The Luther Story - 50th Anniversary Special Edition

LUTHER THE

LUTHER COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS

SPRING 2022

STORY

50 th Anniversary Special Edition

LUTHER COLLEGE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF REGINA

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

MESSAGE FROM THE

PRESIDENT

This spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green, Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes, Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes. from D.H. Lawrence, “The Enkindled Spring”

Dear Friends: Welcome to our Spring 2022 edition of The Luther Story: thank you for your ongoing support as you gaze into life at Luther through the pages of this issue of our College’s magazine.

As the pandemic finally begins to wane, D.H. Lawrence’s evocative words in “The Enkindled Spring” imaginatively describe to me the hopefulness that we all yearn for as winter breaks, the pandemic subsides, and life on campus slowly returns to a kind of normal we have not seen since before I became President of Luther College in July 2020.

Back in the fall, we were hopeful that life would return to normal by early January but, as you likely also experienced, a fifth wave of the Omicron variant forced additional restrictions, including the cancellation of the February L.I.T. at the High School and the continuation of remote teaching and operations at the University. Our employees continued to battle the pandemic, working diligently to keep our students and community as safe as possible.

Since that time, restrictions in the province have been relaxed and we are beginning a return to normal. At the University, staff and faculty returned to the U of R campus, and at the High School,

many sports and co-curricular activities resumed— including a “mini” L.I.T. basketball tournament dubbed “L.I.T.-Lite.” We enjoyed welcoming several local teams for an abbreviated tournament which saw both the Merlis Belsher Heritage Centre and Semple Gym filled with exciting basketball, cheering fans, and a chance to gather our community together once again! The month of March also finally saw a return to in-person daily chapel. This is something we have not been able to do since the pandemic began. While infections and variants continue to affect our communities, we are hopeful that we have finally turned the corner to continue near-normal operations for the balance of this academic year.

Upcoming, we are excited about our school-wide Service Day activities at the High School, as well as the All College banquet, our Home Concert, and of course graduation in a more traditional manner. At the University, most pandemic restrictions will be dropped on May 1 for a normal spring semester and an in-person convocation celebration to come in June.

The other significant piece of work that has been happening on both campuses is the work of our new strategic plan: Vision 2025. With the approval of refreshed draft vision, mission, and value statements by our Board of Regents, we have been busy this winter engaging our various stakeholders as we dream about what a post-pandemic Luther will look like. Under the project management and leadership of Mr. Brian Broqueza, our Director of Strategy and Business Development, we’ve been articulating the strategic directions and new initiatives that will guide us through to 2030.

EDITOR - Angela Bethune

COPY EDITOR - Donna Grant

EDITORIAL ADVISORS - Michelle Clark, Michayla Ziegler, Jodi Kydd, Carla Flengeris, Rebecca Anderson, Yvonne Petry

CONTRIBUTORS - Sabrina Cataldo, Marc Jerry, Angela Bethune, Michelle Clark, Don Lee, Lynette Piper

Cover: Graduates from 1988.

The Luther Story is published twice a year for alumni and friends of Luther College. If you have comments, feedback or a story idea, please share it with us!

Email: lutherstory@luthercollege.edu

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DESIGN AND PRINTING - Western Litho

Luther Media Luther College

Luther College High School University of Regina - Luther College

I firmly believe that there is no more important task than education to help heal a world desperate for truth and peace, and Luther College will be well positioned to be the leader in this work across western Canada. The new plan will outline our priorities for capital projects, programming, and growth over the next decade. I am excited to share that work with you once it has been completed later in the year.

Speaking of looking forward: as you will see from the thematic emphasis in this issue of The Luther Story magazine, we are highlighting the 50th anniversary of our Wascana Park campus at the University of Regina. In fact, Luther College was already teaching introductory university level courses when we were invited, along with Campion College, to build and begin our liberal arts and sciences university campus on the Wascana Park site. This was part of the early transition of what was then the University of Saskatchewan–Regina campus to the now autonomous University of Regina. We continue our proud traditions at the university: excellence in teaching and research, small class sizes, and superb student supports and services. I invite you into the stories and history of our University campus through the pages of this magazine. I hope it evokes positive memories from your experiences with us, whether you lived in our dorms, took our classes, or consider yourself a true “LCUR” grad.

We cannot do any of our important work for our students without both your material and prayerful help! I invite you to generously support us today as we continue our mission and ministry as an educational institution: make your donation to Luther College on our website and support our ongoing mission as we serve students who

are being prepared to serve the world.

Finally, for a world in turmoil and at war, we pray for the hope of the resurrection and for peace: Almighty God, all thoughts of truth and peace come from you. Kindle in the hearts of all your children the love of peace, and guide with your wisdom the leaders of the nations, so that your kingdom will go forth in peace and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen.

(Evangelical Lutheran Worship; Prayer for Peace, p.63)

Sincerely,

The Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry President, Luther College

Table of CONTENTS Establishing the University Campus 4

Reflections on Building the Historical Timeline 6

Timeline of Luther College at the University of Regina 7 50th Anniversary Celebration 21 Janet Bjorndahl 22 Wendy Cox 24 Shannon Williams 26 Shawn Fraser and Nichole Huck 28 Amber MacLeod 30 Class Notes 32 University Sustainability and Post-Pandemic Recovery 38

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ESTABLISHING THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS OF LUTHER COLLEGE

By Past President, Don Lee

When Harold Dietrich set in place the cornerstone for Luther College’s new building on the University of Regina campus half a century ago, it marked both a beginning and an ending— the beginning of the College’s service to students as part of a federated system on the Regina University campus and the end of many years of planning.

In 1926, Luther College moved its high school campus from Melville to its current location at 1500 Royal Street in Regina and eventually expanded its program to include a junior college affiliated with both the University of Saskatchewan and Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. There was continuing ambition among some of its leaders for Luther to one day become a private, stand-alone four-year College, similar to several Lutheran colleges in the United States. However, because the system of higher education in Saskatchewan is different from that in the U.S., private colleges here usually became four-year institutions by federating with a provincial university.

Almost a decade prior to the aforementioned placement of the cornerstone, Luther had been invited to become federated with a new university in Regina, which was initially called the University of Saskatchewan-Regina Campus. To do so, Luther was required to close its junior college and construct new facilities across town on the campus of what is now the University of Regina. To accomplish that required an extraordinary amount of planning and praying.

Funds had to be raised to pay for construction and other costs, a decision had to be made as to what specific facilities would be constructed, the buildings had to be designed and a builder engaged, faculty and staff had to be hired, arrangements with the University negotiated, and an administrative structure put in place.

The task was enormous. Many corporations and individuals provided financial support, while others contributed by volunteering in their areas of expertise.

However, there is little doubt in my mind that the two people most responsible for moving the overall project along were Luther’s Board Chair, Dr. Harold Dietrich, and President, Dr. Morris Anderson. Without their vision, expertise, and leadership, it is quite likely

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Board Chair Harold Dietrich lays the cornerstone of the university campus on October 3, 1971.

that Luther may have been content to remain a junior college connected to the high school campus on Royal Street. In fact, the idea of a college integrated with a larger university was a new concept as far as Lutheran higher education in North America was concerned. There was a prevailing philosophy that students could be best prepared for life by providing a sound academic program in a protective milieu as they matured from older teenagers to young adults.

It was felt that they should be exposed to conflicting societal concepts and different religious ideas in a secure environment, under the guidance of a group of wise and caring professors. Such would not be the case if the students were intermixed on a large secular

Luther's President, Dr. Morris Anderson and Board Chair, Dr. Harold Dietrich

campus where they would receive only a part of their education from Luther’s faculty members—a major concern for the Board of Regents as they considered federation.

On the other hand, some members of the Board saw federation as an opportunity for wider service to a much larger number of students. Having an active presence on the University campus would permit the College to legitimately share its Christian philosophy with future leaders of Canada and beyond. It was this approach, requiring both faith and courage, that was adopted.

The day that Harold placed the cornerstone in the wall of the new building, October 3, 1971, was a joyous occasion. Although the weather was not particularly cooperative, a large group of supporters gathered to give thanks, to congratulate the leaders, and to marvel at what had been accomplished. The Rex Schneider Auditorium was packed. The festival speaker, Dr.

William Hordern (father of future President, Rev. Dr. Richard Hordern), expressed both enthusiasm and concern for the years that lay ahead.

Fifty years later, it can be said that the Federated College, with God’s blessing, has faithfully educated several generations of students, enriching their lives in many ways, while responding boldly to the Great Commission found in Matthew 28: 18-20.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

(NRSV Matt. 28: 18-20)

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Reflections on Building the Historical Timeline of Luther College

By Dr. Yvonne Petry, Dean of Luther College at the University of Regina and Professor of History

As I worked on Luther College’s historical timeline in the winter of 2021-22, I was also reading Doug Cuthand’s 2007 book, Askiwina: A Cree World, a collection of stories from and about the Cree people on the Canadian prairies.

Cuthand says that “‘Askiwina’ is a Cree word that refers to the passage of time, roughly meaning ‘over the years.’” 1 The white settler community still has a lot to learn about storytelling from our Cree neighbours and I hope to continue to do so at a personal level.

That said, as a professional historian I was trained to keep events in order, and I admit that I jumped at the chance to create a timeline of fifty years of the life of Luther College at the University of Regina. The ancestors of the timelines we commonly use are chronicles, which are often the oldest and most important historical documents we have for many ancient societies. A timeline is not just a list of facts— and it does tell a story.

Constructing this timeline for the first fifty years of the life of Luther College at the University of Regina has been a deeply rewarding and deeply humbling experience. At Luther, we have sometimes struggled to define our identity, but as I worked through our history, it became clear to me that there is a continuity in Luther’s sense of

self and purpose; an underlying mission and vision is implicit in the ongoing work of the College.

I see important recurring themes: the desire to find the best ways to serve our students’ needs, the ambition to stay current and even ahead of the curve on programming, pedagogy, and technology, the commitment to the intellectual formation of the whole community through our Luther Lectures, and the ongoing dedication to art and music as important expressions of the human soul.

Over the past fifty years, we have gone from blackboards to white boards to PowerPoint to Zoom. We have gone from typed memos and printed posters to email to social media. We have kept abreast of change and been responsive to it. Luther College is a small institution, and a lean one. Every employee, regardless of their role, has learned how to multi-task, and how to be flexible, cooperative, and innovative. Not all initiatives have endured; some were abandoned, while others continued to evolve. Faculty and staff members have come and gone; some stayed a short while and others built their entire career at Luther College. Each one has contributed something important. Our timeline tells a story.

Nevertheless, a timeline only skates across the surface of the history of Luther College.

The history is the story of our students, who have arrived, studied at Luther, stayed at Luther, and gone on to live lives influenced by the time they spent with us. The history is embedded in the work of

Doug Cuthand, Askiwina: A Cree World (Regina; Coteau Books, 2007), iii.

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hundreds of individuals who, over the past fifty years, have arrived at work every day to make sure that our students learn something in their classes and that they have the resources to do so. The history includes those who have recruited students and brought them to us, and those who have shepherded them through the winding path from their eager-but-overwhelmed first year to their convocation day. The history includes our faculty members who have juggled teaching, research, and administrative responsibilities, and those dedicated instructors who have taught for the College on sessional stipends. The history of the College is embedded in the work of those who have looked after the intellectual, social, physical, spiritual, and mental health needs of our students. It is seen in the efforts of all those who have ensured that our building is a clean, warm, attractive, and safe place to study and work.

The history of the College is found in those who have fed us for fifty years, provided a home for our students, planned events, managed the library, attended meetings, kept the lines of communication open, sought donations, managed our computers, and kept the books in order. Our history includes the story of the time and talents that the members of our volunteer Board of Regents have contributed to the oversight of not one, but two, institutions. In sum, it is in the daily work of all those who have, over fifty years, dedicated their minds, hearts, and souls to the life of Luther College at the University of Regina that we find our story.

