20-Year Reunion

Class of 1988

Reunion dates ― October 3 & 4, 2008

October 2008

Dear Friends and Classmates of ’88,

Can you remember heading to St. Peter to begin our freshman year? Of course you can. For me, it was stopping at Emma Krumbee’s with my mom for a piece of pie, as we pulled a U-Haul in tow, with a couch for my dorm room in it. Later, we pulled up to Sohre Hall, where a whole new world would begin to open up. Mom told me she had to pull off the road twice on her way home because she was crying so hard, both tears of sadness and happiness at the same time. Her oldest daughter was now on her own at Gustavus.

That was 20 years ago, this fall! Where did the time go? DH (dear husband, who is Japanese) and I will be sending our oldest child, Becky, 16, to college in just two years. The years at Gustavus were truly foundational. I can remember that I had a lot of time to think, reflect, and ponder the future.

What were some of your favorite places and experiences at Gustavus? Some of mine included: Sitting in the back of Christ Chapel where the candles were lit. Having all the time in the world to be still and be quiet. Strolling through the pines in the Arboretum, enjoying the wild flowers and late autumn sun. Walking along “Hello Walk” and saying hi to people that I didn’t know, but knew their faces. Sledding down the hill by Rundstrom. Sitting in the sunshine by the ‘brar, on the first hot day of spring. Having lunch with a group of friends in the caf. Hanging out together and developing friendships. Belonging to different organizations and growing as a person. Those were the days. Those were the days that prepared us for now.

Learning by experience of how to get to that 8am economic class, how to finish papers due by a deadline, how to study for four tests at a time, how to live alone without being lonely, how to get everything done. Those were the days that shaped us into who we are now. Friends made at Gustavus remain friends. Some have even become our spouses or bosom buddies.

Now it’s our turn to pour back into our school, our society and the people that we care about. Most of us have our own children, and we are constantly being called on to help someone somewhere. All of us play our part in society whether as a business person, teacher, mom, dad, artist, whatever. As we remember our Gustavus roots, I hope it will inspire us to be there for others—current and future Gustavus students need our alumni support. Please consider sending a gift to the college. Remember the Fund year ends May 31!

I’m a stay-at-home mom of three kids. I’m planting seeds of love, joy, and hope wherever I am. I work (volunteer) at a little American school in Nara, Japan. I teach P.E., serving as PTA president, and work to make the school better. DH is an English professor at Kansai Gaidai University. Last summer, our daughter made a Gustavus connection. She participated in a Gustavus summer basketball camp and got to stay in the dorms, eat at the caf, and find out for herself what Gustavus was like. It was a good experience for her to check out Mom’s alma mater.

Campus News

Gustavus has a new College President! As you have previously heard, President Peterson is resigning this summer and the process to find someone to replace him has been underway since last fall. On April 25 the Board of Trustees met and announced our new College President, Jack Ohle. Jack is currently the president of Wartburg College since 2003. He will take office here on July 1, 2008. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about this exciting development.

Gustie Breakfasts

Join other Minneapolis/St. Paul area Gusties for a once-a-month morning cup of coffee and breakfast while getting an update on Gustavus. The group meets the third Wednesday of each month 8-9:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel, Minneapolis-Park Place, 1500 Park Place Boulevard (Hwy. 394 & Hwy. 100) $10 per person. Reserve a spot by calling Don Swanson ’55 at 763-533-9083. Next date: May 21 - featuring Sports Information Director, Tim Kennedy ’82

Alumni Awards Announced

The Alumni Association announces the following 2008 awards selected by the Alumni Board of Directors.

Greater Gustavus Award - Given to those who by deed, have notably advanced and aided Gustavus Adolphus College:

Jim and Susan (Pepin) Peterson ’64 ’65

Distinguished Alumni Citations - Recognizing outstanding and exceptional professional achievement:

Craig Johnson ’69, bishop, Minneapolis Area Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Talmadge King ’70, chair, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.

Barbara Berry Leonard ’63, nursing professor, University of Minnesota.

First Decade Awards - Recognizing early professional achievement:

Miho Ihara, senior consultant, CPCS Transcom Limited.

Jason Smerdon, Barnard Environmental Science/Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Environmental Science, Barnard College.

The Greater Gustavus Award and Distinguished Alumni Citations will be presented at the Alumni Banquet on Saturday, May 31 and the First Decade Awards will be presented during Homecoming.

Although I won’t be able to attend the Class Reunion, be assured that those of us who live far away really would like to come! We probably want to come the most, but can’t easily make it. I’d like to say a big thank you at this time to our class agents and countless others who make it possible to stay in touch with Gustavus.

