Luther College to award three Distinguished Service Awards to alumni

Luther College has announced it will award three alumni with Distinguished Service Awards on Friday, October 10th.

Recipients of the 2014 Luther Distinguished Service Award are Highland Valley Farm President Richard Dale of Bayfield, Wisconsin; Pediatrician Marilyn Peitso from Sartell, Minnesota; and Minnesota Conference United Church of Christ minister Sharon Prestemon.

The Distinguished Service Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the college, is given in recognition of success and achievements in professional fields, service to society, contributions to community, and loyalty and service to Luther.

Dale has served as president and founder of Highland Valley Farm since 1977 and has been a long-time proponent of family farms and sustainable agriculture.
          
Peitso has been in the private practice of pediatrics for more than 30 years and has worked to continuously improve and create standards of care coordination for children and youth with special care needs.

Prestemon has a Master of Divinity degree from the Chicago Theological Seminary and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Heidelberg College.

Luther College President Paula Carlson will present the Distinguished Service Awards at a dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 10th, in Luther's dining hall in the Dahl Centennial Union. Tickets are $25 and available at http://luther.edu/homecoming/registration or at the door the night of the event