Fitting in at Concordia 4 Academy for Excellence 8 100th Commencement 20

magazine of Concordia University, Nebraska

the

Broadcaster summer 2007 volume 84 no. 1

fall 2006 volume 83 no. 2

at Concordia

fitting in
fitting in
fitting in
at Concordia
at concordia

fitting in
at Concordia
 Broadcaster
summer 2007 volume 84 no. 1

Editor and Staff Photographer

Dan Oetting ’87

Copy Editor
Monique Peetz

Graphic Designer
Lisa Nickolite

Contributing Writers
Emily Barlean ’09
Lisa Bennett
Coryn Berkbigler
Jan Koopman co ’69, gr ’75
Lucas Mohrman
Dan Oetting ’87
Monique Peetz
Kristy Plander ’00

Contributing Photographers
Dennis Hubbard
Jan Koopman co ’69, gr ’75
Contents Lucas Mohrman
Dan Oetting ’87
Director of Marketing
Fitting In At Concordia 4 & Communication
Kristy Plander ’00
Academy for Excellence 8 Vice President
for Institutional Advancement
Years of Service 9 Pete Kenow ’88
Vice President for Enrollment
Faculty and Staff 10 Management & Marketing
Dr. Jean Jones
Concordia Scene 12
The Broadcaster is published by the Marketing
Athletics 16 & Communication Office, Concordia University,
Nebraska to alumni, faculty, staff, parents and
100th Commencement 20 friends of the university. Owned and operated
by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Homecoming 21 The Broadcaster welcomes reader ideas and
suggestions. Visit us online at
Alumni 24 www.cune.edu/Broadcaster.

Concordia University Board of Regents

Rev. Dr. David Block, Mesa, Ariz.
Dr. Paul Burger, Kearney, Neb.
Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, Seward, Neb.
William Hartmann, Seward, Neb.
Dr. Vance Hinrichs, Lincoln, Neb.
Virginia Hughes, Seward, Neb.
A. William Kernen, Omaha, Neb.
Dr. Frederick Ohlde, Hortonville, Wis.
Dr. Ronald Pfeiffer, Memphis, Tenn.
Darla Rosendahl, Omaha, Neb.
Cynthia Scheer, Wayzata, Minn.
Dr. Andrew Smith, Dallas, Texas
Rev. Russell Sommerfeld, Seward, Neb.
Rev. Karl Ziegler, Bellevue, Neb.

the joys and challeges of service

Preparing Servant Leaders for Church and World

On the cover: Who’s true blue? 800 North Columbia Avenue

Ryan Zulkoski ’08 (nearest), Seward, Nebraska 68434
Andrew Koepp ’09 and Tysen www.cune.edu
Johnson ’09 went blue for a Spring 800 535 5494
Weekend performance in 2006.
Building community at Concordia
One of the hallmarks of a Concordia
University, Nebraska education is community.
As the 113th academic year came to a close
I received two letters that again reinforced
for me the power of our Lutheran, Christian
higher education community. Allow me to
share quotes from the letters with you.
A father of a 2007 graduate wrote: “We
thank you for providing such a rich Christian
learning environment where so many young
people can grow, excel and be prepared for
future study and service in our church and
in many other occupations…Sir Winston
Churchill best summed up our gratitude to
Concordia in these words: ‘so much…has
been owed by so many…to so few!’ Thank you
again for these past four years at Concordia!”
Communities—students!—thrive in a
shared and supportive environment. That
environment is built and reinforced by, among
others, a faculty that cares, challenges and
inspires. Concordia, I am proud to say, has
that sort of faculty.
Community should also result in growth.
An alumnus recently shared with me how God
worked in his life when he was invited to be a
member of the University A Cappella Choir:
“My time at Concordia climaxed when I made
the choir. God used that opportunity for me to
move closer to him. He was always there but I
decided to ignore his desire to be close to me
until I saw and felt him in the music we made in
that rehearsal room and in our performances.”
“I am a very sports-oriented person and I’m
big into coaching,” he continued. “Most people
that I work with now are shocked when they
hear that I was in a college choir. Of all my
accomplishments in life, being in the choir
while at Seward is one that I’m most amazed
about and very proud of.”
Fitting into an academic community doesn’t
just happen. It takes work: hard work by and on
behalf of many, many people. We realize that
ultimately the work of “fitting in” at Concordia
is accomplished through the power of the Holy
Spirit at work in the lives of people as He guides
and leads faculty, students and staff to serve and
learn in this place. The outcomes we experience
through what takes place here day after day
are phenomenal. Thank you for joining me in
thanking God for all He is doing to build and
nurture a community where students not only
“fit in” but in so doing are prepared to serve and
lead in church and world.
Brian L. Friedrich
President and ceo
Concordia University, Nebraska
president's message 
 A Spring Weekend team mugs for a photo in front of the “Son of Man be Free” sculpture in the middle of campus. Spring Weekend
is one of the most beloved traditions at Concordia, and one that involves most students either as competitors or spectators.
Fitting in at Concordia
Concordia’s class of 2011, this year’s incoming
freshmen, has been getting a jump on getting to
know each other. They’ve been talking—writing
actually—to each other online since April.
Times have changed when you don’t even have
to get out of your pajamas to meet 80 of your
fellow classmates.
The tool they have been using is
Facebook.com. When students sign up for
Facebook they have a Web page on which to
display a photo of themselves and list their
interests. They can also create and join Facebook
groups dedicated to a special purpose, like being
part of Concordia’s incoming freshman class.
“I have a feeling Facebook is bringing
people together sooner than if we had to wait
until the fall,” said incoming freshman Jennette
Morrison. “I actually was friends with my
roommate [on Facebook] before I even knew
she was my roommate.”
“The Facebook phenomena is something you
need to understand to know how students these
 feature
days relate to each other,” said Kristy Plander,
director of marketing and communication at
Concordia. “About 85 percent of college students
use it, and now more high school students are
rushing to sign up as well.”
These days it’s just a regular part of fitting
in. Once the new class members get their
Concordia e-mail addresses, they are able to join
an even greater number of Concordia-related
Facebook groups, from the one for “art nerds”
on campus to the praise group that meets on
Wednesday nights to the group for anyone
whose name is Emily.
For new students Facebook and other online
social utilities add an interesting new wrinkle
to fitting in at Concordia. It’s like having the
combination of a Rolodex, dorm door dry erase
board and personals advertisement for anyone
who’s game enough to join in. All this before
anyone even drives down the road to Seward
and gets dibs on the side of the room with the
tighter towel rack.
Fitting-in moments: A student’s guide to the first week
ID picture time And here you thought awkward photo moments were reserved for getting your driver’s license. Meet
the floor mates Facebook shmasebook. No greater bond is made than with those who know you’ve just gotten a care
package. The O-Show The deepest truths of life together at Concordia are expressed as kabuki theatre during this
annual orientation event. Except no elaborate makeup, costumes, music or speaking in Japanese.
Destination Seward
So, the typical freshman will have said their
cyber-hellos before they get to school. How
about once they’ve made it to Seward?
Sophomore Tien-yi “Chris” Lih was raised in
Oslo, Norway, a city of more than a half-million
people. He made the adjustment to what he
called the “quiet and relaxing” peacefulness of
the Midwest.
“I learned to treat people in a nicer way since
most of the people here are so nice,” he said.
Concordia’s hometown is Seward, Neb.,
population 6,427. Students from bigger cities
may need to adjust to speed limits—the limit is
25 mph nearly everywhere—and the small-town
sidewalk etiquette. All Seward pedestrians, mind
you, have been created with the unalienable
right to smile and say hello.
The big WOW
Once new students arrive on campus, the
university’s Weekend of Welcome kicks off.
Better known as wow, the Weekend of Welcome
is a three-day event that brings first-year
students and their parents to campus just prior
to the academic year.
The first day of wow includes learning
essential details—where to pick up a room key,
how to look up a class schedule—and a round of
welcomes from the university faculty and staff.
Following an evening picnic, parents say
goodbye as their sons and daughters break
into teams of new students for a two-day
introduction to life at college.
The teams, each led by a wow leader and a
resident assistant, choose the activities they’ll
take on for the rest of the weekend: participating
in a service project, getting to know the Seward
community, cheering the Bulldogs, worshipping,
meeting professors, a shopping trip or just
“hanging” with new friends.
The sooner new students can make
connections and build relationships, explained
Mary Oldenburg, director of student activities
and student life education, the sooner they will
feel a part of the Concordia community.
Some of the crucial relationships to form are
between students who share the same floor. One
of the common experiences of college life, true
at Concordia as well, is that so many of the
friends a freshmen makes live just down the hall.
“I have made so many good friends just by
knowing the girls who lived in our hall,” said
Anna Joy Holbird, sophomore. “David nw Pit
was fun to live on and I’ll never forget all the
crazy, exciting things we did our first year.”
An academic life begins
New students enter into the next phase of their
transition to college life the day after wow ends.
Classes begin, and among them will be General
Studies 101, First-Year Seminar.
In the class, students sharpen their research,
writing and discussion skills. Successful scholarly
engagement with the material is the goal. At the
same time, gs 101 professors make a point of
getting to know freshmen quickly and helping
them find resources to address questions and
problems that might arise outside of class.
Often it’s not just a new student’s research
skills that need honing. Sometimes it’s their
juggling that needs work. Even the best-
prepared students have to learn to integrate all of
the new demands on their time and attention.
“During the first semester of my freshman year
I really didn’t care much about when I went to
bed,” said Caleb Kruse, sophomore.
“I’d get my homework done and then spend
feature 
 Fitting-in moments: A student’s guide to the fall semester
Let the Floor Wars begin Pigs were not really meant to be greased. So what. It’s time to decide whether Timmy Top or
Dorcas Pit really is the best floor after all. Homecoming Learn how to swing dance and wear blue face paint in the
same week. Dude! Sweet! Go Bulldogs! A Concordia Christmas This is Concordia welcoming the Christ child. This is
Concordia at its best.

time instant messaging friends from other
colleges online until 1 or 2 a.m. I paid for that
the next day when I had an early class.”
For the second semester, Kruse was
determined to be in bed by midnight, and the
self-discipline paid off. He did well in class,
dated, ran track for the university and was a
member of Concordia Singers.
“Time management is the biggest key. You’ve
got to manage your time right or you’ll be left
behind. If you don’t do it, you’ll fall behind
in your homework and then your friends will
wonder why you can’t hang out with them or
wonder why you are always tired.”
Kruse’s advice for other students is to find the
right balance and the right habits in all areas of
life. For Kruse that meant going to chapel on
most days and attending Evening Prayer, a twice-
weekly student-led prayer group.
“It helped me be connected with the Word and
friends,” said Kruse.
Even the best-laid schemes
Fitting in at Concordia means being apart, for
many students, from the support they could
count on at home from their folks. Everything
from dealing with a cold to changing majors is
now in the student’s hands.
To ease the adjustment, Concordia staff
members work as hard to prevent problems

