United International College Confers Honorary Fellowship on Craft

President William Craft received an honorary fellowship from the United International College in Zhuhai, China, on June 22. The honorary fellowship is bestowed on individuals who contribute to the life and mission of UIC, as well as have a sustained commitment to the development of education and society.

This is the second honorary fellowship conferment at UIC, which took place at the college’s fifth graduation ceremony. In addition to Craft, three others were honored: Dr. Moses M.C. Cheng, Liu Hongwei and Wu Jianmin. Cheng is a senior partner of P.C. Woo & Co. and is known for his work as a community leader and lawyer in Hong Kong. Hongwei is chairman of the board of directors of Singyes Solar Technologies Holdings and a member of the standing committee of the Zhuhai Municipal CPC Committee. Jianmin is vice chairman of the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy and honorary president of the International Bureau of Exhibitions.

UIC is the first liberal arts college established in mainland China. Concordia has a partnership with UIC through the Minnesota Private College Council. Craft spoke at UIC’s conference on liberal arts education in November, which was also attended by other MPCC officials.

Faculty Scholarship and Honors

The Student Government Association awarded Dr. Bryan Bishop, associate professor of biology, its 2013 Distinguished Service Award. Bishop was cited for his leadership in classroom, laboratory and field teaching.

Christian Boy, associate professor of communication studies and theatre art, was the scenic designer for the Kennedy Center’s Spring Gala, “My Fair Lady in Concert,” in Washington, D.C.

Dr. Jacqueline Bussie, director of the Forum on Faith and Life and associate professor of religion, was the keynote speaker for the synod assembly of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Dr. David P. Eyler, professor of music, presented a session at the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy in May at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. Eyler’s session was titled “Percussion Inventory Organization and Planning.”

Corn Feed Tradition Continues

It's summer again and that means Corn Feed time. Bring your family and friends and join us this July through September for feeds across the country.

The Twin Cities Corn Feed will be Sunday, Aug. 4, and the Moorhead Corn Feed will be Wednesday, Aug. 21.

Need another option? Find a Corn Feed near you.

Concordia Golf Events Set

July marks the start of Cobber golf events held at various courses in Minnesota and North Dakota.

Finn Grinaker Cobber Golf Classic
Monday, July 8
Fargo (N.D.) Country Club

Twin Cities Cobber Golf Classic
Monday, July 15
Stonebrooke Golf Club, Shakopee, Minn.

Cobber Baseball Golf Scramble
Monday, July 29
Greystone Golf Course, Sauk Centre, Minn.
Join old teammates, Coach Bucky Burgau, assistant coach and Philadelphia Phillies 2008 World Series Champion Chris Coste, and former Twins player, manager and announcer Frank Quilici for the inaugural Cobber Baseball Golf Scramble.

11th Annual Football Golf Tournament
Friday, Aug. 2
Moorhead Country Club

Hvidsten Music Golf Tournament
Monday, Aug. 19
Wildflower Golf Course, Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Summer Book Read Chosen

Each year, the entire Concordia campus community is invited to read a selected book. All first-year students participate in a discussion about the book during Fall Orientation. This year’s book is “Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile” by Daniel Nettle.

Bringing together the latest insights from psychiatry, psychology and philosophy, Nettle sheds light on happiness, the most basic of human desires. Nettle examines whether people are basically happy or unhappy, whether success can make us happy, what sort of remedies to unhappiness work, why some people are happier than others, and much more.

“Happiness” is available for purchase in the Cobber Bookstore.

See Us at the State Fair

We’ll be at the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 22-Sept. 2. This year our space in the Education Building is larger – come check it out.

Wear Cobber gear or your ring and we will have a special gift for you.

Hope to see you there!

Bucky Makes Milestone

Concordia head baseball coach Bucky Burgau became the first coach in the history of MIAC baseball to win 400 conference games. The Cobbers outlasted St. Olaf 8-6 in the first game of the conference doubleheader May 7 to give Burgau the milestone victory.

“It's more of a tribute to all of the great players that have passed through the program,” reflected Burgau. “I have been very fortunate to have been able to coach at a school like Concordia for so long and at a college that produces outstanding student-athletes.”

Burgau, who is in his 35th season at the helm of Concordia, ranks among the top 25 on the NCAA Division III winningest active coaches win list.

Third Phase Started for Update the Jake

Concordia held the official groundbreaking ceremony for the multimillion dollar locker room facility as part of the Update the Jake project May 20.

This third phase in the outdoor facility project and will cost approximately $2.9 million. It will feature locker room space for the football and women’s soccer teams in the fall and the baseball and softball teams in the spring, serving around 400 student-athletes. The new locker room facility will be the first major building improvement to the outdoor athletic complex since Jake Christiansen Stadium was built in 1966.

The locker room will be named the Wayne and Beverly Thorson Athletic Center. Wayne attended Concordia and has served on the Concordia Board of Regents. He is a retired businessman who owned and operated his own construction and contracting business in Bemidji, Minn.

The facility will also include a state-of-the-art training room, as well as a brand new laundry facility and equipment room space. The training room will be named the Sanford Health Athletic Training Facility after a donation from Sanford Health.