ON TOinMED

Fitting SCHOOL 8 
at Concordia WALKING
AcademyA SHEPHERD’S PATH 16
for Excellence MONSTERS INVADE SEWARD
 Commencement 19

m a g a z i n e o f C o n c o r d i a U n i v e r s i t y, N e b r a s k a

Broadcaster
the

SPRING 2008 VOLUME 84 NO. 3

inspiring
minds
 From the president
 . 

Q. Where did the world’s youngest board certified forensic entomologist go to college?
A.  , 
Some may be surprised that a Concordia graduate, Tim Huntington ’, holds this distinction.
I learned about Tim during this year’s Alumni Awards at homecoming where Tim received the
Young Alumnus of the Year Award from our alumni association.
The next question might be, “Forensic entomology by way of Concordia?” In his acceptance
speech, Tim made the point that it was no accident: “Were it not for Concordia, I would have
taken an entirely different career path and missed my life’s calling.”
It was a good reminder, for me, of the three core commitments that Concordia has made to its
students for  years: community, calling and Christ. This issue of the Broadcaster introduces
you to students and alumni whose lives have been touched and changed by the community, that
is, the people, the brothers and sisters in Christ who have been brought to this place. Year after
year our students hear, learn and respond to God’s call in their lives. Concordia, praise God,
does community very well.
Calling “happens” by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit as He works in the
hearts and lives of our students. It happens as faculty and staff members come alongside students
and build holistic, Christ-centered relationships in which no question or issue is too small or
too large to explore. Calling also “happens” best in the context of Christian community. It is
articulated at Concordia and, by God’s grace, since  it has also been more than a learning
style. I thank God for all of the students, past and present, who have been led to this place and
for all of the faculty and staff who have been God’s instruments to help guide our students to
hear, understand and respond to the calling to lead and serve in church and world.
Today, more than , Concordia alumni are serving their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in the
full-time ministries of the church and in the marketplaces of the world. We continue to thank
God for all of the opportunities, each and every one, that He gives us to help students explore
and respond to God’s call.

Brian L. Friedrich
  
Concordia University, Nebraska

 
 B S
EDITOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
Dan Oetting ’87
COPY EDITOR
Monique Peetz
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Madelyn Lorenzen ’08
Lisa A. Nickolite
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Coryn Berkbigler
Alicia Foley ’09
Jan Koopman co ’69, GR ’75
Kate Nixon ’10
Monique Peetz
Kristy Plander ’00
Wade Tracy ’07
Theodore Wiesehan ’04
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Lindsay Bartling ’10
Rebekah Freed ’10
Greg Helgeson
Ellie Mair
Whitney Stichka ’09
Peter Wille
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Kristy Plander ’00

U A C

PRESIDENT & CEO
Rev. Dr. Brian L. Friedrich
FE ATURES
PROVOST 4 Inspiring minds
Dr. Jenny Mueller-Roebke It’s apple polishing time. This feature is a tribute to the generations
VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT
SERVANT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT of Concordia professors who have influenced the lives of students.
Michele Chaffee, Esq.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE & OPERATIONS
David Kumm
8 On to med school
Recent graduate Dean Flaten learns how to
VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Peter Kenow cope with life as a med student.
VICE PRESIDENT FOR MARKETING
& ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Dr. Jean Jones
10 The lost halls of Concordia
They have been knocked down, but they are not forgotten.
And, what’s this? Founders Hall had a snack bar?
B  R
Rev. Dr. David Block, Mesa, Ariz.
DEPARTMENTS
Dr. Paul Burger, Kearney, Neb.
William Hartmann, Seward, Neb.
12 Faculty & Staff
Dr. Vance Hinrichs, Lincoln, Neb. 16 Campus Scene
A. William Kernen, Omaha, Neb.
Timothy Moll, Esq., Seward, Neb. 20 Athletics
Dr. Frederick Ohlde, Hortonville, Wis.
Dr. Ronald Pfeiffer, Memphis, Tenn. 26 Alumni
Darla Rosendahl, Omaha, Neb.
Cynthia Scheer, Wayzata, Minn.
Dr. Andrew Smith, Dallas, Texas
Rev. Russell Sommerfeld, Seward, Neb.
Rev. Karl Ziegler, Bellevue, Neb.

U C
GENERAL INFORMATION
www.cune.edu
800 535 5494
ALUMNI & UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
Alumni@cune.edu
INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
Development@cune.edu
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION
& CAMPUS VISITS
Admiss@cune.edu
COLLEGE OF GRADUATE STUDIES
Masters@cune.edu
ATHLETICS
Athletics@cune.edu
BOOKSTORE
www.cunebookstore.com
CAREER SERVICES
CareerServices@cune.edu
CENTER FOR LITURGICAL ART
LiturgicalArt@cune.edu
ON THE COVER
Images of Concordia professors from the past and
present were used to create a mosiac of students
Curtis Miller ’10 and Laura Schlichting ’08.
The Broadcaster is published by the
marketing and communication office of
Concordia University, Nebraska to more
than 40,000 alumni, faculty, staff, pastors,
businesses, parents and friends of the
university in all 50 states and over 15
foreign countries.
CATCHING UP WITH CONCORDIA
Save a browser bookmark for www.cune.edu and visit
Concordia’s site for the most recent university news.
Past issues of the Broadcaster are available online.
COMMENTS AND STORY IDE AS WELCOME
Send comments and story ideas for the Broadcaster to
Broadcaster@cune.edu. For alumni wishing to submit a
class note, see the submission guidelines on page 29.
ALUMNI: STAY CONNECTED
Concordia has a new alumni directory in the works,
an e-news mailing list, Web updates regarding alumni
and friends events around the country and even a
Facebook presence to keep you connected with your
alma mater and each other. Find out more at
www.cune.edu/alumni.

© COPYRIGHT 2008, CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY

 inspiring minds
More than  years have passed since
the Rev. George Weller taught his first
class at the school that would become
Concordia University, Nebraska. More
than  professors have since followed
his lead. They are linked by their
mission, surely, and by their dedication.
They share in a vocation that also
offers its members the singular joy
and gravity of not knowing where
their influence ends—or starts,
for that matter.

 
 Mark Hofman ’ intended
to leave Concordia following
his freshman year. His plan
was to attend Concordia only
for that first year and then
make a decision about which
university to attend. He’d
go somewhere to earn a degree in architecture,
perhaps, or civil engineering.
He walked to Dr. Larry Grothaus’ American
Civilization course with low expectations.
Hofman figured he’d learn the dates and names
and then move on. He’d get through it.
Grothaus asked the class, ‘What do you
think the study of history involves?’ Someone
answered, “You memorize dates.” Grothaus
wrote on the chalkboard, “When.”
Someone else said, “You memorize the names
of dead people.” Grothaus wrote, “Who.”
After several similar answers the board displayed
the words who, what, where, when and how.
Grothaus turned from the board and asked,
‘What word is missing?’ Grothaus paused as his
pedagogical roundhouse found its mark.
“Why,” answered several students.
Grothaus concluded, “And that, ladies and
gentlemen, is what history is all about—using
the who, what, where, when and how to answer
the question, ‘Why?’”
For Hofman, the answer cleared away the idea
of just getting through the course. He was in
all the way. It also helped him make a decision
about staying at Concordia.
“That classroom lesson helped me make a
decision to re-enroll at Concordia the following
year rather than seek a transfer out,” he said.
“Two more courses with Dr. Grothaus in that
second year at Concordia convinced me that
studying history and the social sciences was
something I wanted to pursue.”
Hofman stayed at Concordia. He turned
down an opportunity to pursue architecture at
another university, instead earning a secondary
education degree from Concordia with Grothaus
 
 as his academic advisor. Today Hofman serves in
the advancement division of Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis.
“The lessons in critical thinking I learned from
professors like Drs. Grothaus, Jerrald Pfabe,
Robert Fiala and others positioned me for service
in church and world,” he said. “Today my work
involves some of the same analytical and research
skills I learned in my history courses, and I am a
different person because of those professors.”
Concordia professors offer guidance for more
than just a student’s career direction, however.
Oftentimes it is the spiritual life of a student that
is influenced.
For Rob Anderson ’ the
Rev. Arnold Jurchen’s New
Testament class awakened a
new understanding of the
writings of Paul, and himself.
“Rev. Jurchen forced us to
read the passages as they were written: with feeling,
love and sometimes anger,” Anderson said. “Paul’s
writings jumped off the page, and the humanity of
the writing showed through.”
 
