broadcaster

Y T N A R A U G L X Z Y G E C
F G D C Q G O W E Y Y T Q X O
V T B R O A D C A S T E R P L
F L P H R L J E D N E E S E L
X S A W S E S I E G Z D J R E
O C R N P T J L R U M U W I G
U H T X O O H E S E C C I E I
T O A R V I T E K A B A E N A
S L S R A N T E O H D T T C T
T A T T E D V U N L H E W E E
A R Z N E C I O T T O H R T I
N S M B E W R T W I I G J S N
D H Y I C M A U I I T A Y L T
I I S N N E U R I O A S L Z E
N P T Q S A O C D T N N N Z L
G W E U Z P M R O S I A J I L
C P R I P R X P Y D H N L P E
H U Y R O T C I V E H I G D C
A R H Y N E S W T D Y I P L T
L P C H A M P I O N S H I P U
L O Q C M I M S M R Q T X E A
E S U D A C A D E M I C S M L
N E N N Y S C O M M U N I T Y
G H E D P R V M G A K R G F R
E T U G E N E R A T I O N S O
W I N T E R 2 0 1 8 | V O L . 9 6 | N O. 1
C O N C O R D I A U N I V E R S I T Y, N E B R A S K A
 Inquiry. Whether in the classroom, the marketplace, the kitchen or the church, inquiry is essential. In this age of im-
mediate access to information of any and all kinds, inquiry and the context within which questions are explored and
answers provided has never been more important. At Concordia, students are surrounded by faculty and staff who
know the Truth, Jesus Christ, and how the truths of Scripture are the foundation for how we view the world and live
as God’s people within it.
The theme of this edition of the Broadcaster is Inquiry, the second of our four Promises of a Lutheran Education.
Stated succinctly, the promise of inquiry reminds us that:
The universe and all that it contains is a magnificent wonder. Concordia promises to immerse students in
an environment of rich academic exploration and inquiry, where they deeply consider, debate and critically
examine the world and its inhabitants, past and present. This happens while concurrently affirming the truths
found in the Bible and determining if and how those truths intersect with other knowledge and ideas.
This issue chronicles students deeply engaged in academic exploration and in the process of consideration, debate
and critical examination of the world as they traveled to China last summer to teach English and to witness their faith
in Jesus in words and deeds; the announcement of Concordia’s newest undergraduate program—agricultural science;
the unveiling of the Luke Scholars Honors Program a special 125th anniversary celebration feature about the houses
on Faculty Row—imagine the exploration and inquiry that took place in those homes over the years—and the growth
and development of the university’s graduate programs.
Woven throughout the issue is our promise of Inquiry. During a Table Talk session with Concordia faculty and staff
during the spring of 2017, Dr. Russ Moulds, professor of education and psychology emeritus, cited the work of Robert
Benne, “Integrity and Fragmentation: Can the Lutheran Center Hold?” (2017), and stated:
A Lutheran university conducts dialogue between the Christian intellectual tradition and our secular disci-
plines, a dialogue with lively tension and intersections between Christ and culture, the Gospel and the Law,
and God’s two kingdoms.
A genuinely Lutheran university aims at this sort of engagement—rejoicing in the areas of overlap and agree-
ment of such intersections, continuing in mutual critique where there are divergences and disagreements,
confident that, at the close of the age, Christ himself will bring all things together (Col. 1:15-20), while in the
meantime living with many (not all) questions unresolved.
We promise to immerse our students in an environment of rich academic exploration and inquiry. As we do, we
further and most importantly promise them that we will affirm the Truth of and the truths found in Scripture. We
then promise to aid them in determining if and how those truths intersect and hold meaning with other knowledge,
ideas and experiences. As we do, we challenge and encourage them to ask and receive answers to life’s most important
question: “’Sirs, what must I do to be saved.’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and
your household’” (Acts 16:30-31). That question and that answer are at this Lutheran Christian university the ultimate
reason for inquiry.

Blessings,

Concordia University, Nebraska held a community open house and tree lighting for the Seward and campus communities. It was a
wonderful night of fellowship, carols and praising Jesus. Brian L. Friedrich
photo: McKenna Kaskie '21
President

2 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 3
Broadcaster Staff
Mystery Photo
Director of Marketing
Seth Meranda GR ’17
Does anyone recognize this lovely potato peeler? We bet
those were some amazing mashed potatoes! Email us at
Editor
Danielle Luebbe broadcaster@cune.edu!
Art Director
Elizabeth Milke
6
Contributors
Jake Knabel An American in Shenzen
Rachel Dorn '19
A once-in-a-lifetime trip to China illuminates
Designers
the character of Concordia students.
Liliana Barrientos ’20
Megan Boye ’19

Photographers
Stephanie Hilchen '22
Thomas Johnson '20
McKenna Kaskie '21

University Administration Do you have a Concordia mystery photo you'd like us

President & CEO to help you solve?
Rev. Dr. Brian L. Friedrich
10 Send us your Concordia photos! Whether you want help
Provost
Dr. Tim Preuss ’83 identifying people or events in your photo, or just want

Executive Vice President, CFO & COO

Stewards of the Earth to see if you can stump our readers, email your Con-
cordia photos to the editor at broadcaster@cune.edu.
David Kumm
A new agricultural science major is

Mystery Solved
Senior Vice President for coming to Concordia.
Enrollment Management & Marketing
Scott Seevers ’89

Vice President for Institutional Advancement

Kurth Brashear

Vice President for Student Affairs & Athletics

Gene Brooks CO ’91 GR ’03

Board of Regents
Mrs. Krista Barnhouse CO ’95 GR ’01, Lincoln, Neb.
Mr. Stuart Bartruff, Omaha, Neb.
14
Dr. Dennis Brink, Lincoln, Neb.
Mr. Ryan Burger ’04, Lincoln, Neb.
Mr. Robert Cooksey CO ’84 GR ’90, Omaha, Neb.
Honor Bound
Rev. Dr. Brian Friedrich, Seward, Neb.
Rev. Eugene Gierke, Seward, Neb. Concordia celebrates its 125th anniversary
Mr. Dick Helms, Arapahoe, Neb. with the launch of its first honors program,
Mrs. Gail Hawkins, Omaha, Neb.
Mr. Timothy Hu, Cheyenne, Wyo. the Luke Scholars Program.
Mr. Richard Huebner, Centennial, Colo.
Mrs. Jill Johnson GR ’17, Seward, Neb.
Mrs. Bonnie O’Neill Meyer, Miami Beach, Fla.
Mr. Paul Schudel, Omaha, Neb.
Mr. Timothy Schwan ’72, Appleton, Wis.
Rev. Richard Snow, Seward, Neb.
Mr. Erik Vieselmeyer, Holyoke, Colo.
Rev. James Woelmer GR ’99, Plano, Texas
Faculty and Student 16 Concordia Scene
About the Cover
Highlights
Concordia University, Nebraska’s Promise of
Inquiry is essential for a Christian Lutheran Discover the many accomplishments
26 Athletics We had so many great responses to our last mystery
university. We are pleased to offer our students We love hearing from our readers!
an environment of rich academic exploration
of our students, faculty and staff. photo that we decided to make it our featured historical Have feedback or comments on our latest issue?
and dynamic, life-shaping learning experiences! cune.edu/highlights 34 Alumni & Friends article this issue. Find out more about our mystery We want to hear from you! Email the editor at
house on page 22. broadcaster@cune.edu.
© 2019 Concordia University, Nebraska

