Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

Bring the sights and sounds of Christmas at Luther 2022 into your home

December 16, 2022

On-demand tickets are available for “Christmas at Luther 2022: The Gifts They Gave Emmanuel.” Bring the magic of Christmas into your home by purchasing tickets at luther.edu/christmas2022 through Dec. 31.

This year’s production featured not only five choirs, the symphony orchestra, and the percussion ensemble, but also lifelike puppets representing animals associated with the Christmas story. Audience members are saying: 

“I was immediately captivated by the magic of the birds and animals, so life-like, and communicating such joy and tenderness. It was marvelous. The selection of music was refreshing, so many new and wonderful compositions.”

“I always get teary-eyed at some point during Christmas at Luther. This year it was when the ox ambled in and stopped and looked at the orchestra and choirs. It really touched me. With the many threats to species in our world (especially climate change) I really appreciated the inclusion of animals in this year’s performance.”

This year, Christmas at Luther will also be broadcast on the following dates and times: 

Radio Broadcasts:

  • Wisconsin Public Radio: Dec. 18, 12-2 p.m.
  • Iowa Public Radio: Dec. 23, 4 p.m. and Dec. 24, 11 a.m.
  • WVRQ (1360 AM): Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
  • KBEW (1560 AM/95.3 FM): Dec. 24, 4:30 p.m.
  • Wisconsin Public Radio’s “NPR News & Music” stations: Dec. 25, 3-5 p.m. 

Television Broadcasts:

  • KGAN 2: Dec. 24, 6-7 p.m.
  • FOX 28: Dec. 25, 11 p.m.-12 a.m.

In addition, the Luther Book Shop has Christmas at Luther 2022 CDs available online and in-store. It is also streaming on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify and YouTube Music.

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Bradley Chamberlain named provost at Luther College

President Jenifer K. Ward has announced the appointment of Bradley Chamberlain as provost of Luther College. 

Bradley Chamberlain, PhD

Chamberlain, who has served as vice president for mission and communication since 2019, was named interim provost in August 2022. His appointment as provost follows a nationwide search led by a 22-person committee consisting of faculty, staff, cabinet members, students and regents. He will assume the role beginning in January. 

“Dr. Chamberlain has already provided steady leadership at Luther as part of my senior team and has been a trusted thought partner to me and to his colleagues,” said Ward. “He brings an innate curiosity to the project of higher education, always looking for ways to connect the best of what our faculty and staff offer to the accomplishments of the students they mentor. In him, we will have a chief academic officer who is committed to student success and community flourishing, and I look forward to continuing the work we have started together.” 

As provost, Chamberlain will work alongside the president to provide thoughtful and creative leadership as he oversees a student-facing division that includes academic affairs, student engagement and student success. The provost model was instituted at Luther in 2021 as a way to create an integrated, student-centered approach to all academic and co-curricular services. 

“I am inspired by Luther’s mission to prepare students for lives of meaning and purpose in service of the common good. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with this community in a new way to support and enhance the student experience, both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Chamberlain.

I am inspired by Luther’s mission to prepare students for lives of meaning and purpose in service of the common good. I am excited and grateful for the opportunity to partner with this community in a new way to support and enhance the student experience, both inside and outside of the classroom.

Bradley Chamberlain

Chamberlain arrived at Luther in 2001 as a member of the faculty, where he taught a range of courses in the chemistry department and conducted collaborative research with students to prepare new biodegradable plastics. In 2005, Chamberlain began serving in various leadership capacities. He was the chair of the academic planning committee, interim director of advising, head of the chemistry department and interim dean for institutional planning and mission. In 2019, Chamberlain was named vice president for mission and communication and he has been serving as interim provost since August 2022.

As vice president for mission and communication, Chamberlain led the implementation of Luther’s first integrated brand strategy. It included the integration of newly identified brand pillars, a refreshed visual identity, social media strategy and a redesigned luther.edu website. In addition, Chamberlain developed the college’s first strategic internal communications plan and led the COVID Response Team under which he provided leadership for the development of a set of indicators and alert levels that provided a flexible and phased approach for all curricular and co-curricular operations during the height of the pandemic. 