The experience showed Anderson that the
apostles were real people, struggling with their
own sin and temptation, just like him.
“It was helpful to realize that each of the
authors were average people that felt all the
same things we feel today and make all the
same mistakes,” he said. “It was an interesting
revelation that made me more confident in my
faith and the fact that it is a daily struggle—
with good days and bad.”
With students attending Concordia from
around the world, Concordia professors are able
to impact lives internationally.
Before spending a year at Concordia,
Muryani Muryani, a  graduate of
University of Pelita Harapan, Indonesia, was
struggling with whether her chosen area of
study, graphic design, would positively serve
society.
“I came to the conclusion that maybe I should
seriously consider to pursue other fields that
would give me more power and have a bigger
impact, such as education or law,” Muryani said.
“I questioned if there is anyone in graphic design
that really makes a godly difference. (I thought)
maybe God wanted me to pursue a more
influential career, regardless of the talent and
passion in art and design He already gave me.”
Through interaction with her Concordia art
professors Muryani observed how Christians can
witness through their careers in art.
“I still remember one cold,
winter morning in Design
Portfolio class,” she recalled.
“Professor Paul Berkbigler
and Professor Lynn Soloway
were talking about how it
is quite easy for an artist
or a designer to get trapped in a job where our
supervisors want us to do whatever the clients
want, even though it is against our faith. As
they talked and shared their experiences, I was
amazed at how they stood firm to what they
believe in. That moment was just wonderful for
me. It was like God was whispering to me, ‘Look,
this is the example I want to show you.’”
Muryani graduated from University of
Pelita Harapan with a graphic design degree
and a deeper understanding of the concept of
Christian vocation thanks to the influence of her More tributes to professors
Concordia professors. can be read online at
www.cune.edu/Broadcaster.
“One conclusion I kept in my mind and heart
when I left Concordia is that God can use me
in whatever field He puts me in. There was no
coincidence that I was born with the talent and
passion for art and graphic design. I believe that
He has a grand plan for me in this specific field
and He has already shown me the real examples
within my short time at Concordia University,
Nebraska.”
“One of the joys of college teaching,” says Dr.
Jenny Mueller-Roebke, Concordia’s provost, “is
to work with students at this time in their lives.
It’s a time when hearts are open and minds are
ready to face some of the questions that have
puzzled human beings for generations.
“As professors we have been given this
great opportunity,” says Mueller-Roebke.
“This is something that our faculty, I
believe, understands profoundly. This is
what strengthens Concordia as a Christian
community of learning: serving students as we
serve our Lord.”
 
On to med school
Concordian begins
medical school, learns to
‘drink from a fire hose’

Dean Flaten happened to be brushing his

teeth when he heard the news that he had been
accepted to medical school.
“All of a sudden I heard my wife joyfully
screaming, ‘Dean! Dean! Dean!’” he recalled.
Flaten’s wife, Lindsey, had been listening to the
couple’s voice mail messages, heard about Dean’s
acceptance to medical school at the University
of Minnesota and rushed in to tell him the good
news.
“So with a mouth full of toothpaste, we both
started jumping up and down and screaming with
excitement,” he said.
Flaten, a  graduate of Concordia, had good
reason for his excitement. He was among the mere
seven percent of - applicants who were
accepted to  Medical School this year.
“The medical school application is pretty much
one of those situations that determine which

 

direction your life will go,” Flaten said. “So I
was nervous—of course!”
Flaten had long deliberated a career in
medicine or chemistry. While studying at
Concordia, Flaten followed his passion for the
sciences, earning a double major in chemistry
and biology.
“I have always had an interest in science and
medicine, so medical school was always an
option that I was considering,” he said.
After participating in a University of Kansas
summer research opportunity, Flaten decided
against post-graduate work in chemistry and set
his sights squarely on medical school.
“Ultimately, I chose to pursue medicine
because it combines my interests with the
opportunity to positively affect the lives of
others,” he said, “especially during vulnerable
and difficult times.”
Flaten, now a first-year med student, does
most of his work in the classroom. Following
two years of primarily classroom instruction,
he will transition into more hands-on work in
the field.
“Although, even in the first two years the
education slowly shifts toward more interaction
with patients,” Flaten said. “Even now we
are practicing our interviewing and physical
examination skills with patients.”
Successful medical school graduates apply for
a period of residency in their desired specialty
following graduation. Flaten said he is currently
interested in the surgical specialties, though as a
first-year student he remains open to other fields.
“Until I am able to really get my feet wet and
experience them in practice it is difficult to be
fully committed to any of them,” he said.
The amount of coursework in Flaten’s
program keeps him relentlessly busy, making
personal time often difficult to come by.
“Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect,” he
said. “I anticipated that medical school would
be difficult, but I had no idea how that would
play out on a daily basis. The daily schedule can
be quite demanding and will consume your life
if you let it, which is why it’s important to keep
your priorities and make time for your interests
and family. Thankfully, God has blessed me with
a great support system in my wife, who pushes
me and encourages me to succeed.”
Keeping up with the amount of information
covered in his classes becomes frustrating at
times for Flaten, and he has had to learn to
acknowledge his own limitations.
“So far, the most difficult part of medical
school has been accepting the fact that I can’t
learn it all,” he said. “Medical school curriculum
is like being blasted with a fire hose of
information, and it’s not a matter of learning it
all but what percentage of it you can retain.”
Still, Flaten enjoys the opportunity for closer
study of the human body that his coursework
provides.
“Thus far, my favorite classes have been Gross
Anatomy and Medical Physiology, because both
are very hands-on and applicable,” he said. “It
was amazing to actually see the intricacies and
complexities of the human body in a way that
textbooks alone can’t fully teach.”
Flaten credits his time at Concordia with
readying him for the rigorous demands of 
Medical School.
“The classes and professors at Concordia
prepared me very well,” he said. “In fact, I have
been re-learning many of the same things in
medical school that I learned at Concordia.
“Looking back on my education at Concordia,
I can say that it’s the professors that make
Concordia successful, especially in the science
department. Not only do they care that you
learn the material, they care about how you are
doing all-around: physically and spiritually.” „
  

 Miessler Hall

The lost halls of Concordia

Gone but not forgotten—
the university’s brick and
mortar memories

Becker Hall

Alumni Memorial Gym

   

Nebraska Hall
 Miessler Hall
Location: Approximately where the sculpture “Son of Man,
Be Free” now stands.
Miessler Hall held classrooms on the first floor, contained a
large communal dormitory room and also served as Concordia’s
infirmary. It was built in 1905 for the cost of $6,370.50 and
survived until 1969. The north end of the building was for a
steward, his family and kitchen help.
Claim to fame: Gained notoriety as a home to rodents.

“’Mice-ler’ hall was also a name because I caught lots of mice

in there. My first semester here after transferring I caught 56
mice. Then once they made me the proctor, I caught 20 more
mice. I began to keep a scorecard of them all.”
- Dr. Robert Fiala ’60

Training School
Location: Originally where Strieter and Schuelke Halls are now.
Built to help prepare Lutheran teachers, the Training School
was used for grades 1, 2, 7 and 8. (Students in grades 3-6 were
taught in classrooms in Seward’s downtown area, next to the
old St. John Lutheran Church building.) The training school
was used until St. John built the the first section of its current
school across the street from Concordia in 1929.
Maintenance Building

Becker Hall
Location: Southeast of Jesse Hall.
Built in 1907 for $27,000, it was also known as the Administration
Other buildings that have come and gone
Building and the Science Building. Becker Hall contained The Maintenance Building went up in 1952 and was taken down to make way for part of the TLEC parking lot
classrooms, the chapel and a bookstore. Concordia’s maintenance in the late ‘90s. The otherwise unremarkable building was a landmark on campus because of its tall smokestack.
department was in the basement. In the late 1960s and early 70s White House No. 1, built in 1897, was a white frame building located to the east of Founders Hall that served as
it was the primary building for Concordia High School. Later it a dormitory and infirmary. White House No. 2 was built as a dormitory in 1906 and lasted 17 years. It holds the
was home to most teacher education professors and courses. It distinction of having the most ignominious end. It burned to the ground in 1923. No students were harmed.
was demolished in 1999 after the Thom Leadership Education
Center was built.
Claim to fame: Survived a major fire in 1939.

“Everyone had to play the organ in chapel as a requirement for

becoming a teacher. I remember the organ being at the front
and everyone hated it. Some people couldn’t even play a note,
and they still had to do the same as the rest of us.”
- Glennie Sorenson ’53 Duensing

Alumni Memorial Gymnasium

Location: The southeast part of the Thom Leadership Education
Center now covers the same ground.
Originally expected to cost $30,000 to build, the Great
Depression helped knock the cost down by a third. Known
more commonly as the “Old Gym” after the P.E. Building was
erected in 1960, it also served as the campus post office. White House No. 1 Remains of White House No. 2
Claim to fame: Home court for Concordia High School
boys in 1960, the year they won the Nebraska Class C state
championship.

