Examples of Concordia's commitment to produce wise, honorable and cultivated citizens.

 

Most Successful Athletic Campaign in School History
Concordia University has wrapped up its most successful athletic campaign in school history and was rewarded for those achievements by earning a third place finish in the U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup, presented annually to the best overall collegiate athletics program in the country. The Concordia Eagles have continued to climb the tables in the Director’s Cup, an all-sports competition that awards points in 12 different sports based on regional and national competition, equally divided between men’s and women’s sports. Starting with a 33rd place finish after the 2003-04 season, the Eagles jumped to 12th place the following season, then vaulted up to sixth position one year ago. The third place honor was earned thanks to four national finishes:  second place in men’s cross country, third place in both women’s cross country and women’s volleyball, and second place in men’s basketball. The Eagles also received valuable scoring points in men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s indoor track and field, baseball, men’s and women’s golf, tennis, and outdoor track and field.

Concordia University Honors Record Size Graduating Class
Concordia University honored 664 graduates (395 BA and 269 MA), along with nine distinguished leaders of the church and community, at its commencement on Friday, May 11, 2007.  Held UCI Bren Event Center, more than 5,000 family members and friends joined in the milestone day. More than 100 Bachelor of Arts graduates achieved distinctive academic rankings earning the recognition of honor scholars, honors associates, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude. More than 80 Bachelor of Arts graduates became members of national honors societies in mathematics, pre-medicine, psychology, leadership, business/management/administration and theology. Senior Division Awards were presented to 35 graduates by the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business and Professional Studies, School of Education and Christ College.

The university presented honorary degrees and awards to nine individuals:

Herbert John and Maila T. Davies              Great Commission Award
Terry K. Dittmer                                          Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
William O. Karpenko II                                 Christus Mundo
Daniel M. Krueger                                       Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)
Paul L. Maier                                               Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.)
Charles L. Manske                                      Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.)
David F. Rittmann                                        Great Commission Award (Posthumously)
Roberta F. Werth                                        Christus Mundo

FINALISTS FOR THE 2007 PRESIDENT’S SHOWCASE FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH COMPETITION

 

 

This year's President's Showcase winner Ken Chitwood '07 being congratulated by President Preus and Dr. Melinda Schulteis after the morning chapel service.

 

TIER I FINALISTS
KEN CHITWOOD '07 (First Place)
Project Title:  The Poor You Will Always Have With You?

SARAH MARTIN '07 (Second Place)
Project Title:  Psychometric Correlates of Impaired Self-awareness (ISA) Following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 

TIMOTHY WUTKE '07 (Third Place)
Project Title:  A Composition of Mathematics and Music

SARAH CUSSON '07 (Honorable Mention)
Project Title:  Finding Voice in the Noise: Gwendolyn Brooks, Her Poetry and Education Today

KENT KRUMES '08 (Honorable Mention)
Project Title:  Touch and Its Role in Present-day Society

ELIZABETH STEINBART '07 (Honorable Mention)
Project Title:  A New Song: Reclaiming Traditional Shona Music for Christ

TIER II WINNER
JANEL SCHEPMAN '09
Project Title:  Translating Culture into Context

BEST POSTER AWARD
Rebecca Younger '07
Project Title: Electron Transfer Induced by Low-Temperature Photochemistry in a Frozen Solid State Ruthenium Complex

Outstanding Senior of the Year Award
There is no doubt that Sarah Cusson’s contagious smile will be missed around campus. The 2007 graduate, who earned the distinction of being the 2007 Outstanding Senior of the Year, is blessing others with her enthusiasm and dedication to excellence. Sarah received her degree in English and is now pursuing a career in teaching. Sarah earned academic distinctions of being an Honors Scholar, Summa Cum Laude, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society member and receiving a Senior Division Award from the School of Arts and Sciences. 

Century High School Senior Wins Concordia Scholarship

The Concordia University scholarship winner from Century High School's TEACH Academy in Santa Ana, for 2007 is Nelly Marquez. Each year the School of  Education awards a four-year scholarship to a graduating senior of the TEACH Academy. TEACH Academy is a state- funded program, providing a school-with-in-a-school learning community. TEACH Academy at Century High School is for students who are seriously interested in becoming educators.

