She found faith, friendship, and love

NAME: Karen Gast Kreul

CLASS YEAR: 1964

MAJORS: Business education

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT: Substitute teacher, Oregon (Wis.) School District

WHY WARTBURG: I grew up on a farm close to a small town, went to a small high school, and was baptized and confirmed in a Lutheran church. I knew I needed/wanted to attend a college that was small in student numbers, liked that it was affiliated with the Lutheran Church, and my older sister had attended Wartburg for two years.

WHY IS WARTBURG WORTH IT: I became my own woman. I matured so much my freshman year, began learning how to study, and eperienced essay tests for the first time. I roomed with two beautiful girls my freshman year, and we got along great. My sophomore year, I met my future husband while standing in the lunch line (he was a freshman at the time). We just celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. One of my freshman-year roommates (Lorraine Johnson Hoffman) became my roommate again my senior year. We became very good friends and still are to this day.

HOW DID YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE: By attending a Lutheran College, I matured as a Christian and grew in my faith. Through chapel and services at a Lutheran church in Waverly, I realized how important church and fellowship are.