“We had lots of Christmas programs in the gym on the stage,

and I remember this one that everyone still remembers. The
announcer came to announce the show, and it was dark to
start the play, so he walked to the front of the stage and
completely fell off the front of it. He did get up and continue
announcing the rest, but I remember laughing so hard at that.”
- Dr. Richard Zwick ’55

Nebraska Hall
Location: Located to the southeast of Founders Hall.
Nebraska Hall’s lifespan lasted from 1913 to 1986. Built for
$13,200, it was primarily the campus music building and
contained six pipe organs and 15 pianos in its early years. On
its third floor it housed a dormitory room for 60 students. It
was also was home for a time to the president’s office and the
school library.
“While I was here the upper class music students would be piano
monitors, and we would go around to the practice rooms making
sure the correct person who signed up for practice was practicing
and everything was going correctly. Well, while I was piano
monitor I would go around checking the rooms, but I would
always stay a little longer at this one young girl’s practice room. I
ended up marrying her later on.” - Dr. Richard Zwick ’55
Still hanging on
Founders Hall, at one time the lone building on campus, was built in 1894. Currently home to mathematics
and theatre departments, it has been the university’s music center, student center, and art building.
Founders originally was a dormitory and housed the first dining hall, classrooms and chapel. In the very
first year of its existence Rev. George Weller, Concordia’s first president, and his large family occupied the
second floor. Cedar trees on the west and north of the building were planted by the first class at Concordia
and are still flourishing today.
“The bookstore used to be in Founders. It was the only place on all of campus that had pop or candy. I was
the student manager, and I remember that the girls would have study hours at night and they had a half
hour off at 9:30 p.m. to come over and get snacks. That is where I courted the girl that is now my wife. In the
downstairs of Founders was where I set up the student snack shop. It was the greatest place with mirrors,
soda fountain, tables, jukebox and hamburgers. That is where everyone would be, and we would all have
so much fun there.” - Dr. Elden “Jack” Duensing ’53
(background) A view of campus from the south in 1923.
 

 

Growing up across the street: (below,
left) The Mueller home on Faculty
Lane. (middle) Jenny Mueller-Roebke
and her brother Michael in front of
Weller Hall. (right) Dr. Walter E.
Mueller sits with his daughter and
protégée, Jenny, in their front yard
on Faculty Lane.
 
  
A long, short walk across Faculty Lane
Mueller-Roebke begins work as Concordia’s provost
Growing up just
across the street from
Concordia, campus
life was the backdrop
for Jenny Mueller-
Roebke’s childhood.
By the time she was a
teenager, however, she
had convinced herself
she really didn’t want
to stay in Seward, Neb.
It might be seen as evidence of God’s sense of
humor that she has now spent most of her life in
the town. What’s more, Provost Jenny Mueller-
Roebke is now sitting in an office under the
tower she used to look at from her childhood
home. And, to top things off, her new role as
chief academic officer is her dad’s old job. “Hah
and double-hah,” saith the Lord.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from
Concordia, Mueller-Roebke taught in
Milwaukee before returning to Seward to teach
at the junior high school. She joined the faculty
of Concordia in , teaching English and
then, eventually, freshman seminar and general
studies courses as well. Mueller-Roebke earned
a master’s degree from Concordia in  and
a .. in curriculum and instruction from
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in .
By the mid-’s she was serving as chair of the
Department of English, Communication and
Theatre Arts.
“Some might say ‘what a narrow perspective
you have since you have been in one place for
so long,’ but being able to live the academic life
in this place has been a wonderful experience
for me,” said Mueller-Roebke. “I have been so
blessed by the opportunities here.”
As she takes on the responsibilities of provost,
Mueller-Roebke can look to her parents as role
models. Her mother, Laura Mueller, was the
first dean of women at the school, and it was her
employment that brought the family to Seward.
Her father, Dr. Walter . Mueller, taught English
in some of the same classrooms Jenny taught in
recently. He also served as the academic dean,
the position which is now titled provost.
“There are some things that are very, very
different from when my father was sitting in this
chair,” Mueller-Roebke said. “But one thing he
did that I will strive to accomplish is to nurture
people and enable them to do their jobs to the
best of their ability. There was also a period
where he did quite a bit of hiring of faculty as
the university grew; those faculty members have
been a part of educating students for -plus
years now. As we face many retirements, I am
aware of how the hiring of each professor shapes
the future of an institution.”
Mueller-Roebke expects to rely on her
experience as a faculty member to guide her
decisions. “I can’t imagine attempting to
be provost unless you had experienced the
classroom and the nature of what faculty do.
If there is anything that I can do to further
opportunities for my colleagues here, I think it’s
my time to give back.”
Faculty Notes
Upon the approval of the Board of
Regents, four faculty members have been
advanced in rank to professor. Those
advanced include Dr. Mark Blanke, Dr.
Bruce Creed, Dr. Rebecca Fisher and
Dr. Russell Mosemann.
Dr. Lisa Ashby was named chair of the
Department of English, Communication
and Theatre Arts. Ashby and her black
Labrador Sadie responded to the
December shooting tragedy at Westroads
Mall in Omaha as part of Noah’s Canine
Crisis Response Team, offering emotional
and spiritual support to individuals.
Ashby and Sadie also ministered to those
affected by the shooting at Northern
Illinois University, DeKalb, Ill.
Paul Berkbigler, assistant professor
of art, won three
silver awards and
one bronze award
in the professional
category at
Nebraska’s
American Institute
of Graphic Arts
annual show. His
winning entries included a series of
typographic cowboy letterpressed images,
the logo and stationery for : 
National Lutheran Youth Gathering,
the large indoor and outdoor signage
for  and clothing designed for
.
Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, chair of the
Department of Music, led the hymn
festival at Grace Lutheran Church,
Naples, Fla., premiering his composition,
Triptych on “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The
piece was dedicated to Drs. David
and Grace-Ann Dolak upon their
retirement from Concordia and will be
published, along with four other works
of Blersch, by Concordia Publishing
House this spring. Blersch’s article,
“Creating a Lenten Kyrie,” appeared in
the December/January issue of Grace
Notes, a publication of the Association of
Lutheran Church Musicians.
James Bockelman, associate professor
of art, exhibited his artwork at the
Kunstoffice in Berlin, Germany. Titled
Sources and Territories, the show was
displayed  hours a day, seven days a
week through large windows which look
into the gallery. The Bemis Center for
Contemporary Arts in Omaha hosted
the State of the Art:  Nebraska
Arts Council  Recipients exhibition,
including Bockelman’s work as a 
Individual Artist Fellowship winner.
Bockelman’s work was also exhibited at
the Walker Art Gallery located on the
campus of the University of Nebraska at
Kearney.
Dr. Robert Fiala, professor emeritus
of history, had two photos published
recently. His image of the Bank of China
building in Hong Kong appeared in
The Hong Kong Journal of Social Science,
December . Fiala’s photograph of
the Hanging Monastery in the Shanxi
Province of China appeared in China’s
Sacred Sites, by Nan Shuxun and Beverly
Foit-Albert.
Dr. Renea Gernant, professor of
communication, served as a team
supervisor with Noah’s Canine Crisis
Response Team offering support to those
affected in the tragedy at Westroads
Mall in Omaha. Gernant also presented
a sectional on the use of animals as
a bridge for spiritual and emotional
caregiving as part of therapeutic
intervention at the Aging with Passion
and Purpose conference hosted by the
University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Rev. Terrence Groth, assistant professor
of theology, had his devotion “Christmas
Journeys” published in The Lutheran
Witness in December.
Dr. Joel Helmer was named chair of
the Department of Social Sciences. In
collaboration with Dr. Justin Q. Moss
from the University of Wyoming,
Helmer created a poster that was
presented at the  International
Annual Meetings of the American
Society of Agronomy,
Crop Science Society
of America and the
Soil Science Society of
America. The poster
was titled “Integrating
Agricultural Science
into Middle School, High School, and
Alternative School Science Curriculums.”
Dr. Joseph Herl, professor of music,
had his hymn tune to Adam Tice’s text,
“When Jesus Learned His Friend Had
Died,” featured in the fall  issue
of Vision: A Journal for Church and
Theology. Also, his choral piece, “Where
Shepherds Lately Knelt,” was accepted
for publication by Concordia Publishing
House. Herl has been invited by the
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship at
Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.,
to consult on a hymnody database
project and give an address as a part of
Calvin’s reformation lecture series.
Dr. Marsha Konz began her work as the
Dean of the College of Graduate Studies
in January. Konz has more than  years
of experience in education
including multiple levels
of public and private
classroom instruction and
administrative roles in
- and higher education
institutions. She most
recently served as associate dean of
graduate education and assistant vice
president of academics at Concordia
University Wisconsin.
Jessica Luebbe, financial aid counselor,
earned a master’s degree in early
childhood education from Concordia in
December.
Rachel Miller, head volleyball coach,
co-authored “Synthesis and Stability
of Novel Terminal Phosphate-Labeled
Nucleotides,” a paper that was published
in the journal Nucleosides, Nucleotides
and Nucleic Acids.
Michael Strand, chair of the
Department of Art, exhibited a solo show
of his work, titled “Cairn,” at the newly
relocated Draewell Gallery at Judson
University, Elgin, Ill.
Dr. Janell Uffelman, professor of
education, critiqued the newest edition
of Beverly A. DeVries’ text, Literacy
Assessment and Intervention for -
Classrooms. Dr. Uffelman reviewed the
book in manuscript stage and offered
suggestions for improvement which are
reflected in the final draft.
Professor Emeritus William Wolfram’s
collection of cross images was honored
by the Annual Religious Art and
Architecture Design Awards program,
co-sponsored by Faith & Form magazine
and the American Institute of Architects’
Interfaith Forum on Religion, Art and
Architecture. Wolfram’s was the only
entry to receive the highest designation
of “honor” in the Religious Art—Visual
Arts category in the international
competition. He also won best of
show with his computer-manipulated
photograph, “Untitled ,” in the
Lincoln Area Agency on Aging Fine Art
of Experience juried art show.
   
 Aging faces Gerontology program established
Pastor Gary McClellan ’ has lived and served
along the Oklahoma-Texas border for  years.
He has learned that rural ministry is often
ministry to older adults. Young people often
“Ne
“Never before move to bigger towns and better jobs, but people
in human
hi
histor y hav e who have lived in small towns their entire lives
we experienced stay put. For McClellan, the age wave is not on
so many older
adults over
the horizon, it has already arrived.
the age of Dr. Renea Gernant, director of the new
65,” writes Cliff
C Pederson gerontology and aging studies program at
in the spring 2007 edition of
ISSUES in Christian Education Concordia, is concerned that government
(www.cune.edu/ISSUES), the programs alone will not be able to adequately
academic journal published
by Concordia’s faculty. “The
address the needs of seniors.
challenges and opportunities “While churches and other faith-based
associated with mass-aging are groups are likely candidates to help serve
unlike any demographic change
this country has ever known.” this population, few Christian educational
institutions offer programs designed to equip
ministers and laity to respond to the needs of
elders as effectively as possible. We are working
to reverse this trend.”
This summer Concordia will begin offering
a gerontology specialization in Family Life
Ministry and a certificate in gerontology and
aging studies.
The university became an approved member
of the Association for Gerontology in Higher
Education in February.  is an organization
of colleges and universities that offer education,
training and research programs in the field of
aging.
Students will study issues in aging and
established programs and ministries for older
 
adults. They will then design their own project
and complete it as a part of their practicum. This
practicum component is called the Generations
Project. A key element is the requirement
to design the project in such a way that it is
sustainable for the long-term.
“As an example, a nurse might enter the
program and, after assessing the needs of her
church and community, implement an exercise
and nutrition program for area seniors that will
continue in service after she has completed her
certificate,” explains Gernant. “We are hoping
to serve ministry and lay leaders from across the
country and establish more than  new, long-
term projects in the next three years.”
Wheat Ridge Ministries has granted
Concordia , towards the Generations
Project in a recent round of grants given by the
charitable organization.
“We look forward to partnering with teachers,
nurses, church leaders, business professionals and
other volunteers as they establish and expand
intentional elder ministries,” said Dr. Jenny
Mueller-Roebke, provost of the university.
McClellan is excited about how the Concordia
gerontology program and the Generations
Project can help his rural ministry, yet he also
notes that urban and metropolitan settings can
benefit.
He anticipates, “It would give church leaders
the training, vision and opportunity to reach out
and meet the needs of the aging communities.”
Photo illustration by Gonzalo Haro
 Continue Your Education
at Concordia University, Nebraska!

Bring your talent and excitement to learn. Master of Education

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GRADUATE AND DLL ADMISSION COUNSELOR Department of Lifelong Learning
E-mail GradAdmiss@cune.edu Seward Campus Fallbrook Site
Phone --, ext.   North Columbia Ave.  Fallbrook Blvd.
Web www.cune.edu Seward, Nebraska  Lincoln, Nebraska 
  
 Walking

Pre-sem student Matt Wait makes his

way across campus, flashcards in hand.

  
a shepherd’s path
You can spot them on campus if you look closely. Their satchels are stuffed with
lexicons, guides for syntax and flashcards. Always with the flashcards. They’ll
walk across campus with a handful, quietly flipping away, somehow navigating
curbs, trees and future active participles without so much as stubbing a toe.
They’re the pre-sem guys, and they are studying biblical Greek and Hebrew.
About  young men are a part of the pre-seminary program at Concordia
University, Nebraska, home to one of the largest pre-seminary programs within
the Concordia University System.
There is no set major, as such, for those who have entered pre-seminary
studies on Concordia, Nebraska’s campus. “We think as we are producing
future pastors for the church, it will be very helpful to have business
majors, science majors, art majors, theatre majors, communication majors,
psychology—you name it,” said Rev. Charles Blanco, director of Concordia
Nebraska’s pre-seminary program and a Greek professor. “We are preparing and
enhancing the gifts that God has given to the church.”
Concordia encourages the diversity of majors while also providing a strong
core of preparatory coursework.
“We focus on the preparation with biblical languages, philosophy and public
speaking,” said Blanco. Pre-sem students are required to take four semesters of
Greek and three of Hebrew in the pre-seminary program.
“We are really blessed at this university to have amazing language professors,”
said senior Timm Heath. “They have really high standards of us and expect a
lot and are looking for us to achieve so that we have a better overall insight into
the nuances of languages.”
The mix of pre-seminary coursework and a variety of majors among pre-
seminarians helps assure that the future pastors are part of, well, everything that
their fellow college students are.
“We joke around about flashcards all the time, but pre-sem doesn’t define
us,” said Heath. “We are also intertwined in the rest of the campus as well. You
can find people in theatre, sports—all the different groups. We are just bound
together by a mutual desire to serve as pastors.”
It’s that desire to serve that helps them keep their focus. Junior Matt Wait
recalls a Greek phrase that Prof. Blanco asked his students to remember as they
continue their path toward becoming pastors. “Prof. Blanco explained that hoi
amnoi means, ‘the lambs,’ referring to the lambs of God. Every time that you
get stuck or you feel like this isn’t worth it, just say hoi amnoi and remember
that everything you are doing right now is for the lambs of God. It’s the big
picture that we need to see.”

Pre-seminarians Matt Harwell (right) and

Justin Miller and secondary education
student Lisa Gebauer attend Greek II class.

  
 Student Notes
Seven students were honored by the state chapter of Education, Recreation and Dance for their academic
the American Institute of Graphic Arts annual design performance. Those honored included Bryant
competition, including the first gold awards given Krieger, Patricia Loveless, Leah Koopman, Nicole
to the university. The honored students included Wright and Emily Wolters.
(left to right as pictured): Madelyn Lorenzen, gold
Micah Chaffee completed a fall internship in the
award for “Kyoto Travel Poster”; Tannon Osten, gold
University of Nebraska Athletic Development and
award for “Unreadable
Ticketing Office. His responsibilities included donor
Readable Type: Bebo
relations, event planning and game-day management.
Norman and Audio
Adrenaline” (poster); Meaghan Downs received the runner-up award from
Meagan Zabel, bronze the National Critics Institute for reviews she wrote of
award for “The Golden several plays staged at the Region V Kennedy Center
Bird” (illustration); American College Theatre Festival.
Heidi Bartlett, silver
Stephanie Roehrig Effken graduated in December
award for “H. Perlman’s
and is now a reporter for the Seward County
Ad Series” (advertising –
Independent.
print/outdoor), bronze
awards for “Glissando” Violet Spader Kirk graduated in December and
(packaging) and “Princess has accepted a position as a reporter for the daily
Mononoke” (poster); newspaper, The News & Eagle, in Enid, Okla. In
Charlotte Kaeding, addition to general assignment work, Kirk is covering
bronze award for “The the education beat.
Gods Must Be Crazy”
Jonathan Ross’ “Art Through Illumination” and
(poster); Jacob Cooper,
Justin Koopman’s “As You Imagined” lighting designs
bronze awards for
were selected for honors at the David L. Thayer
“Jean Luc Godard” (illustration) and “Self Portrait”
lighting competition and workshop at the Region V
(illustration); and Laura Knibbe, bronze award “One
Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Eighty Victoria” (advertising – print/outdoor).
Participating students produced a six-minute lighting
Five Concordia students have been honored by design. Ross won the award for best documentation of
the Nebraska Association for Health, Physical execution for his lighting design.

