Wartburg College is still with me

Dr. Susan Kosche Vallem ’66, Chair of the Social Work Department, stopped in my office the other day to share with me a moving letter she received recently. Here is the text of the letter:

To the Holiday Shoppe,

I read “The Lutheran” article about Wartburg student’s involvement in the Holiday Shoppe. Thank you for your efforts in making Christmas gifting easier for people in your community. Enclosed is a small donation to help in your efforts.

I am a Wartburg graduate from the 1930’s. Yes, it was a long time ago, but the education I got at Wartburg College is still with me, a 95 year old man!

Elmer Maas

You can read the article by clicking here.

Susan and I, both being proud alums, talked briefly about how touching it is to hear about the impact a Wartburg education had on someone. As I think more about the letter, it reminds me of what I have heard from so many alumni, either in conversation at an event or in writing, about the profound, and many times transformative, impact that their time at Wartburg had on them. I have a hard time keeping all of the stories straight, primarily because they often involve people I never had the privilege of meeting. The common theme, however, in every story is that it is about the people that impacted their lives while they were here. The most common thing I hear from Wartburg grads from every decade, and I still hear it from students today, is that it is the people that make Wartburg the wonderful place it is. I agree.

Jeff Beck '01
Director of Alumni & Parent Programs