Imig and Goltl Plan Third Gathering of the Talents Together

Students discuss artwork at the 2016 Gathering of the Talents. Photo by Abi Schroeder.

by Hope Moural

The event-planning duo of University Events Manager Briianne Imig and junior Molly Goltl are ready for over 1,300 elementary students to visit Concordia’s campus on Saturday, April 1 for the 73rd annual Gathering of the Talents event.

The students come from 46 schools located all over the Midwest including Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska and will participate in activities ranging from drama, music, theatre, art and creative writing.

“I just love seeing kids showcase their talents to glorify God,” Imig said.

Imig has been planning this event year-round with help from Goltl, her student assistant and assistant to the event.

Although she is an education major, Goltl finds that taking on this big event role is very helpful for her future career.

“I have been able to plan and organize more efficiently and I have also grown from simply completing tasks to understanding how each piece is going to positively impact the gathering,” Goltl said.

This is the fourth year Imig has been in charge of the event and the third year for Goltl, but they are continually revising the format and organization of the day.

A new survey process will be implemented following the event via email this year, so anyone who attends the event can share their thoughts and suggestions about the event.

“We are looking at getting comments from a broader audience…not just the school staff, but from participants themselves and family members who were in attendance,” Imig said.

Imig said that if this new process goes well this first time around, she will plan to include additional questions in order to make improvements for the coming years.

“I hope someone will have an awesome suggestion of an event or category we could add to gain even more excitement for the event in the future,” Imig said.

She also hopes that the Concordia students who help out with the event are able to gain hands-on experience to help with their careers and that their passion for kids is exhibited over the course of the day.

Goltl’s favorite aspect about the Concordia student involvement in the Gathering of the Talents is seeing Concordia students return to volunteer after their own experiences in their elementary school years.

“Several of our volunteers are life-long participants, beginning in early elementary school and returning to help as college students,” Goltl said. “It shows how much of an impact this event can have, as students return to help as adults.”