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CUI’s Inaugural Class Celebrates 40 Years

March 01, 2020 - 1 minute read


Inaugural Class

Alumni from across the country traveled back to campus on February 1, 2020, to reconnect and fellowship at Homecoming. 

“The year 2020 marks a very special milestone for some of our alumni: the fortieth anniversary of the first graduating class from 1980,” says Tamara Sauer ’02, MA ’18, director of alumni relations. “Many of these original alumni have attended Homecoming throughout the years, however this year they celebrated their fortieth reunion.” 

The day began with a brunch in their honor. Faculty and staff from those early days were also invited for fellowship and a meal, and with twenty-two people in attendance, the reminiscing continued for nearly two hours. This special group was then treated to a "Behind the Scenes" theatre tour with Lori Siekmann, theatre department chair, and a private tour of the Borland-Manske Center by Eron Jacobson ’94, executive director of development. Barbara Manske, wife of the late Dr. Charles Manske, CUI’s founding president, was on the tour, along with Dr. Shang Ik Moon and his wife, Sharon. The group then had reserved seats at the ever-popular POPS Concert, held for the first time in the Alumni Plaza of the Borland-Manske Center. 

“It was an amazing blessing to reminisce with classmates and founding faculty members!” says Cathy (Meyer) Leinhos ’80 who was one of nearly 60 people to graduate from the fledgling institution in 1980. “I especially appreciated hearing how God has been working in their lives to share the gospel and Jesus’ love.” 

Sauer says a number of original faculty and staff members, including founding librarian Dale Hartmann and founding professor Bob Holst, attended the special brunch. The night before, the Moon family hosted a group of original faculty and staff — dubbed the “Golden Eagles” — for dinner. 

“I felt very thankful to God that I had the opportunity to be a part of the beginnings of Christ College,” says Leinhos. “I had so much fun I didn’t want the day to end.”

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