Advice for parents, too

“Helicopter parents” is a media buzz phrase for a new generation of mothers and fathers
who have a tendency to hover over every move of their sons and daughters in college. And,
according to Dean of Student Services Michelle Chaffee, Concordia’s campus is not immune.
Chaffee meets regularly with prospective first-year parents on Concordia Visit Days. In
her talks with them she explains the types of changes they should expect in their offspring as
they strive to become autonomous, mature young adults—a passage of life that can be more
difficult when parents are hovering around every big and not-so-big decision.
Chaffee, an admitted recovering helicopter mom to four sons, encourages parents to give
their college-aged sons and daughters room to grow. “You need to get to a point where a son
or daughter has moved from being dependent on parents to being a functioning adult,” she
tells parents.
Helicoptering as a parent shouldn’t, however, be confused with missing a son or daughter
who has just started college. Sophomore Shawn Seevers’ parents live in Tokyo and would have
struggled to be helicopter parents even if that was their goal. Seevers found out, though, that
his parents might have missed him more than he thought during the fall of his freshman year.
“My dad called me at halftime of every [University of Nebraska football] game. Then my
mom would call ... later to say, ‘Your father didn’t tell me he was calling again. Fill me in!’
Then proceeded to talk for two hours,” Seevers said.

 feature
Fitting-in moments: A student’s guide to the spring semester
Concordia Invitational Tournament weekend January road trip! Other schools have the audacity to play basketball and call
themselves Concordia. Yes, they must be punished. Spring break Take your new best buddy home to meet your folks in
Tulsa. Nice! Next year do a better job of saving up for Florida! Spring Weekend Concordia fun on a Brobdingnabian scale.
And with a year of college under your belt, you know what Brobdingnabian means, right? In any case, nothing brings a
campus together like synchronized swimming competitions in baby pools. All hail the Student Activities Council.

as they do to react to them when they occur.
Academic support staff conduct workshops in
time-management skills and students also have
access to tutors and study groups.
Concordia’s health center provides
information on a variety of topics, including
healthy weight programs to combat the weight
gain—the “freshman fifteen”—for which the
first year of college has become known. Ongoing
student surveys also help the health center
identify health needs and gaps.
Concordia’s counseling office reaches a wide
segment of the student body through stress
management events, open houses, retreats, informa-
tional materials, guest lectures and its Web pages.
A slightly higher percentage of first-year
students make use of counseling services offered
on campus than returning students.
“College is a wonderful and exciting
experience, but different and demanding
enough to prove frustrating and overwhelming
at times,” said Rachel Murray, director of
counseling at Concordia.
Transitions
Numbers show that Concordia ranks above
the national average in freshman-sophomore
year retention and that even those numbers are
improving.
And like other universities, Concordia
attracts its share of transfer students. Senior Jon
McDaniel attended a military academy for two
years prior to coming to Concordia.
“I am positive that it was God’s plan for me
to go to the Air Force Academy to realize that
Concordia, Nebraska was where He really
wanted me to be,” said McDaniel.
McDaniel jumped into life at Concordia with
both feet, joining the University A Cappella
Choir and the football team while working on a
degree in secondary education.
McDaniel felt that it was well worthwhile taking
on as much as he did in his first year at Concordia.
“I learned quite a few things in the classroom,
but more outside of it,” he said. “The professors
and students here at Concordia help promote a
growing experience outside of the classroom.”
Does it feel like home yet?
Ashley Lenz, senior, had set her mind on
transferring away from Concordia for much of
her freshman year.
She originally picked Concordia because of its
strong graphic design program but had difficulty “By opening myself
feeling settled at the university during her first
up more, I got to know
year. She missed her friends and, as she put it,
was feeling frustrated and “kind of rebellious.” more people.”
She didn’t want to open up to those around her
at Concordia. More often than not, according to
Lenz, she stayed in her dorm room rather than
accepting invitations to go out with friends. She
was having a hard time seeing the point.
Toward the end of her freshman year, she still
intended to move on to another school, but took
a different approach with fellow Concordians.
“I figured that it was the end of the year and
that I should try to enjoy the time I still had
here,” said Lenz. “By opening myself up more, I
got to know more people.”
Lenz stuck with the approach that helped her
feel like she felt at home at Concordia: She fit in
when she let herself fit in.
Fast forward three years and now her
friends at Concordia tease her about knowing
“everybody.”

feature 
(Right) Student detectives
uncover clues at the Founders
Hall mock crime scene.
(Below, left to right) Parents and
students tour campus as part of
the academy experience.
Students conduct chemistry
experiments to identify
suspicious liquids found at
one of three locations.
Mathematics professor Dr.
Brian Albright explains key
principles of logic.

Academy for Excellence

Professor caught by middle school sleuths
More than 40 parochial junior high students
visited campus March 30 with the sole
purpose of trying to uncover the professor
who had been dumping—so the story
went—illegal chemicals on campus.
The students, taking part in Concordia’s
inaugural Academy for Excellence, had been
nominated by their schools for academic
excellence, character and leadership qualities.
The elaborate day of role-playing was designed
so the students would absorb academic lessons
in psychology, chemistry and environmental
science while solving the environmental caper.
Concordia students pitched in as facilitators
and actors. Several Concordia faculty
members posed as potential suspects and most
departments of the university contributed
either by teaching mini-lessons or helping
behind the scenes.
“I loved my character,” said Dr. Ron
Bork, a suspect. “I haven’t done theatre
since I was in sixth grade; so this role was
unique for me.”
The junior high students, for their part,
were able to interview the suspects, complete
work in the field and run tests in the lab.
The day wrapped with a banquet where
students shared their research and accused
one of the suspects. Each student was
inducted in the Academy for Excellence with
a medallion and certificate. At the end of the
evening the culprit, Assistant Professor Kris
Kuhn, confessed to her crime.
“The work done on this was phenomenal,”
said Kuhn. “I loved interacting with the
young people and fielding their audacious
questions.”
Next year’s academy is scheduled for April 18.

 feature
Kinworthy and
Bergman reflect
on years of service
Dr. John “Jack” Kinworthy began teaching geography courses
for the social science department at Concordia in 1969.

Teaching really is a two-way street. I chose teaching

because I like the interaction with people and learning
something new about God’s creation vis-à-vis the
Earth and all its magnificence. The study of geography
is not just that Lincoln is the capital of Nebraska or
Mt. Everest is 29,029 feet high. When you get people
interested in thinking about other parts of the world, other cultures, other systems
of landforms and other climates, for a lot of them it clicks. Geography couples
together both physical phenomena on the earth’s surface and cultural phenomena
of how man uses parts of the earth.
I’ve learned a lot from our students as their energy and faith come through in the
classroom and on almost 200,000 miles of u.s. study tours. They love the discipline;
they want to extend their education and help in turn with public service and
classroom teacher education service. We try to prepare leaders for the 21st century
and our outstanding geography students going into the field will be doing exactly
that because they can serve in the broader context.
I have been blessed with sharing this great adventure of teaching and learning with
a lot of great colleagues. We are all here for the right reasons in terms of dedication
to our students and to each other. I consider it a huge blessing and high honor for
me to have been here for 38 years. And as I retire, I have lot of books to leave with
the next person.

Dr. Shirley Bergman began the Lutheran Education

Center on Aging on Concordia’s campus in 1988. The
center grew to become the Lutheran Institute on Aging
and Family. Bergman also pioneered the master’s degree
in family life ministry.

For me, it’s been just a joy to serve here. During my

journey at Concordia, I have been gifted to work with
outstanding faculty and administrative colleagues. One
person who made a very significant contribution to the family ministry program is
Dr. Paul Vasconcellos. His commitment to family ministry and expertise made a
huge impact in equipping family life ministers. Family ministry became a passion
just as aging has always been a passion for me.
Family ministry strengthens families and individuals and is a difference-maker
in congregations. When I see or read about the family ministries, sometimes I
am moved to tears because it is just incredible what people are doing through the
power of the Gospel. You hear about the challenges that they have in the church,
and yet they have the gift of moving ahead and the passionate desire to serve.
There will also be multiple opportunities for people to serve in age-wave
ministries. Often when people think about aging, they have the single mindset of
frail older people as opposed to healthy mature people. Today we’ve been given
this gift of an extra 10 to 20 years of life, and we need to think about how we
might continue to equip people to gift some of that time for service ministries.
feature 
(Right) Michelle Roeber, Prof. Paul
Berkbigler, Madelyn Lorenzen and
Tannen Osten review National Youth
Gathering design materials.
(Below) Prof. Kurt von Kampen will
direct the National Youth Gathering
honor choir during worship July 31.
Concordia well represented at LCMS
National Youth Gathering in Orlando
Numerous Concordia University, Nebraska
faculty and staff, along with students, will be
among those working behind the scenes at
the 2007 National lcms Youth Gathering in
Orlando, July 28 to Aug. 1.
Associate Professor of Art Paul Berkbigler will
be in Orlando working with three of Concordia’s
most talented design students, Michelle Roeber,
Madelyn Lorenzen and Tannon Osten. The
students will lay out the daily nyg newsletter
and design elements for the website. “It has been
a pleasure as their professor and as a professional
designer to see the growth of their work and
their working style as they’ve tackled the many
aspects of this project so far,” said Berkbigler.
Another group of Concordia art students
will work on two large-scale design projects for
the nyg. The students produced a billboard
to be displayed in Orlando and have created a
projection of iconic buildings and monuments
 faculty and staff
from across America for the convention hall.
Concordia’s Department of Music faculty
will also make a major contribution to the nyg.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, chair of the Department
of Music, has composed three pieces to be
performed by the nyg honor wind symphony
and honor choir.
Dr. Kurt von Kampen will direct the honor
choir during the July 31 evening worship service.
The honor choir, made up of youth from across
the country, will be supported by Concordia’s
own 16-member Chamber Choir.
Concordia’s admission and alumni offices will
be present in full force, connecting with alumni
and friends and sharing all that Concordia has
to offer.
Orange will dot the convention hall on July 31
as all Concordia students, faculty, staff and other
friends don Concordia T-shirts designed for the
occasion.