#GoHigher Broadcaster 5

Emma Brand '20 is all smiles on a sightseeing tour of Hong Kong.
An American in
Shenzhen
story: Danielle Luebbe
photos: Danielle Luebbe
On a trip to Shenzhen, China, to observe and record students
teaching ESL camps, the editor discovered Chinese culture,
eel pizza and a whole lot about Concordia.
T he flight from Chicago to Hong Kong takes 16 hours.
It’s brutal—mentally and physically exhausting—and
at the same time, a unique experience in this modern world
of connectedness. There is no social media, no phone calls,
no email. You can watch movies (and boy, did I watch a lot
of movies) or read or sleep and that’s about it. It’s freeing.
It’s meditative. It’s awful and wonderful.
I didn’t realize it on the flight, but that would sum up
our entire experience in China.
Each year since 2012, Dr. Vicki Anderson, associate
professor of education and ESL/ELL/TESOL under-
graduate program director, has led a group of Concordia
University, Nebraska students to Shenzhen, China where
they teach English classes, along with science, technology,
engineering, art, sports and math at Buena Vista Concordia
International School.
This year’s group included ten Concordia students:
Emily Altman ’20, Emma Brand ’20, Payton DeMers-Sah-
ling '20, Katerina Fuller '20, Kennedy Garner '19, Hannah
Gillet '18, Emma Heidorn '19, Ashley Martin '19, Krista
Stanford '19 and Hannah Sugita '19. The group was led
by Dr. Anderson and her husband, Jon Anderson, ad-
junct instructor of statistics at Concordia. Also along for
the ride were the Andersons’ teenaged son, Sebastian,
who worked as a teaching assistant, and two mem-
bers of the Concordia marketing office: video producer
Aaron Nix and me, the social media producer and editor
of Broadcaster. We were there to document the experi-
ence of our students as they created lesson plans, taught
in their own classrooms and explored Shenzhen and the
Chinese culture.
As someone who works in the marketing office at Con-
cordia, the student teachers turned out to be exactly the
sort of students I hope we are recruiting and equipping.
All of them had hearts for service, an incredible desire to
learn and faith to get them through living and teaching in
a foreign country, which was not always a walk in the park.
China was hot. It was a kind of heat that seeped way
into your bones, along with the humidity, so you’d get
out of the shower wet and never fully dry off. And there

A Chinese-English Bible from the
Nanshan Christian Church in Shenzhen.
Broadcaster editor and article author
Danielle Luebbe in Hong Kong.
“The best lesson I learned in China
wasn’t about the experience or the
Chinese culture, but about Concordia.”
8 Broadcaster cune.edu
were people everywhere. Forty years ago, Shenzhen was
a small market town. The Chinese government wanted to
create a place where international business and tourism
could thrive, and so they started developing the southern
tip of the country, right across the border from Hong
Kong, one of the largest business and tourism hubs in
the world. Now, Shenzhen has a population of nearly
13 million people in an area smaller than Rhode Island.
Almost every building is a skyscraper. Many of the first
floors are shops or restaurants and the rest of the floors
are dedicated to apartments.
The whole group was exhausted from day one. Jet
lag hit us hard. The students spent nearly every free
moment they had lesson planning and discussing their
classrooms. Even during breaks at school and on long bus
or metro rides to visit tourist destinations, they worked,
commiserated and prayed for patience and inspiration.
Access to internet sites is strictly controlled. Add
to that the 13 hour time difference and spotty internet
connections and it meant that most of us were pretty
isolated from family. Early morning or late night Face-
time chats depended on the Wi-Fi connection strength
at the school or the apartment. Doing social media posts
for Concordia was downright frustrating; video posts
could sometimes take hours to load and had to be posted
from the school’s Wi-Fi (which was better). Even then,
sometimes I’d start a post loading and come back to find
that the connection had dropped and the post had to be
started again, hours of time lost.
For all the sleep deprivation, connection frustra-
tions and exasperation of spending every moment,
waking and sleeping, in a group with 14 other people
who were basically strangers, it was also one of the
best experiences of my life.
It was beautiful. Storefronts selling cheap souvenirs
stood next to sour-smelling shops of pickled fish, dried
herbs and ancient remedies. Fruit and vegetable stands
were stacked with colorful, unidentifiable delicacies in
crates and boxes, and the cold air conditioned breeze
from the Walmart wafted out into the street. Brightly
lit windows displayed hanging rows of golden roasted
The Concordia student teachers pose in front of Buena Vista Concordia International School in Shenzhen, China.
geese, decorated cakes with elaborate icing and elusive
flavors, exercisers on stationary bikes pedaling hard to
flashing disco lights while pounding music boomed out
onto the street. We tried eel pizza, chicken feet and sweet
potato ice cream.
My favorite thing was the big open parks—at night,
when it was cooler, everyone came out of their apartments
and gathered in the open spaces. People, old and young,
wore neon graphic tees or printed floral dresses or modern
black suits in a riot of clashing colors and styles. There
were pick-up basketball games and traditional Chinese
dance classes and concerts. It was a display of life and
humanity and harmony, old and new, all the diverse people
of the community enjoying the outdoors and each other.
But the best lesson I learned in China wasn’t about the
experience or the Chinese culture, but about Concordia
and our students.
The Buena Vista Concordia school is partially owned
by The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod. While
members of the Communist Party of China are forbidden
from practicing religion, non-party members are free to
worship whatever religion they wish. But religious actions
(particularly those of foreigners) are governed heavily.
Foreigners can’t engage in missionary activities, like
preaching in public or trying to convert Chinese citizens
to their religion, though they can hold religious services
at approved sites. So the school is a way for the Lutheran
church to maintain a presence in China. Though they can’t
teach religion, hold chapel services or bible school, Buena
Vista Concordia is a place where God’s love is shown to
students every day through word and deed.
Despite the restrictions on what they could talk about
with the students and staff and despite the language
barrier, every day I saw our Concordia student teachers
demonstrate God’s love, light and patience. They strate-
gized with each other, prayed together and were endlessly
supportive of each other and their students. They were
smart and adaptable. Nearly all of them had some issues
in that first week of classes. The kids were more advanced
than they had planned for. They didn’t have supplies they
needed. Technology failed. The student teachers handled
all the surprises and missteps as though they had been
running their own classrooms for years. And even when
they were frustrated or tired or upset, they found reasons
to laugh and opened their hearts and eyes to all the new
and strange wonders that China had to offer.
I love that I had the chance to be a small part of watching
the next generation of educators as they discover their
extraordinary purpose and realize their vocational callings.
I love that Concordia is producing young women and men
of such character, resilience and faith. I am incredibly
grateful that I had the opportunity to get to know these
ten Concordia students personally and experience their
love of Concordia, service and, above all, God. The future
is in good hands with women like these at the helm.
To view the vlog and social media posts from
Concordia’s trip to China, visit cune.edu/china.
#GoHigher Broadcaster 9

Josh Schick '20 talks ag with Jason Nuttelman of Nuttelman Dairy in Stromsburg, Nebraska.
Stewards of
the Earth
story: Danielle Luebbe
photos: McKenna Kaskie '21
Concordia’s new agricultural science program will prepare
future ag leaders to be good stewards of God’s Earth.
T he book of Psalms tells us that “the earth and
everything in it, the world and its inhabitants,
belong to the Lord.” As Christians, it’s our charge to be
good stewards of the earth and all the resources He has
given us. Concordia University, Nebraska has always
been dedicated to that mission, so when a team began
to design an agricultural science major, they knew that
stewardship would be at the program’s core.
 “An agricultural science program is a particularly a high-quality, hands-on education in a small town,
good fit for our mission and our location,” says Dr. Robert Christian environment, so that future generations
Hermann, professor of physics and chair of the natural of agricultural leaders can become the leaders and
science department, who helped build the program. “To stewards that God has called them to be. To learn more
prepare people for the church and world is to prepare about the agricultural science degree at Concordia,
people to be part of the global economy. Stewardship is a visit cune.edu/ag.
calling to care for our resources, but also to help provide
resources for others.”
To achieve the goal of helping students become good
stewards, Hermann and the rest of the program develop-
ment team knew that an agricultural science major would
have to have a hands-on, out-in-the-field component
from start to finish.

Join the Club!

