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World War II-era service program revived at St. Olaf

Carole Leigh Engblom
May 13, 2002

Between 1947 and 1968, 19 graduates of St. Olaf College (supported in part by their graduating classes) served the Martin Luther Schule in Rimbach, Germany, teaching English and literature for one year. This post-World War II international service was the brainchild of Howard Hong '34 while he was on leave from the St. Olaf faculty and working with the Lutheran World Federation service for refugees. Last year, James V. Anderson '51 initiated a Rimbach-Ole reunion during Celebration 2001, bringing these Oles together for the first time. Thanks to the efforts of Anderson and of Hans-Juergen Schmidt, current director of the Martin Luther Schule, the Rimbach-Ole program has been revived. Schmidt secured enough funding from the German government to support a graduating St. Olaf senior for one year. That senior is Eriin Birch '02, a political science major who will begin teaching at the school in August. Anderson and Virginia Larsen '59, who taught at the Schule from 1959-60, will meet Erin on campus in mid-May.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.