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Augsburg Now Summer 2010
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Augsburg Now Summer 2010: Auggies On Stage
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AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2010 VOL. 72, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing StepUP program Environmental literature Travel 10 reasons to come back Coach Mark Matzek ® Commencement 2010 Exploring Our Gifts page 20 on Stage Editor Bets...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SUMMER 2010 VOL. 72, NO. 3 inside auggies Augsburg Now Magazine of Augsburg College 25The Years of Life-Changing StepUP program Environmental literature Travel 10 reasons to come back Coach Mark Matzek ® Commencement 2010 Exploring Our Gifts page 20 on Stage Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu notes from President Pribbenow Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design A new mission statement and Commission Augsburg Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer o ver the past two years, the Augsburg community has been engaged in a lively and rich conversation about our character and identity. Augsburg last modified its mission statement nearly 20 years ago, and although much that defines Augsburg’s distinctive identity as a college of the church in the city has remained constant, there also have been some remarkable changes. The expansion of nontraditional undergraduate programs, several new graduate programs, campus sites in Rochester and Bloomington, significant work around the world, and continuing initiatives to meet the needs of diverse students have combined to make Augsburg a more complex and, I would argue in addition, a more innovative and faithful college. Given the reality of Augsburg’s current missionbased work, the College community explored together how we might state our mission in such a way as to affirm our abiding values and commitments, while also to articulate how the College’s circle of influence and impact has expanded. The result of those explorations is a wonderfully nuanced and meaningful new mission statement, enthusiastically adopted by the Board of Regents at its spring 2010 meeting. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The new mission statement begins with a bold claim of our aspirations for our students as we send them out to live their callings in the world. As citizens, stewards, thinkers, and leaders, Augsburg graduates bring their education and experience to bear in all aspects of their lives and work. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community, committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. This important statement of our selfunderstanding is an explicit reference to our values as a participatory community—very much in line with our Lutheran Free Church heritage—dedicated to the common work of educating all of our students. At the same time, we reaffirm our abiding sense of the im- portance of intentional diversity—diversity of experience, background, and thought—that is supported by our theological, academic, and civic legacies. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church, and shaped by our urban and global settings. This closing sentence lifts up our core values: excellence across all academic programs, the particular gifts of our Lutheran faith, and the central role that our place in the world plays in the education we offer. The circle has been widened to reflect how Augsburg embraces its distinctive role in higher education. I could not be more pleased with the participation of the entire community in crafting this new mission statement. As we move into the next academic year, I am excited to announce an opportunity for all Augsburg alumni and friends to learn more about how our mission sets in place a clear map for our future. Beginning this fall, we will launch Commission Augsburg, a series of conversations that bring together those across the country who care about Augsburg to explore three strategic pathways for Augsburg’s work in the years ahead: Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu (1) We will create and sustain a culture of innovation and excellence. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. (2) We will help all of our students to succeed. Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 (3) We will tell Augsburg’s story in word and deed. ISSN 1058-1545 Please watch for opportunities to gather and to learn more about the key initiatives the Augsburg community intends to pursue in order to live out its mission and to honor its distinctive saga as a college of the Lutheran Church. Your perspectives will help shape Augsburg’s future. Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 langemo@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT a summer 2010 7 12 16 Features 24 contents 20 27 augsburg now 7 12 16 20 24 27 Commencement 2010 A step in the right direction by Wendi Wheeler ’06 10 reasons to come back to campus by Jeff Shelman Learning from the environment by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Nine years on the mats by Jeff Shelman Making connections by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Departments inside front cover On the cover Tessa Flynn ’05, community engagement manager and teaching artist with the Children’s Theatre Company, is one of the theatre alums who talks about making connections and the importance of those connections to their life after Augsburg. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 2 4 6 33 36 40 Notes from President Pribbenow Around the Quad Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience around the quad A project of steel Not many senior projects require countless hours spent shaping steel with a hammer and finishing it with sandpaper and steel brushes. But Josh Davis’ project wasn’t like most. For more than two years, Davis spent the vast majority of his free time working to construct a full suit of armor. The project, which was on display during Zyzzogeton—Augsburg’s celebration of student research and creative activity—was featured both in the Star Tribune and The Chronicle of Higher Education. The suit is made out of sheet steel of varying thickness and includes 20 individual pieces, many of which are smaller pieces riveted together, that fit like a puzzle to form the complete armor. Each leg, for example, is 13 separate pieces of steel, some of which were placed on top of each other to increase strength. Building the suit required Davis to shape the steel with a hammer—pounding heated steel over or into a form to produce the required curves—while using a pattern specially developed to fit him. Davis also made each of the buckles and straps on the suit. To call it a labor-intensive process would be an understatement. After originally keeping track of the time on the project, Davis stopped when he reached 1,000 hours, the equivalent of 25 weeks of eight-hour workdays. “The hardest part is finishing it,” Davis said. “I can rough out a form in an hour or two, but fine-tuning it, sanding out the hammer marks, and making the Josh Davis’ suit of armor took two years and hinges and buckles took a long time.” painstaking work to construct. Dal Liddle receives NEH summer research stipend Dal Liddle, associate professor of English, received a National Endowment for the Humanities summer stipend for travel to London to test a hypothesis he’s been formulating. Liddle, whose research focuses on Victorian literature, is spending three weeks in England poring over the private archives of the London Times and the early Victorian holdings of the British Library. Using Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, editorial articles from British papers, and Brontë’s Jane Eyre, he will try to test whether current theories about the historical development of technology will also fit the way British literature developed between 1800 and 1850. What if literary history turns out to change in some of the same ways that technological history changes? Could the history of novels and poems show some of the same patterns as the history of steam engines, microchips, and jet airplanes? “I'm taking a big chance,” he says about his research question. “There’s a big disprovability factor here, but if I’m wrong I want to prove it.” NewsNotes The Nursing Department launched a three-year Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Augsburg’s first doctoral degree, that prepares nurses for advanced practice and leadership in transcultural and community/public health nursing. The DNP is a cohort program that begins in the fall. David Tiede, retiring after five years as the Bernhard Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation, has accepted the interim presidency of Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Two new summer camps are bringing young people to campus. Two week-long film camps in July bring high school students together to work with 16mm film, teaching them techniques for scripting, directing, and editing. The Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop brings middle and high school students together with the state’s top coaches in a two- or three-week institute. The deaths of two retired faculty are noted. Robert Herforth, professor emeritus of biology, died on June 18. He is remembered as an extraordinary zoologist who remained very much engaged in current research throughout his life. Rosalie Clark, who taught in the Social Work Department from 1979 for more than a dozen years, died in January 2009. She brought perspectives on American Indian issues to faculty and students and encouraged social work graduates. AUGSBURG NEWS SERVICE 2 Augsburg Now Three faculty members retire from the classroom Julie Bolton—Theatre’s “artist-educator” Curt Paulsen—Social work professor, mentor Paul Grauer—Coach, mentor, teacher Thirty-five years ago, Julie Bolton, a professional actor, was hired part time to teach acting. She soon became full time, added courses, hired faculty, and began to build a theatre arts program, which she then chaired for 12 years, plus four more years when it became a new department. Building on her connections in Twin Cities theatre, Bolton both pushed students to get internships in the theatre community and helped them explore vocations in theatre. And, she brought theatre artists to campus to work with students. She hired faculty whose varied expertise helped create a comprehensive, professional theatre arts program within a liberal arts education. Bolton reflects with pride and gratitude on the collaboration in the mid-1980s that helped bring about Augsburg’s black box theater in Foss Center, with the support of President Charles Anderson, Dean Ryan LaHurd, and donors Barbara (Tjornhom) ’54 and Richard Nelson. Bolton considers herself an “artist-educator” and has used her theatre knowledge in the docent tours she gives at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. “If we are looking at Rembrandt’s Lucretia,” she says, “I introduce similar themes in Shakespeare’s epic poem Lucretia or Hamlet’s soliloquies.” In addition to expanding her role as a docent, Bolton also looks forward to spending time as grandmother to her five grandchildren. Social work professor Curt Paulsen often sang to himself on the way to his classrooms—just one indication of the joy he received every day in teaching. “Just as I have pushed my students,” he explains, “they have also pushed me, and I’m grateful for it.” He found continuing satisfaction in the “joint enterprise of reaching great understanding.” Paulsen taught both undergraduate and graduate students in the Social Work Department and, together with his wife, Cathy, taught a personality theory course to graduate students in the leadership program. He has also taught in the Religion Department and Honors program. Paulsen enjoyed most working with students who weren’t functioning to their ability. With respect, and in an atmosphere of intellectual rigor, he pushed them to their point of real reaction, with high expectations, helping them not only to learn, but to grow as people. It meant facilitating a process where students moved from answers to questions. Paulsen always considered liberal arts and crossing disciplines as “just the beginning of lifelong learning.” For him, “To gain a real understanding of human beings, one must go to the poets and to great literature.” Paulsen now anticipates more time for photography, reading, gardening, and for his family—Cathy, their two daughters and husbands, and four grandchildren. Paul Grauer says that even after 31 years, Augsburg has always been “exactly where I wanted to be.” He served long stints as coach, athletic director, and instructor, and he lists a whole series of strong relationships, high points, and changes that kept it interesting. A big change is the continual improvement of athletic facilities that has made it more likely that recruits will choose Augsburg—early in his tenure he recalls one hockey recruit who told him that Augsburg “had no curb appeal.” In addition, the continual development of the Health and Physical Education Department that now includes exercise science can prepare students for varied careers in teaching, fitness, and training. Grauer recalls 1997–98 as “a special, magical year,” when four Auggie teams— football, men’s basketball, men’s hockey, and wrestling—won conference championships and went to national playoffs, resulting in a wrestling championship and a hockey Frozen Four appearance. Among the high points was the celebration in 2007 of the 35th anniversary of Auggie varsity women’s sports, some of which pre-date the Title IX era. Grauer prepared and submitted early reports for Title IX that “showed we had to pay attention to equality,” and which spurred further expansion of women’s sports. Grauer will always remember the friendships, the colleagues, and the continual growth he’s seen both with the coaches and student-athletes in their training, resiliency, and good sportsmanship in a very competitive athletic conference. Grauer now looks forward to having more time to play his trumpet—especially at Augsburg in the brass ensemble. For Auggie sports news and schedules, go to www.augsburg.edu/athletics. BETSEY NORGARD Summer 2010 3 auggie voices Exploring Our Gifts— looking back over 8 years In 2002 Augsburg received a $2 million grant from the Lilly Endowment to integrate a theological understanding of vocation into the life of the College over a five-year period. In 2007 the grant was renewed for $1 million to cover an additional three years. As of summer 2010, the funding from the Lilly Endowment has ended. The College has now established the Augsburg Center for Faith and Learning in order to sustain a number of the programs of the Lilly Endowment grants and to support new initiatives on vocation. Mark Tranvik, associate professor of religion and chair of the Religion Department, was director of Exploring Our Gifts. He reflects about the impact of Exploring Our Gifts on Augsburg’s curriculum and experience. Q: Why did Augsburg apply for the Lilly Endowment grant? A: We should be clear that the Lilly Endowment grant didn’t introduce vocation to Augsburg College. Augsburg began as a seminary, and it had a sense of calling embedded into its DNA. Throughout much of its history, students, faculty, and staff came to the College out of a deep sense of calling. They saw their work here as an expression of what God wanted them to do with their gifts and talents. I think some of that sensibility was lost at a lot of our church colleges during the 1970s and ’80s, Augsburg included. But the idea of vocation never went away, and the Lilly Endowment money provided the school with an opportunity to bring new energy and imagination to the concept. In other words, it was natural for Augsburg to apply for the grant, given our heritage. Q: Why do you think the Lilly Endowment grant has been successful? A: The group who worked on the original application, led by Carol Forbes, Academic Affairs, and Bruce Reichenbach, Philosophy Department, did a wonderful job in making sure the proposal “fit” with the culture at Augsburg. Instead of “top-down” planning, they made sure to solicit proposals from a wide variety of groups on campus. They received more than 30 proposals for projects and were able to whittle that down to 16. When the money actually arrived to fund the projects, a campus-wide conversation had already been going on for some time. In my mind, the genius here is the way this is consistent with the ethos of the school. Augsburg is a college deeply rooted in the traditions of the Lutheran Free Church, and the egalitarian spirit of that church still pervades this community. 4 Augsburg Now Professor Mark Tranvik directed Exploring Our Gifts, Augsburg’s Lilly Endowment program to explore vocation. Q. Didn’t a lot of schools receive Lilly Endowment grants? What’s distinctive about Augsburg’s? A: The Lilly Endowment’s initiative on vocation was incredibly generous. More than 80 colleges and universities, many of them church-related, received grants. And to no one’s surprise, the grants seemed to work especially well at Lutheran schools. This is because the theology of vocation was developed in new ways by Martin Luther and the other reformers in the 16th century. Those places that trace their heritage back to the Reformation found it easier, in general, to talk about vocation on their campuses. One of the distinctive things about Augsburg is the way the College has been willing to integrate a theological understanding of vocation into its core curriculum. This has been one of the fruits of our discussion about vocation on campus. All Augsburg students are required to take two religion classes that have vocation at the center—Religion 100 and 200, Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I and II, respectively. Furthermore, all students are asked to think about vocation again in their senior seminars. So, you could say that vocation serves as the “bookends” for the Augsburg educational experience. And we also hope that students will be asked in other classes to think about their sense of calling. Of course this will happen, but it’s more dependent on the inclination of individual instructors. Q: What about the specific vocation of ministry? How has the grant helped students who are thinking about working in the church? A: One program of the grant that has worked well in this area is the Lilly Scholars. Every year, 10 juniors or seniors were chosen to take part in a fullcredit seminar dedicated to thinking theologically about vocation and receive a scholarship from the grant. The main prerequisite for the course is to be interested in studying about vocation in-depth. And some of these students do not sense a calling in the institutional church, which is fine. But over half of the participants (about 50 over the eight years) have decided to study theology after receiving their degrees at Augsburg. This is one important way the College continues its long tradition of developing leaders for the church. Q: It is especially important for colleges to document their successes. Is there evidence that the programs of the Lilly Endowment grant have actually made a difference? Purpose: To integrate a theological understanding of vocation into the life of Augsburg College Programs 2002–2010 Total participants Alumni mentoring Student vocation assessments 265 1,962 International exploration 263 Lilly Scholars 82 Church leader development 100 Lilly Interns 54 Youth Theology Institute ~125 Orientation, Augsburg Seminar 2,600 Forums 2,450 Till & Keep journal (copies) Vocatio Chapel 3,600 ~3,600 Interreligious dialogue 471 Courtesy photo A: Augsburg has been fortunate in that it was selected, along with Luther College and Augustana College of Rock Island (both of whom also had received Lilly Endowment grants), to participate in a study by the Wilder Foundation that assessed how effectively vocation had been integrated into these schools. The results were gratifying. They showed significant progress made in helping students view their lives through the lens of vocation. For example, students who had exposure to Lilly Endowment programs were more likely (50% to 23%) to see their life as a “calling,” with a sense of purpose, than those who were not exposed to the grant. Furthermore, 91% of the class of 2007 reported that their understanding of vocation deepened while at college. Go to www.augsburg.edu/cfl to read the full study. Exploring Our Gifts—Augsburg’s Lilly Endowment grant program Q: The Lilly Endowment grant on vocation seems to be strongly rooted in the Christian tradition. Yet Augsburg also stresses the importance of diversity and the acceptance of people from a wide variety of faiths and backgrounds. How do you answer those who suggest that this stress on vocation is done at the expense of diversity? A: That’s a great question and one that many of us have struggled with during the time of the grant. I think I would answer it on two different levels. First, the emphasis on vocation is a way in which we are trying to be faithful to our mission statement and its claim that Augsburg will be “guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran Church.” We are a college of the church, and that is nothing about which we should be ashamed. As one of the Lilly vocation seminars, students in the Religion and the Christian Faith course in 2005 Second—and this is the point that is often misundertraveled to El Salvador to study the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero and to explore the depth of stood—I would argue that our Christian faith and emphasis Christian vocation in daily life there. on vocation do not lead to exclusivity and the formation of a community of the like-minded. Jesus spent a good deal of his ministry breaking down walls and crossing so-called “forbidden” boundaries. In a similar vein, I would argue that an emphasis on diversity naturally flows from our Christian faith. We are not diverse in spite of being Christian. Rather, we are diverse because we are Christian. Now this can make life messy, especially for those who insist on nice boxes with neat straight lines. But as Christians we gladly welcome the “world” to our campus and the plurality of faiths and beliefs that come with it. We promise we won’t “coerce” anyone to be Christian (as if that would work!), but we do ask that a respectful and public discussion on faith occur. And we also insist that both sides be open to be challenged and changed. Summer 2010 5 it takes an Auggie StepUP® parents are grateful for support to students and families When Maureen and Harold Thompson realized their daughter Anne was not going to graduate from high school with her friends, they were devastated but not surprised. They knew that something was wrong and that their daughter needed help. Anne went into treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and then began attending daily recovery meetings. During this second phase of her recovery, she worked hard to complete her high school graduation requirements. Anne impressed her teachers and others with her hard work, and her parents thought the situation was under control. This sense of security and relief quickly faded when they discovered that Anne had relapsed. Anne returned to treatment, this time at the Hazelden Center for Youth and Families, where she learned about Augsburg College and the College’s StepUP program for students in recovery. Anne entered StepUP in 2004 and graduated from Augsburg in 2008. She is now a graduate student in higher education and student affairs at the University of Connecticut. “We feel that StepUP has allowed our daughter to attend college, continue with her recovery, and experience college life. Anne has learned to deal with the stresses of projects, schedules, papers, and exams while developing a safe and solid support network. She worked hard in class, and she has worked hard on her recovery. We don’t think this could have happened anywhere else.” Maureen and Harold remain thankful for all that Augsburg did for their daughter and continues to do for other students. That’s one of the reasons they consistently support the StepUP program, The Augsburg Fund, and more. “The StepUP program reinforces the belief that each program participant is accountable. They are accountable to themselves, to their peers, and to the StepUP staff. We believe that the program provided an environment that allowed Anne to blossom and grow, and allowed our family to heal.” “We believe that the program provided an environment that allowed Anne to blossom and grow, and allowed our family to heal.” “StepUP allowed me to go to college,” Anne says. “College is hard for students in general, but students in recovery have all the same challenges that others have and more. This program allowed me to have a ‘traditional’ college experience, which would otherwise be unavailable.” Maureen also noted, “It has been often said that someone with an addiction impacts at least four other people. We believe that StepUP not only helps the student, but it also helps the family, and for that we are eternally grateful.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 Courtesy photo Maureen and Harold Thompson are proud parents as their daughter, Anne, graduated from Augsburg and the StepUP program in 2008. 