Madi Baker and Josh Schick

MAKING AG WORK
“The way we envision it is that in the first year intro-
ductory courses, there will be opportunities to go out
into the field for visits with a wide range of ag industry
Concordia’s newest club was formed for students who
leaders,” Hermann says. “So students will visit financial
are passionate about agriculture. The Ag Club began in Many Concordia alumni live, work and serve in rural working with national organizations and government
institutions, food production facilities, grain and cattle
fall 2018, as a way for students to learn about production communities around the world, and with the introduction agencies to asses opportunities for the export of soybeans
industries, all different sorts of agricultural industries.”
agriculture and meet other students who share their of the new agricultural science major, future generations and soybean products to those continents.
In the middle two years of the curriculum, students
interests. will continue to live their vocations as stewards of God’s It’s an agriculture career that Johannes has been
will have lab courses with activities where they can work
“Ag Club is a unique opportunity that will allow for earth and resources. building for decades. A career that has taken him around
with local ag producers on a project that benefits their
students to participate in hands-on learning experiences, the world, in different parts of agriculture, and it’s thanks
business, while our students learn about agriculture and Kenlon Johannes '71
while building relationships and connections within the in part to Concordia.
their operation. Plus, one of the science labs in the new Like many Concordia University, Nebraska alumni,
Seward and ag communities,” says Madi Baker ’22, one “I had a great broad-based overall education at Con-
Dunklau Center for Science, Math and Business will be Kenlon Johannes started his career after graduation
of the club’s founders. cordia,” Johannes says. “After teaching for several years,
entirely dedicated to agricultural sciences, which means as a teacher. It’s why he chose Concordia. “I wanted
The student-led club is just getting started, but its I had the confidence to take on new challenges which
our students will get the most comprehensive, hands-on to be a teacher, because I had a great Lutheran school
members already have big plans. “I hope it’s something included farming and the trade association field.”
education available, in the field and in the classroom. teacher,” he says.
that will be very involved in the community,” says Josh Johannes’s life took an unexpected turn when his Scott Simonsen '95
In the final year, students will complete internships
Schick ’20. “I want to educate people about agriculture. father passed away unexpectedly. He decided to move Scott Simonsen grew up on a farm just northwest
with one or more local businesses. Every step of the
People don’t know where their food comes from, and I back home to Leigh, Nebraska, and take over the family of Seward, Nebraska. So when he graduated from Con-
program will include real-world experiences, in which
think that’s important.” farm where he raised corn, soybeans and livestock. After cordia University, Nebraska with a degree in business
Concordia students learn about different types of ag-
“I feel that adding an Ag Club here on campus will allow 12 years of farming, prices hit a low point, and Johannes management, he knew that he wanted to live and work
riculture from working businesses and community ag
for new learning opportunities, while creating stronger, applied for a position as executive director of the Wis- someplace rural.
partners get assistance from students who are learning
genuine relationships between Concordia and the com- consin Corn & Soybean Program. From there, he worked “I thought about what kind of jobs were in those
current, up-to-the-minute techniques in the classroom
munity around us that didn’t exist before,” says Baker. for the Missouri Soybean Association and served as the settings that would fit me,” says Simonsen. “During my
to help those ag industries thrive.
Schick and Baker are also hoping that the Ag Club can first executive director for the National Biodiesel Board final year of college, I visited with many different people
In meeting with local agricultural business leaders,
help students on campus. “I hope we have people from before moving to the private sector where he worked for in rural Nebraska about their careers in agriculture and
the program development team discovered that one main
all backgrounds come into it,” Schick says, “so they can a biodiesel manufacturer and a re-refiner of motor oil. what they thought was a need. Banking and financial
thing ag producers are looking for when hiring college
learn about agriculture and have new experiences in ag Johannes has returned to serving soybean farmers as services came up quite a bit. I thought that sounded like
graduates was that hands-on experience. The second
by joining the club.” the CEO of the Kansas Soybean Association. In that role, something that I would like.”
thing they need is graduates who can “speak ag.”
“We hope to provide students with internships, job he manages and implements production and utilization Simonsen works at First State Bank in Hordville,
“They need graduates who are broadly trained, who have
opportunities and hands-on learning experiences that research, domestic and international market develop- Nebraska, a family-owned bank that serves the rural
a liberal arts education so they have the critical thinking
they may not find elsewhere,” adds Baker. “Most impor- ment and education projects as well as federal and state community. He’s been there for 22 years, and according
skills and communication skills,” says Dr. Hermann. “That
tantly though, we want to reach out into the community lobbying programs. to Simonsen, “It’s been worth it.” More than 70% of the
way, they have a wide range of knowledge of a wide range
and not only say thank you to our supporters, but also, Johannes also shares his local knowledge on a global loans the bank grants are agriculture related, so Simonsen
of things, but they also know how ag works.”
establish genuine relationships with those that have scale. He has participated in market development trips gets to support the ag industry in a field he loves.
Concordia’s agricultural science degree will be
shaped agriculture into what it is today.” to Europe, Asia, Africa and Central and South America
available to students beginning Fall 2019. It will offer

12 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 13
 Honor Bound
story: Danielle Luebbe
photo: Courtesy of Concordia University, Nebraska
“For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks
finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened” (Luke 11:10).

L uke the Evangelist was a learned physician, a disciple

A stained glass window depicting Luke the Evangelist.
of Paul, a historian and a painter of icons, as well as
the author of the Book of Luke, which tells the story of
Jesus Christ, from immaculate conception to ministry,
death to resurrection. Luke was a scholar, a faithful fol-
lower of Christ and a man of great will.
Likewise, the Lutheran intellectual tradition has al-
ways been one of rigorous academics, but with a higher
purpose. Concordia University, Nebraska seeks to develop
students who are studious, but also clear thinking; those
who can see the big picture and work to solve society’s
problems ethically, creatively and collaboratively, while
expanding their faith and the faith of those they encounter.
So when a comittee of faculty members began to de-
velop its first honors program, they knew that it needed
to be about more than just academics. In keeping with
the namesake of the program, Concordia’s Luke Scholars
Program aims to cultivate students of high potential and
great will into capable servants and intellectual stewards,
mindful of the gifts with which they have been blessed
and conscious of their duty to serve and lead. We want
to help these students discover and develop knowledge,
character and virtue in equal measure.
“The Luke Scholars Program will allow students
to explore ideas deeply in unique courses that are not
confined solely to one discipline,” says Dr. John Hink,
history professor and faculty sponsor of the program.
“Perhaps more importantly, students will get to be a part
of a rigorous academic community of young Christian
scholars who develop life-long bonds with one another
while pushing themselves intellectually.”
Luke Scholars are students with extraordinary purpose.
They serve their families, communities, churches and the
world, directing honor outward, rather than inward. They
inspire and empower others, and demonstrate Christ’s
love through their actions.
Students admitted to Concordia who meet certain
academic criteria will be encouraged to apply for the
Luke Scholars Program. To learn more about Concordia’s
first honors program, visit cune.edu/lukescholars.
What do I get for
being a Luke Scholar?
Luke Scholars receive notable tangible
benefits, including:
• Complimentary Luke Scholars course
materials.
• Access to the Luke Scholars Library.
• Tuition waivers for course overloads.
• Funds to support research.
• Supplemental study travel stipends.
• Recognition for being a Luke Scholar on
your transcripts.
The program’s real value, however, comes
from the intangible. Luke Scholars will:
• Be stimulated intellectually in ways they
did not foresee as possible.
• Experience their own personal and aca-
demic growth.
• Contribute through their abilities to the
church and world.
• Be prepared for their future vocations,
whatever they may be.
Visit cune.edu/lukescholars to learn more.

