MIKE KLAASSEN/TABOR COMMUNICATIONS
Nearly 300 gathered for the 2021 President’s Dinner, celebrating the gifts given to Tabor College and recognizing their impact on students, faculty and staff. It also served as a farewell to Dr. Jules Glanzer, who has served faithfully as president over the last 13-plus years.
The Shari Flaming Center for the Arts hosted the evening’s activities, which began with the donor appreciation dinner inside the Regier Atrium and the Franz Family Heritage Lobby. The dinner was catered by Food Service Director Rob Scott and the Pioneer College Caterers team.
The program was emceed by board emeritus Lyndon Vix and it opened with a performance of “Oceans and Stars” by the women of the Tabor College concert choir. The song was conducted by Assistant Professor of Music Education and Voice Brian Stranghoner.
Board chair Susan Franz Koslowsky greeted the audience inside the Richert Auditorium after the performance, welcoming the college’s donors and beginning the evening’s farewell to President Glanzer, his wife Peg and kids Nicole, Matt and families.
MIKE KLAASSEN/TABOR COMMUNICATIONS
“Your support, especially this year, has been critical,” Franz Koslowsky said. “We appreciate and value each of you beyond measure. Your financial support, volunteer work, time taken to encourage students, faculty, staff and administration is invaluable. Your prayers have helped sustain Tabor through challenging times and for President Glanzer [through his COVID battle] over this past year have been so critically needed.”
Toby Penner, a junior from Whitewater, Kan., gave the first of two student testimonies. A two-time national qualifier in indoor and outdoor track and field, Penner shared how he glorifies God in and out of competition. He also serves as editor of the Tabor View, thanking the college for shaping his future career.
Education chair Lisa Moore and Dr. David Stevens presented on behalf of the program. They spoke of the renovation of the Tabor College Library, which includes the second floor becoming the home of the program. The teacher education department currently holds 48 students. That group is split in half between elementary and secondary education aspirations.
They also highlighted the Masters of Neuroscience and Trauma, which has 34 students signed up for the inaugural year. Leadership behind the program shared that students will be equipped with knowledge and skills necessary to teach and work with students who have suffered acute trauma and stress.
“I want to thank our administration team for their support,” Stevens said. “They gave us support at every juncture of the design of this program. President Glanzer gave us the green light the first time I showed him the course descriptions.”
Hannah Gilmore, senior from Cedaredge, Colo., provided the evening’s second testimony and she shared of how she feels her story is being “painted” and its comparisons to the art of neo-impressionism.
Dr. Sheila Litke, professor of piano and performing and visual art, played a medley of two hymns, “Lift High the Cross” and “All Creatures of Our God and King”.
President emeritus Larry Nikkel gave a personal tribute as well as reading a letter from board emeriti David Karber, who was a longtime member of the Tabor College Board of Directors. He also served a one-year term as board chair. His final letter read was from the Salem Mennonite Brethren Church (Bridgewater, S.D.), which is the home church of President Glanzer.
Dr. Glanzer then came on stage to share his thanks to the board, the college’s donors and the faculty, students and staff in attendance. He shared both Isaiah 30:21 and Proverbs 16:9 as key verses to his tenure
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying. ‘This is the way, walk in it.’”
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord directs their steps.”
“Those two verses became my guide for these 13 1/2 years,” Glanzer said. “They’re written on the floor in the Shari Flaming Welcome Center underneath the carpet before it was laid [where the desk sits]. They have been the foundation of everything we have done together.”
As many of his chapel addresses and messages in the past have concluded, he gave his prayer of blessing over the audience, faculty, staff and students.
“Now may the risen Christ go with you. Above you to watch over you and beneath you to lift you up. Beside you to encourage you and within you to give you peace. Amen.”
Two of President Glanzer’s family, Nicole (Glanzer) Quiring and Matt Glanzer, shared on behalf of the family, sharing memories of the Glanzer past and what it meant to see their father serve as president.
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A video compilation of President Leadership Scholars gave the program’s students a chance to give thanks to President Glanzer. The program began under Glanzer’s leadership in 2011.
The Tabor College Contemporary Christian Ministry Team performed “Never Once” by Matt Redman, a song referenced by Dr. Glanzer for God’s faithfulness through this trying season.