Timeline of Luther College at the University of Regina 1913 – Luther Academy in Melville is founded, sponsored by the Ohio Synod of the Lutheran Church.

Thirty-two young men are enrolled in the first year.

1968 – The Federation Agreement is finalized and in the near future, construction begins on a building at the University campus. A major fundraising campaign is established.

1969 – Dr. Lloyd Barber, a graduate of

1920 – The first

female students are accepted into Luther Academy.

1926 – Classes begin at Luther Academy on Royal Street in Regina. Dr. Rex Schneider is appointed Director (President) of Luther Academy, a position he will hold until 1964.

1926 – Luther Academy changes its name to Luther College.

1927 – The University of Saskatchewan

recognizes Luther as a Junior College and accepts its university-level classes for credit.

1961 – The Regina Campus of the University of Saskatchewan attains degree-granting status.

1964 – The Province of Saskatchewan

decides to give private church schools an operating grant of approximately $85 for each Saskatchewan student registered.

1964 – A new alumni magazine is

produced, which will become The Luther Story. Upon the retirement of Dr. Rex Schneider, Dr. Morris Anderson becomes President.

1964 – Luther College and Campion

College receive offers to federate with the Regina Campus of the University of Saskatchewan. Luther’s negotiations for the new agreement are undertaken by President Anderson.

1966 – As a consequence of church

reorganization, Luther College becomes attached to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada.

Luther College who will later become President of the University of Regina, spoke at Luther’s graduation and noted that: “It is no secret that Luther College has produced more than its fair share of people who have achieved a real measure of success … not merely in the financial or professional sense, but more important, success in the human sense. Success in the sense of living a meaningful life with one’s fellow man in the shared endeavours of our society … A great deal must be in what Luther students get from being at Luther…” 1

1969 – The plans by architect Clive Rodham for the new Luther College campus are unveiled, a $2 million complex of academic facilities and cafeteria, with the first dormitory on the University campus, which can house 216 students.

The plans deliberately placed faculty offices and classrooms in close proximity, to bring students and faculty together as a scholarly community. The original plans included a concrete exterior, but Board Chair Harold Dietrich negotiated the purchase of Tyndal stone from Manitoba at an only slightly higher cost.

1969 – The Fall-Winter

edition of The Luther Story announces “Le Voici! Hier Haben Wir’s! Here it is!” and notes that “[t]he students attending the federated Luther College will be an integral part of the larger university scene, while still enjoying the distinctive characteristics of life in a small college with its own character and traditions.”2

1 Quoted in Richard Hordern, “The Heritage & Hope of Luther College: Quality Education in a Christian Context,” in Heritage and Hope: The University of Regina into the 21st Century, ed. K. Murray Knuttila (Regina: Canadian Plains Research Center, 2004), 52.

2 Quoted in “Luther College Celebrates 25 Years at the University of Regina,” The Luther Story (August 1996), 1.

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1971 – The first classes

are held at Luther College. The service of dedication for the new College is held on October 3, led by Rev. William Hordern, President of Lutheran Theological Seminary.

The College opens with 3 faculty members, teaching English (Prof. Tom Strutt), Philosophy (Dr. Art Krentz), and Psychology (Dr. Robert Ostrem), 11 support staff, and 130 students. Dr. Ostrem is Dean. Jim Dale is Dean of Students and Glen Peterson is Chaplain-Intern. Herb Amendt begins a long career as Head of Physical Plant.

Elizabeth Husli (who will become known as “Mama” Husli to students) looks after the Luther Cafeteria. A few positions are shared with the High School: Dr. Morris Anderson is Principal of both campuses, Rev. Don King is Development Director, and Rein Sommerfeld is Business Manager.

1971 – A minor disagreement arises

TIMELINE

regarding textbook purchases, which results in an additional federation document acknowledging the right of Federated College deans to supervise courses in their colleges, while emphasizing the collaborative and consultative nature of the academic relationship between the Federated Colleges and the University.

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1971 - The Luther University Students Association (LUSA) is formed.

1972 – Dr. Arthur Krentz (Philosophy) becomes Dean. He will serve in this role from 1972-77, 1982-83, 1990-93 and 1994-95.

1972 – Luther’s first graduates convocate at the University of Regina on May 26.

1974 – Psychology Professor Paul Antrobus and others invent the game of Muckby, played in early spring after the hockey rink north of the residence has largely melted;

equipment consists of two garbage cans and a football. The game receives attention in some national sports news outlets and is a tradition for many years until the University stops flooding the rink.

1974 – The position of “Principal” is separated from the position of “President.”

Dr. Morris Anderson continues as President and Rudie Selzer is appointed Principal at the High School.

1974 – The University of Regina becomes an independent institution and is no longer a campus of the University of Saskatchewan.

1974 – A new logo is adopted for both campuses, in gold for the High School and in blue for Luther College at the University.

1974 – Dr. Philip Engstrom joins the faculty as Assistant Professor of Mathematics.

1976 – Luther now offers courses in six areas: English, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Mathematics, and Religious Studies. Dr. Roland Miller joins the faculty in the young discipline of Religious Studies.

1977 – The first

Luther Lecture is held, the first lectureship series on the Regina University campus.

Renowned historian of the Reformation, Dr. Jaroslav Pelikan of Yale University, was the first speaker in the series. His lecture was titled, “The Irony of the Reformation.”

The Lutheran Life Insurance Society will come to provide annual financial support for the lecture series.

1977 – University faculty organize as

a bargaining unit within the larger University’s Faculty Association. Luther is able to teach courses in religion, under the University’s rubric of a “Humanities” program. Luther plays a significant role in establishing the University’s Religious Studies Department and the establishment of a major in Religious Studies.

1977 – Dr. Art

Krentz completes his term as Dean and Dr. Roland Miller becomes Dean, a position he will hold until 1991. Sister Anne Keffer, a Deaconess of the Lutheran Church, joins the staff as assistant to Rev. Don King, the Chaplain and Dean of Students.

1977 – Elizabethan Evenings become an annual banquet and musical event at the University campus.

1977 – The Luther Story notes that Luther

1979 – Luther expands its scholarship program with new “Awards of Excellence,” in recognition of the City of Regina’s 75th anniversary.

1979 – Luther’s faculty ranks continue to grow, with the appointment of Dr. William Stahl in Sociology.

1980 – Pastor Don King, Chaplain at the

University campus, is appointed Principal of the High School.

1980 – Reformation scholar Dr. Roland

Bainton gives the Luther Lecture on the theme of “Church, World, and Survival.”

College is becoming well-known for hosting conferences and community groups, including hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders for training camp.

1980 – Luther faculty members establish

1978 – Dr. Martin Marty gives the Luther

1980 – Saskatchewan

the first “new student orientation program” on the University campus.

1978 – The Luther University Students Association (LUSA) works on a new constitution for the society.

author Ken Mitchell is commissioned to write a history of Luther College.

Luther: The History of a College (47 pages) is published the following year.

1978 – Bryan Hillis is the first student to

1981 – Richard

Lecture, entitled “Belonging and Becoming: Christian Identities Today.”

graduate with a major in “Humanities – Religious Studies” from Luther College.

1978 – Faculty ranks are expanded: Dr.

Richard Hordern joins the College as a Religious Studies professor and Dr. Bruce MacDonald in English.

1978 – The

Luther Medal of Distinction is a new award created to recognize a member of the graduating class who demonstrates high academic achievement and leadership and service to the community.

Caemmerer Jr. is appointed Artist in Residence and paints a large mural in the Luther College Auditorium/ Chapel. It “depicts the Christian creed in both traditional and contemporary symbolism.

Reading from left to right, the shaft of light descends to a view of the earth as seen from space, recalling creation narratives.

In the centre, appearing like a highway intersection connecting the right and left elements, is the great Greek cross. To the right, enveloping aspects of the Saskatchewan landscape, are fire and water—symbols of the spirit and our life in the body of Christ.” 3

1979 – Dr. Krister Stendahl, Dean of Harvard Divinity School, gives the Luther Lecture, “The Future of Religion and Religion of the Future.”

1981 – Luther receives fourteen paintings

1979 – Luther College establishes a new administrative division—“Student Services”—with

1981 – Dr. William Foege, Assistant Surgeon

“25th Anniversary Feature – the ‘80s,” The Luther Story (August 1996), 4.

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Don King, Dean of Students, Anne Keffer, Residence Director, and Barry Vall, ChaplainIntern.

by contemporary Canadian artists, on loan from the Canada Council Art Bank rental program.

General of the United States, gives the Luther Lecture, “Life Expectancy: Living your Decisions.”

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1982 – On

January 31, a service and choral concert of Bach music, directed by Carl Cherland, is held to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the College. The Luther Bach Choir is formed.

1982 – Dr. Northrop Frye, renowned literary scholar, delivers the Luther Lecture, “The Reformation of Mythology: The Christian Tradition and the Romantic Movement in Literature.”

1982 – Mary Jesse joins the staff of Luther as an Entrance Counsellor. She will become Manager of Communications and, later, Luther's first Registrar.

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1983 – Luther commemorates the 500th

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anniversary of the birth of Martin Luther with a series of events, including the inaugural Best of Baroque concert and a lecture series by Dr. William Hordern, President of Lutheran Theological Seminary. Dr. Bruce MacDonald (English) is commissioned to create a wood sculpture for the chapel.

1984 – Dr. Mary Vetter, a Biologist, becomes Luther’s first female faculty member appointed in a tenure-track position.

1984 – Dr. Helen Caldicott, physician and anti-nuclear activist, delivers the Luther Lecture to an audience of approximately 1,500 in the Education Auditorium of the University of Regina, with a talk entitled “Curing Nuclear Madness.”

1985 – A new synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), is formed through the merger of the Lutheran Church of America-Canada Section and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada.

1985 – Dr. Paul Wee, General Secretary of Lutheran World Ministries of North America, gives the Luther Lecture, “Christ and Marx: The Lost Dimension.”

1985 – Faculty members Dr. Bruce MacDonald, Dr. Bill Stahl, and Dr. Roland Miller work on an Education and Technology project in India, funded jointly by the Government of Saskatchewan and the Government of India.

1985 – James Kurtz donates works of art to the College, including a series of paintings

by Erica Grimm-Vance.

1986 – Dr. Morris Anderson retires from Luther College. Dr. Don Lee, a long-time Board member and Professor of Chemistry at the University of Regina, is appointed President. He is the first President with an earned Ph.D. 1986 – Dr. Hans Küng, renowned religious scholar, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Where is Christianity Going?” to an overflow crowd of 1,400 attendees.

1983 – Dr. George Forell, Professor of

Religion, gives the Luther Lecture, “Faith, Love, and Justice: Luther’s Ethics.”

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1986 – Luther increases its teaching fields to include Geography with the appointment of Dr. David Weaver and French with the appointment of Barbara de Vlieger.

1987 – Dr. Wilfred Cantwell Smith,

Professor Emeritus of the Comparative History of Religions, delivers the Luther

Lecture, “The Scriptural Quality of Scripture: A Comparative Approach to Sacred Writings.”

1987 – Luther’s teaching ranks expand

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1989 – Dr. John Polanyi, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Science and Society: The Responsibility of a Scientist.”

to include History, with the appointment of Dr. Nicholas Terpstra, a specialist in Renaissance and Reformation history.

1987 – Dr. Morris Anderson is brought back as Director of Development, and major fundraising campaigns are launched for new classroom wings at both High School and University campuses.

1988 – Luther, in cooperation with the

University of Regina, and the Government of Saskatchewan, launches the Summer Centre for International Languages (SCIL).

1988 – Dr.

Henry Taube, graduate of Luther College High School and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Chance, Choice, and Change: The Life of a Scientist.”

1988 – Rein Sommerfeld retires as

Business Manager, after a career of 38 years with Luther College.