Love to all!

Kari Anderson Miyano

1988 Guest Letter Writer

Reunion News:

Book your rooms ASAP!

We want to see YOU!

Rooms:

· AmericInn in St. Peter, 20 rooms under Luther Hagen/’88, 888-205-1707

· Country Inn and Suites, Mankato, under Class of ’88, 507-388-8555

· Konsbruck Hotel, St. Peter, 5 hotel rooms with gathering area for 10-15 people, lounge holds 30 people. Great for a group who wants to socialize.

507-934-4988. www.richardstrestaurantandpub.com.

Other:

· For flights, hotels, car rentals, see Lisa Egnell Walker’s website: www.flydriveandmore.com.

· Gail Chase Ericson, Events Committee Chair, has been hard at work with Kerstin Hammarberg, Mary Zimmermann Peterson, Michelle Matzek, and Kim Barron Cunningham. (GREAT JOB!!!!) Here’s the tentative schedule they’ve worked on:

9:00 a.m. 5K Fun Run

Seminar: 2008 Presidential Election

10:00 a.m. Class of ’88: Paint the Rock and Campus Tour

Chapel

11:00 a.m. Registration: (in tent by the new Football Stadium)

Information packets, cash bar, snacks, misc. activities.

Lunch with old friends - ala carte in the new cafeteria.

11:30 a.m. Homecoming Parade: Campus Drive

1:00 p.m. Football Game

1:30 p.m. Arboretum Tour/Campus Tours

4:00 p.m. Stadium ’88 Tent: cash bar reopens

5:00 p.m. Class Photo: Campus Center (stairs by caf)

5:15 p.m. Happy Hour

6:00 p.m. Class of ’88 Jeans and Jersey’s Dinner

Photo montages, Welcome, FUN surprises!

MORE to come! Watch for future letters but book your hotels TODAY!

Classmate News:

Crescent Lawrence Hoffman, St. Cloud, works for Ameriprise Financial as a planning analyst.

Jody Pflughoeft Bronk, Rushford, encourages everyone to support southeast Minnesota flood relief.

Krister Johnson, St. Cloud, is an attorney in private practice.

Kristin Westberg La Porta, Lincoln, NE is an occupational therapist.

Heidi Mittelstadt Bednarchuk, Redwood Falls, is an RN.

Ron Peterson, Detroit Lakes, is with Bremer Investments.

Valerie Shelton, Fort Washington, MD works for Green Power Living.

Ann Barberg Geyer, Frederick, MD works for Party Lights Gifts as an administrative assistant.

John Kulick, Maple Grove, is an assistant principal/teacher/coach at Central Middle School.

Scott Palmquist, Golden Valley, works for United Healthcare as a financial manager.

Jodi Bourgerie, Chaska, is the vice president for business at Wells Fargo.

Gayle Bauman, East Bethel, works for the City of St. Frances.

Michael Kmiecik, Minneapolis, is a stay at home parent.

Mary Jane Blenkush Konnad, Lakeville, works for Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare.

Dave Schneider, Apple Valley, works for the State Attorney General as an assistant attorney general.

Mary Schoenfelder Lee, Maynard, works for Yellow Medicine Family Services.

Carrie Hutchinson Young, Eden Prairie, works for The Nancekivell Group.

Kaari Olson Frondal, Apple Valley, works for Corporate Health Systems as a broker.

Mindy Mayerchak Oosten, Waukee, IA, works for Nationwide Insurance as an associate vice president.

Henrik Nordstrom and family, Minneapolis, spent the first half of 2007 living in Stockholm. He worked as a translator.

If you haven’t sent a pledge or gift to support Gustavus,

there’s still time!

Help Gustavus help our kids, our neighbors’ kids,

our friends’ kids go to college.

Your donation helps fund scholarships!!!!!

Class Participation as of 5/1/08 = 20.7% (101/487)

Class reunion giving since 6/1/07 = $66,004

Class reunion pledges (to be given before 5/31/11) = $32,165

REUNION GIVING TIMELINE: June 1, 2007 ― October 3, 2008

HONOR ROLL OF DONORS (lists our class donors): Giving between 6/1/2007 and 5/31/08

PLEDGES ACCEPTED: Up to three years of pledges may be made and will be included in our reunion giving totals (i.e. 2008/2009 - $100 pledge, 2009/2010 - $100 pledge, and 2010/2011 - $100 pledge = $300 celebrated in our reunion giving totals).

Use the enclosed pledge card, go online gustavus.edu/giving or call today: 866-487-3863.