Concordia University Inducts Bakersfield Resident into Athletic Hall of Fame

ST. PAUL, MN (10/11/2010)(readMedia)-- Pastor Dennis Hilken '81, of Des Moines, Iowa, was inducted into the Concordia University, St. Paul, Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010.

Hilken graduated from Valley High School in 1977 before earning his degree at Concordia in 1981. As a Comet, Hilken was an All-Conference performer in baseball and helped lead the Comets to a 1979 National Small College World Series third place finish. As a pitcher, his career was highlighted by a sophomore campaign in which he compiled a 7-1 record on the mound with a 0.83 earned run average through his first four complete games. He earned the Concordia Comet Award for earning a letter in football, basketball and baseball in his career as a student-athlete.

Hilken is now a senior pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bakersfield, Calif. After spending time in his professional career as a home and building designer for his own business, he completed his pastoral education at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. to become an ordained clergy of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. He and his wife, Judy, have three sons, Colby (23), Christopher (21), and Chandler (14).

Concordia University, St. Paul is a comprehensive private university of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and one of 10 schools that comprise the Concordia University System. Established in 1893, Concordia offers more than 40 liberal arts majors, including business, education, fine arts, science, and church professions. Concordia is a regional leader in accelerated undergraduate degree-completion and graduate programs in business administration, education, criminal justice, human services, organizational management and Christian outreach. Visit us on the web at www.csp.edu.

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