14 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 15

Concordia Scene
ACADEMICS
New Graduate Degree Program
Concordia University began offering an online Master
of Arts degree in school counseling this fall. The degree
prepares students for work and licensure as pre-
kindergarten through grade 12 school counselors
and allows students to gain hands-on experiences in
schools close to home, under the supervision of practicing
professional school counselors.
MUSIC
Student Musician Recitals
Concordia held its Fall Composer Recital and Fall Honor
Recital in the Music Center on campus. Six students
composed original vocal, piano, wind and string pieces
for the Composer Recital, while ten student musicians
were selected by music faculty to perform in the biannual
Honor Recital event.
ART
Between Surface and Time
Concordia hosted the exhibit, “Between Surface and Time,”
celebrating the art and ministry of Emeriti Professors
William Wolfram and Richard Wiegmann ’62. Wolfram’s
contribution was a survey of material manipulation in oil,
acrylic, modeling paste, assemblage or computer gener-
ated images, with overarching themes of the liturgical
nature of art, ritual and service. Wiegmann’s art was
marked by a versatile assortment of print technologies,
including etching, serigraphy, woodcut, embossing and
mixed media, with imagery lifted from scripture and his
regard for the natural world.
16 Broadcaster cune.edu
COMMUNITY
Project Pumpkin
Concordia invited families of the Seward community and
surrounding areas to participate in the annual Project
Pumpkin trick-or-treat event in David Hall on campus.
Each area of the dorm was decorated according to a
different theme, and the residents dressed in costumes
to hand out candy.
ACADEMICS
New DCE Professor and Internship Coordinator
Traci Kohls has accepted the call by Concordia’s
Board of Regents to serve as the new Internship Site
Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Education/
DCE. Kohls previously served as Director of Missional
Life at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in Waconia,
Minnesota.
MUSIC
Guest Conductor
Dr. Andrew Last directed the Cantamus Women’s Choir,
Male Chorus and University A Cappella Choir in a recital
as part of the Jones Fine Art Series, a partnership between
Concordia and The Jones National Bank & Trust Company.
Dr. Last is an assistant professor of music and conductor
of the Nordic Choir at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
COMMUNITY
Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival
Concordia hosted its 23rd annual Plum Creek Children’s
Literacy Festival Oct. 4-6, featuring an assortment of
nationally renowned authors and illustrators to encourage
a love of reading, writing and books.
Trending
@ CUNE
ICYMI, here’s a look at some of Concordia’s most popular
social media posts from fall 2018.
THEATRE #CUNE Class of 2022 is breaking
“The Diary of Anne Frank” records already as our largest
class in nearly 50 years! We can't
Concordia's drama department presented an evening
wait to see what else God has in
of historically, ethnically and religiously thought-pro- store for you!
voking theatre in the production “The Diary of Anne
Frank,” a powerful, emotional classic about eight people Jallah K. Bolay '20, a management
secretly hiding from the Nazis for more than two years information systems major from
Liberia, Africa, found support,
in a storage attic.
connection and calling at
MUSIC Concordia University, Nebraska.
Hear Jallah's story and discover
Music Faculty Recital how #CUNE is equipping students
Music faculty members at Concordia showcased vocal, from around the world.
instrumental and keyboard musical selections during a
recital in September. Five faculty members performed
a variety of classical repertoire: Talea Bloch (soprano),
Anne Gray (soprano), Elizabeth Grimpo (piano), Julia
(Gremmer) Marble ’12 (violin) and Paul Soulek ’07 (organ).
ACADEMICS The first snowfall came a little early
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities this year to #CUNE!
Concordia University, Nebraska has been recognized
as a major name in academic excellence and Christian
Charlotte Jans isn’t a typical college
education with its inclusion into The Council for
student. She’s extraordinary. Yesterday
Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). Membership in chapel, #CUNE students recognized
requires the comprehensiveness, accreditation and Charlotte’s mentorship and academic
achievements by creating special
quality of a Christ-centered higher education that
t-shirts to honor her. Thanks for being
“transforms lives by faithfully relating scholarship and “Concordia’s Grandma,” Charlotte!
service to biblical truth.”
SPEAKER
Faith in the Halls of Power
Tim Goeglein, former Special Assistant to U.S. President
Thanks for celebrating Christmas at
George H. W. Bush and current Vice President of External
Concordia with us this year! It’s one
Relations for Focus on the Family, presented “Faith in the
of our favorite ways to kick off the
Halls of Power: Major Issues Facing American Christians Christmas season at #CUNE!
in 21st Century America” on campus in September. The
/concordianebraska
presentation touched on his experience in both the political
/CUNE
and religious spheres and how to welcome God’s role in
/concordianebraska
the public square.
/concordiane
#GoHigher Broadcaster 17
 SPEAKER
God’s Divine Call to the Polls
Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto, Senior Distinguished Fellow of
1517 The Legacy Project, a non-profit initiative built in
part upon the work of Martin Luther and John Warwick
Montgomery, and internationally renowned journalist,
presented “God’s Divine Call to the Polls.”
COMMUNITY
Nationally Renowned Author Visits Concordia
Children's author Kate DiCamillo visited Concordia as part
of her national tour hosted by the Plum Creek Children's
Literacy Festival and Chapters Books & Gifts of Seward.
DiCamillo will also be the keynote speaker for the 2019
Plum Creek Festival's adult conference.
ACADEMICS
Board of Regents Elections
At the June convention of the Nebraska District of The
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, Concordia University,
Nebraska’s Board of Regents elected Dick Helms of
Arapahoe, Nebraska, as a new member of the Board of
Regents to serve a three-year term. The convention also
reelected Krista Barnhouse co '95 gr '01, Ryan Burger '04
and Eugene (Gene) Gierke to serve another term as Regents.
ART
Saturday Art School
Area elementary and middle school students attended
ACADEMICS
Transfer Partnerships
Concordia and Southeast Community College (SCC)
signed a partnership agreement this fall, which will ensure
that graduates of SCC who have earned their associate
degree and enroll full-time at Concordia will be awarded
at least $15,000 annually in institutional aid. They will
also be eligible for additional grants and scholarships.
Visit cune.edu/transfercredit for further details.
MUSIC
Ensembles Perform
Concordia’s University Symphonic Band and Wind
Concordia
Recognized
Ensemble performed in a fall concert. Arrangements
included “Olympiada” by Samuel Hazo and “Ye Banks
and Braes O’bonnie Doon” by Percy Grainger.
THEATRE
Broadway Revue
Concordia presented an evening of music and theatre in
as a Top
35 School
the entirely student-produced Broadway musical revue.
Selections included songs from musicals such as “The
Book of Mormon,” “Mamma Mia” and “Into the Woods.”
ACADEMICS story: Rachel Dorn '19
Largest Undergraduate Enrollment photo: Courtesy of Concordia University, Nebraska
The arrival of 428 new undergraduate students on campus In the 2019 edition of the U.S. News and World Reports
in August led to a full-time undergraduate enrollment of Best Colleges Ranking, Concordia is ranked 35 of 165
1,247 students, which is the highest enrollment Concordia universities listed in its category.

art classes taught by Concordia art education stu- has had in 45 years. It is the eighth largest enrollment in
dents on Saturday mornings this fall. Concordia’s history.

ACADEMICS
Senior Awarded for Music Composition
Concordia senior Austin Theriot '19 received the 2018
Richard Hillert Award in Student COmposition for his
piece "Psalm 8." The award is given every other year by
the Center of Church Music at Concordia University
Chicago and is open to any student at a Lutheran uni-
versity or seminary.
COMMUNITY
Concordia's Anniversary Celebrated in Book
Concordia's 125 years of service are being celebrated in a
new book by Ellen Beck, veteran journalist and advisor
for the student newspaper, The Sower. Student Sydney
van der Heijden '19 developed the book's design. "Break
Forth and Sing for Joy: Concordia Nebraska's Song for
125 Years" reflects on the history of Concordia from its
humble beginnings to today's 120-acre and thriving cam-
pus of more than 2,500 students. The book is available for
purchase through the Concordia Bookstore on campus
or online at cune.edu/bookstore.
MUSIC
Christmas at Concordia
Concordia held its annual Christmas at Concordia concert
series, which featured scripture readings, original music
and traditional hymns and brought more than 3,000 guests
to celebrate Jesus.
C oncordia University, Nebraska, continues its climb
up the “Best Regional Universities—Midwest”
category of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges
rankings. Concordia has been ranked in the top tier of the
annual report for 16 consecutive years. Criteria evaluated
in the U.S. News rankings include academic reputation,
retention and graduation rates, faculty resources, student
selectivity and alumni support.
For the third year in a row, Concordia also appeared
on the Best Value Schools list compiled by U.S. News &
World Report. Concordia maintains its top 15 ranking
in the Midwest. This list takes into account “a school’s
academic quality, as indicated by its 2019 U.S. News
Best Colleges ranking, and the 2017-2018 net cost of
attendance for a student who received the average level
of need-based financial aid.”
In addition, Concordia once again also earned a place
again on the list of A+ Schools for B Students. The A+
Schools for B Students list identifies schools that “ad-
mit a meaningful proportion of applicants whose test
scores and class standing put them in non-A territory,”
according to U.S. News & World Report. The publication
says the schools on the list give non-A students a “shot
at being accepted and thriving” and encourages students
looking at these schools to display their individuality and
seriousness of purpose as they apply.
“Concordia is a thriving institution providing an ac-
ademically excellent education in our Christ-centered
community,” says Concordia president Brian Friedrich.
“It is an honor to be recognized nationally for both the
quality and overall value of our academic programs,
students, faculty, staff and alumni. Each contributes to
the Concordia experience here and in life beyond grad-
uation as evidenced by our 98 percent placement rate.
We celebrate the university’s highest ranking to date
and appreciate all who have served diligently to make
our top-tier ranking a reality.”

18 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 19
 photos: Stephanie Hilchen '22,
Thomas Johnson '20, McKenna Kaskie '21

From left: Tanner Shuck '19 and Leah Mussell '19 were
crowned Concordia's 2018 Homecoming King and
Queen. Maddie Shafer '19 and Payton DeMers-Sah-
ling '20 whip up a batch of cotton candy at the
homecoming fair. Patrick Schneeberger '21 performs
during the variety show. Alumna of the Year Sheila
Psenick CO '96 GR '05 accepts her award from
President Brian Friedrich at the alumni banquet.
The Bulldogs football team takes the field for the

Homecoming 2018
homecoming game versus Midland. Students en-
joy themselves at the homecoming variety show.

