programs. Additionally, Concordia’s teacher education programs were honored to be part of a pilot Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation process. A progress report on the CAEP filing is due to be released in October. “We always look forward to the accreditation process in order to demonstrate the quality of our teacher education programs at Concordia University but also to further develop and improve our programs,” said Lonn Maly, Associate Dean of the School of Education. “We are pleased that the Board of Teaching Evaluation Team recognized the talent of our faculty and the quality of the coursework and clinical experiences we have designed to meet the state of Minnesota standards.”
Dr. Seeman to Receive Diakonia en Christo Award Emeriti faculty Dr. Jim Seemann is this year’s recipient of the Diakonia en Christo Award (Service in Christ Award) given by the Lutheran Deaconess Association (Valparaiso, Ind.) for his decades of volunteer work in prison ministry. Through this award the Lutheran Deaconess Association (LDA) seeks to thank God for the varieties of diaconal service by celebrating the lives and ministries of Lutheran lay people who, in following Christ, reach out in care and compassion to the hurting world. Seemann will accept the award at a presentation on October 5. Dr. Seeman came to Concordia in 2002 and taught scenic design, lighting design, and stagecraft. He also designed plays for the theatre department. Seeman has stayed busy in his retirement, recently closing on a home deal intended to become a halfway house for prisoners. It will be called Martin’s House, named after Martin Luther.
Dr. Reineck Returns to CSP Dr. Marilyn Reineck returned to the Concordia St. Paul campus in June as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Dr. Reineck has served in various faculty and administrative roles at Concordia since 1980.
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College of Business & Technology Renovations The College of Business & Technology recently underwent renovations, both to the college name and the space supporting students and faculty. The refreshed college area in Meyer Hall features new offices and common spaces. The hallway door structure has been removed and new signage installed to offer a clean, inviting entry to the College of Business & Technology.
L-R: Nancy Mohammed, Tom Obarski, Dillon LaHaye, Nancy Harrower, Hillary Minnaert, Brandon Wagner.
CSP Marketing Students Win Second LCEF Competition For the second straight year, Concordia St. Paul marketing students earned the top honor at the Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) National Student Marketing Competition. The team’s tagline was “WE ARE LCEF” and marketing tactics included a summer Midwest bus tour and redesigned social media sites. Teams attend the LCEF competition from nine Concordia universities around the country. Their assignment was to develop a marketing plan that raises the awareness of LCEF and how it impacts the LCMS to empower ministries and people to share the Gospel. The marketing campaign should motivate LCMS members to actively become partners through investments, loans, gifts or support services.
2015 ADSA Recipients The Alumni Distinguished Service Award (ADSA) allows Concordia University, St. Paul to recognize its alumni who are exceptionally accomplished in their fields of endeavor. They have also upheld Concordia’s ideals in their profession and in service to the community and the church of Jesus Christ. LINDA (FERBER, ’70) ANDERSON spent her career in a variety of service positions, including heading Big Brothers Big Sisters, a principal at an LCMS school, and as Director of St. Louis County Social Services. Through these roles, Linda has worked to help people living in poverty, advance welfare reform, initiate anti-racism training, and help people of color gain leadership roles and become active in mentorship. She has been a lifelong church activist, also in areas of social reform. DIANE (HEINTZ, ’76) BORCHARDT’s career in higher education helped students achieve their dreams. She worked at Concordia St. Paul from 1976-2002, largely in the financial aid office. Term by term, Diane worked behind the scenes to provide assistance so students could earn their degrees and prepare themselves for life in God’s creation. Diane then spent seven years with the Educational Assistance Corporation (EAC) and, since 2009, has been working for Great Lakes, an affiliate of the EAC.
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REV. BOB CORDES (ACAD. ’53, J.C. ’55) spent the majority of his career as a community chaplain in an ecumenical ministry, visiting hospitals, jails, prisons, hospices and VA rest homes. This mission field is one in which Rev. Cordes was particularly gifted, sharing the Gospel of an accepting Lord and Shepard to those in need. In his retirement, Rev. Cordes continues to visit long term, transitional and dying residents at Woodbury Health Care Center. REV. ROBERT SMITH (J.C. ’61) is a life-long educator who served the LCMS for his entire career. He worked in the U.S. and various foreign countries as a Lutheran school teacher and physical education specialist. Smith is a published author who aided in the development of synodical curriculum materials in physical education. He conducted several other studies, including research into the education programs of missionary children. Rev. Smith became an ordained pastor in Nigeria in 1986 and spent the remainder of his professional career as pastor and chaplain at Lutheran schools around the world.
