Meet Holden

“Our college talks a lot about vocation, like what you want to do in life, but I think it’s more about what you’re called to do and what you’re passionate about. It’s about getting out of being comfortable and pushing yourself which helps you be a better person.” St. Olaf College senior Holden Luetkens has chosen to share his calling and passion on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Fortunately for our organization, Holden found his way to LBSA. As a member of the St. Olaf football team, Holden participated in the St. Olaf Student Athlete Advisory board. While involved there, he met several other Ole athletes who were volunteering in LBSA’s College Friends program, or with St. Olaf Special Olympics. It wasn’t long before Holden was a College Friend and met with his LBSA friend, Jim, regularly. Holden’s involvement has continued to grow. As of today, Holden serves as the President of St. Olaf Special Olympics, has volunteered at LBSA’s Saturday Fun Events, and began working part-time as a direct support professional at LBSA in the summer of 2024!

Holden, a kinesiology major, wanted experience in direct care because he had learned that people with IDD are an underserved population in the field of physical therapy. Holden says working as a direct support staff has been an incredible learning experience and has helped him to prepare for his professional career. “I don’t think people realize how much work goes into this kind of work. You have to be ready to act on the fly. In any other job you will have in life, you will need to learn how to act on the fly too. Here, it seems even more important because you’re affecting people’s lives. So, your decisions carry more weight.”

Holden says that his involvement with the Special Olympics and LBSA haven’t just helped him prepare vocationally. His experiences working directly with clients have been incredibly rewarding. “What’s been the most beautiful part is working with non-verbal clients.” He says that in some ways he feels a closer bond with clients who are non-verbal. “You learn how to communicate. I have to be more aware of how they’re acting.” He says when he first started working at LBSA he couldn’t understand why some of the clients were acting the way they were, and it forced him to further develop empathy and understanding. “I didn’t understand why she (one client) would hit the wall, but I tried to put myself in her shoes. I had respect for clients before, but now I have even more respect.”

Holden’s Household Director at LBSA, Zelene Castano, says that Holden has been an amazing addition to her team. “We are so grateful and lucky to have him on our team. He is so calm, respectful, reliable, funny and most of all caring. His heart truly is in the right place.”
In July, Holden is off to the University of Iowa where he will study physical therapy. Holden says his experiences with LBSA and Special Olympics have helped influence his future career plans. “Originally, I thought I would do physical therapy in the sports field. Now I am hoping to have my own PT clinic that specializes in supporting people with IDD.

For some, a vocation may be separate from a calling or passion. We wish Holden the best as he pursues his vocation and his passion to serve individuals with IDD!