1989 – The Luther community performs Hayden’s Creation in celebration of the 75th anniversary of Luther College.

1989 – Karen Senft joins the cafeteria staff and begins a career that will last over three decades.

1989 – Drs. Edna and Howard Hong deliver

a 75th Anniversary Luther Lecture, “Despair and Hope: Kierkegaard Speaks to the Modern Age” in the Education Auditorium of the University of Regina.

1989 – Dr. Paul Antrobus leads a group

of eight students on a study tour in China in May, but the trip is cut short due to the Tiananmen Square demonstrations that destabilize the country.

1990 – Plans are undertaken to expand

the Luther College facility with a $3 million addition, designed by architect Gerry Norbraten. Plans include an academic wing with a new library, chapel, classrooms, and offices. It will add nearly 20 thousand square feet to the College.

1990 – Herb Amendt retires as Manager of Physical Plant, after a career at Luther of two decades.

1990 – Rev. Dr. Lois Wilson, President of the World Council of Churches, delivers the Luther Lecture, “The World Upside Down.”

1991 – Dr. Don Lee completes his term as President and Rev. Dr. Don King becomes President.

1991 – The new classroom wing is dedicated on October 28 and features classrooms, chapel, library, and academic offices. The original library is converted to a large classroom/multi-purpose room.

Student fundraising is dedicated to installing an elevator to ensure accessibility.

1991 – The College hosts its first major reunion in July, “Come Back ’91” to commemorate its 20th anniversary on the University campus.

1991 – Elsie May

Quick retires from Luther College Library, after ten years in the role of librarian.

1991 – Dr. Reginald Bibby, Professor of Sociology, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Searching for the Good Society.”

1991 – Dr. Philip Engstrom (Mathematics) retires after a career of over fifteen years.

1992 – Dr. Arthur Krentz, Professor of Philosophy, becomes Dean.

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1992 – Luther holds

its first Midnight Breakfast on April 15, to help students get through the stress of the exam period. Staff serve “breakfast” to residents at 11:00 p.m. This will become a semi-annual event, held during the final exam periods in December and April.

1992 – Eighty-five Luther students

graduate at Spring convocation, the largest number to date. Enrollment in the SCIL program continues to grow. The faculty ranks grow with the addition of a second faculty member in Psychology, Dr. Mary Hampton.

1992 – Dr. Ursula Franklin, Professor

Emeritus in Physics, gives the Luther Lecture, “Peace and Science: What Peace Could Do for Science and Technology.”

1993 – A surprise farewell reception is organized in April for Dr. Roland Miller

by Luther faculty, LUSA, the Religious Studies Students Association and the Luther College Alumni Association.

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1993 – Dr. James Cone, theologian at Union Theological Seminary in New York, gives the Luther Lecture, “Black Liberation Theology: God and Racism.”

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1993 - A new Luther College Alumni Association is created for the University campus.

1994 – Financial difficulties result in a reorganization of the College.

Rev. Dr. Richard Hordern, who has taught Religious Studies since 1978 at Luther College, University campus, is named President and installed in April of 1995.

1994 – Dr. Langdon Gilkey, Professor

Emeritus of Chicago Divinity School, gives the Luther Lecture, “Caring for Nature: Religion and Science View the Environment.”

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1994 – The Garver Memorial Scholarship Fund is established after the untimely death of Garth Garver, a long-time friend of Luther College.

1994 – New scholars join the faculty ranks

in tenure-track appointments: Dr. Dorothy Lane (English) and Dr. Volker Greifenhagen (Religious Studies).

1995 – Dr. Bryan

Hillis becomes Dean, a position he will hold until 2005.

1995 – The Luther

College Golf Classic is established.

1995 – Dr. Rosemary Radford Ruether from

Garrett Theological Seminary delivers the Luther Lecture, “Feminist Theology and Ecofeminism.”

1995 – Faculty members Dr. Bill Stahl

(Sociology), Dr. Mary Vetter (Biology), and Dr. Bryan Hillis (Religious Studies) receive a Templeton Science-Religion Course Program Grant to develop a team-taught course on Religion and Science, a course that will be team-taught until 2004.

1996 – A

celebration of the 25th anniversary of the University is held on campus.

The new academic wing is named The Anderson Wing to honour the roles that Dr. Morris and Betty Anderson played in the life of the College.

College enrollment reaches 700 students.

1996 – A dinner is held in April to honour

the founders of the Religious Studies program, Dr. Roland Miller from Luther and Dr. Isidore Gorski from Campion. A Religious Studies Founders’ Scholarship is established.

1996 – The two campuses of Luther College count 8,000 living alumni, as frequent alumni homecomings allow the College to expand their known mailing list.

1996 – The passing on April 12 of James J.

Kurtz, alumnus of both Luther campuses and co-founder of Regina’s Assiniboia Gallery, leads his parents, John and Monica Kurtz, to establish a memorial fund. A book of art dedicated to their son, Treasured Moments, is published the following year.

1996 – With the support of Psychology

professors Dr. Paul Antrobus and Dr. Mary Hampton, a Student Support Centre (SSC) is established with an aim “to provide a safe, supportive and confidential environment in which students may address their questions and concerns about academic life, social issues, and personal problems with a student peer.”

1996 – The

August edition of The Luther Story introduces something new with these words: “Are you interested in the Internet?

If so, you will soon be able to visit Luther College through the ‘Web.’ The College is constructing a ‘home page’ for a ‘web site.’”

1996 – Dr. Fotini Labropulu begins a

tenure-track appointment in Mathematics.

Dr. Iqbal Husain (Mathematics) will also receive a tenure-track appointment later.

1996 – Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, Noah

Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale University, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Does Truth Still Matter in the Postmodern University?”

1996 – Dr. Paul Antrobus begins offering Psychology 100 to grade 12 students at Luther College High School.

1997 – Luther launches an inter-disciplinary program, Horizons, with Prof.

Angela Terpstra as Program Coordinator.

TIMELINE

1997 – Rhonda Litzenberger joins the staff as Manager of Residence and Conference Services.

1997 – Dr. Jean Bethke Elshtain, from the University of Chicago, delivers the Luther Lecture, entitled “How Far Have We Fallen?

Human Nature and Human Possibility.”

1997 – The Luther Lake Lashers, a team of faculty, staff, family, and students, compete in Regina’s Dragon Boat Races, August 30.

1997 – Psychology professors Dr. Paul Antrobus and Dr. Mary Hampton establish a Stress Institute at Luther College (SILC) to provide research, workshops, professional development and training around stress management techniques.

1997 – The Rex Schneider Auditorium is equipped with state-of-the-art technology with the ability to project computer screens and PowerPoint presentations. This makes it the most technologically advanced lecture theatre on the U of R campus.

1997 – Naomi Matthes retires from the Academic Office after a career spanning two decades.

1998 – Luther College receives national news attention when it establishes and sponsors a Scholarly Writing Award for the Saskatchewan Book Awards, the first such award in Canada.

1998 - John Ralston Saul, writer and political philosopher, delivers the Luther Lecture, “The Layering of Canada: Founding Myths in the Construction of a Complex Civilization.”

1999 – Enrollment at Luther reaches 983 students in September.

1999 – Dr. Roland Miller retires after a

career of over twenty years at Luther, as Professor of Religious Studies and Dean.

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1999 – Registrar Mary Jesse and Larry Fry from Luther College High School travel to India on a trip organized by Canadian Lutheran World Relief to research study opportunities for students.

1999 – Dr. Yvonne Petry begins a tenuretrack appointment in History.

1999 – Dr. Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen delivers the Luther Lecture, “Faith, Feminism, and Family in an Age of Globalization.”

2000 – Luther receives a $45,000

Century Fund grant from the province of Saskatchewan. The funds are used to equip classrooms with computers and data projectors, making Luther’s classrooms the most technically advanced on campus. A parttime Instructional Designer, Myra Zubot-Mitchell, is hired to assist faculty members with learning PowerPoint and Web-CT, the U of R’s first Learning Management System.

TIMELINE

featuring the Canadian baroque ensemble Tafelmusik in March.

2000 – Pastor David

Kaiser retires as Luther’s Chaplain after twelve years in the role.

2001 – The President’s Research Fund is established, which provides faculty members with access to funds for research purposes through a peer-reviewed application process.

2001 – Dr. Yvonne Petry takes a group of

fourteen students on a Renaissance study tour, visiting Vienna, Venice, Florence, and Rome.

2001 – Pastor Cheryl Kristolaitis (later Toth) accepts the call as Chaplain.

2000 – Dr. Dorothy Lane (English), with Dr.

2001 – Dr. Paul Antrobus (Psychology) retires after a career at Luther spanning three decades. He would continue to teach for several more years.

2000 – Dr. Ronald Cole-Turner, Professor

2001 – Dr. Carol Meyers, Professor of Religion at Duke University, delivers the Luther Lecture, “All about Eve: Gender in the Garden.”

Bryan Hillis, leads students on a three-week study tour to Madras, India.

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2000 – Luther College hosts a concert

of Theology and Ethics at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Playing God or Serving God? Cloning, Designer Children and Gene Therapy in Religious Perspective.”

2000 – The College’s enrollment peaks at approximately 1,000 students.

2000 – Luther’s faculty complement

is expanded with a new tenure-track appointment in Art History, with Dr. Angela Vanhaelen. Dr. Louis Awanyo joins the faculty in a tenure-track appointment in Geography. Dr. Noel Chevalier is appointed to a tenure-track appointment in English.

2000 – A new “English-Science Student

Group” is established as a learning community that provides a common first-year experience for Science and Preprofessional majors. Specialized English 100 and 110 courses are developed by Dr. Noel Chevalier. This will later evolve into the English-Science Bundle.

LUTHER STORY SPRING 2022

2001 – In November, Luther College completes repayment of a seven-year debt to the University of Regina. The Desrosiers funding formula redefines the funding relationship between the Federated Colleges and the University of Regina.

2001 – Founders' Day is celebrated with a formal dinner for the first time. There were ninety in attendance.

2001 – Luther College Residence begins a four-year renovation project, renovating one floor per year. Major renovations are undertaken on the first floor of the academic wing.

TIMELINE

2002 – Faculty organize a Writing Across

the Disciplines Committee to explore needs in this area of teaching and learning.

2003 – The first annual "Talking Fresh" literary festival is held at Luther College, organized by Prof. Gerry Hill (English).

2002 – In response to the events of

2004 – English Professor Camilla McCabe

September 11, 2001, Luther College hosts a public lecture series, Our Muslim Neighbours, with Religious Studies scholars Dr. Volker Greifenhagen and Dr. Brenda Anderson.

2002 – A new tenure-track position in

Interdisciplinary Studies is created. Dr. Mark Anderson receives the appointment.

2002 – The

Luther College University campus partners with Luther College High School to establish a summer school for high school English teachers from China.

2002 – A new

administrative position is created, that of Assistant Dean, to handle increasingly complex student issues.

Dr. Mary Vetter (Biology) becomes the first Assistant Dean.

2002 – Rudy Wiebe, novelist, playwright, and essayist, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Possessing Land: The Fictions of Ownership.”

2002 – Linda Howell retires after a career

of nearly twenty years in the Academic Office.

2003 – A celebration of the 90th anniversary of Luther College High School is held in Melville, Saskatchewan.

2003 – Dr. Barbara Reul joins the faculty in the College's first position in Musicology.

2003 – Science writer Margaret Wertheim delivers the Luther Lecture, “Cyberspirituality: Bits, Bytes, and Religious Dreams.”

2003 – A new media campaign “Why Luther” is launched through the work of two alumni, Jeff Sotropa and Erik Norbraten.

2003 – Pastor Cheryl Kristolaitis organizes the first annual Fair Trade Fair at Luther.

becomes the first Program Coordinator for the Writing Across the Disciplines program. An Instructor position in English is created to assist with the student need for undergraduate English courses. Professor Gerry Hill receives this position.

