Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska's speech and debate teams have enjoyed a remarkable fall semester, achieving significant milestones and showcasing exceptional talent across competitions. Under the guidance of head coach Malia Frerking and graduate assistant Angelina Stinson the team consistently excelled, ranking high at tournaments and achieving both team and individual successes. This semester, the debate team stood out with impressive rankings at multiple tournaments, including securing 2nd and 3rd place overall finishes. Freshman Jacy Jackson, freshman Aidan McKinnon and junior Brynn Holtmeier all qualified to nationals. At a recent tournament, every pairing on the team achieved a winning record, with three out of four teams advancing to the quarterfinal bracket. The duo of sophomore Thomas McKinnon and Aidan McKinnon had an extraordinary semester, losing only one debate round across multiple tournaments and claiming first place at the prestigious Vocal Viking tournament in Mankato, Minnesota, in November. On the speech side, the team saw four members qualify for nationals: senior Madelyn Graham, junior Esther Molina, junior Alayna Laughridge and freshman Alyvia Hardy. Seven additional team members are just one bid away from qualifying. Notably, Molina achieved double first-place bids, a rare accomplishment, while Graham has reached finals at every tournament she's entered this year. The freshmen have also made their mark, with every first-year competitor advancing to at least one final round in their events.

Concordia's programming team recently competed in the International Collegiate Programming Contest regional competition. Two teams from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln joined six from Concordia to compete on November 9. These teams were in competition against over 90 other teams in the North Central North America region. ICPC teams consist of three members each, who work to solve problems in an intense five-hour competition. The team who solves the most problems wins, with time-to-completion breaking ties. Teams compete in ICPC qualifying and regional contests, with the top teams advancing to continental championships and world finals. This year's North Central North America competition posed 12 problems to 93 college teams from Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, Manitoba, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Michigan. The top four teams - each from a different school - in each region progress to the ICPC Nationals competition.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.