Campus clips: Collaboration on and off campus

The monthly “Campus Clips” column includes brief reports from LCMS day schools, campus ministries, universities and seminaries.

Students from St. Peter Lutheran School in Lodi, Calif., work on their robotics project during the Lutheran Elementary School Tournament hosted by Concordia University Irvine (CUI) in February. (CUI)

Elementary schools compete

In February, Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., hosted 10 Lutheran elementary schools from Arizona, Idaho, California and Nevada for the annual Lutheran Elementary School Tournament. Over 1,000 students and family members attended the event on CUI’s campus, led by over 100 volunteers from CUI and Crean Lutheran High School, Irvine, as students competed in a scavenger hunt; a “Battle of the Books”; a basketball tournament; and competitions in mathematics, chess, music, theater, art, robotics, Rubik’s Cube, science and spelling.

Participating schools included St. John’s, Bakersfield, Calif.; Christ, Costa Mesa, Calif.; Faith, Las Vegas; Grace, Pocatello, Idaho; Salem, Orange, Calif.; St. John’s, Orange, Calif.; St. Paul’s, Orange, Calif.; St. Peter, Lodi, Calif.; West Portal Lutheran, San Francisco; and Yuma Lutheran, Yuma, Ariz.

Perfect pass rate

The first five graduates of the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Concordia University Chicago (CUC), River Forest, Ill., continue to make history — even after commencement. The group recently took the National Council State Board of Nursing Examination (NCLEX-RN), a necessary step before becoming registered nurses, and every student passed.

This milestone reflects the hard work of CUC graduates and the dedication of the faculty who walked alongside them. Congratulations to (pictured, in order) Amy Lobo (BSN ’25), Stephany Arroyo (BSN ’25), Gabriella Galvez (BSN ’25), Nicolaus Anderson (BSN ’25) and Denise Guaman (BSN ’25).

(From left) Concordia University Chicago (CUC) students Amy Lobo, Stephany Arroyo, Gabriella Galvez, Nicolaus Anderson and Denise Guaman earned a perfect score on .the NCLEX nursing proficiency exam. (CU)

In other news, the community is invited to attend CUC’s inaugural Festival of Scripture & the Arts on June 20–21. More details on tickets and scheduling can be found here. The festival also coincides with an all-music alumni reunion.

Following the festival, alumni from the classes of 1975 and 1976 will be welcomed back for their 50th Golden Reunion on June 25–27. Register at cuchicago.edu/reunions.

The Truman show

A yellow Labrador is bringing energy, connection and support to Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), Mequon, Wis., while helping a fellow therapy dog heal.

Truman, a young English Labrador Retriever, is the newest addition to CUW’s therapy dog program, joining Trixie in the Veteran Resource Center. His arrival, made possible by a generous donor, expands a program designed to support students’ well-being.

“Students were not only open to therapy dogs — they were seeking them out,” said Director of Military and Veteran Services Keith Casey.

Truman’s role carries added meaning. Months ago, Trixie experienced a medical emergency that affected her confidence on campus. Since Truman’s arrival, “I’ve seen a decrease in Trixie’s anxiety,” said student handler Nia Petropoulos. “He’s helped her become more comfortable greeting people.”

At the same time, Truman is quickly connecting with students. Friendly, curious and still full of puppy energy, he offers a steady presence in moments of stress or transition. Together, Truman and Trixie reflect CUW’s commitment to caring for the whole person — mind, body and spirit.

Learn more here.

Mission-driven leadership

Concordia University, Nebraska (CUNE), Seward, Neb., recently announced a new graduate program, the Master of Arts in Leadership, designed to prepare individuals for mission-driven leadership. The program is distinct from an MBA, focusing less on business operations and more on people, purpose, culture, ethics and organizational transformation. It equips students to lead with a relational, servant-hearted approach grounded in faith.

Rooted in CUNE’s Lutheran identity, the program integrates Christian values with real-world leadership practice, emphasizing leadership areas including classical, organizational, philanthropic and adventure/sport/recreational leadership. Delivered in flexible, online, eight-week courses, CUNE’s graduate programs are designed to support students academically, professionally and spiritually while preparing them for meaningful leadership and service.

Learn more.

Journal now in Braille

Through a partnership with Lutheran Braille Workers, Concordia Journal, a primary publication of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL), is now available in large print and Braille. These accessible editions, which began with the Winter 2026 issue, are offered free of charge. The peer-reviewed journal of the CSL faculty explores ideas, themes and issues related to global Christianity and today’s world from a confessionally Lutheran perspective.

“The culture of our learning community is that we want to welcome and embrace all who seek to join us in our theological study and reflection,” said the Rev. Dr. Stephen Pietsch, dean of Theological Research and Publication and associate professor of Practical Theology. “For Concordia Journal to be made available in large print and Braille to people who are blind or visually impaired is truly a God-given opportunity to serve more people, and we are excited to be offering these new publication formats that will enable their participation.”

The journal is published quarterly in winter, spring, summer and fall. To order copies, call 800-925-6092 or visit lbwloveworks.org. Read more at csl.edu/newsroom.

A sweet visit

On Friday, March 27, Rehema Kavugha, director of Synod relations at Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF), visited Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), for a presentation to fourth-year students preparing for Call Day. During the visit, to celebrate the ongoing partnership between LCEF and CTSFW, LCEF treated seminary students, families, faculty and staff to free ice cream.

“As another year ends, we wanted to offer a sweet treat and an opportunity for connection and fellowship,” Kavugha said. “It was a joy to check in with students, faculty and staff and to thank them for their service to the church.”

Posted April 21, 2026