#GoHigher Broadcaster 21
 A House with a History
story: Danielle Luebbe
photo: McKenna Kaskie '21 and courtesy of Iva Lou (Wiemer)
Wellmann HS '47
Our mystery house survived two moves and nearly 125
years of Concordia history.

W hen Concordia University, Nebraska was founded

in 1894, classrooms, dorms and cafeteria were
all housed in Founders Hall, along with director of the
school Rev. J. George Weller and his family. In 1895, a
white clapboard house was built on campus for the
Wellers, about 25 yards north of Founders, along with
three additional, nearly identical houses for other faculty
members. The neat row of houses was affectionately
known as Faculty Lane.
In 1924, Faculty Lane was shifted 100 yards north to
make room for an expanding campus, including Weller
Hall. The houses were moved again in July 1964 to ac-
commodate the new Music Building. At the time, the Faculty Lane in the 1920s
Seward city limit was the intersection of Columbia Ave.
and Bek Ave., which meant the houses were moved to
the country, down a gravel road, across from a corn field,
north on Columbia Ave. from the university.
Our mystery photo shows the second move, in 1964.
The moving company was Hornbacher House Moving of
York, which is still in business today. The man on top of
the house is the son of the owner (at the time), who was
making sure there were no tree branches or power lines
in the path of the house.
Some notable figures have lived in this particular
house over the years; President George Weller resided
there from 1895 to 1930. Dr. Henry Koenig, professor of
Our mystery house today
English, lived in the house between 1930 and 1942, Dr.
Bob Sylwester, education professor, from 1960 to 1968, Thanks to the many readers who sent us photos,
stories and information about our Mystery House!
and Dr. Bill Heinicke, education professor, from 1968 to
1971. Rev. Dr. Marvin Bergman, emeritus professor of Tobin Beck HS ’71
Gary Beckman HS ’68 CO ’72
theology, and Dr. Shirley Bergman, emeritus professor Jean Gardner
of aging and family, moved in in 1973 and currently live Jane (Huyck) Hoelz ’67
Diane (Stelzer) Merrill ’84
in the house. Jerry Pfabe
Through its many moves, the house has been updated, Rev. Ron Scheer ’66
Jim Sylwester ’56
restored and refurbished. We have no doubt that it will Steven Sylwester
continue to stand tall for many years to come, as much a Gilbert Theiss HS ’69 CO ’73
Iva Lou (Wiemer) Wellman HS '47
testament to history and tradition as Concordia.

22 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 23
 Reaching for
the Stars
story: Danielle Luebbe
photo: Courtesy of Michael Sylvain
Michael Sylvain GR ’19 is using his Concordia MBA to
go higher.
M ichael Sylvain had a steady job as a sergeant with
a federal police agency. He liked his job, but there
was no opportunity for further advancement.
“I felt my skills and abilities were going to waste,”
Sylvain says. “I wanted a career that would challenge me
and allow me to use my intelligence and talents.”
Sylvain started looking at different careers. But he
quickly realized he would need more education if he
was going to get the sort of job he was looking for. He
switched focus to finding the right MBA program that
would challenge him, educate him and allow him to keep
working while he took classes online. He found that
program at Concordia University, Nebraska.
“The MBA program at Concordia is perfect for those
who are seeking a flexible program,” says Sylvain. “The
staff do everything they can to ensure you succeed in
completing your education.”
“My favorite thing about the MBA program is it pushes
me to be knowledgable about the topics covered in class,”
he continues. “This is not a program where you can just
skate by. I love being challenged and this program has
done just that: challenged me.”
Michael Sylvain poses in front of a NASA rocket.
24 Broadcaster cune.edu
That challenge has paid off. Sylvain didn’t stop applying
for jobs even while he was working on his MBA.
“I was working late one night and decided to go on to
USAJOBS (a federal career site) and look,” Sylvain says.
“There I found a job posting for NASA. I polished my
resume and applied. I received an offer for an interview,
and a few weeks later, on my birthday, NASA’s HR office
contacted me with a job offer.”
Sylvain’s role at NASA is to conduct assessments
of facilities to ensure proper security measures are in
place, as well as completing equipment inventories and
reviewing the airfield security plan. It’s a challenging,
interesting job that keeps Sylvain invested. And there’s
room for advancement.
“Within a year I hope to get promoted and make
Special Agent,” he says. “The goal is to manage one of
the sections within protective services.”
It’s a fulfilling, exciting career that Sylvain wouldn’t
have been able to get without an MBA from Concordia.
According to him, “The education at Concordia gave
me the tools I needed to get hired and continue to
progress with NASA.”
#GoHigher Broadcaster 25
 A Nebraska
Foundation
story: Jake Knabel
photos: Adam Christensen '19 and courtesy of Angie Boldt
A relationship built on the volleyball courts of Nebraska
comes full circle.

O n the night this past fall when Brady Boldt turned

Ben and Angie Boldt, the husband and wife coaching duo that now leads the Concordia volleyball program.
two years old, his mother and father brought him
along on a recruiting trip. That’s just life when you’re part
of a volleyball-crazed household. And don’t worry; Brady
has welcomed the lifestyle. After all, it’s a lifestyle that at
least partly defines mom and dad.

The Boldts with their two children, Brady and Addison.
“Brady was excited about going to watch volleyball,”
Concordia head volleyball coach Ben Boldt says, “He’s
going to grow up in it. It’s been fun having the team be
role models for him. He’s really invested in it. Addison
(Brady’s younger sister) keeps us up at night, but she’s
also recruiting gold. People love her.”
Family and volleyball soak up a lot of time spent by
Ben and Angie Boldt, the husband-wife coaching duo
that now leads the Concordia volleyball program. The
Boldts just finished their first season as Bulldogs in what
feels like a homecoming for the Nebraska natives. Ben is
from Hickman (42 miles from Seward) and Angie from
St. Paul (94 miles from Seward).
The volleyball journeys of Ben and Angie have had
them hopping around the states of Arkansas, Alabama,
Iowa and back to Nebraska. Life has now come full circle
for the Boldts.
To understand the Boldts’ affection for the state of
Nebraska is to understand their roots. Ben and Angie
first met as student staff members for the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhusker volleyball program. Ben
took part in drills, serving as what he called the “jump
and hit” guy as a student manager for head coach John
Cook’s teams. Meanwhile, Angie first got a job assisting
the director of operations for the volleyball program at
Nebraska as a sophomore.
For the first couple of years they knew each other, Ben
and Angie were merely friends. Eventually they came to
realize they belonged together. They are stronger that way.
After finishing his undergrad and his master’s de-
gree at Nebraska, Ben experienced a breakthrough in
his coaching career. His first full-time job came as an
assistant at Alabama, where Angie had already been on
staff as a graduate assistant. They were together for the
2007 volleyball season at Alabama and then were engaged
shortly afterwards.
NCAA Division I schools in the University of Alabama,
the University of Arkansas and the University of Iowa.
All were opportunities that helped shape the Boldts
as both coaches and in their personal lives, but none of
those places quite felt like home.
On Dec. 19, 2017, Concordia officially introduced Ben
as head volleyball coach and Angie as assistant volleyball
coach. Ben and Angie had been outliers in their families,
which had mostly remained rooted in Nebraska. But they
had found the ideal situation to make their return.
The candidacy of Ben and Angie for any job has cer-
tainly been helped by their connection to Cook and the
Nebraska program. When asked about the Boldts, Cook
gave a ringing endorsement at the time of their hiring at
Concordia. “It is a great day for volleyball in this state
The women’s volleyball team gets a visit from Brady.
when two former Huskers land a dream job for them in
Nebraska,” Cook wrote. “Ben and Angie Boldt worked at a practice short 15 minutes because we have to pick our
Nebraska Volleyball, fell in love and now will take over the kids up from daycare we can do that. It’s been really fun.
Concordia Volleyball Program. Their goal has been to be Our kids give us good balance.”
in Nebraska and they will now create another nationally Now that their offices are separated by just a few
ranked NAIA team in Nebraska. This is a WIN WIN for paces of hallway floor within the Walz Human Perfor-
Concordia and the Boldts.” mance Complex, they field the question frequently; how
Ben’s final year working for Cook came in 2006, a sea- challenging is it to work with your spouse and to coach
son that saw the Huskers win the national championship. alongside one another?
In the time since then, life has changed in some obvious "Everyone asks us that, but the thing about us is we
ways. Ben and Angie have been married for 10 years and met by working with each other,” Angie says. “It’s all we’ve
now have Brady and Addison (born in April 2018). That known. That is where we have the advantage in being able
means Ben and Angie have a new juggling act on their to work with each other all the time. In our careers, in our
hands, managing a roster of 30-plus student-athletes dating and 10 years of marriage, we’ve spent three seasons
while also finding time to be parents. Sometimes the two apart. Those three seasons were the oddest seasons for us
responsibilities can be intertwined during certain team because we were on different schedules. We met working
building activities. Brady and Addison then become the with each other and that’s just what we know how to do.”
two most popular people in the room. “It comes down to fit for us,” Ben said. “This Concor-
Team member Emmie Noyd '20 says, “The whole team dia position is the perfect fit for us professionally and
loves having Brady and Addison around. It has always felt personally. We live right in the middle of both of our
like a big family that we are a part of.” extended families now. Having that aspect of our lives

