Decorah Community School District’s Music Booster’s Craft Show and Bake Sale will be held on Saturday, October 28th. This annual event is a major fundraiser for this group that supports music throughout Decorah schools.
Seven spots are still open for vendors of handmade crafts and four are left for non-handmade vendors.
DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College is expanding its scholarships and awards offered to students who enroll starting next fall. The new awards include increased amounts for academic merit scholarships and a new scholarship for first-generation students. These changes, which are available to both first-year and transfer students, are meant to broaden the accessibility of a Luther education by keeping tuition affordable.
For incoming students beginning in 2024, the college has expanded the Luther College Iowa and Minnesota Impact Award that offers four years of free tuition for qualified students; it was previously only available to students residing in Iowa. To qualify for the Impact Award, students must either live in Iowa or Minnesota, achieve a certain threshold of academic excellence, have a family adjusted gross income of $80,000 or less and live on campus.
“Luther College is excited to extend our Iowa Impact Award to students in Minnesota considering Luther for the upcoming year and beyond,” said Karen Hunt, vice president for enrollment management. “With our location in the Driftless Region, so close to the Minnesota border, we want to do all we can to make our distinctive and transformative education at Luther College affordable for students in both states.”
Luther has also increased the amount for academic merit scholarships. Once students are admitted to Luther College, they are automatically awarded merit scholarships based on their academic performance. Luther has increased the amounts of the five scholarships by several thousand dollars each. For example, incoming students who earn the Founders Scholarship – the highest merit-based scholarship – will receive $34,000 each year. Previously, the scholarship awarded $28,000 per year to help with tuition costs, an increase of more than 20 percent.
“Overall, we’re always seeking to make Luther accessible and affordable for students. We take information and adapt to what students need,” said Katie Moon, regional admissions counselor for Luther based in Minneapolis. “When students are accepted to Luther, the very first scholarship they receive is the merit scholarship because we want them to know from the beginning Luther is an affordable option.”
“Luther College is committed to rewarding students for their academic excellence and providing access to a top national college,” Hunt said.
The college has also added the First Generation Award, which aims to assist students whose parents do not hold a bachelor’s degree by providing $2,000 each year. Luther has also added the Campus Visit Award, which provides $1,000 per year to first-year and transfer students who visit Luther’s campus before enrolling.
Luther College is committed to affordability, with 100 percent of students receiving some sort of financial aid. In fall 2022, Luther students were gifted nearly $50 million from more than 850 different funds.
“I’m extremely proud to work at an institution that offers competitive scholarships for students of all backgrounds,” said Matt Beatty, director of admissions at Luther. “While there is increased skepticism about the value of a four-year college degree, Luther continues to offer a broad range of financial awards that reduce the overall out-of-pocket costs to families.”
About Luther College
At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Luther’s 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 Friday at Decorah High School’s 2023 Homecoming coronation, Fisher Tweten, son of Jason and Tera Tweten, and Brynn Storhoff, daughter of Brent and Brigit Storhoff, were crowned Homecoming King and Queen.
On Thursday, September 14th, twenty-one members of the Decorah FFA attended the Tri-State Dairy and Ag Expo at NICC in Calmar. This event attracted over 470 FFA members from 39 chapters across Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Chapter members attended workshops, competed in contests, and enhanced career skills while attending the expo. Members of the Decorah FFA competed in the following contests: dairy cattle evaluation with oral reasons, dairy cattle evaluation with no-reasons, and dairy products evaluation.
Six Decorah FFA members competed in the Tri-State Dairy Expo and Northeast District FFA dairy cattle evaluation with reasons contests: Brinlee Courtney, Brody Courtney, Kiele Eberling, Anders Lovstuen, Mara Lovstuen, and Annika Schmelzer. The team consisting of Brody Courtney, Kiele Eberling, and Anders Lovstuen received 8th place overall in the tri-state dairy cattle evaluation contest and fourth place overall in the Northeast District FFA dairy evaluation contest. Anders Lovstuen and Brody Courtney placed first and tenth respectively in the Northeast District FFA dairy cattle evaluation contest.
The Decorah FFA also had eleven members participate in the dairy cattle evaluation contest with no-reasons. These members include Hadley Alexander, Andy Carolan, Madelynn Dahl, Jerikah Dodd, Karlie Einck, Braden Hemesath, William Kruse, Gabe Monroe, Isabella Schnitzler, Haley Stinson, and Thea Zidlicky. Two Decorah FFA teams placed in the top 10 in the Tri-State Dairy Expo Dairy Cattle Evaluation with no reasons contest. The team of Hadley Alexander, Madelynn Dahl, Gabe Monroe, and Isabella Schnitzler placed third overall, and the team of Jerikah Dodd, Karlie Einck, Thea Zidlicky, and Haley Stinson placed 10th overall. Gabe Monroe placed second as an individual in the Tri-State Dairy Expo cattle evaluation with no reasons contest.
Four members competed in the Tri-State Dairy and Ag Expo and Northeast Iowa FFA Milk Quality and Dairy Products Evaluation contests. Members were asked to evaluate milk quality, identify different types of cheese, and determine real versus imitation dairy products. The Decorah FFA members participating in these contests include Annika Brynsaas, Braunwyn Darrington, Ciara Wedmann, and Mara Wyatt.