CSP News
Faculty & Staff Highlights Rosenwinkel Performs in Music Man Concordia professor Mark Rosenwinkel (’77) performed in the Guthrie Theatre rendition of Music Man, which ran from June through August. Appearing as the Train Conductor/ Constable Locke, this is one of the largest shows in which Rosenwinkel has performed. One of the last shows to be directed by John Miller-Stephany, Music Man was very popular with audiences. “I feel privileged to have done a number of shows with (Miller-Stephany) at the Guthrie,” said Rosenwinkel of the opportunities to work with the outgoing director. “The cast was comprised of locals and ‘guests,’ but all were wonderful people.”
Mennicke Selected for Conducting Workshop Dr. David Mennicke was one of eight international participants in the choral conducting workshop at the Yale International Choral Festival June 16-21. An active summer for Mennicke, he also sang in a professional chorus at the Minnesota Beethoven Festival in Winona, MN July 5-12, led a choral workshop for J.W. Pepper Music Company in Eden Prairie on July 23, and performed in Puccini’s Madame Butterfly on Aug. 1 at Orchestra Hall.
Abbie Betinis Named 2015 McKnight Foundation Composer Fellow Adjunct professor of composition, Abbie Betinis, has been awarded the prestigious McKnight Artist Fellowship. Designed by the McKnight Foundation “to award composers whose work is of exceptional artistic merit over a substantial body of work,” the award of $25,000 in unrestricted funds also includes the opportunity to compose in an artist residency of her choice. Betinis earned the award for her two recent compositions, A Blessing of Cranes and Ribcage, which was commissioned by The Schubert Club for the James Sewell Ballet. This is the second McKnight Fellowship for Betinis, who also won the award in 2009. She was one of four composers named as a 2015 McKnight Composer Fellow.
Dr. Rob Krueger Named to Prestigious Thrivent Fellows Program Math professor Dr. Rob Krueger was recently named to the prestigious Thrivent Fellows Program, a rigorous 12-month executive fellowship for the purpose of developing the leadership capacity of the colleges and universities of the Lutheran Church. Through intensive retreats, seminars, and executive coaching, Fellows will gain increased knowledge and understanding of Lutheran traditions and values, stronger awareness of their own leadership capacities, thorough knowledge of key management and financial issues in these complex enterprises, discernment of personal and professional goals that will equip them to fulfill their callings, a plan for professional growth, and an expanded network of relationships with other Lutheran higher education leaders. Krueger has been with Concordia since 2001, serving as Chair of the Department of Mathematics since 2005. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics (1998) and M.S. in Mathematics (1995) from the University of Nebraska (Lincoln) and received a B.S. Ed., in Mathematics from Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward) in 1993.
Faculty Publications & Presentations Dr. Sally Baas: presented at the 27th International School Psychological Conference in Sao Paulo, Brazil on the topics of “Building Inner Wealth in Children” and “Sharing School Psychological Practices Across Cultures and Continents.” | Matthew Buns: “Systematic Analysis of Physical Education Standards, Benchmarks and Related Teacher Decisions,” Journal of Physical Education and Sport, Vol. 15, No. 2, June 2015. | Phyl Burger: “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder in Confinement Settings: A Review for Correctional Professionals,” Journal of Law Enforcement, 2015 Vol. 4 No. 4.; “Problem Gambling: A Beginner’s Guide for Clinical and Forensic Professionals,” Behavioral Health, 2015, ISSN: 2331-7582. | Dr. Bruce Corrie: “The Economic Potential of African Immigrants in Minnesota,” May 29. Funded by the McKnight Foundation. Several local media features have followed, including a TPT interview available at www.csp.edu/corrie | Eric Dregni: “What to do in Milan, beyond the World Expo,” Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 30. | Dr. Peter Rundquist: “Shoulder Kinematics and Function in Breast Cancer Survivors with Unilateral Lymphedema: An Observational Study,” Rehabilitation Oncology, Vol. 33, No. 1, 2015.