"It’s been a long journey, but we

wouldn’t change any of it."
The resumes of the Boldts jumped off the page when
Concordia began its search for a new volleyball coach
during the holiday season of 2017. At the time, Angie was
pregnant with Addison and was then the head coach at
NCAA Division III Hendrix College in Arkansas. Ben
served as the top assistant. The Boldts had also previ-
ously worked as assistants for the volleyball programs at
That type of atmosphere is exactly what Ben and An- being balanced has not only helped that part, it has helped
gie want for their children – and their players. Ben and our professional lives as well. We’ve come to this spot and
Angie are quickly learning how to properly balance it all, figured out this is great volleyball, in a great conference,
but they are comforted by the support from family, their
team and the new community they have joined.
in a great location and we’re really passionate about it.
When they’re on a volleyball court in Nebraska, it feels
“It’s definitely a challenge, but we think our kids being like home. For Ben and Angie, the “Nebraska foundation”
able to grow up in this environment is an advantage for is their foundation.
them,” Angie says. “They have a huge support system and
they have 30 sisters. It’s really cool, but they do get shuffled
around a lot in the fall. I think it helps that we’re on the
same schedule. Since he’s the head coach, we can tailor
our schedule to what our family needs. If we need to cut

28 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 29

Shut Up and Work
story: Jake Knabel
photo: Leah Mussell '19
The NAIA’s tackles leader is quiet off the field, but loud on it.
T he cast that Lane Napier '21 wore on his right forearm
while making 12 tackles on the brisk season finale at
Doane produced a fitting image of the Midwest-tough, hard-
nosed linebacker he’s become. Quiet and mild-mannered
off the field, Napier embodies exactly what head coach
Patrick Daberkow CO '08 GR '11 wants in a Concordia
football student-athlete.
As just a freshman in 2017, Napier quickly established
himself as a starter, and he’s never looked back. He racked
up 97 tackles as a rookie before taking his game to a new
level this past fall. The David City, Nebraska, native led
all NAIA players with 142 tackles in 2018 and has accom-
plished another rare feat: earning first team all-conference
accolades in each of his first two collegiate seasons.
The hype hasn’t made him any less humble. His 2018
stat line included 12.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Napier has 239 tackles over his first 20 career games.
He was named an NAIA first team All-American by the
30 Broadcaster cune.edu
2018 Athletic Hall of Fame
The Concordia Athletic Hall of Fame Committee welcomed new members into elite company
during Homecoming weekend. To view past Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, visit cune.edu/ahof.
Carol (Pankoke) Capek '84 Mike Works '92
Softball, Women's Basketball, Men's Basketball
Volleyball
Associated Press. But he gives credit to the players around
him for freeing him up to make those tackles.
“Coming in I was not expecting to have the season
Jon Ziegler '07 Dr.Brandon Seifert '01
that I had,” Napier says. “I wouldn’t say I was the most
Men's Basketball Men's Cross Country,
aggressive person right away. Once one of our linebackers Track & Field
got injured some older guys were telling me, ‘This is your
spot. Step up and play it.’”
“He’s a special player,” Daberkow says. “He’s got such
a knack for the ball. We are very happy with his progress
at linebacker, and he still has room to improve. We don’t
even think he’s reached his ceiling yet.”
You might not know how special he was if you saw him
walking down the street. Lane Napier stands six feet tall,
on a good day. But he’s a football player. The great kind. The
kind that fits in perfectly with what Concordia is all about.
“He’s a pretty quiet kid, pretty low key,” says Coach 2004 - 2005
Daberkow. “He’s just a shut up and work kind of player.” Women's Cross Country Team
#GoHigher Broadcaster 31
 Sports Summaries
Taylor Grove '19
Cross Country
The cross country program took another step forward in the
third season of Matt Beisel’s tenure as head coach. Both the
men’s and women’s teams placed fourth at the GPAC champi-
onships, and four Concordia runners represented the program
on the list of all-conference teams. The All-GPAC honorees
were senior Taylor Grove (fourth), junior Rebekah Hinrichs
(13th) and freshman Abi DeLoach (14th) for the women, and
freshman Wyatt Lehr (12th) for the men. Grove individually
qualified for the NAIA Cross Country National Championships.
Grove is also a two-time marathon national qualifier and was
the 2018 GPAC outdoor 10,000 meter champion.
32 Broadcaster cune.edu
Zac Walter '20
Football
Head coach Patrick Daberkow’s football program went
through some growing pains while breaking in plenty of
new faces during a 3-7 campaign. The NAIA national leader
in tackles, sophomore Lane Napier, made 142 tackles and
garnered first team all-conference recognition. Offensively,
junior running back Ryan Durdon (second team All-GPAC)
again served as the team’s biggest threat. He piled up 1,439
all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns in the process of
moving to sixth on the program’s all-time rushing list (2,068
yards). Senior Kordell Glause, who made an in-season shift
from linebacker to safety, picked up second team all-confer-
ence accolades. Four other Bulldogs were named honorable
mention by the GPAC.
Emmie Noyd '20
Volleyball
The husband-wife combo of Ben Boldt (head coach) and
Angie Boldt (assistant coach) officially came on board as
the new leaders of the volleyball program. The first season
under the Boldts saw the Bulldogs jump out to a 12-0 start
before ultimately finishing at 15-12 overall. Three Bulldogs
earned all-conference recognition: junior Emmie Noyd (second
team), sophomore Tara Callahan (honorable mention) and
senior Jenna Habegger (honorable mention).
Jack Bennett '19
Men’s Soccer
When the dust settled on the 2018-2019 season, head coach
Jason Weides’ squad placed fourth in the GPAC standings
and finished with an overall mark of 10-5-4. Weides has led
the program to at least 10 wins in eight-straight seasons. Four
Bulldogs were named second team all-conference by the
GPAC: seniors Angel Alvarez and Jack Bennett and juniors
Carlos Ferrer and Roger de la Villa. Junior Matthew Ho also
picked up honorable mention accolades. De la Villa paced
Concordia with eight goals while Ferrer put up a team best
nine assists. Weides reached a milestone when he notched
the 100th win of his head coaching career.
Lauren Martin '19
Women’s Soccer
A program led by head coach Greg Henson made another
postseason run that saw the Bulldogs advance to the GPAC
tournament championship game for the fifth-consecutive
year. Concordia turned in 1-0 wins over Morningside in the
quarterfinals and 17th-ranked Midland in the semifinals before
dropping a 1-0 double overtime heartbreaker at No. 11 Hastings
in the title clash. A third-place conference finisher in the league
standings, the Bulldogs went 13-3-5 overall. Six players earned
either first or second team all-conference honors, including
first teamers in sophomore Tori Cera and senior Maria Deeter
and second teamers in sophomore Lindsey Carley, seniors
Ashley Martin and Lauren Martin and junior Brynn Suddeth.
Deeter led the team with 14 goals this fall. Meanwhile, Lauren
Martin broke a program single-season record with 16 assists.
Erin Lokke '19
Shooting Sports
It’s a new era for shooting sports (formerly trap and skeet)
at Concordia. The program officially moved under the um-
brella of the athletic department this past summer under
the direction of its first full-time head coach, Scott Moniot.
Concordia completed a solid run in the fall by finishing third
high over all out of 15 colleges at the Association of College
Unions International (ACUI) Upper Midwest Conference
Championships. Standout senior Erin Lokke took first high
over all among 33 women’s competitors at the event. In
addition, the Bulldogs broke team school records for both
American skeet (482) and American trap (475). While Lokke
provides veteran leadership, the roster is exceptionally
youthful and includes a host of strong freshmen such as
Nicole Breese, Wyatt Hambly, Sarah Schwacher and Colten
Uitermarkt, among others.
Kendra Placke '22
Golf
Head coach Brett Muller’s 2018-2019 fall season included
five events (eight rounds) on the men’s side and five events
(eight rounds) on the women’s side. With the first two
of four GPAC championship rounds complete, the men’s
and women’s teams are both in sixth place. In conference
action, the men have turned in a two-round score of 309-
