Concordia University, Nebraska

The theatre department at Concordia University, Nebraska is set to perform "Alice in Wonderland" as its fall mainstage play on November 8-10 and 15-17 in Weller Hall. Performances will take place each Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. "I'm excited about seeing the classic characters from Alice in Wonderland come alive in a new way," said sophomore Claire Horacek, who's serving as the assistant director for the play. "[The actors] put their own personal spin on each character, which makes this production unique and hilariously fun." "Alice in Wonderland" tells the story of a young girl who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world full of anthropomorphic animals and magical adventures. Originally written by English author, mathematician and deacon Lewis Carroll, the classic tale has been translated into over a hundred languages and adapted for film, radio, ballet, opera and more. "This show is fun for all ages!" said Horacek. "Kids can be introduced into a colorful, wacky world of smiling cats and croquet flamingos. Adults can be transported down the rabbit hole once again, remembering the magic of childhood but the necessity of growing up. Come revisit the magic with us!" "People should come and see the fall play because they help make the show better," said sophomore April Abbett, who plays Alice. "We actors get really excited when our audience is excited, happy and enjoying the play as much as we are." "Theatre can be all sorts of things, but I believe it is most powerful when done for God's glory," Horacek said. Tickets to see this production cost $10 for general admission, or $5 for Concordia students and children. Cast and Crew for Alice in Wonderland include: Cast Alice: April Abbett, sophomore, Platte City, Mo. White Rabbit: Jonathan Baumann, sophomore, Chester, S.D. Caterpillar: William Ebel, freshman, Salina, Kan. Frog-Newsie: Nathan Aschmann, sophomore, Kearney, Neb. Fish-Newsie: Joshua Nikodym, sophomore, Grand Island, Neb. Humpty-Dumpty: Sara Erickson, junior, Omaha, Neb. Cheshire Cat: Araceli Regalado, sophomore, Des Moines, Iowa Harley Storie, senior, Valley Park, Mo. Mad Hatter: Caleb Jalas, senior, Deshler, Neb. March Hare: Mackenzie Schepmann, freshman, Macomb, Mich. Dormouse: Catherine Vyhlidal, sophomore, Morse Bluff, Neb. Tweedledum: Aiden Jenik, sophomore, Colorado Springs, Colo. Tweedledee: Duncan Carrasco, freshman, Sidney, Neb. Queen of Hearts: Madeline Hudson-Knowlton, sophomore, Kenai, Alaska King of Hearts: Morgan Davis, freshman, Andover, Kan. Tiny Door/Ensemble: Marieka Kaufman, sophomore, Milwaukie, Ore. Daisy/Ensemble: Sarah Stepp, sophomore, Lincoln, Neb. Lily/Ensemble: Kristen Welling, junior, Atkinson, Neb. Violet/Ensemble: Kerria Wright, freshman, Madison, Neb. Rose/Ensemble: Mi-Ree Zwick, sophomore, Bartlett, Tenn. Guard/Ensemble: Aubrey Burmeister, freshman, Alburquerque, N.M. Crew Director: Bryan Moore, Professor of Communication and Theatre Arts Assistant Director: Claire Horacek, sophomore, Papillion, Neb. Stage Manager: Emilee Price, senior, Columbus, Neb. Assistant Stage Manager: Ella Bradley, freshman, De Soto, Mo. Scenic Design: Natasha Tupper, Staff Scenic shop crew: Andrew Ring, sophomore, Bismarck, N.D. Ernest Clausing, junior, Seward, Neb. Nathan Aschmann, sophomore, Kearney, Neb. Costume Design: Alexa Hatcher, Staff Costume shop crew: Julie Oetting, senior, Belvidere, Ill. Anne Aschmann, senior, Seward, Neb. Claire Horacek, sophomore, Papillion, Neb. Lighting: Vaclav Fiala, freshman, Herculaneum, Mo. Sound: Daniel Ascher, freshman, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Concordia Nebraska's programming team is set to return for another year of writing code, solving complex problems and developing as a group. They operate under the leadership of head coach Ian Kollipara '23, a Concordia alum and recent addition to the computer science department faculty. Kollipara served as the team's assistant coach last year, but is stepping up into a higher position this year. This fall, the team will be hosting and competing in the Nebraska Tech Builders Challenge, which enables students to attend various programming-related workshops and participate in contests. They will also compete in the ICPC Qualifiers on Oct. 5 and the ICPC Regionals on Nov. 9. According to Kollipara, the programming team has several projects in the works this fall outside of these competitions. An intramural management tool involves work from the whole team, but individual members are also taking on their own projects. "Many students have taken on individual projects related to cybersecurity, braille e-books, NFC signal readers, video games and much more," Kollipara said.