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Class Notes News 1950s Michael ‘Mike’ Gerhard (Acad. ‘57, J.C. ‘59) earned an honorary doctorate from Concordia College-New York in 2003. Mike graduated from Concordia seminary in St. Louis in 1965 and earned a Master’s in Theology from Harvard Divinity School in 1972. Mike and his wife, Joan, recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their six children, their spouses and 18 grandchildren. William Lemke (Acad. ‘53) celebrated his 80th birthday alongside classmates from Concordia. Fun times were had visiting and catching up with other Concordia alumni. William’s daughter, Cindy O’Donovan, and granddaughter, Erin O’Donovan, also attended Concordia, graduating in 2012 and 2000, respectively.
Wayne (‘64) and Lois (Spomer, ‘64) Lehrer had the great fortune to be the English Language Lutheran Pastoral team in Wittenberg, Germany for two weeks, as part of the Wittenberg English Ministry program. During the recent 1965 reunion, Harlan Wittkopf (Acad. ‘65) shared his book, Alphie Finds the Seashell Alphabet. Harlan is a former lawyer Judicial Magistrate and frequent published author on books relating to Sanibel Island and seashells.
1970s Rev. Bob Anderson (‘70) is of Emeritus status as of September 2010, having served Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Custer, SD and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Hill City, SD for 22 years. In addition to serving these two congregations Bob was a volunteer Chaplain for the Star Academy five miles south of Custer, SD for 15 years. The Star Academy is a wellness center with the SD Department of Corrections. Chuck (’70) and Cathy (Schumacher, ‘70) Sader celebrated with
12 alumni attended the Concordia Academy 60th High School Reunion on October 4, 2013.
1960s Rev. Dr. Thomas Sluberski (‘60) was recently awarded the Servant of Christ Award from Concordia College-New York. Thomas has lived and worked on four different continents in a variety of languages since graduating from Concordia St. Paul in 1960. He taught at Concordia College-New York for 31 years and continues to be very involved internationally and with the church.
their granddaughter, Margaret Zirbel (’15), and her daughter as Margaret graduated from Concordia in May.
Bryan Polzin, son of David (‘75) and Muriel (Wachlin, ‘76) Polzin, shared this photo of his one-year-old daughter Piper wearing his childhood CSP sweatshirt. Joan (Kiecker, ‘77) Gilmore’s son, Marcus, has recently had a relapse of Burkitt’s Lymphoma after being diagnosed for the first time in October 2014. Joan has requested prayers for her son and their family.
1980s Sharon (Reske, ‘81) Hinck published her eighth novel in July. The Deliverer (book four in the Sword of Lyric series) has been released by Enclave Publishing, the premier publisher of Christian fantasy and science fiction novels. Sharon has received a Christy finalist medal and three Carol awards for her previous novels. Information about her books as well as her devotional writing can be found at her website, www.sharonhinck.com.
1990s Rev. Derek Lecakes (’95) has been elected President of the Atlantic District of the LCMS. Derek is the pastor at Immanual Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niskayuna, NY. He has served as the Region 1 Vice President of the Atlantic District since 2012. Read more about his plans while President at www.ad-lcms.org. On May 25, 2015, Jayne (Beehler, ’97) Jones released Drop the Puck, It’s Hockey Season, an early reader chapter book that helps teach young readers to be a good sport. It is the first book released in The Official Adventures book series. Jones proudly wears many ‘helmets’ including college professor at CSP, lawyer, author, wife, mother, advocate for children with disabilities, and is a lifelong fan of student athletics.
Class Notes
2010s
Rozalyn (Steinacker, ’99) Zuest was recognized as a 2015 Promising Emerging Leader by Exchange Magazine for leadership in early child education and workforce development.
