Author: Luther College News

At Luther College, learning happens everywhere, and sometimes in unconventional ways. In Andy Hageman’s classroom, learning includes a journey into a galaxy far, far away that brings international and domestic students closer together.

Hageman, associate professor of English at Luther College, teaches a science fiction film course that allows students to explore specific areas of film and cultivate visual media knowledge. During the course, students analyze and compare two Star Wars films: “Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977) and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (2016). 

“The combination of different exposures to Star Wars makes it a vibrant topic for discussion and it introduces some surprising perspectives,” said Hageman. “In particular, international students connect the films to their own experiences of journeying far, far from home and navigating new cultures, relationships and values. Often they see Star Wars as a socially-shared story with immense power to connect and communicate.”

These observations were recently featured in the article titled “Great Expectations” in Star Wars Insider.

One student, for whom English was her second language, noted the multilingual abilities of various characters, while another student, Tam Ta, from Vietnam, found the lack of language barriers between characters to be especially significant.

“It was really exciting to be able to offer my feelings and interpretations of Star Wars,” said Ta. “I never thought deeply about my experience coming to the U.S. as it relates to the movies so it was nice to unfold my own thoughts, assumptions and expectations.”

The personal experiences of international students sparked further conversation and connections between students. Many shared the common experience of engaging with popular media such as Star Wars as a way to prepare for American life. Chi Pham, also from Vietnam, said “as a person of color, and an international student, it has always been my interest to understand U.S. culture and how films such as Star Wars sparked discussion about culture and political movements. I felt honored and grateful to have my voice included in this project.”

Others made historical connections and observed unique sociological dynamics. In the article, Warsan Yusuf ’20 from Somalia also noted the significance of the relationships between droids and humans, prompting discussion surrounding the history of slavery and racism.

These observations and more can be found in the March 15 issue of Star Wars Insider, the official Star Wars magazine.

“When international students share expectations and experiences like this with American students, Star Wars helps build bridges,” said Hageman. “Ultimately, this suggests that Star Wars is not a story about conflict but about drawing people together.”

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

President Jenifer K. Ward has announced the appointment of Mary Duvall as vice president for development at Luther College. Beginning this summer, Duvall will provide leadership and mentoring to staff in the offices of development, alumni relations, and the Career Center. 

“During the interview process, I observed how different groups meeting with Mary moved quickly from interviewing to actually starting the work together,” said Ward. “Her exceptional listening skills and knowledge of Lutheran values and approach to higher education, as well as specific familiarity with Luther College through family and colleague relationships, were all apparent and heartening. I welcome Mary to our leadership team and look forward to introducing her to our community.”

As vice president for development, Duvall will provide strategic direction for all aspects of the college’s fundraising and external engagement efforts and serve as a key member of the president’s cabinet. She will be tasked with formulating a future fundraising plan for the college that harnesses the momentum of successful 2022 campaigns including Giving Day and One Team Day. 

“There is something truly special about Luther,” said Duvall. “The care and passion for this place is clear and I’ve witnessed first-hand the transformational power of Luther connections and a liberal arts education. My husband, Terry ’01, son Max and I are thrilled to join the Decorah community and I’m honored to serve in this capacity. I can’t wait to hear your stories of care for this institution and how, together, we can ensure equitable access, meaningful opportunities and bold outcomes for students today and generations to come.”

Duvall has 15 years of experience in non-profit management, including mission-driven fundraising for Lutheran organizations. She comes to Luther from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where she has worked since 2015. Duvall began employment at the university as executive director of advancement, was promoted to associate vice president of advancement in 2018, and most recently she served as associate vice president of university relations. During her tenure at PLU, Duvall managed teams that grew the institution’s annual giving, built a newly integrated alumni engagement and career development team and led the division’s annual strategic planning process. Duvall also served on a variety of cross-campus committees, including PLU’s Diversity Committee which operationalized the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan. 