Chamberlain earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Gustavus Adolphus College and holds a doctorate degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota. Chamberlain will also serve as interim vice president for mission and communication through the current academic year.

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.

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Luther Athletics adds men’s and women’s bowling, names Dan Bellrichard head coach

Luther College President Jenifer K. Ward and Athletic Director Renae Hartl are excited to announce the addition of men’s and women’s bowling to the athletic department. Additionally, Luther alumnus Dan Bellrichard has been selected as the head coach of both teams. Beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, men’s and women’s bowling will become the 20th and 21st sports in Luther’s athletic department, making the Norse the third member of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) to add the sport. 

“We are excited to introduce men’s and women’s bowling as the first new sports at Luther College since 1990,” said Ward. “In addition to allowing us to recruit students of high academic promise with an opportunity to continue in a sport popular in high school athletics programs, we are happy to work with the newly opened King Pin Entertainment Center to advance local partnerships in a great new facility.”

“It has been over 30 years since we have added a new varsity sport at Luther College, and I am very excited about this announcement and the first coach of our two new programs,” commented Hartl. “It is the perfect time to add this sport to our athletics department. Coach Bellrichard will join us immediately and begin recruiting and communicating with prospective student-athletes. We hope to have a mix of new first-year students in addition to some current students to schedule and compete in a full season for the 2023-24 academic year.”

Dan Bellrichard

While announcing the addition of bowling, Hartl also announced Bellrichard as the programs’ inaugural coach. A 2001 Luther alum, Bellrichard held a variety of positions at the college from 2009 to 2014 and has been active in the growth of bowling in Winneshiek County. Bellrichard has been involved in the Youth Mentoring Bowl-a-thon, which serves families and children in Allamakee, Howard and Winneshiek Counties, and has also been a member of various leagues in the area. 

“I am thrilled to be returning to Luther College as the head women’s and men’s bowling coach,” said Bellrichard. “My goals are to not only build an excellent bowling program, but also help the team members be successful in the bowling alley, the classroom and the community.  I’m excited to begin recruiting our inaugural team members and working with these women and men on their personal and athletic development.”

Luther’s home venue will be the King Pin Entertainment Center, located in Decorah, Iowa. The building, which opened in September 2022, features 16 bowling lanes, an arcade, billiards tables, ax throwing, meeting rooms and a bar and grill. 

“I’d like to thank Luther College Athletic Director Renae Hartl. Her enthusiasm and commitment to bringing bowling to Luther gives me the confidence to lead the newest Norse athletic program,” continued Bellrichard. “Additionally, I’d like to thank Russ Novak for his commitment to bowling and the Decorah community through his amazing renovation of King Pin Entertainment Center. Without this, Luther College’s new bowling program would not be possible. I can’t wait to get started!”

Bellrichard will begin recruiting efforts immediately to build the team rosters for the 2023-24 season. Individuals interested in joining the Norse bowling teams should contact him at dan.bellrichard@luther.edu. 

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Luther College’s Cafeteria to Community program hits major milestone

Owen Matzek and Meg Sessions prepare meals to be sent to area organizations.

The Luther College Cafeteria to Community program hit a major milestone. Since the program’s inception in 2014, more than 80,000 pounds of food has been donated to local organizations to address hunger.

“The Caf to Community program is a great opportunity to simultaneously reduce Luther’s food waste and help feed our community,” said Meg Sessions ’23, student program coordinator. “The meals we send are recently-prepared, healthy and balanced, which recipients of the food appreciate. Volunteering with Caf to Community is an easy way to make an impact in our community while encouraging sustainability on campus.”

Twice a week, students, volunteers and Luther Dining Services staff work together to package and label food that is provided to four Northeast Iowa facilities: Open Hands Food Pantry, Northeast Iowa Community Action, Decorah Food Pantry and Midwest Mission Bible Training Center. Each facility ensures that individuals and families receive the nutritious meals at little to no cost.

Midwest Mission Bible Training Center residents enjoy their food from the Cafeteria to Community program.

John Talley is a director at the Midwest Mission Bible Training Center in Cresco, a non-profit, faith-based organization serving those who are desperate to overcome drug, alcohol or emotional problems. He says that they rely on this food week after week.

