Luther College History Athletics Famous Alumni External Links

Established	1861
Motto	soli deo gloria
School type	Private
President	Richard L. Torgerson
Location	Decorah, Iowa, United States of America
Enrollment	Approximately 2,600
Faculty	191
Central Campus Size	175 acres
Web site	www.luther.edu

Luther College is a private, comprehensive, four-year liberal arts college located in Decorah, in the state of Iowa, USA and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Founded in 1861 by Norwegian immigrants, Luther College today boasts an enrollment of almost 2,600 students representing 33 states of the USA and 35 countries. The college offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in more than 60 majors and preprofessional and certificate programs.

Luther is perhaps the most famous for its musical groups, which have acquired global recognition through their many international tours. The college also hosts "Christmas at Luther" a musical celebration of the holiday season that is televised throughout the Midwest. Much of Luther's musical fame can be attributed to Weston H. Noble '43, past director of the Luther Concert Band and current Nordic Choir director. Noble has been on the Luther faculty since 19481948 is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). Events January January 1 Nationalisation of UK railways to form British Railways. Arab militants lay siege to the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. First day of the Ital.

In 1996 the musician Dave MatthewsDave Matthews (born January 9, 1967 in Johannesburg, South Africa) is the vocalist and guitarist from Dave Matthews Band. At the age of two, Matthews and his family immigrated to Westchester County, New York, where his father, a physicist, went to work fo appeared in concert with Tim Reynolds at Luther College, the site of their 1999 album Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College . The college is also infamus for naked soccer, a final exam week tradition that ended in 2002.

1 History

The path to founding Luther College began on October 10October 10 is the 283rd day of the year (284th in Leap years). There are 82 days remaining. Events 680 Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was decapitated by forces under Caliph Yazid I. This is commemorated, 1857Events January 9 Earthquake at Fort Tejon, California with an estimated magnitude of 7. 9 February 16 The National Deaf Mute College (later renamed Gallaudet University) is established in Washington, DC becoming the first school for the advanced education, when the Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran ChurchThe Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church commonly called the Norwegian Synod, was founded in February 1853 in Iowa. Through a series of mergers it became part of the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America (NLCA or later the Evangelical Lutheran Church) in (NELC) decided to create a college to supply ministers for Norwegian congregations in the Upper MidwestThe Upper Midwest is a region of the United States with no agreed-upon definite boundary, which always lies within the Census Bureau definition of the Midwest, and includes the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as at least the Upper Peninsu. Until the college was completed, students would study at Concordia SeminaryConcordia Seminary is located in Saint Louis, Missouri and trains clergy for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. Concordia Seminary is the oldest seminary of the LCMS but not its first seminary. That distinction goes to Concordia Theological Seminary in F in St. Louis, Missouri. On October 14, 1859 the Rev. Laur. A. Larsen was appointed professor to the Norwegian students at Concordia by the NELC.

Upon the closing of the seminary in April 1861, the NELC decided to open their own college that fall in an unused parsonage at Halfway Creek, Wisconsin, just north of La Crosse, Wisconsin and close to present day Holmen, Wisconsin. On September 1, 1861, classes officially began with an enrollement of 16. The following year classes moved to Decorah, Iowa, with NELC Pastor Ulrik Vilhelm (U.V.) Koren responsible for arrainging this move.

It didn't take long for Luther to build an exceptional music program. In 1905, Carlo A. Sperati, an 1888 graduate of Luther, became the music director of the college and worked to develop the Luther College Concert Band. Under Sperati, the band took many tours of Europe, their first in 1914 while earning international acclaim for their musical talent. Sperati remained on the faculty until 1945.

In 1932 Luther College dropped its mandatory study of the classics. The 1930s also marked another milestone in the college's history, the decision to become coeducational, which happened in 1936 due primarily to financial reasons. During the 1960s Luther again experienced significant change with the construction of several new buildings on campus and the adoption of a 4-1-4 semester schedule.

2 Athletics

The Luther Norse have been a member of the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (commonly called the Iowa Conferece or IIAC) since its founding in 1922. Luther has won more conference championships than any other school in the history of the IIAC.

3 Famous Alumni

Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus '03, 20th Governor of Minnesota Jim Nussle '83, U.S. Congressman from Iowa Drew Curtis, Founder, Fark.com

4 External links

Official Website

Offical Norse Athletics Website

Luther College Chips Website (Student Newspaper)

	Colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Augsburg \| Augustana (Illinois) \| Augustana (South Dakota) \| Bethany \| California Lutheran \| Capital \| Carthage \| Concordia \| Dana \| Finlandia \| Gettysburg \| Grand View \| Gustavus Adolphus \| Lenoir-Rhyne \| Luther \| Midland \| Muhlenberg \| Newberry \| Pacific Lutheran \| Roanoke \| St. Olaf \| Susquehanna \| Texas Lutheran \| Thiel \| Wagner \| Waldorf \| Wartburg \| Wittenberg
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Universities and colleges in Iowa Liberal arts colleges

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