Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Christmas With Wartburg

The sounds of Christmas are filling the halls at Wartburg in preparation of Christmas with Wartburg 2009! Angels and celebration are at the center of this year’s theme “Tidings of Great Joy!” The joyous news of Christ’s birth as foretold by the prophets and proclaimed by the angels will create an exciting opening to the concert. Next, we will celebrate the nativity through various traditional carols, sung by performers and audience members alike. Finally, the concert will reflect on the angel’s message to all people as we seek to be enfolded into the wings of Christ’s love.

This wonderful concert tradition will have a bit of a different look and feel this year. We have brought back the use of live narration to illuminate the music and the message of hope and celebration. This year’s narrators are Donald Meyer (Wartburg College Director of Development) and Kathryn Koob, ‘60 (Oral Communication Instructor ). We are once again using the beautiful mural painted by Janiece Bergland but it has a whole new look thanks to Hans Pregler, CWW Production Manager & Lighting/Set Designer, who has enhanced the mural with a variety of new visual elements.

Wartburg ensembles involved this year include: Wartburg Choir, Wartburg Wind Ensemble, Castle Singers, St. Elizabeth Chorale and the Ritterchor. The audience will also be a key part of the experience. They will be actively participating throughout the concert by singing well known carols and speaking some of the narrated dialogue. All elements will combine to create a spiritual journey through the reflective elements of Advent and the joyous celebration of Christmas.

This is definitely not a concert to be missed! We hope you and your friends/family will be able to join us as we kick off the Christmas season with one of Wartburg’s most beloved traditions!

Ticket Information:

Ticket Office: 319-352-8691

Tickets are $15 for individuals.


Meals will be offered Friday at 5:30 p.m., Saturday (Des Moines) at 5:30 p.m., and Sunday at noon and 5 p.m.

2009 Concert Dates - Click below to order tickets:

Friday, Dec. 4 - Neumann Auditorium, Waverly, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 5 - Lutheran Church of Hope, Des Moines, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 6 - Neumann Auditorium, Waverly, 2 p.m. AND 7 p.m.

Buy lunch/dinner tickets online by clicking here


Lee Nelson
Associate Professor of Music

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Excerpts from President Colson's Remarks at Scholarship Day

This weekend I had the opportunity to attend one of Wartburg’s Fall Scholarship Days where I joined two families for lunch and then interviewed eight of the over 110 students who were on campus to compete for scholarship dollars in addition to the $10,000 they have each already earned. As I have each time before, I was again amazed at the quality of students I interviewed. They will all contribute a great deal to our already vibrant campus. If you are ever interested in joining us for a scholarship day to interview students, be sure to contact our admissions office.

During the luncheon, President Colson addressed the student’s and their families. While I was listening to him speak I realized that many of you would probably like to hear a few of the things he said, so here are a couple of excerpts.

Enjoy!
Jeff

Jeff Beck
Director of Alumni & Parent Programs




Excerpts from President Darrel Colson’s remarks at Wartburg’s Fall Scholarship Day, Nov. 15, 2009

………………

“Wartburg’s own vocation, I often say to people, is summed up in its mission statement: Wartburg College is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning.”

“Here was the clincher for me. Not only is this mission something that I can believe in; it’s something that everyone on campus believes in. I was sold on Wartburg when I realized that it not only offered splendid liberal education, that it not only faithfully lived out its heritage of service to others and respect for vocation, but that every member of the Wartburg community took to heart the obligation and privilege of preparing young people for lives of leadership and service that expresses their faith and learning.”

“To those of you in the audience who are students facing the same questions I was facing last spring, know this: if you join us, we will offer you ample opportunities to develop your innate abilities. You will learn more about yourselves and about the world than you can even imagine right now; you will have occasions to exercise leadership on your own terms an in your own ways; you will almost effortlessly find yourself serving your neighbors and deriving great gratification from doing so; and you will enjoy many moments of reflection upon faith."


"And, I have noticed, you will have a lot of fun doing these things.”

………………

“I continue to be astounded at the successes our graduates enjoy. A week does not pass without my meeting an alum who is CEO of a very successful company, whether a company whose name you have all heard or a company that’s much smaller but just as successful. Similarly, a week doesn’t pass that I don’t meet an alum who has spent a life in service and received great rewards for doing so.”

“A couple of weeks ago, I was at a dinner in Washington where the College was receiving a prestigious award from the Washington Center. Oh, by the way, this happens all the time. Wartburg is always earning distinction: last week, our men’s soccer team won the Conference championship and headed to the NCAA playoffs, only to lose in the second round last night in a nail-biter—penalty-kick shootout after the second overtime; two weeks ago, “The Circuit,” Wartburg College’s student media Web site, won the 2009 Associated Collegiate Press Online Pacemaker Award, which is that association’s highest award. The week before that, the then-president of Des Moines University (who has since resigned so that he can run for governor again) said that our graduates are the best students in his med school. This goes on and on.”

“But, back to my story. To this gala Washington Center dinner where the College was going to be one of only 5 schools in the nation given the Civic Education Award, I had invited some alums who live in the Washington area. During dinner, I was eavesdropping on the conversation that two of them were having. The one fellow is an oncologist, the other a research scientist. Before that evening, they had not met, but to their mutual surprise, they realized that the physician had been prescribing medications that the scientist had developed in his labs at the University of Michigan and Johns Hopkins University.”

“It was a remarkable moment for me, driving home the point that I’m making about the quality of preparation that Wartburg provides.”

Monday, November 16, 2009

Where are they now?

Scott Milburn

Scott Milburn had a very successful football career for Wartburg College from 1995 to 1999. He was a starter at free safety for two seasons and was the Knights punter for four-years. His senior year, he helped the Knights go an impressive 9-1 and in the process earned All- Iowa Conference and NCAA Division-Three All-American honors.

Milburn chose Wartburg as it provided a good balance of athletics and academics. During his time at Wartburg he not only was able to play football but he also got the opportunity to visit Israel for his senior May term and go to Wartburg West in Denver, Colorado for an internship.

His favorite memory at Wartburg was when the Knights beat highly ranked Simpson his senior year. Simpson featured the number-one rushing offense while Wartburg featured the number-one rushing defense. Wartburg had a pivotal goal line stand in the game where they stopped Simpson on four rushes from the Wartburg one-yard line. The Knights then drove down the field and scored the go ahead touchdown in a Wartburg victory. Scott remembers at that time as it being one of the biggest wins for the Knights in recent memory.

Scott graduated with a major in accounting and finance. After college he began working at Pella Corporation in Pella. He’s worked there a total of nine years where he now is the Heritage Division Cost Management Manager, which oversees the finances for all manufacturing. Scott’s wife, formerly Sarah Hayberman, is also a graduate from Wartburg and was a football cheerleader for the Knights. Scott and Sarah have a six-year old daughter Abby and a two year old son Noah.

Scott feels that playing football for Wartburg helped him considerably in leadership skills. He feels that just like in football, where it’s not just one player but a team, you need the same mentality in the work force. He still follows the Knights closely and tries to make one to two games a year.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Where are they now?

Taylor Anderson

Taylor Anderson was a defensive standout for Wartburg College from 1995 to 1999. He was a starter at middle linebacker for two seasons and led the Knights in tackles both those seasons. His senior year, he helped the Knights go an impressive 9-1, he was named team captain and was voted the team’s Most Valuable Defensive player.

Taylor, a Zearing native who prepped at Colo-Nesco, chose Wartburg for several reasons. He liked the campus and atmosphere when he attended a football camp held at Wartburg, plus he liked the opportunity to play Division-Three football and get a good education.

His favorite memory at Wartburg was when the Knights beat highly ranked Simpson his senior year. Simpson featured the number-one rushing offense while Wartburg featured the number-one rushing defense. Wartburg had a pivotal goal line stand in the game where they stopped Simpson on four rushes from the Wartburg one-yard line. The Knights then drove down the field and scored the go ahead touchdown in a Wartburg victory. Taylor felt it was a huge win for the Knights and a pivotal one in turning the Wartburg football program around.

Taylor graduated with a secondary education major at Wartburg. Following college he taught and coached football at Williamsburg for one year, Mason City for five-years and is currently in his fifth year at Ankeny. Taylor’s wife, formerly Holly Wilcow, is a 1997 graduate from Wartburg and played basketball for the Knights. Taylor and Holly have a six-year old daughter Olivia and a two-and-a-half year old son Reed.

Taylor feels that going to Wartburg helped him to receive a strong education and expose him to many opportunities. He still follows the Knights closely and when he has the opportunity he tries to make it to a home game.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Homcoming Experience

"…oh, it's a small, liberal arts school in Iowa."

We've all said it. But that phrase does not do my alma mater justice.

This past Homecoming was a chance for me to take my fiancée, Teri, to visit campus for the first time and see the people and places that have become a big part of my life. Sure, she had heard some names, listened to a few of my stories, and wondered how a kid from the Twin Cities suburbs ended up in the middle of a corn field in Iowa.

Having graduated from a large university in the heart of a big city, Teri had a completely opposite college experience from me. Needless to say, she was in for a bit of a shock.

As we got out of the car after a nearly three-hour drive, it wasn't more than a minute before people said "hi"--and we hadn't even gotten out of the parking lot yet!

Within five minutes we had talked to nearly a dozen people--each one sporting orange and black.

Teri was amazed.

As we continued throughout the day, we met up with more friends, saw a few former professors and made the rounds to the buildings I spent my time in during my four years on campus.

There were the obligatory lines about what we all were doing now, how the kids were, how the job is, etc. But something that kept creeping into the conversation was what Wartburg was doing these days. What has changed? What's coming down the road?

As we headed home, Teri said she would have never expected what she saw. She marveled in our pride for our school--the way everyone seemed to not only care about Wartburg, but care how Wartburg has evolved and how it will continue to change. How, even after a decade or more, friends could just pick up where they left off like time and distance didn't exist. She felt at home there--having never stepped foot on campus before and not knowing a soul.

Wartburg: it's much more than just a small, liberal arts school in Iowa; for many, its home.

Nate Stoltman, '01
Duluth, MN

Where are they now?

Matt Wheeler

Matt Wheeler starred at quarterback for Wartburg College from 1996 to 1999. He was a starter for two-and-a-half seasons. He still holds several school records including: most touchdown passes in a season with 28, most touchdowns in a game being five and most touchdowns in a career at 59. His senior year in 1999, Matt guided the Knights to an undefeated regular season, the Iowa Conference championship and a berth into the NCAA Division-Three playoffs. He was a two-time All Iowa Conference selection.

Matt, a West Branch native, looked at other Iowa Conference schools his senior year of high school but decided on Wartburg. He chose Wartburg as it allowed him to play not only football but basketball as well. He also liked the campus and the football coaches. His favorite memory at Wartburg was when the Knights beat Central his senior year. Both teams were undefeated going into the game which was the second to last game of the season. Matt remembers the huge crowd and the environment in Waverly for the big showdown. The Knights won the game on their way to an unbeaten regular season.

Matt graduated with a Fitness Management major at Wartburg. After briefly playing football in Germany he returned to Wartburg where he was a student coach for the football team for one year. Matt coached at St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minnesota for three-years before taking his current job as the Offensive Coordinator at North Carolina Wesleyan in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Matt’s wife Emily, formerly Emily Bailey, also attended Wartburg and was a four-year starter on the women’s basketball team. Matt and Emily have a nine-month old son, Elijah.

Matt feels that playing football at Wartburg helped him in several areas of his life. He said it helped in time management, work ethic and provided perspective to make him a well rounded person. He still follows the Knights closely and three of his former teammates, Tim Morrison, Jeff Beck and Reed Hoskins are coaches on the current Knights team.