Von Kampen honored
with Outstanding
Teaching Award
As Concordia students Laura Bogenhagen and
Bryan Merry read the comments submitted
on the nomination forms for the Outstanding
Teaching Award to the commencement
ceremony audience, Dr. Kurt von Kampen,
associate professor of music, did not think they
were describing him.
It was not until Bogenhagen mentioned music
and then choir that he realized what was going
on. And then he was floored.
“This is unbelievable. I am humbled to be
here,” von Kampen said during his comments
following the announcement. He went on to
thank the choirs he directs, his fellow faculty, his
wife and the administration in their support of
the arts at Concordia.
Kept a secret until the second ceremony,
the annual award goes to a full-time member
of Concordia’s faculty who is nominated by
students and selected by a committee of students
and faculty members who have previously
received the award.
“This is such a surprise, and I am most
honored because this award comes from the
students,” he remarked afterwards. Von Kampen
has been at Concordia since the fall of 1998. He
conducts the University A Cappella Choir, the
Chamber Choir and the Concordia Singers.
Faculty & Staff Notes
Kira Baldinger, instructor in the National Communication
photography, was a finalist in Association Convention to be held
Photographer Forum’s Best of in Chicago, Ill., in November. The
Photography 2006 Annual with paper examines the development
her photo Abandoned Trailer Park. of regional debate organizations
Baldinger’s product packaging and how they interact with
for HobbyTown usa was given national-level debate.
an Award of Merit at the 2007
Dr. Joe Herl, associate professor
Nebraska Bronze Quill awards, an
of music, had a choral piece
annual awards program sponsored
entitled Advent Alleluias published
by the Lincoln, Neb., chapter
by MorningStar Music Publishers.
of International Association of
Business Communicators. Dr. John Jurchen, assistant
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, professor of
professor of chemistry, co-
authored a chapter in a book
music and chair of the Department
of Music, was joined by Dr.
dealing with ultra-sensitive
bioanalysis. Published by Wiley,
Charles Ore, professor emeritus
of music, for a recital at St. John
New Frontiers in Ultrasensitive
Bioanalysis: Advanced Analytical
Lutheran Church in Seward, Neb.
Chemistry Applications in
on April 22 for the St. John’s Organ
Nanobiotechnology, Single
Restoration Fund. The program
Molecule Detection, and Single
included original compositions
Cell Analysis was edited by
from both men as well as duets
Xiao-Hong Nancy Xu. Jurchen
played with four hands and four
worked with three other authors
feet. Blersch was also the featured
on the chapter entitled “Single
recitalist at the opening hymn
Cell Measurements with Mass
festival of the American Guild
Spectrometry.”
of Organists convention held in
Lincoln in June. Dr. Mark
Meehl, professor
James Bockelman, associate
of theology,
professor of art, was named one of
along with two
two Merit Award winners of the
co-authors,
2007 Individual Artist Fellowships
Trude Dothan
in Visual Arts by the Nebraska
and Seymour
Arts Council. Awarded for his
Gitin, published
painting and drawing, Bockleman
a book covering
received $2,000 and will be part of
the archeological digs in Biblical
an exhibition at the Bemis Center
Ekron entitled
for Contemporary Art in Omaha
Tel Miqne-Ekron
in January 2008. Bockelman also
completed a one-person exhibition
Excavations
1995–1996 Field
at the Marxhausen Gallery of Art
INE East Slope
on campus in March titled Projekt
Iron Age I (Early
Köln. Bockelman is now preparing
Philistine Period).
for a one-person exhibition
scheduled for fall 2007 in Berlin, Ed Siffring, registrar, is current
Germany. president of the Nebraska
Dr. Renea Gernant, professor
Association of Collegiate Registrars
and Admissions Officers; he will
of communication, was elected
pass the reigns in November to
vice-president of the National
Kelly Rippen, a 2002 alumna who
Parliamentary Debate Association.
is now in admissions at Mid-Plains
Following the organization’s
Community College in McCook,
procedure, she will assume the
Neb.
presidency in 2010. Gernant’s
paper “The Emergence of Regional
Culture and its Implications on
the National Face of npda Debate”
was accepted for presentation in
the debate education division at
faculty and staff 

Greta Wendelin poses with members
of the Evanjelicke Gymnazium Tisovec
School debate team during their trip
to Bratislava.
 Cconcordia scene
Reaching for the record
This spring, Chris Whirrett, a Concordia senior,
invited the campus to help break the world
record for the longest ultimate Frisbee game.
They began Thursday, April 19, and clocked in
at just under 79 hours before stopping very early
Monday morning. Nearly 200 students helped
in the effort, several of which contributed dozens
of hours each.
Whirrett took up the challenge as part of his
General Studies 301 course on servant leadership.
As part of the attempt on the record, funds and
awareness were raised for the Heifer Project
International, a non-profit organization that
gives livestock to impoverished people and
teaches them how to care for the animals.
Bonding in Bratislava and at the Black Box
Communication major spends semester in Slovakia
In her last semester at Concordia, Greta
Wendelin wanted a challenge and real-world
experience. She found that in Slovakia.
Wendelin spent the semester at Evanjelicke
Gymnazium Tisovec School, where her main
responsibility was teaching first year English. She
also worked with the debate team and felt her
most rewarding experience was in March when
six of the boys on the team participated in the
English debates in Bratislava.
Five received speaker awards and one team
won the tournament. “I was extremely proud,”
Wendelin says, “it was a very, very good time
getting to know some of the brightest students
here a little better.”
Action was still brisk in the 42nd consecutive
hour of ultimate Frisbee competition. Chris
Whirrett (center, right) attends to the roster,
making sure to keep full teams on the field at
all hours. Whirrett himself also played during
73 of 79 hours of the game.
Players signed up to play for one or more
hours, and many others simply came to the field
and joined in. Players were swapped in after
points had been scored.
Whirrett had set a goal of 80 hours in order
to break a record claimed by Beloit College of
just over 72 hours. A Sunday morning lightning
storm took players off the field for just over an
hour.
The Guinness Book of World Records
does not yet keep track of records for
ultimate Frisbee, but Whirrett has begun the
paperwork—a hefty 10 pages worth—to get the
category and the Concordia record recognized.
Wendelin also became involved in youth
ministry with Black Box, the nickname for a
weekly youth group meeting with music and a
Bible study led by David Fiala ’99 and Laurie
Lenz. Black Box was especially a time to ask
questions in a welcoming environment.
“Because of socialism, many families are
not Christian,” said Wendelin. “So when these
students come they often have little, if any,
knowledge of Christianity.”
It was a moving experience for Wendelin, one
that she believes she will carry with her for a
lifetime. “The connections and bonds with those
here have made a tremendous impression on
me,” she said.

