Concordia's Alumni Association honored seven individuals and one couple with awards at a ceremony in the Thom Leadership Education Center on Friday, Oct. 3. The ceremony and following dinner reception were part of Concordia's 2008 Homecoming, Alumni Reunion and Family Weekend.
The awards are given each year to those who have made significant accomplishments in their professional lives, personal pursuits or service to the university, church or world. The awards and honorees include:
Church Worker Alumnus of the Year Award
Robert Burger of Brookfield, Wis., has spent more than 40 years serving students in Lutheran schools in Missouri and Wisconsin. Burger graduated from Concordia High School (Seward) in 1960 and earned his bachelor's degree from Concordia in 1964. After spending two years at St. Trinity Lutheran in St. Louis, Mo., Burger moved to Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Wauwatosa, Wis., where he continues to serve. He has also been the director of athletics and started a basketball tournament for local schools which continues to host hundreds of players annually. He was named the 1995 Teacher of the Year by the South Wisconsin District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Burger is extensively involved in his congregation and was named the pastoral support/stewardship and development director in 2001.
Young Alumnus of the Year Award
A day at work for Damian Wolske of St. Louis, Mo., means sifting through the nuances of international politics, economics and geography as an analyst at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Wolske earned bachelor's degrees at Concordia in both geography and biology in 2002. In 2004 he earned his master's degree in the well-regarded program for geography and urban planning at the University of Akron in Ohio. Working as a regional source analyst, Wolske has focused his energy on Afghanistan and Central Asia since 2005. He was named Junior Regional Analyst of the year in 2005 for his work across the agency and within the larger intelligence community. Recently, he has been transferred to Canberra, Australia for a three-year assignment as a liaison officer to the Australian military. He is a member of the American Planning Association and the Association of American Geographers.
Lifetime Service Award
William Hodgson has served the educational and spiritual ministry of Christ Lutheran School and Church in Phoenix, Ariz., since graduating from Concordia in 1972. In his time at the school, he has taught subjects at every level, Kindergarten through grade eight. His main focus now is social studies and literature for the 7th and 8th grades; he also assists with theology and confirmation classes. Hodgson has persistently worked to improve instruction and facilities for his students, purchasing the school's first computer in the 1970s and shepherding the school's technology resources as they eventually grew to include three computer labs, classroom computers and interactive classroom white boards. Within the congregation, he started a vacation Bible school program and administered it until the church called a full-time director of Christian education. Currently, he maintains the church website and produces both an electronic newsletter and campus posters. He works closely with his alma mater through the Joshua Program, an effort that brings teams of current teachers to Concordia to offer workshops for elementary teacher education students.
Church Leadership in Outreach Award
Kenneth Reiner of Ballwin, Mo., has witnessed to the love and grace of God around the world for more than 40 years, serving in a personal capacity as well as supporting other missionaries. Reiner earned a bachelor's degree from Concordia in 1960 and began his international service in Nigeria as a teacher and headmaster soon afterwards. Reiner spent a total of 27 years in Nigeria. He currently uses his extensive in-the-field experience in the active support of missionaries as the missionary care manager at LCMS World Mission in St. Louis. Hundreds of Lutheran missionaries and their families scattered around the world have depended on him for ministry tools, prayer support and a caring voice at the other end of the phone line.
Partners in Mission and Ministry Award
Dr. Ralph and Anita Geisler have been partners in ministry for more than 45 years. Through the years, the pair has served churches and schools as well as offices of the LCMS in Kansas, Missouri, New York, Illinois and Nebraska. After graduating from Concordia in 1960, the Geislers moved to Kansas to start their teaching careers. Ralph, who also served as a principal, became a charter member of the Lutheran Education Association in 1964. While in New York, Ralph served as a director of Christian education and while in Illinois he worked on evangelism efforts in the Chicago area. In Nebraska, Anita opened a new preschool at King of Kings in Omaha. In 1990 the couple moved back to Missouri as Ralph began a position at the LCMS International Center as an associate director working with the Board of Congregational Services on evangelism and rural/small town ministry. Anita continued her ministry to children as a director of early childhood programs.
Lay Worker Alumnus of the Year
Col. K. Luke Reiner of Cheyenne, Wyo., uses his gifts for administration and military tactics to serve his country and the people of Wyoming in the state's Army National Guard. Reiner graduated with academic distinction from Concordia in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts in business and a Bachelor of Science in Education. With graduation also came a commission in the Army National Guard through Concordia's joint ROTC program with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After working as a CPA for a few years, he became an active duty soldier assigned to the National Guard in 1991. He moved up through the ranks to his current position of commander of the 115th Field Artillery Brigade and as the Wyoming National Guard's operations officer for all dedicated homeland security response forces in the state. He was deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 and has received many decorations. At Our Savior Lutheran Church in Cheyenne, Reiner serves as an elder.
Friend of Concordia
James Sanft of St. Louis, Mo., has demonstrated his deep friendship to Concordia and all church workers by using his gift for understanding finances, group insurance and employee benefits in multiple companies and roles. Graduating from Concordia in 1985, Sanft spent one year teaching and coaching and then joined the staff of Minnesota Mutual Life to begin his career in actuary, benefits and insurance. He joined Concordia Plan Services of the LCMS in 1999. Holding numerous positions, including executive vice president and chief operating officer, he was recently named president of the organization. During his time with CPS, Sanft designed multiple health plan options to offer employers flexibility and designed "The Church's Plan" to reinforce the value of church workers and the concept of workers and employers working together in maintaining healthy lives. He also introduced a health and wellness program aimed at reducing the rate of cost increases while improving overall health across the church.
Honorary Alumni of the Year
Joyce Kaldahl of Oklahoma City, Okla., has been a vocal and financial supporter of Concordia for decades. A graduate of Dana College in 1957, Kaldahl went to work as a laboratory technician in hematology, supporting her husband Paul through his medical training and internship. Once he completed his schooling, she became a full-time homemaker and mother to their two children, Paul Jr. and Kristin. Kaldahl has been the choir director in her congregation for more than 25 years and is a member of the Canterbury Choral Society. She is active within the church's prayer ministry as well. Kaldahl also provides foster care for puppies at the local shelter and works for animal adoption programs. When asked about her fondness for Concordia, she said, "I have been so encouraged to learn that Concordia is dedicated to the church workers' programs and that it clings to solid Lutheran teachings."