The Decorah FFA had twenty-one members participate in Tri-State Dairy and Ag Expo at NICC in Calmar.
Pictured (left to right): Bottom Row: Ciara Wedmann, Madelynn Dahl, Hadley Alexander, Annika Brynsaas, Mara Wyatt, Brinlee Courtney, Kiele Eberling, Andy Carolan, and Anders Lovstuen
Back row: Brody Courtney, Gabe Monroe, Braunwyn Darrington, Mara Lovstuen, Isabella Schnitzler, Braden Hemesath, Karlie Einck, Thea Zidlicky, Annika Schmelzer, Jerikah Dodd, William Kruse, and Haley Stinson.
Anders Lovstuen (right) and Brody Courtney (left) placed first and tenth respectively in the Northeast District FFA dairy cattle evaluation contest.
The team consisting of Kiele Eberling, Brody Courtney, and Anders Lovstuen received 8 th place overall in the tri-state dairy cattle evaluation contest and fourth place overall in the Northeast District FFA dairy evaluation contest.
Homecoming week at Decorah High School will include the crowning of the 2023 king and queen.
Queen candidates from the senior class include Lydia Frank, daughter of Kyle and Jacki Frank; Sydney Kipp, daughter of Ryan Kipp and Jenny Kleiner; Naomi Simon, daughter of Matt Simon and Melissa Simon; Brynn Storhoff, daughter of Brent and Brigit Storhoff; Hayley Stowe, daughter of Haywood and Erika Stowe; and Yazmeen Whitsitt, daughter of Novian and Katherine Whitsitt.
King candidates from the senior class include Kelley Gates, son of Aaron Pattison and Megan Gates; Simon Kutz, son of Eric Kutz and Miko Kominami; Trey McCain, son of Kevin and Boots McCain; Creed Monroe, son of Darin and Sarah Monroe; Fisher Tweten, son of Jason and Tera Tweten; and Kaiden Youngblood, son of Harold and Dawn Youngblood.
Junior class attendants are McKenzie Riley, daughter of Adam and Jessica Riley, and William Hahn, son of Brent and Amanda Hahn.
Representing the sophomore class as attendants are Drew Zwart, daughter of Robert Zwart and Cheri White, and William Tallier, son of Aleksandra Tallier and the late William Tallier.
Jillian Volz, daughter of Daniel and Bethany Volz, and Carter Riley, son of Adam and Jessica Riley, will represent the class of 2027.
The coronation ceremony will be Friday afternoon with a pep assembly and parade to follow.
DHS Queen and King Candidates:
Front row (l-r): Kaiden Youngblood, Fisher Tweten, Creed Monroe, Kelley Gates, Simon Kutz and Trey McCain
Back row (l-r): Yazmeen Whitsitt, Sydney Kipp, Lydia Frank, Hayley Stowe, Naomi Simon, and Brynn Storhoff
9th-11th grade DHS Homecoming attendants:
Front row (l-r): Jillian Volz, Drew Zwart, and McKenzie Riley
Back row (l-r): Carter Riley, William Tallier, and William Hahn
Officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of over 16,000 Semifinalists in the 69th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Five Decorah High School students–Gabriel Hiner, Simon Kutz, Anders Lovstuen, Aidan Nalean-Carlson, and Henry Weis–are among those honored. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring.
High school students entered the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which serves as an initial screen of the program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 94 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and all National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists and will earn the Merit Scholar title.
A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
NMSC, a not-for-profit organization, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
Decorah High School National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists (l-r): Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Simon Kutz, Anders Lovstuen, Gabriel Hiner, and Henry Weis
DECORAH, IOWA — Amy Weldon, Luther College Professor of English, published Advanced Fiction, a textbook that offers a comprehensive and innovative guide for undergraduate students or any writer looking for direction, on Aug. 24.
Amy Weldon published “Advanced Fiction” in August.
The principles of writing fiction are taken a step further in “Advanced Fiction,” which delves into practical writing techniques and advice. The book is divided into eight chapters, which include writing prompts and exercises, in addition to excerpts from a wide range of authors. It consists of writings from Luther students and alumni, in addition to well-known writers, in a diverse anthology of work.
“In “Advanced Fiction’s” anthology, I wanted to lift up stories and novel excerpts by authors from around the world, such as Angela Carter, James Joyce, Jane McClure, Tommy Orange, Ron Austin, Louis Jensen and Rick Bass, whose work continues to inspire me,” said Weldon.
Weldon addresses concerns from actual students in her book regarding writing habits, including how to transition from writing short stories to novels, writing fiction based on real events and steps to take after completing a piece.
“I wrote this book to gather, preserve and extend some conversations among myself and students that have arisen in classrooms and conferences over the years, so we can continue to learn from these discussions,” said Weldon. “Writing is something I couldn’t do without my students, who inspire me to keep learning and improving as a writer.”
