KW
Kristine Wietecha
  • Class of 2012
  • Eagan, MN

Luther College senior Wietecha Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa

2012 May 15

Kristine Wietecha, a Luther College senior from Eagan, Minn, was inducted into the Luther chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa national academic honor society at a ceremony held Saturday, April 14 in the Center for Faith and Life on the Luther campus.

Wietecha is the daughter of Kelly Soltis and Gary Wietecha of Eagan and Mundelein, Ill.. She is majoring in English at Luther, and is a 2008 graduate of Eastview High School.

Carol Gilbertson, Luther professor emerita of English, was inducted as an honorary member. James Limburg, professor emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., was inducted as an alumnus member.

Gilbertson delivered the Ruth A. Davis Memorial Lecture, titled "Slow Beauty."

Gilbertson was named emerita professor of English following her retirement from Luther College in 2011, having taught for 43 years as a member of the English department. After graduating from Augustana College, S.D., earned the master of arts degree from the University of North Carolina and the doctoral degree from the University of Minnesota, with a specialization in 17th-century British literature.

She has served Luther as an active scholar and poet, and recently published a collection of her poetry entitled "From a Distance, Dancing" (Finishing Line Press). Gilbertson has also published work in a wide range of journals, including Christian Century, Oberton, Pearl Magazine, and Vineyards: A Journal of Christian Poetry.

James Limburg graduated from Luther College in 1956. He holds the bachelor of divinity degree from Luther Seminary, and the master of theology and the doctoral degree from Union Seminary. He is currently professor emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.

Since retiring in 2001, Limburg has served as a visiting professor at Pacific Lutheran Seminary in Berkeley, Calif., and United Seminary in New Brighton, Minn. He continues to teach and preach at a variety of churches in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Limburg has published a number of books on a variety of topics, and is a contributing author on the "Lutheran Study Bible" (Augsburg).

Luther College (http://www.luther.edu) is one of a select group of private liberal arts colleges in the United States with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Each year, Luther honors outstanding seniors with selection to Phi Beta Kappa. Members are elected on the basis of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievement and good character.

Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most respected undergraduate honors organization in the United States. The society has fostered and recognized excellence in the liberal arts and sciences since 1776, and the society's distinctive emblem, a golden key, is widely recognized as a symbol of academic achievement.