Da dorm hosted its

David
fir
first annual mini golf
to
tournament on Friday,
Fe
Feb. 8. Each of the
h
hall communities set
u
up a golf hole down
iits hallway. The 12
hhole course took at
lleast two hours to
complete.

Jackie Nuxoll, resident

co ordinator for
David Hall, believed
the complexity of
the course may have been due to the
putters in use. Players were simply asked to make use
of whatever they could find. “We saw vacuum cleaners,
giant blow up hammers and baseball bats,” Nuxoll said.
“The activity was pretty ridiculous. I think that is what
made it so much fun.”

(upper left) Some of the participants in the mini golf

tournament included Andrew Raphelt, Melissa King,
Tim Barone, Ben Riley and Katie Raphelt. (left) Elissa
Seeliger added a fish obstacle to the course on the
southeast top floor of David Hall.

  

Art and interaction
Jones Fine Art Series brings theatre and art projects to town
The Jones National Bank & Trust Company Fine
Art Series brought two projects to Concordia
and the Seward community this year. In March a
graphic designer and a nationally touring acting
company made the trip to Seward. According to
Max Wake, president of Jones National Bank &
Trust Company, the intention behind the five-
year-old series has been to make possible visits
by national artists who would not otherwise be
able to come. “The events bring together not
only the faculty and staff at Concordia with our
staff,” said Wake, “but the entire community has
the opportunity to experience these artists.”
New York-based acting group visits
Concordia theatre students had the opportunity
to work with the Acting Company, a nationally
touring ensemble of young actors, in March.
The Acting Company, based in New York City,
is touring the country performing Orson Welles’
adaptation of Moby Dick by novelist Herman
Melville.
Concordia students helped set up for the
ensemble’s Seward performance of Moby Dick—
Rehearsed. While the company was in Seward,
the actors also conducted a workshop for
Artist Stefan Bucher (left) worked with
Concordia graphic design students to
create what is downtown Seward’s
toothiest facade. The mural hangs at
133 N. 6th Street in Seward, outside a
new studio space owned by Seward
resident and artist Mark Anschutz.
Concordia students on performing Shakespeare.
Concordia’s theatre department is in rehearsal
for spring performances of Measure for Measure
by Shakespeare.
Los Angeles artist leaves behind monsters
At the end of the three-day project, a brightly
colored mural, complete with two of artist
Stefan Bucher’s trademark monsters hung above
the pedestrians on th Street in Seward. Bucher,
a designer and illustrator from California,
worked with senior graphic design students from
Concordia to paint the three panels. Faculty and
community members pitched in as well.
“I wanted to create something that certainly
is me and my work but also works within the
fabric of the community,” said Bucher. “So, we
had to have the monsters.” The words on the
mural, all of which rhyme with Seward, were
chosen to encourage the community to look up.
During his stay, Bucher was able to share his
(left) Members of the Acting Company
knowledge and experience with students. “He shared assisted the cast of Concordia’s
with us what it’s like in ‘the real design world,’ and spring theatre production with role
characterization. (middle) Acting
was able to give us feedback on our portfolios and Company member Seth Duerr in Moby
answer our questions,” said Ashley Lenz, a senior in Dick—Rehearsed.
Concordia’s graphic design program.
   
Snow much fun Dr. Kregg Einspahr, head track coach, clears a few lanes
of the track at Bulldog Stadium on Jan.  to prepare
for “indoor” track practice. With no indoor track
facilities yet at Concordia, practice for the indoor season
sometimes means snowblower duty is necessary.
A fieldhouse is on the horizon, however. Construction
headway is now being made on the arena section of
the Health, Human Performance and Athletic Center
(slated to open May ). The fieldhouse section of
the HHPAC will follow as fundraising continues. To
check on the construction and fundraising progress of
the HHPAC, visit www.cune.edu/HHPAC.
Four-month old Gracie, one of Concordia’s
(above, left)
mascots, visits the work site in December .
(middle and below) By March most of the cement was poured
for the outer walls of the arena section of the HHPAC.

 

Bulldogs bring home CIT title
The Concordia University, Nebraska women’s
basketball team re-established itself as champion
at the  annual Concordia Invitational
Tournament. They rolled through the
competition, winning the first round by 
points (-) against host Concordia Chicago
and the championship game by  points (-)
versus Concordia Ann Arbor.
Versus Concordia Chicago the Bulldogs
were powered by a strong outside shooting
performance by junior Melissa Tinkham in the
opening game. Tinkham led all scorers with 
points on -of- three-point shooting.
In the championship game the Bulldogs went
-for- from the field and -for- from three-
point land. The Bulldogs were also solid from the
charity stripe, hitting -of- free throws. Junior
Whitney Stichka led the Bulldog offense, scoring
the majority of her  points on drives to the hoop.
For her efforts, Stichka was awarded the
tournament’s most valuable player award, her
Two win national championships,
nine named All-Americans
Concordia sophomore Chris Tegtmeier and
junior Michael Saalfeld both are national
champions after winning their respective
events at the   Indoor Track & Field
Championships in Johnson City, Tenn.
Tegtmeier established himself as one of the
premiere race walkers in the country with his
performance. His time of : in
the , meter race walk bested
second place by over a minute.
Saalfeld also took home honors
as a national champion, running
:. in the  meter.
Saalfeld, who is also the Great Plains Athletic
Conference champion in the same event, came
into the meet with the fastest qualifying time in
the country. During a pre-final heat Saalfeld ran
(left) Tyler Bredehoeft shoots a
runner in the lane during the men’s
consolation match of the Concordia
Invitational Tournament. (middle)
The women’s basketball team,
champions of the 2008 Concordia
second in three years. The championship earns the Invitational Tournament, celebrates
Bulldogs their   title in the last  years. its victory in the finals with mascot
Gracie the bulldog.
Men win consolation bracket
The Concordia men’s basketball team bounced
back from an - opening round loss to
Concordia Wisconsin, to defeat Concordia
Ann Arbor - in the  consolation game.
Senior Benjamin Buhr averaged  points
in the Bulldogs’ two games and was named
to the all-tournament team. Freshman Tyler
Bredehoeft also had a solid tournament for the
Bulldogs, averaging . points per game for the
tournament.
 likely marked the high point of the season
for the Bulldogs. They would finish with a
record of -, mustering just one more win
after beating Ann Arbor. Senior Scott Hannon
concluded his fine career as a Bulldog by earning
second-team all-conference honors. Buhr and
Bredehoeft were both honorably mentioned for
conference honors.
conservatively and actually had one of the slower
preliminary times running. In the final, however,
he turned it up a notch, earning a
victory by three-tenths of a second.
Besides Saalfeld and Tegtmeier,
Concordia added seven other
athletes to the  All-American
lists: Emily Hansen and Tom
Stolee in the race walk, Erin Eitzman and Dusty
Morehead in the pole vault, Christina Lark and
Katie Werner in the weight throw and Jill Pfeifer
in the long jump.
Lark’s third-place performance in the weight
throw (’.”) also gave her the new school
record.
In overall team scoring, the women finished in
 place and Bulldog men took home  place.
 
 Bulldogs reach round of eight
Heading into the national tournament on
March , the Concordia women’s basketball
team could point to a fourth place finish in the
Great Plains Athletic Conference as their major
accomplishment. Fourth. It sounds a bit better,
however, when you understand that all three
conference teams that finished ahead of the
Bulldogs were among the final four teams in the
 Division II Women’s Basketball National
Championship in Sioux City, Iowa.
And it was nearly an all- semi-final,
but in the round of eight, College of the
Ozarks (Mo.) stopped the Bulldogs short.
 
