What About Clubs? Connect with Business Club, Pre-Seminary Club

The 2024-25 business club officers.

Photo credit: Katelyn Smith

By Mi-Ree Zwick

This article is featured in the December print issue of the Sower newspaper. Concordia has many student clubs, reflecting the different interests of a diverse campus. This is the third in a series of articles highlighting different clubs, their mission and their plans.

The Business Club provides resources and opportunities for business majors to improve their skills with a Christian perspective. The club does not admit non-business students, according to President Katelyn Smith.

“The Business Club is a vital opportunity for students within the College of Business to learn how to serve and lead others through a Christ- focused lens,” she said.

Any student enrolled at Concordia who is part of the business department may become a member, she said.

“The primary objectives of the Business Club are to serve and lead utilizing business knowledge and skills, build community among business students, enhance students’ leadership skills, improve students’ project management abilities, and provide educational opportunities,” Smith said.

Club adviser Dr. Curt Beck, professor of business administration, said the group is intentional in “offering activities to foster interactions among business students, faculty and business leaders.”

Beck said his role is to “facilitate growth and provide opportunities for the students to serve and lead others.”

He organized an opportunity with Garuna Ministries to train leaders and assist in the development of Christian schools in Cambodia. This trip showed students how business can also be used in ministries.

The club also sponsors multiple events throughout the school year, including the Ice Cream Social, Ethics and Leadership Symposium, Ag Summit, Laser Tag Night, Cornhole Competition and the Annual Celebrate Business (Women in Business) Luncheon.

The Business Club founded and continues to operate the 10:31 coffee shop in the Janzow Campus Center.

“10:31 Coffee began as an entrepreneurship project for undergraduate Business students at Concordia University, Nebraska, in 2008,” said club member Jake Hagerbaumer.

Any CUNE student can apply to work at 10:31 as a barista. However, managerial positions are held by business students who also hold an officer position in the Business Club. Smith started out as a barista at 10:31 and made her way up to the position of general manager.

Pre-seminary club members meet for Bible study with President Jon Bruss and Deaconess Rose Adle from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Photo: Concordia Pre-Seminary Club.

The Pre-Seminary Club gathers regularly to study God’s Word and find fellowship with one another. Generally, members are future church workers in programs such as Pre-Seminary, Pre-Deacon and Pre-Deaconess.

“Predominantly, we focus on the pure formation of the pre-seminary students. The club is a place where the older pre-seminary students especially get to have an impact on the incoming freshmen and sophomore pre-seminary students,” said President Aarin Dean.

Dean said weekly Bible study is a chance for fellowship and to “grow together in the Word, encourage one another to read the Word, those sorts of things.”

Events Coordinator Joshua Burmeister said there are discussions about ministry-related topics, such as how to understand and teach the Bible.

While this is typically useful for future church workers, non-church workers also can benefit from the deeper understanding of God’s Word.

“Anyone with an interest in working in the church can be a member of the club, but since it is the Pre-Seminary Club, only pre-seminary students can hold office,” said Dean.

Any club member can vote, but a pre-deaconess student, for example, could not run for office. Any additional responsibilities are put onto the shoulders of pre-seminary students.

Secretary/Treasurer Nathan “Berger” Sollberger said that it “usually helps pre-sem and pre-deac people get an understanding of how they can apply the Word of God to help people and their future colleagues.”

Burmeister added that the study provides “an outline for how to think in a Christian way about various topics, how to understand the Bible and doctrine” which can be invaluable to anyone who attends.

Burmeister primarily collaborates with Ministry Ties, the other church work club on campus, with events. He encourages pre-seminary students to attend the Ministry Ties events.

“It’s sort of a break from the hustle and bustle, and the rigor of college, to just have some fun,” he said.