Classroom Lessons, Community Impact

Story: Danielle Luebbe
Photos: Courtesy Concordia Marketing

Concordia Nebraska’s scholar programs empower students to bridge their academic experiences with real-world impact.

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At Concordia University, Nebraska, we believe that a great education doesn’t just take place in classrooms—it’s also about engaging with our community and making a difference together. Concordia’s scholars programs are designed to give students real-world learning experience in their future vocations, while creating opportunities that benefit the businesses and residents of our local community.

Preparing Future Health Leaders

The Micah Pre-Health Scholars Program, which is the most recently created of Concordia’s academic communities, is designed to help Concordia students interested in healthcare vocations build skills, prepare for graduate or professional school and connect with local healthcare professionals.

Named after the prophet Micah—whose call to “do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God” guides the program’s vision—this initiative is specifically geared toward those with a “heart for service and a head for science,” students who want to use their God-given gifts of compassion and mercy in service to others.

Dr. Teddie Genter, director of the Micah Pre-Health Scholars Program, said, “This program is rooted in Christian values and ethics so students can integrate spiritual and moral perspectives into their professional development. Simply put, it encourages a service-minded, Christ-like approach to healthcare.”

Beyond the benefit to students, the Micah Scholars will have an impact on the local community. Through a series of internships and shadowing experiences with local health providers, students will work directly with healthcare professionals, learning from the expertise and compassion they bring to their work. These partnerships benefit both the students and local health providers, creating a pipeline of people who are motivated and well prepared to enter into understaffed health careers, many of whom may choose to stay in Nebraska and serve local communities.

“Micah Scholars dedicate themselves to future service by diligent study and preparation,” said Dr. John Jurchen, professor of chemistry. “They exercise their gifts through current service as college students in Nebraska and abroad, volunteering their time, energy and creativity and by employment as certified healthcare workers.”

This program is rooted in Christian values and ethics so students can integrate spiritual and moral perspectives into their professional development.

Students in the program will benefit from hands-on, immersive experiences, from volunteer work in health education to shadowing alongside medical teams to completing international medical mission trips. The program will also integrate volunteer ministry, allowing students to participate in outreach efforts that support public health initiatives in Seward and surrounding areas. In addition, Micah Scholars will gain certifications in CPR and other health-related credentials, work with other students and mentors to prepare for graduate, professional or medical school entrance exams and conduct research in conjunction with a faculty member.

“Concordia Nebraska’s Micah Scholars have heard the prophet’s call,” said Genter. “The Lord has given them a heart for service and a head for science and a desire to use these gifts in healthcare to demonstrate the mercy of God in service to others.”

Growing Through Work and Service

While the Micah Scholars are focused on healthcare, the Paul Scholars Work Education Program is designed to provide hands-on work experience for students in a wide variety of fields. The program, which launched its first cohort of ten students this fall, connects students with local businesses and organizations where they work and learn future vocations while receiving free tuition. It’s a program designed to ease the financial burden of college while helping students build skills, develop relationships with potential future employers and support the community that supports them.

“Paul Scholars is an academic community that transforms work into wisdom, education into experience and faith into action,” said Paul Berggren, director of the Paul Scholars program. “Paul Scholars graduate with a technical degree, practical people skills and real-world experience. They’ll be equipped to start a few steps higher than a typical college grad.”

Named in honor of the Apostle Paul, who supported his ministry through his work as a tentmaker, the Paul Scholars is rooted in the idea that work is a part of God’s plan for our lives. The program helps students see the connection between their faith, their studies and the work they do, encouraging them to approach their jobs with integrity and purpose. This semester, the first group of Paul Scholars has been placed in jobs across Concordia Nebraska’s campus, where they will work 15 hours per week. Their first two years will be spent working jobs on campus, and the next two years they will transition to off-campus placements with local employer partners in their field of study.

The Paul Scholars receive mentorship from their employers, who guide them not only in the tasks of their job but also in building skills like communication, teamwork and leadership. They also receive a minor in vocational leadership and access to courses the encourage a biblical view of work, vocation and faith. By the time they graduate, Paul Scholars will be well-prepared for their future careers, with experience and references from employers who can vouch for their leadership skills and work ethic.

Beyond helping students cover the cost of tuition, the program fosters a sense of responsibility and community connection. Employers benefit from well-equipped student workers ready to contribute and grow with their organization.

The partnership between Paul Scholars and local employer partners benefits the local community, as well. Graduates of the Paul Scholars program are ready to lead and serve in their prospective careers right after graduation, contributing to the economic and professional growth of our local communities.

A Legacy of Partnership

With the launch of these and other scholars programs, Concordia University, Nebraska is strengthening its commitment to providing students with not only an education but also opportunities to grow, serve and connect in ways that make a tangible difference. Both the Micah and Paul Scholars programs illustrate the power of partnership: students gain valuable skills and experience, local businesses and organizations receive support and the community as a whole is enriched by the relationships built and contributions made.

In each of these programs, students are encouraged to explore what it means to serve others in their professions. By working directly with people in their chosen fields, Concordia students are developing more than skills—they’re developing a sense of purpose and a readiness to serve. These partnerships are more than pathways to careers; they’re pathways to lives of meaning and service.

For more about Concordia’s scholar programs, visit cune.edu/scholars.