Concordia University, Nebraska

The Sower is a bi-weekly newspaper that covers campus news for the Concordia student community while also providing valuable pre-professional experience for student staff members.

Concordia senior defensive lineman Dylan Heithoff has been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District(R) 3 Football Team of the College Division.

Concordia University, Nebraska's premiere concert band, the University Symphonic Band is deeply rooted in the more than one hundred year history of instrumental musical ensembles at Concordia.

A six-member contemporary worship band from Concordia University, Nebraska perform at the Lutheran Educators Association national convocation Oct. 24 and 25 in Milwaukee, Wis.

Concordia University, Nebraska awarded 105 undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas and certificates following the summer session in August 2013.

New Student Senate officers for Concordia University, Nebraska's 2013-14 academic year have been elected.

Concordia's Handbell Choir performed as part of the first-ever virtual handbell ensemble this fall along with 440 bell ringers from 26 states and six countries recorded sound clips of the composition "Misterium" by James Meredith. The clips were then merged into one performance.

Concordia University, Nebraska names 2013 Homecoming Court.

Students were selected by audition for Concordia University, Nebraska's A Cappella Choir as it begins its 75th season

NAIA preseason team and individual ratings released Oct. 23, 2013 rank Concordia Nebraska senior Austin Mogg No. 6 in the national rankings in his 125-pound weight class.

The co-chairs organize and oversee Homecoming activities including appointing committee chairs for the various event and coordinate all efforts.

Ten Concordia Nebraska students taught English and American culture to students in grades kindergarten through eighth at Buena Vista Concordia International School in Shenzhen, China for three weeks this summer.

Concordia University, Nebraska welcomed an incoming class of nearly 300 freshmen to campus in its 120th academic year. The freshmen represent 30 states and five countries.

Presidential Scholars are recipients of Concordia University, Nebraska's top financial award. The scholarship recognizes incoming students with outstanding academic performance, high test results and well-rounded extracurricular activities.

More than 450 undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded at Concordia University, Nebraska during its 2013 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11. Commencement speaker Dr. Douglas Tewes used Concordia's theme Bible verse for 2012-13 -- "You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of His household." - to explain a Christian's obligation to serve. "I think that as citizens of God's kingdom, we have responsibility in our citizenship here in America," Tewes said. In addition to delivering the commencement address, Tewes also received the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia. Undergraduates earning degrees from Concordia were eligible for distinction or high distinction honors. Up to 10 percent of those who earned, at minimum, a 3.75 GPA were designated as graduating with high distinction. An additional 15 percent of those who earned degrees with a minimum 3.5 GPA were graduated with distinction. Departmental awards were also announced. The following are Concordia University, Nebraska graduates from your area:

Concordia University, Nebraska recognized graduating seniors with outstanding academic achievements at an Academic Honors Reception on Friday, May 10. Every year, each academic department may give two or more awards, depending on the size of the department and number of students. Each department establishes its own criteria for award recipients, but the criteria must consider the student's grade point average, level of service to the department and level of service to Concordia University. Students honored from your area include:

Three honor societies at Concordia University, Nebraska inducted members during ceremonies held during the first week of May. The societies recognize outstanding students in the areas of English, communication and theater arts. Sigma Tau Delta, a national English honor society, inducted three members into Concordia's Rho Omicron chapter, one of over 775 active chapters across the U.S. Concordia's chapter publishes Potpourri, an annual student literary magazine, and provides professional and academic opportunities including internships and scholarships for its members. Pi Kappa Delta, a national collegiate forensic organization, inducted 14 members into its Nebraska Lambda chapter. This society recognizes scholars in the areas of communication, speech and debate. It offers service and fellowship opportunities and promotes the ethical and honest use of communication and research. Pi Kappa Delta celebrates its 100th year as an honor society in 2013. The Nebraska Omega Lambda chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, a national theater honor society, inducted eight members this spring. The society recognizes student involvement in theater arts programs. Admission is based on a points system, and inductees must recite a Shakespearean monologue during their induction.

