Luther Story Spring 2025

REMEMBERING Dr. Morris Anderson

One of the most foundational and influential people to Luther College, former President Dr. Morris Anderson, passed away on May 10, 2025, at the age of 94.

After attending the University of Saskatchewan, Morris Anderson came to Luther College in 1956 to teach English. An accomplished basketball player at the U of S, he also coached the Luther Lions. Following Rex Schneider’s retirement as Principal & President, Morris took on this role from 1964 to 1974, eventually assuming the Presidency in 1974. In addition to being tasked with the planning for the new University campus of Luther College in 1971, Morris established the development function of the College, building a fundraising program that made it possible for Luther to survive without a church subsidy.

After retiring from Luther in 1986 to serve as President of Augustana College in Alberta, he returned in 1987 to staff the position of Director of Development. In that capacity he led the fundraising campaigns for the new

classroom wing at the High School and for the new wing at the University, which was named in Morris’s honour. In 1994, Morris again filled a gap, serving as acting President for one year prior to incoming President Richard Hordern. Morris was an important part of many Luther fundraising campaigns, both as a staff member and as a volunteer, particularly the Spirit Campaign in 2000.

For many, Morris was the heart and the hands of Luther College, and he always viewed his involvement with Luther as his life’s calling. Morris knew and cared about every Luther staff member, their families and children, as well as so many alumni. Morris was the first recipient of the Luther College Distinguished Service Award in 2012 for his tireless dedication and service to Luther College over five decades.

He is survived by his daughter Susan (Glen) Gatin, son Stephen (Jennifer), son Philip and grandchildren Ingrid, Anya, Sophia, Ben and Elena, and was predeceased by his wife Betty in 2024.

Betty, Dr. Rev. Marc Jerry & Morris, 2022

Morris, Rex Schneider, Betty & Elsa Schneider, 1964

Morris in his office, 1983 Morris teaching at Luther, 1956

Morris at his installation, 1964

Angela Bethune, Sabrina Cataldo, Carla Flengeris, Kyla Graff, Dr. Murray Knuttila, Brooklynn Lane, Lynette Piper, Leah Quick, Molly Thomas & Michayla Ziegler

Bryan Hillis.

Betty & Morris, 1985

Luther College Presidents in 2013 at 100th Anniversary

From left to right: Bryan Hillis, Bruce Perlson, Richard Hordern, Don King, Don Lee & Morris Anderson

Dick Stark & Morris, 2018

REMEMBERING Dr. Bryan Hillis

With heavy hearts we share the passing of former Luther College President and Professor Emeritus, Dr. Bryan Hillis, who passed away on May 23, 2025 at the age of 68.

Dr. Bryan Hillis was the first student to graduate with a Religious Studies major from Luther College at the University of Regina in 1978. After graduate work at the University of Manitoba and Oxford University under the terms of a Rhodes Scholarship, he received his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1988. He returned to Regina in 1989 as a professor of Religious Studies at Luther College. He also served two terms as the Dean from 1995 to 2005. Bryan was installed as President in 2010, a role he served with energy, enthusiasm, and dedication until his retirement in 2020.

Luther College was not a career or a job or a place of employment to Bryan—it was a vocation that he felt called to serve to the best of his abilities. He cared deeply for the students of Luther College and made all decisions with their best interests at heart. His leadership was a transformative one, leading to many revitalized and invigorated buildings and programs at Luther College on both campuses.

Bryan and his wife Dr. Joanne Hillis were named one of our 2025 Distinguished Service Award winners prior to his passing.

He is survived by his wife Joanne; daughters, Amy (John), Karla (Stephen), Erin, and Laura (Nico) and grandson, Sebastian.

To read more about Bryan’s incredible contributions to Luther College, see page 22.

Bryan & Karl Tiefenbach, 2010

Bryan as Academic Dean, 1999

Bryan in Chapel with Rev. David Kaiser, 1992

Amy, Laura, Erin & Karla Hillis perform at Luther, 2006

The Rev. Cindy Halmarson & Bryan at his installation

Luther Lecture with Martin E. Marty, 2013

INCOMING PRESIDENT, Dr. Tom Phenix

Dr. Tom Phenix has been appointed the new President of Luther College, beginning July 1, 2025.

Prior to this appointment he was the Dean of Campion College and a Psychology professor.

“Dr. Phenix’s extensive background in academia and administration will serve Luther College well,” says Luther College Board Chair Andrea Wagner. “Over the last five years, he has been a leader in a faith-based, liberal arts and science federated College, allowing for deep insight into the challenges and opportunities inherent in an educational institution like Luther College. Dr. Phenix has expertise in all aspects of this role and shares our commitment to academic excellence and building a community of compassionate, creative, critical thinkers.”

Dr. Phenix holds a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, as well as a Master of Arts in Psychology, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Regina. He has served in various academic roles at Campion since 2004, including as Department Head of Psychology, and Religious Studies, and as Assistant Dean.

A Presidential Search Committee comprised of faculty, staff, Board members and other stakeholders made the recommendation to the Board after a nation-wide search.

The Board also wishes to thank Interim President Dr. Murray Knuttila for his recent and continuing service leading the College while the search for a President was underway.

Congratulations to Dr. Phenix on this appointment. We look forward to his leadership as he assumes the Presidency in July 2025.

Professor Bryan Hillis

Bryan & Laura Hillis, 2013

Roland Miller & Bryan

Dr. Volker Greifenhagen, Erin Hillis & Bryan, 2013

Joanne, Bryan & Merlis Belsher, 2018

REFLECTIONS of an Interim President

Iwas fortunate to serve as Interim President this academic year. I am no stranger to Luther College, having served on the Board and more, but this year has truly opened my eyes to the ongoing value and contribution that Luther brings to education in Saskatchewan and beyond.

Luther College, like all educational institutions, is special because without the transmission and enhancement of humanity’s accumulated knowledge, traditions, experience, and collective intelligence, we cannot survive. Additionally, the Vision that informs how Luther goes about its sacrosanct Mission makes it special: “Luther College makes transformative change for a more grace-filled, just, and joyful world.”

As an educational institution Luther’s principal focus is its students—energetic and enthusiastic, they represent an amazing diversity of ethnicities, religions and faith traditions, genders, and orientations, all brimming with potential and possibilities. Serving to realize those potentials are equally energetic, committed, diverse and dedicated faculty and staff, working in the context of the School’s Lutheran and Christian traditions and history.

It is marvelous to witness how at Luther College High School academic rigour is supplemented by a myriad of cocurricular activities, cultural, sports, and recreational opportunities, 20 student clubs, and public service. In addition to their foundational instruction activities, teachers serve as advisors and volunteers on multiple activityrelated and administrative committees including those supporting major events such as the annual musical, Luther

By Dr. Murray Knuttila

Invitational Volleyball, and the Luther Invitational Basketball Tournaments. They also act as mentors and confidants to students and fellow colleagues and never waver from supporting one another, lifting each other up to achieve greatness. This is a “Luther education” that is made possible by its administrative, cafeteria, IT, and maintenance staff.

For LCHS students moving on to post-secondary education, Regina is a perfect location. Just across town is Luther College’s University of Regina campus with its own faculty and staff ready to support the next stage in a student’s transformative journey. Whether they are focused or are exploring career and future options at LCUR, students encounter scholars, teachers, and researchers who, while building academic reputations of note, understand the primacy of enhancing the student experience. They open the world of possibility to our students and are there to guide and support them during the highs and lows. Again, we cannot forget that the success of the whole operation is made possible by the services provided by our administrative, cafeteria, housekeeping, IT, and maintenance staff. It is a full team effort.

My closest work in overseeing the mission and strategic direction of both campuses was with a team called the College Leadership Group (CLG) that make Luther’s contribution possible: Angela Bethune (Director of Communications), Brian Broqueza (Director of Strategy & Business Development), Dr. Derrek Eberts (LCUR Dean), Alison Keramati (Director of Recruitment), Jodi Kydd (Director of HR), Nora Marpole (LCHS Principal), Ray Arscott (Director of Finance) and later Michelle Titanich, and Leah Quick (Director of Development). Just as the teachers, academics, and staff at each campus serve the educational needs of our students, these eight individuals provide overall support at both campuses within their respective areas and the College as whole.

Convocation with Dean Dr. Derrek Eberts and Junea Wilderman

Their commitment, passion, and drive are an inspiration to me.

While I started by expressing my good fortune, not all was unicorns and roses. Across Canada and beyond institutions such as Luther College face challenges including, to name a few, rising costs that outstrip government funding, donors and patrons stretched by uncertainty, and a regulatory and global geo-political environment that restricts international student recruitment. Challenges yes, but remember that the founding of Luther College at Melville in 1913 was against all odds, and its perseverance and flourishing for more than 100 years is possible because everyone shows up each day ready to make the College a welcoming academic space for our students, staff, faculty, parents, alumni, donors, and special guests.

I thank Luther’s volunteer Board of Regents who give of their time, energy, and resources to serve the remarkable people that are Luther College. No president, interim or otherwise, survives without daily assistance. I am forever grateful to Annette Summerfield and Michelle Clark, my Executive Assistants who made this amazing gig possible.

LEAH QUICK, Director of Development

Most weekdays see me based at the high school campus. With an office view overlooking Royal Street and a mid-morning pause for reflection during daily Chapel, I have continued to move through the same storied spaces for nearly three decades — first as a young Grade 9 student, then an educator, and now as the College’s Director of Development. Being a graduate (HS’01, U‘08), I know first hand the lasting gift of a Luther education — one that values equally well academic excellence and the construction of good character — and I am now in a privileged position to promote this longstanding truth.

In my new role, it is affirming to hear, through conversation and special remembrance, that most often the reason for continued engagement with Luther is our hallmark of care; ours is a community of care in all its many forms. This community is actively constructed and carefully nurtured through every interaction and exchange we share with one another, no matter how small. Further to the point, at its core, Luther is its people. In Luther’s history, while the building itself is indeed steeped in memory and tradition, in truth, people are anchored to Luther because of those who occupy these spaces at the same time as we do. It is not simply the Merlis Belsher Heritage Centre itself that is dearly loved, it is special and storied because of who we held space together there with — that is what connects us to this place. My Dad, Evan Quick (HS‘69), continued to speak with and hold such great affection for Pastor C., Bob Davis, Morris Anderson, Dick Stark, and Ms. Lovering — his beloved English teacher. Now as ever, these names, and countless others, resonate long after graduation and call us back; many care for this place as a unique and valuable way of honouring someone that we love, and as a meaningful way to continue their dedication and good work.

I feel privileged as Director of Development to honour the legacy of those who served before me while being one of the many caretakers of these special names, memories and spaces that remain dearly loved by so many.

Please reach out to me at leah.quick@luthercollege.edu to say hello, share a memory, or learn more about how you can support both campuses of Luther today and into the future.

Leah with siblings. From left to right: Andrea (HS’08), Dr. Gregory Akulov (LCHS teacher), Graham (HS’07) & Leah

Evan Quick (HS’69) & Bob Davis

MEET OUR HIGH SCHOOL Principal and Vice-Principals

Current Interim Principal, Mrs. Nora Marpole, has been selected as the successful candidate for the permanent Principal effective July 1, 2025, for a fiveyear term to June 30, 2030.

As a member of faculty since 2005 and as an administrator since 2021, she deeply understands that Luther College High School is a unique institution with an important role as an Historical High School in Saskatchewan. While serving as Interim Principal and Vice-Principal over the last several years, she has strengthened academic programs and faculty development, enhanced student success and well-being, and fostered strong working relationships within all areas of Luther with care and collaboration.

Mrs. Marpole continues to demonstrate that her educational leadership philosophy aligns with our mission—to prepare students for success but also to create a caring community. She does this by building positive relationships that foster trust, respect, and open communication. This leadership style will continue to serve Luther College well into the future. In addition to her duties as Interim Principal, she has been Chair of the Mental Health Committee, and Chair of the Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) and Assessment of Risk to Others (ARTO) Committee, important work at a time when student and employee wellness is top of mind in our educational system. Mme. Marpole is also currently completing her Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Yorkville University. Luther College also has two new Vice-Principals, effective July 1, 2025.

The new Vice-Principal of Academics is Derek Frostad. Mr. Frostad has been a dedicated teacher at Luther for 18 years, most recently serving as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Coordinator. Derek has demonstrated a deep commitment to academic excellence and a passion for innovation in teaching and learning.

Colleen Wilkinson has been appointed in the permanent role as Vice-Principal of Student Life. She served last year in an interim position. Ms. Wilkinson has supported initiatives aimed at enhancing student wellness, fostering school spirit, and promoting a safe and inclusive environment for all. Colleen will continue to bring her collaborative spirit and commitment to student well-being at Luther College.

HELLO from Pastor Brooklynn

Hi Luther Family,

My name is Brooklynn Lane, and I am the new Chaplain at Luther College at the University of Regina, located on Treaty 4 territory. The land and waters of Treaty 4 have been nurturing, sustaining, healing and guiding me on my life journey, and the walk of reconciliation.

I am a Lutheran pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and previously served two lovely congregations in Nova Scotia. Growing up outside of Regina, I have ties to Luther College as my dad, Brian Lane, and grandpa, Richey Lane, are alumni of the high school, and my mom, Beverley (nee Hipkiss), is an alumna of both the high school and the university. I look forward to getting to know the Luther community and experiencing what it means to be a part of Luther.

In my ministry, I am passionate about helping students navigate life as they complete their studies. Life in general can be difficult, and university is no exception. I aim to accompany students on their academic, spiritual, and life journey, providing a more safe space for people to learn, ask questions, express themselves, and be in community. I also like helping people explore and grow their relationships with God. Faith education is key. An essential way I do this for myself is through my connection to creation.

Grief care, education, and advocacy are important to me, and recently I found an interest in the first-century church, learning about the vital role woman played in the church. At the core of my ministry is a deep call to build relationships with people, and to walk humbly with God. Simply put, have faith, and love people and creation.

With care and love, Your companion on the journey,

Pastor Brooklynn Lane

Beading Workshop

Dying Easter eggs with Luther university students

AFGHAN Changemakers

By Molly Thomas (HS’05, U’10)

Iknew about Luther long before I ever set foot through its high school doors. I grew up in north central Regina, not far from the well-known, historic institution, and every time my mom would drive by Luther College High School she would pray that one day her kids would go there. Sometimes she’d even detour out of our way to point out the school and loudly express her request to God (not so subtly hinting at her three kids). We got the message loud and clear: there is one road to high school and it’s on Royal Street.

My mom is a woman of faith and a firm believer in quality education, so it makes sense that she wanted her kids at Luther.

But we were a family of meager means. My father, a preacher, traveled the globe sharing the gospel and was away roughly 85% of the year; my mom, a passionate educator, gave up her profession for many years to create stability and consistency at home while raising us. And so that prayer about us attending Luther really was a prayer, a solemn request for something that was simply out of financial reach for our family.

Since I’m writing this article, it shouldn’t surprise you that her heartfelt appeals were answered. Luther provided special financing for clergy kids, a close family of faith generously pitched in to fill the gaps, and we worked our tails off to get every student scholarship and bursary possible. Somehow, the

three Thomas kids made it through our formative years at Luther.

I loved almost every moment of high school! You’d catch me on a volleyball or basketball court most nights of the week. Do you remember those coveted grade 12 couches? Or the way Mr. Freitag would lower his glasses every time you talked too loud in the hall? What about that unforgettable LIT dance where the boys vastly outnumbered the girls? Wait, does that still exist? Oh sorry, it was banned after my year. (Not my fault, I swear.) #RIPGreatestDanceEver.

School itself was different too. For the first time in my life, I was really challenged by fellow students in the classroom. I learned to think critically about issues of deep significance and pushed myself to look beyond my own biases. I worked very hard to get on the honour roll and stay there amidst a range of sports and musical activities. As I look back, I only realize now how unique it was to have students from the city, rural Saskatchewan, and around the world in one school. That alone is formative. And even though most of us giggled through chapel, the spiritual teachings challenged us to think of our neighbour more than ourselves. I later went on to attend Luther College at the University of Regina, where those same values were nurtured, and I had the opportunity to fall in love with storytelling.

That entire educational experience

Molly with her family at her Luther High School graduation, Class of 2005

was foundational to my life and career as a journalist. And so when those same schooling opportunities were ripped away from girls that look just like me in 2021, it was soul-crushing. I knew I needed to pursue stories on women and girls in Afghanistan, the only country in the world where females are banned from the classroom.

