Worship service opens 2013 school year at Concordia
The 120th academic year of Concordia University, Nebraska, began with an evening worship service on Sunday, Aug. 25, in the Walz Human Performance Complex on campus.
The service centered on Concordia’s theme Bible verse for the year, Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Pastor Bill Yonker, senior pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in East Dundee, Ill., preached during the service. Rev. Ryan Matthias, campus pastor, was the liturgist. Music for the service was provided by Concordia’s University A Cappella Choir under the direction of Dr. Kurt von Kampen, the Concordia Brass Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Wendy Schultz and by Dr. Jeffrey Blersch, university organist.
A special collection was taken during the service to benefit Water to Thrive, a low-profile association in Texas that was founded to build inexpensive water wells in Ethiopia. Each well costs approximately $5,000 to build.
The service also recognized new faculty and staff who joined Concordia since last fall, as well as professors who advanced in academic rank.
New faculty and staff:
- Aaron Nix, video producer and multimedia developer
- Kurth Brashear, associate vice president of institutional advancement
- Kyle Johnson, assistant professor of biology
- Joy Johnson, interim CTA instructor
- April Hoffbauer, payroll clerk
- Ben Limback, head men’s basketball coach
- Briianne Imig, university events manager
- Gabriel Haley, assistant professor of English
- Timothy Schmidt, assistant athletic trainer
- Todd LaVelle, head softball coach
- Megan Hiser, admission counselor
- Alicia Oldre, admission counselor
- Gregory Henson, head women’s soccer coach
- Alexandria Szalawiga, admission counselor
- Aaron Sailer, accounting instructor
- Joshua Smith, assistant professor of art
- Erica Lamm, assistant professor of English, communications and theater arts
- Kimberly Bolling, administrative assistant for athletics, health and human performance
- Tanya Jarchow, director of Academic Resource Center and ADA
- Brett Muller, head golf coach and basketball events manager
- Rich Eber, head junior varsity and varsity hitting coach and laundry services coordinator
- Seth Meranda, director of marketing and communication
- Rehema Kavugha, director of student development
- Heidi Gubanyi, director of RN to BSN program and assistant professor of nursing
- Gene Brooks, associate vice president of student affairs
Faculty advancing in academic rank:
- Dr. Jennifer Janousek to associate professor of health and human performance
- Professor Bryan Moore to associate professor of communication and theater arts
- Dr. Joel Helmer to professor of geography
- Dr. Joseph Herl to professor of music