Three Luther students from Norway get to meet King and Queen

Norwegian King Harald's and Queen Sonja's visit to Luther College had special meaning for three Luther students.  That's because they are from Norway.  Natalia Ophaug is from Tyssedahl, Tostein Jystad is from Kolboth and Rob Vangen is from Strommen.

On Thursday all three got to meet personally with the King and Queen.  It was unexpected, said Vangen, who was amazed that he would meet the King and Queen "on the other side of the earth."  Ophaug had met the Queen once before at her high school in Norway, but it was the first time the other two Luther students had met the royals.

Jystad says he came to Luther College because his mother was a student here 30 years ago and had Rich and Penny Leake of Decorah as host family.  Vangen says he came to Luther because Jon Lund flew to Oslo and recruited him.  Ophaug, meanwhile, says she came to Luther "because it's a pretty good school."

PICTURE: (Left to right): Luther students Rob Vangen and Natalia Ophaug, Luther President Rick Torgerson and Noway's King Harald V