Class of 1970 Raising Money to Help Current and Future Students

Committee members planning the Loras College Class of 1970’s 50th reunion reached a quick consensus regarding how to best raise money to help the College.

“In past years, it seems the 50th reunion class gift is a capital project that you can put your name on,” said Harvey Schmitt (’70), who is chairing the committee with the Rev. John Ludwig (’70), “We wanted to do something a little different.”

The Class of 1970 50th reunion committee has established the Class of 1970 Student Relief Fund in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic that has altered life everywhere, including Loras. Other members of the committee are: Dennis Baldridge, Nick DeSario, Roger Ginie, Richard Hartmann, Greg McGinn, John North, Michael Runde, Richard Scholle, William Schrier, David Spohn, Joe Voss, Thomas Waldron, John Watson, Dave Wegmann and Greg Welp.

“The idea is to help students have the Loras experience we had,” Schmitt said. “There are students who have been challenged financially because of COVID-19. Assistance that is available through an award provided by our classmates is the best and most useful level of support we can give the College at this point in time.”

Loras, which is committed to helping all eligible students matriculate at the oldest college in Iowa, provides financial assistance to 98 percent of its students. This year, many of them are facing an even greater financial challenge due to the pandemic, which has financially impacted both students and their families.

The Class of 1970 Student Relief Fund will annually help four students, one from each class. To date, $75,000 has been raised. For questions or to support this class initiative, please contact Amy Bess at 563-588-7969 or by email at amy.bess@loras.edu.

“There needs to be that source of support to help students,” Ludwig said. Members of the Class of 1970 are working to achieve their philanthropic goal even as the pandemic has changed their lives. The committee, with input from classmates, have rescheduled their 50th reunion celebration for September 17-19, 2021.

“Many of our classmates may be affected by COVID in some way,” Schmitt said. “We are in the process of learning about their individual circumstances. We’re doing everything we can to have a successful reunion and fundraising campaign.”