Category: Luther College and Decorah Schools

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College raised more than $1.2 million during the ninth annual Giving Day on March 7. The money raised on Thursday will support and enhance the Luther experience at the college through the Luther Fund, Luther’s unrestricted current fund that supports all students, faculty, staff and community endeavors on campus. 

“Together we had the biggest Giving Day ever, both in the amount raised and in the notes and stories about the impact Luther College has had on the lives of those in our community,” said Luther President Jenifer K. Ward. “Gifts came from all 50 states and over a dozen countries, and from lifelong supporters to first-time contributors. There is no “thank you” big enough to express our gratitude.”

Giving Day capped off “Luther Gives!”, a weeklong campus event celebrating the generosity of Luther alumni, donors and campus community. Students wrote thank you notes to donors who funded their scholarships, sent Norse Notes valentines to anyone on campus who made a difference in their lives, and posted reasons they love Luther on the walls of the Dahl Centennial Union. 

This year’s Giving Day also included the first Luther Day at the Landing, where 100% of all sales made at Justin’s and The Buzz at the Landing Market were matched with an equal gift to the Luther Fund.

“It’s been great to double down on our partnership with Luther College today,” said Terry Ramlo, class of 1986 and manager of the Landing. “It was fun to see so many people stop by the Landing today. We’re glad to contribute to Luther and the Decorah community, especially on Giving Day.”

Mark your calendars for next year, as Giving Day returns on Thursday, March 6, 2025. 

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.

DECORAH, IOWA—Lydia X. Z. Brown, director of public policy at the National Disability Institute, will give the Price Distinguished Lecture in Women’s Leadership at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. The event is co-sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio. 

Brown, a queer, disabled and East Asian advocate, organizer, attorney, strategist and writer, will give a lecture entitled “Until We Are All Free: Disability Justice Interventions in Queer, Trans, Feminist Movements,” which is part of Luther’s Women’s History Month events through March. ASL interpretation will be provided. Attendees should refrain from wearing any fragrances to this lecture. Childcare is available during the lecture. 

“After I heard Brown speak in Rochester, I knew I wanted to bring their expertise to Luther.  Brown isn’t advocating for disability rights but disability justice,” said Char Kunkel, head of the identity studies department at Luther. “We fundamentally need to change the systems of oppression, not just add in the various identity groups to achieve limited individual rights. We need societal transformation of the many intersecting oppressive systems so that all people can thrive. Justice for all means all, hence why the lecture is titled ‘Until We Are All Free’.” 

Brown has spoken and consulted throughout the U.S. and the world on topics such as disability rights and justice, especially at the intersections of race, class, gender and sexuality, as well as publishing scholarly and community articles on related topics. Their work addresses how ableism is tied to other forms of systemic oppression and marginalization. Brown’s work can be found on their website.

Brown is the founding executive director of the Autistic People of Color Fund. They hold a lecturer appointment in the women’s and gender studies program and the disability studies program at Georgetown University. Brown is also an adjunct professorial lecturer in American studies in the department of critical race, gender and cultural studies at American University. 

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.

DECORAH, IOWA—The Luther College Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Daniel Baldwin, will perform across the U.S. for their spring 2024 tour. The choir will perform a homecoming concert in Decorah on March 26. 

The concert is open to the public with a freewill donation taken at the door. 

The program begins with “Three Dance Episodes from Leonard Bernstein’s “On the Town. The orchestra will once again perform Pelléas et Mélisande Suite, Op. 80, by Gabriel Fauré along with “Introduction and Gopak” from “The Fair at Sorochinsk” by Modest Mussorgsky, “Siegfried Idyll” by Richard Wagner and “Huapango” by Jose Pablo Moncayo. 

Symphony Orchestra, Luther’s largest and oldest orchestral ensemble, is one of Luther’s four main touring ensembles. The Symphony travels regularly in the United States and maintains a three-week residency in Vienna every four years, next scheduled for January 2027. More than 70 student musicians, representing a variety of academic majors, perform with the orchestra. Many are also involved in chamber music, choir, band or a jazz ensemble. 

“Apart from two, month-long residencies in Vienna, Austria in 2019 and 2023, this will be the

orchestra’s first opportunity in more than six years to take an extended tour,” said Dan Baldwin, director of orchestral activities. “We bring with us a beautiful program and a large, talented group of student musicians. We’re very grateful for all those who’ve worked to make our tour possible.”

Baldwin is the head of the Music Department and has served as director of orchestra activities at Luther since 1997. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Baldwin is currently the conductor of the Luther College Symphony and Chamber Orchestras.

