Luther College Announces Steven Mark Anderson Scholarship Winners
May 9, 2008
Five Luther College students have received Steven Mark Anderson Scholarships for the 2008-09 academic year.
Recipients of the $1,000 scholarships are Erik Clark of Madison, Wis., Mitchell Dietz of Montgomery, Minn., Sarah Kolman of Bagley, Wis., Christa Person of Burt, Iowa, and Melissa Petersen of Austin, Minn. The scholarship awards were announced at the Luther College Student Support Services celebration banquet on April 30.
The Steven Mark Anderson Scholarship was established in 2001 by Lloyd and Kathy Anderson of Ames, Iowa in memory of their son, 1985 Luther graduate Pastor Steven Mark Anderson.
Clark, who will be a senior at Luther in the fall, traveled to Africa with a Luther January-term study-abroad program and is now working to raise money for a computer lab at the school in the African village visited by the study-abroad class. He speaks to various college classes and likes to educate people about the role African-Americans have played in shaping history.
Clark’s career goal is to return to an urban environment to guide disadvantaged youth. His co-curricular jobs include mentoring youth through the Decorah Parks and Recreation Department.
Dietz, who will be a sophomore at Luther in the fall, is a music major and performs with the college’s trumpet choir, concert band, and wind and percussion ensemble. His goal is a career in which he will “be able to influence others, to teach them something new, and to make a difference in their lives.”
Kolman, who will complete her degree in elementary education at Luther in 2009, works for a local day care center and volunteers with PALS, Luther’s big brother/big sister program. She is involved in instrumental and vocal music and helps with the college’s annual blood drive and March of Dimes fundraiser.
Person, who will complete her degree in social work at Luther in 2009, serves as president of Phi Alpha Lambda Theta social work honor society and co-president of the Social Work Association. She plans, organizes and implements service projects on campus and in the Decorah community. Person is a member of Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity and volunteers at Decorah social service organizations Wellington Place and The Spectrum Network.
Petersen will graduate from Luther with a double major in religion and psychology. Her career goal is to be a counseling psychologist. She is a member and leader in many campus groups including college ministries, Habitat for Humanity, choir, Alpha Beta Psi honor society, inter-Greek council, and psychology club.
She serves as a teacher’s assistant, works for the college’s welcome center and has helped raise money for Helping Services of Northeast Iowa, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, world hunger and other causes.
The Steven Mark Anderson Scholarships are awarded “in recognition of the value of educational opportunities in a Christian environment, and in appreciation of a quality academic program combined with sensitive spiritual guidance provided by Luther College.” Recipients are students involved in the federally funded Student Support Services Program and are selected by a committee with representatives from college ministries, development and student financial aid.