6 Anne speaks to a campus group about her experiences at Augsburg and in the StepUP program. Augsburg Now t n e m e c n e comm NS THE TRADITIO MORTARBOARD TASSELS There is no official color for bachelor’s degree tassels. Thus, Augsburg chose maroon and gray, and all undergraduate students wear this tassel. Tassels for graduate students are different. In 1895, the Intercollegiate Commission was established to standardize academic dress and to prescribe specific colors to represent different fields of study. This was the last time academic dress has been updated. Augsburg has six fields of post-baccalaureate study, each with a different color: business—drab; nursing—apricot; social work—citron; leadership—white; physician assistant studies—green; and education—light blue. Augsburg graduate program students and faculty all wear the colors of their fields. ‰ ‰ DOCTORAL DRESS The academic dress worn today has its roots in the 12th and 13th centuries when most scholars were clerics in monastic orders. Today’s doctoral robe is based on monastic robes; the hood, originally a cowl, was used to keep the head warm before indoor heating. Robes were formerly all black, but now institutions choose their own colors, and all official doctoral robes have three velvet stripes along the bell-shaped sleeves. Today, professors wear either an Oxford cap (the square mortarboard) or a Cambridge cap (the decorative, beretlike caps). This robe belongs to Nathan J. Hallanger, special assistant to the vice president of academic affairs. The four-foot doctoral hood is scarlet with blue trim, signifying a PhD from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. ‰ DRUM In 1991, music professor Robert Stacke ’71, a professional drummer, began to lead the procession of graduates through Murphy Square to Melby Hall. In this now-beloved tradition, faculty line the street and congratulate their students as they walk by. In 19 years, Stacke has never missed Commencement and has only once dropped the drum. Summer 2010 7 THE TRADITIONS HONOR CORDS Though a variety of colored cords and stoles show up on students’ shoulders at Commencement, two cords are officially given by Augsburg to undergraduate students. Students who have earned a grade point average of 3.6 or higher are candidates for Latin honors, shown by their maroon and gray cords. All students who have completed the requirements of the Augsburg College Honors program wear gold cords. Other cords indicate that the student has completed a departmental honors project. THE CROSS In 1988, Professor Emeritus Norman Holen created the cross used in Chapel and carried in Augsburg ceremonies. ‰ ‰ ‰ ‰ 8 MACE The mace, like academic regalia, also originated in the Middle Ages. First used by medieval European bishops who were not allowed to carry swords into battle, the mace was useful as an armor-splitting weapon. By the 16th century, the mace was converted into a symbol of authority and was embraced by colleges and universities as a ceremonial icon. At Augsburg, the mace is carried into all official College ceremonies by the president of the Faculty Senate. Professor Emeritus Norman Holen created Augsburg’s mace in 1970, which, until 1988, was laid on a table during events. Holen was then commissioned to create a stand for it. MASTER’S HOODS Like tassels, the hoods given to master’s degree students have specific meaning. The main color of the 3.5-foot hoods is black, and they are lined with the colors of the college conferring the degree. The hood’s trimmings are three inches wide and correspond to the field of study. For example, the master’s hood shown here is given by Augsburg College (maroon and gray) in the field of nursing (apricot). commencement ‰ MAY 1, 2010 PRESIDENTIAL CHAIN OF OFFICE ‰ OTHER COLORS Augsburg College’s Chain of Office represents the president’s authority to head the university, and is worn by President Pribbenow at ceremonial functions such as Commencement. The chain is in fact not a chain but a maroon ribbon that suspends a medal imprinted with the College seal. The colorful stoles worn by African American students are made from a material called Kente cloth, which originates in Ghana, West Africa. The cloth was woven by the Asante people of Ghana and was exclusively made for Asante kings and queens. Now the stoles are given to members of the Pan-Afrikan Student Union (PASU) as a way to denote their fraternity and to connect them with their past. TEXT AND PHOTOS BY STEPHEN GEFFRE commencement JUNE 27, 2010 GRADUATES, FAMILIES, FACULTY, AND GUESTS CELEBRATE 2010 COMMENCEMENT MAY 1 COMMENCEMENT 416 undergraduate day students and physician assistant graduate students Speaker—Governor Tim Pawlenty Honorary degree—Father Fernando Cardenal, SJ, educator and activist, Nicaragua Marina Christensen Justice Award—Jessica Spanswick Jessica Spanswick graduated with a major in international relations and a minor in peace and global studies. She has been a Sabo Scholar in civic engagement, a Hoversten Peace Scholar, a Peace Prize Forum Peace Scholar, and a Lilly Scholar. Locally, she has worked with grass-roots organizations on environmental issues and has tutored Kenyan and Somali immigrants in a neighborhood program. Spanswick studied abroad in Namibia, and while there she worked on HIV/AIDS events and water rights issues. The Marina Christensen Justice Award honors a student who has demonstrated a dedication to community involvement as characterized by the personal and professional life of Marina Christensen Justice, who reached out to disadvantaged people and communities. JUNE 27 COMMENCEMENT 492 weekend/evening and Rochester undergraduate students, and graduate students in business, education, leadership, nursing, and social work Speaker—Congressman Keith Ellison Honorary degree—Peter Heegaard, founder of Urban Adventure Richard J. Thoni Award—Michele Roulet Michele Roulet graduated with a major in studio art and a minor in religion. In immersing herself in student life at Augsburg, Michele provided leadership, community spirit, hospitality, and innovation within the adult programs. She served as Weekend College Student Senate vice president and president and as a student commissioner in Campus Ministry. Her leadership created the First Word gatherings, an on-campus faith community for adult students. In the wider community, she has worked with programs to combat hunger. The Richard J. Thoni Award is given to a weekend student who exemplifies the spirit of community involvement demonstrated by Rick Thoni’s career at Augsburg. To view slide shows and a video of Governor Pawlenty’s commencement address, go to www.augsburg.edu and click on the YouTube icon. commencement IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY AT AUGSBURG Jeff and Suzi Burt and their daugher, Crystal Studer, graduated together, all receiving nursing degrees. Studer is a nurse at the hospital in Austin. “Augsburg’s been great,” she says. “It’s made me a more well-rounded nurse, and the faculty is phenomenal.” A little more than a year after Suzi and Crystal began, Jeff returned to the program. “Mayo is in the process of going bachelor’sonly for RNs,” Jeff says. “If you have an [associate’s degree in nursing], you'll be required to go back. I just thought it was the best thing to do.” All three say there are benefits to having family members in the program at the same time. Suzi and Crystal were frequently in the same class, and since they also live across the street from each other in Blooming Prairie, Minn., they were able to share textbooks. They have also encouraged and motivated each other as they worked to balance work, school, and family. “As a married couple, it’s nice to be in the same thing because you know what each other is going through,” Suzi says. While excited to finish, all three found the program both rewarding and beneficial. “It’s been better than I thought,” Crystal says. “In your first two years, you learn a lot of skills. In these two years [at Augsburg], you learn why we do what we do. The content has all been really useful, and it has inspired me.” JEFF AND SUZI BURT AND CRYSTAL STUDER CAROL DEMULLING, SARAH DEMULLING, AND HEATHER DEKOK Jeff Burt was the first member of his family to enroll in Augsburg’s nursing completion program. He was working at the Mayo Clinic when he began taking classes at Augsburg in 2000. He stopped about three-quarters of the way through the program to allow his wife, Suzi, to enroll in a two-year nursing program at Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn. In fall 2008, Suzi Burt and Crystal Studer, one of the couple’s daughters, enrolled at Augsburg, largely because of Jeff’s positive experience. Carol Demulling and her daughters Sarah Demulling and Heather Dekok all ended up in Augsburg’s business administration program for the same reason—they all knew the education they had wasn’t going to be enough. While all three have positions at Mayo Clinic and the two daughters have two-year degrees, they wanted more opportunities for advancement. “When I started work in the ’70s, you could have a high school education and work your way up,” Carol says. “To make moves Families have always been a big part of Augsburg—second- and third-generation Auggies, Auggies following the paths blazed by older siblings, and couples who met at Augsburg and inspired their children to attend. The June 27 Commencement, however, featured a new twist: two families of parents and children from Augsburg’s Rochester campus graduating together. The first is a mother, father, and daughter, all earning bachelor’s degrees in nursing. The second featured a mother and two daughters who studied business administration together. Carol Demulling (center) and her daughters Sarah Demulling (left) and Heather Dekok (right) graduated with business administration degrees. now, you need education.” Her daughter Heather was a little more blunt. “I graduated with a two-year degree in business in 2005,” she says. “And I realized that a two-year degree doesn’t do anything.” They all say their Augsburg education has been practical from the beginning. Dekok works in the international office at Mayo Clinic, and what she has learned about different cultures has been immediately applicable. “I work in an office full of women,” she says. “Some of the countries we deal with, they frown upon women in the workplace. You realize why you get some of the attitudes that you do at times.” Carol developed a complicated spreadsheet for a class project that is still being used by members of her office in the evaluation of grant proposals. As they finish at Augsburg, they’re happy to have experienced college together and appreciate the people they met through the process. “I didn’t really realize until the last two trimesters how many relationships we’ve built here,” Carol says. “People in the Mayo system, people at IBM. I’ve really enjoyed that and getting to know these people. We all have something in common.” JEFF SHELMAN Summer 2010 11 12 Augsburg Now step in the right direction A BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 Editor’s note—In order to be respectful of the students in the StepUP program, their last names are not used. StepUP students wear purple cords when they graduate from Augsburg. GOING TO COLLEGE was never a part of Emily A.’s future plans. She dropped out of high school and eventually got her GED. When she first heard about StepUP®, she was in her late twenties and living in a sober house in St. Paul. “I thought my time had passed,” Emily said. “College was one of the mountains I just wasn’t going to climb.” But she called Augsburg and made an appointment with Patrice Salmeri, StepUP program director. “All the time she was talking to me, I was saying, ‘Yeah, yeah. Sounds great,’ but I had no intention of applying.” Then she met Chris Belbeck ’06, an admissions counselor and a StepUP alumnus. “He asked me, ‘What are you waiting for?’ and he wasn’t taking no for an answer.” So before she left campus that day, she had started filling out an application. Four years later, Emily graduated with honors from Augsburg this spring. “I didn’t have any goals when I was using,” she says. “But StepUP has taught me that I have amazing drive and potential.” Without StepUP, Emily says she doubts she would have even tried going to college. Since 1997, the StepUP program has helped students in recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs learn similar lessons about themselves. To date, more than 400 students from across the nation have participated and have maintained an 85% abstinence rate while in the program. They are successful in sobriety and in the classroom, earning a collective 3.2 GPA at Augsburg. For many StepUP graduates, the thought of going to college was at one time unimaginable—never mind staying sober in school and getting good grades. But the StepUP community has given many students in recovery the opportunity to contribute to society in ways they never thought they would. (Photo at left) Emily A. ’10 and Tyler P. ’11 The community is the program Several colleges and universities sponsor 12-step meetings and provide academic support or counseling services for students in recovery. But StepUP goes further by offering chemical-free housing for students in what they refer to as a collegiate recovery community. “The community is a safe place where you feel supported,” says Scott Washburn, the program’s assistant director. The students guard and protect the safety of the community by holding each other accountable. While they are involved in StepUP, students meet individually with a StepUP counselor each week. They are required to attend two 12-step meetings per week and to maintain an active working relationship with a sponsor. Students also attend a weekly StepUP community meeting where they hear from outside speakers, discuss program business, share service opportunities, and celebrate even the smallest of victories. “Getting an A on a math test or just making it to the first day of class, those are chances for us to celebrate,” says Salmeri. “The little things really make a difference.” Achieving success—in sobriety, academically, and in the community—is part of the StepUP culture. “We build positive community norms that are geared toward succeeding, growing, and doing well,” Washburn says. “That’s why it’s different. That’s why it works.” The other component of StepUP that makes it stand out from traditional recovery programs is that the program is constantly shaped by student input. In particular, students serve on the leadership team, which meets regularly with staff to share what is happening in the community and to keep the program moving in the right direction. “The students really take initiative to make changes for the better in the community,” Salmeri says. This mature partnership, where staff and students work together, gives students the confidence to develop into leaders. Salmeri adds, “I can see the potential in them, and it is our role to help them realize it within themselves.” A perfect fit The idea for StepUP began when two students at Augsburg approached Don Warren, the former director of Augsburg’s Summer 2010 13 Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS), to ask for his help. The students shared with Warren how being in college was difficult for them. They struggled not only with the usual day-to-day challenges of college life but also with staying clean and sober. Warren turned to Dave Hadden, then the educational and vocational liaison at Hazelden, for his help. Washburn, who worked with Hadden at that time, said Hadden had developed an educational and vocational packet for patients coming out of treatment “to get them thinking about their direction in life,” Washburn says, but they didn’t have a college to recommend. In fact, Washburn says, “We would discourage young people from going to college straight out of treatment. We told them they needed a year of sobriety first and a really solid foundation.” Warren and Hadden’s idea for a residential program that would offer counseling and support proved to be just the foundation students needed to transition from treatment to college. In the fall of 1997, 23 students moved into Anderson Hall to begin college and the StepUP program. Thirteen years later, the program serves 72 students who live in Oren Gateway Center, a chemical-free facility that is also home to the StepUP staff offices. Washburn believes the StepUP program and its students have flourished at Augsburg due in part to the values shared by the program and the College. “Augsburg’s culture is about providing access and helping all kinds of students get the support they need to be successful,” he says. “That’s perfect for students like ours.” Also, as a private liberal arts college of the ELCA, Washburn says the Augsburg community is open to conversations about spirituality. In 12-step programs, students learn to rely on a higher power or a God of their understanding. “We work really hard with students to help them define their meaning and purpose …” Washburn adds. 14 Augsburg Now Students receive a medallion when they complete the StepUP program. Part of that purpose is being of service to others, another value in line with Augsburg’s mission. “We help students find a vision and see that no matter what they do, they can make a difference in the world,” Washburn says. Making a difference means being of service to the community—not just the StepUP community or the recovery community but at Augsburg, in the city, and throughout the world. Success through service Being a part of the StepUP community helps students maintain sobriety because it gives them a chance to help others. Being “of service” is an essential component of any 12-step recovery program, whether it is by sponsoring others, sharing in meetings, or even making coffee. Tyler P. has learned that success in college can come through helping others, not just from studying. After he faced serious consequences from his drug use, Tyler entered treatment at Hazelden. One of his friends from treatment, the only one he knew who had stayed sober, was in StepUP. Tyler saw that the young man was a good student and that he wasn’t getting high or drunk. For Tyler, that kind of life was hard to imagine. He enrolled at Augsburg in 2008 and now participates in the StepUP community, sharing his experience with other men as a sponsor. “I’ve earned more As through being of service to others than when I white-knuckled it for eight hours cramming for a test,” he says. In recovery, Tyler has seen students transform their lives. “I’ve seen guys go from not being able to sweep the floor when they first get sober to being able to run meetings, get on the dean’s list, and participate in life.” And Tyler’s life has also been transformed. “I was not an all-star student in high school, but I’ve found a lot of success here.” He’s been on the dean’s list for three semesters and has developed a network of sober friends. Most importantly, Tyler says being a part of the community has given him the chance to practice the principles he’s learned in his recovery program. A new way of living Salmeri says StepUP also helps students learn that they are leaders and role models, not only for other students in recovery but for all members of the Augsburg community. Students can serve in formal leadership positions in StepUP, in student government, as a member of residence life, or by participating in athletics. But many also become role models to their peers simply by becoming the people they were meant to be. When Julia G. first learned about the StepUP program, she had only been sober for a few weeks. As time passed and she neared the six-month mark of her sobriety, the minimum requirement for acceptance into StepUP, Julia realized that going back to college was possible for her. While in the program, students in StepUP are required to live on campus. This meant that Julia, who had been living in a sober house where she was the youngest resident, would now be the oldest woman in her residence hall. For the first month, Julia says she felt out of place because of the age difference. “I thought I was unique because I had more life experience,” she says. “I judged the other girls.” Eventually Julia began to realize she was more like the other students than she had thought. “We all had different experiences, but we also had something very important in common.” That sense of belonging helped Julia form “intense, involved relationships” with the other students. “For the first time in my life, I was a trustworthy person. It meant a lot to me that the other women looked up to me.” Today Julia has a degree, a career she calls “fantastic,” and a relationship with her nine-year-old son. And she’s stayed sober for seven years. “I really turned into myself at Augsburg,” Julia says. “StepUP showed me that anything is possible.” Moving in the right direction Over the years, StepUP has provided a safe, supportive community for hundreds of students. The program has allowed them to achieve the goal of college graduation while also staying clean and sober—a goal that was at one time overshadowed by their addiction. And the confidence students gain in StepUP keeps them going in the right direction after they move on from Augsburg. Witnessing this achievement is a great joy for Salmeri and the other StepUP staff. “The privilege of my position as director is to witness the growth of each student as they experience the transition into mature adults,” she says. For 10 years, Salmeri says her dream job was to work for Augsburg in the StepUP program. “After eight years of working here, I can still say it is my dream job. I feel honored and humbled to work with the students and their families.” “I am your biggest fan” Every year the StepUP program celebrates the accomplishments of its graduates— those who have completed their studies at Augsburg as well as those who have completed their residency with StepUP and will move off campus. The StepUP graduation ceremony is a special time set aside to recognize the outstanding achievements of the StepUP students and for the Augsburg community to hear their inspirational stories. The theme, chosen by the students on the StepUP leadership council, was “I am your biggest fan.” These are sentiments shared by Patrice Salmeri, StepUP program director, at this year’s ceremony: “… let this statement sink deep into your soul. Write it on a rock. Etch it on a tree. I am your biggest fan. I am rooting for you all the way. And it has been this way since your first contact with the StepUP program. Through the ups and downs, the difficulties and celebrations, life’s twists and turns—I am your biggest fan! Your legacy here at Augsburg and the StepUP program has already been left, and it is more than enough! Whether it was a kind word you said or being a consistent friend in another’s life, you may never know. But each of you has left their mark on this place and it is forever changed because of your presence.” A tradition at the StepUP graduation is for a student to read from “The Awakening,” an anonymous poem about recovery. This is an excerpt from the poem: You learn that, for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve … and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline, and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it’s OK to risk asking for help. Summer 2010 15 1 10 So try to jog your memory bank and answer this question: Just when was the last time you were on the Augsburg campus? And we’re talking about really being on campus. You know, park the car, get out, walk around, go into a building. Because giving a little wave when you see the sign atop Mort as you cruise down Interstate 94 doesn’t count. Has it been a year? Two? Five? That’s all right. We’re not going to judge. Everybody is busy, you don’t always get to Cedar-Riverside, we get that. But we also know that sometimes you just need a little inspiration. And that’s why you need to keep reading. Because while you only need one reason to come back to campus and remember the role that Augsburg played in shaping your life, we’re going to give you 10. So stop by, check the place out, see how much it has changed. And be an Auggie. 10 reasons to come back to campus BY JEFF SHELMAN 16 Augsburg Now 1 0 OREN GATEWAY CENTER If it has truly been a while since you’ve been on campus, well, this is Augsburg’s new front door. Located on Riverside Avenue, the Oren Gateway Center is the newest building on campus. The multipurpose building has classrooms, residences, offices, meeting rooms, and common spaces. And if you want to learn about alumni programming, our Alumni and Constituent Relations folks are located on the third floor. . 2 Campus model Yes, we know the Augsburg campus has a new look to it. But it isn’t a finished product either. In the lobby of Oren Gateway Center is a model that depicts what Augsburg’s campus master plan looks like. You can see where the planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion will go. Once that is built, Augsburg’s urban campus will have green space from 20th Avenue to Kennedy Center. 3 GET SOME GEAR Let’s be honest, that Augsburg sweatshirt in your closet is looking pretty grungy, isn’t it? We can fix that. The Augsburg bookstore in Oren Gateway Center has many ways for you to show off some Auggie pride. A hat for the golf course? Check. A sweatshirt for fall weekends? Yep. Cool workout gear for the gym? We’ve got that too. Gear Summer 2010 17 4 EAT The food available on campus is no longer how you remember it. It isn’t mass produced and boring. It actually has, you know, flavor. The folks at Nabo, in Oren, will make a fresh sandwich or salad right before your eyes. There’s also homemade soup and even sushi. At the A-Club Grille in the lower level of Christensen Center, the options range from burgers to chicken sandwiches to wings, and fresh fries are an option. Our choice? We love Nabo’s Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (left). You’ll just need a few extra napkins. 5 VELKOMMEN JUL On the topic of eating, who doesn’t need some sweets as you head into Advent? Stop by campus on Friday, Dec. 3, and take part in the Augsburg tradition that honors our Scandinavian heritage. And if anybody can make treats the way your mother and grandmother did, it is the Augsburg Associates, a group of volunteers who support the College. 6 Athletic events For each of the past two years, Augsburg has been the most improved athletic program in the MIAC, and teams are making the playoffs with much greater frequency than ever before. Why not load up the family and watch some of our student-athletes show their Auggie pride? Our defending national champion wrestling team takes on rival Wartburg in the Battle of the ’Burgs on January 18, 2011. There’s a home football game each Saturday in September. Other schedules can be found at www.augsburg.edu/athletics. 18 Augsburg Now 8 7 Christensen Center We know how you work. You have a meeting somewhere in Minneapolis, it ends, and you proceed directly to Starbucks or Caribou. Right? If you’re near campus, why don’t you stop by Christensen Center? It’s a little different than last time you were here. Cooper’s will brew you up some good java and you can get a wi-fi password at the info desk. And you might meet some current Auggies. Art on campus There’s the Gage Family Art Gallery in Oren Gateway Center. There’s the Christensen Center Art Gallery. And there’s also a student gallery on the main level of Christensen. Stop by, see some of the cool stuff from local and Augsburg artists in the galleries and across campus. Exhibit information can be found at www.augsburg.edu/galleries. 9 DAILY CHAPEL There are days when you just need a little reflection, a reminder of what is really important. At Augsburg, there is time set aside to do just that. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 10:20 a.m. and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:20 a.m., a 20-minute chapel service is held during the academic year. While daily chapel is considered a given by Auggies, it is very much a rarity for liberal arts colleges. Stop by and take a break from your busy day. 10 Homecoming If you are only going to make one trip to Augsburg in the next year, make it for Homecoming weekend, Oct. 15-16. Among the highlights is the expanded Taste of Augsburg prior to the football game against Concordia Moorhead. After the game with the Cobbers, stick around for the Auggie Block Party and see old friends and classmates. Summer 2010 19 E H T M O R F LEARNING t n e m n o r i v n E BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 College students who take a literature course expect to do a lot of reading. But few who register for a course titled “Environmental Literature” would imagine being asked to go camping, wear the same clothing for a week, or borrow someone’s book and not return it. A student wouldn’t expect this—unless he or she had taken a course from Colin Irvine, associate professor of English and environmental studies. In order to encourage his students to experience the literal and literary landscape more deeply, students in Irvine’s spring semester course found themselves taking on some creative challenges. In addition to reading books and taking exams, students were asked to observe a spot in nature and note its changes over time, learn to identify Minnesota’s birds, wear the same outfit for one week, spend 24 hours in the great outdoors, and go “off the grid” for an entire weekend. The point of these unusual assignments was to challenge students to move outside of their comfort zones. “I wanted, as Thoreau suggested at the outset of Walden, to wake them up to help them see their world—not the distant world connected with wilderness but the one they inhabit daily—as being connected to a dynamic, ultimately dangerous living, evolving world. I wanted them, in short, to feel challenged, unsettled, unsafe,” Irvine says. “It’s a risk when you put these kind of things in the syllabus, but I got away with it.” On the following pages, students share some of their blog and journal entries about Irvine’s challenges. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” HENRY DAVID THOREAU, WALDEN 20 Augsburg Now BECOME A BUDDING phenologist (pun intended) Select a plot of land and visit two to three times a week. Spend time in your place observing, recording, and reflecting on what you find, hear, note, and think. SPRING IN THE CITY It seems as if my professor was right in his recommendation to visit our sites twice a week. If I had followed his advice, perhaps I would be able to better appreciate my hillside. Where I stand right now, I am unsure as to how much has changed and how drastically so. The snow is slowly receding into an indistinguishable brown mass of diamond dirt. Wildlife can be heard through the dripping trees as well; the chattering squirrels, the squawking crows, the cooing mourning doves. Something that strikes me as I stand here is the indescribable sense of movement I feel from my site. The water from the once frozen crack in the concrete dam is now a dull trickle on the hill. In the right moment, a flash of sun bounces off of the stream and hits my eye. This sharp glint always jars me awake from my hypnotized state; I feel a bit silly admitting this, but I often lose myself in the sight of the hillside. It’s as if all of the attempts of description are fruitless as my words hold no candle to the majestic power of nature. The subtle movement of the water almost gives the land a pulse. With each trickle of the stream, the surrounding leaves shift and rearrange. The grass sways above the mud’s restless state and the flow of the dirty water draws me in; it’s almost as if the pulse of the hillside is acting as a siren. The movement in the grounds suggests a voice; a voice that beckons me to join with the land. To see my plot of land move, so see it breathe, this is an experience I have never had before. DAVE MADSEN ’11 THISONE’SFOR the birds Learn to identify the birds of Minnesota by their physical characteristics and by their calls. MARCH 1, 2010 I’m so pleased that now I know what a cardinal sounds like—a great mystery of my life, solved! There are three of them—two males and a huge female—that frequent my mulberry bushes and the neighbor’s tree, but somehow I’ve never made the connection before that they’re the ones whose song I wake up early to on work days. I’ve been late more than once on my way to the coffee shop; I can’t help but pause and watch them hop and flutter from branch to branch, circling each other in some birdish dance that I suspect is carefully organized, though I can’t tell what they’re doing. The downside of my new bird watching discovery is that I can’t whistle. When my dad would take me hiking as a little kid, I was constantly fascinated by his ability not only to identify birds by their calls but also to repeat them, and I’ve tried my whole life but never learned how to do the same. When I was five, I remember writing a list of things I had to learn how to do: zip zippers, cartwheel, snap my fingers, raise one eyebrow, tie my own shoes, and whistle. The cartwheel and the whistle have never been checked off. DALEY KONCHAR FARR ’13 Summer 2010 21 GOINGOFF the grid Go off the grid for three days—a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Though there are many reasons tied to this course that I am presenting you with this challenge, here are four of the most important: first, when we are plugged in, we are often tuned out to the natural sights and sounds specific and central to this course’s focus on landscape; second, when we are off the grid, we are more inclined to sync with those around us, an important consideration given the emphasis in this course on communities; third, unplugging means consuming less and thus preserving/conserving more; fourth (though not finally), much of today’s communications-based technology reinforces the idea that having instant access to information in small bits represents progress. Jessica was determined to go off the grid one weekend, but she was waiting for important news from her family. She received the call and then checked her e-mail to find a message from her graduate school program, which required her to log on and register for classes. She didn’t make it entirely off the grid—she didn’t call anyone and checked e-mail only twice a day. She wrote, “But I know, deep down, that this doesn’t count.” GOING OFF THE GRID: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE (EXCERPT) I have become entirely trapped in our mechanized society. The demands placed on me are not the be-all and end-all of the world, but it is easy to define them as such. This being said, I do not completely resent the technology I have allowed to enter my life. My family has always been very close, and even now, as a senior in college, my parents call me at least three times a week to check in. I do not resent their phone calls, but I relish the contact I have with my family, it helps me feel connected to them. In the same way, some close friends that do not go to school here talk to me via various types of communication. It helps to keep us together when we cannot be physically together. I think there is a danger in setting aside the people we are physically present with for those who are distances away, but there is also a danger in shunning people we could be communicating with for those that are closer. I don’t think technology is evil; it, like everything else, can be used poorly and abused. The key is to use it wisely. I would like to try to go off-grid some other time, because there is no way to understand how to truly utilize technology if we don’t know what life is like without it. JESSICA FANASELLE ’10 “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” JOHN MUIR 22 Augsburg Now Bear Grylls HASGOT NOTHINGONYOU By the end of spring break, spend 24 uninterrupted hours in Minnesota’s great outdoors. 