2000s Daniel Mueller (BBA, ‘03) has assumed the role as President & CEO of Volm Companies, Inc. He has been with the organization since 2012 as Vice President of Business Development & Corporate Strategy. Katie (Rolf, ‘03) Wareham has been accepted into the Master’s program in choral conducting at North Dakota State University. Eric Selle (‘04) is in the Master of Music program in Music Therapy at the University of Minnesota. Lindsey (Burken, ‘05) Schmidt completed her Master’s in Education in Youth Developmental Leadership from the University of Minnesota in the spring of 2015.
Group Reunites to Celebrate Papua New Guinea Mission Since 1957, thousands of Enga and other Western Highland-language Papua New Guineans have been baptized by LCMS missionaries and their indigenous co-workers and successors. A group of Concordia St. Paul graduates were some of the first missionaries to the remote jungle location, including former CSP President Bob Holst. This July, a group of more than 100 missionaries and 22 Papua New Guineans (PNG) gathered to celebrate the mission and share memories. At the Peoria, IL gathering, the visitors from PNG vividly revealed how their lives and career paths benefitted from
Abby (Dawkins, ‘07) Gerold, her husband, Denny, and daughter, Gabriella, had a reunion with Dr. Jeff Burkart in July 2015. Abby sang in the Christus Chorus and was a featured performer in many musicals at CSP. She served as a mission worker in Peru and continues to do mission work through the Lutheran Hour Ministry’s Five14 outreach program for teens and young adults. Alex Heetland (‘09) is in the Master of Music program in choral conducting at the University of Minnesota. On Saturday, Aug. 2, alumnus Kirk Ingram (‘09) was paralyzed in a swimming accident on Lake Minnetonka. See the feature on page 10 for more information.
the missionary education system. Beside church leadership and service, some have become national leaders, including the national Prime Minister, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, medical workers and business leaders. Articulate in English as well as Enga, they shared stories of their journeys of faith and their adventures in life and culture. One stated, “We moved from the Stone Age to the Modern Age in fifty years.” Their joy in the Lord was obvious. In attendance was Rev. Dr. Willard Burce, who served in PNG with his wife, Elinor (who had previously served as secretary to CSP President Poehler) for nearly 50 years. In PNG, Burce led the first Enga-language seminary and later the English seminary. An especially moving part of the reunion was when Burce read the Gospel in Enga during the closing worship service.
Roxanne (Konkel, ’10) Fevold graduated from Walden University on January 31, 2015 after completing a Master’s of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with honors. Roxanne has begun working as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor for the Berryhill Center in Fort Dodge, IA to complete her clinical hours and obtain a full license in two years. Retired Nampa, ID Chief of Police LeRoy Forsman (M.A. ’11) was named Director for the College of Western Idaho Law Enforcement Program on January 1, 2015. This program is designed for students to achieve a college degree while spending one semester in an academy-type setting. The program is approved by the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Council as well as the Idaho Department of Education. Chief Forsman retired from the Nampa Police Department in January of 2013 after a 30-year career.
PNG MISSIONARIES WHO ATTENDED INCLUDE: • Rev. Dr. Willard Burce (Acad. ’41, J.C. ’43) and wife Elinor
• Dr. Martin Dicke (’79) and wife Marie • Rev. Dr. Robert Holst (Acad. ’53, J.C. ’56) and wife Lynne
• Rev. Harvey Kath (Acad. ’56, J.C. ’58) • Rev. Ron Rall (A.A. ’67) and wife Mary Anne
Rev. Dr. Willard Burce and an Enga pastor.
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Sarah Jensen (’11) is in the Master of Music Education Program at St. Thomas University. Brittany Pitts (’12) is in the Master of Music Performance at the University of Minnesota. Anne (Sjolander, ’13) Smith received her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification in January 2015. Captain Phil Henry (’14) recently joined the White Bear Lake police administrative team as the captain of the Patrol Division. Phil has been a police officer since 1997, promoted to sergeant in 2011. He was awarded the Exemplary Student Award while studying criminal justice at Concordia. With the support of his wife, Michelle, and three children, Capt. Henry is looking forward to the challenge and opportunity of his new position. Joseph Ostlund (’14) has been accepted to the Master’s program at Bethel Seminary in Arden Hills, MN. Rachel (Vogt ’14) Lee is currently teaching English in South Korea.
