Day of events will celebrate the history of Concordia's founding

Concordia will pay tribute to its heritage by celebrating Founders Day on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

A special chapel service and reception will commemorate the occasion, beginning at 11 a.m. in the Weller Hall auditorium. The public is invited to attend.

The Rev. Burt Garwood will deliver the chapel message. Garwood grew up in the Philippines where his father served as a missionary from the late 1970s to the mid 1990s. He graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska in 1995 with a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science and received a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1999. His first call was to be an associate pastor at Holy Savior in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2003, he was called to the pastoral staff at King of Kings in Omaha, Nebraska. He was called in 2008 to his current position as the senior pastor at Lord of Life in Leawood, Kansas. Garwood lives with his wife, Michele, and their 2-year-old son, Elias.

Refreshments will be served from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Janzow Campus Center, Thom Leadership Education Center, Science Building and Link Library.

Link Library will also present a rare book showcase in honor of Founders Day at 10:15 a.m.in the music loft of the library. The exhibit will showcase some of the university’s unique archived books, including a copy of the Luther Bible from 1720 and a 1666 Psalm book owned by the late Concordia professor August Schuelke.

At 1:45 p.m. in the Thom Leadership Education Center Auditorium, Concordia President Brian Friedrich will host a reception for campus leaders, special guests and representatives from the university’s new partner, Northeast Community College, based in Norfolk, Nebraska. The reception will include Founders Day-related comments from Friedrich and a message from NECC President Michael Chipps, as well as ice cream and other refreshments.