Prior to her work at PLU, from 2007 to 2015, Duvall served in multiple capacities at Lutheran World Relief to expand their donor base, secure funding and, therefore, serve more people. The organization’s goal is to work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering. 

Duvall earned her bachelor of arts degree in religion from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. She earned her master’s of nonprofit management degree from Hamline University in Saint Paul and a certificate of advanced leadership studies from St. Catherine’s University. She also was a recent Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) Fellow, a program that provides a year-long leadership development experience organized around vocation and calling, sustainable leader development and visionary organizational leadership.

About Luther College 

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning, and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully, and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

The Luther College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa has 45 new members including 41 seniors and four juniors. On Sunday, April 24, the students were inducted into the oldest and most respected undergraduate honors organization in the United States. Members are elected on the basis of broad academic interests, scholarly achievement and good character. The 2022 inductees include seniors: 

·       Riley Taylor of Ames, Iowa

·       Sarah Hoehns of Cedar Falls, Iowa

·       Clare Rolinger of Cedar Falls, Iowa

·       Sam Schillinger of Cedar Falls, Iowa

·       Sarah Damhof of Clearwater, Minnesota

·       Jarod Phillips of Decorah, Iowa

·       Heather Hostager of Dubuque, Iowa

·       Frost Bowen-Bailey of Duluth, Minnesota

·       Laurel Studt of Eau Claire, Wisconsin

·       Hunter Hobbs of Fountain, Minnesota

·       Kim Duc Chu of Hanoi, Vietnam

·       Quang Anh Nguyen of Hanoi, Vietnam

·       Quenton Max of Iowa City, Iowa

·       Lindsey Parrott of Iowa City, Iowa

·       Jake Sharafuddin of Iowa City, Iowa

·       Fred Farrand of Kansas City, Missouri

·       Isaac List of La Crosse, Wisconsin

·       Sarah Benton of Le Mars, Iowa

·       Lexi Orth of Madison Lake, Minnesota

·       Siyabonga Mabuza of Malkerns, Swaziland

·       Kirsten Loynachan of Marion, Iowa

·       Hailee Gilliand of Minneapolis, Minnesota

·       Owen Johnson of Minneapolis, Minnesota

·       Jane Bremer of Minnetonka, Minnesota

·       Ahmed Abdrabu Hamid of Yemen and Budapest, Hungary

·       Sneha Verma of New Delhi, India

·       Kirsten Melaas-Swanson of North St. Paul, Minnesota

·       Jessi Labenski of Northfield, Minnesota

·       Elena Dant of Owatonna, Minnesota

·       Matt Benson of Park Rapids, Minnesota

·       Kien Huynh of Hanoi, Vietnam

·       Siri St. Louis of Rochester, Minnesota

·       Emilie Gitter of Saint Paul, Minnesota

·       Mary McTeague of Saint Paul, Minnesota

·       Leif Saveraid of Saint Paul, Minnesota

·       Catherine Vitt of Saint Paul, Minnesota

·       Greta Anderson of Saint Peter, Minnesota

·       Jill Richards of Solon, Iowa

·       Logan Olson of Stacy, Minnesota

·       Megan Grimm of Swisher, Iowa

·       Ben Meyer of Urbandale, Iowa

And juniors:

·       Marin Leone of Chanhassen, Minnesota

·       Ghazal Alabtah of Palestine and Syria

·       Sydney Clausen of Rochester, Minnesota

·       Nathan Anderson of Saint Paul, Minnesota

The junior members will become student leaders in the organization during their senior year. They will be invited to chapter meetings and encouraged to participate in chapter activities, including the Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar events.

Luther College is one of a select group of private liberal arts colleges in the United States with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The society has fostered and recognized excellence in the liberal arts and sciences since 1776 and the society’s distinctive emblem, a golden key, is widely recognized as a symbol of academic achievement.

