Concordia Nebraska Luke Scholars honors program graduates first seniors

by Amy Crawford

Seward, NE (08/23/2023) — Luke Scholars is Concordia Nebraska's honors program, which is open to all students with any educational background. Entering its fifth year, participating students are selected via application, and about 15 to 20 new students are admitted annually. Last school year, the program had 53 students and graduated its first seniors.

Concordia Nebraska Associate Professor of History and Director of Luke Scholars Dr. John Hink said the program's first graduating class included students of various talents and interests who are pursuing many and various opportunities following their time at Concordia Nebraska.

"It was truly incredible to watch these students grow intellectually and spiritually these last four years," he said. "Some are moving on to graduate and seminary programs, others are beginning careers as teachers and DCEs, and still others are beginning families. Regardless of their individual pursuits, however, it clear that they all have found their particular callings."

The class of 2024 Concordia Nebraska Luke Scholars included:

Nathan Birtell: majored in theology, minored in philosophy. Pre-seminary program. Pursuing a master's in counseling at Concordia University, Irvine.

Owen Dawson: majored in history. Pre-seminary program. Attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana to pursue an M.Div.

Jacob Gosnell: majored in biochemistry

Breanna Green: majored in mathematics and secondary education. Accepted a position teaching math at Fridley High School in Fridley, Minnesota.

Rebecca Kollipara: majored in biology, minored in chemistry. Beginning a master's degree at University of Nebraska-Lincoln in the school of natural resources doing ecology and education research. Accepted a position at Concordia Nebraska as a biology graduate assistant.

Jonathan Landrey: majored in history, minored in classical liberal arts. Attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne Indiana in fall 2024.

Esther Langness: majored in Christian educational leadership, minor in theology. Beginning Christian Educational DCE internship at Zion Lutheran Church in Snohomish, Washington.

Tyler Linneman: majored in theology, minored in philosophy. Attending Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in fall 2023.

Benjamin Moll: majored in physics, minored in computer science and mathematics minor. Accepted a meteorology research position at University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he will pursue a masters in atmospheric science.

Hannah Mundt: majored in English and secondary education, minored in literature. Accepted a call to teach English at Concordia Lutheran High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Renata Peperkorn: majored in church music and K-12 music, vocal and instrumental education, minored in history. Served as summer kantor intern with Higher Things.

Katherine Benkendorf Rickords: majored in English, minored in music.

Victoria Ritzma: majored in social science. Accepted a call to teach history at Hope Lutheran High School in Winona, Minnesota.

Julia Witt: majored in natural science. Beginning deaconess program at Concordia Seminary, St Louis.

"While I am sad to see this first class go, I am so appreciative of the role they played in creating a culture of serious Christian inquiry in the Luke Scholars program," added Hink. "That is a gift that current and future Luke Scholars will certainly benefit from."

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