If you are a woman, Afghanistan is a barbaric place to live right now. Did you know, you must be completely covered to even leave your house? A burqa complete with a mesh screen ensures the world doesn’t get a glimpse of your “dangerously” feminine eyes. Females are not allowed to speak, sing or even recite poetry in public. Forget sports—you can’t even run in a national park without a male chaperone. In fact, you need a brother or a husband to even leave your property. Can you imagine being confined inside the walls of your home, unable to walk out to even get a carton of milk without supervision? The Taliban’s “vice and virtue laws” aim to punish anyone who steps out of line.

Don’t forget, this is not some far-off foreign land. Canada had boots on the ground in Afghanistan just 10 years ago. Afghanistan was our longest military mission in history. 158 soldiers with a maple leaf on their uniform died in that war against the Taliban and more than 2,000 service men and women came home injured. Some of them helped build classrooms in Afghanistan; many witnessed little girls walk to school for the first time.

Today, any girl beyond sixth grade is locked out of the classroom in

Afghanistan. It’s a harsh existence for a generation of young women who grew up with big dreams.

Robina Azizi was one of them. In 2021, when the Taliban captured Kabul, her dream of becoming a CEO came crashing down. “When the Taliban closed the doors of my school, it was very hard for me,” she says.

Robina’s family was forced to flee Afghanistan and ended up in Pakistan. I first met the spry teenager in Islamabad. Here she had more freedom, but she still couldn’t attend school.

“At first I was disappointed... but then, I stood up, and I said, ‘No, Robina, you shouldn’t give up.’”

Only 16 years old at the time, Robina decided to start a community to motivate other Afghan girls. With the full support of her family, she posted on social media that she was hosting an online meet-up for Afghan girls

to share their stories. More than two dozen females joined that call. That’s when she knew she had to create something bigger.

“I wanted to show the whole world that girls in Afghanistan have the power to do a lot of things. And even if you don’t allow us to go to school, we have the power to continue.”

With the help of her English teacher in the US, Robina created ‘Girls on a Path of Change’, a site that offers interactive language classes for Afghan girls. There’s intensive writing and conversational English; there’s also skill development courses, where you can learn about painting, photography, poetry and other foreign languages. Teachers started volunteering from around the world.

“We have some teachers from the United States, Bangladesh, Germany, Australia... but still we are trying to find more teachers,” she says. “It would be very wonderful if

Robina Azizi, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, started ‘Girls on a Path of Change’

Photo credit: Riley Nimens

we can have some teachers from Canada.”

As the number of teachers increased, so did the class sizes. Today, there are more than 500 Afghan girls enrolled in her academy. They meet three times a week and use a variety of platforms to connect online.

“Sometimes they call me their role model and they give me energy,” Robina, still a teenager herself, laughs. “I hope that one day they can achieve a lot of goals and they can be independent girls.”

That’s the hope behind another special school, this one with physical walls, on the other side of Islamabad. My TOEFL House, a school for Afghan refugees, was created by two Afghan educators who uniquely understand their students’ predicament. Murtaza Ahmadi and Dawood Hussaini both fled Afghanistan themselves after the Taliban takeover; they too, have nowhere to go.

“When I came here, I saw that there wasn’t any good educational center for refugees,” Ahmadi tells me. “I knew people were in need, so we started this center.”

With more than 30 years of teaching experience between them, the teachers pooled together

their life savings to start the school. “So with the very little money we had, we started buying chairs and whiteboards, markers and ink and many more stationery things,” Ahmadi says. But it was a scary step of faith because they only had enough money for three months.

Still, the teachers forged ahead, making sure they made space for young girls, who had been banned from the classroom in Afghanistan.

“So the first priority for us, besides education, [was] to help them deal with their turmoil and with their trauma,” says Hussaini.

The teachers create a safe space by opening up about their own losses and inviting students to share their stories. They also take students out to museums and parks to inspire them, and help them think beyond their current refugee status. A video club furthers the conversation by showcasing inspiring stories of those overcoming the odds.

There’s a lesson for students in every story, the professors remind me. “Hardships are not something to break you down. Hardships are something to make you stronger,” says Ahmadi.

Today, their school is thriving. It has 250 students and a digital partnership that involves a Canadian

non-profit. That Calgary-based charity—‘Right to Learn Afghanistan’ formerly known as Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan—provides access to an interactive digital library with more than 8,300 resources in 10 languages. That portal also has LIVE online classes as well as pre-recorded lessons; it has midterms and a final, just like a regular school, so students can complete the curriculum within nine months. The ultimate objective is to prepare students for grade 10, where teachers and a curriculum from Canada kicks in and students graduate with an internationally recognized high school diploma. The online portal hosts nearly 700 students in total and is a lifeline for Afghan girls or for other refugees in the region. The goal is to have more than 1,000 Afghan girls in an online class by 2025.

It’s amazing to see how the resolve and resilience of two teachers and a teenager have made such an impact on their respective Afghan communities. They’re exceptionally bright lights in an increasingly dark world for the women of Afghanistan, and a testament to never giving up on learning.

Molly Thomas’ reporting was funded in part by the Michener-Deacon Awards.

Listen to her three-part series ‘Dear Taliban’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Molly interviews

Dawood Hussaini (left) and Murtaza Ahmadi (right), who started

My TOEFL House in Islamabad, Pakistan

Photo credit: Riley Nimens

My TOEFL House is a school started for Afghan refugees by refugee educators in Islamabad, Pakistan

L.I.T. Alumni Game

The Luther Invitational Tournament (L.I.T.) has been going strong since 1953! Part of this long standing tradition has become our alumni game, which is an open invitation to alumni of all ages to either participate or watch Luther alumni face off against one another.

This year’s alumni match took place on Saturday, February 8 with the following players (from left to right): Frankie Parris, Mike Greening, Bob Pearce, Callan Willimott, Matt Wincherauk, Andrew Vanderhooft, Min Choi, Nathaniel Yule, Matt Haroldson, Logan Harris, Ethan Kummerfield, Paddy Foley, Will Johnson, Rob Pyne, Derek Persson, and kneeling in front, Jordyn Halvorsen.

RE GI NA CA NA DA

WALKING Together

On a typical Friday afternoon, the traffic in our hallways and lounge spaces at Luther College at the University of Regina starts to dwindle. Once they have finished their last class, many students make their escape, eager to start their weekend. This is not one of those Friday afternoons. Here in my office in Luther Library, I can feel the building vibrate with the sound of an Indigenous drum song being performed in our adjacent student lounge by students of Regina’s Mother Teresa Middle School. These students, including drummers, singers, and dancers, have been invited by Luther to participate in our REDress workshop, an afternoon of activities that raise awareness and tell the stories of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2Spirit people. As I watch the performance through the glass window that separates our

library from the lounge, I realize that most of the students still studying in the library have gathered around me to do the same. The workshop organizers had warned me earlier in the week of the potential volume of this performance, but the students standing next to me are not bothered. Like me, they are feeling drawn to the beat of the drum, like a heartbeat calling back the spirits of those we have lost. Seated in the middle of the densely packed crowd is Elder Lorna Standingready, Luther College’s Elder-in-Residence and one of the workshop’s organizers.

Elder Lorna is probably getting quite comfortable in this northfacing chair in Luther’s student lounge. This is also where she has been delivering her Elder teachings, a four-part storytelling series dealing with topics such as her residential school experience. When she is not in this chair, she

By Carla Flengeris

might be speaking in a class, or in a faculty meeting, or comforting a struggling student in “Kokum’s Corner”—a meeting place on our second floor that was carved out to accommodate the sharp increase in students wanting to speak with her. She might also be out in a field teaching members of the Luther community how to pick sage or sweetgrass, or she might be filming an instructional video on making tobacco ties. Outside of the two afternoons per week that Elder Lorna is scheduled to be with us, she blesses important events at our College, from first-year orientation to convocation. Wherever she is, she is ready and willing to share the wisdom she has gained throughout her life and to model how to listen without judgement.

