Concordia News

Two professors and 18 students from Concordia recently returned from an art and communication study tour. The group spent two weeks in Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and Cologne and Berlin in Germany.

Dr. John Jurchen, associate professor of chemistry, was presented with the 2013 Outstanding Teaching Award at Concordia’s commencement on May 11.

Joel Bejot, a 2004 graduate of Concordia from Castle Rock, Colo., will perform an organ recital on Sunday, June 23, at 3 p.m. in the Music Center’s recital hall.

The 14th annual Early Childhood Conference, “Step Into My World,” will be held at Concordia University, Nebraska on Wednesday, June 12.

Concordia recently inducted eleven students into its newly created chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon, an international geographic honor society. Concordia’s Mu Beta chapter of GTU held its inaugural induction ceremony on May 7 at La Carreta Mexican Restaurant in Seward, Neb.

Concordia University, Nebraska’s premier vocal ensemble, the University A Cappella Choir is currently touring Europe, performing in Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The 24-day tour will run May 11-June 3. Forty singers, under the direction of Dr. Kurt von Kampen, will perform in 13 cities including Morges, Switzerland; Frankfurt, Kronach and Leipzig, Germany; Prague, Cesky Tesin and Ostrava, Czech Republic; Zilina, Slovakia; Cieszyn, Chorzow and Jelenia Góra, Poland; Vilnius Lithuania; and Riga, Latvia.

Concordia University, Nebraska music professor, Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo, recently completed writing My First Hymnal, accompaniment edition, which was published by Concordia Publishing House. Grimpo’s edition complements the popular children’s hymnal, My First Hymnal, published in 2011. That hymnal was so well-received by families and educators alike that CPH approached Grimpo about writing simple accompaniments of those hymns.

The Center for Liturgical Art at Concordia University, Nebraska, is currently working on a massive mosiac, 31 feet long by 16.5 feet tall, which will be installed in the Welcome Center at Valparaiso University in Indiana. The mosaic, titled “Lightfall,” was inspired by Psalm 36:9 and Valparaiso’s motto: “In luce tua, videmus lucer,” “In your light, we see light.”

Three honor societies at Concordia 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.

A praise band from Concordia University, Nebraska, led worship at a Five14 Revolution event in Chicago, Ill., on April 19.

Concordia will recognize graduating seniors with outstanding academic achievements at an Academic Honors Reception on Friday, May 10.

Seven individuals will be recognized with honorary degrees and awards at Concordia’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. in the Walz Human Performance Complex. The degrees and awards celebrate the contributions and service of these individuals to the Concordia University community.

Concordia’s graduating class of 1963 will celebrate its 50th year golden reunion on Saturday, May 11, and will be recognized that day at the university’s commencement ceremony.

The Department of Natural Sciences at Concordia held its annual awards banquet on Friday, April 24. Students were recognized for exceptional work and contribution to the science department this year. Graduating seniors were also honored at the banquet.

Students at Concordia recently worked with local social and civic organizations in Seward and Lincoln as part of Dr. Kathy Miller’s Social Problems course.

Concordia will hold its 106th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m. in the Walz Human Performance Complex arena.

Three Concordia students were recognized for their outstanding efforts at the Nebraska GIS/LIS Association Symposium held April 16-18 in Kearney, Neb. Students from Dr. Joel Helmer’s Global Information Systems classes attended one day of the symposium to present research projects in the poster presentation competition.

A tropical ecology class from Concordia 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.

On Tuesday, April 23, thousands of volunteers across the United States, including 17 from Concordia, gave away half a million free books to light or non-readers.