Bits & bites
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High school news
At the June 2010 Baccalaureate and Closing Excercises, Nadine Abu-Ghazaleh was selected as Class Valedictorian, Jonathan Pedde earned the Rex Schneider medal for the highest average in the school, and Billy Hamiltion and Catherine Leurer were co-recipients of the Principal’s Gold Medal. Rachel Kotei earned a U of S Centennial Fund Bursary; Marika Cameron, a U of S Entrance Scholarship; Billy Hamilton, the Anne Rigney Entrance Scholarship; and Nadine Abu-Ghazaleh, a Queen’s Entrance Scholarship.
Jill Alport was awarded the Centennial Merit Scholarship and the Academic Gold Scholarship from the University of Regina.
The Girls’ Chorus (under the directorship of Debby Nelson) recently won the Parsons Chisholm Youth Choral Trophy and Scholarship ($150) and the Sylvia Yam Memorial High School Chorus Scholarship ($200). The chorus then went on to place first in the entire province.
At the recent City Track Meet, Kaylee Halvorson won the silver medal for the grand aggregate, gold in the 200- and 400-metre sprints, and represented Regina on the junior women’s 4 x 100 metre and 4 x 400 metre relay teams. Jordyn Halvorson captured gold in shot put and javelin, and bronze in discus. Fa Khoza captured the gold in the 200 metre and in triple jump, and represented Regina on the junior men’s 4 x 100 metre relay team. Mira van Burck captured gold in the junior women’s high jump. Kim Tran won silver in both midget women’s long jump and 100 metre dash. Catherine Leurer won a bronze in the 800 metre and Ben Love a bronze in the discus. At provincials, Kaylee won gold in the junior girls 400 metre and Fa Khoza won the senior boys’ triple jump.
Dr Gregory Akulov, mathematics teacher at Luther College High School, recently published another math article in a Saskatchewan publication. He presented his new slope/angle theory to a group of math educators.
Luther College high school has bid a fond farewell to high school campus treasurer Pat Wagner, who retired in July. The school’s new treasurer is Loretta Schaeffer. A farewell also goes out to social studies teacher Ben Freitag, has retired after more than thirty years of service.
The 2010 Easter trip to Africa was a resounding success. A group of approximately 45 students and chaperones travelled through rural Kenya and close to the Tanzanian border. Despite some mild sickness, the trip was a safe and meaningful one for all involved. Thanks to Derek Frostad, who served as chief organiser, and to all the chaperones. Next Easter, Drew Hunter will be leading a group through France and Spain, Melissa Morgan will be taking the senior choir to Banff, AB where they will be featured as the Showcase Choir during the festival, and Larry Fry will be leading a small contingent to Mexico as part of a service project
A group of Luther’s Film 20 students made it to the final three in a province-wide video contest presented by the Saskatchewan Workers Compensation Board. Congratulations to Cassandra Chang, Jeremy Brick, Ryan Wong, Paige Harlos, and Gustavo Mendes.
The talents and works of Luther College High School students were showcased throughout the campus on 18 May 2010 during the school’s 10th Annual Fine Arts Night. The evening featured the one act play entitled “Perfect Fit,” a variety of musical performances, as well as film screenings, photo galleries and art exhibits.
At the recent One Act Play Festival, Amy Brown and Ben Dewalt were recognised for their acting, and Alix Donnelly won the grand prize for technical achievement.
The artistic talents of Luther College High School students are being showcased in the Dunlop Art Gallery as a part of the "Green is the Colour: The Art of Rider Pride" exhibition. The curators have brought together both historical and contemporary works from emerging and established Saskatchewan artists, including Wilf Perrault, David Thauberger, Kenneth Lochhead and rising star Graeme Patterson, among others. Working with art teacher Drew Hunter and artist-in-residence Jefferson Little (both of whom are also featured in the exhibition), thirteen grade 11 and 12 students worked over a six-week period to produce a series of small painted panels that explore the concept of the "Thirteenth Man" and the importance of the number 13 in Rider and wider cultural mythologies.
Recently graduated Luther College High School students Anna Hall, John Schulte, Jonathan Lorenc, Lucas Diebel and Catherine Leurer (HS’10) competed in the Envirothon international championship, an educational competition dedicated to encouraging high school students to understand and be actively engaged with their natural environments. The students earned the chance to compete internationally in Fresno, California after having placed first in the provincial challenge in Eston, Saskatchewan in the spring of 2010. While in Fresno, students competed against a total of 54 state and provincial teams from Canada and the United States. The team was highlighted in the competition as the recipient of the Extra Mile Award, an award given to a Canadian and American team that best exemplified spirit, cooperation, friendship and leadership.