When the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada was released in 2015, Luther College heard the call for a “renewed nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and

Elder Lorna leading a storytelling event

Dr. Brenda Anderson with Sarah (student) at REDress workshop

partnership.” 1 The report included 94 Calls to Action, among them numbers 62–65 which tackled educational barriers and the need to teach the history and legacy of the Residential School system, to address the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of reconciliation. Luther recognized that it was uniquely and powerfully positioned to act, knowing that these Calls to Action touched on every aspect of our mission in preparing students to be compassionate, critical thinkers in a community of care. We revised our values to include Indigenous worldviews, knowledge and perspectives. Our 2022–25 strategic plan outlined goals and strategies to ensure that Indigenous engagement and a culture of reconciliation infused our decisions and actions. An “Indigenization committee” was formed but quickly realized it needed the guidance of an Elder. When we welcomed Elder Lorna to Luther in 2021, she

suggested a new name for our “Indigenization” committee: ᒫᒪᐃᐧ

or mâmawi-itohtêwak (Mah-muh-wi ih-Toh-tay-wuk). It translates to “walking together” and she wasted no time leading our predominantly non-Indigenous staff on a journey of reconciliation: to learn (and unlearn) how to engage in teaching, research and community engagement “in a good way” and in good relations. If you read her lengthy resume posted on our website, you’ll see that her life’s work has been about building connections.

Elder Lorna’s traditional Cree name, “Noo-Ta-Ka-A-Pay-Taht-Mee-OooMus-Ki-Ki,” means “old woman who brings good medicine” and she has indeed healed, soothed and nourished Luther College through some challenging times. Like that Friday afternoon drum, Elder Lorna is our heartbeat, propelling us forward on this important work of reconciliation.

1 Canada.ca, Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (Ottawa, ON: Crown-Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, 2024), https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1450124405592/1529106060525.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Smudging is a sacred ceremony that Elder Lorna uses to open a teaching or sharing circle. It is a deeply rooted practice in many First Nations cultures—it allows participants to spiritually cleanse and ground themselves. Smudging involves burning significant medicines: sage, cedar, sweetgrass and tobacco. The Luther College university campus needs a designated, smudge-friendly space. You can help us create this space by generously donating online by scanning this QR code.

Luther faculty and staff picking sage

100 YEARS On Royal Street

As we begin to plan for the centennial of the Royal Street campus in 2026–27, it is only appropriate that we sufficiently honour this milestone anniversary throughout the full academic year.

Our hope is that 100 Years on Royal Street! will see us welcome back the College’s friends to celebrate the many ways in which the Luther spirit and story continues to resonate in our lives.

In preparation for such a significant celebration, please note that we are temporarily pausing Homecoming for 2025. We hope to see you during 100 Years on Royal Street in 2026!

HOMECOMING 2024

Here is a look back at Homecoming 2024. Thanks to all our alumni who were able to join!

Back row: Murray Hilderman & Bill Knudsen

Front row: Robert Hawrysh, Ken Phillips, Garry Umbrich, Carla Pitzel & Heidi Karlonas

Trevor Toews (HS’74) & Sharon Leippi (HS’74)

Jaden Le & Zelda Faulks, High School students

Adam Galloway & emcee Kris Dueck

Joshua Hendricksen (HS’08, U’19)

Lynda Bordessa (HS’64) & Richard Haack (HS’64)

Brennen Schmidt (HS’08) & former teacher Barb Wright

EMPOWERING EDUCATORS: New Awards Support Innovative Professional Development

As a child of a teacher and as a former student of Luther College High School, Soren Oberg (HS’88) knows how important professional development is in the lives of faculty and staff, and how difficult it can be financially to pursue personally and professionally rewarding opportunities.

With that in mind, Soren recently established the Professional Development Awards at Luther College High School to fund professional and personal development opportunities, especially over the summer months.

Soren says, “My goal was twofold: to augment Luther’s existing professional development program thereby helping to attract and retain the best teachers and staff to the school, and to equip faculty and staff so that they can provide students with an excellent learning experience.”

“The activities selected for these awards are not necessarily the traditional type of PD that we have come to think about—like a webinar or a workshop,” says Leah Quick, Director of Development. “These awards could be used for things like scouting out a new

outdoor education location, or activities to improve mental health—anything that helps the applicant be a better teacher, more energized, and enhance their interactions with students.”

These inaugural awards were handed out in February 2025 to four recipients. Congratulations to our first recipients who have found creative and non-conventional professional development that will ultimately uplift and attend to professional passion and overall wellness.

ARC MIDPOINT COMPUTATION: PHASING IN IMPLEMENTATION

Dr. Gregory Akulov, Math/Science Teacher

Discovered in 2010 by Dr. Gregory Akulov, and his son Oleksandr (Alex), (HS’ 07), a University of Waterloo Applied Mathematics student, this innovative find further distinguishes that Luther College High School teaching is unique and valuable!

Dr. Akulov plans to use the award to continue developing and sharing academic resources featuring the concept of arc midpoint computation and its applications relevant to mathematics, physics and computer science high school and university classes in Saskatchewan, across Canada, and abroad.

SPA RETREAT

Lindsay Dubini, Tanya Healy & Jessica Zhao, Main Office Staff

Hospitality, care, and excellence are our hallmark! The front office team exemplifies these qualities—and many others—in all that they do! By taking dedicated time for self-care, team building, and being intentionally restorative, not only are they modelling the importance of rest and relaxation, their project reinforces Luther’s commitment to employee wellness.

PARENT & KID CANOE WILDERNESS COURSE

Kris Dueck, History/Theatre/Health Teacher

This course will find Kris and his family explore and affirm how “all education is grounded in relationship.” This experience will translate in practical terms as Kris works to expand Luther’s experiential learning, as well as highlighting Indigenous ways of knowing and land-based-learning opportunities. This will allow our students to connect with the land—and each other—in meaningful, formative, and memorable ways.

Kris says, “I hope that this experience will give me some of the requisite skills I need to be able to lead similar experiences with my students through landbased learning which I hope to incorporate into my history classes as well as future Indigenous Studies courses that will be offered at Luther. I also hope to be able to contribute more to the Luther outdoor education program in the future with new skills gained. I hope to immerse myself in a different way of learning that will increase my comfort with land-based learning and give me confidence to build relationships with other folks who share common interests.”

UNPLUG IN UCLUELET

Erin

Woods,

Physical Education/Health/English Teacher

Erin’s initiative is specifically designed to attend to the mental-health and emotional needs of an “anxious generation” of students. By decidedly unplugging from social media and replacing her phone with dedicated time to commune with nature and family, her teaching practice will be informed by the practical experience and spiritual growth of such an adventure.

Erin says, “I am committed to teaching my children and my students the benefits of true social interactions and face-to-face communication to create long-lasting relationships and memories. As a long-term Luther teacher, I have witnessed a decline in students’ mental and social health especially in the last two years. There is a prolific amount of time spent on devices, and youth are especially vulnerable to addiction ... educators must follow their own advice if they want to gain the trust of those they teach.”

LOOKING TO HELP?

Anyone can donate to the Professional Development Award fund at Luther College High School. If you feel inspired to donate to this work, visit this QR code to donate now.

ALUMNI PROFILESTEPHEN KING (U’94)

EDUCATION: A Family Affair

If there were a prize for most members of a nuclear family to attend Luther College at the University of Regina, the King family would likely win. Seven out of seven siblings took classes at Luther between 1979 and 1995, and their father also attended for one year in the 1930s.

“Luther was home for us in a couple of ways. It was an academic home and, for four of my siblings, a physical home, as they lived in the dorm,” says Stephen King, who is sixth in the line of siblings. “When we left the small town we grew up in and moved to what seemed to us as a huge, unfamiliar city, Luther allowed us to meet people in a smaller context. For my older siblings, it was a way to adjust

By Sabrina Cataldo, BA ’97, BJ ’99, MA ’23

and live away from home. They knew they had three square meals a day, a place to study, and a place to rest their heads at night. It was a safe environment where they could focus on academics and activities.”

The importance of education in the family grew organically. “Our parents never pressured us to excel academically or to pursue a certain career. They left us to our own devices,” says King. As children, they read a lot, going into the nearby community of Estevan to borrow books from the library. They also spent elementary school in a tworoom schoolhouse, where younger students learned from the older kids’ lessons and older students had their knowledge reinforced. And, with nine people living in a threebedroom house, there was always someone around to talk to, play with, and learn from.