Early childhood educators
share laughter, lessons
Laughter and joy were the order of the day
June 20 for the more than 260 attendees of
Concordia’s eighth annual Early Childhood
Education Conference. Attendees came
from 12 states to hear keynote speaker Sharon
MacDonald and learn from the experts in
numerous sectionals.
“The most important thing is to remain
calm,” MacDonald emphasized. “It reassures
the children and lets them know you are still
in charge.” She went on to explain techniques
for keeping groups of young children focused
and for teachers to maintain their own peace of
Keynote speaker Sharon MacDonald
shares her songs written for young
children with those gathered for the
June 20 Early Childhood Education
Conference held on campus.
mind. “Sanity savers,” as MacDonald put it. To
the delight of the attendees, every technique and
classroom strategy came with a wry story from
her decades of teaching experience.
“We have a dozen teachers with us today,” said
the Rev. Robert Riggert ’70, executive assistant
for education, youth and stewardship for the
lcms Iowa West District.
“We came for the age-appropriate, Christ-
centered resources we knew we could find to
help us to continue excellent early childhood
education in our district.”
Cconcordia scene 
Student Notes
Kayla Anderson
was named
Student Teacher
of the Year by
the Nebraska
English
Language Arts Council. Anderson
has been working in the classrooms
of Seward High School to complete
her student teaching requirements.
Kristen Bernhardt had a photo
selected as a finalist and published
in Photographer Forum’s Best of
College Photography 2006 Annual.
Laura Bogenhagen was selected to
receive the 2007 Eastern Nebraska
Reading Council scholarship.
Jacob Cooper and Laura Knibbe
were named co-winners of
Concordia’s Wayne and Wanda
Lillich Award for top students in
graphic design.
Dayton Daberkow interned
with Mike Flood, speaker of the
Nebraska State Legislature.
Bryant Krieger interned
with the Lincoln Saltdogs
professional baseball team
this summer. He worked in
ticketing, merchandising, sales,
guest relations, promotions and
stadium operations.
Madelyn Lorenzen was given
Concordia’s Outstanding Artist
Award for proficiency in her
graphic design concentration and
also excelling in a broad range of
studio arts.
Joshua Miesner and Teagan
Earhart attended and performed
at a master class at University of
Nebraska-Kearney with Grammy
Award-winning Scottish clinician,
Evelyn Glennie.
Christopher Mizel and
Whitney Stichka presented
papers at the 27th Annual Great
Plains Students’ Psychology
Convention, in Wichita, Kan.
They were the first Concordia
students to present at the
convention. Mizel’s presented
his paper titled “An Exploration
alumni news
 concordia scene
of the Growth of the Mormon
Church” and Stichka presented
“A Quantitative Study of the
Left-Brain/Right-Brain Theory.”
Kristen Peters, Erin Eitzmann
and Kimberly Acker were awarded
scholarships by the Department of
Natural Sciences.
Megan Polson earned the
Brommer Award, Concordia’s
highest honor for artists who work
in a variety of media, demonstrate
outstanding studio skills and
exhibit Christian character.
Ana Salas and Rachel Schroeder
placed third and sixth, respectively,
in poetry interpretation
at the National Christian
College Forensics Association
Championship.
Tim Shewmaker, Paul Soulek,
Mark Kanitz and Audrey
Herrmann participated in the
annual student recital sponsored
by the Lincoln Chapter of the
American Guild of Organists. They
joined five other students from the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
and Nebraska Wesleyan University
on the program.
Paul Soulek’s article “Hymn
Playing 101: Empowering the
Church’s Song” was featured in
the April/May issue of Grace Notes,
a publication of the American
Association of Lutheran Church
Musicians.
The Nebraska Lambda Chapter of
Pi Kappa Delta, a communication
and forensics honor society,
inducted 16 new members:
MaryLou Andrews, Ruth Bartels,
Amanda Broberg, Emily Bruntz,
Dayton Daberkow, Alicia
Foley, Elizabeth Hambrock,
Alisha Hilpert, Corrie Johnson,
Miranda Kamery, Jared Olson,
Ashley Panwitz, Carrie Schardt,
Kyra Schwartz, Rachel Simmons
and Sally Wolff.
The Rho Omicron Chapter of
Sigma Tau Delta English honorary
society inducted five new members:
Tiffany Glenn, Dustin Haider,
Angela Pitkin, Rachel Schroeder
and Rachelle Wilcox.
Four members of the Sower
staff were honored with Golden
Leaf Awards from the Nebraska
Collegiate Media Association. Paul
Fischer took first in the feature
story category and Natalie Swanda
took first in advertisement design.
Second place for column writing
went to Jessica Luebbe, and Zach
Gunzelman was awarded third
place in hard news/spot news story.
The Concordia entries were judged
against those from colleges with
enrollments of less than 5,000
students.
The Concordia University,
Nebraska Students In Free
Enterprise team was named a
regional champion at the sife
usa Regional Competition in
Minneapolis, Minn. Judged on
their projects and activities over
the past year, five team members
presented a report of the team’s
community outreach projects to
a panel of business leaders. The
team advanced to the national sife
competition in Dallas, Texas.
The artwork of 16 Concordia
students was selected for New
Generation 2006: The International
Exhibition by Professors and
Students of Graphic Design in New
Generation held at Sangmyung
University in Seoul, South Korea.
The theatre program was honored
by the Alpha Psi Omega and
Delta Psi Omega National
Theatre Honorary Societies
with the inclusion of selected
performance photographs in
Playbill, their annual journal.
Concordia’s program has been
included in Playbill each year for
more than 20 years and was one
of 31 selected groups.
The University A Cappella Choir
released its third recording under
the direction of Dr. Kurt von
Kampen entitled The Light of
Morning. The 13 tracks on the
disc include selections from
the repertoire of the past two A
Cappella concert seasons with
music representative of the
Renaissance to present day.
Graduate studies
Savannaha Kern, master’s
program in geography and
planning, University of Akron,
Ohio, scholarship and graduate
assistantship
Sarah Kraft, master’s in social
work, University of Chicago School
of Social Service Administration
Scott Walhaug, m.b.a. program,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Leah Wisroth, master’s program
in English, Kansas State University,
Manhattan, Kan., graduate
teaching assistantship
Missionary work
Heidi Greimann, missionary
to Taiwan
Stephanie Rosburg, missionary
to Papua New Guinea
Public school positions
(current as of June 7, 2007)
Marissa N. Kelly, Omaha Public
Schools, 2nd grade teacher
Sophie L. Niemann, East
Butler Public Schools,
preschool teacher
Synodical Church Work
Placement List
(May graduates; list is current
as of June 7, 2007)
Arizona
Litchfield Park, Trinity Lutheran
Church and School, Korey D.
Danley, dce; Tiffany Rodden
Danley, 7th grade teacher
Phoenix, Christ Lutheran School,
Allison M. Morton, preschool
teacher and director
California
Fremont, Prince of Peace Lutheran
Church, Megan L. Loomis, dce
Hayward, Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church, Kayla A. Gutz,
dce
Santa Cruz, Messiah Lutheran
Church, Inese Pukste, dce
Colorado
Denver, Denver Lutheran High
School, Sarah J. Strohschein,
social science teacher
Denver, St. John Lutheran School,
Elisabeth A. Wright, 1st grade
teacher
Lakewood, Bethlehem Lutheran
Church, Mollie J. Fischer, dce
Longmont, Messiah Lutheran
School, Melissa C. Nathan, 1st and
2nd grade teacher
Florida
Brandon, Immanuel Lutheran
School, Rebecca A. Mooney, 5th
grade teacher
Ocala, St. John Lutheran School,
Greta A. Gieseke, Spanish teacher
Orlando, Orlando Lutheran
Academy, Tim M. Leech, religion
and physical education teacher
Idaho
Pocatello, Grace Lutheran School,
Rebecca M. Shaffer, 2nd grade
teacher
Illinois
Collinsville, Good Shepherd
Lutheran School, Susan K.
Braunsroth, 6th grade teacher
Rochelle, St. Paul Lutheran School,
Fredrick W. Wren, 6th grade
social studies teacher
Rockford, Rockford Lutheran High
School, Bethany Fale Pitman,
English and religion teacher
Iowa
Boone, Trinity Lutheran Church,
Shannon R. Davis, 3- and 4-year-
olds teacher
Cedar Rapids, Bethany Lutheran
Church, Ben Venteicher, dce
Kansas
Independence, Zion Lutheran
School, Jennifer Scheuring Seel,
1st and 2nd grade teacher
Topeka, Topeka Lutheran School,
Andrea M. Gibson, 5th grade
teacher
Wamego, Mt. Calvary Lutheran
Church, Paul White, dce
Louisiana
Gretna, Salem Lutheran School,
Rehema B. Kavugha, music teacher
Michigan
Rochester Hills, Lutheran High
School Northwest, Molly J.
Helmreich, music and English
teacher
Minnesota
Eagan, Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran
School, Lindsey C. Flaten, 1st
grade teacher
Hermantown, Peace in Christ
Lutheran Church, Ruth Woltmann,
dce
Lester Prairie, St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Jenna L. Hellbusch, dce
Missouri
Cole Camp, Lutheran School
Association, Sarah A. Sunderman,
7th and 8th grade math teacher
Columbia, Good Shepherd
Lutheran School Stephen T.
Gonzales, 5th, 6th and 7th grade
teacher; Rachel E. Jackson, 1st
grade teacher
Farmington, St. Paul Lutheran School,
Kristin M. Zilm, 5th grade teacher
Gladstone, Northland Lutheran
School Association, Lewis B.
Evans, social studies teacher
Independence, Messiah Lutheran
Church, Ken Broermann, dce
Kansas City, Lutheran High School
of Kansas City, Daniel A. Bickel,
biology teacher; Amanda M.
Forsberg, language arts and history
teacher; Dustin O. Nelson, 9th
through 12th music teacher
St. Charles, Zion Lutheran School,
Allison F. Raders, 1st grade teacher
St. Charles, Immanuel Lutheran
School, Niccole M. Sedlmayr,
preschool part-time teacher
St. Joseph, St. Paul Lutheran
School, Trista A. Seeman, 5th and
6th grade teacher; Kayla J. Thole,
3rd and 4th grade teacher
St. Louis, Lutheran Association
for Special Education, Chelsea H.
McTee, special education teacher
St. Peters, Lutheran High School
of St. Charles County, Amber
Morrison Maddick, art teacher
Wentzville, Immanuel Lutheran
School, Elizabeth A. Rincker,
science teacher
New Mexico
Las Cruces, Mission Lutheran
School, Kristen M. Pieper, 5th
grade teacher
Nebraska
Columbus, St. John Lutheran
School, Mallary A. Gunnare, 6th,
7th and 8th grade teacher
Elkhorn, Lord of Life Lutheran
Church, Nicole Koenig, dce
Kearney, Zion Lutheran School of
Kearney, Tracie L. King, 1st and
2nd grade teacher
McCook, Peace Lutheran Church,
Erica L. Boleen, dce
Norfolk, Lutheran High Northeast,
Sarah J. Dagel, math teacher
St. Libory, Zion Lutheran School,
Courtney M. Glynn, kindergarten,
1st and 2nd grade teacher
Tilden, Immanuel Lutheran
Church, Steven E. Dunn, dce
Nevada
Reno, St. Luke Lutheran Church,
Jonathan J. Kopecky, dce
North Carolina
Cary, Resurrection Lutheran
School, Ruth Ahlman Lawson,
preschool teacher
Oklahoma
Broken Arrow, Immanuel Christian
Academy, Tabitha M. Hoffman,
5th grade teacher; Thad J. Sankey,
7th and 8th grade teacher
Edmond, Holy Trinity Lutheran
Church, Heath L. Lewis, dce
Texas
Harlingen, St. Paul Lutheran School,
Jason T. Kuiper, 4th grade teacher;
Megan R. Robertson, 5th through
8th social studies teacher
Houston, Trinity Lutheran Church,
Jason Phelps, dce
Houston, Lutheran South
Academy, Kristina R. Urban,
pre-kindergarten teacher; Drew R.
Urban, 6th grade geography and
middle-level physical education
teacher
McAllen, St. Paul Lutheran School,
Katherine R. Jeppesen, music
teacher; Kristin N. Matasovsky, 1st
grade teacher;
McAllen, St. Paul Lutheran
Church, Tim J. Shewmaker, dpm
Utah
St. George, Trinity Lutheran
School, Heidi K. Sanders, 7th and
8th grade teacher
Washington
Seattle, Amazing Grace Christian
School, Victoria A. Preston, 2nd
grade teacher
Wisconsin
Green Bay, Pilgrim Lutheran
School, Jonathan C. Himmler,
4th grade teacher
Jackson, Living Word Lutheran
High School, Tim R. Gast, physical
education and theology teacher
Portage, St. John Lutheran School,
Ruth A. Bartels, 5th through 8th
math and science teacher
Sheboygan, Trinity Lutheran
School, Chelsea B. Durk, 4th
grade teacher
Note: An updated synodical
placement list of recent graduates will
be available in early September at
www.cune.edu/placements.
alumni scene
concordia news 
 athletics
Running a smart race
Concordia leads conference in scholar-athletes
For the fourth consecutive year, Concordia led
the Great Plains Athletic Conference in the
number of naia Scholar-Athletes. Concordia,
one of 13 gpac teams, accounted for 54 of 401
scholar-athletes in the conference.
In order to receive the honor, players must
carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on
a 4.0 scale and be junior or above in academic
standing.
Concordia’s scholar-athletes for 2006-07:
Baseball
Todd Stahlecker, Junior, Lincolnville, Kan.
Jon Mueller, Senior, St. Louis, Mo.
Peter Ruhl, Senior, Exeter, Neb.
Softball
Amanda Hehn, Senior, Ft. Collins, Colo.
Christine Jeppesen, Senior, Pleasant Dale, Neb.
Katherine Jeppesen, Senior, Pleasant Dale, Neb.
Rachel Mol, Junior, Flint, Mich.
Rebecca Shaffer, Senior, Lewisville, Texas
Tennis
John Bussman, Junior, Cullman, Ala.
Dean Flaten, Senior, Wayzata, Minn.
Chelsey Bartels, Senior, Grand Island, Neb.
Men’s track
Kyle Johnson, Senior, O’Neill, Neb.
Kurt Jostes, Senior, Norfolk, Neb.
Jonathan Rempfer, Junior, Newhall, Iowa
Jonathan Ripke, Senior, Seward, Neb.
Jacob Schmidt, Senior, Hickman, Neb.
Women’s track
Erin Eitzmann, Junior, Superior, Neb.
Lindsey Flaten, Senior, Mayer, Minn.
Emly Hartmann, Junior, Seward, Neb.
Hilary Powell, Senior, Columbus, Neb.
Melissa Ruegg, Senior, St. Peters, Mo.
Katie Werner, Senior, Syracuse, Neb.
Men’s Basketball
Benjamin Buhr, Junior, Lincoln, Neb.
Richard Schwartz, Senior, Westminster, Colo.
Women’s Basketball
Jenni Lovegrove, Junior, Fairmont, Neb.
Elizabeth Hirssig, Senior, Rochester, Minn. is ate consequatie vulla
Whitney Stichka, Junior, Ruskin, Neb. faccumsanFeuguerilis dolorperat.
Ut aci blaorem do ex estin
Jordan Schmoldt, Junior, Clay Center, Neb. velessim etuerci eu feugait la ad
Elizabeth Spencer, Junior, Meade, Kan. tet lut vel essis nostis dolendigna
consequis acin ulpute volore do
Marie Wintz, Senior, Hartington, Neb.
Emly Hartmann, Junior, Seward, Neb.
Men’s cross country
Jacob Schmidt, Senior, Hickman, Neb.
Kurt Jostes, Senior, Norfolk, Neb.
Kyle Johnson, Senior, Norfolk, Neb.
Women’s cross country
Hilary Powell, Senior, Columbus, Neb.
Football
Kyle Fittje, Senior, Columbus, Neb.
Nathan Hannemann, Junior, Lincoln, Neb.
Ben Deutschman, Senior, North Platte, Neb.
Jared Oswald, Junior, Madison, Neb.
Jon Mueller, Senior, St. Louis, Mo.
Matt Egger, Senior, Galva, Iowa
Brett Mertens, Junior, Merino, Colo.
Marcus Nathan, Junior, Golden, Colo.
Men’s soccer
Andrew Nelson, Junior, Overland Park, Kan.
Jeffery Weides, Junior, Kearney, Neb.
Women’s soccer
Gentri Brown, Senior, West Jordan, Utah
Volleyball
Kate Kluge, Junior, Rochester, Minn.
Natalie Koopman-Meyers, Senior, Scribner, Neb.
Janell Parry, Junior, Morganville, Kan.
Jaelle Rodenbeck, Senior, Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Katie Werner, Junior, Syracuse, Neb.
Women’s golf
Chelsey Bartels, Senior, Grand Island, Neb.
Randi Eggers, Senior, Battle Creek, Neb.
Anna Hill, Senior, Friend, Neb.
Pictured: Scholar-athlete Melissa Ruegg
athletics 
Coach Frank Greene rallies the team
during an April 18 game against
Bellevue University.
Hannah Krueger returns volley in
match against Hastings College
April 16.
 athletics
Softball team notches first GPAC tournament title
When Concordia’s softball team made it to
the conference tournament championship,
they won decisively, and in a hurry. The
championship game, an 11-2 victory over the
Dana College Vikings, was complete by the
fifth inning. The Bulldogs have been regular-
season conference champs twice since the turn
of the millennium, but this was their first
conference tournament title.
The fifth seeded Bulldogs finished the
gpac tournament with a perfect record of
4-0, picking up wins over Midland Lutheran,
Briar Cliff and Dana twice. In addition, Head
Coach Frank Greene reached a milestone
during the tournament, earning wins 200 and
201 of his career.
Women’s tennis lands remarkable season
Team finishes second in conference
The Concordia University, Nebraska women’s
tennis team had a season to remember in 2007.
The Bulldogs finished as runners-up in the Great
Plains Athletic Conference, garnered the No.
2 seed in the naia Region iii Tournament and
each member of the team earned All-Conference
honors. Head Coach Mark Lemke also was
named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/gpac
Women’s Tennis Coach-of-the-Year. He guided
the Bulldogs to one of their best finishes in
history with a record of 9-4 overall and 7-1 in
gpac play.
Two doubles teams and five of the six
singles players earned first-team all-conference
By winning the gpac Tournament the
Bulldogs qualified for the naia Region iii
Tournament. It is the fifth consecutive season
the Bulldogs have reached regional play. At the
Region iii Tournament the Bulldogs dropped a
pair of games to Morningside and Dana to finish
the season 26-23, 14-9 gpac.
Six different players were named to the
2007 gpac All-Conference team. Samantha
Hellbusch was named to the first-team while
Amanda Hehn, Kendall Burgess, Laura Fugate
and outfielder Tawny Bullerdick were tabbed as
second-team selections. Sarah Bergen was named
honorable mention. Hellbusch was also named
to the naia All-Region iii Team.
honors for the Bulldogs. In addition, the No.
3 doubles team garnered honorable mention
honors.
Leah Koopman ended the season
undefeated, going a perfect 12-0 at No. 5
singles. In doubles action she went 5-2 when
teamed up with Hannah Krueger.
All of the Bulldogs earning first-team
honors had a .500 or better record in
conference play, including a pair of 6-1 records
by Chesley Bartels and Heather Jackson.
Concordia wrapped up its season in the
naia Region iii with a loss to Hastings
College, 5-4.

Spring sports: 2007 season highlights
BASEBALL After a string of rainouts early in
the season, the Concordia baseball team wrapped
its regular season on a high note, winning six of
their last eight games. The Bulldogs finished the
season with a record of 12-32, 10-14 gpac.
Seven different players were named to the
2007 gpac All-Conference team. Outfielder
Zach Williams was named to the first-team
while Todd Stahlecker (of), Nate Schmoll (of),
Casey Rodriguez (2b), Jack Holmberg (util),
Chris McNeil (p) and Clay Sanford (1b) were all
tabbed honorable mention selections.
MEN’S GOLF The men’s golf team wrapped
up its season at the gpac Championships held in
Sioux Falls, S.D. The Bulldogs carded a two-day
total of 634 (321-313) to finish ninth at the event.
Individually, Mike Kulzer qualified for the naia
Region iii Championships.
Kulzer’s two-day total of 155 at the Region
iii meet put him in a three-way tie for 12th
place. This was his second appearance at a
naia Regional, as he also qualified during his
freshman season. For the season Kulzer, an All-
gpac selection, averaged a 77, the best in school
history.
MEN’S TENNIS Concordia finished with a
record of 6-7, 2-5 gpac in men’s tennis. Dean
Ziegler and Brown named Athletes of the Year
Jon Ziegler and
Gentri Brown
were named the
2006-07 Bulldog
athletes of the year
at Concordia’s
annual all-sport
banquet April 25.
Ziegler, a senior
from Lincoln, Neb., completed his college
basketball career as the all-time leading scorer in
Concordia history with 2,099 points, eclipsing
Zach Williams throws from center field
in an April 29 game against Midland
Lutheran; Michael Saalfeld races at the
May 11 conference track meet held at
Concordia; and Mike Kulzer looks to
get on the green April 16 during the
Nebraska Wesleyan Invite.
Flaten earned first-team All-gpac honors at No.
1 singles while Marcus Herring was an honorable
mention singles selection.
The duo of Flaten and Herring paired up
to handle the Bulldogs No. 1 doubles spot this
season and were recognized with first-team
conference honors.
Track and Field The track and field
squads wrapped up their season at the 2007 naia
Outdoor Track and Field Championships in
Fresno, Calif. In all, the Bulldogs finished with
seven All-America performances, a top-six finish
for the track program as a whole. The Concordia
men earned 25 points, good enough for 15th
place. The Bulldogs were bolstered by a strong
group in the race walk. On the women’s side the
Bulldogs finished in 24th place with 14 points.
Michelle Anderson took silver in the pole
vault, clearing 12-03.50, while Luka Thor earned
All-America honors in the 10,000 (31:55.27).
Three Bulldogs earned All-America honors in the
5,000-race walk, led by Chris Tegtmeier who took
third place (23:01.49), Jon Ripke finished fourth
(25:45.19) while Nathan Dreher took sixth place
(26:14.50). Michael Saalfeld also turned in an
All-America performance in the 800, taking fifth
place (1:52.06) in a highly competitive field.
a mark that had stood for 35 years. On five
occasions this season he scored 30 or more points
in a game, including a school-record 47-point
performance against Sioux Falls in his final home
game.
Brown, a senior from West Jordan, Utah,
led the Bulldog women’s soccer team in both
goals and points this season, with 19 and 42
respectively. Her 19 goals were second best in
conference. Overall, during her senior season she
scored just over 45 percent of the Bulldogs total
goals on the season.
athletics 
 A historical day
Concordia celebrates 100th commencement
It rained for Concordia’s 100th graduation
day, but the only thing that suffered was the
customary long walk across campus for students
and faculty prior to ceremonies. Hundreds
of family and friends filled the bleachers on
Saturday, May 5, as more than 200 students were
awarded their diplomas.
 commencement
Concordia also honored five individuals—
Rev. Ray Mirly, Shelia Kubwalo Okoye, Peter
Richenburg, Edwin Schoening and Clark
Kolterman—with honorary degrees or awards
during commencement. Mirly also served as the
commencement speaker for the day.
 Each year, for a brief time, Concordia’s

heart beats in rhythm: homecoming. At

homecoming alumni return to campus and

history walks with the here-and-now. It’s a

time to reconnect and remember—a time to

trade stories and smiles, yell for Bulldogs like

you did back when, and see what’s happening

at your alma mater. We invite you to follow

your heart home to Concordia this fall for

homecoming. Your voice will recover.

H onored Y ear R eunions

75th Reunion – Class of 1932*
70th Reunion – Class of 1937*
65th Reunion – Class of 1942*
60th Reunion – Class of 1947*
40th Reunion – Class of 1967*
25th Reunion – Class of 1982
20th Reunion – Class of 1987
10th Reunion – Class of 1997
5th Reunion – Class of 2002
*College and High School

Follow your heart...

home to Concordia!
Homecoming, Alumni Reunion & Family Weekend
Oct. 12-14, 2007

homecoming
alumni 
 SCHEDULE OF HOMECOMING EVENTS

Friday, Oct. 12
8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Concordia Bookstore open
11 a.m.–4 p.m. The Bartels Museum and Marxhausen Gallery of Art open
Noon–3 p.m. Golf outing at Seward Country Club
Noon–5 p.m. Homecoming registration
5–6 p.m. Alumni Awards ceremony and presentation
5:30–7 p.m. Dinner buffet reception for Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame;
tickets required
7–8 p.m. Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Follow your heart... 8:30 p.m.–Midnight Homecoming coronation & ball featuring Greg’z Big Horn Band
home to Concordia!
Saturday, Oct. 13
8:30–10 a.m. Homecoming registration
8 a.m. Breakfast with the president; the breakfast features a message from
Concordia’s 10th president, the Rev. Dr. Brian L. Friedrich; honored guests
include members of the classes of 1932, 1937, 1942 and 1947 (Class photos
of the honored years)
10–10:30 a.m. Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center celebration event
10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Concordia Bookstore open
10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Homecoming fair
11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Tailgate lunch; cafeteria dining, pay at the door
1:30 p.m. Football game Concordia vs. Nebraska Wesleyan
5–11 p.m. All Alumni, Family and Honored Years Reunion Gathering; old-fashioned
barbecue, cash bar and singing and dancing; tickets required. Event at
4-H Pavilion at Seward Park.

Sunday, Oct.14
9 a.m. Concordia University worship service at St. John Lutheran Church.
Alumni hymn sing immediately following.
1 p.m. Alumni baseball game

Upcoming reunions: Three more to save the date for

Contact the alumni office at
Alumni@cune.edu to be on the
mailing lists for these special reunions.
IMPACT Reunion June 27-29, 2008
Remember those great Ambassador weekends?
Did you have a Special Friend? During the
late ’60s and early ’70s, a significant majority
of the students at Concordia took part in the
student-led impact organization, carrying
out service-learning experiences. The reunion
format will take a page out of the early history
of impact.
Business Professionals
Reunion Homecoming 2008
Celebrate homecoming and enjoy an
opportunity to renew friendships, network
and celebrate 25 years of preparing students
for the world of business. Both business
and non-business degree professionals
are invited to an energizing weekend
of interacting with alumni, faculty and
current students.
Art Reunion Summer 2009
The Concordia art department will
host this art alumni reunion. Connect
with faculty and current students for a
reunion of Concordia art alumni from the
Brommer generation, the Founders era and
the cave-dwelling years in Weller.

 homecoming
Cconcordia scene
 Homecoming Registration Form
Attendee Information (please print)
Name Class Year
as it should appear on badge
alumni award
Name Class Year recipients
as it should appear on badge

Address Church Worker Alumnus of the Year

Gordon Bredow ’64
Phone E-mail St. Charles, Mo.
for confirmation of reservation

Special needs (physical or dietary) Young Alumnus of the Year

Timothy Huntington ’02
Lincoln, Neb.
Honored Class Medallion 1932, 1937, 1942 and 1947 please circle which year(s) to engrave. Church Leadership in Outreach Award
The Concordia medallion is a special engraved memento of your years at Concordia. _____ x $25 Duane ’70 and Rosemary Weihe
’70 Miller
Milwaukee, Wis.
Events Requiring Registration and/or Tickets
Name tag(s) and tickets received upon arrival in registration packet. Please see schedule for complete details. Lay Worker of the Year Award
To ensure accurate planning, please include the number of people attending each event below. Dr. Paul Kleine ’56
Norman, Okla.
Friday, Oct. 12
Number attending/ Friend of Concordia Award
Golf Outing-Seward Country Club tickets purchased Marguerite Fruendt ’67
Please e-mail Marvin.Plamann@cune.edu for information and to set up foursomes.
Christman
Buffet Dinner Reception for Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame x $10 Midwest City, Okla.
(Advance tickets are $10 adults, $5 children age 4-12, 3 and under, free. $12 and $8 at the door) x $5 Lifetime Service Award
Dr. Raymond ’63 and Dorothea
Saturday, Oct. 13 Koepp ’62 Huebschman
Breakfast with the President Number Attending _______ Seward, Neb.
This complimentary meal is sponsored by the Alumni Association.
Honorary Alumni Award
Tailgate Lunch Cafeteria dining, pay at the door. Number Attending _______ Raymond Becker
Lincoln, Neb.
All Alumni, Family and Honored Years Reunion Gathering x $10
(Advance tickets are $10 adults, $5 children age 4-12, 3 and under, free. $12 and $8 at the door) x $5 Hugh Sieck Jr.
Lincoln, Neb.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Alumni Baseball Game Please e-mail Jeremy.Geidel@cune.edu if you would like to play.
Total Amount DUE $ _____________________ athletic hall of
Payment Options: fame inductees
® Check enclosed (Please make checks payable to Concordia University.) Rev. Timothy Marshall ’92
York, Neb., tennis
Credit Card Name as it appears on card (please print)
Darcy Lindner ’91
® Visa ® Mastercard ® Discover Lincoln, Neb., volleyball, track,
Credit Card No. Exp. date basketball
Lodging Options: Reservations must be made by Friday, Sept. 14. Mention Concordia’s homecoming when Timothy Schwan ’73
reserving rooms to receive any special discounts. Appleton, Wis., swimming
Devin Smith ’92
East Hill Motel, Seward 402-643-3679
Rockford, Ill., basketball
Liberty House Bed & Breakfast, Seward 402-643-2555
1995 Volleyball Team
Hampton Inn Airport, Lincoln 402-474-2080
40-10 overall, 9-3 in conference
Staybridge Suites, Lincoln 402-438-7829