2010s Mina Souvannasoth (’12, M.A. ’15) and Derek Lavalier (’11) are engaged to be married on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 in Albert Lea, MN. They plan to reside in St. Paul, MN.
Births/Adoptions 1950s Chaplain (Col) Loren (’55) and Jan Delgehausen celebrated the birth of their great-granddaughter, Lillian Opal Reilly, in Nashville, TN. Lillian’s parents are Sam and Alex Reilly.
Grace Jamros, along with her parents Brian (’05, M.A. ’08, M.B.A. ’12) and Ashley (Olson, ’07) are proud to introduce Olivia Rose Jamros, who was born at 6:06 a.m. on Thursday, April 2 at Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury, MN Myles Timothy Wyss was born on March 12, 2015 to Andy (’09) and Jayme (Anderson, ’10) Wyss. He arrived weighing 6 lb, 15 oz and a length of 20.5 inches. Myles was delivered in Rhinelander, WI and was baptized on Easter Sunday at Saint Mark’s LutheranChurch in Rhinelander. Kirk (‘09) and Melissa Ingram welcomed their daughter, Alexa Jo Ingram, to the world on July 18, 2015 at 7:11 a.m. Alexa was born 6 lb, 5oz and 20 inches.
2000s
Engagement/ Weddings 1980s Jeng-Long and Beth (Walter, ‘84) Wu’s son, Reed Edward, married Tabitha Michael Budd on July 27, 2015. The ceremony was held on the lawn of the Farmhouse Museum in Ames, IA.
Sarah (Pieper ‘02) and Joel (‘01) Erkkinen celebrated the birth of their son, Gavin Norbert, on March 21, 2014. Gavin was 7 lbs, 9 oz and 19 1/4 inches long. Big sister, Greta, is ecstatic! Photo by Ellen (Menzel ‘02) Haefner, Hat knit by Carrie (Opperman ‘00) Hartwig
Maddie (’11) and Ryan (’10) Marshall along with their children, Kate and Solomon, welcomed two new members to their family on April 3, 2015. Theodore Asher, 5:33 a.m., 5 lb, 9 oz, 19.68 inches, and Rueben Ambrose, 6:01 a.m., 5 lb, 8 oz, 19.68 inches.
Thomas and Melissa (Strelow, ’02) Larabee and big brother Kelston welcomed Elora Dawn to the world on January 7, 2014.
Share Your News Submit your class note at ave.csp.edu/share. 22
FALL 2015 • CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE
Class Notes
Deaths
1940s
Robert Schultz died peacefully at his home in Bridgman, MI on March 4, 2015. Schultz was a Concordia Academy Professor and Glee Club director. He graduated from Valparaiso University and did graduate work at the University of Minnesota. Schultz will be remembered for the glorious music he made both sitting at the organ and directing majestic choirs filled with both adults and children.
Roland ‘Roly’ Mueller (Acad. ‘42, J.C. ‘44) passed away on May 9, 2015, just 16 hours after leaving the hospital. He and his wife, Miriam, met at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (Inglewood, CA) and they were blessed with four children. He was actively involved in the churches to which he belonged.
Addressing the Academy Class of 1964, Dr. Fred Bartling Sr. said:
“Robert Schultz was a close friend, confidant, and colleague. Certainly a charismatic individual and excellent teacher. The love and respect of his Academy boys and impact he had on your lives, your love and appreciation for music and song, is a testimony to his skill as a teacher and musician. Bob Schultz is a testimony of how one individual can impact many lives.”
For 40 years, Roly was employed in the aircraft and spacecraft industry in engineering and administrative positions. After retiring on his 68th birthday, Roly volunteered at the El Dorado Nature Center for ten years, taking museum artifacts to Long Beach schools and sharing them with the young students. Eldor ‘Al’ Galster, Sr. (Acad. ’46) was forever united with his beloved wife and heavenly father on Aug. 7, 2015. After graduating from Concordia St. Paul, Al spent 35 years as a successful executive for Firestone Tires and Goodyear/KellySpringfield. Rev. George Raap (Acad. ’47) passed from this life into the glory of life with Jesus on May 4, 2015. He was a loving husband to Maxine (Ingram) for 62 years, devoted father to Julia and Jennifer, and a faithful shepherd to the Lord’s flock, serving in the LCMS for 60 years.
