Education Students Present at Summer Opportunities for Education Majors Event
Forty-three Concordia students gathered on October 24 for an evening of nachos and presentations about summer opportunities for education majors. The Concordia Ambassador Students in Education (CASE) organization hosted the event, at which nine education students presented and introduced others to their experiences during the summer of 2023, when they each served in unique mission- and education-related capacities around the country and the world.
Student presenters included:
Nathalie Fortenberry ‘25 and Kayla Johnson ‘25, Center for Urban Teaching
Stephanie Mashuga ‘24, 4-H
Grace Pennekamp ‘24 and Grant Rohde ‘26, National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry
Greta Corneliusen ‘25, LeaderTreks Youth Ministry
Matthew Guilford ‘27 and Brynn Holtmeier ‘26, English Language Institute China
Elizabeth Ascher ‘25, English Camp Austria
According to junior Elizabeth Ascher, the event’s primary goal was to open future educators’ eyes to opportunities both at home and abroad where they can gain skills in teaching and leading students of many ages.
“Future educators heard about opportunities to work at camp, teach English abroad, lead summer school and more!” said Ascher.
Several students presented jointly, including Brynn Holtmeier and Matthew Guilford, who served with the English Language Institute China, Nathalie Fortenberry and Kayla Johnson with the Center for Urban Teaching, and Grace Pennekamp and Grant Rohde with the National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry.
“It was great sharing alongside someone else who is passionate about ELIC’s mission and work,” said Holtmeier, who served through the same organization as Matthew Guilford. Holtmeier also has “the honor of serving as Concordia’s on-campus intern with ELIC [this year] and sharing with people on campus about my experience and all of the opportunities through ELIC.”
Junior Greta Corneliusen spent her summer facilitating high school mission trips in Costa Rica. Her service through LeaderTreks Youth Ministry allowed her to work on painting a special needs school, laying concrete sidewalks, and putting on VBS programs at local schools.
“I got to witness the Lord change my students’ hearts over the weeks as they grew closer to Him and grew in leadership and discipleship skills,” said Corneliusen. “I...got to witness several students and locals give their lives to Christ. It was a truly life-changing experience for my students and for myself.”
Corneliusen also praised the LeaderTreks program as a “great internship program with several perks.”
“I would recommend this ministry to anyone who has a desire to grow and be challenged in their leadership and discipleship skills,” she said.
Faculty at the October presentation event also highlighted upcoming opportunities for education students, including a spring break trip to Houston, Texas, summer camp service in China and a May 2024 education mission trip to Uruguay.
Concordia’s education programs provide future educators with an in-depth study of methods in teaching people of many diverse ages and backgrounds. Students can choose to specialize in early childhood, elementary, middle and secondary levels of education. The department also offers specific programs for music, art and special education, as well as Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Concordia’s education faculty also connects students in these programs with unique service, mission and outreach opportunities like the ones highlighted at this event.
Interested in Concordia’s education program? Learn more here.