Registration due Friday, Sept. 14, 2007

Please mail this entire page and payment to: For the latest information,
Concordia University visit www.cune.edu/homecoming
Attn: Homecoming Weekend Registration–Weller 204 Contact the alumni office at
800-535-5494, ext. 7240, or via
800 North Columbia Avenue
e-mail at Alumni@cune.edu
Seward, Nebraska 68434

annual
homecoming  report 
(Left to right) Students in 1959 line
up for registration in Weller Hall
Fitting in during the 1950s
library. The college pep club of
1950-51 poses for a yearbook photo.
Concordia’s Sigma Pi Waitress Club
listens to a dietician during the 1950-
51 school year. You could hear German at Concordia’s
orientation days in the ’50s, but it was likely only
verses of the Schnitzelbank song: “Ist das nicht
ein Schnitzelbank? Ja, das ist ein Schnitzelbank.”
And so on. The rest was mostly English, and
the bouncy sing-along fare just as light. What
mattered is that they could all sing it together.
In the ’50s at Concordia everyone was invited
to meet the new students before classes started.
Students and faculty met for a chapel service
on orientation day, had a picnic, went out on
the lawn and sang together and played games—
“Get involved icebreakers—to help them get to know all the
new classmates.
in what’s going on Students in the ’50s were unlikely to have
there on campus. met each other in person before they came,
just as today, but they typically had a similar
You’ll never, background no matter which part of the United
States they were from. A similar purpose as
ever regret it.”
well: Roughly nine of 10 students went on to be
Lutheran school teachers.
“We talked the same way. We prayed the same
way,” said Don Morner ltd ’57, at the time from
Waco, Neb., and now a resident of southern
California. Other things, he noted, haven’t
changed so much. Seward has grown, but it’s still
relatively small. And unlike so many colleges,
most at Concordia simply don’t go home every
weekend.
Morner counted this as one of Concordia’s
blessings and important to the way that students
relate to each other. “You actually build bigger
bonds at a place like Concordia,” he said,
“because of the campus life and the students
don’t have a big city surrounding them.”
Graduating classes were in the neighborhood
of 80 students in the ’50s rather than the 200-
plus sized graduating classes of today. Women
made up about a quarter of the typical ’50s
graduating class.
Women now outnumber the men at
Concordia by a small margin. Concordia’s female
students also don’t have a curfew anymore. Yes,
 alumni
curfew. Don Morner’s wife, Charlotte Weinrich
hs ’53 Morner, and other Concordia women
in the ’50s had an enforced dorm curfew. The
college men didn’t.
Charlotte remembers attending pep rallies,
walking to chilly football games, building floats
and snapping photos for Concordia’s camera
club as activities that helped her feel like she fit
right in.
Charlotte’s advice to those just starting at
college was to join in to fit in. “Just do it,” said
Charlotte. “Get involved in what’s going on
there on campus. You’ll never, ever regret it.”
Don’t be afraid to try new things, either.
Corky Markin hs ’53 co ’58 played basketball
and ran track during his college years at
Concordia. He didn’t let success in athletics stop
him from following other interests.
It happened that two of his roommates were
music majors. Besides waking him up with
Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary at 6 a.m., they also
went out of their way to help him understand
music. “I was pretty much uncultured at the
time,” said Markin.
Markin’s new interest in music led him to
try out for a musical, The Mikado, something
he wouldn’t have tried apart from a roommate’s
influence. He became the understudy for two
parts, Ko-Ko and the Mikado, and thoroughly
enjoyed it. “It was a great experience for me.”
A high school teacher and counselor for more
than 40 years, Markin encouraged students to
get involved in as much as they could without
hurting their grade point average.
Dorm devotions and chapel were also
activities that he remembered as being important
to most Concordians in the ’50s and he
encouraged those in school today not to neglect
what’s available for spiritual growth as well.
“Attending to spiritual matters will help you
right from the get-go,” Markin said. “It’s right
there for you.”
 Take the next step!

Master of Education Concordia University, Nebraska offers a Christ-centered, academically rigorous

School Administration learning community in which life-long friendships develop among students
Literacy Education and with professors. If you are a self-starter with career and ministry goals, our
Early Childhood Education chiefly online programs are a great way for you to earn your master’s.
Master of Science
Family Life Ministry
Certification
Family Life Ministry
DCE Specialist Diploma