3/21 IT’S FREEZING!! We didn’t anticipate these temperatures. The night dragged on, freezing temperatures resulted in tossing and turning and shivering all night. I think we all learned a valuable lesson—it’s impossible to share a mummy bag. 24 hours later and the land seems unchanged except for the layer of frost that confirmed the freeze. It seemed like time froze along with the water in the bottle outside of the tent (note: always take the time to tuck the water bottle UNDER the tarp INSIDE the tent). It was hard to fully appreciate the hours without sun. No sleep, the shivers, numb toes, sounds like initiation criteria. It’s amazing how a few hours of pain and uncomfortable conditions can change how you feel about the outdoors, I’d been winter camping twice before but this was definitely more of a challenge. We may have underestimated the amount of preparation and anticipation that was needed but by morning it didn’t matter. MATIE MINASIE ’11 CAN I BORROW your book? Borrow Daniel Quinn’s Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit from someone—perhaps a stranger—and then convince that person to let you give the book away to someone else. I USED TO BELIEVE I used to believe, before coming to Augsburg, that ‘try’ was a useless word. I used to believe that if something couldn’t be accomplished fully, successfully, it wasn’t worth much. I used to believe that everything I did meant only what value could be found in final products. I think my journey away from this belief has taken place slowly over the last four years but it seems perfect and fitting to me that this Environmental Literature class, with its challenges, has come at the end of my Augsburg education. The challenges of this curriculum represent everything I was wrong about before coming here. Education, growth, things of beauty and worth are rarely born from end products. Trying to spend 24 hours outside, trying to spend a week not planning outfits each morning, trying to memorize Minnesota birds, trying to find a copy of Ishmael that someone would let me borrow then give away, trying to spend hours writing outdoors in the bitterness of February, these attempts taught me more about myself and the world around me than easily succeeding ever could have. Some of the challenges I completed, some I completed creatively, and some I failed but I don’t feel that any taught me less than another. Find all the Environmental Literature challenges at www.augsburg.edu/now One of the best examples of all this, I think, was the challenge to find a copy of Ishmael to borrow and give away. In my search, I learned who around me had read the book and wanted to talk about it when I’d finished (though none from that group still had the copy they’d read), who wanted to borrow it from me when I was done, and what it would mean for me to give up a book that had no intention of coming back to me in physical form. Now I understand, in a way I didn’t before, that a conversation with my father (who will receive Ishmael from me) about the book is worth more that the book’s long life on my shelf. When I couldn’t find a copy of Ishmael from anyone I knew, I ended up making a trade for the book at a used bookstore in St. Paul. “Ishmael?” the girl behind the counter said as she handed it over, “this book will change your life.” Having finished reading it, I know she was right but that she may not have understood entirely what she was saying. The book has changed my life, to be sure, but the journey to find it and the conversations that will come are life-changing things as well. We do not grow through successes, final products, and exams but through journeys, challenges, and trying things once, twice, or fifty times without fear of the result. MOLLY BUDKE ’10 Summer 2010 23 MARK MATZEK It was spring 2007 and Mark Matzek ’05 couldn’t sleep. He was 25 years old, had just finished his first full year of teaching mathematics at Apple Valley High School, and suddenly was faced with a significant life decision. Ever since deciding to become a high school teacher, Matzek’s goal was to return to his hometown of Ellsworth, Wis., coach his nephews on the wrestling mat, and teach math to his nieces. With only two coaches over the past 60 years, Ellsworth had become a wrestling power in Wisconsin, and continuing that interested Matzek. But Matzek was also an Auggie. The three-time All-American and two-time national champion had spent two years as a part-time assistant coach at his alma mater. So, three years ago Matzek had to make a choice. A math position opened in Ellsworth and plans would be made to make him the coach-in-waiting. At the same time, Jeff Swenson retired as Augsburg’s wrestling coach, the assistant coach was promoted, and Matzek was offered the full-time assistant coach position. “I kept waking up thinking Augsburg was the right choice,” Matzek says. Turns out it was. BACK ON TOP AT NO. 1 Fast forward three years and Matzek doesn’t have some of the worries that many 28-year-olds have. He doesn’t worry about whether that promotion is really going to happen. He doesn’t fret about that next job. And he isn’t in that wondering-what-is-next mode that seems to go along with that time of one’s life. 24 Augsburg Now Nine years on the mats BY JEFF SHELMAN Fresh off a Colorado vacation filled with mountain climbing, Matzek couldn’t be more comfortable with where he is. And for good reason. Sitting in his Kennedy Center office, Matzek has two pieces of serious hardware within arm’s reach. The first is for the NCAA Division III wrestling national championship that Augsburg won in March. The second is for Matzek being named Division III Coach of the Year. “There is no ‘what’s next’,” says Matzek, the youngest coach to ever win a Division III title. “This is where I want to be. It’s Augsburg. This is the premier small wrestling school in America. This is a dream job.” And this winter, the Augsburg wrestling program truly became Matzek’s program. With former coach/program architect/athletic director Jeff Swenson ’79 simply a spectator, Matzek led the Auggies to one of its most successful seasons in school history. The Auggies simply didn’t lose. A team with great balance, Augsburg was perfect in dual meets; it won every tournament it entered and the Auggies closed the season by winning their 11th national championship in the past 20 years. It was a season that included dual meet victories over the teams that finished both first and second in the Division II championship and a drama-free Division III national championship in which Augsburg clinched the title before the championship matches began. While there were certainly questions about whether Matzek would be able to keep the Augsburg wrestling program at the same level—the fact that he looks both younger than his age and younger than some of his wrestlers didn’t help—there is little question now. “I couldn’t be happier for Mark; they got the monkey off their back,” Swenson says. “You win one and then you don’t have to answer the question any longer. And I couldn’t be happier that I had nothing to do with it.” Matzek says he didn’t feel pressure to win that first title, but he also knows that there were people nationally who expected a misstep. “If Augsburg was ever going to falter, it was going to be the last two years,” he says. “And we finished second and first.” BUMPS ALONG THE WAY It was a little more than two years ago when Swenson walked into Matzek’s office and asked him to serve as the program’s interim coach. It was the end of July, the school year was less than six weeks from starting and Matzek was handed the keys. “Was I prepared as well as others in the nation? No,” Matzek says. “But I didn’t want it to go outside the Augsburg family. I didn’t really know what I had agreed to until I went home and told my wife.” The next eight months were a blur for Matzek, who at times was just trying to stay a step ahead of his wrestlers and make it to the next day. Because in addition to leading the Auggies, he was also part of the way through a graduate program at Concordia-St. Paul, a program that was much more manageable when he was an assistant coach. “I had three full-time jobs,” he joked. “I had Augsburg, I had my master’s program, and I had my wife. Our guys would study and I’d be there working on my homework at the same time.” Summer 2010 25 MARK MATZEK AT AUGSBURG 2001-05: Student-athlete Two individual national championships Three-time All-American The team won two national titles and had two runner-up finishes. 2005-2008: Assistant coach Augsburg won the 2007 national championship and finished third in both 2006 and 2008. 2008-09: Interim head coach Team rose to No. 1 in the national rankings and won the National Duals. 2009-10: Permanent head coach The Auggies completed a perfect season, winning every dual meet and tournament. Augsburg won its 11th Division III national championship in the past 20 years. Matzek was named Division III Coach of the Year. The Auggies finished second at the NCAA championships. While athletics may not be as cutthroat at the Division III level as it is, say, in the Big Ten, contests are still scored and it isn’t intramurals. “I didn’t want to just hold on and be a bridge from one coach to another,” Matzek says. “I wanted to win the title for those guys. It was a year of extreme highs and extreme lows for me. I was learning to manage all of the different guys, manage personalities and figure out that not all athletes were like me when I was in college.” Matzek was certainly more than just the guy to get Augsburg by. The Auggies defeated rival Wartburg, won the Division III National Duals, and entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 1 in the country. “I knew we didn’t have as good of a tournament team as we did a dual meet team,” Matzek says. “We had a couple of injuries, and we had a couple of matches that didn’t go our way. After the first day I knew it was going to be tough.” The Auggies finished second, but Matzek did enough to ensure his future as Augsburg’s head coach. While the search 26 Augsburg Now committee did bring in two outside candidates to interview for the position, Matzek was hired. “Given the circumstances, he did a great job,” Swenson says. “We were a lowly-ranked team and he took us to the No. 1 ranking and a second-place finish. There was a real strong assumption with the committee that he had done a good enough job.” IN THE RIGHT PLACE NOW While Matzek has been a head coach for only two seasons—and only one season in which he knew the job was really his—he has impressed the guy who is both his boss and the architect of the Augsburg program. “I think Mark has become a quick expert at preparing his teams for competition,” Swenson says. “I think he gets it. I believe he has taken the Augsburg system and tweaked it to have Mark Matzek’s name on it. He’s done it by having a keen sense of what athletes need. “He’s a lot closer in age to his wrestlers. He knows how it feels to go through this. He’s really in tune to when the guys need to be pushed, need a day off, need rest.” Like anyone in a new job, the second year was easier for Matzek than the first. He had a better understanding of what the job entailed, there were fewer surprises, and he could learn from both high points and challenges of his first year. And when the Auggies reached the NCAA Championships, Matzek knew the work had been done. “I don’t want to sound cocky or arrogant, but we expected [the national championship], we expected to win it,” he says. “It wasn’t a real surprise.” While Swenson was happy for Matzek, Matzek was happy for his boss. “It was big for Augsburg wrestling to win it without Jeff in the wrestling room, it was a big relief for him and the search committee,” Matzek says. “They took a chance and it worked out.” And, as a result, Matzek is exactly where he wants to be. m c Making Connections making connections In theatre, as in life, finding success is often about who you know. But knowing the right people isn’t enough. In order to build the foundation for a thriving career in theatre, students need to form and maintain connections with the people and the places that make up the “theatre scene.” Perhaps this is one of the most important lessons that Augsburg theatre students learn. Through participation in AugSem, the Artist Series, internships, and by attending some of the hundreds of productions staged throughout the Twin Cities every year, stu- dents are challenged to go away from Augsburg, and sometimes outside of their comfort zones, in order to make connections in the BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 theatre community. Summer 2010 27 CONNECTING TO THE CITY From the beginning of her Augsburg education, Tessa Flynn ’05 says she was encouraged to get involved in the city. A theatre arts and mass communication major, she was particularly interested in the role of theatre in the public school system. She was fortunate to land an internship with the Children’s Theatre Company following her sophomore year, an opportunity that served as her introduction to critical literacy in the classroom. The Children’s Theatre’s Neighborhood Bridges program was started in 1997 by Jack Zipes, fairy tale scholar, and the Children’s Theatre Company artistic director, Peter Brosius. Using a variety of mediums such as theatre arts, storytelling, and creative writing, students work through issues in their lives and develop critical thinking and communication skills. “It’s like a little poison, this whole critical literacy thing,” Flynn says. “It gets in your system, and your teaching is forever changed.” Before Flynn’s last year of school, sociology professor Garry Hesser encouraged her to get involved with the Project for Pride in Living college house in the Phillips neighborhood. She lived there with other college students and tutored middle school students from the community. “I saw that my students needed to break a cycle of violence and poverty, and I became even more convinced that theatre could be an important part of that process,” Flynn says. “Being in the city, you get to have the Guthrie and so many other theatres as an extension of the classroom.” KATIE KOCH ’01/’05 Now Flynn is the community engagement manager and a teaching artist with the Bridges program at Children’s Theatre. She works with students in grades 3–8 and has 22 classrooms where she spends two hours a week. Flynn says the Bridges program engages multiple learning styles and allows students to recognize their individual skills. “When I see students shine in Bridges, who in other areas of the school day are thought of as low-achieving or who hide in the shadows, I am convinced that this is important work.” Flynn says she is grateful for the opportunities she had at Augsburg. “I don’t know if I would be where I am now if not for the encouragement of faculty to get involved in the city.” 28 Augsburg Now Katie Koch ’01/’05 also made many connections in the city that led her on a circuitous path—from campus to downtown Minneapolis to New York and back to Augsburg with a few more stops in between. Koch started out as a music major, but when her high school drama teacher took a position as stage manager at Hey City Theatre, longtime home of Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding, Koch was given an opportunity to assist him. She worked as the assistant stage Katie Koch ’01/’05 manager and as an actor in Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding at Hey City for three years while she was in school. “I would be in Augsburg Choir with my hair in pin curls,” Koch said, “because I literally had to go straight from rehearsal to the theater.” She says it was the advice of Sonja Thompson, a piano instructor and vocal coach at Augsburg, that finally convinced her she could leave the music department. “She said, ‘You’re doing all this work in theatre … you don’t have to be a music major,’” Koch says. Instead of declaring a new major, Koch left school to stage manage the next show at Hey City, Smokey Joe’s Cafe. She then became an assistant stage manager for the Minnesota Opera, went on to work with Glimmerglass Opera in Cooperstown, N.Y., and freelanced as a stage manager from Milwaukee to Miami. Eventually she came back to Augsburg and completed a degree in theatre. Koch, who was by then a theatre veteran, found herself in the classroom with younger students. “It was interesting to be tossed in with a group of young, eager students,” she says. But she formed relationships with students and even became a mentor to some. “It was exciting to watch such a talented group of artists learn and get ready to begin their careers.” After school, Koch worked at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts until a friend encouraged her to respond to a posting for the assistant to the director of the Guthrie. She went through several interviews including a very brief interview with Joe Dowling who, she says, asked her mostly about the professionals she’d worked with in her career. “I guess he’d already made the decision to hire me,” she says. She’s worked with Dowling now for three years. Koch maintains connections to Augsburg, sometimes serv- “I knew my experience at Augsburg wouldn’t end after graduation.” LEE FISHER ’06 Summer 2010 29 Justin Hooper ’07 (left) and Michael Kelley ’05 ing as a guest lecturer and hosting Augsburg student groups who visit the Guthrie. “A huge advantage for Augsburg and the theatre department is the city,” Koch says. “Being in the city, you get to have the Guthrie and so many other theaters as an extension of the classroom.” She adds that anytime she gets a chance to talk to Augsburg students, she tells them to take advantage of the opportunities to see high-quality performances in the city. “I say you need to sit in the seats and watch … this is your practicum.” GOING BEHIND THE SCENES Each year many aspiring actors come to Augsburg hoping to make a name for themselves onstage. And while many do just that, they also sometimes discover and develop their calling to work behind the scenes by getting involved backstage. This was the case for Lee Fisher ’06, Michael Kelley ’05, and Justin Hooper ’07. All three were very talented actors who performed in a variety of roles while at Augsburg, but each one also learned a lot about his craft while working on the technical side of shows. Fisher, who has taught English and directed the theatre program for five years at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, says that being a stage manager was an important part of his education. “When I was behind the scenes, it wasn’t 30 Augsburg Now about me. As an educator that has been very helpful,” he says. “Success happens when the focus is on what the students need and how I can help them.” Today he directs two major productions a year and frequently draws on his connections with Augsburg theatre faculty for advice about organizing shows. He’s sought out professors Michael Burden ’85, Martha Johnson, and Darcey Engen ’88 for help on developing a curriculum and organizing a show, and he says he wouldn’t be able to do what he’s done without their help. Fisher also stays in touch with education and English faculty who were instrumental in his education because he values the professional connections. “I knew my experience at Augsburg wouldn’t end after graduation,” Fisher says. He adds that his Augsburg professors continue to be sources of guidance and friendship. “That commitment to bringing in outside artists puts Augsburg one step higher than other college programs.” JUSTIN HOOPER ’07 Kelley and Hooper also had eye-opening experiences working backstage at Augsburg. Kelley says he came to college wanting to be a professional actor but became interested in other career possibilities after working in Augsburg’s scene shop for four years. And Hooper says his experience was all-encompassing because he worked on- and offstage. “There was always a lot of good discussion,” he adds, noting that theatre majors tended to spend a lot of time together and to continue their classroom discussions outside of class. “You see that everything in theatre is so connected.” Hooper is grateful for the opportunities he had to work with and get to know guest artists while he was a student. “In theatre, it’s all about who you know,” Hooper says. In addition to meeting professionals through faculty connections, he and all theatre students work with actors, directors, and designers from the community on Augsburg productions. “That commitment to bringing in outside artists puts Augsburg one step higher than other college programs.” The connections they made while studying theatre at Augsburg have contributed to their busy and sometimes complicated professional careers. Since graduation, they have acted in and directed shows, painted and designed sets, and written original and adapted works. They’ve been from Winona, Minn., to Acadia, Maine, and back. And now, in addition to maintaining their day jobs, the two are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into managing 3AM Productions, a small local theatre company. At 3AM, Kelley says they draw on their connections with other artists in the community to create unique and multidimensional productions. “We want every show to be something people aren’t used to seeing,” he says. He adds that they strive to provide a well-rounded “big theatre” experience to the patrons who are supporting their small theatre. “I think it’s what we do well.” During and after college, Steen worked in the box office at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. An actor friend there suggested she become a dramaturg, and eventually she went to Columbia to pursue an MFA. “When students see other actors on the great stages of this city, they can read their bios and see their training, and that helps them see how to get from Augsburg’s stage to another.” CARLA STEEN ’91 Because she had very little experience in the “creative side” of theatre, Steen says her MFA was an immersion experience. “I said, ‘Oh, so this is how all this works.’” Today Steen says it is interesting to come back to Augsburg because as a student she wasn’t really involved with the theatre department. She has taught and been a guest lecturer at the College, and she tries to see at least one production a year. Steen says theatre students in the Twin Cities are fortunate because of the opportunities to meet and see high-quality actors, directors, and artists. “When students see other actors on the great FINDING YOUR STAGE It takes more than theatre majors and faculty and staff to stage a production. Often many non-majors get involved in theatre in college but don’t end up in “the business” until later in life. Carla Steen ’91 is one student whose path to professional theatre went through the English and history departments at Augsburg. As a first-year student, she ran the light board for Julie Bolton’s production of Macbeth—with a set designed by Burden (then a graduate student at the University of Minnesota) and starring Engen as Lady Macbeth. But that was the end of her participation in theatre at Augsburg as a student. Instead, Steen, who has worked at the Guthrie for 12 years as a dramaturg and publications manager, studied literary criticism with English professor Doug Green and worked on a senior honors project under his direction. She also researched Shakespearean history and sources for her history senior seminar taught by Richard Nelson, now professor emeritus. “In many ways, that was the beginning of me thinking that research for theatre was an interesting thing I could do,” Steen says. Carla Steen ’91 Summer 2010 31 “We hire people because they are active and are creating their own work, not waiting for someone … And they also have some other passions that aren’t about theatre.” JENNI LILLEDAHL ’87 Jenni Lilledahl ’87 stages of this city, they can read their bios and see their training, and that helps them see how to get from Augsburg’s stage to another.” Another student who played a minor role at Augsburg and went on to a thriving career in theatre is Jenni Lilledahl ’87. As a student, Lilledahl took courses with Ailene Cole, now professor emerita. “She seemed like she lived and breathed theatre and was completely consumed with passion for the forum,” Lilledahl says. “She influenced me as an artist, and I always admired her from a distance.” Though Lilledahl took courses to obtain a minor in theatre, she felt the need to study in a more lucrative field. “I remember hearing voices saying, ‘You have to pay the bills and have a reliable income.’” Lilledahl majored in communication and public relations. After graduating and working in corporate public relations, she decided to try the “comedy thing,” so she started taking improvisation classes and met her future husband, John Sweeney. Eventually she jumped off the corporate ladder so that she and Sweeney could pursue their dreams, and the couple moved to Chicago 32 Augsburg Now and worked at The Second City. Then in 1997, along with Mark Bergren, the couple bought the Brave New Workshop from its founder, Dudley Riggs. “John and I had three or so years of experience in theatre but had a lot more business experience,” Lilledahl says. “I guess we were sort of the oddballs of the theatre community, but Dudley appreciated that we could manage the business as well as the artistic side.” As the current co-owner of Brave New Workshop and executive director of the Brave New Institute, Lilledahl oversees the theatre’s school, which reaches more than 150 students a week, and she conducts improvisation workshops around the country. She is also on the board for Gilda’s Club Twin Cities, an organization that provides emotional and social support for families impacted by cancer. Lilledahl returns to Augsburg at least once a year to speak in chapel. Often her advice to students, which she says is based on years of seeing who gets work and who doesn’t, is to get as much stage time as they can—wherever, whenever, and however—and to have a life outside of the theatre. “We hire people because they are active and are creating their own work, not waiting for someone,” she says. “And they also have some other passions that aren’t about theatre.” Lilledahl adds that an actor’s experiences outside of theatre help them bring life to a script and creativity to the stage. And perhaps that is what makes all these alumni successful. At Augsburg students are trained as actors, directors, and technicians, but they also learn how to become involved in their community as artists and as informed citizens. They understand that making connections is important to their careers and to their personal lives as well. They’re encouraged to explore many aspects of theatre, to develop their craft, and to work and learn at Augsburg and in the city. More than blocking and movement or scene study and character analysis, these are the lessons that will stick with them as they make their mark on the world’s stage. auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear fellow alumni, ummer is in full swing, and that means one thing— lots of activities to enjoy with our families. Nobody celebrates summer quite as well as Minnesotans, and at Augsburg we are no exception. The Alumni Board has a number of family-friendly events planned for 2010 and 2011, and we hope you’ll join us! The annual Auggie Day at the Races, held at Canterbury Park on August 5, usually attracts more than 700 Augsburg alumni. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to enjoy an evening together. If you didn’t get to it this year, we hope to see you at Canterbury next year. Another summer favorite is the Minnesota State Fair. When you attend the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” this year, be sure to visit the Augsburg booth in the Education Building and tell us what you’re up to these days. Believe it or not, Homecoming is just around the corner—October 10–16. This year’s events feature something for everyone, including continuing education classes, Auggie Author Book Signing, alumni concerts, 5K fun run, football game against the Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers, and much more. Don’t forget to stop by the Alumni Board booth at the Taste of Augsburg to learn how to get involved. This fun event has been expanded with more carnival-style booths for a great time for the whole family. The mission of the Alumni Board is to connect alumni with the College to enjoy the events, friendships, and company of fellow Auggies. Each year the board has a planning session to ensure that we support our mission to provide great, compelling programs that renew and sustain your interest in Augsburg. Some ideas for this year include an expansion of the Uniquely Augsburg series, similar to June’s Dead Sea Scrolls event at the Science Museum that featured Professor Phil Quanbeck II; networking events; volunteer opportunities; lectures featuring Augsburg’s beloved faculty; and more. Augsburg was a gateway to the future for us as students. Now, as alumni, we put the lessons we learned from Augsburg’s unequaled education into action every day. Thanks to the life-altering experiences we share because of our alma mater, those of us on the Alumni Board work hard to unite the alumni of Augsburg College. Enjoy the rest of the summer! I look forward to seeing you at the many alumni events. s Sincerely, Welcome, new Alumni Board members! At its June meeting, the Augsburg College Alumni Board welcomed four new members who will serve three-year terms. Tracy Anderson is a third generation Auggie. She graduated in 1995 with a major in communication and a minor in business administration. Tracy attended Augsburg as a post-secondary student, studied as a day student, and completed her degree in Weekend College. She is a realtor with Edina Realty in Edina, and looks forward to networking with alumni and becoming involved in the Augsburg community. Christopher Ascher, a 1981 graduate with a major in finance and minor in psychology, played on Augsburg’s soccer team and is an A-Club member. He is senior vice president and a branch manager for Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Bloomington. He enjoyed meeting more than 80 alumni as host of the January alumni winetasting event. Sarah Grans is a youth and family ministry graduate from 2001, also with a minor in psychology. She is director of outreach and faith formation at St. Peder’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. As a student she was active in Campus Ministry and was co-commissioner during her senior year. She wants to give back to Augsburg and reconnect alumni in meaningful ways. Sharon Mercill graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2009 in Rochester and is currently a student in the Master of Arts in Nursing program. When she attended an Alumni Board meeting for a study project and enjoyed connecting with other alumni, she decided to become more involved and join the board. She is the RN study coordinator of breast cancer research at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. JOHN STADLER ’07 MAL PRESIDENT OF THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION Summer 2010 33 auggie alumni news Eye-Opener Breakfasts and Speaker Series Are you looking for an opportunity to hear from Twin Cities business leaders? Are you interested in a chance to network with fellow Augsburg alums? Well, Augsburg— through a pair of programs—has opportunities for you. The Eye-Opener Breakfast Series is for Augsburg alumni who want to network and learn from either a business leader or an Augsburg professor. The Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series provides opportunities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to hear from high-level business executives. Here’s a look at the first speakers of the next academic year for both programs with dates to mark on your calendar. President Pribbenow and members of the Alumni Board celebrated with graduating day program seniors at their reception in May. (L to R) Rob Wagner ’02, John Stadler ’07 MAL, Holly (Ebnet) Knutson ’03, ’07 MBA, President Pribbenow, Dale Hanka ’60, Dan Hickle ’95, and Jennifer Carlson ’91. Eye-Opener Breakfast Series: The first event of the 2010-11 academic year will be held on Thursday, Sept. 30. In addition to breakfast and networking, attendees will hear from Nate Garvis, former vice president of government affairs and senior public relations officer for Target Corporation. Garvis will present his thoughts on innovative ways to share the work of building prosperous communities. Other EyeOpener Breakfasts will be held in 2011 on January 25 and May 10. The Eye-Opener Breakfasts are held at Town and Country Club in St. Paul, from 7–9 a.m. The cost is $5 person, which includes breakfast. RSVP by September 27 at www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents. Strommen Executive Leader Speaker Series: Richard Davis, CEO of U.S. Bank, will be the featured speaker for the first event of the academic year on November 18, at 5 p.m., in Sateren Auditorium. Additional events will be held on February 3 and April 7, 2011. The speaker series is free and held on campus. 34 Augsburg Now 2010 Augsburg graduates were excited to join the Alumni Association as they celebrated their achievements at the Senior Reception. (L to R) Lisa Yankauskas, Rosine Johnson, Brenna McHugh, and Barbara Simmons. go es i g g u a Ruth A. Schmidt ’52—Distinguished alumna and educator Ruth Schmidt, the first female president of Agnes Scott College, benefactor to Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center, and Distinguished Alumna, died on May 24 in Decatur, Ga. Schmidt graduated summa cum laude in 1952 with a major in English and minors in Spanish and library science. She continued to study Spanish, earning master’s and doctoral degrees, and taught Spanish at the high school and college levels, including at Wheaton College and the State University of New York at Albany. After her appointment as dean of humanities at SUNY Albany, she went on to become president of Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga., until her retirement in 1994. She remained active in retirement through travel, international development work, women’s social justice issues, and peace initiatives. Her legacy at Agnes Scott includes establishment of study abroad programs, and increased diversity among faculty and students. Professor Emerita Ruth Aaskov ’52 was a classmate of Schmidt’s, and they became lifelong friends. As students, both were close to Anne Pederson, their English professor and mentor. When Augsburg established the Women’s Resource Center in 2000, it was named in memory of Pederson and funded by a generous gift from Schmidt. 0 1 0 2 G N M O HOMEC e it! 2010 c n e i r e exp Block off your calendar for the weekend of October 15–16 and return to campus for Homecoming 2010’s fun-filled festivities. The Homecoming Convocation kicks off the weekend on Friday, Oct. 15, when First Decade, Spirit of Augsburg, and Distinguished Alumni Award winners will be recognized. Professor Emeritus Philip Quanbeck Sr. ’50 will provide the keynote remarks at the Homecoming Convocation Luncheon. A number of Augsburg Experience lifelong-learning sessions are scheduled for Friday afternoon. In addition, the Auggie Author Book Signing and reading will take place prior to the Welcome Back Banquet. If you come to Saturday’s football game against the Concordia Cobbers, plan to get to campus long before the 1 p.m. kickoff. The day begins at 9:30 a.m. with the Come back for Homecoming October 10–16 family-friendly Anderson Hall Homecoming 5K Fun Run, and campus tours are available from 10 a.m. until noon. Three hours prior to kickoff, the Taste of Augsburg in Murphy Square will feature carnival-style booths operated by student groups, alumni, and local restaurants. In addition to carnival-style food, there will be games, inflatable bounce houses, and fun for the whole family. Back by popular demand is the Auggie Block Party (in Parking Lot K, between Melby Hall and Riverside Ave.) following the football game. Join alumni, students, and friends for food, entertainment, and camaraderie. Join fellow Auggies and music lovers after the Block Party for a celebration concert in Hoversten Chapel honoring Professor Stephen “Gabe” Gabrielsen ’63. Go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for information. Summer 2010 35 alumni class notes Stan Nelson, Andover, Minn., Jerilyn (Bjugstad) Wibbens, 43was selected as one of the 67Mukilteo, Wash., founded the World War II veterans whose service would be honored by flying them to Washington, D.C., at no cost, to visit the World War II memorial. Stan is the last survivor of four Navy officers from a landing craft that participated in the D-Day invasion in June 1944; he still attends annual reunions. Northwest Nordic Ladies Chorus, based in Everett, Wash., to keep singing the Norwegian songs she learned in her family and to learn songs from the other Nordic countries. They regularly perform at Scandinavian events and senior centers. Vera (Peterson) Rachuy, West- Peter Agre was honored in 52brook, Minn., a retired 70June, along with four other teacher, discovered a love and talent for painting that began during a prolonged and severe winter when she started to sketch her and her daughter’s dogs. graduates of Norwegian Lutheran colleges, with the “Going Viking” Award by Norway House in Minneapolis. The award recognizes the contributions of Norwegian Americans to the region. Rev. Darryl Torrin, Cedar Falls, 66Iowa, retired on July 1 after serving for 39 years in active parish ministry. For the past 13 years, he has served at St. John Maxfield Evangelical Lutheran Church in rural Denver, Iowa, where a retirement celebration was held on June 6. Alvina Strand Skogen, Eppen, N.D., is serving a two-year term as president of Western North Dakota Synodical Women’s Organization (Women of the ELCA). David Siedlar received the “Model Worker Award” from the Communist 71Party, City of Huaian, Jiangsu Province, China, in April, which was published in the party newspaper. Michael Good, Raritan, N.J., 71president and CEO of Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates, LLC, and chair of the Augsburg College Board of Regents, was named to the Inman 100, a list of the top 100 most influential leaders in real estate for 2009 by Inman News. department at Lake Superior College in Duluth. She has a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas, a master’s degree in education from College of St. Scholastica, and a graduate certificate in educational computing and technology from University of Minnesota-Duluth. Kathy (Langemo) Dugdale, Su- 72perior, Wis., was named director of the business services Annette (Olsen) Hustad, Glenwood, Minn., is “Lena” in the comedy singing duo, “Tina and Lena,” along with Susan “Tina” Edwards. For 25 years, they have entertained audiences in the Upper Midwest and farther with music, humor, and fun. With degrees in music therapy and music education, she taught K-12 music for 10 years. In April they performed at the Lifestyles Expo in Alexandria. Lois (Wennen) Larson, White 80Bear Lake, Minn., was named to a one-year appointment as interim financial aid director at Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis, effective Feb. 1. Joan (Maland) Mussa was re- 81cently named senior vice presiParticipants in the Master of Arts in Leadership study and cultural tour of Norway in June pause for a group photo in the mountain resort town of Geilo. Twenty-eight Augsburg faculty, alumni, students, and friends of the College took part in the customized MAL program done in conjunction with Diakonhjemmet University College in Oslo, Augsburg experts on Norway, and CrossingBorders travel company in the Twin Cities. Pictured are Ruth and Raymond Burgau; Paul ’65, Priscilla ’65, David, Karen, Andrew, Lynnsey, and Erika Fieldhammer; Professor Douglas Green; John Grafstrom and Carol Sime ’73; Pete and Glenda Holste ’05 MAL; Lucinda Hruska-Claeys ’10 MAL; Paul ’80 and Rebecca Kilgore; Professor Lynn Lindow; Roger and Linda Nielsen; Angeline and Jeanne Nelson ’09 MBA; Professor Norma Noonan; Patty ’02 MAL and Warren Park; Tawni Reller; Professor Linda Stevens; Professor Barbara West. Look for more about the MAL experiences in Norway at www.augsburg.edu/now 36 Augsburg Now dent for donor engagement, advocacy, and communications at the United States office of World Vision, one of the largest relief, development, and advocacy organizations in the world. Her responsibilities include overseeing the work of all private fund raising, government relations, advocacy, internet, publications, and additional communication functions. She and her husband, Mohammed, and their three children live near Seattle. Tessa Flynn, Minneapolis, ap- 05peared in the Frank Theatre Daniel Werner and Shayne 95Hamann, Little Canada, Minn., announce the birth of their daughter, Savannah, born on Feb. 20. Savannah joins her twin brothers, Drake and Dylan, age 3. Monica Fitzgerald, Washing- Ryan Carlson BA ’96 and BS ’02 and his wife, Lauren, St. Paul, an- 96nounce the births of identical twin daughters, Adelaine Elizabeth and Isadora Louise, on Feb. 14. Addy and Izzy join brother Quin, 4 1/2. The family lives in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul. Ryan is an engineer for Seagate. Karen Reed, Atascadero, Calif., 82ton, D.C., is director of CIO 90was appointed program direc- University and the deputy director of the IT Accessibility and Workforce Division in the General Services Administration’s Office of Governmentwide Policy. In 2009 she was selected as a member of the Council for Excellence in the Fellow’s Program of the Partnership for Public Service, which focuses on servant leadership. tor in January at Coalinga State Hospital, the newest state mental health hospital in the California Department of Mental Health. She formerly served 18 years as a registered music therapist at Atascadero State Hospital. She continues to represent forensic psychiatric music therapy treatment at the national and regional music therapy conferences. Tim Asgrimson, Edina, Minn., Anthony Patton has published 83was recently named the chief 91his second novel, Unfaithfully financial officer of Kraus-Anderson Cos., where he has worked since 2007 as assistant chief financial officer. For 16 years prior to that he provided tax, auditing, and consulting services to the company. Yours, a love story in which he explores how hard-working couples can achieve happiness and success in the time it takes to watch a great movie. Sharon (Fairbanks) Romano, Minneapolis, has served as director of the Department of Indian Work of the St. Paul Area Council of Churches for the past year. 87 Kristin Eggerling, Hallock, 89Minn., is a freelance writer and has served on the board of Conservation Minnesota. A recent article on StarTribune.com featured her family’s outing to view the giant jack pine in Lake Bronson State Park. Nnamdi Okoronkwo, Minneapolis, an assistant city attorney with the City of Minneapolis, was appointed in April by Governor Tim Pawlenty to a four-year term on the Council on Black Minnesotans. Luann Roth, Columbia, Mo., has been appointed as education coordinator of the Mizzou Advantage, a collaboration of five programs of excellence at the University of Missouri. She will facilitate interdisciplinary curriculum and courses for these five areas. She has been an instructor in the English Department and is completing her doctorate in American film and folklore. Heidi (Wachholz) Boll, Minneapolis, was named vice president of sales for the Northeast Region of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. She joined the company in 2001 and has held several positions within it. 94 Lori (Langager) Higgins, Blaine, Minn., became president of the MetroNorth Chamber of Commerce in the Twin Cities in May. She has worked for the chamber since February 2009 and became its first female chief executive officer. Kari (Schroeder) Prescott, Minneapolis, took a new position as representative for Minnesota to the American Podiatric Medical Association in Washington, D.C., and will be kept busy with the current healthcare debate issues. Matthew Gooding, Sun Lakes, 95Ariz., graduated from a medical assistant program and is currently looking for and interviewing for jobs. Carye (Johnson) Bye, Portland company’s adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, which ran at the Open Eye Figure Theatre in Minneapolis during April. She is also on the board of the theatre. (Read more about her on p. 28). Jessica (Norman) and Eric 01Hafemeyer welcomed Kristen Marie on February 22. Kristen joins big sister, Lauren, 3. Christina (Boe) Anderson, 04Blaine, Minn., and her husband, Michael, welcomed their new daughter, Charlotte Marie, on Feb. 25. Chad Darr and his wife, Krista, welcomed a son, Hayden James, on May 5. Miranda Nelson, Chicago, 06began the clinical psychology PhD program at the University of Illinois at Chicago last fall. She plans on specializing in pediatric neuropsychology and will graduate with her doctoral degree in 2014. Dan Morlock, St. Paul, is site 97Ore., is owner of Red Bat 07leader of a before- and-after- Press, a print and design company. She wrote and illustrated a book, Hidden Portland: Museums & Collections, in 2010 with Bedouin Books. school child care program for the Roseville school district called Friendship Connection. Ted Schultz, Bloomington, 98Minn., started a new position as activities director at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School on July 1. He had served for six years in the same position at Bloomington Jefferson High School. Adam Erickson, Chanhassen, 00Minn., was appointed busi- ness banking officer at Anchor Bank in Eden Prairie. Prior to this he was a business relationship manager for Wells Fargo Bank. Maureen O’Shaughnessy was featured as a music therapist on WCCO-TV about her work with autistic children at Fraser Child and Family Center. Molly Shortall recently completed her master's degree at Manhattan School of Music. She has been in New York City for two years and works as a house musician at a large church in Brooklyn. This summer, she's singing the role of Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Summer 2010 37 Colonel Steven Charles ’76 receives Legion of Merit On May 1, Colonel Steven Charles ’76 received the Legion of Merit, the highest award not received for valor, which is awarded for “exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.” While Charles’ 30-year military career began in 1977 as a navy pilot, he received the Legion of Merit for his work as program manager from 2001 to 2007 in the 87th Air Force Element, and air director of joint operations, Air Force Element, U.S. Army Forces Command, 87th Battle Command Training Division in Birmingham, Ala. The citation states, “In this key leadership position, Colonel Charles served as project officer for nine major exercises and 15 Command Post exercises preparing over 30,000 Army troops for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism.” His duties included training the soldiers how to call in close air support. By teaching soldiers how to talk to Air Force support, how to call in for help, and what protocols and information they needed, they could quickly be rescued, saving their own lives and those of other ground forces. He also developed a successful Train the Trainers program that provided understanding of joint operations within the modern battlefield. During his military career, Charles served two cruises aboard the USS Constellation where he had more than 200 carrier landings. He was chosen to become a Navy A-4 adversary pilot and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School. He Rikki Starich, Lexington, Ky., was recently appointed assistant director of annual giving at Transylvania University in Lexington. In May she completed her Master of Education in higher education administration/ institutional advancement. Andrew Sinko, Blaine, Minn., a teacher in Spring Lake Park, Minn., has been accepted to a University of London doctoral program. Zac Wooten, New York, received his master’s degree from New York University and continues to express appreciation for the support of faculty at Augsburg. A.J. Hau and his brother, Chris, 10from Fort Collins, Colo., were signed by the Colorado Eagles hockey team. They both advanced through the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey and Colorado State University hockey programs. Christopher Stedman gradu- 08ated with a master’s degree in theology from Meadville Lombard Theological School of Chicago. 38 Augsburg Now Jens Olsen and Heidi Le will spend the 2010–11 academic year in Vietnam on Fulbright English Teaching Awards. Courtesy photo alumni class notes Colonel Steven Charles ’76 (left) received the Legion of Merit, presented to him in Birmingham, Ala., on May 1, by Brigadier General David W. Puster. crossed to the Air Force and was an instructor in both the F-111 Aardvark and the F-117 Stealth Fighter. In 1990, he appeared on national television as one of the two pilots flying a Stealth Fighter during their unveiling. He left active duty in 1991 and joined the Air Force Reserves before joining the 87th Division. He retired from the military in 2007 and is now a Boeing 767 pilot for Delta Air Lines. BETSEY NORGARD Graduate Programs Sarah Resor ’06 MAL and Eric Johnson, both of Robbinsdale, Minn., were married Feb. 27 in Oak Ridge Conference Center. Mike Bilden ’07 MAL, St. Louis Park, Minn., is coordinator of the new Adult Degree Completion Program in the College of Business and Economics at University of WisconsinRiver Falls. He has served as director of continuing education at North Hennepin Community College and director of adult and graduate admissions at Augsburg. Larry McGraw ’10 MBA, Owatonna, Minn., has been appointed senior vice president and chief credit officer of Home Federal Savings Bank in Rochester. Previously he spent eight years at United Prairie Bank in Mankato, Minn. Hector Matascastillo ’10 MSW is using his own experience and gift of compassion to help veterans when they return from war. Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ____________________________________________________________ Street address ____________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip code Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone In Memoriam ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Olsen, W. Donald ’34, Sioux Falls, S.D., age 99, on Dec. 20. Nelson, Gordon A., ’54, Cloquet, Minn., age 77, on April 9. Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No Paulson, Dr. Eric ’38, Spokane, Wash., age 92, on March 6. Wolden, Gerhard ’56, Minneapolis, age 82, on April 5. ____________________________________________________________ Employer Shebeck, Ethel (Sinner) ’38, Richfield, Minn., age 93, on November 14. Welch, Robert ’58, Burlingame, Calif., age 73, on March 28. Ronholm, Olive ’47, Golden Valley, Minn., age 84, on March 9. Peterson, Robert ’49, New London, Minn., age 83, on April 8. Schmeltzer, George W. ’61, Minneapolis, age 70, on March 31. Faue, Jeffrey L. ’68, Belle Mead, N.J., age 64, on April 15. ____________________________________________________________ Position ____________________________________________________________ Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No Bolstad, Nan (Haraseth) ’69, Jefferson, Ore., age 63, on March 2. If yes, class year ________________________________________________ Metz, Rev. Richard G. ’74, Sisters, Ore., age 63, on May 13. ____________________________________________________________ Spouse’s name Arney, Claudia (Odegaard) ’78, Clarkdale, Iowa, age 74, on April 17. ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name Davis, Gerald ’51, Litchfield, Minn., age 82, on April 21. Haugan, Joan ’80, Spring Lake Park, Minn., age 80, on Feb. 14, 2009. Your news: ____________________________________________________________ Stenvig, Charles Selmer ’51, Sun City, Ariz., age 82, on February 22. Thayer, Nancybeth (Sedgwick) ’80, Hermantown, Minn., age 49, on June 30, 2006. Schmidt, Ruth A. ’52, Decatur, Ga., age 79, on May 24 (See story on p. 35) Reinhart, Laura Jane ’82, Livermore, Calif., age 49, on January 2. Hegland, Dagny (Quanbeck) ’50, Brandon, S.D., age 81, on March 17. Johnson, Esther ’50, Minneota, Minn., age 80, on April 15. Johnson, Rev. LeRoy ’50, Richland, Mich., on January 11, 2009. Kjos, Edwin ’54, Abbotsford, Wis., age 85, on March 31. Therres, Emmaline (Schlueter), Chaska, Minn., age 66, on April 2; former faculty member. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Summer 2010 39 my Auggie experience By all accounts—his own included—sophomore Gottlieb Uahengo had a difficult first semester at Augsburg College. Making the move to Minneapolis from his home in Namibia meant many changes. He missed his family and friends and got sick five times from the food. He was introduced to Mountain Dew and the effects of over-consumption. “I didn’t sleep for several days,” he says. And when he witnessed his first snowfall, a fellow student asked him, “Are you alright? You look disturbed.” Uahengo is a Legacy Scholarship student. His father graduated from the University of Minnesota and came to work in Augsburg’s Physics Department while his wife, Fredericka ’90, completed her degree in education. Gottlieb was actually born at Fairview Riverside Hospital but lived most of his life in Oshakati, Namibia, where his father is a pharmacist and his mother serves as the rector of Ongwediva Teachers College. When it came time to apply for college, Uahengo’s father said, “I’m sending you to Augsburg.” Because Uahengo wants to be an engineer, his father wanted him to study in a small school with a good physics department. “My father holds professors [Mark] Engebretson and [Jeff] Johnson in high esteem,” Uahengo says. “He told me I would get more out of my education at Augsburg than at a large, public university.” His father also told him to be prepared for the challenge of college life. “He said the best way to overcome adversity is to become part of the community, to take a leap of faith.” And that’s exactly what led to a better second semester and a successful first year at Augsburg for Uahengo. Greg Holker, Augsburg’s men’s soccer coach, said Uahengo looked frightened and overwhelmed when the two first met last summer. “I wasn’t sure he would amount to much as a soccer player because he seemed frail physically and psychologically,” Holker recalls. After a tentative start, Holker says the first-year player definitely made an impact on the team. “He scored a big goal against Buena Vista and took off in training from that point on,” says Holker. “He sought out improvement and soaked up as much information as he could. Rarely do I see a person that determined to learn and learn quickly.” Rebekah Dupont, whom Uahengo calls his mentor, says he displayed the same tenacity in his academics as on the soccer field. Dupont worked with him in Augsburg’s North Star STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) program. He participated in the calculus workshop, a class in which students work together on challenging problems. He also got involved in a research project, something not many first-year students take on. “Gottlieb has very high expectations for himself, and I think this made adapting to so many new things all at once a challenge,” Dupont says. “As he feels more comfortable and confident, those high expectations and strong work ethic will serve him very well.” In addition to conducting research during the school year, Uahengo is working on a summer project with another student and professor Ben Stottrup of the Physics Department. This fall he will be an officer with Augsburg’s International Student Organization and will continue to play soccer. He also hopes to compete on the track team as a sprinter in the spring term. “When I set my mind to something, it’s hard to sway me,” Uahengo says. “I am always looking for a way to be engaged.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 40 Augsburg Now an augsburg legacy Joyce Young “I value the impact of my Augsburg education on my life and career … That’s why I am giving back through naming Augsburg as owner of a life insurance policy. Augsburg’s gift planning team, along with my financial adviser, showed me the great benefits.” 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Courtesy photo Augsburg Choir tours China The Augsburg Choir and the choir from Guangxi Provincial Normal University in Guilin, China, pose for a giant group photo during the choir’s trip through China. For the choir’s China blog and photos, go to www.augsburg.edu/music.
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Augsburg Now Spring 2010
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Augsburg Now Spring 2010: Out Of The Box Auggies
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102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 1 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2010 VOL. 71, NO. 3 inside out of the Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Peace Prize Forum 2010 Lutefisk and a legacy In the neighborhood Travel Learning t...
