Luther College presents Homecoming 2018

The Luther College Jazz Orchestra, directed by Juan Tony Guzmán, professor of music and class of 1990; the Luther College Jazz Band and Jazz Combo, both directed by Jon Ailabouni, Luther music faculty and class of 2010, will perform from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday in Marty’s in the lowest level of Dahl Centennial Union. This event is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The Phi Beta Kappa Symposium on the Liberal Arts is 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. Peter Hoesing, class of 2003, will give the lecture, titled “Multiculturalism and its Malcontents.” The lecture is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The traditional Luther Homecoming Parade starts at Decorah High School at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade route follows Water Street to College Drive then turns onto the Luther campus. Parade marshals are Denise, class of 1982, and Willie, class of 1984, Davismckennie. Beginning Saturday, they will serve a two-year term as co-presidents of Luther’s Alumni Association.

Sissel Schroeder, class of 1983, will give this year’s Hoslett Memorial Lecture, titled “Landscapes and Peoples of the Past: Using Archeological and Paleoenvironmental Evidence to Investigate Ancient Native Americans of the Midcontinent, ca. 450-1450 CE”,” held at 11:15 a.m. Saturday in Valders Hall of Science Room 206. This lecture is open to the public with no charge for admission.

The Luther nursing department is celebrating 40 years with a distinguished lecture and open house. Kristina (Thomas) Dreifuerst, class of 1985, will give the lecture “The Legacy of the Luther Nurse: 40 Years and Continuing” at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Center for Faith and Life Recital Hall. Following the lecture is an open house from noon to 2 p.m. in the Valders Hall of Science simulation lab, Room 245. Both the lecture and open house are open to the public with no charge for admission.

The Luther Tailgate will take place in the Dining Hall of Dahl Centennial Union at 11 a.m. Saturday, following the parade. Cost is $9 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-10, and free for children under age five.

The Outdoor Ropes Challenge Course will be available for use 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. It will be available for walk-in participation, as availability allows. Anyone 18-years-old or older may climb; ages 10-17 must have a parent/guardian present to climb.

The Luther College Book Shop in Dahl Centennial Union will host five book signings Saturday, Oct. 27:

• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Carol (Hoeg) Oliver, class of 1963, will sign copies of her book “The Curve of Her Life.”
• 11 a.m.-1 p.m. John Rollefson, class of 1968, will sign his series of books “Postils for Preaching.”
• 1-3 p.m. Jennifer (Weier) Gipp, class of 2004, and Barrett Gipp, class of 2002, will sign their two books, “Breaking Through the Fog” and “Out of the Shadows.”
• 1-3 p.m. Amy Weldon, associate professor of English will sign her two books; “The Hands-On Life” and “The Writer’s Eye: Observation and Inspiration of Creative Writers.”
• 1-3 p.m. Jerry Johnson, retired Luther director of public information, will sign several books, along with his newest release, “The Executioner’s Face.”

Several alumni matches will be held throughout the weekend:

• Flag football at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Legacy Field in Carlson Stadium.
• Swim meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Aquatic Center in the Regents Center.
• Rugby match at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Athletic Field.

The Luther vs. Simpson College football game is at 1 p.m. Saturday, in Carlson Stadium. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for students, $3 for seniors 65+, and there is no cost for children five and under. Tickets will be available at the gate; the game will be live-streamed at: stream.luther.edu/sports.

Immediately following the football game, a faculty reception will be held in Bentdahl Commons on the Luther campus, with a rain location of the Center for Faith and Life lobby.

A showing of the documentary “To This Day: Remembering Nordic Choir’s First International Tour,” will be shown in Valders Hall of Science Room 206, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Athletic Hall of Fame reception will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, in the Mostrom-Bahe Lobby in Jenson-Noble Hall of Music, with the induction ceremony to follow at 5 p.m. in the Noble Recital Hall in the same building. Inductees include: Ellen Drewes-Stoen, professor emerita of health and physical educaiton, Tyler Sherden, class of 2007, Kathryn (Haseman) Asplund, class of 2003, Jesse Reyerson, class of 2003, Todd Ancelet, class of 1998, Barb (Wagamon) Aamodt, class of 1993 and Maureen (Silberstein) Awtry, class of 1993.

A Festival Eucharist will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life. The Reverend Anne Edison-Albright will preside. Luther’s Cathedral Choir, Aurora, Collegiate Chorale and Norsemen will perform.

The Homecoming Concert begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday in the Main Hall of the Center for Faith and Life with Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Baldwin, professor of music; Concert Band, conducted by guest conductor Jack Stamp; and Nordic Choir, conducted by Andrew Last, class of 1997, director of choral activities and associate professor of music. The Theodore Presser Scholarship award, Richard C. and Joann M. Hemp Family Prize, Carlo A. Sperati Award, and Weston H. Noble Award will be presented at the concert.

Along with usual homecoming festivities, the Luther College Chapter of the Black Student Union will officially commence their yearlong 50th anniversary commemoration with several events, including an Anniversary Reception for alumni, students and friends from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, at the Norby House.

A national liberal arts college with an enrollment of 2,005, Luther offers an academic curriculum that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and pre-professional programs. For more information about Luther visit the college’s website: http://www.luther.edu.