2004 – Dr. Mark Anderson

(Interdisciplinary Studies, History) takes students on a study tour of Peru.

2004 – Dr. Margaret Miles, Emeritus

Professor of Historical Theology, delivers the Luther Lecture, “Sex and the City (of God): Augustine on the Resurrection Body.”

2004 – Luther

College, with the U of R Department of Music, hosts an international symposium, "The Unknown Schubert: New Perspectives, New Insights".

2004 – Luther hosts the first Volunteer Fair, which links students with community organizations, organized by Dr. Roger Petry (Philosophy). The Fair will expand in coming years and be later hosted by the University of Regina.

2004 – Ed MacNeil retires as Cafeteria

Manager, after a career of over a decade.

2004 – Luther’s biologists, Dr. Mary

Vetter, Prof. Laura Ambrose, and Prof. Fidji Gendron, work on a collaborative project with Wascana Centre Authority, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, FSIN and others to plant a native prairie garden on the grounds of First Nations University.

2005 – Dr. Richard

Hordern finishes his term as President, after serving in this role for eleven years. Dr. Bruce Perlson is elected President, the first President who is also an alumnus of Luther.

2005 – Dr. Bryan Hillis finishes his second

term as Dean and Dr. Mary Vetter (Biology) becomes Dean. Dr. Volker Greifenhagen (Religious Studies) becomes Assistant Dean.

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2005 – Luther College hosts a conference

in March, "The Eighteenth Century: Current Research and Future Perspectives", organized by Dr. Barbara Reul (Musicology), Dr. Noel Chevalier (English), and Dr. Catherine Tite (Art History).

2005 – Dr. Iqbal Husain is appointed to a tenure-track position in Mathematics.

2005 – Dr. Stanley Hauerwas, Professor of Theological Ethics at Duke Divinity School, delivers the Luther Lecture, “The Sacrifices of War and the Christian Sacrifice.”

2005 – Dr. Art Krentz (Philosophy) retires

after a thirty-four-year career at Luther College. He served as Dean from 1972-77, 1982-83, and 1990-95. Dr. Roger Petry is hired into a tenure-track position in Philosophy.

2005 – Luther partners with Canada’s

International Science and Technology Development Centre to host a summer English language program for professors from China’s Central University of Nationalities.

2005 – Diane Mossing retires after nearly a decade of service as Luther College’s treasurer.

2006 – Tensions develop in late March

TIMELINE

between the Federated Colleges and the University of Regina as the University imposes a forced reduction of teaching credit hours at Luther and Campion Colleges. Luther and Campion students hold a sit-in on April 13 in protest.

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2006 – Several long-serving employees retire this year. Colleen Ellingson retires from working in the Residence Office, after eighteen years.

Luther’s Library Coordinator Judy Halliday retires after fifteen years of service. Carla Hancock becomes the new Library Coordinator.

2006 – Dr. George Elliott Clarke delivers the Luther Lecture, “The Problem of Pluralism: Anti-Social Attitudes in AfricanCanadian Literature.”

2007 – Luther hosts a Volunteer Breakfast to bring community leaders to the College on September 12. The seeds for future work with the voluntary sector begin to be planted.

LUTHER STORY SPRING 2022

2007 – Vesna Morris completes her career at Luther College, after serving in roles in maintenance and in the cafeteria for two decades.

2007 – Dr. Margaret Somerville, Professor of Law and Medicine at McGill, gives the Luther Lecture, “Challenging ‘The God Delusion’: The Search for a Shared Ethics.”

2007 – RCE Saskatchewan, a Regional Centre of Expertise for Sustainable Development, receives funding from the Province of Saskatchewan’s Sustainable Communities Grants program. Dr. Roger Petry (Philosophy) is the Centre’s Co-ordinator.

2008 – Dr. Don Franklin, Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Pittsburgh, gives the Luther Lecture, “Bach to the Future: What We Can Learn from the Past When Performing Bach’s Music Today.”

2008 – Dr. Brenda Anderson (Women’s Studies/Religious Studies) takes students on a study tour to Mexico, with a theme of “Missing Women in Mexico.” Dr. Anderson also organizes an international conference at Luther, “Missing Women: Decolonization, Third Wave Feminisms, and Indigenous People of Canada and Mexico” on August 14-17.

2008 – The Luther College Library Reading Room is dedicated to the memory of Margaret Belcher.

2008 – Dr. Mary Hampton (Psychology) is appointed as the Saskatchewan Academic Coordinator of Resolve (Research and Education for Solutions to Violence and Abuse).

2009 – Larry Rasmussen, a specialist in environmental ethics, gives the Luther Lecture, “Earth Healing for Justice-Minded Christians.”

2009 – The Presidents of the University of Regina, Luther College, Campion College, and First Nations University establish the "Forward Together" lecture series.

2010 – Dr. Bruce Perlson concludes his term as President, and Dr. Bryan Hillis, Professor of Religious Studies and former Dean, is named President.

2010 – Dr. Roland Miller, former Dean

and Professor of Religious Studies, gives the Luther Lecture, “Daring to be Global Citizens: De-radicalising Christian-Muslim Relations.”

2010 – Luther develops a new campus motto: “Think deeply. Act passionately. Live faithfully.”

2010 – Art Gilbertson retires after a career

in maintenance at Luther College of over thirty years.

2010 – Luther and Campion negotiate a new set of agreements with the University of Regina, the Tuition Sharing Agreement, Infrastructure Services Agreement, and Academic Guidelines Agreement.

2011 – Luther College launches Impetus, a webzine designed to showcase faculty and student work. Dr. Bill Stahl (Sociology) is the first editor.

2011 - Senator Lillian Dyck gives the Luther Lecture, “Following the Footprints of my Cree Mother: Dreaming of Gender and Racial Equality.”

TIMELINE

2012 – Luther Cafeteria eliminates the

use of trays, thereby cutting down on food waste by a significant volume.

2013 – Upon receipt of a U of R President’s Teaching and Learning Scholars Grant, faculty members Dr. Volker Greifenhagen, Dr. Mary Vetter, Dr. Brenda Anderson, Dr. Yvonne Petry, and Selene Deschenes (StudentsFirst Coordinator) develop an Instructor Toolkit of Pedagogical Strategies for Students Transition and Engagement in Introductory Courses.

2013 – International students make up 48% of the Luther Residence at the University campus, with the majority of those students coming from China, Nigeria, and Brazil.

2013 – Luther College celebrates “A Century of Faithfulness” in Regina from October 10-13. The festivities included the annual Luther Lecture featuring Dr. Martin E. Marty and a banquet including guest host Brent Butt. Dr. Marty’s lecture was “The Artful Liberation of the University: Practical Education for the Common Good.”

2013 – Dr. Richard Hordern publishes The

Luther College Story 1913-2013: A Century of Faithfulness in Education.

2012 – Dr. Mary Vetter (Biology) completes her term as Dean and Dr. Volker Greifenhagen (Religious Studies) becomes Dean. Dr. Yvonne Petry (History) becomes Assistant Dean.

2014 – Dr. Cynthia MoeLobeda gives the Luther Lecture, “Climate Justice: Love as EcologicalEconomic Vocation.”

2012 – Dr.

2014 – Luther College establishes the

2011 – “Free Lunch Fridays” are offered to

faculty and staff at Luther as a time to visit and build community.

Francesco Freddolini (Art History) joins the faculty in a tenure-track appointment.

2012 – Bishop Michael Ingham gives the

Luther Lecture, “Finding the Postmodern Balance: Evangelical, Catholic, Liberal.”

2012 – Dr. Bill Stahl (Sociology) retires after a career spanning twenty-three years at Luther.

Voluntary Sector Studies Network (later the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Studies Network) as a strategic initiative designed to bridge the gap between academia and the community.

2014 – Pastor Cheryl Toth retires as

Chaplain, after twelve years of service. Pastor Scott Adams becomes Interim Chaplain.

2015 – Under the leadership of Dr. Mary

Vetter (Biology) and Dr. Gloria de Santis, the VSSN receives strategic, multi-year funding from Saskatchewan’s Community Initiatives Fund.

LUTHER STORY SPRING 2022

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2015 – With the

help of strategic funding and the leadership of Dr. Brenda Anderson, Luther College hosts its first Canadian Roots Exchange team of students, part of a national program to bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth for mutual learning.

2015 – With leadership from Dr. Brenda

Anderson, Luther College hosts the North American Interfaith Network (NAIN) Conference on the theme of “Restoring Spirit through Sacred Listening.”

2015 – Luther’s chapel hosts a travelling art exhibit during Lent, "Moved by the Spirit", curated by Louise Tessier.

2015 – Prof. Gerry Hill (English) retires after nineteen years of teaching at Luther.

2015 - Mary Jesse retires as Registrar, after a career at Luther spanning over thirty years.

Tatum Cruise is appointed Registrar.

2015 – Dr. Pamela Dickey Young gives the

Luther Lecture, “Sex, Religion and Canadian Youth: Identities under Construction.”

TIMELINE

2015 – Pastor Sean

18

Bell is installed as Chaplain on September 29.

He broadens the peer chaplain program to include representatives of the Muslim faith and sets the stage for a multi-faith chaplaincy program.

2016 – Dr. Brenda Anderson works with

Sylvia Smith in the U of R’s Faculty of Education to offer Project of Heart at Luther College, a program designed to provide education on the history of the residential schools in Canada. It will become an annual program.

2016 – This

year sees the retirement of a number of long-serving staff members: Connie Korol, Manager of Food Services, retires after over twenty years of work in the Luther Cafeteria; Karen Nye retires from Luther’s Academic Office, after fourteen years of service to Luther’s students; Herb Stoehr, Manager of Facilities, retires after a career of nearly thirty years at Luther.

2017 – Luther College celebrates the 500th anniversary of the Reformation with a series of events, including a Table Talk Speaker Series, choral concerts by the Luther Bach Choir, an art exhibition in the Chapel, and a special Reformation-themed online issue of Impetus. Former chaplain David Kaiser performed his one-man show, Luther. On October 31 a new version of the 95 theses was posted by Pastor Sean Bell. The document was developed by a group of Luther students and faculty who “spoke truth to power” to address these critical issues: racism, reconciliation, climate change, and tolerance for religious diversity.

2015 – Prof. Scott Wilson (English) begins a term appointment as Luther’s Writing Across the Disciplines Coordinator.

2015 – Luther designates two washrooms

on the main floor as “gender-neutral” washrooms, in consultation with TransSask Support Services.

2016 – A certificate program in Nonprofit

Sector Leadership and Innovation is established as part of the Voluntary Sector Studies Network. Dr. Mary Vetter (Biology) takes on the role of VSSN Director.

2017 – Dr. Nicholas Terpstra, Professor of History at the University of Toronto, and former faculty member of Luther College, gives the Luther Lecture, “Reframing the Reformation: Religious Refugees in the Early Modern World.”

2017 – In November, Luther College receives a $25,556 funding grant through the Rick Hansen Foundation’s Access4All Program, which enables infrastructure improvements to one of Luther’s semiaccessible washrooms into a fully-accessible gender-neutral washroom. This was one of only two projects in Saskatchewan to receive such funding.

2017 – Dr. Mary Vetter (Biology) retires after a career of over thirty years as a faculty member, Assistant Dean, and Dean.

2017 – Dr. Dorothy Lane (English) is appointed as Assistant Dean.

2017 – Dr. Richard Hordern

retires after a career of nearly forty years, as Professor of Religious Studies, Dean, and President of the College.

2017 – A $6.2 million renovation of the residence is completed.

2017 – Alice Phillips retires after a career in the Luther Cafeteria of over three decades.

2017 – An art exhibit is installed in the

College, “Steps along the Red Road: Following Christ the Creator” by Ovide Bighetty of the Pukatawagan First Nation.