800 North Columbia Avenue

Seward, Nebraska 68434
www.cune. edu
800 535 5494 For more information and admissions materials, contact
the graduate admission office at 800-535-5494, ext. 7464 or
GradAdmiss@cune.edu spiritual life 
Dr. William Kuhn, the Concordia
Wind Ensemble and the Shanghai
Normal School Ensemble accept
audience applause after their
joint peformance. (Right) Alumni
tour group member s Maxine
Fiala, Darlene Lohse and Al Lohse
attend a traditional tea ceremony
in Beijing.
 alumni
Alumni experience Chinese culture
“You know you’re in China when the only eating
utensils you see are chopsticks and the noodles
are over two feet long,” said Al Lohse, recalling
his trip to China.
While Concordia’s Wind Ensemble performed
in some of China’s major concert halls in May,
the university’s alumni office coordinated a
companion tour of China for alumni and friends
of Concordia.
In addition to guided tours of many Chinese
wonders, the tour participants shopped in street
markets and enjoyed local food in seven Chinese
cities. A series of guides from each area of China
helped the group to get the most of each city
and cultural excursion.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,”
said Jan Koopman, alumni director, “and our
group truly soaked it all in. They had a genuine
interest in learning about the history, culture
and people of China.”
The participants had the opportunity to
hear the University Wind Ensemble in first-
class concert halls in Beijing and Shanghai and
during assembly performances at Concordia
International School in Shanghai and Hong
Kong International School.
“We were so proud of Dr. Kuhn and our
students,” said President Brian Friedrich, who
took part in the tour and was in the audience
for Wind Ensemble performances. “They were
enthusiastically received by those who heard
them and were wonderful ambassadors for
the United States, Nebraska, Concordia, The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and most
especially for Jesus Christ.”
The tour culminated at a Pentecost Sunday
worship service at the Church of All Nations,
the lone Missouri Synod church in Hong Kong
and a church home to the many teachers and
others that have come from Concordia. The
Wind Ensemble performed and Friedrich gave
the sermon.
Rev. Dale Koehneke, pastor of the Church
of All Nations, described the church as a
“Pentecost” congregation—a congregation of
people from many “nations under heaven.”
Rob ’01 and Megan Ferrell ’03 Ferrin are
serving in ministry in Hong Kong. “When you
are in an international, metropolitan place like
Hong Kong,” Megan said, “there is something
so amazingly spiritual about seeing those from a
place well loved, Seward. It really does make one
realize how full heaven will be and how small the
world is.”
Beijing guide, “David”
(front row, left), poses
with the tour group in
Tian’anmen Square.
You’re invited!
Special events for alumni
“First Day of College” Legacy Link Photo
Shoot & Alumni reception aug. 17
For new student athletes and their families
“First Day of College” Legacy Link Photo
Shoot & Alumni Reception aug. 24
For new students and their families
Alumni Soccer & Volleyball Games aug. 25
Homecoming, Alumni Reunion & Family
Weekend Oct.12-14
See pages 21-23 for details
A Concordia Christmas Dec. 8
Concert at St. Mark Lutheran Church,
Omaha, Neb.; holiday reception at Three
Cedars, Omaha, Neb.
A Concordia Christmas Dec. 9
Concerts at St. John Lutheran Church,
Seward, Neb.; holiday buffet at the
Janzow Campus Center, Seward., Neb.
CIT Jan. 25-26, 2008
Hosted at Concordia University Chicago
Conventions & Conferences
LCMS Church Worker Fall Conferences
Florida-Georgia District Sept. 19-21
Orlando, Fla.
Nebraska District New Worker
Conference Sept. 24-25
Seward, Neb.
Rocky Mountain District Oct. 3-5
Breckenridge, Colo.
Iowa East/West Districts Oct. 4-5
Des Moines, Iowa
Kansas District Oct. 7-9
Topeka, Kan.
Nebraska District Oct. 22-24
Lincoln, Neb.
Northwest District Oct. 31-Nov. 2
Seaside, Ore.
Pacific Southwest District Nov. 18-20
Palm Desert, Calif.
For more information, contact the alumni office:
E-mail Alumni@cune.edu
Telephone 800-535-5494, ext. 7240
A gift annuity might be right for you.
A charitable gift annuity benefits
you today and Concordia
University, Nebraska tomorrow.
Gift annuity rates vary by age.
This is an excellent opportunity
for you to advance the mission
Al Koepke
of Concordia, receive a great Director of
Planned Gifts
charitable deduction this year and
receive income from the annuity
Gift Annuity Rates
every year of your life. Give today Age One Life Two Life*
and receive each year! 60 5.7% 5.4%
65 6.0% 5.6%
70 6.5% 5.9%
® Please send me a personal
75 7.1% 6.3%
illustration for a gift annuity.
80 8.0% 6.9%
85 9.5% 7.9%
® Please send me information
about the Concordia University 90 11.3% 9.3%
Heritage Society. *rates vary depending on
age of second participant.
Name_ _____________________________ Birthdate_ ___________
Spouse _____________________________ Birthdate_ ___________
Address___________________________________________________
Telephone ________________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________________
® I/We have included Concordia in our estate plan. Please enroll me in
the Heritage Society.
Please return this form to: Gift Planning Office
Concordia University
800-535-5494, ext. 7346
800 North Columbia Avenue E-mail CUFoundation@cune.edu
Seward, Nebraska 68434
Alumni news
1940s
In November 2006 Frederic
Nitschke ’46 of Rochester,
Minn., received a plaque from
the Minnesota South District of
the Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod, for 60 years of service in
lcms churches and schools. Fred
is a charter member of the semn
American Guild of Organists
chapter and retains the Fellow
certificate from the ago.
Louis Eberhard hs ’43 co ’46 of
Brighton, Colo., was honored in
November 2006 at the Lutheran
Church Extension Fund Fall
Leadership Conference with the
Arthur C. Haake Leadership
Award. The award has been
presented since 1999 and recipients
of the award reflect Haake’s
dedication, spirit and love for the
lcef ministry.
Arthur Fuchs ’49 retired in
1989 after 41 years as teacher and
principal in Minnesota Lutheran
schools. He resides in Young
America, Minn., with his wife,
Nora, and remains active in choir
and by playing the organ.
1950s
Karen Anderson hs ’52 co ’56
Annis of Scottsdale, Ariz., initiated
the Stephen Ministry program at
Valley Presbyterian Church, where
she has been a member for 11 years.
She is on the board of directors of
Showcase Concerts and Friends
of the metropolitan Opera, and
participates in the Church Choir
and Choral Union at Arizona State
University. Karen worked as an
elementary school teacher for 18
years. She and her husband, Larry,
have lived around the world in
such places as Egypt, Indonesia and
the Philippines.
1960s
Florence Schaal ’60 Saeger of
Kirkwood, Mo., was elected board
chair of International Partners in
Mission. imp has 50 projects in
26 countries around the world
and works across borders of
faith and culture on behalf of
children, women and youth to
 alumni news
create partnerships that build
justice, peace and hope. She
and her husband, Victor, have
visited projects in Nicaragua
and El Salvador on Immersion
Experiences and learn more about
the poverty and injustices facing
people of those countries.
Terry Camberg ’68 of San
Diego, Calif., retired after 38 years
in teaching ministry. He was
commissioned in April 2006 as a
Deacon in the lcms Pacific South
District and now serves at Holy
Cross Lutheran in San Diego.
1970s
Tobin Beck hs ’71 was named
Adjunct Professor of the Year by
the communication department
of George Mason University in
Fairfax, Va., where he teaches two
news writing courses. The award is
based on student votes.
Warren Schmidt ’72 of
Morristown, Minn., was
named Educator of the Year at
the Minnesota South District
Education Conference in Mankato
in October 2006. He and his
wife, Sandra Jessen ’73 Schmidt,
serve at Trinity Lutheran School in
North Morristown, where Warren
is principal and grades 5-8 teacher
and Sandi teaches kindergarten.
Thomas Chopp ’72 was featured
in The Monroe Times in January for
his service as a medical chaplain.
For the past three years, Thomas
has been ministering to patients at
Monroe Clinic. He and his wife,
Cindy, reside in Monroe, Wis., and
have four children, Nicholas, 22;
Joel, 21; Marta, 17; and Laura, 14.
Joann Raschefsky ’73 Schwan
met the performance standard for
National Board Certification, as
set by the board of directors of the
National Board for Professional
Teaching Standards in December
2006. She and her husband,
Timothy Schwan ’72 reside in
Appleton, Wis.
William Neumeyer ’73 completed
Land Rich, a documentary film
about family ranches struggling
to survive in Montana. He is a
television and film productions
teacher at Concordia Lutheran
High School in Fort Wayne, Ind.
In January Daniel Hannemann
hs ’69 co ’73 became the first
full-time director of music and
organist for historic (established
1752) Grace Lutheran Church in
Winchester, Va. He came to the
position after 27 years as director
of music ministry for Emmanuel
Lutheran Church in Lincolnton,
n.c. His duties include playing
for all services and directing
handbells, instrumentalists and
choirs of all ages.
Mark ’76 and Leann Carlson
’76 McClain reside in La
Grange, Texas, where Leann is
director of music, head organist,
choral and handbell director,
classroom teacher for grades
1-8 and instrumental music
teacher at Immanuel Lutheran
in Giddings. She also assists the
local public high school with
uil solo accompaniments for
students. Mark teaches music to
more than 580 students in grades
k-3 at Giddings Elementary. In
November 2006 he was installed as
part-time minister of music for St.
Michael Lutheran in Winchester,
where he served six years as the
organist. He is pursuing a Texas
school administrator certification.
Michael Heidtbrink ’78 of San
Diego, Calif., earned the title of
financial consultant for Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans in
April. He is one of 480 financial
consultants nationwide qualifying
for membership to this elite group
representing the top quarter of
Thrivent Financial representatives.
Mike taught for 15 years at
Lutheran High San Diego and still
coaches varsity men’s basketball at
the school.
Lynn Stillman ’78 Henry of
Minneapolis, Minn., is one of
21 first Fellows
selected for the
Van Lunen Center
for Executive
Management in
Christian Schools
Fellows program
at Calvin College.
The program is a selective one-year
fellowship designed for Christian
school heads from the u.s. or
Canada with two to 10 years of
experience in their position. Lynn
is the chief administrative officer at
Concordia Academy-Roseville.
James ’79 and Karen Donofrio
’79 Menke reside in Waco,
Texas, where James serves Trinity
Lutheran Church.
1980s
Eugene Bonk ’81 of Escondido,
Calif., was named Top Ten World
Wide Clubmaker of the Year by
the Golf Clubmaker’s Association.
Previously Gene had been named
Western u.s. Clubmaker of the Year
and Clubmaker of the Year for the
state of California. Gene co-owns
ads Golf in San Marcos, Calif.,
and teaches part-time at Grace
Lutheran School in Escondido.
Elizabeth Elmshaeuser ’82
Campbell teaches children’s
literature as an adjunct faculty
member for St. Ambrose University
in Davenport, Iowa, and is the
full-time media specialist for Mark
Twain Elementary in Bettendorf,
Iowa. Beth and her husband,
Scott, reside in Eldridge, Iowa.
Eric
Teegerstrom
’88, has
been
deployed
since
October 2005 as the executive
officer (2 ic) of the 1st Squadron,
167th Calvary. Major Teegerstrom
spent 15 months in Iraq and was
awarded the Bronze Star and
Combat Action badge for his
service. His wife, Lynette, and
daughters, Lydia, 6, and Sydney, 3,
welcomed him home in June.
Kelly Becker ’89 Aukamp and her
husband, Craig, reside in Swansea,
Ill., where Kelly is a stay-at-home
mother to Nathan, Lydia and
Sarah, and Craig is employed by
Anheuser Busch in St. Louis, Mo.
1990s
Paul and Tamara Daugherty ’90
Kana of Ocala, Fla., announced
the birth Amara Lorelei on May
16. Brother
Tanner, 4,
welcomed
her home.
 Charles Gebhardt
co ’92 gr ’98 of
Sandy, Utah, is one
of 21 first Fellows
selected for the
Van Lunen Center
for Executive
Management in Christian Schools
Fellows program. The program,
hosted by Calvin College, begins
in July 2007 and its purpose is
to provide world-class executive
management education for senior
leaders of schools based on the
historic Christian faith. Charles is
the principal and executive director
at Salt Lake Lutheran High School.
Thomas ’92 and Holly Noack ’95
Guilford celebrated the birth Lydia
Beth on June 12, 2006. She joined
Rebekah, 7; Matthew, 5; and Andrew,
4. Tom is a teacher at St. John
Lutheran School and staff sergeant
in the Wisconsin Air National
Guard and Holly stays home and
homeschools their children and tutors
high school math. The Guilfords
reside in Mayville, Wis.
Mark Schlamann ’93 provides
pulpit supply at St. Peter Lutheran
Church in Cambria, n.y. His wife
of 2½ years, Beth, lost her battle
with cancer in May.
Thomas Ebel
’94 of Clovis,
Minn., earned
a master’s
degree in
athletic
administration
from Eastern
New Mexico
University.
Tom is an
athletic trainer
at Clovis Municipal Schools. His
wife, Angela Miller ’93 Ebel, is a
stay-at-home mom and will aide at
Immanuel Lutheran Pre-School in
Clovis in fall 2007. The Ebels have
four children: Alison, 10; Malia, 8;
Benjamin, 5; and Joshua, 2.
Dana Truwe ’94 Netherton Jonathan ’96 and Jill Saunders his doctorate of physical therapy in
received a master’s degree in ’00 Baumgartel of Paullina, Iowa, December 2006.
early childhood education from celebrated the birth
Joel and Christiane Fluegge ’99
Concordia University, Nebraska of Faith Jaelle on
Johnson of Cheyenne, Wyo.,
in August 2006. She resides in May 17, 2006.
announced the safe birth of
Louisville, Ky., with her husband, Siblings Kaleb,
Annalise Rose on Oct. 1, 2006.
Doug, and children Emily, 9, and 5, and Micah, 3
Brother
Michael, 6, and teaches first grade welcomed her
Joshua
at Our Savior Lutheran School. home.
welcomed
Paul ’94 and Rebecca Musselman Aaron Lytle ’96 and wife Sara her home
’95 Schkade of Fort Collins, were blessed with Zachariah Aaron and
Colo., rejoiced in the birth of on Dec. 21, 2006. Zachariah was siblings
Daniel Paul on six-weeks premature, but healthy Tahoe,
Sept. 17, 2005. Paul overall. Aaron and Sara and sister Jonah and
is media specialist Abrianna, 2, are excited to watch Dakota
and international him grow. celebrated
baccalaureate in heaven.
Riley ’98 and Amy Schuster ’01
coordinator at
Hubach rejoiced in the birth of
McGraw ib World
Maya Rose
School and Becky is an esl teacher
on Oct. 31,
at Irish Elementary School.
2006. Maya
Brian and Dawn Inselman joins Marlee,
’95 Beck of Humphrey, Neb., 5, and Ella, 2.
announced The Hubach
the birth family resides in Pocatello, Idaho.
of Braiten
Michael and Rebecca Mannigel
Brian on James ’99 and Sarah Brutlag ’99
’98 Robotham of Malcolm, Neb.,
Feb. 15, Jurchen of Norfolk, Neb., rejoiced
were blessed with Cayden Michael
2006. in the birth of Jonathan Paul on
on May 16.
Sisters June 19, 2006. Jacob and Joshua
Ethan, 4,
Brielle, 7, welcomed him home.
and Elliott,
and Lily, 4,
2, welcomed John Fenton and Amy Weisbrook
welcomed
him home. ’99 were united in marriage April
him home
while brother Adian rejoiced in 29, 2006.
John and Jennifer
heaven. Brian is a sales engineer at The couple
Siemer ’99 Bruening
GreyStone in Columbus, Neb., and resides in
welcomed Lily Joelle
Dawn, after teaching in Lutheran Lincoln,
on Feb. 12. She joins
schools for 10 years, is now a stay- Neb., where
Kylie and Gracie at
at-home mother. Amy is
home. John is a location manager
a project
for Farmer’s Cooperative in Newell,
Brandon and Rachel Doering manager for
Iowa, and Jennifer is an educational
’95 Eells celebrated the birth of Kenexa and
trainer for Iowa Jobs for America’s
Lucinda Paul on Dec. 17, 2006. John is a marketing analyst for
Graduates. The family resides in
Rachel is an assistant professor Time Warner Cable.
Sac City, Iowa.
in the psychology department at
Timothy and
Concordia University Chicago and
Kristin Udy
is pursuing a ph.d. in
’99 Flicker
education psychology Stay in the know with the
of Pocatello,
at Loyola University, alumni e-newsletter
Idaho,
and Brandon is a
celebrated The Concordia Alumni & Friends
voiceover actor. The
the birth of E-newsletter is easy access to the latest
family resides in Lincoln Park in
Ethan Isaiah Concordia news. All you need is an
Chicago, Ill.
in November 2006. Kristin e-mail account to receive the latest
Jason ’95 and Heather Behrends completed her master’s of news on upcoming events, student and
’95 Haynes reside in Gypsum, education in instructional faculty achievements and important
Colo., where Jason serves as senior technology from Idaho State announcements. The e-newsletter is
pastor at Gracious Savior Lutheran sent out periodically throughout the
University in November 2006. She
Church in Edwards, Colo. They year. Visit www.cune.edu/alumni
is a junior high teacher at Grace
have three children: Emmalynne, to subscribe.
Lutheran School in Pocatello. Tim
8; David, 7; and Timothy, 1. is a physical therapist and earned
alumni news 
2000s
Brian ’00 and Renata Wehling
’01 Ketelsen of St. Edward, Neb.,
celebrated the birth of Rebekah
Magdalina on Dec. 11, 2006. She
joins Emma, 6; Josiah, 3; and
Lydia,
1. Brian
is pastor
of Faith
Lutheran
Church in
St. Edward
and St. John Lutheran Church in
Cedar Rapids, Neb. Renata keeps
busy as a homeschooling/stay-at-
home mom.
Karl ’00 and Rachel Kirchner ’03
Miller rejoiced in the birth of twin
girls on April 18. Mikayla Dawn
and
Kelsey
Ann were
born
almost
an hour
apart. Rachel is the head volleyball
coach at Concordia University,
Nebraska and Karl is a programmer
at mds Pharma Services in Lincoln,
Neb. The Kirchners reside in
Seward, Neb.
Jennifer Schmidt ’01 graduated
in May with a second degree in
nursing, which she completed at
Barnes-Jewish College of Nursing
and Allied Health in St. Louis,
Mo. She works at St. John’s Mercy
Medical Center in St. Louis as a
staff nurse in a surgical intensive
care unit.
John co ’01 gr ’07 and Sarah
Masenthin ’00 Weber celebrated
the birth of
Naomi Faith on
Feb. 13. She was
welcomed by
Hannah, 2. The
Webers live in
Grand Island,
Neb., where
John is the principal at Heartland
Lutheran High School and Sarah
is a 3-5 grade teacher at Zion in St.
Libory.
 alumni news
Thom and Lucy Schimmelpfennig vicar. He has one more year to
’02 Brown announced the birth complete at Concordia Seminary
of Jackson Nathaniel on Sept. 19, in St. Louis, Mo.
2006. Thomas Ezekiel “Zeke”
Matthew Marty ’04 and Kayla
Luehmann ’05 were united in
marriage on July 6. The couple
resides in Anaheim, Calif.
Daniel ’05 and Kristen Hopper
’06
Deardoff
of Yorkville,
Brock Shaw ’06 and Esther
Ill.,
Witte exchanged wedding vows
celebrated
welcomed him home. The family in Panama City, Panama, on
Jonah’s first
resides in Fort Wayne, Ind., where April 14. The couple resides in
birthday on April 1.
Thom is finishing his first year Seward, Neb.
at the Concordia Theological Michelle Quinlan ’05 of Lakewood,
Seminary. Lucy stays home with Colo., graduated from the University
their children. of Nebraska-Lincoln in May with a In memoriam
master of science degree in statistics. Elmer Ohlmann hs ’32 co ’34
Amber Jackman ’02 Jennings She will begin pursuing her ph.d. in
of Lincoln, Neb., begins her first fall 2007 at unl. Irma Vatthauser Malling ’37
year as a third grade teacher at St.
Rachel Parks ’56 Walsh
Vincent de Paul Catholic School in
Seward, Neb. in fall 2007. Hubert Fischer ’57
Vanessa Frana ’03 Seifert of San Lavada Duensing ’59 Harnapp
Antonio, Texas, was accepted to
Kay Munter ’64 Schulz
the doctoral studies program at the
University of the Incarnate Word Loretta Whisman ’69 Bode
in San Antonio and begins studies
Linda Zehe ’72 Wehrspann
in organizational leadership in fall
2007. Vanessa is a dce at Shepherd Sarah Rehme ’06 of Seward, Deborah Mitchell ’75 Henry
of the Hills in San Antonio and her Neb., is a conservation technician
husband, Brandon Seifert ’01, is Howard Koosman gr ’76
for the non-game bird program
an orthopedic surgery resident. with the Nebraska Game and Neil Schultz ’78
Parks Commission in Lincoln.
Timothy ’04 Erik Wentzel ’03
She assists the program manager
and Alexa
in buff-breasted sandpiper Kristopher Whaley ’06
Koczman ’02
research, endangered least tern
Ahlman rejoiced
and threatened piping plover
in the birth of
monitoring, bald eagle nest
Adalyn Love on
data collection and other data
Dec. 18, 2006.
The family resides in Winter management programs.
Haven, Fla., where Tim is a
About alumni news
Concordia welcomes news of alumni accomplishments and other milestones in the lives of alumni. It
is preferred that alumni news be submitted directly by the featured alumni rather than a third party
so accuracy may be verified. When submitting a death notice, please send a copy of the obituary, if
possible, and include the names and class years of any survivors who attended Concordia in Nebraska.
All submitted items may be edited.
Send submissions to Alumni@cune.edu or, by post, to Concordia University, Nebraska, Alumni News,
800 North Columbia Avenue, Seward, Nebraska, 68434.
Photos are welcome, whether printed or digital versions. Photos will not be returned. When possible,
please send your photograph as a jpeg attachment along with your e-mail submission of news. A
submitted digital photo should have a minimum of 1200 pixels on its longest side. Please note that
sending an image does not guarantee its publication.
Please submit items for the fall issue by Oct. 1.
Y ou r S i ng l e G i ft
Will do more than you can imagine.