Scholarship winner Nelli Marquez being welcomed to campus by President Preus, Dean Joe Bordeaux and Professor Sandra Scharlemann.

 

 
Concordia’s SIFE Team Impresses Judges!
Concordia’s SIFE team presented their community outreach projects at the regional SIFE competition this spring.  The projects focused on ethics, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business success skills and market economics.  The judges were impressed with the students' strategy of allowing more time for questions allowing them to interact with the panel of 28 judges. Concordia placed first runner up in their division winning against Biola University and USC. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is a global non-profit organization that partners with universities to implement programs that create real economic opportunities for members of their communities.

Job Market for 2007 College Graduates Promises Modest Growth, Report Says (From Chronicle for Higher Education)
Graduating college students can look forward to a healthy job market, though one whose growth has slowed relative to recent years, according to a report issued by the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. Job opportunities for recent graduates will expand by 4 percent to 6 percent next year, the report says, after projected increases of 6 percent to 14 percent this year and 20 percent in 2005. The report, which is based on a survey of about 900 companies, indicates that some employers will hire new college graduates in anticipation of baby boomers' retirements, but others will cut back as the national economy slows.

Business Honor Society Receives New Inductees

 

Twenty business majors were recently inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta National Honor Society in April. This honor society recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the field of business, management and administration. Concordia University’s School of Business and Professional Studies is a charter member of Sigma Beta Delta, which was founded in 1994.

Dr. Tim Peters and Dr. Rich Harms congratulate business major Kent Krumes '08.

 

The Aerie Swoops In
The Aerie features contributions from all realms of the humanities including art, poetry, non-fiction, and fictional prose. Fifteen poems, ranging in theme from religion, race and social issues were contributed, as were six non-fiction pieces regarding student’s real-life personal experiences.  Two fictional pieces were contributed, and evoked satirical sentiments about the society.  The art selections, which help to segue from artistic to literary expression, were selected from the Art Department’s Student Art Exhibition in the Fall of 2006. The Aerie is available throughout campus.  

New Honor Society on Campus
The California Pi Chapter of the national mathematics honor society, Pi Mu Epsilon, has been installed at Concordia University.  Pi Mu Epsilon recognizes academic achievement in mathematics, with the mission of promoting scholarship and mathematics.

Sevant Leadership Update
Concordia selected seven students and two staff members to go with Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Builds to South Africa to build homes for orphans that have been affected by HIV/AIDS. The trips will be July 20-30 and August 10-20 in Durban, South Africa. This will be in conjuction with Christ Church Lutheran in Phoenix. Closer to home, Student Services recently took 30 students and staff members to Tijuana, Mexico, joining Amor Ministries to build homes for underpriveliged families.

School of Education Grad Student Named "Teacher of the Year"
Greg McFall, a graduate student in the School of Education was named 2007-2008 Orange County and Westminster School District "Teacher of the Year." He has taught middle school history and language arts in the district for 10 years.

Business Ethics Competition:  Concordia Undergraduate Team Delivers "Remarkably"
The Eagles Business Ethics Team gave a superb account of themselves at the Loyola Marymount Business Ethics competition on Thursday. Team members speaking at the event on "Subprime Lending:  A New Beginning" were Christian Banzer, Matt Cynaumon, Christie Foos, and Jaclyn Gibson, all juniors ('08). They chose to analyze the subprime lending industry, proposing ways to change its tarnished image and achieve business success through attention to sound, ethical business practice.
 
 

 

"Fated Encounter" By Rachel Hayes ‘02

"My body of work and my aims as an artist focus on the telling and retelling of 'the same stories' of my past as a means to ward off the death of oblivion. It is through this process of memory-work and visual storytelling--the making of a 'memory machine'--that I discover true memory; it is also through a complexartistic process that I encounter a means by which to shape and share memories.  Rachel will be receiving an M.F.A. degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville this spring.

 

 

Christ College Students Progress Toward Ministry
During the evening of April 12, Christ College recognized its students who are transitioning to new phases of their ministry or continuing ministerial education. In all, 129 students including church work graduates, first calls, vicars, LCMS student teachers and DCE internship assignments.