Ozarks, owners of the No.  national ranking
for the entire regular season, fully lived up to
their billing in their quarterfinal game against
Concordia. Ozarks jumped out to a quick -
lead before ten minutes had passed in the game,
and by halftime the Bobcats’ lead swelled to
-. Ozarks would come out of the break with
the same steam they had in the first half, going
on an - run to start the second frame.
Concordia could not find a shooting touch
on the afternoon as Ozarks held the Bulldogs to
 percent (-for-) shooting. Concordia was
led offensively by Libby Hirssig with  points

on -of- shooting from the field.
Hirssig, a senior center from Rochester, Minn.,
also led the Bulldogs in their gritty second-round
game against Davenport University (Mich.).
Coming off the bench she netted a double-double
of  points and  rebounds.
Concordia needed that sort of performance
to hold off Davenport and earn a hard-
fought - victory. Other scoring leaders
for the Bulldogs in the Davenport game were
Concordia’s first team All- selections, junior
Whitney Stichka ( points) and junior Melissa
Tinkham ().
The Bulldogs best performance came in the
tournament opener, a - victory over Union
College (Ky.). Four Bulldogs reached double
(left) Melissa Tinkham drives the lane against College of the Ozarks.
(immediately below) Drew Olson, second-year head coach for the
Bulldogs, talks strategy during a timeout. (bottom) The Concordia team,
pictured during warmups prior to the Ozarks game, took inspiration this
year from Mark 1:16-18.
figures in the game, and every player who saw
action scored for Concordia. The Bulldogs were
led by Stichka with  points. Senior post Jenni
Lovegrove turned in a double-double, with 
points and  rebounds. Also reaching double
digits in scoring were Tinkham () and Stacy
Sheer ().
The Bulldogs wrapped up the season with
a - record, and their quarterfinal finish in
Sioux City puts them in a tie for the second-
best women’s national tournament run in
school history. Stichka and Tinkham were
named  Div.  All-Americans for their
stellar  seasons. Stichka was named to the
second team and Tinkham was an honorable
mention selection.
 
 Glide, pivot, pop and
the old heave-ho
Concordia throwers are
the best in school history

 

This year’s group of Bulldog throwers is special.
“I can’t say this enough. This is the best overall
throwers squad Concordia has ever had,” said Ed
McLaughlin, Concordia’s throwing coach. “I am
amazed at how good these guys and gals are.”
The honors earned by the Bulldog throwers
certainly show it. The team sports three school
record holders: Brock Simonsen in discus,
Christina Lark in the weight throw and Katie
Werner in the shot put. These three current
Concordia throwers have also earned All-
America honors. Simonsen received the award
in  for the indoor shot put and discus. Lark
earned it this winter for the weight throw. Katie
Never better: This year’s throwers for Concordia include
(left to right) Justin Jurgens, Jason Swan, Amy Sandefur,
James Refenes, Christina Lark, Jordan Hinrichs, Matt
Baller, Brock Simonsen, Katie Werner, Corbin Jones, Scott
Lacey, Dustin Johns and Carly Stokebrand.
Werner is a two-time All-American in throws:
she earned the honor for outdoor shot in 
and also in the weight throw during this year’s
indoor season.
Once indoor season finished this winter,
current Concordia throwers could claim these
school school records: First and second all-time
in the weight throw for women; first in the
women’s shot; the second and fourth spots all-
time for the men’s weight throw; second, third
and fifth all-time spots for the indoor shot.
Oh they can throw, all right. How have they
come so far?
Plenty of God-given talent, certainly, and a lot
of wise coaching. What may surprise those with
a casual interest in throwers—let’s just say that’s
nearly everyone—is that success in the throws is
as much about grace as it is about brute strength.
You may be able to bench press a house, but
if you can’t also “dance,” you’re not going to be a
good thrower.
“[It’s] difficult mastering technique and then
having to duplicate it consistently along with
speed, power and balance,” said James Refenes.
“We work really hard to be in good shape
as well as have muscle strength,” said Carly
Stokebrand. “We spend a lot of time on our
technique in practice and then lift weights to
enforce [that] technique.”
Many of the throwers participate in more
than one sport, and that seems to work to their
advantage as well.
“For a lot of the throwers, most of us are
two-sport athletes,” said Hinrichs. “Most of
the offseason is lifting and sprinting [and]
conditioning. We have to stay in shape all year
round for both sports.”
And yet as hard as these athletes work, they
still manage to enjoy themselves.
“The easiest part of being a thrower is the fun
that we have with each other,” said Jason Swan.
Laughs or no laughs, this is a bunch that
has made some serious changes in Concordia’s
record books.
By Aaron Sailer, originally for the Sower.
 
 Alaina Kleinbeck ’06 eats
lunch with sixth graders at
Immanuel Lutheran Church
in St. Charles, Mo.
No point in coasting
DCE alum is LEA award recipient
Alaina Kleinbeck ’, recipient of the 
Outstanding New Director of Christian
Education Award from the Lutheran Education
Association, doesn’t believe in resting easy. She
built a reputation for her adventurous and
joyful spirit while in the director of Christian
education program at Concordia, and she has
carried a similar approach to her work as a  at
Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Mo.
“I believe most of our students have a keen
understanding of the challenges that face them
in trying to enhance religious education in the
parish as did [Kleinbeck],” says Mark Blanke,
director of Concordia’s director of Christian
education program. “She was different in her
desire to be challenged.”
While in college, Kleinbeck spent her
summers teaching English in China, working as
a camp counselor and managing traveling teams
of day camp counselors. During the school year,
Kleinbeck chose extracurricular activities and
employment opportunities that could help her
in future  ministry.
At Immanuel, which has a larger ministry team
than many churches, Kleinbeck applies what she
 
has learned to her responsibilities for junior high,
children’s and small group ministries.
“I love the variability of my work,” says
Kleinbeck. “Moments of joy are found in the
simplest of places: eating lunch with a table of
sixth grade boys, praying with my eighth grade
girls, watching a parent lead a devotion for the
first time with their seventh grade youth.”
One of her colleagues at Immanuel, fellow
 Leon Jameson ’, sees both the marks
of her professional training and her unique
blessings as a person.
“Certainly God has blessed her with...gifts and
talents,” says Jameson, “but Seward took those
gifts and talents and challenged her, pushed her,
helped her learn new things that have brought
her where she is today.”
When reflecting on the  award, Kleinbeck
acknowledges her college professors, the diversity
of gifts at Immanuel and, first and foremost, the
blessings of her Lord.
“When another sees great work done through
my hands,” Kleinbeck says, “I can’t help but turn
my eyes to my Creator and thank Him for all of
the gifts He’s given, helping me in the process.”
You’re invited!
SPE CIA L EV ENTS F O R A L U M N I
LEA Convocation Alumni Reception in
Minneapolis, Minn.
APRIL 25
The alumni reception will be Friday,
April , in the Greenway Ballroom of
the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis from
 to  p.m. Meet President Friedrich,
faculty and staff, and join your classmates
and friends attending the convocation
for an evening of fellowship. No
reservations required.
Jazz Tour at The Sheldon in St. Louis, Mo.
MAY 13
Concordia’s Vocal Jazz Choir and the
Concordia Jazz Ensemble will perform at
The Sheldon Concert Hall on Tuesday,
May , at  p.m. Join Concordia’s
outstanding student musicians for a
night of vocal and instrumental jazz; get
a group together from your congregation,
school or business. Call the development
office at --, ext. , or
e-mail stlouis-rsvp@cune.edu for ticket
information.
Seward’s annual th of July celebration
JULY 4
Alumni and friends are especially invited to
ride the Concordia alumni float in Seward’s
nationally recognized Independence Day
parade. Contact the alumni office to
volunteer.
U P CO M I N G A L U M N I R E U N I O NS
See www.cune.edu/Reunions for contact
information.
50th Reunion of the Class of 1958
MAY 8-10
Homecoming, Alumni Reunion and Family
Weekend
OCT. 3-5
Honored year reunions during the
weekend are the classes of *, *,
*, *, *, , , , 
and . *Includes high school.
Enjoy activities including alumni organ
recitals on the new Casavant organ in the
Music Center’s recital hall; an all-alumni
reunion choir with Dr. Kurt von Kampen;
the Alumni Awards and Athletic Hall of
Fame; Saturday breakfast with President
Brian Friedrich; a sneak peek at the future
Health, Human Performance and Athletic
Center; the all-alumni reunion barbecue;
the football game vs. Northwestern College;
and a celebration worship service at St. John
Lutheran Church.
Business Professionals Reunion
OCT. 3-5
Both business graduates and all alumni who
are now involved in business employment
are invited to reminisce and network with
fellow business professionals and Concordia’s
business department faculty during this
homecoming weekend celebration. The
reunion celebrates the  anniversary of
Concordia’s business program.
Concordia High School Class of ’58 Reunion
Celebration
OCT. 3-5
Golden reunion alumni return to campus as
our special guests.
Concordia High School Class of ’53 Reunion
Celebration in Minden, Neb., and Seward
OCT. 1-5
Save the first week of October to celebrate
your  reunion year in Minden, Neb.,
and conclude with homecoming and alumni
reunion events on campus.
Let’s get it right
Alumni Today Directory update
Concordia and its partner for the Alumni Today Directory project,
Harris Connect, are diligently working to make sure the new alumni
directory is the most up-to-date and reliable resource possible.
In April the Alumni Today project entered the phoning verification
phase. Harris Connect, the publisher of our all-new book for
Concordia University, Nebraska and Concordia High School alumni,
sent e-mail and postcard requests for information updates and
provided a toll-free number for you to call to confirm your listing.
They also invited you to purchase the book.
What Concordia is asking alumni to do
Whether you choose to buy a book or not, please remember
to respond to the Harris mailing to ensure your information is
current. The new directory is a major project for Concordia, and the
publication will be available only to our alumni.
 