300–609 while the women have shot 334-338–672. It’s
been an impressive start to the collegiate career of Seward
High School product Kendra Placke, who is currently tied
for fourth on the GPAC leaderboard. Through five events,
Placke has turned in tournament placements of fourth,
third, eighth, second and fourth, respectively. Murphy Sears
(84.75 season average) has also been solid. On the men’s
side, senior Nolan Zikas claimed a tournament victory at
the Siouxland Invitational. Meanwhile, junior Tylar Samek
sits in a tie for sixth in the conference race.
#GoHigher Broadcaster 33
 Alumnotes
1960s
A high school reunion in Sylvan Grove, Kansas, turned
out to be a mini-Concordia reunion as well. Nine of
these alums are graduates of Bethlehem Lutheran
School and ten graduated from Sylvan Grove High
School. Pictured are, left to right: Dean and Eunice
(Peter) Thaemert ’65 of Sylvan Grove, Kansas; Dr.
Ervin Holle ’61 and Karen Holle of Parker, Colorado;
James Winckler ’61 and Janelle (Peter) Winckler
’62 of Lucas, Kansas; Paul Winckler ’56 and Phyllis
Winckler of Wilson, Kansas; Lester and Lois (Peter)
Walter ’57 of Sylvan Grove; Ferol Thaemert ’61 and
Marilyn Thaemert (Concordia - River Forest ’62) of Flo-
rissant, Missouri.
Gary Quandt ’67 and Carolyn
(Bacon) Quandt ’70 celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary
on August 14, 2018. Both are re-
tired and live in San Antonio, Texas.
Carolyn taught at Concordia Lu-
theran and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran, both in San
Antonio. Gary was involved in the initial start-up and
served on the school boards of two Lutheran high schools:
Indianapolis Lutheran High in 1976 and San Anto-
nio Lutheran High in 1995. Gary and Carolyn praise
God for the many blessings in their lives, including
their five married children and ten grandchildren.
34 Broadcaster cune.edu
1970s
Rev. Joel Hiesterman ’75 began his
ministry at First Lutheran Church in
Phillipsburg on July 29, 1979. After
serving 39 years with this faithful
congregation, he retired July 31, 2018.
It was ironic as Pastor Joel gave his
final official sermon 39 years to the day he began with First
Lutheran Church on July 29, 2018. Best wishes to Pastor
Joel and wife Mick on their well-deserved retirement!
Rev. Timothy Teuscher ’73 was elected president of
Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC) in October. Teuscher
will be installed on January 28 and will continue his
parish ministry as pastor of First Lutheran Church
in Windsor, Ontario, where he lives with wife Paula
(Anderson) Teuscher ’74.
Jay West ’79 and Diane (Steffen) West ‘82 have just
published a new children's book called "The Adventures
of Poodle Lou." The book, while secular, has a Christian
emphasis at the conclusion and is aimed at toddlers, pre-
school and kindergarten age children. Jay has previously
published four Discipleship Training books as well. Jay
and Diane have also launched a new ministry called
Transformation Omaha bringing marketplace leaders
and ministry leaders together to see a city Transformed.
Presently nearly 1000 leaders from around the Omaha
area are participating. Jay is the Nebraska Representative
for the United States National Prayer Council and the
Pastor of Kingdom Encounters, and Diane is a teacher
at St. Paul Lutheran School.
1990s
Cyndee (Baldwin) Grant ’94 mar-
ried Jordan Grant on May 13, 2017.
They live in Shoreline, Washing-
ton, where Cyndee works as a psy-
chotherapist in private practice
in Seattle, Washington. Jordan is
Associate Vice President for Enrollment Operations and
Student Financial Services at Seattle Pacific University.
Sam Eatherton ’96 gave the keynote address at Lectures
in Church Music at Concordia University Chicago. In his
lecture, titled Singing and Spiritual Formation in Children,
Sam shared insights from his study of the influences of
church music on children. Sam is the minister of music at
Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas, Texas.
Lareesa Greunke ’96 was named the Madison Area Cham-
ber of Commerce Teacher of the Year by the Madison, Nebras-
ka, Area Chamber of Commerce. Lareesa recently completed
her 22nd year with the Madison Public Schools in Madison,
where she currently teaches middle school language arts.
Christina (Buehring) Hergenrader ’97 was a finalist in
the Young Adult category of the 2018 Christy Awards for her
novel "Last Summer at Eden." The Christy Awards honor
Dr. David Wagner ’94, director of the Pathogen
Christian novels of excellence, imagination and creativity. and Microbiome Institute’s Biodefense and Disease
2000s Ecology Center at Northern Arizona University,
was recently awarded a $2.25 million grant by the
Jeff Alexander ’01 has been ap- U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency to continue
pointed Vice President of Commu- his work studying Francisella tularensis, a highly
nity Engagement for Calvary India infectious bacteria that has the potential to be
used as a bioterrorism agent.
Mission, a ministry to the people of
Wagner has been studying the genetics and
Tamil Nadu, India, which operates
genomics of F. tularensis for nearly 15 years, which
two Tuition Centers that provide has been no easy feat. One of the difficulties lies
Christian care for school-aged children and a Tailoring in the behavior of the pathogen, which can remain
dormant in a “viable but nonculturable” state—alive,
Center that equips Indian women to develop skills for a
but unable to be grown by scientists in a lab.
trade in tailoring and textiles. Jeff currently serves as pastor
Wagner has published over 120 articles in
of Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Greenwood, Indiana.
scholarly journals and is one of the world’s lead-
Diane (Wiese) Beikmann ’01 ing experts on certain pathogens and infectious
diseases, including plague and tularemia.
and husband David Beikmann
Wagner credits Concordia professor Dr. Larry
CO ’99 GR ’06 welcomed daugh- (“Doc”) Matthews ’58, among others, with help-
ter Cadence Ruth into the world ing him find his way. Wagner was taking Calculus
on September 20, 2017. She joins II with Doc his freshman year and skipping a lot
siblings Claire, 12, and Camryn, 10. of classes. Doc noticed and told Wagner that he
The family resides near Palmer, Kansas where David is might as well drop out, because he was going to
fail anyway. “I went to Doc’s office, and I said, ‘If you
principal at Linn Lutheran School.
let me back in the class, I will never miss another
class period,’” says Wagner. “And in a wonderful
Class Endowments display of forgiveness, he said, ‘Sure, come back.’ I
Concordia holds 21 endowments that offer schol- never missed another class period in the rest of my
arships from alumni classes to current students. time at Concordia and in six years of grad school.
Learn more about our class endowment gifts at I’m so thankful to him for waking me up, because
cune.edu/class-endowment. it was one of those turning points.”
Share Your News
“That’s what you get at Concordia,” Wagner
says. “You get people who care.”
Have you experienced a life-changing event? Per-
Wagner, wife Vicki (Frevert) Wagner ’94 and
haps you got married, had a baby or moved. Maybe
daughter Harper live in Flagstaff, Arizona.
you got another degree, wrote a book or earned a
promotion. Let us know!
Submit details and a photo at cune.edu/broadcaster.
#GoHigher Broadcaster 35
 Candace Jurchen ’01 received the 10/11 News Golden
Apple Award for October 2018. The Golden Apple is
awarded monthly to highlight outstanding Nebraska
educators. Candace teaches music at Trinity Lutheran
School in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Heather (Borgman) Hoffman ’02
received her Master of Arts in En-
glish degree from Southern New
Hampshire University on August
1, 2018. Heather currently teaches
College English Composition at
Maur Hill - Mount Academy and will teach the same
class for Benedictine College spring semester 2019. She
is also librarian at St. Benedict Catholic School. Heather
and her husband, Justin Hoffman ’03, currently reside
in Atchison, Kansas where Justin teaches third grade at
Trinity Lutheran School. They have two children, Rebecca,
Irvine (August 2018) and is working for Bethany Christian
Services as their International Adoption Specialist. The
family lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Collin Christiansen ’16 appeared
in an Alaskan private film produced
by The Carpenter Brothers titled
Sudsy Slim Rides Again, a spaghetti
Western-style comedy. Christian-
sen currently works as a substitute
teacher and football coach in Palmer, Alaska, but hopes
to pursue acting as a full-time career.
Molly (Kenow) McWilliams ’15
and husband Joseph McWilliams
welcomed daughter Eloise Noelle
into the world on January 8, 2018.
She joins sisters Kinley and Bremer.