Show more 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 1 AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2010 VOL. 71, NO. 3 inside out of the Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Peace Prize Forum 2010 Lutefisk and a legacy In the neighborhood Travel Learning to learn Pursuing an ideal education page 20 Connecting the dots for good IGNITE program box Auggies 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:29 AM Page 2 Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Director notes from President Pribbenow Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Multiply your mind by giving it away Photographer a Webmaster/Now Online s this issue of Augsburg Now illustrates, the Augsburg community is engaged in many efforts and initiatives that are best characterized as innovative—or “out-of-the-box,” as they’re called here. In fact, I believe deeply that there is something about Augsburg and its mission that lends itself to this sort of entrepreneurial spirit, this willingness to try new ways of doing things in service to our students and neighbors. Just think of the last 30 years of new programs at Augsburg— the Weekend College; the expansion to seven graduate programs; the Augsburg campus at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester and at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington; the Augsburg Core Curriculum ––(AugCore), with its expansive framework for educating students in the liberal arts and in the world; the CLASS office, providing support for students with learning differences; the StepUP program, meeting the needs of students recovering from addictions; and the list goes on and on. All examples of how Augsburg is on the leading edge of providing an excellent education in new and innovative ways. I’ve recently been reading literature on helping organizations to embrace and sustain a culture of innovation—that is, to create organizational cultures that are constantly looking for new and different ways to do things, to make products, to deliver services; to save souls, educate students, heal the sick. Recently, I happened upon the writing of Mark Federman, a Canadian scholar whose writings on innovation include this provocative suggestion: “Multiply your mind by giving it away.” And Federman means exactly what he says—be generous, be charitable, give instead of always taking. Because when you are generous with your mind, with your knowledge and education, you help to create organizations and neighborhoods and agencies and churches and schools that are marked not by the scarcity of the world but by the abundance of what’s possible when generosity of mind and heart and spirit is our guiding principle. How will you give away your mind in the communities and organizations you serve? I constantly find examples of such generosity of mind right here in the Augsburg community, and you’ll see them in the stories featured here. For example, I’m struck by the ways in which staff member Brian Noy and his many colleagues who run our Campus Kitchen program are illustrating this generosity of mind and spirit. In addition to the ongoing preparation and delivery of 2,000 meals a month they serve to our neighbors in Phillips and Cedar-Riverside, they have focused our attention on the important role that food plays in our lives—as sustenance for our bodies, as fellowship for our community, as politics and economics in our neighborhood and world. They have multiplied their minds by giving them away to all of us. And the results are staggering— a community garden on the edge of campus that brings together neighbors and students and children, a Farmers Market that brings organic farmers from across the region to campus, composting of leftover everything in the cafeteria, and so much more—abundance through generosity. The gift of an education, an Augsburg education, calls all of us to this generous undertaking of multiplying your mind and knowledge and experience by giving it away so that it serves God’s abundant intentions for God’s people and world. That is the sort of innovation that is at the heart of Augsburg’s mission and vision. I’m proud to share in this significant work. PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 au w 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:30 AM Page 3 spring 2010 Features 10 14 6 10 14 10th annual International Programs Photo Contest 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum Lutefisk, a log cabin, and a 50-year legacy by Betsey Norgard 17 auggies out of the box 20 34 20 Pursuing an ideal education by Wendi Wheeler ’06 23 In the neighborhood contents by Jeff Shelman 28 augsburg now Departments 2 5 8 9 37 40 44 Around the Quad Auggies on the ice Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience 25 Learning to learn—without any A, B, Cs by Jeff Shelman 28 Connecting the dots for good by Bryan Barnes 31 IGNITE-ing Auggie spirit by Betsey Norgard 34 The Bod Pod by Betsey Norgard 36 Out of the box partnerships by Rebecca John On the cover It’s impossible to arrange many of the programs, people, and partnerships at Augsburg neatly into a box. With their creative perspectives and unique features, the stories here show how Augsburg often looks and acts “out-of-the-box.” All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 4 around the quad Auggies win 11th national wrestling title With eight All-Americans and three national runner-up individuals, the Augsburg College wrestling team claimed its 11th NCAA Division III national title in the last 20 seasons in March in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Augsburg finished with 110.5 points, 10 points better than second-place Wisconsin-La Crosse’s 100.5. Defending national champion Wartburg (Iowa) was third with 83.5 points, Coe (Iowa) was fourth with 76.0 points, and Delaware Valley (Pa.) was fifth with 50.5 points. In his second year as Augsburg’s head wrestling coach, Mark Matzek ’05 was named Division III National Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association—and at age 27, is the youngest head coach to ever win a Division III wrestling national title. Augsburg assistant head coach Jared Evans ’07 was named National Assistant Coach of the Year by the NWCA. “It was nine individual efforts that created this team national championship,” Matzek said. “I’m proud of each and every one of the guys who wrestled, and I’m proud of each and every one of the guys in this program.” The final session of the tournament completed a unique first for the Auggies—the first time Augsburg has won a national title without an individual national titlist. The feat has occurred just twice before in the 37-year history of the Division III championships. Have you seen the new signs? The new LED “Augsburg” atop Mortensen Hall now serves as a beacon to commuters who pass by on Interstate 94 and as a marker of Augsburg’s location. To read more and see a video of the construction, go to the “Auggie Sign” page on Facebook. Photo by Caleb Williams Auggie wrestlers, students, families, and friends celebrated Augsburg’s 11th national championship. 2 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 5 Augsburg receives five Fulbright awards In the past weeks, three Augsburg students, one faculty member, and the Center for Global Education have all been notified that they have received Fulbright awards for next year. May graduates Jens Olsen and Heidi Le will both teach English in Vietnam during the 2010-11 academic year. Bethany Hellerich, a 2009 graduate who is spending this year as a member of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, will teach English in Indonesia. All three have plans to further their education after their year abroad, as Olsen will apply to medical school, Le has deferred admission to pharmacy school, and Hellerich is interested in a public health graduate program. Seven Augsburg students have been awarded Fulbrights over the past three years and the College has been recognized as a top producer of winners. Hellerich said Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity office (URGO) deserves credit for working with students and pushing them to believe that they can have success. “I’m just fortunate that [URGO director] Dixie Shafer exists and magical things happen when she works with you on your application,” Hellerich said. “She’s very helpful with giving good and detailed feedback.” English professor Colin Irvine will spend the next academic year traveling the length of Norway as a Fulbright Roving Scholar in American Studies. Courtesy photo College mourns the death of faculty Professor Don Steinmetz, who taught in the Languages and Cross-Cultural Studies Department for 41 years, died of an apparent heart attack on Dec. 28. He was 71. His son, Erik Steinmetz, is a member of Augsburg’s Computer Science Donald Steinmetz Myles Stenshoel Department faculty. Don Steinmetz served as chair of the department and taught courses in German and Spanish. He also taught Chinese and linguistics within the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities consortium. Professor Emeritus Myles Stenshoel died on March 26 following a short illness. He taught at Augsburg for 28 years and continued to teach part time in retirement. In 1965 he came to Augsburg and established the Political Science Department the following year. His interests were in politics and religion, and he was deeply committed to social action. Also mourned is Neal Thorpe ’60, former faculty member and a Distinguished Alumnus, who died in Vancouver, Wash., on March 3. Jens Olsen and Heidi Le Colin Irvine In this role, Irvine will prepare presentations on American studies topics and visit schools across Norway to provide opportunities for Norwegian teenagers to learn about the United States. Based in Oslo, he will likely give between 250 and 300 presentations across the country. “I’ve always been interested in the possibility of working or teaching overseas,” Irvine said. “This roving scholar program was perfect.” In addition, the Center for Global Education also received its fifth Fulbright-Hays Group Project award and will host a four-week curriculum development program for teachers during July and August in Namibia. Editor’s Note The last issue of the Now had a story, “Augsburg’s first travel to Egypt.” Alas, we have received a note from social work Professor Emerita Edwina (Eddie) Hertzberg, who tells us it isn’t so. “In 1979, for the January Interim, the College sponsored a course, Social Services and Public Policy in a Developing Country: Egypt, 1979,” she writes. “I was the faculty instructor, assisted by former adjunct professor Nagwa Farag and two of her colleagues from Helwan University in Cairo. My request to Professor Farag had been that we get as close to Egyptian people as possible so that our experience include the depth that only such engagement can provide. Eleven students, Augsburg and St. Olaf, from a variety of disciplines, participated in the month-long program. … [I]t was a remarkable educational and life-impacting experience for us all, students and faculty alike.” Spring 2010 3 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 6 around the quad Yi started out the semester in the back of the room, about as far away from me as possible. He showed relatively little interest; his homework and test grades were poor. Yet when I called on him he responded with reasonable answers. Like others hiding in the back row, Yi had potential; he just needed some personal attention and prodding. I took to writing notes on his homework encouraging him to move forward and talk to me. One afternoon he appeared in my office, and we talked for an hour about many things—about the class, how he came to United International College (UIC), and his goals. Eventually he closed the office door and wanted to talk about the injuries his uncle experienced in Tiananmen Square in 1989. But the fear was still too great and he left. Yi did move forward, began to interact with me, and soon his work, tests, and comments improved remarkably. He began to enjoy thinking philosophically. Through a special arrangement, Augsburg made it possible for me to teach philosophy during the fall semester at UIC in Zhuhai, China. In three classes I was privileged to work with 120 bright Chinese students. A new, English-medium liberal arts college on the mainland, UIC is an experiment to provide a more Western style of education to the Chinese. China is dramatically changing as it attempts to educate its population, and UIC is one of eight brand-new universities built in Zhuhai in the last 10 years. “I told my students that part of my mission was to corrupt them, to move them from the passive state of being excellent note-takers and regurgitators of teachers’ PowerPoints to being able to think and question for themselves.” In Introduction to Philosophy we read Plato’s Apology, where Socrates is accused of corrupting the youth by getting them to question those in authority who claimed that they knew when they really didn’t. I told my students that part of my mission was to corrupt them, to move them from the passive state of being excellent note-takers and regurgitators of teachers’ PowerPoints to being able to think and question for themselves. By the end of the term over half of the students were engaging me in the classroom discussion, raising questions and objections and making the class their own. Courtesy photo Philosophy, religion, and Chinese food Professor Bruce Reichenbach with students (from left) Daisy, Serena, and Charlene enjoy noodles and discussion after class in Zhuhai, China. My Philosophy of Religion students and I would walk down to the student canteen on Friday for lunch and conversation. Jiang sat next to me and between bites of noodles asked, “Do you really believe in God?” Teaching Philosophy of Religion provided both a challenge and opportunity, as both the students and I looked for a common ground of understanding between our two cultures and worldviews. Once the initial barriers of passive learning were put to rest, the classroom boiled with discussion, questions, challenges, and good humor. Here, too, the students would linger. Tony periodically stayed around for an hour, his phenomenology book in hand, to inquire how Heidegger would view these ideas. Self taught in philosophy, he was eager to connect the course ideas with his own reading. Three Augsburg students and four recent graduates, serving as teaching assistants, also joined the UIC community, providing cross-cultural connections that will continue to develop as students and faculty visit each other’s campuses in the years ahead. At the end of the term two of my classes took my wife and me to Chinese restaurants to show their appreciation. We toasted friendship and a wonderful semester as we affirmed that we all liked philosophy and Chinese food. BRUCE REICHENBACH Professor of philosophy 4 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 7 Auggies on the ice Chris Johnson—A third-generation hockey star Chris Johnson certainly has an impressive hockey pedigree. Chris is the son of Mark Johnson, a member of the fabled “Miracle on Ice” 1980 U.S. Olympic team, a pro hockey star, and coach of the 2010 U.S. Olympic women’s silver-medal hockey squad. He’s the grandson of “Badger” Bob Johnson, one of the greatest coaches in American hockey history—who also happened to attend Augsburg for a year before transferring to the University of Wisconsin. And his siblings all played hockey on various teams. But Chris Johnson has also made a name for himself as a leader of the Auggie men’s hockey team. A native of Verona, Wis., Johnson had a terrific career as an Auggie, scoring 41 goals with 74 assists for 115 points in his 104-game career. He had a goal or assist in 15 of Augsburg’s 27 games this season, including seven multiple-point efforts. Johnson’s squads reached the MIAC postseason playoffs in three of his four seasons, including two with him as team captain. He earned All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors all four seasons and All-American honors last year. Off the ice, Johnson will also be remembered as a top hockey player. He’s a member of Augsburg’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has helped lead hockey ministry and Bible-study groups of student-athletes. He’s also worked with the Herb Brooks Foundation’s “Rink Rats” program, teaching hockey skills to students from the Seward Montessori School. Johnson is a finance major with a 3.4 GPA. “Hockey was everywhere when we were growing up, in a good way, not in a pressure way,” Johnson told columnist Rachel Blount of the Star Tribune in a January feature. “We all got to play at the same high school as my dad. He taught us that even though we might have a last name that helps, it doesn’t matter if you don’t work hard. But he also told us that at the end of the day, it’s all about having fun.” This season was a special one for the Johnson family. Since the U.S. women’s hockey team was based at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn., prior to the Olympics, Mark—who took a leave of absence from his job as coach of the University of Wisconsin women’s hockey team to lead the Olympic squad—had ample opportunities to be with his son in the Twin Cities. Mark attended several of his son’s games at Augsburg, and the two met weekly for dinner and father-son bonding. In a “Profiles of Excellence” feature on the CollegeSportingNews.com website by Rich Mies in January, Chris Johnson said that his experience at Augsburg has been a positive one. “I’ve received a great education here,” he said, “and I cherish the relationships I’ve made here with teammates, coaches, teachers, and friends. I’ve grown up a lot while I’ve been here.” He also said he may consider following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and coach hockey someday. DON STONER Spring 2010 5 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 8 International Programs 1 Photo Contest Portraits 1st place: Matt Anderson “Soccer at Le Sacré Coeur” Paris, France 2nd place: Sandra Meyer “Yes” Managua, Nicaragua 3rd place: Dan Thewis “Friday at Al-Azhar Mosque” Cairo, Egypt Landscape/cityscape 1 1st place: Norah Thompson “Villa Joyosa, España” Madrid, Spain 2nd place: Malena Thoson “Municipal Dump” Managua, Nicaragua 3rd place: Elizabeth Robinson “Work Will Set You Free” Berlin, Germany Photojournalism 1st place: Dan Thewis “Cairo at Midnight” Cairo, Egypt 2nd place: Norah Thompson “El niño en Madrid” Madrid, Spain 6 Augsburg Now 1 3rd place: Sandra Meyer “Nonchalant” Managua, Nicaragua 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:31 AM Page 9 3 2 3 3 2009 2 INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS 2 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:32 AM Page 10 auggie voices How girlfriends do theology “Doing Theology with Girlfriends,” or DTwG as it is known, is not your typical Bible study. Sonja Hagander, associate pastor at Augsburg, started DTwG because students told her they wanted a Bible study on campus. “But you can’t always call it a ‘Bible study,’” Hagander says, “because that means it’s difficult or boring or only for people who already understand the Bible.” So DTwG gives women at Augsburg a chance to connect, to support each other, and to relate their own life experiences to scripture. This group of girlfriends gathers once a month to share stories of their lives and to “do” theology. The idea for DTwG came as Hagander reflected on how she loved spending time with her own girlfriends and on the importance of relating to other women. When the group gathers each month, one woman shares a story from her life. The others then share their own feelings and memories related to the story. Hagander chooses a reading or two from the Bible, which the women use to dig deeper into their experiences. Finally, they ask how what they’ve learned might change their daily lives or the way they practice their faith. On the last Monday in January, one student talked about what it means to “truly experience” nature as she related the story of her family’s vacation in Denali National Park. “I sat there for hours, looking out for miles, reflecting and praying and trying to figure out my place within God’s beautiful creation,” she said. 8 Augsburg Now Hagander passed out copies of Psalm 23, and the girlfriends identified their own green pastures and still waters. For one, a late-night jog around the lakes in Minneapolis was a way for her to connect to nature. Another experienced the majesty of creation while watching the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Then Hagander asked the group to examine the dark and destructive side of nature using Job’s account of a fire-breathing, stone-hearted leviathan. This led to a discussion about the massive loss of life caused by the earthquakes in Haiti. One woman marveled at the faith that kept some people alive as they waited for days to be pulled from the rubble of destroyed homes, churches, and schools. “Today is a gift that we get to use in the best way possible,” Hagander said, asking how the women could take this discussion into their lives. This hour wasn’t a gab session or group therapy. But it wasn’t an ordinary Bible study either. There were no right answers or theologically sound interpretations. Just coffee and tea, comfortable chairs, a pink candle, and a chance to share. That is how girlfriends do theology. WENDI WHEELER ’06 Back row (L to R): Amy Wenzel, Whitney Pratt, Pastor Sonja Hagander, Ally Streed, Sara Thiry, Emily Wiles; Front row (L to R): Lonna Field, Carly Facchini, Dixie Scruggs, Marrta Wyatt, Angelica Erickson, Sylvia Bull 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:32 AM Page 11 it takes an Auggie A young woman meets her many grandmothers Last year, Krystal Mattison ’10 studied in Korea. Many students who study abroad are profoundly affected by the experience. For Mattison, a history and American Indian studies major from St. Paul, spending the year abroad was a life-changing opportunity to bond with her new grandmothers. Mattison is the granddaughter of a “comfort woman.” During World War II, thousands of Korean women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Some of these women did not survive their ordeal, and many were unable to have children as a result of their treatment. Furthermore, the women were unable to talk about their experiences until many years later. Her grandmother died when Mattison was five years old, but she heard the story from her father. While in Korea, Mattison spent time at the House of Sharing, an organization in Seoul that houses and cares for the surviving comfort women. She says that after she told them about her grandmother, the women became her adopted grandmothers (halmonis), even giving her the Korean name Soo-Jeong. “They spoiled me, holding my hands and feeding me,” she says. She learned from the women, who now think of themselves not as victims but as survivors and activists, that speaking out against violence is an important part of the healing process. “This experience brought me so much completion that I had to do something.” That “something” was to connect with Jessica Nathanson, assistant professor of women’s studies and director of Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center. After Mattison shared her grandmother’s story and her own experience in Korea, the center agreed to donate the proceeds from its annual benefit performance of The Vagina Monologues to the House of Sharing. Eve Ensler’s episodic play began off-Broadway in 1996. Each year The Vagina Monologues and other theatrical productions are presented across the country by women on college campuses on V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. “Since the purpose of performing this show is to fight violence against women by raising awareness about the issue and funds for organizations who do this work, we feel like it was a tremendously successful event,” says Nathanson. “The performances were excellent,” she adds, “beautifully and powerfully delivered.” This year’s production raised more than $800 through ticket sales and donations, which amounts to 940,000 Korean won. “This is such a personal issue for me, and I think it’s amazing that the women of Augsburg took it on,” Mattison says. At the end of each Augsburg performance, Mattison gave a speech about her grandmother. “I felt like she was there with me.” The Vagina Monologues was directed by Julia Sewell, a senior psychology major from Minneapolis. The cast included Irene Abdullah, Veronica Berg, Kia Burton, Amber Davis, Rebecca Dickinson, Sarah Gillund, Annika Gunderson, Lucreshia Grant, Elizabeth Hanson, Brandy Hyatt, Valencia McMurray, Lily Morris, Kris Ness, Magdalen Ng, Shannon O’Brien, Yasameen Sajady, Leann Vice-Reshel, Rochelle Weidner, and Courtney Wiley. WENDI WHEELER ’06 During Krystal Mattison’s year in Korea, she became friends with women, like her own grandmother, called “comfort women,” who were abused by the Japanese military during World War II. These survivors became grandmothers to her, and this year she found a way to help support them. Spring 2010 9 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:33 AM Page 12 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM 10 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 13 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM Striving for Peace A Question of Will March 5–6, 2010 In cooperation with the Norwegian Nobel Institute, five Midwestern colleges of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sponsor the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum. The colleges, all founded by Norwegian immigrants, sponsor the forum to give recognition to Norway’s international peace efforts and to offer opportunities for Nobel Peace laureates, diplomats, scholars, students, and the general public to engage in dialogue on the dynamics of peacemaking and the underlying causes of conflict and war. The Peace Prize Forum is the Nobel Institute’s only such program or academic affiliation outside Norway. Augsburg College Augustana College Concordia College Luther College St. Olaf College This year’s Peace Prize Forum was held March 5 and 6 on the Augsburg College campus, and honored the work of 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland. The other plenary speakers were Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, and Leymah Gbowee, executive director of Women Peace and Security Network-Africa. Prior to the forum, the 15th annual Peace Prize Festival brought together approximately 800 school children and youth to learn about the importance and influence of the Nobel Peace Prize and to honor President Ahtisaari. For more photos of the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and Peace Prize Festival, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Spring 2010 11 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 14 THE 22ND ANNUAL NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM The Peace Prize Forum is grateful for the support of our sponsors: this year’s host, Augsburg College, for providing the platform and for staging this important event. Together, with all of you in the audience, I look forward to learning from a leader this evening, a man who’s been inspiring in his steadfast belief in peace and transformative in his approach. May we all leave this conference energized by the power of one voice and committed to engaging collaboratively with each other to further the process of achieving peace. Thank you.” Alex Gonzalez ’90 (right), Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Pribbenow meet Ahtisaari. Ann Parriott, vice president for human resources at H.B. Fuller, extended greetings at the forum’s opening ceremony. “Good evening. It’s a pleasure to be here with you tonight to help introduce this year’s conference. H.B. Fuller Company is honored to serve as the lead sponsor for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Forum. We’re delighted to help welcome our very special guest speaker, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Martti Ahtisaari, and pleased to help and encourage ongoing dialogue and discussion on the topic of peace and conflict resolution. “As a company operating in more than 100 countries for many of our 120-plus years, H.B. Fuller has long embraced the value of diverse global perspectives to solve problems, address challenges, and maximize opportunities in the business sector. We are truly excited to help bring this year’s program to you and by so doing help provide a platform for dialogue, discussion, and diverse perspectives on an issue that affects all of us as global citizens. “We salute the Norwegian Nobel Institute and our academic sponsors, including 12 Augsburg Now Alex Gonzalez ’90 represented Thrivent Financial for Lutherans™ at the forum. Parriott poses with President Martti Ahtisaari (center) and President Pribbenow. Ann and Todd Parriott converse with Augsburg’s MBA director, Steve Zitnick (left). “As a faith-based membership organization, Thrivent Financial seeks to help enable its members to demonstrate their care and concern for others. While organizationally it does not have a global focus, Thrivent Financial does help its members have a global impact through programs such as Thrivent Builds Worldwide and through various Lutheran relief organizations that have a global reach.” Alex Gonzalez, FIC, CLTC, is a partner with the Stonebridge Group. He is a 1990 Augsburg graduate and a member of the Augsburg College Board of Regents. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:34 AM Page 15 Tim McGough (center) greets Ahtisaari and Pribbenow. McGough Construction and “Bright Green” As a result of their extensive experience with “green” construction and knowledge of sustainable building practices and products, McGough has created the Bright Green sustainable program. A guiding principle of the program is to find creative ways to apply sustainable practices to construction projects in a cost-effective manner. This would include exploring techniques for reducing waste and applying eco-friendly operating practices. McGough has adopted green strategies throughout their company to test cleaning products and utilize advanced recycling strategies. This focus on energy conservation and minimizing waste enables it to export these practices to the construction site and provide useful advice to clients. The centerpiece of Bright Green is the Center of Excellence. The Center of Excellence consists of several sustainability specialists who can provide information and advice to organizations who are considering the implementation of criteria developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) or adopting proven practices to reduce the negative environmental impacts of building design and construction. The center draws upon outside research and industry data, as well as lessons learned “on the ground” from McGough Construction projects. Indeed, McGough is a long-standing member of the USGBC and is a founding sponsor of the local Mississippi Headwaters Chapter in Minnesota. The sustainability specialists in the Center of Excellence maintain active roles in local chapter committees, enabling them to stay well-informed about the most recent developments in sustainable design and construction. McGough, in collaboration with Augsburg, will apply these practices to the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. Kjell Magne Bondevik, president of the Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights, spoke in dialogue with President Ahtisaari at the forum. “In the long term, we can never win the fight [against terrorism] by military means. We need to find out why people are willing to give their lives and we need to address the root causes of terrorism.” Nordic Home Interiors Tim McGough (left) and Mike Hangge, with McGough Construction, speak with Barbara Farley, Augsburg’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. EVENT CONTRIBUTORS: Jeanne M. Voigt Foundation Mary T., Inc. Wells Fargo Winds of Peace Foundation The Omari rug/wall hangings donated to the forum were woven by Nordic Home Interior’s partner, Everest Handicraft Industries, in Katmandu, Nepal. They were hand-knotted in the primitive Nepalese/Tibetan art form of Tibetan wool with 100 knots per square inch. The dove design is Indian silk. DONORS: Baker Tilly Faegre & Benson Norway House Spring 2010 13 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 16 “ I T ’ S A B O U T F R I E N D S H I P, L E G A C Y, G O O D F O O D , H E R I T A G E , A G I N G — A L L O F T H O S E . ” JIM PEDERSON ’56 On a cold, crisp February morning, photographer Stephen Geffre and I follow Jim Pederson ’56 through ankle-deep snow up a slope to a small log cabin that overlooks Swede Lake. This log cabin, near Star Prairie, Wis., sits on the farm that was homesteaded by Pederson’s great-grandparents in 1872 and that he and his brother, Dwight ’60, now own. They grew up on the farm, moved away to begin their own lives, and now return often with their families and friends. Our reason for being there is to visit the site of an annual celebration that has occurred on the second Saturday of November for the past 50 years. It’s an afternoon each year when Jim and Elaine Pederson host friends and family in the small log cabin for mulled cider and treats before heading to nearby West Immanuel Lutheran Church for lutefisk dinner. This church dinner is a 75-year tradition that now attracts more than 1,200 people for lutefisk, lefse, meatballs, and more. THE BEGINNING OF ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS Jim Pederson says it’s difficult to put a label on this annual gathering. It’s about friendship, legacy, good food, heritage, aging—all of those. Star Tribune columnist Original furniture, art, and history provide the setting for the pre-lutefisk dinner gathering that fills the cabin in November each year. 14 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 17 BY BETSEY NORGARD Lutefisk, a log cabin, and a 50-year legacy Jon Tevlin, who attended last November’s half-century celebration, described it as “an iconic Midwestern living postcard that turned 50 years old Saturday.” At first it was just an annual trek to the lutefisk dinner, but as years went by and friends began to gather beforehand at the farm, the camaraderie there became as important as the meal that followed. While to the Pedersons the gathering marks the final event of the farm’s social season, many of the attendees consider it the beginning of their holiday festivities. Pederson really can’t put his finger on just what glue has held so many of them together for so long. The short answer, he says, is that it was a group of Augsburg friends who started coming out to the country for a church dinner. “The better answer,” he adds, “is that some of us developed friendships that included faculty members who were our mentors and with whom we greatly enjoyed informal times outside the classroom.” Faculty from the 1950s who became regular attendees include Phil Quanbeck Sr., Paul Sonnack, Joel Torstenson, Ralph and Grace Sulerud, and others. For nearly 20 years, retired history professor Carl and Val Chrislock spent many of their summers at the farm, where Carl did a great deal of writing and where Val tended her flower and vegetable gardens. When there were deaths, spouses and families often continued to participate. “Many of us were deeply interested in public service of some kind, whether teaching, the ministry, public policy, or politics,” says Pederson. In the 1950s, when academic freedom was restricted and McCarthyism caused colleges to shy away from controversy, he credits Augsburg and the leadership of President Bernhard Christensen for encouraging political expression and organization. “Augsburg practiced academic freedom while in some institutions it was only preached,” Pederson says. “Political organizations were encouraged on campus. Faculty encouraged students to become involved in political campaigns, and Political Emphasis Week brought speakers from the whole political spectrum. “It was in this cauldron that lasting friendships developed and continued beyond graduation. While politics was a strong interest of a few, the friendships persisted regardless of the chosen vocation,” Pederson says. It all started with the five Auggie Norwegian bachelors who, as students, lived together above Larson’s grocery store— Martin Sabo ’59, Jim ’56 and Dwight ’60 Pederson, Harlan Christianson ’57, and Erwin Christenson ’58. In 1959, Jim and Elaine Pederson (who were not yet married) and Harlan and Lori Christianson decided to drive out to Star Prairie for the lutefisk dinner. Elaine was a student nurse at Deaconess Hospital and Augsburg, and this trip became her introduction to the farm, to lutefisk, and to her future Pederson in-laws. Each year thereafter has brought additional invited friends and families. On November 14, 2009—the 50th anniversary—the count was 67. The group now includes the families and friends of Jim and Elaine and their children, Michelle and Kirk, a 1987 grad; his fiancée Molly; grandchildren Madeline, Emma, and Ginny; and Dwight and his wife, Marion, also a Lutheran Deaconess nurse; daughter Denise; and grandchildren Laura, Thomas, and Helenya. AUGSBURG STORIES PLAY OUT OVER THE YEARS Pederson says he’d like to tie the story of the 50-year gatherings to what they learned at Augsburg. “‘Education for Service’ we thought of as just a phrase, but it really did mean a lot to us—whether in ministry, nursing, government, or politics. It played out, and that’s an important part of the story for me.” The Augsburg-connected stories include the political career of Martin Sabo, which dates back to the days of the five Norwegian bachelors. Pederson, who served as student body president and was active in student political groups, became manager in 1960 for Sabo’s state house endorsement campaign. “And he never lost an election after that,” Pederson comments, about Sabo’s long and distinguished legislative career, marked by his retirement in 2007. In another Augsburg story, Chrislock, who was a regular at the November gatherings, stayed on the farm while he wrote his 1991 book, Watchdog of Loyalty: The Minnesota Commission of Public Safety during World War I. Emeriti professors Ralph and Grace Sulerud, close friends of the Chrislocks, Spring 2010 15 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 18 Courtesy photo “WE HOPE THIS CARRIES ON FOR ANOTHER 50 YEARS— S O , Y O U N G E R G E N E R AT I O N , W E ’ R E C O U N T I N G O N Y O U . ” ELAINE PEDERSON enjoyed the old farmstead and lake so much that they now have a house there, just down the hill from the log house. And so, the Augsburg connections continue. THE MEANING OF PLACE THE LOG HOUSE AND LEGACY Pederson’s log house, the current gathering place, wasn’t part of the original farm. The original log house disappeared long ago, and Pederson had always wanted something like his great-grandfather built in the 1870s. In 1972, he found neighbors wanting to get rid of an old log house on their farm, and he jumped at the opportunity. Courtesy photo The Pederson ties date back more than 130 years in the community—to that farm now in its sixth generation and to the church originally chartered by his grandparents and their neighbors. The log house to which people come each November is for him an icon of family and heritage. In the invitation letter for last November’s gathering, Pederson mentioned a recent book that weaves together themes of story, place, calling, and purpose. Claiming Your Place at the Fire, by Richard Lieder and David Shapiro, challenges those entering “the second half of their life” to consider these themes in finding purpose in what they choose to do during their elder years. Pederson sees the old farm as the locale where at this annual event these themes of aging and legacy play out. “This is a time where family and friends share life experiences, the happenings of the last year, perhaps recalling mentors from college or elsewhere, many of whom are no longer with us; reminiscing about the good times; the not-so-good times; commiserating over losses or illnesses; sometimes engaging in a bit of gossip. Sometimes it’s small groups huddling to solve the world’s problems.” Collectively, they recall stories, redefine place, renew callings, and reclaim purpose. “Oh yes, and there’s the country church dinner, the ostensible reason for the gathering,” adds Pederson. “Each year, however, we hear some say they really come for the hour or two they spend together before the big meal, sipping cider Norwegian traditional goodies, and sharing treats they bring.” Auggies in the group of 67 at the 50th gathering last November included: (Front row, L to R):, Winnie (Nordlund) Anderson ’61, Elaine Pederson, Vicki (Skor) Pearson ’59, retired art professor Phil Thompson. (Back L to R) Kiel Christianson ’88, Jim Pederson ’56 (not visible) holding granddaughter Ginny, Kirk Pederson ’87 (turned away), Pearl Almquist, Paul Almquist ’59, Eunice Helgeson ’69, professor Garry Hesser, retired librarian Grace Sulerud. 16 Augsburg Now The “five Norweg ian bachelors” re united in 2002 wi Erickson ’56 (cen th Rod ter). (Clockwise, from left): Marti ’59, Harlan Chris n Sabo tianson ’57, Dwigh t Pederson ’60, Er Christenson ’58, win and Jim Pederson ’56. An eclectic mix of history and heritage, the one main room of the cabin is barely able to contain the crowd that gathers. Hanging on the walls are the farm’s homestead documents and old photos; some of the furniture is original. Rosemaling and other memorabilia fill the area. A loft offers sleeping space, and an enclosed porch was added for additional room. In addition to Jim and Dwight, the old farmstead has incorporated the Pedersons’ younger generations. Jim and Elaine’s son, Kirk, has his place on the farm where he and his family enjoy the summer. Their daughter, Michelle, enjoys the solitude and serenity of the farm both in summer and winter. So, as years go by, and the annual lutefisk group continues, children and grandchildren play greater roles. “In 1959,” Pederson says, “none of us could have predicted that 50 years later we would speak of a remarkable tradition that we hope will continue far into the future.” Last November 14, after some traditional Norwegian folk music and hymns, Elaine Pederson announced, “We hope this carries on for another 50 years—so, younger generation, we’re counting on you.” To read more and see photos from earlier gatherings, go to www.augsburg.edu/now a 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 19 X O B E H T F O OUT s e i g aug ON PAPER , Augsburg College looks a lot like most other liberal arts colleges. We have similar courses, departments, and programs. We teach students to think critically and to lead responsibly in the world, which is what other schools also aim to do. And our students, staff, and faculty don’t look much different than those at the big school across the street or the small campuses across the river. But in person we look and act differently. At Augsburg, we try to put our own creative spin on things and to look at issues from different perspectives. For example, this year some of our first-year students and a group of faculty spent an entire semester working together on a big problem in our first “I-Term.” In another example, students in the Honors program create their very own courses, write and edit their own scholarly journal, and together shape their own learning environment. And, one of our alums has found a very creative way to do community service while also running a thriving business. The stories in this issue represent just a few of the “out-of-the-box” programs, people, and partnerships that make us uniquely Augsburg. Spring 2010 17 18 Augsburg Now 50 students, 5 professors, 1 big problem. Last fall’s I-Term students discussed three big challenges in the non-graded Fate of the Earth course. I-Term students focused on food, fuel, and media in the course. What’s a great way to engage alumni? Introduce them to current students who have similar majors or interests and let them swap stories. In the end, everyone benefits. Yearbooks are keepsakes that link alumni to their college days. IGNITE I-TERM 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 20 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 21 HONORS houses in the Honors program. Items such as an olive-leaf crown are emblems for specific I-Term students focused on food, fuel, and media in the course. OUT OF THE BOX The Honors program consists of a combination of classes, students, structure, and a whole lot of creativity. FINNEGANS As a student, Jacquie Berglund ’87 dreamed of helping the working poor. Today her sense of vocation drives her to take leaps of faith that make life better for others. NEIGHBORHOOD Working closely with Cedar-Riverside and Seward residents is just one of the ways we live out our vocation to serve our neighbors. Somali students help their classmates learn more about the symbols and dress in Muslim culture. 100% of the profit from every bottle sold provides help at the grassroots level. Spring 2010 19 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 22 PURSUING AN IDEAL EDUCATION Imagine your ideal college education. What classes would you take? Who would teach them? What kind of students would you study with? What activities would you take part in? Where would you travel? When Robert Groven set out to restructure the Augsburg College Honors program, he asked faculty and students these sorts of questions. At first, he said, they were silent. “They had just accepted that college is the way it is,” Groven said. But then, they flooded him with ideas. Students wanted more academic challenge and to be pushed by faculty. They wanted courses to include more content and classroom experiences to be more active and engaging than in high school. They wanted to learn outside the classroom and to have opportunities for unconventional learning experiences—the exact sort of education that a small college in the city can provide. BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 The current Honors program house presidents are (clockwise, from front): Adam Spanier, Katie Radford, Becki Iverson, Andrew Fox, David Ishida, Jonathan Chrastek, Kathleen Watson, and Charlie Olson. 20 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 23 UNCONVENTIONAL COURSES Three aspects of Augsburg’s Honors courses distinguish them from courses in other college honors programs. First, each class is specifically created for the Honors program. In other words, it’s not a matter of adding an assignment or text to an existing course or simply creating a new title, Groven says. The content of Honors courses is enriched and the pace is accelerated as well. Second, Honors courses are intentionally interdisciplinary—multiple faculty from different departments teach in each class. This spring, for example, the senior keystone course was taught by faculty whose disciplines include sociology, social work, metro-urban studies, art, English, and theatre. Augsburg’s Honors students in the Liberating Letters class stepped back into ancient Greek times to put Poseidon on trial for the murder of Odysseus’ men and fleet. (L to R): Eric Dooley, Nikki Johnson, Becca Dickinson, and Patrick DuSchane. president, Paul Pribbenow, is one of the lead instructors, focusing on his study of Jane Addams, founder of the settlement house movement. The course, Legacies of Chicago: Ideas and Action in Place, was conceived by Lars Christiansen of the sociology and metrourban studies departments. The course examines how particular places are incubators for unique ideas and actions. In addition to studying about the traditions and concepts that originated in Chicago, the class traveled to the Windy City to experience the “place” firsthand. Finally, each course has a “signature” experience—an unconventional way of learning that involves a high level of effort and also includes a public display of what the students have learned. Students are usually enthusiastic about these experiences, Groven says, because the tasks are generally open-ended and students have more freedom to make decisions about what they learn and how they learn it. In Liberating Letters, a first-year humanities course, students put texts, authors, or fictional characters on trial, serving as judge, jury, prosecution, and defense. But before this class begins, students have to pass a test. In fact, in order to gain admission into the first session, they are required to recite the first stanza of Homer’s Odyssey from memory, solve a riddle about Greek mythology, and present the “prophecies” of three different people who know them well concerning where that student will be in 10 years. A second type of course, which is likely more-than-ideal for many students, is the Student Created Learning Experience, or SCLE. Aptly named, these are classes created by students based on their interests. SCLEs can essentially become an independent study course for one student or 20 students and can be open to all Augsburg students. One of the more popular SCLEs, which generated a great deal of interest when it was first introduced and again this year, was The Art, Science, and History of Brewing. In addition to learning about brewing from the perspective of different disciplines, students also brew two batches of beer and invite guest judges to evaluate the fruits of their labors. This year senior theatre arts major David Ishida created an SCLE on swordplay to fulfill 21 An olive-leaf crown is the emblem of the Hesser Servants House in the Honors program. OUT OF THE BOX The result of all that questioning was a student-centered program where students take responsibility for their own learning, with the full support of the faculty and the resources they need to achieve their goals. “We believe that an ideal education will be different for every student,” Groven says. “We know no one can reach an ideal goal, but we believe the process of exploring and pursuing ideals is essential to college education.” By striving for the ideal, the program has become one where students routinely go above and beyond the requirements outlined in their syllabi. “We set a very high bar, and we insist that they get there. But they set a much higher bar for themselves than we ever would.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 24 very receptive and energized,” Crockett says, “ … not just in the classroom but on campus.” Crockett has engaged 14 current students as research assistants who will read and critique work that he is presenting at an international conference. “I hope they really come at me,” he says. “I’m counting on them to find fresh answers.” EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER Honors senior Nicholas Blixt experiments with ingredients in The Art, Science, and History of Brewing class. a physical education credit but also to explore his interest in medieval history and culture. STUDENTS WHO LOVE TO LEARN Interesting classes and outstanding faculty certainly can combine for a compelling honors program, but the character and quality of the students make Augsburg’s program unique. “We are trying to look beyond good grades and test scores,” Groven comments. “We want intrinsically motivated learners—students who see ideas as living vehicles for human expression and change.” Computer science professor Larry Crockett, who was once the Honors program director, has taught in the program for many years. While he says Honors students are pushed to rise above expectations and challenge each other, he is especially enthusiastic about the extraordinary energy coming from this year’s incoming class. “These students are willing to dig into issues and are 22 Augsburg Now There’s more to Honors at Augsburg than fun classes and energetic students. Honors also provides leadership and scholarship opportunities and fosters an environment where students often start their own activities or groups. “Part of our philosophy is that as much learning should happen outside the classroom as inside,” Groven says. Students are organized into houses, each of which focuses on a different area: scholarship, social justice and service, stewardship, and citizenship. Each house plans and promotes activities and also elects two house presidents who serve on the Honors Council. With faculty advisers, the council sets the policy for the program and helps solve problems. One officially organized non-classroom learning opportunity is the Honors Review, a student-run, student-edited interdisciplinary journal of undergraduate scholarship. Taylor Norman, a senior English major and Honors student, is the current editor-in-chief. This year the Review extended its reach and received 43 submissions from undergraduates all across the country. After articles are selected for publication, Norman and her editorial staff check citations, verify research, and then engage the author to revise and edit. “We wanted to create a scholarly environment with lots of dialogue,” Norman says. All Honors activities and programs serve to support students so they can pursue their academic goals. “Honors tries to show students what amazing talents and abilities they have,” Groven says, and they find countless ways to apply their academic learning. For example, senior Jessica Spanswick, who majored in international relations and minored in peace and global studies, studied in Namibia for a semester and served as a Peace Scholar in connection with the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Her opportunities to volunteer for World AIDS Day in Namibia and to travel as a scholar to Chiapas, Mexico, gave her valuable hands-on global experience. Honors program students have received many of the highest national and international academic awards available; they have been Fulbright scholars, Goldwater scholars, the College’s first Rhodes scholar, and students who have won National Science Foundation grants—and that’s still just the tip of the iceberg. Part of the program’s mission is to encourage students, many who never thought of themselves as award-winning scholars, to apply for scholarships and publication so that their work can be recognized. These courses, the faculty who teach them, the students who take them, and the learning opportunities that happen outside the classroom all come together to try to create an ideal education for Augsburg Honors program students. “I never think of the Honors program as being done,” Groven says. “The best program will always be different because we are constantly adapting to new technologies, new students, and new problems.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 25 Sophomore Madeline Roe helps a Somali student with her work as part of Trinity Lutheran Congregation’s Safe Place Homework Help program. Across the Twin Cities, Minnesota, and the nation, stories of neighbors and colleges clashing bubble to the surface featuring real town vs. gown tension. Augsburg’s philosophy, however, is very different. Augsburg isn’t building walls or installing large steel gates on campus to keep the outside world out. Instead, Augsburg is reaching further out into the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods and, in the process, the College founded by Norwegian Lutherans is working closely with the largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the United States. WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY We believe we are called to serve our neighbor. That is Augsburg’s statement of institutional vocation. Live the experience. Love the city. Learn by living. Those words hang on banners along Riverside Avenue. While the first is formal and the second much more conversational, both, however, sum up what Auggies do. On a near daily basis, Augsburg students BY JEFF SHELMAN spend part of their afternoon at Trinity Lutheran Congregation helping young Somali children with topics ranging from spelling and sentence construction to subtraction and social studies. Several times a week, Auggies serve food in the gym at the Brian Coyle Community Center as part of the Campus Kitchen program. First-year Auggies in the Bonner Leaders program work with nonprofit organizations, most within a mile of campus. 23 OUT OF THE BOX IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD Let’s say one person wanted to match the amount of community service that was completed by Augsburg students during the 2008-09 school year. What would it take? Since Auggies performed 67,000 hours of community service last year, someone would have to work for 2,791 24-hour days—more than 7.5 years—or 8,375 eight-hour work days. That’s a staggering total for a college with 2,000 traditional undergraduates and 4,000 total students. That work has led to Augsburg’s inclusion as one of the top 25 schools in the country for service-learning by U.S.News & World Report and the Carnegie [Foundation] Classification for Community Engagement. Earlier this spring, Augsburg became the only Minnesota college or university and one of only four ELCA schools to be named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. The President’s Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to volunteering, 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 26 service-learning, and civic engagement. “We are very proud and honored to be included in the President’s Honor Roll,” Augsburg president Paul C. Pribbenow said. “Civic work and serving our neighbor are at the core of Augsburg’s efforts to educate students for democracy.” Last school year, 900 Augsburg students participated in service-learning and 1,200 students participated in more than 20 hours of community service per semester. Much of the community service takes place in course-embedded service-learning, something that has been part of education at Augsburg for years. MORE THAN JUST SERVICE Augsburg’s work in Cedar-Riverside and Seward, however, is about more than simply donating time; it is also about trying to make the neighborhood safer, more vibrant, and create opportunities for the state’s newest immigrant population. Pribbenow currently chairs the CedarRiverside Partnership, a group that includes larger institutions in the neighborhood including Augsburg, Fairview hospitals, and the University of Minnesota. “There’s a level of trust being built,” said Steve Peacock, Augsburg’s director of community relations. “There are conversations taking place that weren’t before. There’s the coordination of infrastructure and planning among the institutions.” Much of the work has been around safety in the neighborhood. Last summer, for example, the members of the partnership provided funding to ensure security at the Brian Coyle Community Center. There has been much more communication among security at Fairview and Augsburg, the University of Minnesota, and Minneapolis Police Departments. Augsburg has also worked in the neighborhood in other ways, ranging from providing meeting space to sometimes even trying to build bridges. Last year, more than a dozen reporters and editors from the Minneapolis Star Tribune sat in a room in Oren Gateway Center with a dozen or so Somali community leaders and elders. The Somali leaders talked of good things going on in their community that don’t get covered. Star Tribune editors said they would like to tell more stories, but finding Somalis willing to talk is challenging. The Somali leaders—who arrived in the United States having never experienced freedom of the press—gained a better understanding of how the media work. Reporters and editors left with new contacts and resources. CHANGE TO THE CAMPUS Augsburg’s involvement in Cedar-Riverside has led to a change on campus as well. With each passing fall, the number of Auggies of Somali descent grows. This fall, The Somali yarn weaving hanging in President Pribbenow’s office symbolizes the partnership between Augsburg and the East African Women’s Center. there are about 50 Somali students on campus. For some of them, Augsburg was the first college they ever knew. For others, there is a comfort in attending Augsburg. Halimo Adan is a first-year student who grew up in Seward and can see the Augsburg sign atop Mortensen Hall from her home. She’s among the growing number of students on campus wearing both an Augsburg sweatshirt and a hijab, the head covering worn by Muslim women. “People don’t ask stupid questions, they’re very open minded,” said Adan, who came to the U.S. when she was 9 years old. “Even though I’ve been here most of my life, when you get asked questions all the time, you feel like you don’t belong.” But at Augsburg, neighbors are always welcome. First-year students file into the Northern Clay Center to help with clean-up on City Service Day. 24 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 27 For Daley Konchar Farr, the lack of grades was motivation for signing up, but the discussions and professors’ involvement were more rewarding aspects of I-Term. LEARNING TO LEARN WITHOUT ANY A, B, CS 25 OUT OF THE BOX BY JEFF SHELMAN 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 28 It isn’t quite a chicken or egg kind of question, but it is an academic conundrum along the same line. Just how important are grades on a college campus when it comes to actual learning? Do grades really reflect how much a student has learned? Or do students do just enough to get the grade they want? And what happens if you take letter grades and numerical marks completely out of the equation? That’s what 50 Augsburg first-year students, five professors, and several staff members tried to find out this past fall. The Integrated Term, Fate of the Earth 101: Consumption of Food, Fuel, and Media in Contemporary Culture, was more than just a different way to package and deliver several general education courses; it was a semester that challenged many of the standard conventions about what a college education is or should be. There were no traditional letter grades for this learning community nor was there a static syllabus passed out on the first day. This was a term that focused on doing, on students having a say in what they would be evaluated on, and on professors writing detailed evaluations about both what students had accomplished and where they needed to continue to work. Sitting lifeless in the back row and regurgitating enough facts to pass wasn’t an option this term. “This was much more work than grading,” English professor Robert Cowgill said. “But I thought it was a major success.” Most of the students—many of whom were drawn to the I-Term because of the environmental focus or the alternative evaluation method—agreed. Daley Konchar Farr called the semester-long experiment empowering. Veronica Berg said she was pushed to do things she wasn’t sure were possible just one semester into her college career. Katelin Grote called the whole thing life changing. Some of that was because the I-Term, which showed just how parts of a liberal arts education are interconnected, was their entire load for the semester. I-Term students who successfully completed the course received credit for English 101 or 111 (writing), Religion 100 (Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning I), History 101 (Western Civilization), Sociology 101 (Introduction to Human Society) and AugSem (first-year seminar). They also completed their Engaging Minneapolis requirement. REASONS FOR NOT GRADING When a group of professors returned from a conference at The Evergreen State College in Washington in 2007, the goal was to find a way for Augsburg to experiment with a learning community model of teaching as well as non-traditional evaluation methods. Over the next two years, the professors worked with the dean’s office to make this a reality. How was this term going to be structured? Were groups such as Faculty Senate supportive? How would students receive credit? How would the narrative evaluations fit into the very traditional transcript? Once hurdles were cleared, plans were set for a three-year pilot program of the nongraded Integrated Term. The faculty designers of the I-Term hope that the students who spend a semester focused on learning instead of simply making a grade will have higher retention and graduation rates. The longer-term outcomes of the experiment won’t be clear for several years, but this group and subsequent groups of I-Term students will be tracked by the College. While the word “experiment” is often tossed around rather loosely on college campuses, the I-Term is certainly unique. Sociology professor Lars Christiansen, an I-Term faculty member who has studied alternative evaluation methods, said that about 15 colleges and universities across the country have experimented with non-graded courses. Some are completely nongraded while others are partially graded The role of media in contemporary culture was a focus for I-Term students. 