Third-year student Devin McCauley died July 4, 2015, in a swimming accident. McCauley was studying Music Education at Concordia and was active in many campus activities.
1950s Rev. Lowell Lubben (Acad. ’52, J.C. ’54) was called home on May 11, 2015. Services were held at Concordia Lutheran Church in St. Paul.
On July 29, 2105, Rev. Norman Raedeke (’54) of Thornton, CO, was called home to heaven after a lengthy illness. Pastor Raedeke served at Gethsemane from 1982 to 2000. Lorna (Newmann, ’55) Krogen, wife of Pastor Richard Krogen (’56) was received into her heavenly home on May 26, 2015. Audrey (Buys, ’56) Hackert passed away on Nov. 25, 2014. A celebration of her life was held at Riverview Baptist Church in West Saint Paul. Rev. James Rahn (J.C. ’56) passed away on April 6, 2015 after a year-long illness. He and his wife of more than 50 years, Gail, had four sons, John, Joel, Jacob and James. James served as a teacher in Illinois and New York. He taught at Concordia Academy and College in St. Paul from 1961-78 and Concordia Irvine from 1978 until his retirement.
1960s Jim Hagen (’60) passed away on August 11, 2013. Cheryl (Turner, ‘66) Rogich passed away on Feb. 28, 2015 surrounded by her loving family. James Frank (Acad. ’67) died unexpectedly in early September 2014 at his home in Austin, MN. James was recently retired from Hormel Foods, where he was a civil engineer for 42 years. Jim married Rhoda Greve in 1970 and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from the South Dakota School of Mines. He served many years in the National Guard and later was active with the Salvation Army. Margo (Harnack, ’69) Mayer joined the Lord in Heaven on Jan. 26, 2015, after battling cancer for thirty months.
CORRECTIONS: Spring 2015
Concordia strives to publish accurate information and to acknowledge and correct errors. Rev. Darrell Kobs (‘69) retired from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Russellville, AR, not Russellville, AZ. References to Loma Meyer have been corrected to Dr. Loma Meyer. Dr. Meyer has two doctoral degrees: Ed.D from Laurence University (’76) and Ph.D. from University of Minnesota (’80). Birth notice for Gavin Erkkinen was mistakenly omitted. It has been added to page 22 of the current issue. CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE • FALL 2015
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Upcoming Events Alumni
Small Business Forum September 23 | 8 – 9:30 a.m. Buenger Education Center
Art
Concordia Ceramics Invitational I September 3 – October 2 Concordia Gallery
Jazz Ensemble & Vox 9 Thursday, December 10 | 8 p.m. Buetow Music Center Auditorium Christmas Vespers Service Sunday, December 13 | 7 p.m. Graebner Memorial Chapel
Thrivent Builds Repairs/ Habitat for Humanity Homecoming Service Project October 2 | 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Guinevere Wollmering Senior Exhibition September 3 – October 2 H. Williams Teaching Gallery
2005 Football Reunion October 2-3 Concordia University Campus
Alison Hiltner: It was Tomorrow October 15 – November 11 Concordia Gallery
Alumni Distinguished Service Award Banquet October 2 | 5:30 p.m. Buenger Education Center
Meredith Wagner Senior Exhibition October 15 – November 11 H. Williams Teaching Gallery
Instrumental Ensembles & Concert Band Home Show Tuesday, March 15 | 8 p.m. Buetow Music Center Auditorium
Homecoming 2015: oktoBEARfest October 3 Sea Foam Stadium
Keren Kroul: Charted Memories and Thought Formations November 19 – December 16 Concordia Gallery
Theatre & Dance
Mother-Daughter Day November 14 | 10 a.m. Buenger Education Center
Amanda Porter Senior Exhibition October 15 – November 11 H. Williams Teaching Gallery
Alumni & Friends Travel: Along the Viking Trail Information Meeting
High School Honors Exhibition January 4-15 Concordia Gallery
November 15 | 2 p.m. Library Technology Center 215 Small Business Forum January 13 | 8 – 9:30 a.m. Buenger Education Center Golden Bear Bash January 29 | 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Gangelhoff Center Alumni & Friends Travel: Along the Viking Trail Information Meeting March 2 | 6:30 p.m. Library Technology Center 217
Athletics Visit cugoldenbears.com to view all athletic schedules.