Amy Weldon
Reading other students’ work can help aspiring authors understand the writing process from their peers. The book also discusses philosophical themes within writing and covers a wide range of storytelling techniques. Aspiring writers also can also find guidance on how to build a literary career within the textbook.
At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Luther’s 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 multi-instrument quartet Invoke will perform at Luther College Sept. 29.
DECORAH, IOWA—The multi-instrument quartet Invoke will open the Center Stage Series at Luther College on Friday, Sept. 29. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for Faith and Life Main Hall, and is generously sponsored by WinnMed.
The Austin, Texas-based quartet consists of Zach Matteson, Nick Montopolm, Karl Mitze and Geoff Manyin on cello, violin, viola, banjo and mandolin.
“We’re excited to return to Iowa for our first visit to Luther College, and are looking forward to getting to know the Luther College community,” said Matteson. “This is also a wonderful chance to reconnect with our dear friend, colleague and mentor Kacy Clopton, the cello instructor at Luther College, who helped guide Invoke in our early stages. We hope we can share some more of that wisdom and more with the students during our time in Decorah.”
With a passion for storytelling, Invoke’s performances feature original works composed by and for the group, which form a unique contemporary repertoire inspired by many different musical styles — from minimalism, to jazz, to American fiddle tunes and bluegrass. The group has performed at venues across the country including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Green Music Center.
Strongly committed to championing diverse American voices through new music, Invoke’s ongoing commissioning project, entitled American Postcards, asks composers to pick a time and place in American history and tell its story through the group’s unique artistry. They have commissioned eight new works since 2017, including the latest addition to the initiative, The Lessons of History, by Jonathan Bingham.
Invoke’s discography includes Souls in the Mud (2015), Furious Creek (2018) and Fantastic Planet (2021), as well as contributions to the soundtrack for Richard Linklater’s 2019 film “Where’d you go, Bernadette?”
Center Stage Dinner Series
The talented chefs on the Norse Culinary Team are back with the popular Center Stage Dinner Series. The dinners feature a multi-course menu to complement each performance. A separate ticket is required and a 15% discount is applied to the purchase of all six before Sept. 28. Dinner seating begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Peace Dining Room on the second floor of Dahl Centennial Union.
Both dinner and show tickets are on sale through Luther’s Ticket Office in the Center for Faith and Life, and online at tickets.luther.edu, by emailing tickets@luther.edu or by calling (563) 387-1357.
About Luther College
At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students explore big questions and take action to benefit people, communities and society. Luther’s 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.
DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College nursing major Duong Truong, class of 2024, spent his summer researching a Buddhist hospital in Taiwan and helping set up nursing school scholarships for Catholic nuns in Vietnam.
As a nursing major at Luther, Truong has seen many examples of many Christian-affiliated hospitals in the U.S. that integrate belief into their care and mission, but he noticed a gap in research on Buddhist hospitals. He wanted to understand how Buddhist principles would influence medicine and care within Buddhist hospitals. “I wanted to be a pioneer in studying this,” he said.
Duong Truong spent his summer abroad researching healthcare practices.
His project, “The Identity of Mahāyāna Buddhist Hospitals in The Changing Healthcare Landscape,” took him to Hualien, Taiwan, to observe the Taipei Buddhist Tzu Chi Hospital . He was told that he was the first member of a Western undergraduate institution to study there.
Gereon Kopf, Luther College professor of religion, advised Truong on his research and said that Truong “mastered extremely difficult material and conducted groundbreaking, interdisciplinary research that will provide insights and inspiration on how to make hospital care more holistic and more meaningful to both patients and health care providers.”
Truong received funding for this project through the Lynn Arthur and Mary Frost Steen Fellowship, a program at Luther that gives up to two students each year $5,000 to complete research projects outside of Luther and Decorah.
“The Steen family wanted to provide funds for motivated Luther students to go out into the world to conduct research, so we developed a fellowship specific to funding these student research projects during the summer,” said Molly Wilker, director of undergraduate research and an associate professor of chemistry at Luther. “Duong’s summer research project proposal was a great fit for the Steen Fellowship.”
Taipei Buddhist Tzu Chi Hospital where Truong did research this summer.
After graduating, Truong plans to use the research skills he developed at Luther and pursue a doctorate in nursing.
In addition to studying Buddhist hospitals through the Steen Fellowship, Truong and fellow Luther student Daniel Pfeffer-Kleemann also received a $10,000 Davis Projects for Peace grant this summer to help set up scholarships for Catholic nuns in Vietnam. Jon Lund, Luther’s director of international admissions, is Luther’s Projects for Peace liaison and on-campus coordinator. He said that Truong “is a tangible and moving example of the way in which motivated students can make a sustainable, concrete difference.”
Davis Projects for Peace was established by Kathryn W. Davis on her 100th birthday to fund selected students with $10,000 to create and build peace anywhere in the world. The program brings together educational institutions and students to develop community-based approaches to global challenges, such as meeting health care needs.
Since the grant’s creation in 2007, 36 Luther students have received this prestigious grant to spread sustainable peace around the world. Luther students have established 22 projects in 23 different countries.
About Luther College
At Luther College in beautiful Decorah, Iowa, students 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.