“We are so grateful to Luther College for this food and the organization and thought behind it,” said Talley. “Not a day goes by that Luther’s food is not utilized. The donations are integral in ensuring our residents are fed healthy and delicious meals.”

The Cafeteria to Community program also keeps food waste out of the landfill. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a report in 2021 that indicates food waste is the single most common material landfilled and incinerated in the country. The EPA estimates that food loss and waste leads to 170 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent GHG emissions—equal to the annual CO2 emissions of 42 coal-fired power plants. This estimate does not include the significant methane emissions from food waste rotting in landfills.

Another way Luther avoids adding to the landfill load is through its composting efforts. “Cafeteria to Community is part of a trio of efforts to reduce food waste at Luther College,” said Chris Frantsvog, sustainability coordinator at Luther. “All food prep scraps and dining waste are composted and compost collection sites are available in every residence hall and academic building. These two compost approaches plus Cafeteria to Community are helping keep Luther on track toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2030.”

The Cafeteria to Community Program is always looking for more volunteers. Those interested can sign up online at signup.com/go/ipLHVOQ for a one-hour slot on Wednesdays and Sundays from 6-7 p.m. Contact Sessions with any questions at sessma02@luther.edu.

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Boys’ Basketball Teams Give Back to their Respective Communities

When the JV and Varsity boys’ basketball teams from Decorah and Sumner-Fredericksburg met recently for the Achieve Scrimmage match, they accomplished much more than just the opportunity to compete against each other. Donations were collected for admission into the scrimmage, and they were split between the schools’ local food pantries. $200 was directed to the Decorah Community Food Pantry, and $200 went to the His Hands Food Pantry in Oran, Iowa.

The Decorah boys’ basketball team met with Matt Tapscott, director of the Decorah Community Food Pantry, to learn more about food insecurity in northeast Iowa and to present the $200 check.

BBB Food Pantry donation
Photo ID (l-r): Joe Stammeyer, Ben Bockman, Kasey Krauskopf, Matt Tapscott, Tate Johnson, Matt Bockman, Andrew Rhodes, Trey McCain, Coach Carlson

DMS and DHS students earn spots in Opus Honor Choir Festival

Twenty-eight students from Decorah were recently selected for participation in the 36th annual Opus Honor Choir Festival.  Over 2,100 students were nominated by their directors for 720 positions in the four Opus Honor Choirs. Selections were made by means of a recorded audition.

This is the sixteenth year that Decorah has had students audition for the Opus Honor Choirs. During the past 16 years more than 365 Decorah students have been accepted through recordings submitted by Dean Beckman, Jason Rausch, and community youth choir directors. This year, twenty students were selected from Decorah Middle School by recordings submitted by Dean Beckman, the second highest number of students accepted into the honor choirs by one teacher in the state of Iowa in 2022. Eight students were selected by recordings submitted by Jason Rausch at the Decorah High School. Opus Honor Choirs performed on November 17th in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium in the Iowa State Center in Ames.

The following students were accepted in the Open Honor Choir:

5th Grade:  Kaya Olson and Abby Shaw

6th Grade:  Hanna Lensch, Ayla Low, and Marley Phillips

7th Grade:  Kennedy Carlson, Kylie Cord, Cooper Ewing, Derek Hrdlicka, and Kaya Johnson

8th Grade:  Elliot Berland, Spencer Christensen, Sawyer Courtney, Jayden Lundtvedt, Clarence Nimrod, Noah Potvin, Olivia Rissman, Daric Sheffield, Grace Stockman, and Colin Thompson

9th Grade: June Breitenbach-Dirks, Elsa Christman, Will Duder,

Ezra Harman-Wood, Mikayla Hiner, Klara Kelly, Caden Malanaphy, and Naomi Pedlar

In addition, two students were selected as solo finalists to audition for the final concert: Cooper Ewing in grade 7 and Colin Thompson in grade 8. 

