• Skip to Content

Concordia University, Nebraska

  • Sign in to your Merit page
« Back to Recent News

Concordia Nebraska names new Luke Scholars honors program participants

by Amy Crawford

Seward, NE (12/12/2023) — Luke Scholars is Concordia Nebraska's honors program, which is open to all students with any educational background. Participating students are selected via application, and about 15 to 20 new students are admitted annually. Last school year, the program had 53 students total and graduated its first seniors. The program is in its fifth year at the university.

This year, 15 students were admitted into the program: Timothy Baker of Poy Sippi, Wisconsin; Claire Beikmann of Palmer, Kansas; Bailey Bianco of Loveland, Colorado; Eden Dehne of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Elaina Hanson of Valdez. Alaska; Emma Higgins of Long Prairie, Minnesota; Julia Hitz of Murphy, Texas; Molly Hjelm of Glenwood, Minnesota Trinity Houchin of Axtell, Nebraska, Micah Knerl of Tekamah, Nebraska, Landri Loos of Litchfield, Nebraska, Samuel Martin of Omaha, Nebraska; Olivia Nafzger of Saint Louis, Missouri; Kailyn Paul of Daykin, Nebraska; and Ethan Theilen of Cantrall, Illinois.

"I have been very impressed with this year's incoming class," said Concordia Nebraska Associate Professor of History and Director of Luke Scholars Dr. John Hink. "While they come from a variety of backgrounds and are pursuing various academic paths, they are all serious students who possess a natural curiosity about the world. They have grown so much this semester and I am excited to see what is in store for them in the coming years."

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 2,500 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

###

Media Attachments


TB
Timothy
Baker
  • Poy Sippi, WI
CB
Claire
Beikmann
  • Palmer, KS
BB
Bailey
Bianco
  • Loveland, CO
ED
Eden
Dehne
  • Cape Girardeau, MO
Elaina Hanson
Elaina
Hanson
  • Social Science Education
  • Class of 2027
  • Valdez, AK
EH
Emma
Higgins
  • Long Prairie, MN
Julia Hitz
Julia
Hitz
  • Murphy, TX
MH
Molly
Hjelm
  • Glenwood, MN
TH
Trinity
Houchin
  • Axtell, NE
MK
Micah
Knerl
  • Tekamah, NE
Landri Loos
Landri
Loos
  • Psychology
  • Class of 2027
  • Litchfield, NE
SM
Samuel
Martin
  • Omaha, NE
ON
Olivia
Nafzger
  • Saint Louis, MO
KP
Kailyn
Paul
  • Daykin, NE
ET
Ethan
Theilen
  • Cantrall, IL

Concordia University, Nebraska

Danielle Luebbe, 402-643-7284, newsdesk@cune.edu

Share this Story

  • Print
  • Email

Recent News

  • Experienced educator Rachel (Loesch) Klitzing '79 retires from role as executive director of school ministries of LCMS Pacific Southwest District
  • Joel Wahlers '86 reflects on incredible 39-year church work career
  • Concordia Nebraska faculty, students partner with Nebraska Public Media to create documentary curriculum
  • Freshman Emily Lindau dreams serving others by teaching high school
  • Concordia Nebraska announces preferred partnership with the National Association of Directors of Christian Education
  • Alumnus Dr. Thomas Wrege '85 named executive director of Lutheran Education Association
  • Freshman Hannah Gruber seeks to serve others
  • Senior Kristin Vieselmeyer follows sisters' footsteps at Concordia Nebraska
  • University supporters Andy and Cherie Stadler: "Concordia University Nebraska is a special place."
  • Freshman Keith Siek looks forward to seminary, serving in ministry
… View all recent news
Copyright © 2026 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out