Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

Luther College, home to one of the largest undergraduate music programs in the nation, is proud to announce that its Cathedral Choir and Norskkor were each selected by blind audition for special performances at upcoming professional conferences in Minnesota.

For the first time, Cathedral Choir was selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota conference. Cathedral Choir will perform at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23 at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, Minnesota. The public is invited to attend and may purchase concert tickets online. Cathedral Choir is the only choir from outside of Minnesota selected to perform at the concert.

“For a non-Minnesota school to be selected to perform at a state conference is a major coup,” said Mark Potvin, conductor of Cathedral Choir and Norskkor. “Since we were offered a premium Saturday morning performance slot, I expect the audience to be filled with supportive yet discerning fans of choral music.”

Cathedral Choir is one of five auditioned choirs at Luther. The ensemble is made up of singers from all voice parts, drawn from the sophomore through senior classes.

Cathedral Choir isn’t the only Luther vocal ensemble chosen to perform at a statewide event in Minnesota.

Norskkor will perform at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 at the Minneapolis Convention Center as part of the Minnesota Music Educators Association’s Midwinter Conference in Minneapolis. The annual professional conference is Minnesota’s largest gathering of music educators.

Potvin noted it is very rare for a choir outside of the North Star State to perform at a Minnesota professional conference. He served as a public school teacher in Minnesota for 16 years.

“Yet, here we are! Norskkor members are flattered to have secured a performance berth and excited to share the stage with a choir from Gustavus Adolphus,” Potvin said.

Roughly half of the Norskkor choir attended high school in Minnesota, so this performance is a bit of a homecoming for the singers. In addition to the special performance, Norskkor will interact with high school singers of Minnesota’s All State Choirs during the conference.

“We’re grateful to the Minnesota Music Educators Association for allowing an Iowa choir to share our program with dear friends to the north,” Potvin said.

Established in 1981, Norskkor is made up of first-year students who sing tenor and bass selected each fall and spring by audition. The word Norskkor is a portmanteau of the words Norsk and Kor from the Norwegian language. This translates to “Norwegian Choir.”

It’s time to celebrate and support Luther College’s 22 intercollegiate teams and 500 Norse student-athletes both in the classroom and on the field through Luther’s fifth annual One Team Day event on Thursday, Nov. 21.

“The athletics department looks forward to this day each year,” said Renae Hartl, director of intercollegiate athletics. “These 30 hours are full of meaningful connections that leave us feeling an astounding amount of support.”

During One Team Day, student-athletes invite alumni, family members and other Norse athletic supporters to designate their monetary gifts for specific teams at Luther. Through their shared experiences, past and present student-athletes make connections, inspire one another and build upon the legacy of Luther.

Funds raised provide critical operating support, such as advanced technologies for training, conditioning and recovery, top-tier equipment and uniforms, quality travel and training experiences, and high-caliber coach and student-athlete recruitment.

“We want our coaches to be able to create competitive schedules and provide cutting-edge training equipment for our student-athletes,” Hartl said. “The outcome on One Team Day ensures that we can do so. Your gifts will make a great impact in our programs.”

Supporters may give online at Luther.edu/one-team-day or by calling 563-387-1862. They are also encouraged to share their support and what they love about Norse athletics using the #OneTeamDay on Facebook and other social media platforms. Contributions on Nov. 21 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $125,000 by One Team Day sponsors.

The daylong event concludes with light refreshments and a cash bar at the One Team Day Celebration from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at T-Bock’s. Luther alumni, parents, coaches, and fans of Norse athletics are invited to attend the celebratory event sponsored by T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill.

Launched in 2020, One Team Day highlights the importance of athletics and student-athletes within the Luther community. In 2023, Luther raised $367,000 from more than 1,100 donors on One Team Day, which was the largest-ever One Team Day on record.

Luther College continues to excel in a wide range of national rankings issued this fall. Notably, the college was named one of the top 50 in WalletHub’s 2025 best U.S. colleges ranking; in addition, Luther placed best among its peers in key criteria evaluated in the Wall Street Journal / College Pulse 2025 best colleges ranking. Luther also garnered sustainability and quality-of-life accolades.

WalletHub Best U.S. Colleges

In WalletHub’s best colleges list, rankings were weighted most heavily by student selectivity, cost and financing, educational outcomes and career outcomes of graduates. Metrics included the student-faculty ratio, graduation rates and salaries after graduation.

Luther was ranked 42nd in the country among all colleges (which award only bachelor’s degrees); it ranked second in the state of Iowa among all colleges and universities (institutions that award both undergraduate and graduate degrees).

WalletHub is a personal finance company that empowers consumers to lead financially healthy lives.

Wall Street Journal / College Pulse Best Colleges

According to College Pulse, which collects data about college student opinions, this is the second year that the Wall Street Journal has worked with College Pulse and Statista to rank the top 500 universities in the country.

“Rather than focusing on colleges’ wealth or reputation, these rankings expand the importance of student outcomes: graduation rates and graduate salaries,” said College Pulse in a news release. “Critically, we emphasized measuring the value added by colleges — not simply measuring their students’ success, but focusing on the contribution the college makes to that success.”

In the criteria that determined the Wall Street Journal / College Pulse top 500 universities ranking, Luther was ranked top three in several key areas relative to three peer groups: Iowa private colleges, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) and the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Colleges and Universities (NECU). The top 500 ranking included five Iowa private colleges, nine of the 13 ACM members, and nine of the 26 NECU members.

The areas in which Luther ranked highly were learning opportunities, character development, career preparation, community and social life, learning facilities and campus facilities.

• Learning opportunities: Luther ranked first among Iowa private colleges, the ACM and the NECU.
• Character development: Luther ranked first in the ACM and second among Iowa private colleges and the NECU.
• Career preparation: Luther tied for first in the ACM and third among Iowa private colleges and the NECU.
• Community and social life: Luther ranked first among Iowa private colleges and the ACM and second in the NECU.
• Learning facilities: Luther ranked first among Iowa private colleges, second in the ACM and tied for third in the NECU
• Campus facilities: Luther ranked first in the ACM and NECU and second among Iowa private colleges.

Princeton Review Green Colleges, Bicycle Friendly University

Echoing earlier national rankings for sustainability in college operations, Luther was ranked 21st in America in the Princeton Review’s Top 50 Green Colleges, scoring 97 out of 99 points in the ranking.

In a major national recognition of Luther and Decorah’s quality of life, the League of American Bicyclists recently awarded Luther a silver rating in its first application for the Bicycle Friendly University designation. Luther is one of three BFU campuses in Iowa. It joined the University of Iowa at the silver level; Grinnell College also entered the ranking this year at the bronze level.

Luther College is proud to earn a Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) silver award after completing a comprehensive assessment conducted by the League of American Bicyclists.

“We’re thrilled to earn a silver-level designation,” said Jon Jensen, director of Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities. “It’s great to see the efforts of our students recognized by the League of American Bicyclists. I’m particularly proud of the work the students did in last year’s environmental studies course ‘Sustainability, Systems, and Solutions.’ Their project paved the way for this recognition.”

Senior Madison Major and juniors Evan Hansen and Sophie Chadima, in association with Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities, evaluated campus parking and bicycle storage systems. They surveyed Luther students and employees about bicycle use. The students also assisted in gathering data required for the BFU application.

“It feels amazing to see our hard work pay off. I can not wait to see where this award can take us in the future,” Major said.

Luther is listed in the elite group of 209 colleges and universities in 44 states and the District of Columbia to earn BFU awards. The University of Iowa is the only other silver-level BFU campus in the Hawkeye State. Grinnell received a bronze-level award.

More than 500 higher education institutions have applied for an BFU award during the program’s history. Notably, Luther College received a silver award in the college’s first-ever application. Five other campuses received bronze-level recognition on their first-time applications this year, and three campuses received honorable mentions.

In its Oct. 24, 2024 announcement, the League of American Bicyclists highlighted Luther College and its efforts to empower students and staff to make choices that benefit their health, their environment and their communities.

“Luther College’s commitment to bicycling is grounded within a deep commitment to sustainability and community,” the league said.

