Dana College

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Dana College
Image:Dana College logo.jpg
Motto We're with you all the way.
Established 1884
Type Private, non-profit
President Janet Philipp
Staff 45 professors, 8 instructors
Students 582
Location Blair, Nebraska, US
Campus Rural
Athletic Director Bill Danenhauer
Mascot Vikings
Website http://www.dana.edu

Dana College is an accredited baccalaureate college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, located in Blair, Nebraska. Its rural 150 acre (607,000 m²) campus is approximately 25 miles (40 km) northwest of Omaha, overlooking a portion of the Missouri River Valley.

"Dana" is the Poetic name for Denmark and the college was founded in 1884 by Danish pioneers.

Contents

[edit] Introduction

The student body is taught by 45 professors and eight non-doctorate instructors, resulting in an average teacher-student ratio of 1:12.

The college offers on-campus housing in five residence halls and contractually maintains off-campus apartments for married or non-traditional students. Campus life is fostered by an active student government and many student organizations. There are no fraternities and sororities.

[edit] History

In 1884, two small groups of Danish Lutherans in America - known as the Blair Church and the North Church - came together to form the United Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (commonly known as the United Church). This church body was a part of the Danish Lutheran "Inner Mission" movement, and strongly opposed the influence of the ideas of theologian N.F.S. Grundvig.

Led by P.S. Vig and C.X. Hansen, one of the United Church's first priorities was to establish an educational system. The Dana School, in Blair, Nebraska, was begun as prepatory school. By the early 1910's - in cooperation with the University of Nebraska - the Dana School was awarding Associates Degrees. In the 1930's Dana became an accredited four-year school, and began awarding Bachelors Degrees.

When the Dana School was founded, part of its purpose was to be a pre-seminary school for those preparing for the ministry in the Lutheran church. Many of Dana's early graduates went on to study at Trinity Seminary, also located in Blair. For many years, Dana and Trinity shared faculty, administrators, staff, and presidents. This relationship ended when Trinity Seminary merged with Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa.


[edit] Majors offered

Dana College offers a bachelor's degree in the following:

[edit] Athletics

Dana College is a member of the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Former pro wrestler Bill Danenhauer is the athletic director. The athletic program provides for a baseball, cheer and dance, basketball, football, golf, softball, track, volleyball, and wrestling program.

In addition, Dana College has a number of intramural and club sports programs below the varsity level that function independently from the athletic department.

[edit] References

On the history of Dana College and Trinity Seminary:

  • Christensen, William E. Saga of the Tower: A History of Dana College and Trinity Seminary. Blair, Nebraska: Lutheran Publishing House, 1959.
  • Petersen, Peter L. A Place Called Dana: The Centennial History of Trinity Seminary and Dana College. Blair, Nebraska: Dana College, 1984

On the history of the Danish Lutherans in America:

  • Jensen, John M. The United Evangelical Lutheran Church: An Interpretation. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1964.
  • Nyholm, Paul C. The Americanization of the Danish Lutheran Churches in America: A Study in Immigrant History. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1963.

[edit] External Links