With such a close-knit family, it makes sense that when one sibling went to Luther, the others followed. King has fond childhood memories of helping his older siblings move in and out of the dorm. “I remember the Roughriders would hold their training camp at the University and the players would stay at Luther. I got autographs from Karl Morgan and JC Pelusi. As a 10-year-old kid, that was a big deal. I thought, ‘This is the greatest place in the world!’” says King.

Where are all the siblings now?

Bryan (BSc ’83) attended Queen’s University for his MSc and PhD and now lives in England, working in Oxford University in a lab as a plant physiologist.

Ross (BA ’84, MA ’96) went to York University for his PhD and now is an author and historian living in England. His books have won the Governor General’s Literary Awards twice.

Randy (BA Journalism and Communications ’96) earned a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and is now the Deputy Director–Adjudication with the Office of Residential Tenancies and Provincial Mediation Board in Regina.

Karen (BSc Hons ’88, MSc ‘90) did her medical degree at the University of Alberta and is an oncologist with the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.

2012 University of Regina convocation when Ross King received an honorary degree.

From left to right: Randy King, Cara Bradley, Stephen King, Claire King, Ross King, Melanie King, Wendy Binns (nee King) & Mike Binns

James King in school (1933-34) prior to attending Luther

Maureen (BA ’89, MA ’93) did her PhD at the University of Alberta, teaching early modern literature there and at Concordia University of Edmonton before retiring in 2021.

Wendy (PAS ’98) specialized in recreation therapy and now works at a long-term care facility in Regina.

As for Stephen, he did his BA Advanced in English and History (’94) and MA English (’97) before pursuing a PhD in English at the University of Alberta. He returned to Regina, where he wrote history books and worked in communications at Benchmark Communications and SaskEnergy before landing a position at the University of Regina (U of R) as the manager of external communications in 2006. Since 2008, he’s served as the senior researcher to the President at the U of R, a title he jokes should actually be ODAR (other duties as required). In his position, he writes speeches, correspondence, does reporting and problem-solving, and addresses student and other enquiries.

Working at a university is a natural fit for King. “Luther, Campion, and the University of Regina have given my family and me a lot. By working here, I can give something back,” he says.

King now sings Luther’s praises to the next generation. “Luther started out as a place of convenience and became a family affair for us. As a smaller community within a larger construct, some of the advantages are smaller classes, reserved spots for Luther students, and how easy it is to get to know your professors. I encouraged my godson to do his science degree through Luther, and he did. The tradition has carried on,” he concludes.

The Luther Lecture

September 29, 2025

The Right Rev. Dr. Carmen Lansdowne

First female Indigenous Moderator of The United Church of Canada and Assistant Professor of United Church Studies at Emmanuel College, will speak on the intercultural task of being “transformed by the other.”

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS

Drs. Bryan & Joanne Hillis

Bryan and Joanne Hillis’s dedication to Luther College epitomize the definition of Distinguished Service.

After graduating from the Luther College university campus in 1978 as the first student in Religious Studies, Bryan returned as a professor in 1989. He was appointed Dean in 1995, a role he served until 2005. He became President in 2010, a role he served until 2020. Bryan’s vocation always went beyond the job title, no matter which one he held.

Bryan served with unwavering energy and leadership. His service as President was the foundation of many initiatives that transformed the College—the largest fundraising campaign in Luther’s history; the College’s 100th anniversary; revising The Luther College Act to ensure that the College is governed by the people who care for it the most; the establishment of the first program to study the nonprofit sector in the province; the founding of the Community Bursary, serving disadvantaged students—there are too many to mention. His service extended to the wider

network of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America)

Colleges & Universities as a coauthor of Rooted and Open. This guiding document provides a modern definition of a Lutheran education and illustrates how our society is better because of it. This document anchors the purpose and mission of Luther College to this day.

Dr. Joanne Hillis graduated with a B.Sc and M.D. from the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and radiology fellowship at the University of Toronto. Joanne joined the Radiology Associates of Regina, where she eventually became the managing partner. Joanne also taught as an Assistant Professor for the U of S at the Regina General Hospital Medical Imaging department. In 1992, Joanne founded the Breast Assessment Center in Regina, streamlining patient care and diagnostic imaging for breast cancer patients.

Joanne is a force in the Regina cultural community, serving as President of the Regina Music Festival Association, member of the Regina Musical Club, and past Board Member of the Regina

Symphony. Joanne played a vital role in maintaining Luther’s standards of excellence and traditions, in addition to being a pillar of support to a busy President. She was an essential part of many musicals at the High School, lending her talents sewing thousands of costumes. She was also the creator of the 100th Anniversary quilts that adorn both campuses.

Bryan and Joanne were regular participants in all the events of the Luther community. Their presence demonstrated the kind of caring support they feel for this community. Over the last several decades, Bryan and Joanne have cultivated deep relationships with thousands of students, alumni, and donors worldwide. Of course, they are parents to four alumni daughters: Amy, Karla, Erin, and Laura. The Hillis family are truly ambassadors for Luther College.

Together, the Hillis family has demonstrated remarkable generosity, donating substantial resources, time, and effort to ensure Luther College remains a place of excellence and community.

These awards are granted to individuals who have shown dedication to and support for Luther College and its mission through their ongoing loyalty, commitment, outstanding contribution, and service.

Dr. Rex & Elsa Schneider

As Luther College approaches 100 years on Royal Street in 2026, it seems only fitting that the contributions of Rex and Elsa Schneider be recognized posthumously. Without them, there would be no Luther College in Regina as we know it today.

When Luther Academy of Melville relocated to Regina, the first Principal/President was Dr. Rex Schneider, who led Luther College from 1926 to 1964. It was Dr. Schneider’s high standards that established Luther’s strong reputation. Under his direction, the College grew even during the difficult years of the Depression followed by World War II.

Rex was foundational to many facets of Luther culture. Still today we carry on his model of a supportive community combined with a strong academic program. He was the first to call an athletic team “the Lions”; he established a Sunday worship service that became Christ Lutheran Church; he was the first to hire former Luther

alumni as teachers. Rex knew the students by name, as well as their parents and pastors. He started each school year by greeting the new students at the door as they entered. He was considered a kind man with good advice thanks to his psychology background.

Miss Elsa Mees was a math and music teacher and one of the first female faculty members. In the early days, she also organized the girls’ dorm activities and took the Boys’ Glee Club on annual tours around Saskatchewan. When Christ Lutheran Church was founded in 1930, many Luther students became the church choir. She also coached the first girls’ sports activity—the 1929 softball team. Elsa was also responsible for producing the first musical in 1929–30, staged at the new Darke Hall of Regina College.

In 1931, Rex Schneider and Elsa Mees were married. Mrs. Schneider continued after their marriage to be active in the music program, although not officially on staff. For over 30 years, she hosted an annual tea for graduating students; organized a full program for pastors’ wives each summer during Lutheran conventions; and she

prepared the menus for the dining room at the school as she was trusted to keep to a tight budget.

Rex and Elsa worked hard to connect Luther with the Regina community, and they were well respected outside of the Lutheran circles, particularly with welleducated professionals who wanted to give their children a high-quality education. Schneider once commented that a major reason Luther survived the Great Depression was the large number of non-Lutheran students.

The Schneiders’ service and influence went beyond just Luther College. Rex also served as the first President of Canadian Lutheran World Relief. This also meant more European students made their way to Luther College after the war. Elsa was also the first president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Federation. She lobbied for funds to construct the girls’ dorms and secured a donation of $75,000; in today’s equivalent it would be over $1.5M.

For their foundational service and visionary leadership, we recognize Dr. Rex and Elsa Schneider with the 2025 Distinguished Service Award.

ALUMNI PROFILE JAMES KRAMER (HS’05)

You and your spouse have left the kids with a sitter and you’re out for a rare dinner alone without the juice boxes and colouring sheets. Heaven!

Suddenly, the sommelier catches your eye. You panic. You’re on a tight budget and the last thing you need is a snobby wine steward trying to upsell a $100 bottle of cabernet sauvignon.

If you’re dining at Saskatoon’s POP Wine Bar or the company’s sister restaurant, Primal Pasta, you have nothing to worry about. In fact, James Kramer is frank, funny, and highly relatable, guaranteed to put you at ease immediately.