t h e we l l e r fun d
Your gift to the Weller Fund goes to work immediately to provide the highest levels
of academic and spiritual growth. In many ways the Weller Fund is the lifeblood
of Concordia—it is the foundation for student scholarships, faculty retention,
improvements to campus buildings and up-to-date technology and equipment. The
Weller Fund is designed to enable your gift to be used where it is needed most.
Please support our students by giving to the Weller Fund today.

The Weller Fund 800-535-5494, ext. 7408

Concordia University 402-643-7408
800 North Columbia Avenue You may also give online at:
Seward, NE 68434 www.cune.edu/giveonline

alumni 
Calendar
August
25 Men’s/Women’s Soccer, Alumni Game, 6/8 p.m.
26 Opening Service, St. John Lutheran Church,
7 p.m.
27 Fall term begins
29 Volleyball vs. Hastings, 6/7:30 p.m.
September
1 Football vs. Briar Cliff, 6 p.m.
2 Opening reception for FLOW
– Sheldon Statewide 2007-2008 exhibition,
Marxhausen Gallery of Art, 1-4 p.m.,
exhibit open through Sept. 28
5 Volleyball vs. St. Mary, 7:30 p.m.
6 Osten Observatory viewing, 9-10:30 p.m.
7 Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Ottawa, 4/6 p.m.
8 Cross Country Blue White Alumni Meet
15 Football vs. Midland, 1 p.m.
18 Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Midland, 5/7 p.m.
25 Volleyball vs. Midland, 6/7:30 p.m.
28 Visit Day
Volleyball vs. Northwestern, 6/7:30 p.m.
Concordia’s Annual Shoot At (www.cune.
edu/shootat), a sporting clay tournament
and pheasant hunt to raise scholarship funds
29 Football vs. Morningside, 1 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Mount Marty, 6/7:30 p.m.
Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Dakota Wesleyan,
6/8 p.m.
30 Opening reception for Discover Design,
Marxhausen Gallery of Art, 1-4 p.m.,
exhibit open through Oct. 26
October
2 Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Hastings, 5/7 p.m.
4 Osten Observatory viewing, 8-9:30 p.m.
4-6 Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival
6 Cross Country Concordia Invite
Women’s Golf, Seward Country Club
8 Faculty Recital – Jessica Lindsey, Music
Center 226, 8 p.m.
10 Debate Tourney PLAN 2.1, 3 p.m.
Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Doane, 5/7 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Doane, 6/7:30 p.m.
11 Homecoming Variety Show, Weller
auditorium, 7 p.m.
12-14 Homecoming, Alumni Reunion and Family
Weekend, see pages 21-23 or visit
www.cune.edu/homecoming
13 Football vs. Nebraska Wesleyan, 1:30 p.m.
16 Volleyball vs. Nebraska Wesleyan, 6/7:30 p.m.
19-21 Fall break
19 Volleyball vs. Dakota Wesleyan, Parent’s
Night, 6/7:30 p.m.
20 Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Morningside,
1/3 p.m.
Volleyball vs. Sioux Falls, Senior’s Day,
1:30/3 p.m.
23 University/Community Band Concert,
Janzow Campus Center, 7:30 p.m.
26 Men’s Soccer vs. Bellevue, 6 p.m.
2 6-28 The Inspector General, Weller auditorium,
7:30 p.m.
27 Football vs. Sioux Falls, 1 p.m. 4 Men’s Basketball vs. Nebraska Wesleyan,
Women’s/Men’s Soccer vs. Mount Marty, 7:30 p.m.
6/8 p.m. 5 Women’s Basketball vs. Nebraska Wesleyan,
28 Wind Ensemble Concert, Seward High 7:30 p.m.
School auditorium, 3 p.m. 8 Women’s Basketball vs. Dakota Wesleyan,
2 p.m.
November Men’s Basketball vs. Dakota Wesleyan, 4 p.m.
1 Osten Observatory viewing, 8-9:30 p.m.
2 Visit Day Celebrating Christmas in Omaha & Seward
Musical Arts Day This year the annual beloved celebration will include
3 Musical Arts Day Concert, Lied Center, an Omaha concert. Mark your calendars for the
Lincoln, 3 p.m. second weekend in December.
4 Opening reception for Dark Sky Preserve: 8 A Concordia Christmas, St. Mark Lutheran
Recent Work by Sandra Williams, Marxhausen Church, Omaha, Neb., 2 p.m.; holiday
Gallery of Art, 1-4 p.m., exhibit open reception at Three Cedars in Omaha, Neb.
through Nov. 30 9 Scholarship Parade of Homes, Weller, noon;
7 SIFE Women in Business Luncheon, Janzow A Concordia Christmas, St. John Lutheran
Campus Center, noon Church in Seward, Neb., 3 & 7 p.m.;
Debate Tourney PLAN 2.2, 3 p.m. holiday buffet at Janzow Campus Center
8 Honor Recital, Seward Civic auditorium,
7:30 p.m. 11 Journey to the Manger, Weller, 6:30-8 p.m.
9-10 Women’s Basketball Cattle Classic 13 Chamber Ensembles Concert, Music Center
19-23 Thanksgiving break 226, 7 p.m.
21 Women’s/Men’s Basketball vs. Hastings, 14 Fall courses end
6/8 p.m. Winter JazzFest, Weller auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
23-24 Men’s Basketball Cattle Classic 15 Women’s Basketball vs. Peru State, 2 p.m.
27 Women’s Basketball vs. Doane, 7:30 p.m. 16 Handbell Concert, TLEC auditorium, 3 p.m.
28 Men’s Basketball vs. Doane, 7:30 p.m. Advent Candlelight Service, St. John
Lutheran Church, 7 p.m.
December 18 University/Community Band Concert,
1 Visit Day Weller auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
2 Opening reception for Concordia Senior Art 20 End of fall term
Exhibition, Marxhausen Gallery of Art, 1-4
p.m., exhibit open through Dec. 19
In Thy Sweet Humility:
A Concordia Christmas
In this newest CD release, the University A Cappella
Choir and the Brass Quintet offer a collection of well-
loved hymns and carols that capture the joy and reverence
of the annual Christmas concerts hosted by the university.
Each hymn has an accompanying Advent devotion
written by a Concordia faculty member. Release date:
Nov. 1. Pre-order now at www.cunebookstore.com or
by calling 800-535-5494, ext. 7400.
Non-Profit
US Postage
P AI D
Permit4
Seward, Ne
800 North Columbia Avenue
Seward, Nebraska 68434