More than 450 undergraduate and graduate degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded at Concordia University, Nebraska during its 2013 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11. Commencement speaker Dr. Douglas Tewes used Concordia's theme Bible verse for 2012-13 -- "You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of His household." - to explain a Christian's obligation to serve. "I think that as citizens of God's kingdom, we have responsibility in our citizenship here in America," Tewes said. In addition to delivering the commencement address, Tewes also received the honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Concordia. Undergraduates earning degrees from Concordia were eligible for distinction or high distinction honors. Up to 10 percent of those who earned, at minimum, a 3.75 GPA were designated as graduating with high distinction. An additional 15 percent of those who earned degrees with a minimum 3.5 GPA were graduated with distinction. Departmental awards were also announced. The following are Concordia University, Nebraska graduates from your area:

Concordia University, Nebraska recognized graduating seniors with outstanding academic achievements at an Academic Honors Reception on Friday, May 10. Every year, each academic department may give two or more awards, depending on the size of the department and number of students. Each department establishes its own criteria for award recipients, but the criteria must consider the student's grade point average, level of service to the department and level of service to Concordia University. Students honored from your area include:

Concordia University, Nebraska announced its term honors list for the second semester of the 2012-13 academic year. The top 25 percent of undergraduate students who complete at least 12 credit hours qualify for the honors list. Founded in 1894, Concordia University, Nebraska is a fully accredited liberal arts university committed to excellence in Christian higher education. Concordia was named to the top tier in a U.S. News & World Report's 2012 "America's Best Colleges" ranking in the Regional University- Midwest category and 28th in the "Top 50 Baccalaureate Colleges" of the 2011 Washington Monthly College Rankings. It is one of ten institutions belonging to The Lutheran ChurchaEUR"Missouri Synod's Concordia University System. The list of students includes:

The Concordia University, Nebraska theater department's annual One Act Festival held April 18-20 showcased four student-directed plays that were performed in the Music Center's Studio Theater. Students have the opportunity to direct a play as part of Concordia's Play Production course, taught by Assistant Professor of Communication and Theater Bryan Moore. In the course, the students learn how to choose their material, manage a cast, set the stage and direct rehearsals. The class is meant to give students behind-the-scenes experience, since many have participated as actors in Concordia's theater program, but not as directors. The one acts also give other students an opportunity to participate in theater in a less demanding production than a full stage play. "Although there's a great amount of work that goes into the production, it's still rewarding in the end, when the shows are performed and the audiences are crying because they are laughing so hard," said senior Steven Whitney. "I learned a lot about how to work with actors," said senior Sarah Dinger. "Directing is really just teaching, and every actor learns differently. I also learned that the act of creating a vision is a really amazing thing. The show didn't turn out the way I imagined it would. It was better." Students from your area include:

Student art honors and scholarships were announced at Concordia University, Nebraska's annual student art exhibit held in the Marxhausen Gallery of Art on the Concordia campus. Media used in the roughly 200 pieces on display includes wax, wood, thread, paint, ink, wire, clay, video, stoneware, digital images and even sugar sculptures. Entries are judged by Concordia's full-time art faculty, with scholarships and awards selected according to criteria set by those who established the endowments for each award. Students from your area and their awards include:

A tropical ecology class from Concordia University, Nebraska, visited Costa Rica on an 11-day study tour March 6-16. Led by Dr. Joseph Gubanyi, professor of biology, the group of 13 students studied the biodiversity and characteristics of the country's tropical rainforests. "Costa Rica is a model nation when it comes to protecting its rainforests," said Gubanyi. "As a result, it is one of the best places in the world to see and study rainforests." Gubanyi has visited the country more than 10 times and leads study tours every spring. The tours alternate between Costa Rica, where students study rainforests, and Belize, where they study tropical marine biology. Gubanyi also led a tour to Churchill, Manitoba, to study arctic biology last June. Students met with Gubanyi for eight weeks of classes before leaving for Costa Rica. On the tour, the group spent time hiking rainforest trails, observing plant, animals and ecological patterns. They were able to see and study wild monkeys, bats, toucans, parrots, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and many other creatures both in the daylight and at night. The class visited the San Jose area and Poas Volcano National Park before driving to La Selva Biological Station, where it studied lowland tropical wet forests. The group then spent the night at Palo Verde National Park to observe tropical dry rainforests. From there, they traveled to Monteverde to study a cloud forest and spent the night at the Monteverde Tropical Science Center. The tour and tropical ecology course are designed for students in biology and natural science programs. However, Gubanyi opens the experience to anyone interested in exploring other countries. Students included:

Concordia University, Nebraska held its third-annual Research Symposium on Tuesday, April 16. The symposium gave students the opportunity to present personal research and advanced projects. Thirty-nine students presented their research, literature reviews and projects. Projects were divided into four presentation categories. The empirical research category included the presentation of data collected by an individual or team through observation or sensory experience, of empirical or non-empirical research, literature reviews and advanced projects. The non-empirical research category included projects in which the student developed a thesis and defended it using source texts or peer-reviewed research. Literature reviews were presented by students who had written academic papers based on the review of peer research articles on a specific field-related study. The Advanced Project category allowed presenters to showcase service learning projects, course culminations and highlight their work in interdisciplinary studies. "Everyone who attended this year from fellow students to faculty and staff, and even individuals who participated in studies was impressed with the quality of work presented," said Dr. Nancy Elwell, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the symposium. "It is truly an event that celebrates the talent of Concordia University, Nebraska students." Presenters from your area are listed along with the title of their project:

Eight Concordia University, Nebraska students were recognized by Phi Epsilon Kappa, a health and human performance honorary society, for excellence in scholarship for 2013. Members of the honor society were nominated for their excellence in scholarship by Dr. Jennifer Janousek, their chapter adviser. Each eligible nominee must maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA in their major area of study in addition to the requirements for PEK membership PEK is a national professional academic honorary society for students engaged in or pursuing careers in physical education, health, recreation, dance, human performance, exercise science, sports medicine and sports management. In order to become a member, students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.25, major in some aspect of health and human performance, have at least junior standing, provide service to the Concordia community, participate in extracurricular activities and lead a healthy lifestyle. Concordia's Eta Theta chapter of Phi Epsilon Kappa began in 2011 and is one of 60 active chapters nationwide. Students from your area who were recognized include:

Sixteen Concordia University, Nebraska art students spent spring break in Chicago as part of a Concordia Art Club tour. The students visited the Art Institute of Chicago and explored the artistic attractions, music and cuisine of the city. Brenda Robson and art instructor Jennifer Bockelman led the group. The Art Club's purpose is to create opportunities and experiences for art students outside of the classroom such as Art Walks and Saturday School for elementary students to create art projects. Concordia's art department regularly hosts events for the public including Experience Art Days for high school students and art gallery exhibitions for the community. Concordia University, Nebraska students who went to Chicago are listed below, followed by their class year and hometown.

Sixteen Concordia University, Nebraska art students spent spring break in Chicago as part of a Concordia Art Club tour. The students visited the Art Institute of Chicago and explored the artistic attractions, music and cuisine of the city. Brenda Robson and art instructor Jennifer Bockelman led the group. The Art Club's purpose is to create opportunities and experiences for art students outside of the classroom such as Art Walks and Saturday School for elementary students to create art projects. Concordia's art department regularly hosts events for the public including Experience Art Days for high school students and art gallery exhibitions for the community. Concordia University, Nebraska students who went to Chicago are listed below, followed by their class year and hometown.

The Pre-Seminary Club promotes fellowship, education, spirituality, maturity and faith of those who seek to be pastors in The Lutheran ChurchaEUR"Missouri Synod, through fellowship activities, service events on and off campus, weekly meetings and a bi-annual retreat. Students from your area who are members of the Pre-Seminary Club for the 2012-2013 school year at Concordia University, Nebraka include:

Sigma Tau Delta is a national honor society for students studying English, devoted to promoting scholarship among students of English and interest in English languages and literature among all students on campus. Students from your area who are members of Sigma Tau Delta for the 2012-2013 school year at Concordia University, Nebraska include:

Student Activities Council (SAC) members plan and implement activities to entertain and promote the social and spiritual well-being of the student community with dances, holiday activities, musicians, comedians, bands, games, and Homecoming and Spring Weekend activities. SAC is affiliated with the National Association for Campus-Activities. Students from your area who are a member of SAC for the 2012-2013 school year at Concordia University, Nebraska include: