Bjerga Receives Sent Forth Award

Journalist Alan Bjerga ’95 is the recipient of the 2013 Sent Forth Award, given to a young alumnus who exemplifies the ideals of Concordia College through outstanding service and leadership in their profession and community.

Bjerga writes on agricultural policy for Bloomberg News and is the author of “Endless Appetites: How the Commodities Casino Creates Hunger and Unrest.” He is past president of the National Press Club and the North American Agricultural Journalists. He is also an adjunct journalism instructor at Georgetown University.

Bjerga grew up on a farm near Motley, Minn., and edited The Concordian campus newspaper. He earned a master’s degree in mass communication from the University of Minnesota, where he was managing editor of The Minnesota Daily.

The Society of American Business Editors and Writers, the New York Press Club, the Kansas Press Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists and the Overseas Press Club have recognized him for his reporting on agriculture.

In 2012, the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication honored him with its Above the Fold award for outstanding achievement by alumni under 40.

Along with his frequent appearances on Bloomberg Television, he has also been a contestant on "Jeopardy!" and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire."

Nominate an alumnus for the Sent Forth Award.

Join us for Family Weekend

Join the Family Weekend celebration, “Born to be Corn,” at Concordia Sept. 20-22. Chair Courtney Backen ’15, Bloomington, Minn., and the Family Weekend committee have been working hard to update and plan the 2013 weekend.

This year’s events include Friday Fun Night, brunch, life-sized games at the Family Festival, root beer floats at the ice cream social, a Family Expo, a football game vs. St. Olaf, a Showcase talent show and All-Campus Worship.

Registration and ticket information will be mailed to Cobber homes in July and will also be available online at ConcordiaCollege.edu/alumni. Come be part of the celebration because you were “Born to be Corn!”

Be Part of a Living Tradition

Mark your calendars for Oct. 11-13 as we celebrate Homecoming 2013, “We Are Concordia: A Living Tradition.” Matt Dymoke ’14, Bloomington, Minn., and his committee of 42 members have been hard at work planning a wide array of exciting events, including the banquet, alumni breakfasts, tailgating and the football game vs. Bethel.

In addition, we will honor four people with Alumni Achievement Awards: Murrae Freng ’46, Morrie Lanning ’66, George Halvorson Jr. ’68 and Karen (Lattu) Polzin ’77.

Reunions will be scheduled for classes ending in 3 and 8, but we would love to see as many people as possible. For more information, check out ConcordiaCollege.edu/alumni. We’ll see you here in October.

Alumni Enjoy Global Travel

Concordia continues to expand its global presence by taking alumni and friends into the world to experience, learn and serve.

In June, President William and Anne Craft are leading a cycling excursion through Ireland, including the scenic way through County Clare to the River Shannon and Galway Bay.

Faculty experts will lead trips in 2014 to Switzerland, Austria and Germany; to the island of Santorini and mainland Greece; and a third will retrace the footsteps of the Apostle Paul through Turkey and Greece.

For details about these trips, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (218) 299-3734 or visit ConcordiaCollege.edu/alumni.

A highlight last year for many alumni was accompanying nursing faculty Dr. Polly Kloster and Dr. Jennifer DeJong to Ho Chi Minh City, DaNang and Hanoi, Vietnam. The group not only absorbed culture and history, but also focused on vocation and service. In DaNang, lasting memories were made as the Cobbers helped do health assessments on more than 60 young adults and children.

Religion professor Dr. James Aageson brought 31 alumni and friends to Israel and Jordan in March that included an audience with the Rev. Dr. Munib Younan, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, and walking tours of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Petra.

Dr. Polly Fassinger, director of institutional research, traveled with the group. She says the expertise of faculty leaders makes a difference.

“The trip was outstanding because of delightful travel companions and many amazing cultural experiences,” she says. “Biblical references that previously had been vague images in our mind’s eye came vividly alive, and now have a much richer context in my life.”

Contact Us

For more information, visit ConcordiaCollege.edu/alumni or call the Office of Alumni Relations at (800) 699-9020 or (218) 299-3734.