Faith Around the World

13, and Isaac, 11, who attend Trinity Lutheran School.

Ashley (Schmidtke) Hanson’ 03

and husband Matt Hanson wel-
comed Everly Kay Hanson into the
world on July 6, 2018. She joins big
sister Sophia, 3. The Hansons reside
in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
2010s
Evan Gahan ’10 and wife Laura Gahan welcomed their
first child, daughter Quinn Marie, in February 2018. The
family lives in Overland Park, Kansas, where Evan works as
a clinical pharmacist at Veterans Health Administration and
Laura is a loan originator at Mortgage Lenders of America.
Makenzie (Deutschman) Scollard
CO ’13 GR ’16, and husband, Seth
Scollard, welcomed their first child,
Mason Ryan Scollard, on February 2,
2018. The family resides in Lincoln,
Nebraska, where Makenzie teaches
Kindergarten for Lincoln Public Schools and Seth is the
Director of Nebraska Junior Golf.
Amy (McDaniel) Ferguson ’15
and Travis Ferguson ’13 welcomed
Luca James Ferguson into the world
on August 10, 2018. He was baptized
by his dad on September 2, 2018.
Amy also earned her master's degree
in organizational leadership from Concordia University
Three Concordia University, Nebraska alumni were
honored with outstanding educator awards by
the Nebraska District Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod for their faithful service in Lutheran edu-
cation and ministry.
Rebecca Fisher ’85
Nebraska District Parish Worker of the Year
Kari Penrose ’00
Nebraska District Administrator of the Year
Preston Sunderman ’17
Nebraska District Middle/High School Educator
of the Year
story: Danielle Luebbe
photo: Courtesy of Brindie Howerton '15
A literal act of God convinced Bridie Howerton that she
should attend Concordia University, Nebraska.
Brindie Howerton was born and raised in Hawaii, where
she attended the only Lutheran high school in the state.
She applied to Concordia because it was a Lutheran uni-
versity, but it wasn’t one of her top choices. Then, in March
2011, Howerton was supposed to go on a spring break trip
to Japan. Shortly before she was due to leave, a massive
earthquake and tsunami hit the country, making travel
there unfeasible. Brindie decided to use her newly freed
up time to visit colleges in the continental U.S. instead.
She toured three different schools in the Midwest, but
when she landed in Nebraska, she saw snow for the first
time and fell in love with Concordia’s campus.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” Howerton says.
“Concordia has prepared me for my future in so many
ways. Mainly the education department and many of the
professors that taught me how to work with children and
how to adapt the learning environment for every child.
Also Concordia helped me to appreciate and embrace my
faith inside and outside of my classroom.”
That experience is serving Howerton well in her new
career teaching special education at The Wellspring School
in the United Arab Emirates. “I knew after my freshman
year at Concordia that I was being called overseas to serve
the Lord and to teach,” says Howerton.
“It is very different from Nebraska,” she continues.
“First, everyone speaks Arabic, including my students,
so I have to adapt my language in the classroom so that I
can better communicate with them. Second, the culture
is different. But I am getting used to the sand getting
everywhere, not having to get out of my car to fill up
gas, going shopping while my car is getting washed
in the parking lot and going to church on Friday and
starting work on Sunday.”
Her experience while at Concordia will forever shape
the way Howerton impacts her classroom and the world. “I
loved Seward,” Howerton says. “It had become my family.
But God presented me with this opportunity that I had
been yearning to do since I graduated. I wouldn’t be here
without the support and teachings of the professors in
the education department. They taught me how to show
God’s love to my students.”

36 Broadcaster cune.edu #GoHigher Broadcaster 37

Celebration
at the Lied
Jones Bank and Concordia University proudly present
Celebration at the Lied, a gala evening of Concordia
University, Nebraska music.
Celebrate Concordia's 125th year anniversary at the Lied
Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Saturday, March 23, 2019,
at 7 p.m. as Concordia's bands and choirs perform a gala
concert of sacred and secular muvsic in celebration of
God's blessings to Concordia.
Purchase tickets and learn more about Concordia's
125th anniversary celebration events at cune.edu/125.
38 Broadcaster cune.edu
In Memoriam
Harold Bergt HS ’38 CO ’41
Phyllis (Marohn) Baacke HS ’42 CO ’45
Margaret (Dicke) Weerts CO ’42
Ruth (Lemke) Jaenike CO ’49
Martin Cordes CO ’50
LaDonna (Meier) VanderHamm HS ’50
Richard Kamprath HS ’51 CO ’55
Ruth (Meyerhoff ) Senske CO ’51
Margaret (Suhr) Strassburg CO ’52
Leona (Schellhorn) Svoboda HS'52 CO ’53
Weldon Endorf CO ’55
Donald Hingst CO ’55
Marvin Holstein CO ’57
Ruth (Schmieding) Parker CO ’57
Rev. Robert Brown CO ’58
Roger Schmidt HS ’58 CO ’62
Marcine (Kahrs) Todd CO ’58
Linda (Boehnke) Brockmann CO ’63
With Eyes on the Future
Patricia (Bradshaw) Johnson CO ’64
Lavonne Riemer CO ’64
Thomas Alexander CO ’67
Verlea (Schmidt) Drefke CO ’69
story: Danielle Luebbe
Robert Thomale, Jr. CO ’69
photo: Stephanie Hilchen '22
Frederick Clatanoff CO ’70 Many students depend on scholarships and financial aid to
Sylvia (Garling) Yoder CO ’70 help them receive a quality, Christ-centered higher education.
Cheryl (Nansel) Schultz CO ’71
Kathy (Kruse) Lovig CO ’72
Rev. Thomas Boehne CO ’73
Rev. Paul Garchow CO ’74
Shirley Peters CO ’74
N athan Patron '19 knew Concordia University, Ne-
braska was the place he wanted to be from the
start. When he came for a visit, it just felt right. “It felt
Guarantee, which awards students who qualify a minimum
of $17,000 in institutional aid. He also received a music
performance scholarship and academic scholarships,
Rev. Calvin Reinke CO ’75 like home,” Patron says. “It was small enough that I could including a paid internship at EyeCare Specialties in
Eric Heins CO ’77 really connect with people, even on my visit. It felt like Lincoln, Nebraska, and the Natural Sciences Scholarship
Rev. Dr. Donn Williams CO ’77 a good fit for me.” for outstanding returning seniors.
Jean-Marie Mews CO ’79 Over the past four years, Patron has found a second “It’s really been a blessing to me to have those schol-
Joan (Codr)Petrzilka CO ’80 family in the Concordia science department, where he’s arships, because I don’t have to work,” says Patron. “It
Mary Troudt CO ’96 studying biology and chemistry and planning to attend frees me up to be able to study and apply myself and
Scotte Hansen GR ’00 graduate school to become an optometrist. He works as focus, without all the time commitments like a lot of my
Cheryl Husted CO ’02 a lab assistant to earn the extra proficiency that will help classmates. That’s given me the ability to excel and hit
Arranged by year; current as of November 30, 2018. him be successful in grad school and in his career. And the ground running."
HS: High School
he’s also a member of the University A Cappella choir,
CO: College
GR: Graduate which allows him to pursue his love of music.
It’s a dynamic, well-rounded college experience that
If you’d like to make a gift that directly supports Concordia
wouldn’t have been possible for Patron without the schol-
students as they are equipped to serve their extraordinary
arships he received from Concordia. As a member of a purposes, visit cune.edu/giving.
Lutheran church, Patron earned the Lutheran Heritage
#GoHigher Broadcaster 39
800 North Columbia Avenue
Seward, NE 68434-9980

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