FINANCIAL AID

Thrivent awarded highest honors

Commencement, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

Dana College bestowed its College-Community Service Award to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans during Commencement. The College-Community Service Award is the highest non-academic honor Dana gives.

Thrivent (formerly Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans) was chosen to receive the award based on on the fraternal organization’s more than 100-year history of helping Dana’s home community of Blair and the rest of Washington County, Neb. Currently, more than 1,500 residents of Washington County, seven Lutheran churches and Good Shepherd Lutheran Home receive benefits from Thrivent.

Thrivent provides annual scholarships for students from Washington County to attend Dana College, as well as colleges and universities throughout the country. During the last 25 years, Thrivent has provided more than $2 million to Dana for scholarship support and programs.

“Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has been one of Dana’s top supporters for years,” said Dr. Myrvin Christopherson, president. “Lutheran Brotherhood and Aid Association for Lutherans, the two bodies that merged to form Thrivent, have provided scholarships for students, underwritten conferences and educational programs and been a willing partner in many ministries. We are most grateful for their generous support.”

Specific examples of Thrivent’s past local assistance include: sponsoring parenting programs; supporting food and clothing pantries; planting trees; purchasing playground equipment; supporting families with special needs due to illness, fire and accidents; giving disaster-relief funds; providing resources for foster families; preparing food baskets for the needy; and funding capital improvements.