Bicycling is a main component of Luther’s long-standing sustainability strategy and goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. Luther ranks seventh among baccalaureate institutions nationally on the Sustainable Campus Index (AASHE 2024 Sustainable Campus Index).

Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities has been the home for the college’s bicycle share program and its Bicycle Advisory Committee, which includes students, faculty, staff and administrators working to improve biking safety and awareness.

“Biking reduces our need for cars, but it’s also a great way to experience the beauty that is all around Luther and throughout the Driftless Region,” Jensen said.

This 2024 Homecoming season, Luther College continued the tradition of presenting the Weston Noble, Dr. Carlo A. Sperati and Hemp Prize awards, which recognize musical excellence and achievement. Student and alumni award winners are recognized each year during the annual Homecoming concert.

2024 Weston Noble Award

David Judisch, Luther College professor emeritus of music, is the 2024 recipient of the Weston Noble Award. Weston Noble served on the music faculty at Luther College from 1948 to 2005. During that time, the college grew in numbers and national reputation, and Noble became a leader in training trailblazers in the field of music education. Established in 2004, the Weston Noble Award recognizes music educators who honor and continue Noble’s legacy.

Judisch’s life and work epitomize a profound dedication to music, culture and community service, ensuring that the rich heritage of Norwegian and Norwegian-American traditions continue to flourish for future generations.

Judisch earned his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa. He taught at Luther College for 40 years and many of his students achieved notable success, including regional finalists in prestigious competitions. 

Judisch has directed the Luren Singing Society since 1975. Founded by Norwegian immigrants in 1868, the Luren Singing Society is the oldest and largest male chorus in the Norwegian Singers Association of America (NSAA). Under Judisch’s leadership, the chorus has flourished with a membership of between 70 and 80 singers from diverse backgrounds and professions that are united by their passion for music. 

Judisch has led the Luren Singers on five tours to Norway, performing for royalty multiple times, including King Harald and King Olav. He also facilitated international tours with the NSAA, which have left a lasting impact. Additionally, Judisch has recorded albums with the Luren Singers and participated in biennial Sangerfests. The 2024 Sangerfest was held at Luther College in June. 

He has served as a voice clinician, adjudicator and conductor, including significant contributions to the Decorah Lutheran Church choir for 24 years. He was a founding member of the New Minowa Players community theater, has volunteered with Nordic Fest since 1975, and is involved with the Decorah Community Meal program. He helped to establish Path to Citizenship, an organization whose mission is to aid people navigating the path to citizenship in northeast Iowa. 

2024 Dr. Carlo A. Sperati Award

Justin Knoepfel, Luther College class of 2004, is the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Carlo A. Sperati Award. Sperati, a pillar of Luther College and the Lutheran music tradition, was the conductor of the Luther College Concert Band for 38 years until his retirement in 1943. His work ethic and demand for perfection and patience when working with music students are part of the identity of the Luther College music department to this day. This award recognizes those traits in music educators as they follow in Sperati’s footsteps.

Knoepfel joined the faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College in 2009. An associate professor of music, Knoepfel serves as the conductor of the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra and is chair of the Department of Music. He is also a viola instructor. In demand as a clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator, Knoepfel most recently served as a guest festival conductor at the Dorian Orchestra Festival. 

As a violist, Knoepfel has performed with distinguished orchestras like the Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Opera, and at venues across the United States and Europe. He has also collaborated extensively with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and others. He has also performed with artists such as Idina Menzel, Amy Grant and the Eagles, and played privately for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. 

Knoepfel received a B.A. from Luther College before earning a Master of Music in viola and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in viola performance and music theory from the University of Minnesota. He is married to Elisa (Falk) Knoepfel, who also graduated from Luther in 2004. The couple has five children and two pets. 

2024 Hemp Prize 

Mark Severtson, Luther College class of 2025, is the 2024 recipient of the Hemp Prize. The Richard C. and Joann M. Hemp Family Prize for Orchestra Performance is given annually to a senior member of the Luther College Symphony Orchestra. The $8,000 scholarship is funded through an endowment established by Richard, class of 1964, and Joann (Harr) Hemp, class of 1965. Richard Hemp is a regent emeritus, former chair of the Luther College Board of Regents and former interim president of Luther College. The auditioned prize awards students of exceptional performance, talent, musicianship and leadership.