2017 – President Dr. Bryan Hillis plays a lead role in the creation of Rooted and Open, a joint statement by the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities.

2018 – In May, Luther College and the University of Regina are designated as international co-leads for Sustainable Development Goal #12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by the International Association of Universities (IAU) as part of its Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development Cluster. Dr. Roger Petry (Philosophy) and Jocelyn Crivea from the University are the co-leads for the project.

2018 – Dr. Francesco Freddolini (Art

History) takes a group of students on a study tour to Italy with Dr. David Meban of Campion College.

TIMELINE

2018 – Dr. Volker Greifenhagen finishes a six-year term as Dean and Dr. Yvonne Petry becomes Dean.

2018 – Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian Christian from Dar-Al Kalima College, gives the Luther Lecture, “Faith in the Face of Empire: A Palestinian Christian Perspective.”

2018 – Dr. Mary Hampton, Professor of Psychology, retires after a career of twentysix years.

2018 – On December 5, Luther College’s new Act receives Royal Assent in the Saskatchewan Legislature.

2018 – Luther Cafeteria undergoes a major renovation. Moe Mathieu departs as Manager of Dining Services and Bob Crowe takes on the role.

2018 – Dr. Nicole Hansmeier joins the faculty as Professor of Biology.

2019 – In May, Luther College hosts the

Inaugural Conference for the International Association of Universities Cluster on Sustainable Development Goal #12. On October 8, a ceremony is held to unveil the installation of banners recognizing the 17 UN Sustainable Development goals on the north staircase of the building.

2019 – The Luther residence is renamed The Student Village.

2019 – Myra Cole, Manager of Financial Services, retires after a career of twentythree years.

2019 – Dr. Kaila Bruer joins the faculty as Professor of Psychology.

2019 – Luther College holds its first Annual General Meeting on October 19, under the auspices of the new Act which had been passed the previous year.

LUTHER STORY SPRING 2022

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2020 – With the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic, Luther College shifts to remote teaching and remote operations in late March. Staff transition to working from home. Faculty members quickly learn how to deliver courses remotely through Zoom. The Student Village residence remains open with a small number of students and the Luther Cafeteria becomes the only food service operation on campus for much of the pandemic, serving meals to residents and those in quarantine on campus.

2020 – Dr. Bryan Hillis retires as President and is awarded emeritus status. Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry is installed as Luther’s eighth President on October 18.

2020 – Siomme Joelsen retires from the Luther Cafeteria after a career of nineteen years.

TIMELINE

2020 – Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Luther Lecture is cancelled. In the Fall term, most courses continue to be taught remotely.

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2020 – Dr. Vijaya Agasthian joins the faculty as Instructor in Mathematics and Statistics.

2021 – Kerry Stoehr retires as Manager

of Physical Plant, after a career at Luther of thirty years. Andre Jarocki becomes Manager of Physical Plant.

2021 – Mark Duke retires as Director of

Finance & Administration after a career of 22 years at Luther. Raymond Arscott joins the College in this role. At this same time, President Marc Jerry builds a leadership team that sees senior roles shared across both campuses including Director of Development, Maureen Harrison; Director of Communications, Angela Bethune; Director of Human Resources, Jodi Kydd; and Director of Strategy & Business Development Brian Broqueza.

LUTHER STORY SPRING 2022

2021 – Dr. Azza Karam gives the first virtual

Luther Lecture, “Religion and the Pandemic: Sobering or Hopeful.”

2021 – Dr. Sarah Zanette joins the faculty as Professor of Psychology.

2021 – Funding is received for renovation of the Rex Schneider Auditorium.

2021 – Plans develop for a new student

initiative, the University of Regina Undergraduate Research Journal. Luther College students take leadership roles in this campus project.

2022 – Given the ongoing pandemic,

Winter term courses begin as remote courses, with plans to move back to campus unfolding mid-semester.

2022 – In March, in-person teaching

resumes in the College and all staff return to campus. Luther College implements a flexible workplace policy.

2022 – A revised

and updated version of the Guidelines for a Working Academic Relationship agreement is signed in March by Luther, Campion, and the University of Regina.

2022 – The Winter term is devoted to

developing a new strategic plan, Vision 2025, for Luther College.

TUITION

In 1971, four courses - $425 Today, four Arts courses - $3318

TOTAL VALUE OF SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED

In 1971 - $2000 • Today - $100,000

STUDENTS ENROLLED In 1971 - 130 • Today - 650

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD

In 1971 – 13; 0 women • Today - 15; 8 women

NUMBER OF FACULTY In 1971 – 4 • Today – 15

CELEBRATING

50 Years

Friday, June 17 Saturday, June 18

2:00 p.m.

50th Anniversary Kick-Off including the Unveiling of the Project of Heart Artwork 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Welcome Back BBQ Lunch 1:30 - 4:00 p.m.

President’s Tea Campus & Dorm Tours Activities 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Mix & Mingle Social (Adults Only)

Sunday, June 19

10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Worship Service 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Farewell Brunch

Details & Registration

www.luthercollege.edu/lcur-50-years

Registration is NOW OPEN and closes Friday, June 10

Questions?

Contact Michelle at 306-585-5144 or michelle.clark@luthercollege.edu

21

ALUMNI ALUMNI PROFILE

JANET(FEHR) BJORNDAHL (U’79)

By Sabrina Cataldo (U’97, ’99)

Janet Bjorndahl has been an ally of the LGBTQ2S+ community since she was 19 years old, but it was during her time at Luther College University that she gained the knowledge and confidence she needed to do social justice work. “Engaging with and being encouraged by the people I encountered at Luther nudged me to say, ‘This is what my commitment is and what I’m going to do with my life,’” she says.

group supporting LGBTQ2S+ people in the Lutheran Church—to Canada but was unwilling to be the spokesperson. Bjorndahl helped by becoming one of the first cochairs of Lutherans Concerned in Canada in the early 1980s. In 1999, she was part of a panel speaking to the national convention of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. Now that society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ2S+ community, Bjorndahl is turning her attentions to other pressing issues. “I feel the call of Truth and Reconciliation; I’m currently trying to find my place in that,” she explains.

Bjorndahl continues to be involved in Luther College, sitting on the Board of Regents since 2015, currently as Vice Chair. “I was very

“My university education was heavily subsidized, and I think it is important to pay that forward. Students who can’t afford tuition should be able to go without financial barriers.”

“My parents instilled social justice values in me, and Luther helped to strengthen and confirm them.

I grew up with two gay brothers, so being an ally is very important to me. But I’m a strong introvert and naturally shy—I needed the support I found at Luther to help me find my voice,” she notes. A friend of hers was a Lutheran pastor who was in the closet. He wanted to bring Lutherans Concerned—a

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honoured to be asked to serve on the board and be able to give back,” she says. The board gave her the opportunity to attend conferences on equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as environment, social and governance (ESG) principles, and she has become an advocate for these focuses at Luther.

“ESG is getting attention these days because shareholders and customers are demanding it, and

companies are discovering that ESG principles can help them be more successful. Of course, many of these principles have been embraced

by Luther for years, but it is always good to reflect on what else can be incorporated,” she says.

Bjorndahl has been a donor to Luther for more than two decades.

“My university education was heavily subsidized, and I think it is important to pay that forward.

Students who can’t afford tuition should be able to go without financial barriers,” she says.

“Education is such a leveller in society. Everyone deserves the opportunity to be successful in their work and in their life.”

One of the aspects of studying at Luther that Bjorndahl appreciated most was the ability to talk about her spirituality and beliefs without being mocked. “I encountered that in the workplace—mentioning I was in a church choir and being scoffed at. At Luther, you could talk about being a member of the church, you could talk about your faith and how it related to your understanding of social justice, the world and empathy for other people.”

After earning a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computer science from Luther College, Bjorndahl went on to a career in IT for a variety of organizations, from a small non-profit in Saskatoon to a leading-edge consulting firm in California. She worked longest at Augustana University College— formerly a Lutheran college in Camrose, Alberta, now part of the University of Alberta—and at Farm Credit Canada, which she retired from in 2019. “Having worked at Augustana and having gone to

Luther, I’m convinced that a liberal arts education is very important to our society, especially these days with extreme points of view. We need to support critical thinking and listen to each other,” she says.

opportunities, including [at the High School] opportunities in the arts, sports and community service.

And students have the opportunity to learn about social justice,

increase their empathy, and explore their interests and leadership opportunities. Academics are important, but so is the whole person.”

After the positive experience that Bjorndahl and her husband, Sterling (U’79), had at Luther (they also met there!), it made sense to send their daughter, Judith (HS’13, U’17), to Luther College High School. “I thought it would be a good environment for her, to be with people who were engaged with learning, and she wanted to go. It turned out to be an excellent choice. She loved the sense of community and acceptance of differences. She made new friends, was in choir and musicals each year, related well to teachers and did well in her classes.” Judith also went on to Luther College for university.

“Luther is a great place to go, a great place to be a part of a community,” Bjorndahl concludes.

“It offers wonderful learning Janet, her husband Sterling, and daughter Judith

In today’s uncertain times...

THE LUTHER FUND IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER BEFORE Gifts to the LUTHER FUND have an immediate impact on our students.

Donations are used for: financial aid

athletics, arts and music programs

classroom equipment

building improvements

teaching resources

...so much more!!

When you donate, you are making a personal commitment to our mission of shaping compassionate, creative, critical thinkers who make a positive impact in the world.

Donating is EASY! Luther Fund.indd 1

Visit www.luthercollege.edu or call (306) 791-9175

2022-04-29 12:16:45 PM

LUTHER STORY SPRING 2022

23

ALUMNI ALUMNI PROFILE

WENDY COX (HS’84, U’88)

By Lynette Piper

The Globe and Mail’s Wendy Cox has interviewed thinkers as diverse as John Ralston Saul and Sting in her nearly 35-year career in journalism. But the person who left one of the deepest impressions on her life wasn’t someone she interviewed, but rather someone who helped launch her impressive career— her former Luther High School English teacher, the late Mark Winkler.

“He truly inspired me to do the work I do,” The Globe’s B.C. Bureau Chief confides, radiating a warmth and friendliness that demonstrates why she’s so good at her job, getting others to share. “He taught me to communicate a thought or idea in a way that moves people and makes them think. He was such a passionate advocate for the written word and for diversity of thought. When my parents told him I wanted to consider journalism, he told them I needed to kick it up a notch. And he was going to see that I did— and I did.”

Wendy recalls landing at Luther needing a fresh start after some peer-group troubles in elementary school. “I arrived as a stranger in grade 9 and wound up making lifelong friends,” she recalls. “Heather Sterling’s father was a Psychology professor at the U of R and very influential on the development of my left-of-centre beliefs. Dave McKenzie was a ‘Tiny Tory’ who advocated right-

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wing thought and impacted me as well. I got exposed to so many different backgrounds and points of view. Our teachers really encouraged diverse, healthy debate.”

Wendy remembers being stunned that Pastor Christiansen opened their Ethics class up to a debate on abortion, at a time when Dr. Henry Morgantaler’s abortion clinics were making headlines for challenging restrictions on women seeking abortions. “Even though Pastor C was probably on the antiabortion side, he encouraged us to think critically and find answers for ourselves. We were able to peel the lid off the topic and look at it from so many different perspectives. That really made an impact on me as a 16-year-old girl,” she says. “Pastor C really inspired us to step outside our own echo chambers.”

Wendy says that natural curiosity and respect for differing points of view helped set the framework for her own journalism career. “I find there’s so much divisiveness and polarization in the world today—especially when it comes to politics. People that are protesting vaccine mandates or pipelines or Fairy Creek (the last unlogged old-growth valley on southern Vancouver Island) deserve to be heard. But so do those who think pipelines offer needed economic development or those who believe vaccines are justifiable, along with restrictions.

It’s important to have those conversations.”

Wendy is proud of the fact that the lessons she learned at Luther have been passed on to her own

children—a son aged 19, and two daughters, aged 17 and 13.

“I always tell them that words matter. It’s not just pro-life, prochoice and anti-abortion. That’s not fair because there are shades of grey, and we can’t inflame a situation by labeling something black or white. I always tell my kids we need to be able to understand other points of view if we’re going to survive in this world,” she says, noting that she and her husband were thrilled when their son was accepted into Vancouver College High School

“I consider myself incredibly lucky to work for The Globe and to be able to provide perspective on the deeply serious issues we’re facing. We’re never going to be able to bridge these divides if people are incapable of getting out of their own echo chambers.” four years ago. “The school is founded on the same principles of diversity and respect as Luther.

When we arrived to get him settled in, it felt like home.”

After Wendy graduated from Luther back in 1984, she attended the U of R’s School of Journalism and worked two summers at the Leader-Post before being

hired by the Canadian Press in Winnipeg. She spent time as a political reporter in both the Ontario and B.C. Legislatures, as well as on Parliament Hill. “I got a good tutorial canvass of the country in those years,” she recalls. “I worked from noon until 9 p.m. on the Hill, and as things closed down in Ontario, I could always find quotes for my stories out west as the night went on.” Wendy soon became the B.C. and Yukon Bureau Chief for the Canadian Press before she landed her current role as The Globe and Mail’s B.C. Bureau Chief in 2013.

be a demand for deep-dive stories that go beyond the 280-character limit on Twitter. “I consider myself incredibly lucky to work for The Globe and to be able to provide perspective on the deeply serious issues we’re facing. We’re never going to be able to bridge these divides if people are incapable of getting out of their own echo chambers.

I think The Globe does that,” she says, adding: “If I can reach someone in a moment of quiet, and have them say ‘Oh – I haven’t thought of that before’ on a divisive issue, then I’ve done my job.”

While people may rely on social media for their news updates, Wendy argues there will always

Wendy looks to her kids as her inspiration. “I love having open and honest discussions with

them about the issues we’re facing. I’m so pleased at how informed they are. They’re not convinced they’ve got it all right, and they’re open and receptive to new ideas,” she says thoughtfully.

In looking back, Wendy thinks that may be one of the biggest legacies her former English teacher, Mark Winkler, left her.

“He taught me so much and I owe him a lot. He died from cancer after I graduated, and the loss was felt by everyone. But his spirit of openness and kindness towards others—no matter their views—has really benefited me in my career, and it’s something I’m proud to have passed on to my children.”

Wendy (right) and her friend Heather Stirling (HS’84), from their high school days

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ALUMNI ALUMNI PROFILE

SHANNON WILLIAMS

(HS ’93, U’98)

By Sabrina Cataldo (U’97, ’99)

Throughout her entire career— whether as a social worker, a criminal prosecutor or in her current role as Assistant Deputy Attorney General for the Government of Saskatchewan— Shannon Williams has always been a public servant. “Being able to serve the community is important to me, in all the roles I’ve had,” she says.

inspired me to think about ways we could be more innovative and hopefully inspire change to some legal processes from the inside.”

we, as legal professionals, can be more responsive to the needs of people accessing and being impacted by the system.”

When she started law school at the University of Alberta, where she convocated in 2004, Williams was sure she would go into family law. But once she started articling, she felt the pull of criminal law, “partly because the people I articled with in that area were fantastic, showed such great leadership, gave me so many good skills and were so

After working as a criminal prosecutor for the federal government in Halifax, Williams went on to take a position with the Canada Border Service Agency, Legal Services Unit, in Ottawa, doing completely different work—including immigration enforcement and national security law— than what she had done in the past. “I felt like an articling student all over again. It was such a great opportunity to try something new.” After a few years of parenting twins who were born prematurely, she and her husband, Craig, decided they wanted to be near family and moved back to Regina.

She served as a provincial prosecutor and then was given the opportunity to work in the Deputy Minister of Justice & Attorney General’s Office as senior counsel and executive assistant to the Deputy Minister.

“As a woman in a leadership position, I am able to share knowledge and empower others around me to succeed.”

After convocating from Luther College with a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies and English in 1998, Williams became a social worker, working with high-risk youth and children. She found it challenging. “You know so much about the kids and families you’re working with, but you don’t have a lot of influence on court processes and decisions made once they’re in that system,” she says. The experience served as an impetus for Williams to go into law. “The system often was unable to be as responsive and effective as I had hoped it could be for some of the kids and families I was working with. It

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supportive,” she says. Once she sunk her teeth into criminal law a bit more, she fell in love with it.

Williams began her legal career as a federal crown prosecutor in Edmonton and then went on to achieve a master’s degree in law at Dalhousie University (2009) with a focus on restorative justice and criminal law. “I always had an interest in what we could do to make the justice system more accessible and accountable to the people we serve. Doing a master’s in restorative justice gave me the opportunity to learn from the community and other justice system stakeholders how

In spring 2021 Williams was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Council (QC) distinction for her contributions to her profession and the community. She serves as a board member for the Law Foundation of Saskatchewan, vice-chair for Regina Transition House, as a patient and family advisor with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, as a board member of the Regina Bar Association, and as secretary of her sons’ school community council, in addition to her legal work.

That summer she was also asked to become the Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Justice Services Division for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Justice & Attorney General. The Justice Services Division, which she oversees, is responsible for family justice services, the Dispute Resolution Office, the Coroner’s Service, and the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, to name a few.

“Almost every area I work with is a front-facing organization, where people come into contact with government services directly.

Most areas are dealing with situations where something quite difficult has happened in somebody’s life,” she says. “I’ve been provided a unique opportunity to work with and lead others to innovate and think of ways to make systems accessible and responsive to individuals, so they understand the processes that are involved and how they can access government services in a meaningful way that is not going to cause more conflict in their life.”

One of the most rewarding parts of her career is to give others opportunities to grow, develop and build their own careers. “As a woman in a leadership position, I am able to share knowledge and empower others around me to

succeed. My position gives me the ability to be a mentor and role model and provides me with a chance to show other aspiring women that opportunities exist to be in leadership positions, to have a family and give back to your community and also have a really meaningful career.”

Looking back on her time at Luther College, Williams appreciated how the high school teachers pushed her to try new things, and how Luther College university, with its smaller campus and staff who made it easy to register for classes, was so welcoming.

“That feeling made it such an easy transition from high school to university—I just kept going. I think my parents would have liked that transition to be a little less easy; three degrees later, they’re like, ‘Are you done now?’” she laughs.

Shannon with her husband Craig and their two sons.

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ALUMNI ALUMNI PROFILE

SHAWN FRASER (U’07) and NICHOLE HUCK (U’05)

By Sabrina Cataldo (U’97, ’99)

Shawn Fraser and Nichole Huck fell in love at Luther College at the University of Regina. They were good friends the first year and have fond memories of making tea and popcorn in the kitchenette in the residence basement and studying for

that was shaped by people I met at residence.” A bonus was that when she was on the larger U of R campus, she never felt alone. “You could walk down the halls at the university, and you were always seeing people you knew, because you knew hundreds of people.”

Fraser notes that while Regina folks are very friendly, it can be difficult to break into established social circles when you first arrive.

“At Luther, people are hungry to make a new social circle. There’s

“I think about how formative the first few years of university were and how much of that was shaped by people I met at residence.”

Logic 100 together. “It was like a little home. Now, it feels like foreshadowing,” Huck says.

Both Fraser and Huck are from small towns and lived in Luther residence. Fraser’s older brother and sister had also gone to Luther and he was always excited to visit them. “It was an interesting place with a fun atmosphere. It was an obvious choice for me to go there,” he says.

Huck is a big fan of living in residence. “I think about how formative the first few years of university were and how much of

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an advantage when you come from away, because a week into school, you know all new people,” he says. Fraser made lifelong friends at Luther and regularly runs into people from his time there.

Residence also taught Fraser and Huck to get along with people from different backgrounds, interests, and political stripes.

Huck started a culture club that met in the cafeteria on Sunday evenings to talk about current affairs. “It’s easy to be friends with people you agree with already.

But at Luther, you’re put together

with different people, and you’re forced to learn to get along and appreciate others,” she says.

Another fond memory is eating lunch in the Luther Cafeteria.

“Shawn and I love meeting new people. We would say, ‘Who are we going to sit with today?’ It was fun for us at every meal to sit down with a bunch of other people—it could be a 40-yearold student from Iran or a group of international students from China. We learned about different people at every meal,” Huck says.

While Huck registered through Campion College, she attended as many classes as she could at Luther, appreciating the small class sizes and the opportunity to get to know professors and students better. “You’re not just a nameless person in a class of hundreds,” she notes. The couple got to know the Luther chaplain, Cheryl Toth, quite well, and she was the officiant for their wedding in 2009. They continue to keep in close contact today.

Fraser and Huck explored their commitment to social activism in their degrees. Fraser served as Vice-President of Student Affairs with the University of Regina Students’ Union and convocated with a political science degree in 2007, after spending a year in Indonesia with Canada World Youth. Throughout her bachelor of arts in journalism degree, Huck explored the Karen conflict in Myanmar (then Burma), the world’s longest ongoing civil war.

Upon convocating in 2005, Huck received a travelling scholarship to Thailand and reported on the conflict from there. Once Fraser

finished his degree, the pair moved to Ghana for a year for Huck’s job at a radio station with Journalists for Human Rights.

Since university, Fraser has built his career in Regina in human services. He has served as the Executive Director of Carmichael Outreach, as a city councillor, at the YMCA working on Regina’s plan to end homelessness, and currently as the Executive Director for the John Howard Society. “I have always been drawn to working with people and jobs that are dynamic, with something new and fresh every day,” he says.

That’s the same reason Huck was drawn to journalism: “Every day is

something completely different, depending on what’s happening in the world, so that’s exciting.”

She has been in a number of roles at CBC Saskatchewan, receiving a Gracie Award and several Radio Television Digital News Association Awards. She is currently on maternity leave from her job, where she is the producer of the noon show Blue Sky and heads CBC’s opinion section.

be like, Huck returns to her memories of Luther: “When my kids go to university, I want them to live in residence … I want them to have the same experience that we had. It was so valuable.”

Huck has taken her fair share of leave, as the couple has four children, ages 10, eight, six, and six months. Looking forward to what their children’s lives will Shawn and

Nichole with

their childre

n

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DONOR GRATEFUL, THANKFUL, AND BLESSED

AMBER (ECHELBERGER) MacLEOD

By Sabrina Cataldo (U’97, ’99) Amber MacLeod began her most recent annual Christmas letter with the words, “I’m grateful, thankful, and blessed.” She began thinking about the many things she is grateful for, and her time at Luther College High School, where she attended grade 11 in 1945-46, is on the list. “My year at Luther provided the experiences and education that helped make me the person I am today,” she says.

MacLeod was born in the town of Antler in southern Saskatchewan.

Her mother was Lutheran, but there was no church nearby, so the family saved and made sacrifices to send her to Luther

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College High School. Going from a small town to the city was a bit of a culture shock. She was lonely

when she first moved into the Luther dorms but soon cultivated wonderful, lifelong friendships there.

Her year at Luther left an impression that has lasted almost eight decades—MacLeod is now 93. “Coming from a very small school and a small town, Luther opened up a new world for me and made my perspective different,” she says.

The study skills she learned through the nightly study hours made her a stronger student when she went on to grade 12 at the Forget Convent and then to the Moose Jaw Teachers’ College.

She was also confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church the year she attended Luther College, which made her mother very pleased.

After getting her teaching certificate, MacLeod taught in schools in Kisbey, Arcola, Regina and Saskatoon for 13 years. “My mother said I always wanted to be a teacher. From the time I started school, I would line up all the chairs at home and pretend I was the teacher,” she laughs. “I feel I chose the right profession, because I loved it so much.”

Amber married Ken MacLeod and had three children, whom she stayed home to raise for 12 years.

She then went to the University of Regina, where she earned a Bachelor of Education (1979) and two post-graduate diplomas: curriculum instruction (1981) and education administration (1984). “I started taking classes, and it was so much fun learning that I just kept going!” she says. Afterwards, she became a reading specialist with Regina Public Schools for 25 years. Upon retirement, she worked at the Leader-Post for four years in their Newspaper and Education Department.

served as superintendent for the Sunday school at Wesley United Church, on the Regina Women’s Bonspiel Committee, and as president of the Regina Women’s Canadian Club and the ladies’ sections of the Royal Regina Golf Club and the Par 3 Golf Club.

“I always end up as President,” she laughs. In honour of her volunteer work, she was awarded the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal. She also received the Award of Merit from Regina Superannuated Teachers and the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal, and has life memberships in the Order of the Eastern Star, the Canadian Club, the Saskatchewan Reading Council and the Saskatchewan Superannuated Teachers.

MacLeod is a donor to both Luther College and the University of Regina. A governance room on the third floor of the University of Regina College Avenue Campus is named after her and her husband, who passed away in 2011. She also established the Amber MacLeod Scholarship in Special Education in 2008 to help University of Regina students majoring in special education. MacLeod recently donated to Luther in honour of the 50th anniversary of the University campus. “Over the decades, I have told many people about what a wonderful school I thought it was—and I do know a lot of people!” she says.

It was at Luther that MacLeod discovered her love of sports. “I had never seen a game of football before, and we had the Luther Lions,” she says. Three decades later, she became the first female Committee Chair on the Board of Directors of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. As Chair of the Fan Appreciation Committee for almost 17 years, she spearheaded successful fundraisers, such as the Touchdown Cooking cookbook, which raised $66,000 in its first year.

MacLeod was an active volunteer in the community, programming for the Parkinson Society and lecturing for the Arthritis Association. “I learned public speaking at Luther and for the rest of my life, I’ve been public speaking,” she says. She has also

Amber with her late husband Ken MacLeod

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CLASS NOTES 1970’s

belongs to several other aviationrelated organizations and gets to work with many fantastic people who share his quest for knowledge about the rich history of Canadian aviation along with aviation in general. Both of his daughters received a quality education at Luther College High School, which was the foundation for them both to go on to earn graduate degrees.

Luther was a great part of that.

BARRY MONSON Barry Monson (U’74) is retired after 36+ years teaching mathematics at the University of New Brunswick. He says he is “still researching, another word for mental torture.” Barry has been married to Milda Markauskas (of Montreal) for 41+ years. They still live in Fredericton. Their two daughters are academics (in Quebec and England), and they have a two-year-old grandson who is extraordinarily busy.

Special Memory: “Living in residence, playing bridge into the wee hours of the night. Spending time and getting to know Rein Sommerfeld. My parents had moved to Toronto for work and Rein became like a father figure to me. Both of our daughters went to Luther High School and when our youngest was in grade 11 I volunteered to help Gail Fry with the musical.

Ten musicals later, with both daughters now graduated from the U of R, I looked back and truly appreciated every moment I spent with those students and teachers.”

Special Memory: “Having my own room in residence. It was 106, I think; and I suppose I was the first student to use it!”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “I think Tom Strutt taught a summer course (1973, I guess) on a modern English novel. It was marvellous.”

Gary Williams (U’74) is retired after 34 years working for SGI. He is now following his passion in aviation, serving as the national president of the Canadian Aviation Historical Society (as well as that of the Regina Chapter). He also

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GARY WILLIAMS What Made Luther College Meaningful: “The people, the staff, professors, and the other students.

Relationships are everything and I have nothing but positive

memories of all those people.”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “Thank you for the times we spent together and PLEASE don’t look for my photo of our graduation class hidden in the hall on the second floor of the classroom wing. It was the 70’s back then!”

MERLIN THOMPSON Merlin Thompson (U’75) is still going strong with music. His book More than Music Lessons: A Studio Teacher’s Guide to Parents, Practicing, Projects, and Character was published by Rowman & Littlefield in March 2022. He says all through the pandemic, technology has made it possible for music lessons to continue and he’s enjoyed extraordinary connections with colleagues across Canada, USA, New Zealand, and Australia.

Special Memory: Luther was “a great place that felt like home.”

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “I really appreciated living in the on-campus residence. There was always someone ready to talk at the end of the day. Amazing.”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “When everything is a possible poem, the world is suddenly far more interesting.” Phil Cousineau, The Art of Pilgrimage.

residents! Playing cards in the quad lounge, room parties, social events!”

Patricia Cook (HS’72, U’81) is a retired music director/teacher. Her special memory of Luther is “that it is where my parents first met.”

1980’s LEA (DOW) PENNOCK Lea (Dow) Pennock (U’79) retired from the role of University Secretary at the University of Saskatchewan in 2013 and has spent nine years of happy retirement in Saskatoon. One of her favourite retirement pastimes has been walking with her husband, Dan, along the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. So far, they’ve walked about 3,000 km and are hoping to add more this year. She also just finished a 3-year term as national President of the Canadian Company of Pilgrims, a volunteer organization that supports Canadians interested in the Camino.

Special Memory: “A Reading Week cross-country trip to northern Minnesota in a van with about eight other Luther students, organized by Paul Antrobus. We enjoyed fantastic hospitality from former Luther folks, the Dales, at their cabin on a lake near Bemidji, and skied every day. The drive was a winter driving adventure, but we made it!

It was such a small and intimate College; you really got to know all the professors and most of the students, and to appreciate them as human beings.”

GLENN SCHMIDT What Made Luther College Meaningful: “Sense of community. Had I not lived in residence I believe my university experience would not have been nearly as enjoyable as it was.”

MICHELLE AND MIKE FRITZLER Michelle and Mike Fritzler (HS’88) tied the knot on a Princess Cruise for the sixth time as a way to celebrate their 21st anniversary.

Mike tells us if you look closely, he is proudly wearing his Luther College alumni pin in the photo.

Glenn Schmidt (U’80) enjoyed a 36-year career in IT in Regina and Kansas City, including two years of teaching Computer Science at the U of R right after graduation (B.Sc.’80). His love of travel has taken him to over 40 countries.

Glenn took an early retirement and now resides in the Kansas City area with his wife, Diane, the love of his life.

Special Memory: “Hanging out with my fellow

ALLAN HUNCHUK Allan Hunchuk (U’81) – after his BA in sociology from Luther College, he completed his MA in sociology from the University of Regina (1984), and a PhD in sociology from The University of Notre Dame (1990). He is currently

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CLASS NOTES a Professor of Sociology in The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies at Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania.

He has been teaching at Thiel College for over 30 years. His research areas are in the sociology of music, literature, and film, with specializations in sociological theory, socio-political thought, and sociology of culture.

Special Memory: “I have many fond memories of Luther College (U of R), but the memories that stand out, aside from my many friendships, are the courses that I took from Professor Ross McLeod and Dr. William Stahl. Ross introduced me to phenomenology and ethnomethodology which led to me studying in those areas. Bill offered a course on the Sociology of the Frankfurt School, and two reading courses during my MA studies on Western social and political thought. Bill was also the co-advisor for my master’s thesis on freedom in the thought of Hannah Arendt (along with Dr. Phil Hansen in, at that time, Political Science, before he joined the Philosophy Department at the University of Regina). What I learned from Ross, Bill, and Phil has been instrumental in my intellectual development and gave me direction in my doctoral studies at the University of Notre Dame.”

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “Luther was where I began my academic and intellectual journey.

Without the courses that I took from Ross McLeod and Bill Stahl, I would not have pursued graduate studies in sociology and would not have become a college professor.

I would have most likely ended up in punk rock band singing off-key and thrashing around on guitar.

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Mind you, lead singer in a punk rock band is what I plan to do after I retire from teaching at Thiel College in a few years.”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “I would like to thank all the professors at Luther College (U of R) that I have taken courses from: Dr. William Stahl, Professor Ross McLeod, Dr. Paul Antrobus, Dr. Roland Miller, Dr. Author Krentz, and Dr. Richard Hordern. Dr. Miller deserves special thanks for helping me land an excellent summer job mining salt at Ormiston Mining and Smelting in Ormiston, Saskatchewan.”

Yvonne Petry (U’85) is the Dean of Luther College and a Professor of History. She began teaching History at Luther College in 1998.

Special Memory: “I was a typical day student, and not really involved in the life of the College. This was largely due to the fact that I was a French major, so most of my courses were at the U of R, not Luther. That said, I have very fond memories of my English 100 course with Dr. Bruce Macdonald, who really got me interested in the novels of Robertson Davies, and of my Sociology 100 course with Dr. Bill Stahl. I remember Dr. Stahl showing us stacks of 3x5 notecards and explaining how to keep and organize our research notes. My best memory of Luther College is of Naomi Matthes in the Academic Office. I can still see her smiling face and hear her friendly, patient voice as she walked me through whatever question or problem I presented to her.”

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “As I was finishing my PhD in the late 1990s and starting to

apply for academic jobs, I had in the back of my mind the idea that working in a small, interdisciplinary, liberal arts college would be my ideal location.

That said, I knew that I had to be prepared to go anywhere in the world for a tenure-track position.

I didn’t realize that that also meant returning home! I feel very fortunate to be able to work at my alma mater and am happy to have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing mission of Luther College.”

Brenda Beckman-Long (U’88) recently published an article, “Creating a Community of Witnesses: Acts of Reading in Anne Michaels’s Fugitive Pieces,” in Canadian Jewish Studies 32 (2021): 113-127. It appears in a special issue on Canadian Holocaust literature.

Dr. Beckman-Long is an associate professor of English at Briercrest College, which is affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan, and author of Carol Shields and The Writer-Critic (University of Toronto Press, 2015).

Yodit Seifu (U’88) is a statistician with a Ph.D. working at BMS in New Jersey. She is married and has two kids. Her eldest is doing his master’s degree in biostatistics and her daughter is a student at the United States Naval Academy.

"I have a lot of special memory with my Luther math professor (Prof. Engestrom). He was such a nice and supportive person. I also have a lot of special memory with the Dean."

Special Memory: “I was a scholarship student. I am extremely grateful for this education. I am originally from Ethiopia. I am most grateful for what I have been able to do to help others. To those more is given, more is expected.”

1990’s

Stephen Barlow (HS’95) is the Vice-President at Dusyk & Barlow Insurance, which was voted the Best Insurance Agent in Regina according to Prairie Dog Magazine.

MELISSA (KUNTZ) PRICE Melissa (Kuntz) Price (HS’91, U’95) is a full professor at Clarion University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her 11-year-old son, husband, and dog. Melissa and her husband also develop and rent properties in the Pittsburgh area. They enjoy biking and outdoor activities and spend most of their free time traveling for hockey with their son.

Special Memory: “The community developed between students, teachers, and staff is really what makes it special.”

SABRINA CATALDO Sabrina Cataldo (U’97, ’99) received the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for her work with Regina Cat Rescue, Carmichael Outreach and Regina Lyric Musical Theatre over the past decade. Photo credit: Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “The friends I made and how I was able to explore many areas and activities and eventually find my passion.”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “I loved [high school] gym class, to my surprise. Art class was always fun. I am grateful for how kind everyone was at this school. It was a very positive high school experience and I’m so happy I got to know so many people.”

JODI (COOKSON) KYDD

Jodi (Cookson) Kydd (U’98) is the Director of Human Resources

for Luther College. This is the sixth role Jodi has had since starting as a student employee at Luther in 1998. She is proud to be a staff member at Luther College and is so happy to be part of an institution that values their students and employees as whole persons. She hopes to continue to contribute towards Luther’s next 50 years!