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.

 

DECORAH, IOWA—Luther College is proud to announce the winter graduates from December 2023 and January 2024. The 65 graduates come from 12 states, which include California, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, plus 3 countries including Ivory Coast, Nepal and Spain. Congratulations to these new alumni as they start the next chapter of their lives. 

Below are the graduates, along with their majors and hometowns. 

Tamara Ayers
Music Education
Arlington, Virginia

Irelyn Baumberger
Management
Evansville, Wisconsin

Kaitlyn Belger
Nursing
Urbandale, Iowa

Isabelle Berg
Elementary Education
Chatfield, Minnesota

Evan Berth
Music
Watertown, Wisconsin

Katie Bevers
Religion
Charleston, South Carolina

Samuel Bundy
Sociology
Arvada, Colorado

 Analisa Buresh
Anthropology
Kasson, Minnesota

Suman Chapai
Computer Science
Pokhara, Nepal

Brandon Deas
Sociology
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Mathea Diedrich
Allied Health Sciences, Nordic Studies
Windsor, Wisconsin

Adrianna Dirks
Exercise Science, Allied Health
Casey, Iowa

Carter Erickson
Accounting
Camas, Washington

Madelyn Ess
Nursing
Delano, Minnesota

Haylee Felt
Biology
Stewartville, Minnesota

Julian Garcia
Nursing
Chicago, Illinois

Emma Gibson
English
Iowa City, Iowa

Molly Graff
Music Education
Holmen, Wisconsin

Maya Grocholski
English
Plymouth, Minnesota

Morgan Hansen
Nursing
Hudson, Iowa

Victoria Harris
Elementary Education
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Lars Heinecke
Nursing
Center City, Minnesota

Maddison Henry
Nursing
Hesper, Iowa

Noah Hill
Data Science
Houston, Texas

Elizabeth Kauls
Allied Health Sciences, Exercise Science
North Oaks, Minnesota

Theodore Keller
Biology
Edina, Minnesota

Nathan Knautz
Music Education
Batavia, Illinois

Rachel Lapaczonek
Nursing
Bettendorf, Iowa

Mafi Latu
Management
Redwood City, California

Emma Lin
Biology
Des Moines, Iowa

Allison Marasco
Anthropology
Omaha, Nebraska

Kaylee Martin
Social Work
Romeoville, Illinois

Erin McCulloch
Social Work
West St. Paul, Minnesota

Adam Mertzenich
Computer Science
Decorah, Iowa

Destini Miller
Management
Oak Park, Illinois

Sidney Miller
Global Health, Political Science
Hokah, Minnesota

Laura Miro I. Rodrigo
Computer Science, Management
Barcelona, Spain

Lauren Monosmith
Nursing
Pine Island, Minnesota

Mackenzie Muehleip
Nursing
Galena, Illinois

Calie Mundahl
Nursing
Woodbury, Minnesota

Sydney Nelson
Nursing
Albert Lea, Minnesota

Isaiah Nordine
Biology
Rochester, Minnesota

Jorgen Olson
Biology
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Annalie Piller
Nursing
Kenyon, Minnesota

Shelby Pisney
Elementary Education
Lime Springs, Iowa

Megan Rasmussen
Nursing
Shoreview, Minnesota

Brenna Reiland
Music Education
White Bear Lake, Minnesota

Kyra Rose
Nursing
Golden Valley, Minnesota

Noah Rouw
Music
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Emma Sanders
Elementary Education
La Motte, Iowa

Alex Sass
East Asian Languages and Linguistics
West Union, Iowa

Jasmine Schueler
Nursing
Rushford, Minnesota

Elise Skellenger
Management
Decorah, Iowa

Ella Smith
Management
Larkspur, Colorado

Asher Smith
Communication Studies
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Oumar Samassi Souare
Economics
Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Jake Stone
Sociology
Highlands Ranch, Colorado

Justin Taitano
Management
Las Vegas, Nevada

Addison Tollakson
Elementary Education
Amery, Wisconsin

Emma Vanbenschoten
Nursing
Byron, Minnesota

Zoe Warm
Nursing
Long Grove, Iowa

Courtney Wendland
Elementary Education
Luverne, Minnesota

Blayre Wisneski
Neuroscience, Psychology
Shakopee, Minnesota

Levi Wolter
Exercise Science
Elysian, Minnesota

Angelina Zimmerman
Chemistry
Maquoketa, Iowa