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

Each day, the Luther College Cafeteria offers fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and proteins, some of which are sourced from nearby farms. Having access to local food is a luxury, but the pandemic has revealed it’s also a necessity in order to feed the campus community.

Disruptions in the supply chain in recent years have made it more necessary than ever to partner with local food producers. As a result, Luther College has managed to increase local food purchases by 19% in the 2021-22 academic year.

“Local food has been our savior,” said Wayne Tudor, general manager of Dining Services at Luther College. “The closer you are to the source, the fewer problems you’re going to have. Our local food partners have been one of the few stable things we can count on.”

Nearly 60% of dairy products in the Cafeteria are sourced in-state from places such as Andrew Erickson Dairy in Des Moines, Country View Dairy in Hawkeye and WW Homestead Dairy in Waukon. The Luther gardens help supply produce for campus events and Sno Pac Foods, based in Caledonia, Minnesota, provides the college with cost-efficient, organic vegetables year-round. Additionally, more than 98% of the coffee on campus is both locally roasted and fair trade certified due to Luther’s collaboration with Decorah’s Impact Coffee.

Most recently, Tudor has partnered with Ferndale Market Turkey Farm in Cannon Falls, Minnesota. As a result, all of Luther’s turkey is now free-range, antibiotic-free and locally sourced – just 115 miles away.

“Turkey is our champion,” said Tudor. “We went to 100% local and discovered new products we weren’t aware of before.”

These types of partnerships help Dining Services avoid various shortages and recalls. Sodexo Sustainability Intern Logan Olson ’22 recalled that just recently, dining staff received a notice that supplies of chicken, turkey and eggs would become harder to come by due to the bird flu. However, Luther is expected to be minimally affected by this shortage, thanks to our local producers.

Olson has also seen the impact of pandemic-related supply chain disruptions firsthand, noting how sourcing food locally can help to both lessen the impact of these problems and enhance the sustainability initiatives he has been working to promote.

“Certain items have become nearly impossible to order at times,” said Olson. “We are fortunate to have a network of local producers whose ability to provide food to Luther has been less disrupted by the pandemic. We also know that local food purchases are less carbon-intensive due to decreased transportation needs and they help boost our local economy. Now, we have also seen that they are incredibly reliable and resilient during challenging times.”

Tudor agrees with Olson’s sentiments, hailing local food as the “stabilizing factor” in a time of much uncertainty. Local products do not fluctuate in price as often or abruptly and have not been subject to fuel surcharges as commercial shipments have. It’s important to Tudor that local partnerships are not only environmentally sustainable, but that they are financially sustainable.

“We’re looking for long-term partnerships. Some of these places we’ve been working with for years, and it’s just fantastic,” said Tudor. “Half the joy in keeping things local is in the relationships you build. I’m a total believer in the small business and the family farm, it’s part of my heritage. It’s about supporting the whole community and it comes full circle.”

The journey doesn’t stop here. Luther College is constantly advancing its local partnerships and sustainable food purchasing goals in an effort to increase local dairy purchases to 75%, meat to 50% and produce to 25% in the coming years. Reducing food waste is also a primary concern. Sodexo, the food management company that partners with Luther College, aims to cut food waste in half by 2025.

In addition, Tudor hopes to start an education program about local foods, highlighting local producers and their products. He describes the dedication and pride that the entire Dining Services staff has in regard to how Luther’s food is produced and hopes to extend that sense of pride to the larger student body.

“We know all of our yogurt is local, all of our ice cream is local, but what does that mean to students? We all need to be asking the big question: Do you know how your food is produced? We do everything we possibly can to use raw products, no additives or preservatives, nothing but good seasoning and fresh herbs. Trying to keep food as unadulterated as we can possibly get it because we believe that’s the healthiest way to eat,” said Tudor.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

For the first time since 2018, the award-winning Luther College Opera and Chamber Orchestra are combining to present Johann Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, and Saturday, May 7, in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall.