Special Memory: “For me, it is the people at Luther that make it so special. I think of the professors I had who have provided their knowledge to each generation and what that means collectively as all those students have gone out into the world. I think of the staff of Luther and all the care they have poured into students that made all the difference in their academic journeys.”

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “The care that I received as a student arriving for my first academic advising appointment in 1993 has carried me through my education and now my career.

Prior to that day, I had never even set foot on the University campus, but I loved it right from the beginning. Little did I know I would still be coming to campus daily almost 30 years later! Having a home base at Luther from which to explore learning, program options, and career directions made all the difference in my journey.”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “I would love to invite everyone to come and celebrate the 50th anniversary with us! Classmates my age may have children considering their options for university, so it would be wonderful for them to come and see what Luther has to offer.”

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CLASS NOTES Deanne Cobb-Zygaldo (U’99) is teaching English for Academic Purposes at Nazarbayev University in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

She says she had to move to Kazakhstan to meet one of her fellow 1999 Luther College alumnae, Rheanne Anderson.

They not only work for the same university and program but ended up sharing an office and working together on a new program for pre-master’s students.

Special Memory: Luther’s English classes What Made Luther College Meaningful: “The administration staff were always so helpful and friendly.”

2000’s Colleen (Eliason) Wilkinson (U’01) is a teacher and counsellor at Luther College High School.

Special Memory: “I remember Mary Jesse patiently assisting me with registration every time I changed my program (at least once a year during my B.A.). Also, I remember Paul Antrobus wearing his skeleton suit (with a string of pumpkin lights taped all over his body) on Halloween. He ran into the classroom and jumped onto the table, causing quite a stir in the class!”

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “Getting to know faculty and feeling comfortable in the building. Faculty were so knowledgeable yet humble, going out of their way to share their knowledge with students. The staff were always welcoming and helpful.”

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A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: Luther College was an ideal place to study after high school. I really appreciated the smaller classes and individual instruction from professors. The college provided a small, safe community within the larger university that scaffolded my transition from high school to post-secondary studies.

work of philanthropy, and she dove headfirst into the nonprofit community. After working at the Canadian Cancer Society and the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, she recently returned to the University campus as an employee, utilizing her skills in fundraising and her love of the campus to promote a culture of philanthropy at the University.

Stephanie Smith (U’03) is the manager of the new Accommodations Test Centre at the University of Regina.

Special Memory: “There are a number of moments that were special to me at Luther. It was through the help of the Registrar that I chose my path of study and for that I am grateful. I had the honour of being on the Dean’s list and was invited to attend a luncheon at Luther College. Dr. Franz Volker Greifenhagen was Dean at the time. To receive our Dean’s Medal we had to learn Dr. Franz Volker Greifenhagen’s “special” handshake. These moments with the faculty and staff are what made my time at Luther College memorable and life changing.”

Daniel Stubbings (HS’05) studied at the University of Regina and the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where he graduated from the Department of Geomatic Engineering Technology in 2019.

He works as a surveyor in Ft Saint John, British Columbia.

Patrick Neufeld (HS’06) signed a one-year contract extension in January 2022 to play another season in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

2010’s

ISHA (MELISSA) LARSON Isha (Melissa) Larson (U’15) says her volunteer work at the University of Regina and Luther College introduced her to the

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “I attended my first year of post-secondary at a different institution and it was not a positive experience. It made me question if university was a place for me.

But I decided to give it another go through Luther College, and I immediately knew that the experience was going to be different... better! Luther College felt like a community and there was always someone available to help me and provide support. I will be forever grateful to the people who where there to help and the friends I made along the way.”

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: Thank you to everyone that made my time at Luther College special!

What Made Luther College Meaningful: “Luther College was the perfect home for me during my first few years of university, allowing me the freedom to live away from home for the first time but still providing me with all the supports I could ask for to be able to focus on my schoolwork.”

MARCIA MITSCHKE Marcia Mitschke (U’16) is an optometrist and co-owner of a small Moose Jaw clinic. She’s happily married to her partner, Francois Boire, who she met while living at Luther Residence over a decade ago. She thanks everyone who works so hard behind the scenes to keep the magic of Luther alive.

Special Memory: “So many memories, it’s hard to choose just one: midnight breakfast during exam periods, watching movies in the quad lounge, Luther cabarets, touring new students around as a student volunteer, choosing classes with Mary Jesse, presenting to potential students as an alumna.”

In Memoriam

A Message to Former Classmates/Teachers: “THANK YOU to all the staff and faculty at Luther for supporting me and believing in my future success as much as I did. THANK YOU to all the wonderful friends I made along the way for pulling me out of my comfort zone and helping me grow into a “real adult.” THANK YOU especially to my amazing life partner for being my study buddy and my best friend.”

Faculty & Staff Dr. Kaila Bruer and Dr. Sarah Zanette are the Luther College psychology faculty members within the University of Regina’s Psychology Department which has landed a top spot in Times Higher Education’s list of best universities for psychology degrees in Canada 2022, ranking number six of 27 Canadian universities.

Two long-time faculty members (and alumni of the high school)

are retiring June 30, 2022. Mark Becker (HS’82) and Dave Hall (HS’80) will be retiring from their accomplished careers as beloved teachers at Luther College High School. Fuller articles thanking them and celebrating all they have meant to this community will be featured in the Fall 2022 issue of The Luther Story.

The British Library in London has published a sound and vision blog featuring traditional Tonga music from Zambia recorded by Brian Stubbings when he was teaching in Africa with the United Church of Zambia from 1971 to 1978. Brian recorded over 500 traditional songs of the Tonga people and that collection is now held at the British Library, Indiana University and the University of Zambia.

The blog features a traditional pounding (kutwa) song, sung by two women as they pound maize in a mortar with a large wooden pestle. The words of the song were changed to words appropriate for Christian worship and sung in the chapel of Kafue Secondary School, where Brian taught history and English. Brian was a substitute teacher at Luther College High School from 2008 to 2017, taught one semester of Latin in 2011-12, and was acting librarian in 2012.

He has been living on Vancouver Island since 2017.

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

Gwen (Carswell) Hawkins (HS’46) Anna (Rutherford) Lemon (HS’48) Eleanor (Sauer) Matthews (HS’52) Edward Diakow (HS’54). He will be missed by

family, classmates and former dorm friends from Luther College High School. Submission by Wilbur Wilson (HS’54), McCord, SK

Neil Clarke (HS’59) Brian Backman (HS’68) Hugh Jenner (HS’64) Linda (Downs) Brown (HS’67) Monica Ekvall (LCUR resident 1971-73) Bruce Paproski (U’85)

Wayne Kallio (faculty at Luther College High School from 1974-1984) Pastor Lindsay Hognestad (Board of Regents member from 2008-2016) Lorianne Butterfield (U’91 and LCUR staff member from 1996-1999) Bruce Axelson (friend of Luther College) Rob Berezowski (friend of Luther College) Colleen Ellingson (LCUR staff member from 1988-2006) Kevin Tell (friend of Luther College) Alfred Sattler (friend of Luther College) Bette Sexton (friend of Luther College)

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UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY AND POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY: A MULTI-FACETED APPROACH Dr. Marc Jerry

- President of Luther College

Dr. Roger A. Petry

- Professor of Philosophy, Luther College and Coordinator, RCE Saskatchewan As the COVID-19 pandemic slowly transitions towards an endemic stage, universities face one of the largest disruptions in their existence. With the forced widespread advent of online and hybrid delivery models of teaching, universities have lost their historic monopolistic advantage to local markets. Gone are the days when many students would attend a nearby university simply because of its geographic convenience. The rise of micro-credentialling and skills-based training has provided universities an opportunity to reflect and expand on their current offerings in their role to provide lifelong learning.

Universities are being forced to adapt to a post-COVID reality. There needs to be change in higher education programming relevant to a world that values sustainability in various forms. There needs to be investment and change in accessibility through quality technological and educational learning techniques. There also needs to be a re-evaluation of the kinds of physical spaces for an increasingly digital and remote world yet one where place-based knowledge of communities and ecosystems is the pathway to a sustainable future. Universities will likely never return to 100% face-toface operations, and as employers, they will need to embrace flexible working arrangements for a workforce no longer fully in person.

All these disruptions are forcing universities to rethink their models.

No longer seen solely as public goods, university funders demand financial sustainability through revenue generation and greater self-sufficiency.

The answer to these pressures is sustainability: sustain key systems and their ongoing benefits over the long-term. Universities also have unique capacities to contribute to sustainable development, including progress on the UN Sustainable

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Development Goals, in particular, through the liberal arts and sciences where the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, especially biology, play a central role.

Sustainability approaches Luther College, a federated college of the University of Regina, values sustainability. Sustainability is a lens that can be brought to bear in a number of contexts: leadership and governance, practical operational sustainability, and through teaching, scholarship, and research for sustainable development.

Leadership and Governance: Sustainability is a theme and approach to leadership and governance on a small scale at Luther – with economizing oversight operations to single functional areas (i.e. finance, HR) for the separate high school and university campus operations. These economies of scale can also result in more innovation.

Practical Operations: When people think of sustainability, this is often the category most considered: ways of acting that simultaneously sustain both ecosystem health and human well-being. This includes things like recycling programs, energy efficient buildings, and the reduction of waste. It also means taking what is old and making it new, as Luther did with its major refurbishment of the campus residence built in the 1970s. Universities now have an opportunity to increase these efforts to a much larger scale: renewable energy solar and wind farms and water storage on university lands and buildings, sustainable and local food sourcing, locally-grown food for use in our food services, and open equipment sharing for new forms of local production.

Teaching, Scholarship, and Research: Students must be able to experience the value of sustainable development though their programs, integrated learning options, and global scholarship on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). One such way is incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Luther’s role in advancing this work holistically throughout the College.

Higher education and research for sustainable development In 2018, the International Association of Universities (IAU) invited individual universities from around the world to lead on specific SDGs. Luther College and the University of Regina were co-tasked with finding at least one other university on each continent to work on SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption. Universities from Malaysia, Kenya, Germany, Columbia, and Peru have joined the College on a 4-year journey (so far!) where we share best practices and collaborate on scholarly initiatives.

No matter what pandemic recovery ends up looking like across the Canadian post-secondary landscape – it must be sustainable in many different facets. As a college, we are modelling a new way of intentionally coming together through diverse forms of sustainability. In doing so we will be able to (re)create communities and graduates who become a part of the healing, caring, and rebuilding of the world around us: for this is deeply needed now, more than ever.

PRESENTS PRESENTS

Directed byDirected Ms. Kyéra Pfeifer Memorial of Music byLevesque Ms. Kyéra- Levesque - PfeiferChair Memorial Chair of Music and Mrs. Deborah and Mrs.Nelson Deborah Nelson

FRIDAY,FRIDAY, MAY 27,MAY 202227, AT2022 7:00 AT P.M. 7:00 P.M. CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCHCHURCH CHRIST LUTHERAN 4825 Dewdney Avenue Avenue Regina, Regina, SK 4825 Dewdney SK Scan the QR code forQR the Facebook performance.

Scan the code for thelivestreamed Facebook livestreamed performance.

FREE WILL OFFERING FREE WILL OFFERING Donations are gratefully accepted accepted at Donations are gratefully at www.luthercollege.edu www.luthercollege.edu @LCHSRegina @LCHSRegina @luther_college_hs @luther_college_hs @lutherseniorchoir LUTHER STORY FALL 2021 @lutherseniorchoir

HOMECOMING OCTOBER 14 & 15, 2022

Relive the memories!

1952 1982

Classe s of Hon ou r 1957 1987

1962 1992

1967 1997

1972 2002

1977 2012

Ever yone who graduated before 1972 is being invited, in addition to our Classes of Honour.

REGISTRATION OPENS: June 1 - online www.luthercollege.edu/homecoming THE LUTHER STORY DISTRIBUTED BY CANADA POST UNDER PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT NUMBER 40065736.

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