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A minimum of  tour participants is required.
To receive more information
Alumni@cune.edu The final cost will be based on the number of
--, ext.  reservations received.

 
Alumni News
1960s
Alice Duensing ’ Hausman is
a -term legislator who heads the
House Capital Investment Finance
Division. She resides in St. Paul,
Minn.
Earl Morrison ’ of Ypsilanti,
Mich., retired in November 
after  years of teaching. He and
his wife, Jan, are members of St.
Paul Lutheran Church in Ann
Arbor, Mich.
Carol Meyer ’ Schmidt was
elected as an at-large member
of the executive committee for
Wheat Ridge Ministries executive
board in November . She calls
Williamsburg, Va., home.
1970s
Robert Saeger CO ’ GR ’ of
Polk, Neb., was awarded the 
Outstanding Lutheran Educator
Award in October  at the
Nebraska District All Professional
Conference in Lincoln. Robert has
been in the teaching ministry for
 years.
John Pirie ’ is national board
certified in early/middle school
childhood art and teaches
elementary school art at a public
school. He and his wife, Mary Sine
’ Pirie, reside in Lacey, Wash.,
and worship at Prince of Peace in
Lakewood, where Mary is a Sunday
school worship coordinator.
1980s
Patricia Degner ’ Fick is
director of Can-Do Missions
at Concordia
University Texas.
Previously she
served as director
of Christian
education
at Messiah
Lutheran Church in Boerne, Texas.
Pat and her husband, Stephen ’,
reside in Austin.
Elizabeth Ryan ’ Navarro
of Pembroke Pines, Fla., earned
national board certification in .
Melissa Hahn ’ Sindlinger of
Tomball, Texas, graduated in May
 with a master of arts degree
in deaconess studies. She works at
Tomball’s Zion Lutheran Church
in the preschool and infant room.
1990s
Tom ’ and Rebecca Thurber
’ Taylorr of Fairmont, Minn.,
celebrated the birth of Natalie May
Dec. , . She joins Jacob,
. Daniel Thurber ’, dean of
the College of Arts and Sciences
at Concordia
University,
Nebraska, and
wife Carol Haar
’ Thurber
are proud
grandparents.
Eric ’ and Jennifer Thurber ’’
Bickel now live in Jackson, Mich.
Eric is at Trinity Lutheran School
where he teaches upper grades.
Jennifer is
at Jackson
Community
College
where she
is with the
Child Care
Center. Their
lives have
been blessed with three children:
Samuel Douglas, , Kaitlyn Jean,
 and Madeline Carol, .
Corey Nelson
’ received ’s
 Outstanding
Early Childhood
Educator Award.
Corey and his wife,
Brenda Pfeiffer ’ Nelson, reside
in Rochester, Minn., with their
children Hope and Isaac. Corey
is a teacher at Rochester Central
Lutheran School.
Kevin ’ and Janelle Schotte ’
Potratzz of Seward, Neb., celebrated
the birth of Brianna Elise Jan. .
Brianna was Seward’s first baby of
. She joins Zachary, Jacob and
Jenna. Kevin is a system analyst for
Nathan Selle ’
and wife Holly
of Anchorage,
Alaska, announced
birth of their first child, Luke
the birt
David, on Aug. , . Nathan
left his jjob at the Anchorage Police
Department to be a stay-at-home
Departm
hardware/network at Concordia and Holly earned a master’s
dad, an
degree iin creative writing from the
University, Nebraska, and Janelle is
a stay-at-home mom. University of Alaska Anchorage
Univers
December 2007. Holly is an
in Dece
elementary school librarian.
element
Bryan
Drebes ’
and Cheryl
Riedl were
united in
marriage
on Nov.
, .
The couple
resides in
i Overland Park, Kan.,
where Bryan
B is pastor at Bethany
Lutheran
Luthera Church, and Cheryl is
Daniel and Rebecca Federwitz a call center
ce nurse for Accredo
’ DeLoach and their children, Health.
Anna, , and Joshua, , began
David ’ and
furlough from Scripture Use
Rachel Selle
Ministry in Papua New Guinea
’ Baker of
with Wycliffe Bible Translators in
Kazakhstan
September . On their furlough
celebrated the
they are visiting support churches
birth of Daniel Christopher on
and completing master’s degrees.
Oct. , .
They plan to return to Papua New
Guinea in January .
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
featu alumni rather than
a third party so accuracy may be verified. e When submitting a
death notice, please send a copy of the o obituary, if possible, and
include the names and class years of any ssurvivors who attended
Concordia in Nebraska. All submitted it items may be edited.
Alumni@cune.edu or, by post, to
Send submissions to Alumni@cune
Alumni News, 800 North
Concordia University, Nebraska, Alum
Columbia Avenue, Seward, Nebraska, 68434.
68
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. We encourage
photos with the alumni in the picture. Please note that sending
an image does not guarantee its publication. Please submit items
for the summer 2008 issue by June 1.
  
Harold CO ’ GR ’ and Beth
Royuk CO ’ GR ’ Pester of
Seward, Neb., welcomed Timothy
Harold July , . He joins Tara,
. Harold is a teacher and coach at
Raymond Central High School,
and Beth teaches
classes at Concordia
University, Nebraska
and is a stay-at-home
mom.
Lon and Elizabeth
Castens ’ Renner
rejoiced at the birth
of Naomi Elizabeth
on Aug. , . The family resides
in York, Neb., where Lon is an
engineer for the Nebraska Public
Power District and Elizabeth is a
stay-at-home mom.
Phil and Michelle Nielsen ’
Block of Frankenmuth, Mich.,
rejoiced at the birth of their first
child, Carson Philip, on March ,
. Michelle earned a master’s
degree in special education from
Saginaw Valley State University in
December  and is a grade one
through eight special education
teacher at St. Lorenz Lutheran
School in Frankenmuth, and Phil
farms with his father on their
family farm.
Stay in the know with the
alumni e-newsletter
The Concordia Alumni & Friends
e-newsletter is easy access to the
latest Concordia news. All you
need is an e-mail account to receive
the latest news on upcoming events,
student and faculty achievements
and important announcements.
The e-newsletter is sent out
periodically throughout the year.
Visit www.cune.edu/alumni
to subscribe.
  