Severtson is a music performance major at Luther College. He has served as the principal tubist in the college’s Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band, and the Noble Brass Quintet. As a soloist at Luther, Severtson won the 2023–24 Band Concerto Competition and was the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Joan deAlbuquerque Prize in Music. He was a finalist in the 2023 Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and received the Tim and Sandra Peter Music Leadership award in 2022.

In addition to his solo performances and recitals, Severtson was the Tuba Fellow at Lutheran Summer Music Festival in 2023. 

Outside of music, Severtson enjoys reading books, learning German, throwing pottery and spending time with his parents and two brothers in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward is proud to announce the 2024 recipients of the Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to alumni or individuals with strong connections to Luther College who have exhibited admirable service to society in areas such as education, government, the arts, business, church, labor, industry, agriculture, research, medicine and community affairs.

This year’s recipients are Mike Voltmer ’74, Mary (Burbridge) Kreger ’79, Doug Knutson ’84, Ellie (Stack) Shaw ’94 and Sam Yamoah ’04. 

Mike Voltmer

Mike Voltmer’s life is a blend of entrepreneurship and community service. He grew up in the construction industry and launched Voltmer Electric during the spring of his senior year at Luther College. Voltmer graduated from Luther in 1974.

Today, Voltmer Electric is a multi-state electrical contractor known for its work on Iowa’s highways and airports and underground high voltage work. While Voltmer’s son, Gerad, is now the president of Voltmer Electric, Mike still serves as an advisor for special projects. 

Voltmer has been a dedicated volunteer in the Decorah community. He served in leadership roles with organizations such as the Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce, Spectrum Network, Sunflower Childcare Center and the Nordic Fest Board. In 1992, Voltmer joined Vesterheim’s board of trustees and served as the board’s vice president and finance chair. Notably, Voltmer helped with two royal visits and was honored by King Harald of Norway with the Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit in recognition of his service and contributions.

A proud supporter of Luther College, Voltmer has been involved in numerous capital campaigns and is a member of the 50-year reunion committee and the Regents Center fundraising committee. His generosity and service extends to his second home in Cozumel, Mexico, where he supports local athletics and raises awareness about human trafficking.

Mary (Burbridge) Kreger 

Mary Kreger is a public education advocate and leader who served for the past six years as superintendent of Minnesota’s third largest school district, District 196, which includes Rosemount, Apple Valley and Eagan. Kreger led the district through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, helped to win voter approval for $493 million in school facilities improvements and secured additional public funding to support students’ mental health needs. She built strong relationships with legislators and advocated for her district on all levels. Kreger retired in July 2024.

Kreger graduated from Luther with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1979 before earning her master’s degree in special education and a specialist degree in education administration at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

She was first hired in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District as director of special education in 2005 and served in that role until 2018. Prior to that, she worked for 13 years as a special education teacher, coordinator and supervisor for South Washington County Schools in Cottage Grove, Minn.

Kreger has also served as an adjunct professor, most recently at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., instructing and inspiring the next generation of leaders in education.

Doug Knutson

Doug Knutson’s photography career began when he was a student working at Luther College’s Photo Bureau. While studying philosophy, Knutson photographed campus events for Chips, the student newspaper, and The Pioneer yearbook. 

While on assignment, Knutson observed a veteran photographer documenting civil rights activist and writer James Baldwin’s visit to Luther. This notable moment provided the inspiration for his career. Knutson graduated from Luther in 1984 and opened Knutson Photography in Minneapolis in 1986.

Today, Knutson is best known for his black-and-white portraits of Nobel Peace Prize laureates, including the Dalai Lama and Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel. Permanent displays can be found at the University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis. His work has appeared in Time, Business Week and Sports Illustrated. Additionally, Knutson’s photography was featured in ads for 3M, the Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota and other organizations. 

Throughout his career, Knutson has generously volunteered his photography skills for numerous causes, including the Highland Friendship Club, Three Rivers Park District, Art Buddies and Boy Scouts of America.

