Meet Paul Berggren, Director of Concordia Nebraska’s Paul Scholars Program

At Concordia University, Nebraska, undergraduate students in the university’s Paul Scholars work study program pay for their degree with a four-year work scholarship while gaining priceless experience as a servant leader in the workplace. Students accepted into the program earn full tuition covered through a combination of institutional aid and a Paul Scholars college scholarship with work placement. 

Paul Berggren recently joined Concordia University, Nebraska to direct the new program.  

“As director of this new program, I’m responsible for leading and coordinating our first cohort of ten freshman scholars,” he said. “This program touches many parts of the campus with a full-tuition scholarship, on and off-campus work placement, a minor in vocational leadership. Since mid-February, I moved right into pre-launch mode to wrap up recruiting for this year, help establish a network of work placement partners, coordinate operations and begin designing courses for the next four years. I’ll partner with the work placement supervisors to mentor each scholar and practice the ideas and habits learned in our  leadership courses. Each fall I’ll focus on recruiting the next cohort of Paul Scholars, off-campus work placement partners, and support ongoing fundraising efforts.” 

Berggren has an undergraduate degree from Bethel University in Arden Hills, Minnesota, with a dual major in anthropology and linguistics. He has a graduate degree in secondary teaching from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has also completed coursework toward an Ed.D. at Bethel University.  

The first Paul Scholars cohort includes ten students from various cities across the United States and Africa. Berggren said he enjoyed getting to know the students during the application process and seeing them work out competing offers from other universities and parental preferences before ultimately choosing to attend Concordia University, Nebraska. 

“I love creating new things that bring out the best in people,” he said. “This role brings the vision and inspiration for this new program into focus. So many people laid the groundwork, and I have the honor of making all this come to life with our first group of scholars. The very best part is weaving the Apostle Paul’s life example of ‘...it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me’ from Galatians 2:20 into everything we do!” 

Paul Scholars is a four-year work scholarship and minor program that builds on the Apostle Paul’s example of vocation and servant leadership. Each year, a new cohort of ten or more freshmen are accepted into the program to obtain hands-on work experience on and off campus applying lessons from the program and their major. Concordia Nebraska Paul Scholars come from a variety of majors and graduate with technical and people skills prepared to lead and shape their field of expertise as men and women of Christ. 

Berggren said Concordia Nebraska combines a pursuit of excellence with an unwavering Christ-centered focus.

“This is such a friendly and collaborative community,” he said. “I sensed it right away and can see people seeking to live out their Christian faith in genuine ways. People are also very patient and encouraging of the new guy trying to quickly learn so much in a short time. Patience and forgiveness seem to flow easily, and I’ve had reason to receive both every week!” 

Berggren pointed out that the Paul Scholars program is based on a clear Lutheran doctrine of work and vocation within the context of the Apostle Paul’s life and legacy.  

“This has caused me to study, pray and contemplate these things very deeply so I can apply them in simple, clear ways,” he said. “Most importantly, I’m learning to live it more fully so I can teach with integrity and love.” 

Berggren is married to his college sweetheart Cindy. They lived, worked and raised three children in Minnesota before moving to Lincoln 22 years ago. He loves outdoor activities, camping, reading, DIY design and applying instructional technology to learning. He also volunteers with a special needs church ministry that his wife leads in Lincoln.     

He said serving in this position at the university was a great fit for him. He loves engaging with others and helping them discover their purpose and vocation as they serve Jesus Christ.

“My parents gave my sister and I the gift of traveling around the country and the world, which helps me connect with people from a variety of languages, cultures and religious backgrounds,” he said. “I’ve also worked since I was 14 doing hands-on work, customer service jobs, teaching high school students, special education and HR consulting. I naturally seek to build relationships with almost anyone to serve His purposes.” 

All students who have been admitted to Concordia are invited to apply to be a part of Paul Scholars. An application, two letters of recommendation and, if selected, an interview are part of the application process. To be considered for the Paul Scholar program, students must be actively involved in school, church, work and volunteering, demonstrate experience balancing work with school and personal responsibilities, show how service and Christian faith are lived out in daily life, and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.  Financial need is considered but not required to apply. Students may not receive sports or performance scholarships while in the program. The program is open to a wide range of majors and includes an exclusive Paul Scholar minor in vocational leadership focused on developing character and competence to learn, serve and lead in the workplace, community, church and world.