26 Augsburg Now or have reverted back to traditional grading. Alverno College in Milwaukee is one of the only schools in the Midwest that is grade free. No grades, however, doesn’t equal no evaluation. In almost every case, I-Term students had a greater grasp of where they stood. They worked very closely with the two English professors on their writing, and received regular written feedback from the other faculty members. “It was kind of like tough love,” Maryam Ayir said. “You knew exactly what you had to work on.” Konchar Farr signed up for the ITerm both because of the subject matter, and also because of lack of traditional grades. “Grades are false motivation,” she said. “In high school, I didn’t get anything out of getting As if I didn’t learn. [Here], I really appreciated that things were so discussionbased and how involved the professors were. They were so dedicated to our work.” For Christiansen, the best thing from the semester is that Augsburg now has the framework in place to continue experimenting with alternative evaluation methods. There is now the ability for the narrative evaluations to accompany a student’s transcript. And there is also at least some appetite from students to not have a semester of work boiled down to simply a number. “The majority of students said it was a good Courtesy photo 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 29 Kwame Collins and other students from the I-Term attended the 350.org event at the State Capitol that was part of an international focus on the climate crisis. LEARNING BY DOING Unchained from the burden of grades, students could concentrate on really learning and figuring out what truly motivates them. And without traditional exercises like exams, students in Fate of the Earth 101 demonstrated their advancement through semester-long projects that incorporated something under the broad umbrella of food, fuel, or media. One group of students met with staff members from Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s office about how the bodies of women are portrayed in advertisements. Pushing Best Buy to be more environmentally friendly in its stores was what another group sought. Others looked into the feasibility of Augsburg capturing solar energy and purchasing more locally grown food. “Those are the kinds of things we were hoping would happen,” Christiansen said. “We were hoping through the experiences of the I-Term that [students] were here to learn and that they were here to understand themselves as possible change agents—and that collaboration is an essential component.” And while most courses end as soon as that final exam is completed, a number of the I-Term students are continuing with the ongoing work of their projects. For example, Berg was part of a group that created the website www.mnhomelessyouth.org. Those students met both with representatives from Minneapolis Public Schools and a group working on homeless issues, before and during the spring semester. “It didn’t just end at the end of the course,” history professor Phil Adamo said. “They continue to be engaged.” Because of what they were asked to do, many of the I-Term students accomplished more than they thought possible just months removed from high school graduation. “We were learning at a different level, we were getting to project ourselves at a bigger level,” Berg said. “To sit at the table as a contributor with some of these agencies was something I didn’t think I’d be able to do for many years.” That theme was a common one. “One thing we repeatedly heard was the notion that they were empowered with what they were able to accomplish by the end of their first semester in college,” religion professor Lori Brandt Hale said. “They were surprised and excited about how they will be able to leverage that moving forward.” CHANGING TEACHING METHODS Like the other I-Term professors, Colin Irvine is back teaching more traditional courses this semester. An English faculty member, Irvine has a collection of writing and literature classes this spring. But Irvine acknowledges that he is teaching differently this semester. And the I-Term had much to do with that. “It made me complicate my classes,” he said. “I’m not content with the way I was teaching before. I’m not content with the assignments I was giving. I’m making them more fun, more relevant, and harder to assess. I can’t allow myself to teach the way I’ve always taught.” Irvine talked about a conversation with a biology major who is taking his environmental literature course this season. The student said he’s been doing the reading, working hard, and attending writing lab sessions. “But he said, ‘I don’t know how I’m doing,’” Irvine said. “I told him, ‘Are you kidding me? That’s exactly what I want you to do, you’re figuring it out, you’re doing great.’” Because just like the I-Term students who have adjusted to courses with traditional grading, almost everyone involved in the experiment has a better idea of what motivates them and just how important learning is. I-TERM CREATORS/DESIGNERS Phil Adamo, History, Medieval Studies Lars Christiansen, Sociology, Metro-Urban Studies Robert Cowgill, English, Film Studies Stacy Cutinella, Lindell Library Lori Brandt Hale, Religion Colin Irvine, English, Environmental Studies Nathan Lind, Information Technology Alyson Olson, TRIO Student Services Beverly Stratton, Religion PROJECTS THE STUDENTS WORKED ON • Addressing women’s body representations in advertising by creating a legislative bill requiring advertisers to indicate the presence of airbrushing and similar touch-ups • Website that centralizes resources for homeless youth in the Twin Cities • Energy-producing exercise bicycles at Augsburg’s Kennedy Center • Reducing water waste at Augsburg • Increasing local food sourcing at Augsburg, particularly meat and cheese • Assisting in developing curbside composting in Minneapolis • Reducing paper waste at Augsburg bookstore • Improving environmental practices at Best Buy • Composting at Maple Grove High School 27 OUT OF THE BOX experience to not have grades and they liked the ongoing evaluation,” he said. “It shows me that if you provide it, people will try it, and many will like it. Why don’t we make it an option generally? It’s not dissimilar to our transportation system. Until the last few years, many didn’t believe they had options other than driving. The I-Term is akin to the Hiawatha (light rail) Line: Once a viable alternative is provided, people may see it as useful and desirable.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:37 AM Page 30 CONNECTING THE DOTS FOR GOOD BY BRYAN BARNES “I read this article in Time magazine, interviewing all of these 80- and 90-year-old people,” said Jacquie Berglund ’87. “The overwhelming feedback from their question, ‘If you could change one thing, what would it be?’ was that they all wish they had taken more risks.” That was 1983, when Berglund was in her first year at Augsburg College. Since then, she has faced many risks on her way to building one of Minnesota’s most successful social enterprises—an enterprise that uses beer sales to fund its community foundation. One of her first risks? Backpacking through Europe during her sophomore year in the face of parental disapproval. “My parents didn’t want me to do it,” Berglund said. “[My English professor] said, ‘Jacquie, you should absolutely do it. Let’s come up with a way for you to get credit for it here.’” With that, Berglund ventured across the Atlantic for six weeks under the banner of an Augsburg creative-writing course. Her experience fostered a travel bug that would lead her back for a seven-year long stay in France after Augsburg. “[Backpacking] helped me to think globally and really changed my perspective,” Berglund said. “That was a powerful turning point for me.” Graduating from Augsburg in 1987 with a degree in communication studies Jacquie Berglund ’87 knew that with passion and patience she could fulfill her dream of making a difference in her community. 28 Augsburg Now and a minor in political science, Berglund combined an interest in nonprofits with her travel experience to pursue work in international development. By 1990, she had taken an internship in Paris at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the same group that helped administer the Marshall Plan after World War II. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Berglund found herself working with the best entrepreneurial minds at OECD to develop regional economies in former Soviet bloc countries. “We were training government officials, and these guys were all communists—they didn’t want to learn [about how to build free markets],” Berglund said. “I felt like we went in and did all of this work and spent all of this money, and I don’t know what impact we really had. Then I thought, ‘you know, I think the real work is done at the grassroots level.’ I would see the people at the grassroots level in these countries and they were really making a difference, and I thought, ‘that’s where I have to be. I’ve got to get there.’ I just didn’t know how I was going to get there, but that’s where I wanted to go.” While at OECD, Berglund earned her master’s degree in international relations from the American Graduate School in Paris. However, by 1997 Berglund found herself needing expensive back surgery, so she returned to the Twin Cities to work as marketing director for her old friend, Kieran Folliard, restauranteur and owner of Cara Irish Pubs LP. One of Berglund’s duties as marketing director was to help Folliard distribute charitable gifts in the Twin Cities. They found themselves Finnegan’s Inc. created the Finnegan’s Community Fund to distribute 100% of profits to local community projects. giving grants to any organization that asked. Eventually, their CFO put the brakes on their charity bonanza and told them they needed a better strategy. Berglund agreed: she recognized from her OECD days that the Cara Pubs money wasn’t making the desired impact. Berglund had also just attended a conference in Washington, D.C., on self-sustaining nonprofits. “That’s when I thought: we sell beer all day,” Berglund said. “What if we create our own beer, and we choose to give all of the profits from this one beer to our own foundation, and then we pick one cause, and we really make a difference? It took me a little while to sell Kieran on the idea.” With that, Berglund and Folliard set about creat- ing Finnegan’s Irish Amber, named in reference to James Joyce’s final work. They contacted James Page Brewing Company in Minneapolis to help them create the beer, eventually selecting one recipe from over 40 options provided by the brewmaster. At this point, Berglund and Folliard realized that running Finnegan’s and its community foundation would consume all of Berglund’s time. That left one choice: quit Cara Pubs and focus on Finnegan’s, or let the idea die. Berglund bought the Finnegan’s recipe for $1 from Folliard. “That was kind of scary, leaving that job, from having a good salary to no salary,” Berglund said. “It was very scary. It was rather terrifying. I’ve had a lot of terrifying moments—I must handle stress well. I’m still waking and talking and not in a straitjacket.” Starting in 2000, Berglund created forprofit Finnegan’s Inc., which donates all of its profits from beer sales to her nonprofit 29 OUT OF THE BOX S 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 31 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 32 creation, which is now called Finnegan’s Community Fund. She taught herself the beer trade. James Page produced Finnegan’s on contract, but she was responsible for selling it to distributors. “I didn’t even know what a keg fee was,” Berglund recalls. Finnegan’s community focus sold the beer. Distributors, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants in the Twin Cities were sympathetic to Berglund’s cause—and it helped that the beer was popular during the burgeoning craft brew craze. Though she wasn’t turning a profit yet, Berglund was able to make a $2,000 donation in her first year of operation. Then, James Page Brewing Company shut down in 2002. “I was a mess—I was totally a mess,” Berglund said. “I started to panic: ‘If they go out of business, I’m going to go out of business.’” Thinking quickly, Berglund contacted Mark Stutrud, founder of Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul. “They really didn’t do contract brewing, but I think that [Stutrud] appreciated the community-mindedness of what I was doing,” Berglund said. “Plus, I already had a list of accounts, so I already had a proven track record that I could make this thing work.” To this day, Finnegan’s is produced at Summit. In 2003, Finnegan’s made its first profit. By 2009, Finnegan’s was selling 4,300 barrels per year to 475 restaurants and 600 liquor stores in Minnesota and beyond—which translated into $30,000 for the Finnegan’s Community Fund. That money, in addition to direct donations, is being used to fund local grassroots community organizations that are helping the working poor. “When I came back from France, I 30 Augsburg Now Berglund often considers her own experience growing up as motivation for her drive to do good for others. volunteered in St. Steven’s shelter in Minneapolis,” Berglund said. “I got to see for myself … a lot of these guys get up to work factory jobs at 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning. I saw how many of these guys were working and still homeless.” The needs of the working poor strike a personal chord for Berglund. Growing up, her father started working as a janitor before moving up the ranks, while her mother was a waitress. “I remember as a kid not being able to participate in church activities because we didn’t have the money,” Berglund said. “I feel so fortunate to be able to have done all of the things that I do. I think that, ‘Boy, it’s nice to give back a little bit.’ We owe a bit of gratitude.” That background helps explain Berglund’s drive to build a self-sustaining nonprofit that can help the working poor regardless of government grants or philanthropic whims. But it also comes down to faith in your vocation. “Whenever I do speaking engagements, that’s my whole thing: It’s about following your passions, and then at some point, the dots will connect. Even though it seems so remote that they could possibly connect,” Berglund said. “When I came back and was working in the pub, I thought, ‘What am I doing here? How does this connect to this whole dream job I had of international development projects?’ I just had faith that it’s going to come—I’m going to find it. It’s kind of that whole ‘calling’ thing at Augsburg—I knew I was going to find it, it was just going to take a minute.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 33 IGNITE-ING AUGGIE SPIRIT BY BETSEY NORGARD Senior Brittany Goff is the intern who matches students and alumni for visits and leads the student team. 31 OUT OF THE BOX One student heard about a fire that broke out in one of the houses on campus in the 1970s. Another enjoyed hearing perspectives from a studio art major about his work at a financial organization. A third met with an alum who fondly remembers the tasty cinnamon rolls that students often got in Morton Hall in the mid-1950s. Twenty students working in the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office recently completed the first year of Project IGNITE. They’ve been meeting with alumni to learn more about the role that the College played in the lives of the alumni and to share stories and experiences about Augsburg then and now. Senior Brittany Goff is the intern who directs the students’ work for Project IGNITE. Once she hand-matches students and alums who share similar majors and/or interests, a letter from President Pribbenow is sent explaining the program and alerting the alum to a future call from a student. The student will invite the alum to a meeting preferably on campus or at a convenient coffee shop. That first contact can be a little daunting for students, but knowing they share interests makes it easier. Melissa Herrick, a 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 34 communication studies and art sophomore, says it tells the alum that “this is not a random call; there’s a reason I’m calling you,” which, in her case, is to share with them what art at Augsburg is like now and to hear about their experience studying art at Augsburg. STUDENTS CONNECT WITH ALUMNI On a cold day last fall, Herrick met with Patti Lloyd ’83, who owns a web development and interactive marketing company. While Lloyd was an international business major and not an art major, the two immediately discovered common interests in web design. Herrick was trying to plan a webpage for an arts project and was delighted to get some ideas from Lloyd. “We had a great meeting,” says Lloyd, “and when she left, I think she felt comfortable that all the resources were there for her project.” One of the meetings that Goff enjoyed was with a physician. In the conversation, Goff, a psychology major, learned about the physician’s medical practice that has included a psychologist and a nurse, enabling him to offer both physical and mental testing and care. “This was really a great experience for me,” Goff says, “to help me consider my future career and the option to be in a practice like that.” Adam Spanier, sophomore class president and an Honors student, says he has met many interesting people through Project IGNITE. His favorite aspect of the program, he says, is “hearing the many different bits of advice and wisdom that alumni have to offer.” 32 Augsburg Now Sophomore Adam Spanier enjoys hearing the advice alumni can give to current students. to-face relationship with a person who is going through the experience.” Haug and his partner returned to campus in December for the Advent Vespers dinner and enjoyed talking with people they knew and meeting others. ALUMNI ENJOY RECONNECTING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES CONTINUE Most alumni contacted in Project IGNITE are graduates who have not been active in alumni activities or participated recently in events. Re-engaging with their alma mater through Project IGNITE has also been enjoyable for them, especially seeing the College through the eyes of current students. Christopher Haug ’79 was one of the alumni Spanier met last fall. “What benefited me the most,” Haug says, “is that I felt I was connected again with my school. There’s nothing like a face- Pat Grans, the Project IGNITE volunteer coordinator, follows up with the interests and/or requests that students bring back from the alumni visits. She crafts individual plans recommending events and volunteer opportunities that could include speaking in a class, inviting a student to job shadow, or helping with registration at an event. Or, Grans can seek to create a tailored opportunity based on the alum’s interests. Grans has now developed volunteer job descriptions and oversees all aspects of recruiting, training, scheduling, supervising, and recognizing volunteers. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 35 Project IGNITE means Involving Graduates Now In Thoughtful Engagement. A three-year project funded by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Project IGNITE is designed to serve as a model to help other colleges and universities engage their alumni. What makes Project IGNITE an out-of-the-box program and readily transferable are several components that together offer lifelong alumni connections: • One-to-one interaction between students and alumni—who better to talk about the college experience and re-engage alumni than current students? • Mutually beneficial matching of student and alumni majors and interests • Individualized and ongoing follow-up from a volunteer coordinator to keep engagement and energy alive In the project’s first six months at Augsburg, both attendance at events and volunteering have increased. Of the alumni the IGNITE students have visited during this time, 14% have now attended College events. Nearly 76% have expressed interest in volunteering; and of those, 20% have begun. More than 1,800 hours of volunteer time have been logged. Kim Stone, director of alumni and constituent relations, is excited by the results. She attributes success to the total package Project IGNITE makes possible—engaging students in the alumni program before they graduate, encouraging ongoing attendance at alumni events, and keeping alumni connected to campus through meaningful volunteering. For more information or to arrange to meet with an IGNITE student, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1085. “WELCOME TO AUGSBURG” Larry Menzel ’67 retired three years ago from a long career as a Kmart executive in 17 locations across the Upper Midwest. Working with people was what his job was all about, and in retirement he wanted to be able to continue that. When volunteer coordinator Pat Grans sent a mailing about Augsburg’s new volunteer program, it sparked his interest. Despite the fact that he hadn’t been on campus since graduation, he still felt a connection. “Since my wife was gone from the house regularly on Friday mornings, I thought it would be a good time for me to do something, too,” Menzel says. He called Grans to talk about volunteering. Grans suggested that he staff the welcome desk in Oren Gateway Center on Friday mornings, and he thought that sounded good. In addition to helping people find their way around the building and answering questions, he also provides help to the Institutional Advancement staff. Soon he found himself at Homecoming and other events, which pleases his wife, too, as she sees him doing things he enjoys. His advice to current students he meets? “Study hard, find a rewarding life, and follow the principles of God, family, and work—in that order.” Melissa Herrick, an art and communication studies major who is working on a web project, found a natural connection with Patti Lloyd ’83, the owner of a web development company. 33 OUT OF THE BOX HAS PROJECT IGNITE MADE A DIFFERENCE? 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 36 6 3 7 4 1 3 3 2 34 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 37 6 5 THE BOD POD lives upstairs in the Kennedy Center kinesiology lab. It’s a high-tech apparatus that provides fast, safe, and accurate measurements of body composition, detailing fat and lean body mass. It provides useful information for measuring the effectiveness of exercise and nutrition, fine-tuning top athletic performance, and tracking the progress of obesity and disease. Since Bod Pods are found mostly in fitness facilities and elite training centers, Augsburg’s health, physical education, and health fitness majors are fortunate to have this in their learning portfolio. Used primarily in kinesiology and exercise physiology classes, students learn how to run the Bod Pod, interpret the results, and incorporate recommendations into specialized training plans. If you are interested in being measured in the Bod Pod, contact Professor Tony Clapp at clapp@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1618. THE BOD POD 1. The Bod Pod 2. Data acquisition box—interprets test data coming from the Bod Pod measurements 3. Computer hardware that processes all measurements, manages data, and provides customized printouts of the test data 4. Calibration standards—Weights used to calibrate the Bod Pod before each person is measured, to assure accuracy when the person’s weight is entered 5. “Fast Eddie”—The Auggies’ own skeleton used in health and physical education classes. He arrived when the Kennedy Center opened in 2007. 6. Anatomical charts most likely dating from the opening of Science Hall in 1949, recently found rolled up in a storage closet. They’re now taking on new life in the Health, Physical Education, and Health Fitness Department. 7. Professor Tony Clapp, demonstrating the Bod Pod procedure: • Wear spandex-type swimsuit or bike shorts and a swim cap • Sit in the Bod Pod while measurements take about 30 seconds • Get printouts of test results in about five minutes 35 OUT OF THE BOX 4 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 38 OUT-OF-THE-BOX PARTNERSHIPS BY REBECCA JOHN The annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum (see story on page 10) is the result of just one of the many unique partnerships at Augsburg College. It is the only program or academic affiliation of the Norwegian Nobel Institute outside of Norway. Here are a few more examples of Augsburg’s out-of-the-box partnerships. NEIGHBORHOOD COLLABORATIONS The Cedar-Riverside Partnership was founded in 2008 to foster collaboration among existing community organizations—the African Development Center, Pillsbury United Communities, West Bank Community Coalition, the Cedar Riverside Neighborhood Revitalization Program, and the West Bank Business Association—and local government bodies and institutions, including the city and county, the University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and Augsburg College. “The goal of the partnership,” says Steve Peacock, Augsburg director of community relations, “is to leverage these organizations’ collective resources to strengthen Cedar-Riverside as a vibrant place in which to live, learn, and work.” The partnership is chaired by Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow. BUSINESS FEASIBILITY Augsburg plays an active role in the Mayo Innovation Scholars Program (MISP), a unique partnership with the Mayo Clinic that offers an experiential learning opportunity for both graduate and undergraduate students. Through the program, undergraduate science and business students from select Minnesota private colleges are teamed with MBA project leaders from either Augsburg College or the University of St. Thomas to evaluate the commercial potential for patent ideas submitted through the Mayo Clinic Office of Intellectual Property. This year, Augsburg had five teams working on projects—two in Rochester and three 36 Augsburg Now in Minneapolis—which presented their findings and recommendations to professionals at the Mayo Clinic in March. SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT The Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) was founded in 1975 by five liberal arts institutions—Augsburg, Hamline, Macalester, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas—to provide cooperative programs and services for students, faculty, and administrators. In 2009, the consortium’s Chief Academic Officers Council, chaired by Barbara Farley, Augsburg’s vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, renewed its efforts to explore common areas of academic opportunity using a focus on “sustainable urban development.” “This theme truly ties us together as colleges in the Twin Cities,” Farley says. “Broadly defined, it includes education, health care, transportation, housing, and environmental concerns, offering a rich platform for exploring strategies for enhancing shared academic programs.” PARTNERS ON CAMPUS In recent years, two of Augsburg’s community partnerships have become integrated into the College: Campus Kitchen and the Minnesota Urban Debate League—both of which operate under the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning. In 2003, Augsburg became the fourth college campus in the U.S. to join the Campus Kitchens Project. The program provides meal preparation and delivery to neighborhood organizations, nutrition and food preparation classes for area youth, and outreach to the surrounding neighborhood through the continuously expanding community garden. Augsburg is the first college to wholly integrate its Campus Kitchen as part of the College. The Minnesota Urban Debate League has had a relationship with Augsburg since 2004 and became part of the College in summer 2009. This move allowed the league to focus less on administrative operations and more on reaching urban middle and high school students. In the past year, the program doubled to 350 students and teaches important skills like research, writing, thesis development, and public speaking. CONNECTING YOUTH TO CHURCHES Now in its 19th year, the Augsburg College Congregational Youth Basketball League partners with dozens of metro-area churches to involve junior high and high school boys and girls in an annual basketball league that emphasizes fun, service, sponsorship, participation, relationships, and growth in one’s faith. The program was founded by Augsburg pastor Dave Wold to help keep youth connected to churches. The league starts in January each year and culminates in a March tournament on Augsburg’s campus that involves more than 1,000 players, coaches, officials, and volunteers from Augsburg and area churches. “The program is very successful at enabling our churches to connect with