            The groups will present their twist on the timeless classic which features a 1950s sitcom concept.

            “This production is essentially a love letter to 50s television and the Decorah community,” said Abs Trewin ‘22, who plays the part of Prince Orlefse. “Rather than the traditional setting in Vienna at the turn of the 20th century, the show is set in Decorah through the guise of a 1950s television set, with a party hosted by a Norwegian prince and characters who drank a little too much champagne. We are thrilled to be able to share our artistry with the public once again.”

            “Audience members can look forward to exciting musical numbers, light banter, waltzing and many champagne toasts,” said Ben Meyer ‘22, who plays the part of Gabriel von Eisenstein. “The comedy is sure to delight audiences of all ages.”

            Audience members will also enjoy a special guest appearance by Robert Vrtis, director of visual and performing arts at Luther.

            “Die Fledermaus” is directed by Carla Hanson with assistant direction from Carol Kreuscher and musical direction by Nicholas Shaneyfelt. Daniel Baldwin will conduct the Chamber Orchestra.

            Come 45 minutes early, at 6:45 p.m., to hear the pre-show lecture and learn more about the original “Die Fledermaus” and its historical setting.

Every other year, Luther’s Opera Theatre and Chamber Orchestra students come together to present the spring opera production. It’s a collaborative experience that students, including Trewin and Meyer, very much enjoy.

            “My favorite thing about this production is being able to work with so many of my talented friends. I also am particularly excited to perform with Luther’s Chamber Orchestra,” said Meyer.

The spring 2021 opera production of “Dido and Aeneas” was awarded first place in Division II of the National Opera Association’s (NOA) 2020-21 Opera Production Competition.

Tickets are on sale through Luther’s Ticket Office and online at tickets.luther.edu, by emailing [email protected], or by calling (563) 387-1357.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to more than 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning, and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully, and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

On Saturday, April 30, a group of students and professors from Luther College and local community members will embark on a 75-mile bike ride from Rochester, Minnesota to Decorah, Iowa. The goal of the ride is to advocate for peace in Ukraine and raise funds that will go directly to Ukrainian organizations.

            The event is organized by Anita Tamang, a senior global health student at Luther, and Souksakhone Sengasaisouk, a junior nursing student, with the help of their faculty partner, Maryna Nading, associate professor of anthropology. Nading is originally from Ukraine and still has friends and family in the country.

            “All of my family of origin and many friends are in Ukraine currently,” said Nading. “None of them left the country. They work towards victory. They believe in peace and so do I. Until that time, we need to help each other in every way possible. We also need to do the impossible, because this is what Ukrainians are doing every day against the army that outnumbers them by far.”

Tamang had been planning a bike ride from Rochester to Decorah for some time now. She knew that she wanted to use the journey as a way to raise money and advocate for a cause but was having trouble pinpointing one. When conflict arose in Ukraine, Tamang realized the unrest there would be the reason behind every pedal stroke.

            “At the time that Russia invaded Ukraine, I was taking two classes with Professor Nading. I wanted to ask how she was doing but had no idea how,” said Tamang. “Because of this, I felt helpless and wanted to help however I could. Ultimately, this fundraising concept arose out of my belief that justice must be pursued by action because words are important but not very effective in changing the situation.”

            Nading also believes that collective action is essential and says that this bike ride is the perfect way to help.

“It shows commitment, it shows endurance, it shows standing up for what’s right. I want to be clear — inside Ukraine right now, when Russian soldiers kill civilians, they are sending a message to the West. The war is not just about Ukraine. A collective response will be the only thing that will stop the war and restore peace,” she said.

            “I find it important to show that despite not being directly affected by the injustice, we should still stand up against it as human beings,” said Tamang.

A GoFundMe page was created for this fundraiser where students and community members are encouraged to contribute to the cause. So far close to $1,900 has been raised. These funds will go to the local oncology clinic in Khmelnytskyi, where Nading’s mother works. Any remaining finances will be given to internally displaced people (IDP) to help address current gaps in care. Every dollar raised in support of this event will go directly to the recipients.

“We will just send the money directly where it needs to go,” said Nading. “The oncology clinic in my hometown that has welcomed hundreds of IDPs to try and provide them with care has very limited resources. We are all in this together and we are reliant on each other.”

            There are many ways to get involved with the Ride for Ukraine, in order to help this event go smoothly and reach as many people as possible. Monetary donations in support of the ride are important and encouraged. Additionally, there is a need for a support crew to help with things like first aid, transportation, water and food, or bike maintenance. Students and community members are also encouraged to join in the bike ride and help spread the word using social media or word of mouth locally. Anyone who is interested in getting involved should fill out this Google Form or contact Tamang at [email protected].

While this event is being organized by Luther students, this is not a Luther College-sponsored event.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

The Luther College Cathedral Choir, under the direction of Mark Potvin, will present their Homecoming Concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther College campus. The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission; a freewill offering will be collected.

Among the performers are Ruby Langholz and Kaj Spencer Berg of Decorah and Max Koeller of McGregor. 

This concert is the final performance in Cathedral Choir’s 2022 Spring tour which included stops in Kenyon, Pine City, and Plymouth, Minnesota, and Spirit Lake, Iowa. The showcase was developed around the theme “Going On Our Way,” a journey through life together. It is divided into four distinct segments: To Show the Way, To Befriend, To Encourage and To Give Us Peace. Highlights include “Ain’-A That Good News” by William L. Dawson, Benjamin Britten’s famous “Rejoice in the Lamb” and an arrangement of  “Sunday” honoring the late Stephen Sondheim. 

“As we continue to make our way through a distressing period of human history, I am reminded at every corner that none of us sojourns alone. How can we fail to be convinced of the steadfast goodness of creation when surrounded by those who reflect the spirit of the divine through their diverse beings, earnest optimism, and abundant love? In others, I have witnessed radiant light in these dark days. Such radiance is the essence of hope – a word I think is best described as joy not yet realized. If hope abides, joy will certainly prevail,” said Potvin. 

Cathedral Choir is one of five auditioned choirs at Luther College. The ensemble is comprised of select singers mostly drawn from the rich talent of the college’s sophomore class. Cathedral Choir participates actively in campus worship, in the Christmas at Luther musical showcase, and at special events and concerts during the academic year.

​The ensemble takes great pride in reintroducing landmark, small-scale masterworks to contemporary ​audiences and in performing choral music from non-western traditions.

About Luther College Music

Luther is home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, with five choirs, three orchestras, two bands and two jazz bands. One-third of all Luther students participate in music, including large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 175 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance. Learn more at luther.edu/music.

The Luther College Collegiate Chorale, under the direction of Adrianna Tam, will present their Homecoming Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther College campus. The performance is open to the public with no charge for admission; a freewill offering will be collected.

            Among the performers are Abby Zeeh from Mcgregor, Zoey Frey from West Union, and Emma Rooney, Hayden Carlson, Christian Johnson and Jarod Phillips from Decorah, Iowa; and Owen Feye from Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

The theme of the choir’s performance is “A Place for Us” and includes pieces by Stephen Paulus, Johannes Brahms, Leonard Bernstein and Shawn Kirchner.

            “Our audiences should expect a heartfelt performance of our diverse repertoire,” said Christina Dressler, a junior member of the choir. “Dr. Tam has taught us that each piece has a different story to tell, and she works diligently with us to make sure we convey that story and the emotions attached to it to our audiences.”

Collegiate Chorale is composed of select junior and senior singers. The choir, featuring approximately 75 mixed voices, performs sacred and secular choral works of a variety of periods and styles. Collegiate Chorale sings for various events on campus and performs in the college’s annual “Christmas at Luther” musical celebration.

This concert is the final performance of Collegiate Chorale’s 2022 Spring Tour. It comes after stops in Altoona and Oconomowoc, Wisconsin; Rockford, Illinois; and Cedar Falls, Iowa, and is the first tour under the direction of Adrianna Tam.

            Along with Collegiate Chorale, Tam conducts Aurora, an auditioned soprano and alto ensemble at Luther. She also teaches academic courses in the music department specific to her expertise. Tam holds a DMA degree in choral conducting from the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance; an MA degree in choral conducting from the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Graz, Austria; and an MM degree in choral conducting from Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music.

About Luther College Music

            Luther is home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, with five choirs, three orchestras, two bands and two jazz bands. One-third of all Luther students participate in music, including large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 175 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance. Learn more at luther.edu/music.

It was recently discovered that Luther College and the city of Decorah are positioned above a buried impact crater from a meteorite strike 470 million years ago. Retired Iowa Geological Survey geologists H. Paul Liu and Robert McKay, who led the research, will share the story of the crater’s discovery and the unique fossil life forms that were preserved in the crater’s basin. The event will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in Room 206 of Valders Hall of Science. It is open to the public with no charge for admission.

               “Many people know that, as part of the Driftless Region, Decorah’s landscape and surface geology are distinctive,” said Laura Peterson, associate professor of environmental studies and chemistry. “Now we have an additional geologic claim to fame, with the much more ancient meteor crater that lies beneath the surface here.”

                The Decorah Impact Structure, as the Decorah crater is formally known, is one of fewer than 200 recognized impact craters on the Earth’s surface. Liu and McKay will explain the observations that led to the recognition of the three-and-a-half-mile-wide crater and discuss how the exceptional fossils discovered in the crater basin have added to the understanding of the history of life.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, April 23, the Luther College Center Stage Series presents GRAMMYⓇ award-winning bluegrass duo, The Okee Dokee Brothers. Families are invited to come to campus an hour early at 1 p.m. to enjoy activities planned by students from the Center for Sustainability Communities in celebration of Earth Day.

The Okee Dokee Brothers are Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing who grew up in Denver, Colorado, and have known each other since they were three years old. Their passion for the outdoors has been at the forefront of their original and inspiring Americana Folk music, beloved by children and adults alike.

“The Okee Dokee Brothers make family music, not just kids’ music. Their songs are catchy, smart, uplifting and appealing to all ages,” said Kristen Underwood, director of campus programming. “I’m excited to host them at Luther close to Earth Day because their songs come with such great messages about our relationship to nature and the value of getting outdoors.”

Mailander and Lansing believe that, through their music, they can motivate kids to have respect for their communities, the natural world and themselves. They encourage everyone to explore the world around them and interact with nature.

The Okee Dokee Brothers are five-time Parents’ Choice Award winners and have been called “two of family music’s best songwriters.” Their album “Can You Canoe?” won the 2013 GRAMMYⓇ for Best Children’s Album, and their subsequent releases have received high praise from sources including NPR, USA Today, The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune which stated “these are songs that encourage kids to find happiness with fewer material possessions and embrace adventure even in trying situations. Without getting preachy or heavy-handed, Mailander and Lansing come off like happy, kind and fun big brothers eager to show their younger siblings how to have an ethically sound and green-conscious good time.”

The performance is sponsored by Lynne Sootheran and Kent Simmonds.

 Tickets are on sale through Luther’s Ticket Office, online at tickets.luther.edu, by emailing [email protected] or by calling (563) 387-1357.

            This family concert marks the conclusion of the current Center Stage Series. The 2022-23 Center Stage Series season will be announced in May.

About Luther College

Luther College is home to about 1,800 undergraduates who explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Our 60+ academic programs, experiential approach to learning and welcoming community inspire students to learn actively, live purposefully and lead courageously for a lifetime of impact. Learn more at luther.edu.