“My job is to enhance the guests’ experience, not intimidate them,” James says thoughtfully. “The goal is to meet people where they’re at—not show off your knowledge or make a big sale. I like to think I’m giving people a peek behind the veil and giving them buying power—not only in the restaurant but the store. I’m asking questions and guiding choices based on what they like, what they’re eating, and what they might enjoy.”

If you’ve seen the movie trope where the guest swirls wine in their mouth, makes a face, and sends the bottle back, it’s actually very rare.

“If a sommelier has done their job properly, they should already know what you want and not offer up the wrong bottle,” he laughs. “But a bad bottle can still happen. It might be heat damaged, or the cork is either infected with fungus or too porous and air has infiltrated the wine. If it smells like vinegar, wet dog, or a pool changeroom, we’re getting you a new bottle immediately.”

James’s Instagram account @simply-sommelier reads like your favourite novel. He may be a sommelier, blending hospitality and logistics with wine, spirits and even beer, but he’s also a storyteller at heart. His posts are full of fun and adventure as he takes you down the liquor store aisles or around the globe exploring old and new world wineries.

“My favourite country to drink wine

from is France—one of the oldest and most revered wine-making areas,” he smiles. “These wines are all about tradition and have centuries of expertise behind them. But newworld wine regions like California’s Napa Valley or B.C.’s Okanagan are embracing innovation and crafting bold new traditions.”

James’s knowledge is impressive. He can happily outline a wine’s tannin (astringent taste in the mouth), acidity (bright, zesty quality), body (the weight of wine in your mouth), and finish (the lingering flavour after you swallow). He gets animated when explaining natural wines, made with a natural fermentation process that results in a little sediment.

“Ambient yeast is used—literally from the air and hands of the pickers. Rather than injecting yeast into the wine, natural wine captures a moment in time and explains why wines can vary so much around the world.”

James adds that finding a good bottle of wine that’s right for the customer and the situation is not about price. “There are so many great bottles of wine under $30. You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a night out.”

James and his older brother David grew up in Regina and both attended Luther. James says his parents had very “European sensibilities” about alcohol. “It was part of the culture and tradition

By Lynette Piper

of family gatherings, where you slowed down and savoured time with family and friends— responsibly and respectfully,” he asserts.

James is adamant that non-drinkers shouldn’t miss the opportunity for camaraderie and connection often ingrained around the clinking of glasses.

“Sober people shouldn’t be ostracized,” he says. “One of the things I’ll recommend are some very good de-alcoholised wines where the alcohol by volume or AVB is only 0.5 per cent—the same as drinking a kombucha (slightly fizzy, fermented tea drink).”

James admits that he wasn’t the best student in high school, due in part to undiagnosed ADHD. But receiving a formal diagnosis two years ago was life-changing.

“Suddenly my idiosyncrasies and disruptions made sense. I see that some of my issues in school were just the way my brain worked. It’s such a relief now to be medicated and give myself grace.”

James ventured to university in Saskatoon after Luther but struggled and wound up in the restaurant business—something he was good at. Years later, he returned to university and proudly obtained his undergrad in psychology, which led to an MBA.

He’s now married to his husband Steven Kary, and together, they’ve built a home that mirrors the

foundations that James’s parents taught their sons.

“We were shown how to interact authentically with humanity. Being good in business goes beyond the boardroom or golf game. It’s about meeting people where they’re at and connecting with customers and employees on a deeper level.”

James does that naturally as he takes care of each customer with an abundance of kindness and attention. He’s just as passionate about people as he is about a good Burgundy.

While many sommeliers live and work around the world, experiencing the unique offerings of different vineyards, James is content to build his life here in Saskatchewan and bring the world to his customers.

I want to stay and help educate the palettes of Saskatchewan. People here are smart and they deserve to experience the world in their own backyard.”

James Kramer & Steven Kary on their wedding day

CLASS Notes

1950s

Marvin Lange (HS’57) will be 86 in July. He and his wife Carol have been enjoying their time as grandparents and have extensively travelled over the last five years. Marvin says, “All the best to Luther, the best decision of my life.”

Erryl Sanderman (HS’57, HSU’58) spent 34 years teaching at Langara College. He retired in 2000 and changed his picture-framing hobby into an in-home business specializing in West Coast aboriginal art, especially that of the Coast Salish and Haida. Luther memory: “I remember the enjoyment of playing the piano for chapel. I also fondly remember the 2017 Homecoming where my wife, Donna, and I met so many friends with whom we had lost touch.”

Terry Gordon (HS’59) and wife Bonnie moved to Qualicum Beach B.C., after residing in West Vancouver for 40 years. They enjoy a less hectic lifestyle, staying active in a variety of ways near two lovely grandchildren and their family! Luther memory: “I look back fondly at those precious days at Luther—athletics, labs, the dorms, L.I.T., Wednesday night football at Taylor Field, and many dedicated teachers, including Blake Carson, Rudy Selzer, Mr. Mang, Miss Christie, Mr. Tiefenbach, Mr. Liefeld, Mr. Schemmer, Morris Anderson, Don Vinge (P.E./football coach), and a very different Mr. Wagner (superb Shakespearean guru), Dr. Schneider, principal, and his lovely wife/teacher; and lastly, great math/physics twelve teacher, Mr. Purden!”

Pictured from left to right: Gary Fitz (HS’59) and Mary Ann (Hindle) Fitz & Terry Gordon

1960s

Sandy (Little) Schemmer (HS’60) retired from teaching but continues to volunteer in many areas. She lives near the beach in White Rock, B.C. Luther memory: “When the senior girls volleyball team won provincials two years in a row and winning the title of Miss Regina in 1959.” Sandy would love to hear from classmates: leschemmer@ yahoo.ca.

Ken Bradley (HS’61) won the 2024 Sask Golf Provincial Legends title at the Nipawin Golf Club in July 2024. This is his sixth Legends win since 2017. Ken was inducted into the Moose Jaw & District Sports Hall of Fame in 2024 as an athlete in golf and as a builder in athletics in Moose Jaw.

Ed Rockel (HS’61) and his wife of 46 years moved “to paradise, aka Salt Spring Island” on the west coast of B.C., where they live on a 5-acre lot with mostly forest. He walks two to four kilometers most days of the week “to keep us from rusting up.” Ed is semiretired and working part-time for a small precious metals exploration and mining company. He says, “Once finally retired we plan to drag our little trailer around Canada to visit places we haven’t yet seen and, of course, make a visit (at least a drive-by) to Luther College to reminisce about simpler times when the biggest worry was getting my German homework done in time. Very best wishes to all alumni, especially the ancients.”

Richard Haack (HS’64) recently received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his work with the Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region. He celebrated his 74th birthday building his 74th home and the number of houses built is now over 82. He also volunteers planting and maintaining trees at his local church.

Jim Hansen (HS’67) retired several years ago from a career as an interventional cardiologist at the Foothills Hospital. He continues to live on an acreage in the foothills south of Calgary and has been fortunate to remain active with such things as hiking, cycling, hockey and music. He has nine grandchildren who live close by. Jim says, “I think often of my time at Luther and the impact it had on my future endeavours.”

1970s

Terry (Duffy) Bourdages (HS’71) is happily married to Brian Bourdages and they live in San Felipe, Mexico! “We’re both retired and spend time traveling and visiting our kids and grandkids in Sacramento and Kelowna. Life is good.”

Cameron Craig (HS 1972-73) is a retired mechanical engineer. He moved to Calgary after Luther to get a degree in mechanical engineering technology. In 1980, he married the love of his life and had three daughters. He was a senior service technician for IBM and Kodak Canada until 1990. He has extensive sales experience in a variety of businesses over the last five decades of living in Alberta and B.C.

Chris Dewart (HS’72) is a retired adjunct professor of marketing at the University of New Haven. Most recently has been cruising around the world from Barcelona, Spain.

David Zerr (LCUR resident 197176) – “When Luther College residence opened at the U of R in 1971, the first dean of residence was Jim Dale. As many of the residents were first-year students away from home for the first time, Jim’s open door was a refuge to discuss any challenges that came up. His mentorship was instrumental in the development of many young people and the effects of that can still be felt.”

David and his brother Doug had a visit with Jim in November 2024, talking and laughing about life and reminiscing about times spent together. Jim passed away that December from cancer. “I am so thankful to have known him. Jim always strived to help others and was always generous with his time. His legacy is a part of all of the lives that he touched.”