Ellie (Stack) Shaw 

Ellie Shaw is an accomplished executive in the field of public and government affairs. In 1994, Shaw graduated from Luther with a business management degree and minors in French and music. She then moved to Washington, D.C., where she secured a position at the Nuclear Energy Institute. Next, she served as manager of public affairs for the Exelon Corp. In this role, she managed its employee-funded political action committee and developed their grassroots and political education program.

In 2006, Shaw became director of federal government affairs at American Express Co. She is responsible for the company’s political education and involvement programs. During her time at American Express, Shaw has doubled the annual receipts for the company’s political action committee and created efficiencies while enhancing the company’s federal compliance policy, training and filing requirements. 

Beyond her career, Shaw is active in the public affairs professional community and her church. She serves on the executive committee and board of directors for the Public Affairs Council and is the advisory council co-chair for the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). The network’s Ellie Shaw Scholarship is named in her honor. This scholarship aims to promote diverse and inclusive leadership in policy-making. It is open to all students with a preference given to students attending PLEN seminars from Luther College.

Sam Yamoah 

With a deep understanding in health insurance, systems and technology, Sam Yamoah brings teams together to solve health care challenges and improve health care disparities in marginalized communities. 

After receiving his bachelor’s degree in management information systems from Luther College in 2004, Yamoah began his career in product development and process improvement functions at the McKesson Corp. in Dubuque, Iowa. While there, Yamoah was a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters, served with the Dubuque Rescue Mission and helped to build a housing program for the homeless. He co-founded a nonprofit which has distributed more than 10,000 books to learning centers in Ghana and was recognized with the Dubuque Young Professional Award.

Yamoah is currently the chief strategy and innovation officer for Cambia Health Solutions, a company dedicated to making health care more affordable for people and their families. In his role, Yamoah is responsible for guiding the organization’s overall strategy, enterprise innovation capabilities and customer value creation. 

Before joining Cambia in 2021, Yamoah was an associate partner at McKinsey and Company in Chicago and Minneapolis. He led efforts to reduce health disparities through McKinsey’s Institute for Black Economic Mobility. Yamoah earned an MBA from the University of Chicago in 2014.

Yamoah serves on the board of directors for the Center for Economic Inclusion and is a member of the Luther College Alumni Council.

World-renowned a capella ensemble The King’s Singers will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall as part of Luther College’s 2024–25 Center Stage Series. 

For more than 50 years, The King’s Singers have set the gold standard in a cappella by performing in concert halls throughout the world. They are renowned for their unrivaled technique, musicianship and versatility. The last time they performed at Luther College took place in 1994. 

Their upcoming performance titled “The New World” explores the musical links between Iberia and South America. The program looks at the glorious European Renaissance music introduced by conquistadors and merchants. It also remembers the musical traditions already in existence in South America and celebrates how these two different musical heritages fused to form the seeds of a whole new world of South American music. 

“Audiences of all ages will delight in the harmonious beauty and precision with which The King’s Singers perform,” said Susan Potvin, director of programming and outreach. “Bring a friend or two and enjoy an unforgettable evening.” 

The King’s Singers were officially formed in 1968 when six choral scholars from King’s College, Cambridge, gave a concert at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. By chance, the group was made up of two countertenors, a tenor, two baritones and a bass. The group has stuck to this singular formation ever since its debut. Currently, the singers are Patrick Dunachie, countertenor; Edward Button, countertenor; Julian Gregory, tenor; Christopher Bruerton, baritone; Nick Ashby, baritone; and Jonathan Howard, bass.

The King’s Singers’ discography includes two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s Hall of Fame. 

Alongside their demanding performing and recording schedule – with more than 100 concerts worldwide every season – the group also leads educational workshops, working with both ensembles and individuals on their approaches to group singing. 

Starting at 7 p.m., Undeclared Acapella, Luther’s student-led tenor-bass contemporary a cappella group, will sing in the CFL lobby.

This performance is sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. Buy tickets for the show and for the pre-show dinner at tickets.luther.edu or at the ticket office in the Center for Faith and Life. Contact the ticket office at tickets@luther.edu or 563-387-1357.