Once again, the halls of Luther College High School were alive with The Sound of Music. The College recently staged the Rogers and Hammerstein classic for the fourth time in the schools’ 39-year history of staging Broadway musicals to raving reviews. Nearly 125 students, staff and volunteers worked together to make the production a smashing success.
Kaylee Halvorson competed with the Canadian National Youth Olympic team as a member of the 3-on-3 girls basketball team. The Youth Olympic Games were hosted in Singapore this past summer with Team Canada making it all the way to the bronze medal game.
Homecoming 2010 for the classes of ’50, ’60, ’70, ’80, ’90, and 2000 was held from 24 to 26 September 2010. For more information, visit the Homecoming webpage at www.luthercollege.edu/alumni/homecoming.
University news
Dr Regan Shercliffe (psychology) recently received a temporary contract with UNHCR – the United Nations Refugee Agency – as a staff welfare officer responsible for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Regan will be away from June through to late December, and will be stationed in Pakistan while overseas. Regan’s expertise and experience in helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder and other trauma will be a blessing to those who are suffering from the perils of war and terror.
CONVOCATION
On 10 June, Luther College at the University of Regina celebrated its 76 new graduates at the Spring 2010 Convocation, as well as Luther College Medal of Distinction recipients Kristy Bergman and Whitney Taylor.
Kristy Bergman (U’09) graduated from Luther in the Fall 2009 semester with a BA Honours in International Studies (high honours). She was also the winner of the University of Regina President’s Medal at the U of R’s Fall 2009 Convocation. In addition to her outstanding academic accomplishments, Kristy is deeply committed to global concerns. She demonstrated her commitment to student relationships through her work as a peer chaplain at Luther College, and on refugee and immigrant settlement with the student chapter of World University Services of Canada. Kristy is currently living in rural Hungary, where she works with marginalised peoples.
Whitney Taylor (U’10) recently graduated with a BA Honours in Psychology (high honours). Her academic work has been augmented by her participation in research on women’s experiences of intimate partner violence with Luther psychology professor, Dr Mary Hampton (psychology). Whitney’s intellectual talents are complemented by a deep concern for others. She is active with Big Sisters of Regina, volunteering with an adolescent girl, is a regular volunteer at the Regina Therapeutic Riding Association, and also holds leadership positions with the Luther University Students Association. Whitney plans to pursue graduate studies in psychology.
The Luther Medal of Distinction is awarded each Spring Convocation to students graduating at the previous Fall or current Spring Convocation who display academic excellence, leadership, and service to the College, University and community. Two additional Luther College students were added to the list at the University of Regina convocation awards at the U of R’s Spring Convocation:
Jeannette Peters, recipient of the Governor General Academic Silver Medal for the Most Distinguished Student Receiving a Bachelor’s Degree
Marc Beal, recipient of the University Prize in Science, awarded to a top science graduate, as well as the Dean of Science Medal
Luther’s 76 graduates will receive 81 degrees and certificates, including 62 in Arts, 8 in Fine Arts, and 11 in Science. Spring Convocation was held on 10 June in the Luther Auditorium, Luther College at the University of Regina.
Luther College at the University of Regina presented the 2010 Luther Lecture on 20 September in the Rex Schneider Auditorium, Luther College at the University of Regina. The lecture featured Dr Roland Miller, presenting the talk “Daring to Be Global Citizens: De‐radicalising Christian‐Muslim Relations.” Dr Miller is a former academic dean of Luther College and was professor of religious studies during his time on the U of R campus. His lecture was received with enthusiasm by the audience and is now available on the Luther website at www.luthercollege.edu/lutherlecture.
All-College news
To celebrate the contributions that past president Bruce Perlson and his wife, Cherry, made to the Luther community from 2005 to 2010, members of the Luther community attended an appreciation night on 5 June at the Royal Regina Golf Club. The evening was marked by many heartfelt tributes from friends, faculty, staff and students.
The 15th Annual Luther College Golf Classic took place 28 June 2010 at the Tor Hill Golf and Country Club. Faculty, students and staff of both the university and high school campuses participated in this year’s Classic. All proceeds raised supported renovating the girls’ dormitory washrooms at the high school campus and building the student awards fund at the university campus. For more information please visit: www.luthercollege.edu/alumni/golf
On 19 September 2010 at Christ Lutheran Church, Regina, Dr Bryan Hillis was installed as the new president of Luther College. The Board of Regents of Luther College, Regina thanks all those who attended this celebration of the ministry of Luther College. To read Bishop Cindy’s installation address and see photographs of the event, visit www.luthercollege.edu/university/events/installation.