Peter ’ and Kathryn McCoid
’ Nafzger relocated to Hugo,
Minn., in October  where
Peter
accepted
his first call
in pastoral
ministry to
New Life
Lutheran Church. On Jan. , ,
Peter, Katie and daughter Olivia, ,
celebrated the birth of Johann.
Miriam Neugebauer ’ of Joliet,
Ill., earned a master’s degree in
social work from Aurora University
in May . She is a social worker
at Plainfield South High School in
Plainfield, Ill.
2000s
Bradley Buerck ’ and wife Amy
welcomed Samuel James Nov. ,
. The family resides in Aurora,
Colo.
Matthew ’ and Lisa Stock ’
Clark of Waterloo, Ill., rejoiced at
the birth of Anna Jane on Dec. ,
. She joins Noah, . Matt is
completing his first year as pastor
at Immanuel Lutheran Church
in Waterloo, and Lisa is taking a
break from teaching
at Lutheran High
School South in St.
Louis, Mo., to be a
stay-at-home mom.
Aaron and Jennifer Tietz ’
Hallien celebrated the birth of
Aaron James on Sept. 19, 2007.
The family resides in Washington,
Mo., where, after teaching for
five years, Jenn is a stay-at-home
mom, and Aaron teaches math and
is athletic director at Immanuel
Lutheran School in Washington.
Jacqueline Weyer ’ Wroughton
earned a Ph.D. in statistics from
the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
in December .
Justin and Jacqueline
Arnold ’ Christian
of Omaha, Neb.,
welcomed Aaron Keith
on Oct. , .
In September  Matthew
Duchek ’ left his professional
baseball career with the Lincoln
Saltdogs to pursue a career in art
with Bison Inc. as the graphic
product specialist. Matt works
directly with clients and Bison’s
dealers to customize graphics for
their specific needs. He and his
wife, Anne Kurtzer ’ Duchek
reside in Lincoln, Neb.
Jason Schaeffer and Amanda
Ficke ’ were united in marriage
on Sept. , . Jason and
Amanda, along with Jason’s sons,
Zach, , and Tyler, , reside in
Lincoln, Neb., where Jason is a
self-employed home remodeler
and Amanda is an information
technology assistant in the payroll
department for an accounting firm.
Anne Middendorf ’ Meyer of
St. Louis, Mo., earned a master
of arts degree in musicology from
Washington University in St.
Louis in May . She is director
of youth and young adults, and
husband Ryan Meyer ’ is
minister of music at Chapel of the
Cross Lutheran Church in St. Louis.
Daniel Scott and Alicia Wenzlick
’ were united in marriage Oct.
, . The couple resides in
Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Joel ’ and Jessica
Schwartzenberger ’ Bejot of
Midland, Mich., rejoiced at the
birth of Alaina
Mae on May ,
. She was
welcomed by
sister Emma
Grace, . Joel is the worship music
director at St. John Lutheran
Church in Midland, and Jessica is a
stay-at-home mom.
Nathaniel Gaunt ’ graduated
as a doctor of chiropractic from
Palmer College of Chiropractic in
October . He and his wife,
Elizabeth Klein ’ Gaunt, and
son Isaiah reside in Kearney, Neb.,
where Nathaniel opened a private
practice, Concord Chiropractic, in
December .
Thomas ’
and Noelle
Marth
’ Hahn
welcomed
Kylee Isabel
on Oct. ,
. She
joins Kierra,
. Tom serves
in the U.S.
Army and Noelle is a stay-at-home
mom and nanny. The family resides
in Home Mills, ..
Kevin Jensen ’ and wife Karen
of Lincoln, Neb., announced the
birth of Tabitha Mae on Aug. ,
.
Jose ’ and
Liesl Barz
’ Beaton of
Milton, Fla.,
celebrated the
birth of Addison Noelle on Jan. .
 resides in Lester Prairie, Minn.,
where Jenna is the  at St. Paul
Lutheran Church, and Brad is
completing veterinarian technician
school at Argosy University in the
Twin Cities.
Daniel
Suelzle ’
and Mary
Boerger
’ were
married
Timothy Blanner and Chelsea July ,
McTee ’ were united in marriage . The
on Aug. , . The couple calls couple
St. Louis, Mo., home. Chelsea is a resides in
resource teacher through Lutheran St. Louis,
Association of Special Education at Mo., where they are enrolled at
Salem Lutheran Church in Affton, Concordia Seminary.
and Tim is a senior technical
support specialist at Enterprise Christopher Matthis and Lisa
Rent-A-Car. Thaete ’ were married on Nov.
, . Lisa works at Bethlehem
Lutheran Church in Lakewood,
Colo. The couple resides in Denver,
Colo.

Brad Countryman and Jenna
Hellbusch ’ exchanged wedding
vows Aug. , . The couple
More alumni opportunities
In Memoriam
Irene Schulz ’ Johnson
Frieda Brommer ’ Luther Will your will
Helene Korn ’
Virgil Leckband  ’  ’
Leslie Lase ’
Emma Schott ’ Yagesh
be known?
Seth Rodenberg ’
Every year between 70 and 80 percent of Americans die
without having prepared a valid Last Will and Testament.
And many of the wills that are in place do not reflect
accurately the true desires of the family. Now may be the

Legacy Link time—especially for those of you considering a bequest to

Concordia’s Legacy Link program is an initiative to Concordia—to put something in place.
encourage more of our alumni to share their interest in the
university with their children and grandchildren. Alumni are
invited to register their children or grandchildren in the program.
Visit www.cune.edu/alumni to find out more or request a brochure
Make your will known by requesting the brochure
by calling --, ext. . entitled Voice of a Legacy from Concordia’s Gift
Planning Office at --, ext. , or visit
Get a free Concordia e-mail account www.cune.edu/legacyvoice.
It is easy to stay connected to your alma mater, fellow alumni and
family and friends with a free e-mail account. Each account has
a generous amount of space and can store hundreds of messages,
depending on the size of the message. Messages are automatically
scanned for viruses, and strict checks help reduce the amount of
spam. There is even space for personal Web pages with which to
Al.Koepke@cune.edu
share information about hobbies or other interests. Stay connected
   
through this service provided by the Concordia Alumni Association.
Request your free account by contacting Alumni@cune.edu. ALL INQUIRIES ARE TREATED WITH COMPLETE CONFIDENCE.

  
C
APRIL
19 Track at Doane Relays, Crete, Neb.
M/W Tennis at University of Sioux Falls,
Omaha, Neb., 10 a.m.
SSee you in St. Louis
Baseball at Dordt College, Sioux Center,
The Concordia Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Choir
Iowa, 2 p.m.
M/W Tennis at Morningside College, will be in concert at The Sheldon in St. Louis on
Omaha, Neb., 2 p.m.
Sarah Andrews Senior Voice Recital,
Tuesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.
Music Center, 3 p.m.
20 Annual Student Art Exhibition Opening
Reception and Awards Presentation,
Marxhausen Gallery of Art, Jesse Hall, 1 p.m. Call 800-535-5494, ext. 7408, for ticket information.
Baseball at Morningside College, Sioux City,
Iowa, 1:30 p.m.
20-22 M Golf at GPAC Championships, Sioux City,
Iowa
22 W Tennis vs. Nebraska Wesleyan University,
4 p.m.
Softball vs. Doane College, 5 p.m. 3 Track at GPAC Conference Championship, JUNE
Sioux City, Iowa 18 Early Childhood Education Conference; see
24 M Tennis vs. Nebraska Wesleyan University,
4 p.m. Robin Seim Senior Piano Recital, Music Center, www.cune.edu/ece to register
3 p.m. 21 Visit day for prospective students;
Woodwind Studio Recital, Music Center, 7 p.m.
Improv Night, Studio Theatre, Music Center, see www.cune.edu/visitday for more
24-26 Track at Drake Relays, Des Moines, Iowa
7 p.m. information
25 Visit day for prospective students;
4 Handbell Concert, TLEC Auditorium, 3 p.m. JULY
see www.cune.edu/visitday for more
information 6 University–Community Band and Chorale 20-23 Concordia University System Directors of
Concert, Weller Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Church Relations Conference
Track at Hastings College Open, Hastings, Neb.
7-9 Softball at NAIA Region III Tournament, 22-25 Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church
Baseball at Midland Luttheran College,
Sioux City, Iowa Music, presented by the LCMS Commission
Fremont, Neb., 4:30 p.m.
8-10 Class of 1958 50th Reunion Celebration on Worship, register by June 2 at
Softball vs. Mt. Marty College, 5 p.m. worship.lcms.org/2008Institute
9 Track hosts Concordia Twilight meet
26 Baseball vs. Hastings College, 1 p.m. 22 Alumni and friends joint reception for all
Baccalaureate Service, St. John Lutheran
Softball vs. Dakota Wesleyan University, 1 p.m. conferences and institutes meeting on campus,
Church, 7:30 p.m.
27-29 M Golf at NAIA Region III Meet, 8:30 p.m.
10 Commencement, Gym, 8 and 10:30 a.m.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
11-16 Concordia Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Choir
tour to Midwest AUGUST
MAY 12 Summer Term begins; to learn more about 2 Prairie Fire – Nebraska District Convention
1 Osten Observatory Show, Osten Observatory, course offerings visit www.cune.edu/summer 22-24 Weekend of Welcome 2008
9 p.m. 12-16 M/W Tennis at NAIA Championships, 25 Fall Term begins
1-3 Baseball at GPAC Tournament, TBA Mobile, Ala.
Softball at GPAC Tournament, Hastings, Neb. 19-25 Softball at NAIA National Tournament, Visit www.cune.edu/athletics for schedule updates.
2 Spring JazzFest, Weller Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Decatur, Ala.
2-3 M/W Tennis at GPAC Championships, 22-24 Track at NAIA National Outdoor Track and
Fremont, Neb. Field Championship, Edwardsville, Ill.

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Preparing Servant Leaders for Church & World