Trevor Toews (HS’74) is a heavy-duty mechanic for the City of Edmonton. He has been writing gospel songs since 2018 and ministering in music at various events and jamborees in Alberta. His songs can be accessed for free at trevortoewsmusic.com. Luther memory: “I can’t remember the exact reason for visiting the school nurse but while I was there, she began spinning records from her exhaustive classical record collection. I still take every opportunity to listen to any piece of classical music. There are many other memories that I carry, and I have my time at Luther to thank for many of them.”

Margaret (Kurtz) Merrifield-Daily (HS’72) is happily married, healthy, with three grown children, and 13 grandchildren in a blended family. She is living her best life with organic gardens and a functional integrated medical clinic, refocusing after 40 years of clinical practice to an educational outreach practice at drmerrifieldmd.com. Luther memory: “Growing up a stone’s throw from Luther as my father was Pastor Kurtz, who built Christ Lutheran Church when I was 12. Memories of Christmas celebrations, L.I.T., and all my high school wonder years, staff and friends. With seven children in the family, at one point five of us were at Luther together.”

Arthur Wong (HS’74) and Danny Wong (HS’01) toured the school in August 2024 as they were visiting from Hong Kong. After graduation, Arthur studied economics at the University of Saskatchewan where he met his wife, Susan. They moved back to Hong Kong but sent their two children Chrissy (HS’97) and Danny (HS’01) (pictured here) to Luther too. Arthur remembered being a dorm student and not having a washer and dryer on site—they had to haul their laundry to a nearby laundromat.

Alan Seaman (HS’75) is now in Saskatoon after spending 30 years in Yellowknife. He would like to connect with his fellow classmates.

Chris Ludwig (HS’77) is retiring this June after a 47-year career in aviation, which included nine years as a military pilot and 24 years as a commercial pilot with various airlines. He is currently an Inspector with Transport Canada. He and his wife Louise will be celebrating their 35th anniversary in May and welcoming their first grandchild in August. Luther memory: “My fondest memories were the musical productions I participated in each year. I still remember the words to many of the songs from Li’l Abner, Man of La Mancha and My Fair Lady. L.I.T. was always great fun as well!”

Guy Buller (HS’78) has worked with the Geological Survey of Canada for 27 years with the opportunity to do field work in Yukon, Nunavut and Northwest Territories. He has been coaching track and field and started competing in and coaching javelin. Luther memory: “My Fair Lady...I still have my solo in my head!”

Pictured: Jim Dale

CLASS Notes

1980s

Lindsay Collins (LCUR resident 1981) retired from teaching in 2022 but is still doing temporary contracts and returned this fall as Vice Principal at Estevan Comprehensive. She is still barrel racing and says life is good!

James Shewaga (HS’83, U’87) celebrated a10-year milestone working in communications/public relations at the University of Saskatchewan, following a 25-year career in journalism.

Karen (Pockrandt) Rozon (HS’87) retired from the federal government in October 2024. Currently she and her husband are traveling, greenhouse gardening, and enjoying the outdoors. She remembers the kind, caring and sincere teachers at Luther College.

Laurel Dutton-Wilkins (U’88) had a nearly 35-year career as a lab tech in the industrial field. She was blessed to be able to retire two years ago and has been married for almost 25 years to a wonderful man named Al, with two children and two stepchildren. She continues to volunteer in figure skating, mostly as a judge. This year, she had the honour of going to Japan as a board member of the Regina Fujioka Student Exchange Program. “I’m so grateful to have attended the U of R and being affiliated with Luther College while earning my degree. It opened so many doors!” Luther memory: “I enjoyed my time being the P.R. Director for LUSA, especially when we were able to make an on-stage donation to Telemiracle after fundraising at one of our cabarets. I was especially honoured to be asked to do a reading at the service when Dr. Don Lee was appointed to President.”

1990s

Holly Bardutz (U’91) was nominated for a 2025 Women of Distinction award from YWCA Regina. Her nomination

was in the category of Women Breaking Barriers for her advocacy and community outreach for brain health education.

Heather Lissel (U’93) moved to Alberta in 1996 and worked as a project coordinator in the areas of injury prevention, spinal cord injury, and pediatric rehabilitation. Heather has two adult sons, and Sherwood Park has been her home for 22 years. She is now retired but continues her love of research, born out of her time at the U of R, in genealogy. It is a hobby that keeps her busy and takes her back to her roots in Saskatchewan. Luther memory: “Working at the SSDBU–Sample Survey and Data Bank Unit. We conducted telephone surveys using pen, paper, and actual telephones! The people there were wonderful. I wish them well, wherever they are now.”

Rachel Hayward (HS’93) is the Executive Director of CyberAlberta with the Government of Alberta, working to build cyber resiliency across the province.

Michael Flynn (HS’93) was a stay-athome dad to three boys who are now 13, 15 and 16. He was married over 18 years to his sweet, fun, best friend, Julie. God was the center of that relationship. She passed away from cancer in March 2024. Mike says, “Life took on a whole new look for me. Julie’s passing rocked me in ways I would never want anyone to ever experience. My sons were more relieved for their Mum, because she is with the Lord and she lives in His glory. No more tears. In our grief, we together showed our boys praise and love to our Lord, in spite of the pain. We never blamed God for one second. Our family is healing and we choose to continue to

smile and laugh at and with each other often, just as Julie would have wanted. God bless Luther High School! It is the place where I officially met Jesus Christ.”

Michael Park (HS’93) always wanted to write a fictional novel and completed it during the extended COVID break. Tiny Little Pharmacists, a humorous literary novel about three quirky kids who grow up to become pharmacists, will be officially published and available on-line soon. He adds, “As an homage to my two favourite teachers from high school, Mark Anderson and Ben Freitag, I mentioned both names in my book, Mark Anderson in one of the dream sequences and Mr. Freitag as one of the history teachers at the high school.” Luther memory: “The first time I met Mr. Anderson was in grade 9 English, and he asked all the students to follow some instructions, which included jumping up and down, and other peculiar actions, which we all did. Then he asked us why we did all that, to which we replied, because he asked us to. He then said not to do what he says but to follow our own path, to forge ahead ourselves as our own independent thinkers. A strange idea for a 14-yearold kid who wasn’t used to being treated as an adult. My experiences with Mr. Anderson and the other English teachers encouraged me to be passionate about English literature.”

Alice (Gabriel) Boxall (HS’95) worked as an Advanced Care Paramedic with Regina EMS for 20 years. Her current position within EMS is assisting with mental health resources across the province to all paramedics and medical first responders especially in isolated areas that don’t have the immediate access to supports. Alice still teaches at the Youth Ballet of Saskatchewan. She has three beautiful daughters. Kinsey (who currently attends Luther), Lily, and Samantha, along with stepchildren Riley, Austin, Ajaah and Kayel. Luther memory:

“Living in the dorms... there are so many students from around the world and we were so lucky to be able to meet and learn about these foreign places from these students. I always had a sense of family living in the dorms. Along with that, I was one of the individuals who went over to Tanzania and Kenya during the summer of 1994 to experience the culture, economy and traditions of their country. This was a time when the Rwandan war was taking place and tensions were higher even in the safe areas we were in. It brought forward the importance for us to understand that not everywhere in the world is stable and safe or similar to our homes. It allowed us to meet people who experienced this daily, but that they found the joy and happiness each day and they celebrated and appreciated all that they had.”

Shannon Maliteare (U’97) is the Administrative Assistant at the Ravensong Aquatic Centre in Qualicum Beach. She works in the Recreation and Parks Department for the Regional District of Nanaimo and lives with her husband and daughter in Parksville, BC. Luther memory: “I met my husband while living in Luther College residence. We had lots of fun at quad parties and formals that took place.”

2000s

Brittney Stricker (HS’04, U’14) has been living and working in a remote Arctic community in the Northwest Territories as a probation officer since 2019. Her work focuses on supporting individuals through their rehabilitation and promoting community safety. Life in the north is unique, with the incredible experience of 24-hour darkness in the winter and 24-hour sunlight in the summer. Beyond her professional role, she developed a strong love for gardening at the community greenhouse, where growing fresh food during the short but

intense growing season has become one of her favourite parts of living in the Arctic.

Graham Quick (HS’07) and other alumni from the Class of 2007 went to London, England in December 2024.