Hend Al-Mansour: Mihrab-Hermitage January 25 – February 17 Concordia Gallery Ruthann Godollei: Dissent February 25 – April 1 Concordia Gallery
Music
Instrumental Ensembles Fall Concert Tuesday, October 27 | 8 p.m. Buetow Music Center Auditorium The Work of Christmas Begins 2015 Fine & Performing Arts Christmas Concert Friday, December 4 | 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 5 | 4:30 p.m. Sunday, December 6 | 3 p.m. Buetow Music Center Auditorium Tickets: $12 Adults, $10 Student/Senior Ticketworks.com Percussion Ensemble Tuesday, December 8 | 8 p.m. Buetow Music Center Auditorium
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FALL 2015 • CONCORDIA S T. PAUL MAGAZINE
High School Choir Invitational with Christus Chorus Friday, February 26 | 7:30 p.m. Graebner Memorial Chapel
Shakespeare Under the Stars September 24 | 10 p.m. Frauenshuh Ampitheatre Working: The Musical October 22-24 | 7:30 p.m. Sunday, October 25 | 2 p.m. E.M. Pearson Theatre Student Directed One Acts December 10-11 | 7:30 p.m. Westlund Theatre Fall Student Showcase December 14 | 5 p.m. E.M. Pearson Theatre The Seagull February 11-13 | 7:30 p.m. Sunday, February 14 | 2 p.m. E.M. Pearson Theatre Student Directed Production March 10-11 | 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 13 | 2 p.m. Westlund Theatre
University
4th Annual Reformation Heritage Lecture Thursday, November 12 | 7 p.m. Graebner Memorial Chapel
Donor Support: Creating Opportunities 2015 Benefactor Report Thrivent Choice If you are a member of Thrivent Financial, you can help provide supplemental support to Concordia University, St. Paul by recommending where some of Thrivent Financial’s charitable outreach funds go through the Thrivent Choice program. Thrivent reports that “since 2010, eligible members have used this program to direct more than $225 million to churches and nonprofits nationwide.” Last fiscal year 91 Thrivent members’ recommendations resulted in $17,780 to Concordia. Thank you Thrivent Financial and Thrivent members! To learn more about this opportunity, check your eligibility and to direct Choice Dollars go online to www.Thrivent.com/ThriventChoice or call Thrivent at 800-847-4836 and say “Thrivent Choice” after the prompt.
We are deeply grateful for the generous support you – our benefactors – gave to Concordia over the last fiscal year. Your gifts indicate that our alumni and friends are interested in contributing to areas that garner immediate impact for our students and campus. A few highlights of giving for fiscal year 2015 include:
• Total giving of $4,430,333, an increase of 13% over fiscal year 2014.
• The Opportunity Fund giving of $1,912,387, an increase of 14% over fiscal year 2014.
• The number of new donors over the year was 594 providing $592,833.
More information and a complete listing of all of our benefactors is available online at www.ave.csp.edu/BenefactorReport. If you would like a printed copy, please contact us at 1-866-476-9277 or advancement@csp.edu.
VIEW THE BENEFACTOR REPORT ONLINE AT WWW.AVE.CSP.EDU/BENEFACTORREPORT Thanks to your help, Asha’s story is one I’d love to tell you in full and one you need to hear, because you helped make it possible. To read Asha’s entire story, go online to www.ave.csp.edu/Asha. You and other dedicated friends and alumni invested in Asha before you even knew her name… before she ever arrived on campus. You helped provide the scholarships that enabled her to attend and to continue at Concordia. You became part of a supportive community that has prepared Asha and thousands of other students for thoughtful living and dedicated service to God. There are so many students who need your help to overcome obstacles, embrace a relationship with God and maximize their potential.
Please give as you are able today. Thank you. Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Dr. Thomas Ries President
“Concordia helped me realize how God has blessed me, because it brought people into my life who made me who I am today.” - Asha Knight (‘15)
Please give today to help students like Asha at: WWW.AVE.CSP.EDU/GIVING
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