Alumnus Sara Kettelhake serves others as a health educator for Four Corners Health Department

Sara Marie Kettelhake ’21 took her search for the perfect college very seriously. She considered numerous schools before committing and kept every single piece of college advertisement mail she received so she could adequately compare university information and the offers she was receiving. 

“My pastor’s wife at the time was encouraging me to consider Concordia Nebraska,” she said. My mom and I went for a visit and connected with my admissions counselor who encouraged us to come back during CIT which the university was hosting that year. We did and had a great visit but it seemed to be lacking something. We were sitting in the music building trying to decide our next step when former Concordia professor Dr. Andrew Schultz bounded past and asked if we were staying for the games that night. He offered for me to play with the pep band. He supplied me with a saxophone and a t-shirt and we stayed, because I couldn’t pass that up! That night sealed the deal for me. What I had been lacking earlier in the day was that social student life experience. The visits had me assured I would receive great academics, but getting to play with the pep band and interact with students at CIT who were so nice and welcoming is what convinced me that Concordia was the place for me!” 

Kettelhake has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and behavioral science with a minor in gerontology. She said her favorite thing about her Concordia Nebraska experience was definitely the people. 

It became apparent to me when I decided I wanted to study psychology that the university was a good fit, because I couldn’t think about how I could work with people without my faith being a part of it.

“I still connect with staff members when I see them in the community,” she said. “They remember me and even want to stop to catch up! Also, the friends I made at Concordia Nebraska are the kind of friends that you have for a lifetime. You can pick up the phone and talk like no time has passed! They have and still do help me stay strong in my faith by praying for me and encouraging me to pray. We even do Bible studies together.” 

She said her professors at the university were instrumental in guiding her and helping her to discover her purpose. 

“It became apparent to me when I decided I wanted to study psychology that the university was a good fit, because I couldn’t think about how I could work with people without my faith being a part of it,” she said. “My purpose isn’t to fix everyone's problems. But I can help however I can, whether that’s equipping them with some needed education, referring them to resources, doing a good deed or simply praying for them or sharing my faith with them.” 

Following graduation in 2021, Kettelhake knew she wanted to work with people, but wasn’t sure exactly what here career path should look like. She took some time off and moved in with her parents in order to determine her next steps. During that time, she saw an ad for a health educator position with Four Corners Health Department. She knew some people there from her Wellness Wednesday work at the university, so she reached out. 

“I was hard on myself because I didn’t know what I was doing. In reality, that was okay because God knows what He’s doing,” she said. “I reached out to them and asked if they thought it would be a good fit for me, and once they encouraged me to send in my resume, I did. I interviewed and was later told they had given the position to someone else. A few weeks later I had just gone in to interview for a preschool teacher position at a daycare in Lincoln and the same day I was trying to decide if I would take that position, I got a call from Four Corners saying the position I had applied for was open again and they wanted to know if I wanted it.” 

She took the job at Four Corners and started the Monday after Thanksgiving. She moved back to Seward the week of Thanksgiving, and one week later went on her first date with her now fiancée.  

“Why God gave me five months of gap time to then have everything happen all at the same time, I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe I’ll never know. What I do know is that now as I’m preparing for marriage and figuring out my next steps in life, I need to trust in Him above all else.” 

As a health educator for Four Corners Health Department her responsibilities have included COVID testing paperwork, assisting with vaccination clinics and managing take-home COVID tests. Shortly after she started serving with Four Corners, she was trained as a lifestyle coach in the diabetes prevention program and was then trained to facilitate programs “Living Well with Chronic Disease.” and “Living Well with Chronic Pain.” She said no two days are the same, but you’ll often find her writing press releases, creating flyers, brochures or handouts, making social media posts, hosting tables at events or giving presentations. She said she has the opportunity to work with all populations from very young children to the elderly. 

She said her time at Concordia Nebraska prepared her for her current service, and she learned a lot in her classes that she still utilizes each day. 

“Working with people is a skill that you have to practice, not something you can just learn overnight,” she said. “There were many opportunities that helped prepare me for where I am today such as the Community Building Committee, helping with Wellness Wednesdays, being a Peer Minister, getting training in confidentiality, going through WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning), Mental Health First Aid and more. At the time I didn’t know all of those little things I agreed to do would be so influential for my future.” 

Kettelhake said that without a doubt her time at the university developed her faith in Jesus Christ. 

“Faith is so interwoven into everything at Concordia. That’s exactly how life should be but unfortunately, not many of us live our lives that way,” she said. “To have the Bible brought into lessons in the classroom, not just one – all of them, even in a math class, that’s saying something. The opportunity to go to chapel every day was huge! The extras such as evening prayer, Praise and small group Bible studies created opportunities to spend dedicated time in worship not just once a day but multiple. The people there openly pray for one other and talk about their faith. It’s a safe space to grow. Concordia truly is a very special place.”  

Kettelhake’s parents, Vern and Joann, live in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Her brother Jason currently attends Concordia Nebraska and will be a senior in the fall. She and her fiancé Adam Umland plan to be married in April 2025. When she’s not working, she said she enjoys spending time with friends and family, being outside, going for walks, listening to audiobooks and baking. She also plays alto saxophone with the Southeast Nebraska Community Band. 

“I’m so lucky,” she said. “I’ve found a passion for education in a unique setting. To see people become empowered to be healthier by equipping them with the education and resources they need, that’s fulfilling. I’ve known since high school that I’m passionate about prevention. What I didn’t know was how well that fits into public health. What I’ve learned and firmly believe is that education is the best form of prevention. I love working with people and watching those ‘aha’ moments as they learn something new, especially something they can do for themselves to live a better life.” 

A degree in public health from Concordia University, Nebraska teaches students how to create and execute fitness and health education programs for various individuals and populations in order to serve as an advocate for healthy living and improving the overall health of the community through all levels of prevention. Students in the program advance their knowledge, abilities and attitudes through the pursuit of a Christ-centered education in health and wellness.