Tam Phuong Le ’07 and Reverend Kinh Vu (one of Tam’s
field-work pastors at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Garden Grove

 

 

 
Concordia Medical ESL Program Boost Nurses Confidence

From the left: Professor Marion Stilley and Dean Tim Peters award Nurse Xue Ying Saubermen with special ESL certificate.

Nurses with limited English skills need specific language instruction to overcome challenges such as understanding “look-a-like” and “sound-a-like” medication names. Faced with these challenges on a daily basis, the Irvine Regional Medical Center approached Concordia University to provide special English language training.

Marion Stilley, resident faculty and curriculum advisor for the English Language School researched the situation by spending several weeks at the hospital shadowing nurses and assessing their abilities in communicating with doctors and other hospital staff. With an understanding of the challenges the nurses faced, Stilley developed a 16-session English language program at the hospital.

The program focused on reading, writing, speaking and listening all in the context of working in a medical environment. The goal was to improve how the nurses use English in their job and communicate medical terms and medications clearly. After the 16 training sessions at the hospital, Concordia University’s English Language School graduated its first class of Medical ESL (English as a Second Language) recipients on March 19, 2007. For the 13 nurses who received their certificates, the training boosted their confidence and self-assurance.

Taekwondo Action at Concordia University

More than 1,000 attendees watched 300 participants competing in Concordia University’s first Open Taekwondo Championship held on Saturday, March 24, 2007. The inaugural event celebrated Concordia’s new Exercise and Sport Science Emphasis in Taekwondo, the first program of its kind in the United States. Participants of all ages sparred and conducted Poomse (All Taekwondo forms). This competition was one of the first U.S. events using the new WTF Poomse scoring systems. The Korean National Demo Team also performed before the packed arena. The championship was covered by the Korean Times, Korean Daily, KTAN-TV and KBS-TV.

University leaders and faculty breaks boards after receiving honorary fourth-degree black belts.

 

 
Concordia Second Place in the Final Winter NAIA U.S. Sports Academy Directors’ Cup Standings

Concordia (Calif.), moved from fifth place to second in the final winter standings, compiling 526.25 points. The Eagles finished as high as runner-up in men’s Division I basketball, 11th in men’s track and field and 14th in women’s track and field.

 

 

 

Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) Students Achieve Important Milestone

In March, six CMC students were in St. Louis where they successfully passed their theological interviews. These interviews occur in the last year of the CMC’s four-year curriculum and the men will now be recommended for ordination into the pastoral ministry of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Xiaoyu Li, Tamba Naibaho, Edgar Arroyo, Shin-Hwan Kim, Assefa Kassa, and Jubin Lim, were interviewed by representatives of the faculty of the Concordia Seminary in St. Louis who will make the recommendation that the men be ordained. In the coming months, after completing the remaining academic requirements of the CMC, these six men will be ordained, Called and installed into various multi-ethnic ministries in the LCMS.

Front Row: Xiaoyu Li (Chinese Ministry Alhambra), Edgar Arroyo (Nehemiah Project, Los Angeles), Tamba Naibaho (Indonesian Ministry, Ontario), Shin-Hwan Kim, (L.I.N.C. Houston, TX). Back Row: Assefa Kassa (Ethiopian Ministry), Rev. Gregory Seltz (CMC Director, Irvine), Jubin Lim (L.I.N.C. Houston, TX).

 

"Negotiating Faith and Scholarship in the Field of Ethnomusicology"
Dr. Herb Geisler presented a paper entitled "Negotiating Faith and Scholarship in the Field of Ethnomusicology" as part of a panel on “Negotiating Faith and Belief/Scholarship and Pedagogy: The Emerging Presence of Ethnomusicology in the Southern California Christian Academy” at the International Society for Ethnomusicology Conference in Honolulu. The panel also included papers by two professors at Azusa Pacific University and one from Fuller Theological Seminary. He also attended many of the 500 papers and events by ethnomusicology scholars and musicians from around the world, and is working with a number of Christian ethnomusicologists in SEM to cultivate awareness of Christian scholarship and application in the field.