Luke Scholars is Concordia Nebraska's honors program, which is open to all students of any educational background. Participating students are selected via application, and about 15 to 20 new students are admitted annually. This school year, the program has 56 students total. The program is in its sixth year at the university. This year, 17 students were admitted into the program.

Concordia University, Nebraska recently named 205 students to its honors list for the Fall 2024 semester. Students who earn a 3.90 GPA or higher while also completing at least 12 credit hours during the semester qualify for this list.

Concordia University, Nebraska recently announced its upcoming Student Senate leadership team, which will take over the governance of the club in the 2024-25 school year. Student Senate is Concordia's student government. The Senate is student-led and holds weekly meetings. Smaller committees devoted to areas of betterment across campus, such as recycling, community service and public relations, meet once every two weeks. Each main Student Senate meeting is open to the public; however, each dorm floor and club is asked to send a representative to these meetings. Each year, Student Senate takes on a variety of campus-focused projects, with the main project for the 2023-24 school year being the renovation of Concordia's outdoor chapel. They also play an integral role in the creation of yearly budgets for each of Concordia's approved clubs. The budget for the upcoming school year is created at the end of the prior semester.

On May 4, Concordia University, Nebraska awarded undergraduate and graduate degrees to more than 475 graduates. The class of 2024 was honored during an undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremony.

Concordia Nebraska usually has about 45 resident assistants (RAs) each year in the university's 11 residence halls. Each residence hall coordinator (RC) oversees, helps support and supervises nine to 13 of those RAs as their primary role. Their secondary role is helping serve the residents directly. The RC role includes many tasks including providing spiritual leadership for RAs and residents in their buildings, supporting their group of RAs throughout the year, working with Student Life Office staff to help lead RA training and the annual staff renewal retreat, assisting the Student Life Office Staff in emergency or crisis support on campus and responding to other incidents that occur on evenings and weekends. For the 2024-2025 academic year, the university sought to hire for all four of the university's residence hall coordinator positions. After reviewing applications and reference forms from a number of applicants (all of who are current RAs), the university has announced that students Micah Henschen, Joshua Jurchen, Eliyah Moldenhauer and Abigail Niemeier will serve as university residence hall coordinators for the 2024-2025 academic year.

This year, Concordia University, Nebraska's Lighthouse club is participating in Dressember. They have surpassed their amount raised last year by almost $2,000 already, and they are only $200 away from reaching their new goal.

Concordia University, Nebraska honored graduating seniors who exhibited outstanding academic success during their time at the university during its annual Commencement Honors Dinner on May 3. Each year, academic departments may confer two or more awards, depending on the department's size and the number of students in a particular program. The basis for students' attainment of these awards is determined by each department; however, they must consider students' grade point averages, service to Concordia and service to the department.

This May, several faculty and students went on a study and service-learning tour to Peru. The trip was led by Dr. Joel Helmer, Holly Helmer, and Dr. Brian Albright.

On Saturday, November 4, Concordia's programming team ended their competitive programming season with the North Central North America Regional. This regional contest is part of the International Collegiate Programming Competition (ICPC), where thousands of universities from around the world strive to solve as many programming problems as possible, as fast as possible.

Concordia University, Nebraska today announced that senior Emily Morse of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and senior Lexis Haney of Dwight, Nebraska have been named the 2023-2024 recipients of the Eunice Goldgrabe Health and Human Performance (HHP) Scholarship.

Forty-three Concordia students gathered on October 24 for an evening of nachos and presentations about summer opportunities for education majors. The Concordia Ambassador Students in Education (CASE) organization hosted the event, at which nine education students presented and introduced others to their experiences during the summer of 2023, when they each served in unique mission- and education-related capacities around the country and the world.

Most people don't realize that universities like Concordia Nebraska have esports teams. These teams not only offer opportunities for fun and fellowship with teammates, but may also mean scholarship opportunities for students. Concordia Nebraska's esports team Valorant enjoyed particular success in the spring 2023 semester.

Concordia University, Nebraska recently named 223 students to its honors list for the Spring 2023 semester. Students who earn a 3.90 GPA or higher while also completing at least 12 credit hours qualify for the honors list.

On Thursday, April 13 and Saturday, April 15, Concordia's leadership teams participated in the national Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC) via Zoom. The two teams - made up of 12 students total - each competed in three challenges on Thursday and three challenges on Saturday placing first and second in the competition.

On Saturday, April 1, twelve Concordia Nebraska business students traveled to and competed in the Collegiate Leadership Competition (CLC) US Invitational Scrimmage at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

Concordia University Nebraska's 11th annual Academic and Research Symposium provided students with an opportunity to showcase their achievements to the campus community on April 25th.