Guest conductors of the choirs include Christina Svec, Iowa State University, 5th & 6th Grade Honor Choir; Nick Oswald, Southview Middle School, 7th & 8th Grade Bass Clef Honor Choir; Amy Kotsonis, University of New Hampshire, 7th & 8th Grade Treble Clef Honor Choir; and Andrew Last, Luther College, 9th Grade Mixed Honor Choir. The Opus Honor Choir Festival is made possible by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, Inc.

Opus 2022 Gr9
Decorah Ninth Graders Selected for Opus Honor Choir
Front Row (l-r): Klara Kelly, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Elsa Christman, and Will Duder
Back Row (l-r): Caden Malanaphy, Ezra Harman-Wood, Naomi Pedlar, and Mikayla Hiner
Opus 2022 DMS
Decorah Middle School Students Selected for Opus Honor Choir
Front Row (l-r): Hanna Lensch, Marley Phillips, Kaya Olson, Ayla Low, and Abby Shaw
Middle Row (l-r): Kaya Johnson, Kennedy Carlson, Derek Hrdlicka, Noah Potvin, Sawyer Courtney, Jayden Lundtvedt, and Daric Sheffield
Back Row (l-r): Kylie Cord, Colin Thompson, Cooper Ewing, Grace Stockman, Olivia Rissman, Spencer Christensen, Elliot Berland, and Clarence Nimrod

DHS Students and Staff Break Record Again during Money Drive for Food Pantry

Decorah High School students and staff donated a record amount of money for the Decorah Community Food Pantry. A grand total of $4252.22 was collected, well over $800 more than last year. 

To prepare for the money drive, members of FFA and Community Club recently met with Food Pantry Director Matt Tapscott on a Saturday morning to discuss the program and offer some help. After learning more about the pantry, students stocked shelves, cleaned freezers and carts, vacuumed, and other tasks. It was an excellent kick off to the food drive; the students came away with a better understanding of the pantry and its needs. One statistic stood out to them: the number of clients who use the pantry has doubled since January, and out of the 46,440 food insecure people living in northeast Iowa, 14,500 of them are children.

FFA member Kyleigh Batterson remarked, “It was wonderful to see our school come together to help out our community. I am thankful for all the opportunities we had this year to further understand food insecurities in our community and act upon them.”

IMG 5641
FFA and Community Club members who helped with the donation collection:
Front row (l-r): Jenna Hartz, Chloe Reiser, Ellen Rooney, Jensen Korsness,  Kathryn Kelly
Back row (l-r): Rachel Mikkelson, Kyleigh Batterson, Hannah Schnitzler, Morgan Moen, and Kamryn Werges
IMG 5649
FFA and Community Club members who volunteered at the pantry on the Saturday before the event present the money collected to Director Matt Tapscott and volunteers.

Photo ID (l-r): Volunteer Jon Hart, Kyleigh Batterson, Addison Wemark, volunteer Kevin Rockwell, Director Matt Tapscott, Natalie Goodner, and Hannah Schnitzler.

Decorah High School Students Compete in State Bowling

Six Decorah High School students traveled to Maple Lanes in Waterloo to participate in the Special Olympics State Bowling Tournament on Saturday, . To qualify, each bowler had to win their division in the Northeast Iowa Regional tournament held in October.

Paxton Remick and Braden Ramstad walked away with gold medals after placing first in their divisions.  Donnie Hrdlicka, Peyton Rentschler, and Kamryn Leuenberger earned silver medals, placing second in their divisions; and John Lippe received a bronze medal, placing fourth.

The entire Decorah Schools Special Olympics team is grateful for the support of Decorah Schools and King Pin Lanes which contributed to a successful bowling season.

SO Bowling State
Front row (l-r): Peyton Rentschler, Kamryn Leuenberger, Paxton Remick
Back row (l-r): Braden Ramstad, Donnie Hrdlicka, John Lippe

Decorah Family, Educator, and Community Organization (FEC) Opens Apparel Shop

The Decorah Family, Educator and Community Organization’s online Viking Apparel Shop is now open.  All orders are due by November 30, and merchandise will arrive prior to the winter break in time for the holidays.  All funds raised will go directly to the Decorah FEC Organization to help support elementary students and schools. The online store link is https://fec2022.itemorder.com/shop/home/.

FEC Apparel
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