Concordia Professor Honored with New Book
Dr. Rod Rosenbladt, Professor of Theology and Christian Apologetics and co-host of the nationally syndicated radio program, “The White Horse Inn,” has been presented with a new book which was written in his honor. Theologia et Apologia: Essays in Reformation Theology and its Defense was edited by Concordia alumnus Adam Francisco (a professor at Concordia College in Bronxville, New York), and Concordia University Irvine professors Korey Maas and Steven Mueller. All three also contributed chapters to the book. Contributors include former students and colleagues of Dr. Rosenbladt, including Eric Casteel, Alfonso Espinosa, Michael Horton, Charlie Mallie, Jeffrey Mallinson, Angus Menuge, John Warwick Montgomery, Steven Parks, Craig Parton, Mark Pierson, John Pless, Kim Riddlebarger, Rick Ritchie, R.C. Sproul, and Daniel van Voorhis. The book was published by Wipf and Stock Publishers.

Students Spread Awareness on World Hunger
Concordia University students Karen Smith ’09, Rachel Williams ’10 and Jesse Brubaker ‘08 wanted to “think out of the box” in regards to addressing the issue of world hunger on campus. Rather than raise money to provide bags of flour or rice to starving people, why not provide them with a couple of goats or some chickens? With that idea in mind, the students organized “Project Goat” held on February 23rd. The campus outreach helped fellow students understand practical approaches to this global problem.

Omicron Delta Kappa Concordia Chapter Names its Inaugural Leader of the Year – Sarah Berson ’07
This award recognizes Concordia students for their faithfulness and excellence exhibited while participating in and leading student activities on and off campus. Sarah’s leadership roles include The Concordia Courier (student newspaper), The Aerie (student literary journal), President’s Showcase academic competition, Resident Assistant, Chapel Coordinator, InReach, Student Life Board, and ACTS (Acclaiming Christ In Theater and Service). Sarah is an English majoring planning to graduate in May. She is now eligible to compete in regional and national competitions for Omicron Delta Kappa’s Leader of the Year. Omicron Delta Kappa is The National Leadership Honor Society with chapters at over 300 colleges and universities. A chapter was chartered at Concordia last spring.

Concordia Faculty Member and Students Honored at Theatre Festival
Professor Mic Shackelford ’90, MA ’00 was recently honored by the Kennedy Center/American College Theater Festival with the "Excellence in Education Award." Student Peter Schnake ’07 was named the regional winner in the lighting category of the "Theatrical Design Excellence Award" for his lighting design for "The Good Doctor", which was produced at Concordia in spring 2006. Peter is the first Concordia student to win a design award at the regional level. Students Marisa Persson ’08 and Andrew Eddins ’09 were regional semi-finalists in the "Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship" competition. They were among the 31 teams selected from an initial pool of 255 to advance to the semi-final round, one of only two teams from a small private university to advance, and the first team from Concordia in more than a decade to progress so far. Rounding out Concordia’s student representatives at this year’s festival were Joel Bradley ’06, Ian Foreman ’09 and Kate West ’08.

Summer Learning Opportunities in New York
Four courses offered by Concordia College - Bronxville, June 3 - June 15, 2007. Course topics range from international business and history/political science to digital photography and the New York theatre/arts scene. Registration and deposit deadline for current students is March 31. For more information, please call Karen Strubbe 949-854-8002, ext. 1347 in the Office of the Provost.

Leipzig String Quartet Visits Music Class
The venerable Leipzig String Quartet came to Professor Jeff Held's music class for a special presentation focusing on Beethoven’s String Quartet in A Minor (Op. 132), a sublime work that is centered on his “Holy Song of Thanksgiving by a Convalescent to the Divinity.” The Quartet discussed the historical context of the work. The Leipzig Quartet has over 50 recordings to its credit, many of which have received international critical acclaim and awards. Three of its members were first chairs in the famous Gewandhaus Orchestra of Leipzig.

Concordia's Christ College Gains New Faculty Member in Old Testament/Hebrew

The Office of the Provost is pleased to announce that Professor Scott Ashmon has accepted a divine call to join the faculty of Christ College, Concordia University’s School of Theology. He will serve as a professor in the areas of Old Testament and Hebrew. Prof. Ashmon is currently a member of the faculty at Concordia College in Bronxville, NY; he and his family will be joining the Concordia community this summer.