Pictured from left to right: Ben Waite, Tyler Diebel, Graham Quick & Mac Hird

Lindsay (Braul) Meyers (HS’09) married Douglas Meyers on July 15, 2023 on the Sunshine Coast in BC with immediate family! They are happily settled in Port Moody, BC. Lindsay is now teaching at Vancouver College, an all-boys Catholic school in Vancouver.

Taylor Koback (HS’08) completed a degree in computer science with a minor in geomatics at University of Saskatchewan and works as a systems engineer.

2010s

Nicholas Rheubottom (U’13) has been working in the non-profit sector representing businesses, first in the development community, and then as an executive director for the Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce. He is now running for city council in Edmonton’s 2025 municipal election.

Gabriela Celis-Guevara (HS’15) earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Architecture at the University of Calgary in 2021. Later she pursued piloting at the Calgary Flying Club and was nominated by the Calgary Highlanders to be deployed overseas to Latvia in 2022. In 2024, she got engaged. Currently, she is working towards obtaining a Private Pilot License. She is preparing for cross-country flights, conducting more solo flight hours, and preparing for flight tests. Her ultimate career objective is to become a highly skilled aerobatic pilot and commercial aviation. Luther memory: “Playing soccer with the girls team. Coach Mr. Frostad, put his time, dedication and effort in motivating the girls to push further. In my senior year, we won the city championship and the sound of joy, excitement and celebration in the stadium roared greatly. It was definitely a memorable moment.”

Samantha Leech (HS ‘16) earned a Bachelor of Engineering from Queen’s University in 2020 and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Calgary in 2024. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine. Along with Samantha, six other students of the forty accepted to this year’s MD cohort at the U of S College of Medicine Regina campus are Luther College High School alumni! Outside of academics, Samantha frequently performs as a violinist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

CLASS Notes

Ashley Pipko-Huzil (HS’10, U’18) graduated with a Social Work degree from the University of Regina in 2015 and completed a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership at Luther College. She has worked primarily supporting children and families experiencing interpersonal violence and facilitating a youth mentorship program in and around Regina. She works now with the Ministry of Social Services while completing her Master’s in Public Administration. Ashley says, “At home, life is full and joyful. I got married in August 2024, and I am a proud (and busy!) mom of two wonderful kids. I am an avid gardener and consider myself and family ‘urban farmers.’ My back yard includes a huge garden plot, raspberry bushes, apple, plum and pear trees. Life is busy in the summer and fall when we harvest all of our food and prepare for the winter. I remain closely connected to many friends from my Luther days.” Luther memory: “I greatly miss the fine arts program. Mr. Hunter’s art class was a great creative outlet, and a wonderful opportunity for chatting with friends. Arguably, most of my socializing happened in that classroom. The musicals and one act plays! Just being able to be creative without life/adulting getting in the way!”

Kevina Mullock (U’19) was a recipient of the 2025 YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards. She won in the category of Enriching Education (along with MacKenzie Chittenden) for her commitment to inclusive STEM education for underrepresented youth.

Rylee Silzer (HS’19, U’24) will be graduating with a Masters in Forensic Psychology from Arizona State University, and beginning her Doctorate at Oklahoma State University in the fall.

2020s

Zarrin Ananna (HS’21) was recently awarded the Outstanding Youth Philanthropist Award for her work in the community. Zarrin runs a tutoring program in collaboration with Mother Teresa Middle School in Regina called Study Smart, where she helps young kids learn writing and math. She was also a 2025 finalist for the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards as a Young Woman of Distinction.

Paige (Dahlman) Mattern (U’23) has been working with the Ministry of Justice in Court Services. She staffs all the courthouses in the province and supports them with anything they need. Paige got married in 2024 and has been enjoying life and not writing essays!

FACULTY & STAFF

Retired teacher Randy Brooks and his wife Sharon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Interim President Dr. Murray Knuttila is a 2025 Saskatchewan Book Award winner! Eroding a Way of Life: Neoliberalism and the Family Farm (University of Regina Press) won the Jennifer Welsh Scholarly Writing Award.

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Dr. Kaila Bruer (with Dr. Susan Yamamoto, Campion College) was named a 2025 President’s Teaching and Learning Scholar from the University of Regina for their work on “Enhancing Forensic Psychology Education Through AI-Driven Interactive Roleplay Simulations.” These scholars were selected for their thoughtful and forward-thinking proposals, which aim to integrate generative AI into their respective disciplines and areas of study. Their projects will explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

Academic Dean Dr. Derrek Eberts won the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the Canadian Association of Geographers.

Class Notes submissions have been edited for length and clarity. If you would like to submit your own Class Note for publication in May 2026, email alumni@luthercollege.edu.

Photo credit: Stobbe Photography

FROM HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAYS TO ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVOURS:

My Journey Post-Graduation

Jasmine Gemmell (HS’15)

As I sit down to reflect on my journey since graduating from Luther College High School (2015), I can hardly believe how much my life has transformed over the years. What began as a simple idea in my high school locker has blossomed into a thriving business, and I couldn’t be more excited to share my story with all of you.

At the age of 17, I started selling jewelry from my locker, fuelled by a passion for jewelry and fashion. Those early days taught me invaluable lessons about entrepreneurship, customer service, and the importance of following one’s passion. It was exhilarating to see my classmates enjoy the pieces I curated, and that experience ignited a fire in me to pursue this path further.

By the time I was 21, I opened my first store, which marked the significant turning point in my life. Over the years, I’ve grown my little venture into a flourishing business, launching four stores in total... three located in Regina and one in Saskatoon. Although I faced some challenges, including the decision to close the Saskatoon store and one of my Regina locations, I remained focused on expanding my footprint. I’m thrilled to announce that I’m in the process of opening a new location in Moose Jaw and a sister store in Calgary! It’s exhilarating to see my vision come to life and to bring my unique offerings to more communities.

In addition to running my stores, I have taken on the rewarding role of educator. I am proud to share my passion for piercing by conducting training sessions in Ontario. I also teach in-store classes right here in Regina. It’s incredibly fulfilling to empower aspiring piercers with the skills they need to succeed in this art form.

Currently, I oversee a remarkable team of 12 employees who help bring my vision to life every day. We attend trade shows together, allowing us to stay on top of the trends in the jewelry industry and continually refine our craft. Each experience at these events reinforces my commitment to quality and innovation.

Life outside of work has been just as exciting. In September, I married my wonderful husband, Greg. Our wedding was a beautiful celebration, and I feel so lucky to embark on this new chapter with him by my side. Together, we are proud parents to three adorable cats, who bring so much joy and laughter into our home.

Looking back, it’s amazing to see how far I’ve come since those high school days, and I’m excited for what the future holds. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it inspires you to chase your dreams, no matter how far-fetched they may seem. Remember, perseverance and passion can lead to remarkable outcomes!

Luther memory: The unforgettable drum battle between Jonas McIntosh and Quinn Schwabe during All College 2013. They showcased their incredible musical talent and creativity—most of us never knew they even played drums. Music was so important at Luther, uniting us through any genre. That moment truly highlighted the magic of music and remains a cherished memory of my high school experience.

With sorrow, we remember these Luther College alumni and community members on their passing.

Allan Alfabete – High School maintenance staff

Morris Anderson – former Luther College President

Valerie Blakely (HS’64)

Rosemarie Carriedo – High School cook

Jim Dale – former dean at the University residence

Lorraine (Wenhardt) Eberhard (HS’44)

Bonnie Gattinger – former High School nurse

Margarita Gherasim (attended U’01)

Ellen (Richert) Hagan (HS’49)

Rebecca Henricksen (U’06)

Bryan Hillis (U’78) – former Luther College President

Irvine Huber (HSU’43)

Garry Korven (HS’61) and former teacher and dean at the High School

Gunter Mende (HS’59)

Gretchen (Schneider) Risch (HS’51, HSU’52) was the daughter of former Luther College President and faculty member Rex & Elsa Schneider. The family has asked for memorial gifts to her parents’ scholarship fund at Luther College.

Reid Robinson – past Board of Regents member

Eugene Seitz (HS’53) established two science scholarships at Luther College, both of which continue today in recognition of the academic achievements of High School and University students in science.

Friends of Luther College

Agnes Dusterbeck

Pastor Tom Nilson

Bud Phillips

William Quick

Margaret Roth

Peter Stratychuk