a greater number of young people,” Wold said, “providing the opportunity for them to have some fun; get some exercise; build relationships with teammates, coaches, youth workers, and pastors; and have an encounter with God.” To learn about other out-ofthe-box partnerships, go to www.augsburg.edu/now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 39 auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … Dear Alumni and friends, a 2010 s I write this article we’ve headed into the spring season, and a couple of words appear in my mind: renewal and growth. We can see our world transform around us with a renewed sense of purpose—growth. Trees are beginning to bud, early flowers are beginning to show their bright colors, and I think this lifts our spirits and warms our hearts to the possibility and purpose of our world. It is this renewal and growth I want to discuss with you in this my last article as president of the Alumni Association, as it chooses new leadership in June. One of my main goals this year was that of growth for the Alumni Association—not only in size, but also in commitment and involvement in activities and events that enrich and add value to your life. Every year, the Augsburg Alumni Association’s Board of Directors spends a great deal of time in the creation, planning, and execution of events designed to raise awareness, renew involvement, and create a sense of community among alumni. Looking back on the year, alumni have had opportunities to come together in ways we have not been seen in many years. Ex- HOMECOMING amples of this are the more than 700 alumni who attended the Canterbury Park event last August, the capacity turnout for events such as the Winter Wine Tasting, the Eye-Opener Breakfast Series, and the Young Alumni Council events, as well as alumni attendance at the Guthrie performance of Macbeth. These events and activities are just a few that have been exceedingly well received; and the leadership of the Alumni Association as well as the College’s dedicated staff from the Alumni and Constituent Relations Office plan to enhance what has been a very successful year. I am very grateful for having the opportunity to represent the alumni this year as well as for all of the hard work and dedication of those who helped make this year so successful. I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming years and plan to continue contributing to this wonderful organization dedicated to the alumni of Augsburg College. I wish you a wonderful spring—please continue to check back with the College, as something new will always be springing to life. DANIEL HICKLE ’95 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT October 14-16, 2010 Reunion Classes 60th Reunion—1950 25th Reunion—1985 50th Reunion—1960 10th Reunion—2000 40th Reunion—1970 Recent Grad/Young Alumni Reunion—2001–2010 If you would like to help make your reunion a success, contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or alumni@augsburg.edu. Go to www.augsburg.edu/homecoming for updates and reunion information. Spring 2010 37 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 40 auggie alumni news preciate works I already knew—Michelangelo’s David, the ceiling When I returned to Augsburg in fall 2004 after dropping out a year earlier, I was eager to reform the lackluster study habits that had of the Sistine Chapel—and discovered wonderful artists—Bernini, plagued my academic career. At every fork in the road, I purposeCarravaggio—I previously knew nothing about. fully chose the path I previously would never have considered. And Between visits to churches and museums, we made time for that’s how I, a young man who spent his entire adolescence hating wine tasting on a Tuscan vineyard and a tour on an olive farm. to travel, jumped at the chance to study in El Salvador. Food and drink took on greater significance while in Italy. An exThere, we witnessed previously unimagined poverty and became pansive dinner coupled with lively conversation regularly served as inspired by countless acts of resilience. The little free time availan evening’s event. My roommate, a chatty substitute science able was spent in discussions, journals, and books. There were no teacher from Lester Prairie named Gordon, celebrated his 70th moments wasted and no words ignored. birthday in Orvieto during one of our four-course dinners. That summer, I studied literature in France, and over the next The trip to Italy allowed me to escape the stresses of home for a two years, I went on to study in Nicaragua, Uganda, Rwanda, and couple weeks and infused me with a new appreciation of visual art. Tanzania and volunteered on a mission trip to Mexico. It was a fitting continuation of the travel experiences I began while Upon graduating in May 2007, I feared my opportunities to con- studying at Augsburg. tinue traveling oversees had vanished. The expansive summer and JEREMY ANDERSON ’07 holiday breaks were gone; the immediate walls of my work cubicle provided no horizon to look beyond. Fortunately, I spotted a chance to break the monotony—Professor Kristin Anderson was leading a travel seminar to study Italian art and architecture. In November, I boarded a plane alongside 25 other seminar participants. During our journey through Padua, Venice, Ravenna, Florence, Orvieto, the ancient ruins in Pompeii, Naples, Rome, and Vatican City, we viewed wondrous landscapes, observed countless works of art, and walked through dozens of secularly decorated churches. Day by day, my learning regarding ancient, medieval, Renaissance, and baroque art and architecture grew, thanks to the knowlTravelers to Italy posed for a photo in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. (Back row, L to R): Mary Johnson, Judy Reeve ’95, Heidi Hunter, Luke Anderson ’60, Gracia Luoma ’66, Jim Hoseth ’68, Gordon Houk, Larry Turner ’69, Grace Bergstrom, Sue Turner, John Luoma ’65, edge shared by Professor Max Carlson ’09, Kim Stone, Jeremy Anderson ’07, Jason Stone. (Front row, L to R): Art professor Kristin Anderson, Kathy Wilson, Joanne Anderson. I came to better apCress, Susan Hoseth, Mary Rogers, Jill Reister, Deanna Carlson, Amy Kessler, Rose Becker ’04, Sharon Carlson ’72, Susan Carlson. 38 Augsburg Now Photo by Larry Turner ’69 Journeying to Italy 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 41 The Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings will be available soon! Three boxed sets, each containing five CDs, present remastered recordings of the Augsburg Choir over 30 years, from 1949–79. Included with each order is a monograph by Bill Halverson ’51 about Leland B. Sateren’s life and career. Cost: $49 per boxed set; $135 for all three boxed sets, plus shipping and handling. For information about availability and ordering, go to www.augsburg.edu/music. The Young Alumni enjoyed some late summer rooftop lawn bowling at Brit’s Pub in September. (L to R): Jay Cavanagh, Rob Wagner ’02, Mike Fasching ’02, Britt Fasching ’02, Ben Carlson ’02, ’09 MBA, and Leah Omar. Young Alumni Summer Series The Young Alumni Summer Series is back in 2010 with exciting new events and favorites from last year. • Seven Corners kick-off party—May 21, 5–8 p.m., at Preston’s • Networking at Fuji-ya in Uptown—June 17, 5–7 p.m. • Minnesota Twins game at Target Field—July 15, 7 p.m. • Auggie Night at the Races, Canterbury Park—Aug. 5 • Summit Brewery tour—Aug. 21, 1 p.m. • End of Summer Bash—Sept. 16, 5–7 p.m., at Seven UltraLounge For more information and to register, go to www.augsburg.edu/alumnievents and join the Young Alumni group on facebook. To get involved in the Young Alumni Council, call 612-330-1178 or e-mail storma@augsburg.edu. auggies GO GREEN The Augsburg Alumni Association is going green The Augsburg College Alumni Association is reducing print mailings and relying more on technology to get the word out about events. To stay in the loop, update your contact information at www.augsburg.edu/alumni or e-mail the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu to receive NOW@Augsburg, the monthly news and information e-newsletter. You can also stay up to date by becoming a friend of Auggie Eagle on Facebook. Tourism Ireland Journey to the Emerald Isle Celtic crosses like this one in County Offaly are vivid reminders of Ireland’s rich history. (Note change of date to May 2011) Join friends from the Augsburg College community in early May 2011 for an in-depth journey through Ireland with Phillip Adamo, associate professor and chair of the History Department, director of Augsburg’s medieval studies program, and experienced study tour leader. He looks forward to returning to Ireland with alumni and friends to explore centuries of heroic history including sites dating to 9,000 BC. Experience the intense rugged beauty of land carved from the sea contrasting with the meticulous gardens of stately castles. Discover the spirit and historic significance of Celtic Christianity, visiting ancient monastic communities where Christianity flourished during the Dark Ages. Celebrate contemporary Irish culture with passion-filled music and food at local pubs. To receive additional updates on the tour and be among the first to receive a tour brochure by late June, contact Alumni Relations, 612-330-1178 or alumni@augsburg.edu. Don’t hesitate to be included on the interested list as the alumni tour to Italy last year filled quickly and had a waiting list. Join us at the information session on Tuesday, June 15, 6:30 p.m., Oren Gateway Center. Spring 2010 39 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 42 alumni class notes 53Ariz., was recognized by AmerDr. Leland Fairbanks, Tempe, icans for Nonsmokers’ Rights (ANR) with the 2009 ANR Smokefree Hero of the Year Award during the National Conference on Tobacco or Health in Phoenix, Ariz. on June 9. He is the longtime president of Arizonans Concerned About Smoking (ACAS). 56son) ’60, Baxter, Minn., were Len Brown and Mavis (Daniel- featured on brainderddispatch.com for their tradition of traveling the region to find and enjoy lutefisk dinners. In 2007, they went to 13 dinners; in 2008, they visited 12; and last year there were 8. Coaches Association (MSHSCA) for leadership in promoting the mission of MSHSCA. He retired in 2007 after a 40-year career teaching mathematics and coaching football, mostly in Alexandria. 69ored as the recipient of the Mary (Strom) Dyrud was hon- 2010 Peter Hess Memorial Faculty Recognition Award on February 22 at the Spring Awards Ceremony at Northland Community and Technical College in Thief River Falls, Minn. She has taught there since 1993 and currently teaches Spanish; she and her husband, Loiell ’62, live in Thief River Falls. 58 71Grove, Minn., was selected as 60 74Minn., was named director of 67soccer coach at Bloomington 93lumbia Heights, Minn., was (Minn.) Kennedy High School from 1967–1992 was inducted into the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in October. Following retirement in 1992, he served as student activities coordinator until 2001. named to the 2010 “Rising Stars” list by Minnesota Law & Politics, which highlights outstanding attorneys who are under the age of 40 or have fewer than 10 years of practice. She works with the Winthrop & Weinstine law firm in the real estate and campaign finance practice groups. Jerry Peterson, hockey and Tammera (Ericson) Diehm, Co- Christy (Larsen) Branes, Maple Mabeth (Saure) Gyllstrom was recently featured in the Fergus Falls Daily Journal in a story about her background and work in retirement as director of the Zion Lutheran Church choir in Amor, Minn. She currently lives on Otter Tail Lake, Minn. the 2010 Delano (Minn.) Teacher of the Year. She has taught in the district for over 20 years, plus a fouryear stint in Portugal teaching English. She currently teaches second grade. Steven Reznicek, Bemidji, Ruth (Carlson) Olson was inducted into the Faribault High School Hall of Fame on October 1. For 20 years she coached gymnastics, kept score for volleyball, reported for track meets, etc. as the sports liaison between the junior and senior high schools. It was her Augsburg career as an Auggiette on the women’s basketball team, however, that earned her the Hall of Fame spot, because of the Auggiettes’ pioneering efforts in promoting women’s sports. 62 Rev. Jim Quitno and his wife, Mary, Spirit Lake, Iowa, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June 2009. Jim retired from the pastorate in 2002 after being at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake for 27 years, but both he and Mary remain active volunteers in retirement. Last year Jim was honored with the June Character Counts Spotlight Award. Dennis Kalpin, Alexandria, Minn., was honored with the George Haun Award last October, given by the Minnesota State High School 40 Augsburg Now the Varsity Singers of Bemidji State University. Otherwise, he is “mostly retired.” 76 Gwedolyn (Peyton) Jackson, Lakeville, Minn., was reappointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to a four-year position on the Board of the Minnesota State Academies. She is the director of human resources and administrative services with the Edina (Minn.) Public School District. The board governs the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf, both in Faribault. 77Minn., a storyteller and chilLise Lunge-Larsen, Duluth, dren’s author, visited Concordia College (Moorhead) and Cable, Wis., in February. At Concordia, she visited the Carl B. Ylvisaker Library to teach classes in children’s literature and told stories from Norwegian folklore. She was in Cable the day before the Birkebeiner ski race and told the story of the race that is recounted in her book, The Race of the Birkebeiners. 00and her husband, David, wel- 00her husband, Eric, Blaine, Daria (Reboin) Gordhamer, comed their fourth child, Andrew, on Oct. 6. Big brothers Elijah (6) and Abram (2) and big sister, Eva (4), love him very much. They live in Apple Valley, Minn. Kathleen Lindquist-Blilie, and Minn., announce the birth of their daughter, Anne Elizabeth, born May 6, 2009. She joins her siblings, Andrew (7-1/2), Alexander (5), and Erin (2-1/2). 74their own 35th reunion on Gull Lake, on the same weekend as Lambda House reunion Ten Auggie women, all 1974 grads, had Homecoming last fall. The women began as freshmen on the first floor in Urness, then moved to the ninth floor as sophomores, and then lived at Lambda House (no longer standing) as juniors and seniors. They’ve continued to see each other several times a year and now have begun taking longer trips together. All live in Minnesota, except for Barb (Ruud) Revueltas who lives in Los Angeles. Three women are married to Auggies, who lived together in a house around the corner from Lambda House. The 10 women are Linda (Lundeen) Dunn, Linda (Bailey) Holmen (married to Ken Holmen ’74), Laurie (Johnson) Thorp (married to Tim Thorp ’74), Barb (Ruud) Revueltas, Marlene (Chan) Hui, Debbie (Rowley) Hasti, Mary Ratzlaff, Diane (Johnson) Moen, Carla (Johnson) Velenchenko, Chris (Henry) Thompson (married to Gary Thompson ’74) 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 43 velopment in Minnesota in July 2009 with TMP Worldwide Advertising and Communications, a full-service recruitment marketing ad agency headquartered in New York. 00 Leslie (Lucas) Wiede ’07 MSW and her husband, Matthew, welcomed twin boys, Lucas and Hunter, on April 3, 2009. 81color paintings of Minnesota 91superintendent of the Spring Jeff Ronneberg became the new Lake Park (Minn.) School District at the beginning of the year. For the past seven years, he has served the district as assistant superintendent. Mary (Primm) Lingen’s water- 01 Sarah (Wilhelm) married Chris Uwimana in Burnsville, Minn., on October 24, surrounded by family and friends. Sarah is a buyer at Supervalu and Chris is a business analyst at DRC. They live in Bloomington, Minn. landscapes were on display at the James Wegner Art Gallery on the West Campus of Riverland Community College in Austin, Minn., in October. Since graduating from Augsburg, she has had more than 30 solo exhibits and numerous group and juried exhibitions. Kurts Strelnieks accepted a position as vice president-account executive, managing existing client relationships, at First Business Capital Corp. in Madison, Wis., in February. 82in October of the Conservation Mike Kilgore was the recipient 02 Jackie (Heyda) married Joshua Eyberg on Nov. 27. She is in her seventh year of teaching in the New Prague (Minn.) Area School District and is a first-grade teacher at Eagle View Elementary School in Elko New Market. They live in Burnsville, Minn. Minnesota Leadership Award for his work as chair of the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, a Minnesota Legislature advisory body in charge of “restoring, protecting, and enhancing of Minnesota’s wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.” 83at KARE-11 TV, was inducted 95Ariz., stopped working in the Matthew Gooding, Sun Lakes, restaurant business to return to school to become a medical assistant. He expects to graduate in March. 96January to the Carlson Board Richard Gage was elected in of Directors. He is vice president of the Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation and works at Nebulous/YourMLSsearch.com. Martha (Kenney) Spriggs, who teaches at Andersen United Community School, was surprised and honored with a Milken Educator Award, one of two given in Minnesota that recognizes outstanding teachers. 99a new position as city finance Teresa Walters recently began director in Farmington, Minn. Previously she had been in the same position in Waseca, Minn. Jane Helmke, managing editor into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle in September by the Upper Midwest Chapter. Silver Circle members have displayed superior contributions to the television history and/or NATAS for at least 25 years. 88named the New York 2009 Anne Panning was recently 03 03 Peter Samargia married Angela Gustafson on August 15 in Biwabik, Minn. They traveled around Lake Vermillion on a houseboat for their honeymoon. Peter runs his own business, Attitude Goaltending, LLC, and is a goalie coach for the Augsburg men’s hockey team. Angela is a property manager for Colliers Turley Martin Tucker. Emily Gerard and her husband, Craig Maus, welcomed the birth of their second daughter, Lilia, on November 17. Pictured are Craig and Emily, with Lilia and Caroline. Jeffrey Nodland was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for Texas Petrochemicals Inc. He is currently the president, CEO, and a director of KIK Custom Products. 80came director of business de- Marianne (Lundberg) Kulka be- Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She was also awarded the Lillian H. Fairchild Award by the University of Rochester for her book, Super America. Her latest work has appeared in West Branch, Ascent (www.readthebestwriting.com), River Teeth, and Women and Gender, a Pearson Longman textbook. She has recently started a blog about reading, writing, teaching, travel, and family called www.thepapersandwich.blogspot.com. 01awarded a 2009 TRiO AchievRev. Rozenia Fuller was ers Award from the Mid-America Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel (MAEOPP). The award recognizes outstanding former participants in the federal TRiO programs who have made significant civic, community, or professional contributions. She was also recently inducted into the 2009 Minneapolis Community and Technical College Hall of Fame. 03finance and human resources Betty J. Vangorder, director of at Apex Print Technologies, has been recognized by Cambridge Who’s Who for demonstrating dedication, leadership, and excellence in financial operations. In her job, she is responsible for managing financial reporting for the company, budgeting, forecasting, overseeing 18 employees and performing human resources duties. Spring 2010 41 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 44 alumni class notes 06Minn., was awarded his certiLance Campbell, Stewartville, fied public accountant license last fall and was promoted to senior accountant at Wolter & Raak, Ltd. in Rochester, Minn. Michelle (Connolly) married Matthew Ariola on July 11 at Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Ham Lake, Minn. They honeymooned in Alaska and now live in Blaine, Minn. Michelle is a kindergarten teacher in Sorteberg Elementary School in Coon Rapids and Matthew is starting his own plumbing business. 06wife, Sophia, welcomed the 06MBA,Woodbury, Minn., re- 08(Peloquin) married on June arrival of a son, Parker Andrew, on August 27. Sam is a fourth-year divinity student and the student association vice president at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Calif. cently left her corporate job in downtown Minneapolis to pursue her passion with a career in real estate. She joined The Snyder Team at Re/Max Results in Woodbury as a residential realtor. 20, 2009. Sarah is a youth minister in Cottage Grove, Minn., and Bryan is a second-year law student at St. Thomas. They currently live in Woodbury, Minn. Sam Kanenwisher and his Kyle Loven performed his visionary solo puppet show, my dear Lewis, both in Seattle where he now lives and in Minneapolis in March at the Open Eye Figure Theatre as part of an emerging artists program. A Seattle arts and culture paper called him a “visionary new puppeteer” and a “burgeoning genius.” See story at http://augnet.augsburg.edu/news archives/2010/03_08_10/kyle_loven. html Erin Schmoeckel ’08 Bryan Ludwig and Sarah James Palan recently began as account executive in the advertising department at the Rochester PostBulletin. He was formerly a personal banker with Associated Bank. Becky (Wolf) and Joe Kaarbo ’06 were married on October 3 in St. Louis Park, Minn. Becky works at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the Involvement and Leadership Office. Joe is the imaging coordinator at Berkley Risk Administrators in Minneapolis. Auggies in the wedding included Joel Wolf ’02, Josh Wolf ’05, Chris Docken ’06, Erik Reynolds ’06, Carrie (Ohnerheim) Wolf ’02, and Evan Boyce ’07. 09cluded Christine Esser ’09, Shawn Boonstra ’09, and Jason Jefferson ’09. Stacey is a substitute teacher in Stacey (Kinder) married Ryan Plasch in August 2009 in Farmington, Minn. Auggies in the wedding party in- Lakeville, Farmington, and Burnsville; Ryan is a mental health counselor for South Metro Human Services. Gerard, Fridley, Minn., 07Minnesota Certified Public Ac- 09Jenna and her sister own Bravo! Procountant license and currently works Nechia Agate received her as a senior consultant for the Business Advisory Services practice at Grant Thornton in Minneapolis. Carolyn Mollner also earned her Certified Public Accountant certificate last fall. She works at Best Buy as a senior tax analyst. 42 Augsburg Now ductions and created a two-woman musical revue, “Christmas Again?” that spoofed Christmas customs. It ran at the Sunshine Factory in New Hope, Minn., during Christmas last fall. Jenna is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Kathryn MacAulay is currently one of the 14 Fulbright English Teaching Assistants in Malaysia, and is living in Kemaman, Terenganu. Graduate Programs Erik Bredeson ’06 MBA married Tasha Clifford on May 30, 2009, in Kihel, Maui, Hawaii. Erik works in medical sales; they live in St. Louis Park, Minn. Ryan May ’07 MBA was recently hired at Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR) as a vice president. Sarah Marie (Larson) ’07 MSW married Leon Peter Kyalo on October 3. 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:42 AM Page 45 Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ____________________________________________________________ Street address ____________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone In Memoriam ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Johnson, Vernel ’42, Tucson, Ariz., age 90, on Oct. 20, after a long illness. English, Dr. Nancy ’73, Duluth, Minn., age 57, on Aug. 8, of cardiac arrest. Myrvik, Quentin ’45, Caswell Beach, N.C., age 88, on Dec. 13. He is a 1960 Distinguished Alumnus. Hain, Ramon “Ray” ’81, Roseville, Minn., age 50, on Nov. 21. ____________________________________________________________ Employer Agrimson, Robb Joel ’83, St. Paul, age 49, on Jan. 6. ____________________________________________________________ Position Woodcock, Delores ’89, Bloomington, Minn., age 83, on Dec. 12. ____________________________________________________________ Work telephone Connors, Patrick ’07, Vail, Colo., age 28, on Dec. 30. Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No Midtling, Rev. John ’49, Minneapolis, age 86, on Oct. 20. Elmberg, Rev. Donald ’50, Mound, Minn., age 85, on Dec. 29. Rust, Alice (Gjesdahl) ’53, Burnsville, Minn., on Dec. 30. Foss Jr, Alfred “Bud” ’54, Hot Springs, Ark., age 77, on Oct. 28. Seaver, Dean ’60, Le Sueur, Minn., age 73, on Jan. 12. Thorpe, Neal O. ’60, Vancouver, Wash., age 71, on March 3. He taught biology, served as department chair at Augsburg College, and is a 2001 Distinguished Alumnus. Hovland, Rev. Peter ’62, Mora, Minn., on Dec. 21. VanDeVoorde, Elaine, Rochester, Minn., on Oct. 26. She was a Master of Arts in Education student in Rochester. Mark, Cindy, Cedar Lake Township, Minn., age 61, on Dec. 13, of cancer. She taught in Augsburg’s program at the Minnesota Women’s Correctional FacilityShakopee. Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No If yes, class year ________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Spouse’s name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name Your news: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Wrightsman, Rev. Bruce, Decorah, Iowa, age 75, on Oct. 4, of heart failure and amyloidosis. He taught math, physics, and philosophy at Augsburg College, 1960–63. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ q I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Hunt, Duane ’62, Lakewood, Colo., on Nov. 13. Spring 2010 43 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:43 AM Page 46 my Auggie experience Aquila Tapio ’10 MAE Naadamaadiwin—Helping one another When she was growing up, Aquila Tapio said she never really knew what she wanted to do. “I just wanted to help people,” she said. Until recently, Tapio and her husband helped Native American children as foster parents through the Indian Child Welfare Act program. And then after the birth of her second child, she decided it was time for her to return to the workforce. “I wanted to help Native American kids and keep doing the work we were doing at home,” she says. So when Tapio discovered Augsburg’s tribal special education program, she knew she had found the right fit. Naadamaadiwin, Ojibwe for “helping one another,” is a partnership between the University of Minnesota-Duluth Center for Indigenous Knowledge and Language Revitalization and the Augsburg College Master of Arts in Education program. Naadamaadiwin is a special education licensure program in emotional behavioral disorders and learning disabilities with a focus on the unique needs of Native American children. For Tapio, a member of the Oglala Lakota in South Dakota, working with Native children and families through the education system is important because education is a “touchy issue” for Native Americans. “We need teachers who know where people come from and who understand the history and trauma families have experienced,” she says. “Having a Native teacher provides comfort to students and their parents.” Tapio is completing her student teaching this term at Longfellow Humanities Magnet School in St. Paul. She says the Naadamaadiwin program has given her a new way to give Native children the consistency and support they need. “No matter how many times you have to tell them something, they will pick it up,” she says. “They are capable. They can do anything.” Naadamaadiwin is a two-year cohort-based program with classes meeting primarily online. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/admissions/mae/ and click “Licensure Options.” WENDI WHEELER ’06 44 Augsburg Now 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:43 AM Page 47 Lisa Zeller and Glenn Fuller are founding partners of the The Phaedrus Group (1994), a national training and consulting firm. Lisa Zeller ’81,’89 MAL and Glenn Fuller an augsburg legacy “In addition to an education, Augsburg provided me with the confidence and skills to think critically, to see what’s possible, and to create opportunities. I want to make sure that future generations have this same opportunity. 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving So, when Glenn and I sat down to do our estate planning and consider our legacy, it was important for us to commit a percentage of our estate to Augsburg College.” 102105_Augsburg Now:Layout 1 5/4/10 10:43 AM Page 48 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Second Augsburg Powwow The Augsburg Indigenous Student Association hosted a traditional powwow on Saturday, March 20, in Si Melby Hall. To view more photos from the powwow, go to www.flickr.com/photos/augsburgcollege.
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Augsburg Now Fall 2009
Title
Augsburg Now Fall 2009: Making It Possible
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Alumni Magazine Collection
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T V .a The Magazine of Augsburg College English 111 Bishop Marl< Hanson Annual report Velkommen Jul sweets Homecoming 2009 Professor Lisa Jacl< 'J !., þ Ir possrible Editor Betsey Norgard norga rd@a ugsbu rg.ed u Creative Director Kathy Rumpza '05 MAL ru mpza@augsburg.edu fro...
Show more T V .a The Magazine of Augsburg College English 111 Bishop Marl< Hanson Annual report Velkommen Jul sweets Homecoming 2009 Professor Lisa Jacl< 'J !., þ Ir possrible Editor Betsey Norgard norga rd@a ugsbu rg.ed u Creative Director Kathy Rumpza '05 MAL ru mpza@augsburg.edu from President Pribbenow Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler'06 wheelerw@a ugsbu rg.ed u Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski'08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geff re@a ugsburg.edu . few years ago my good friend and predecessor as Augsburg's president, Bill Frame, introduced me to Burton Clark's work on the concept of saga as it relates to the distinctive character and identity of colleges and universities. A saga, according to Clark, is more than story-all of us a have stories. A saga is more of a mythology-a sense of history and purpose and direction that is told in vocabulary and narrative that accounts for a college's DNA, its essence even-and it abides in the people, programs, and values that define an institution. Clark contends that not every institution has a saga. Sometimes this is a function of not being true to founding values. At other times it can be occasioned by a change of location or core mission. Still other institutions have not found a way to link theìr pasts, presents, and futures in a coherent narrative. I believe firmly that Augsburg does have a saga, and it runs deep in the culture and meaning of our work here together. My exploration of Augsburg's rich history has surfaced several themes that are central to our saga. I think you will recognize them: founders who believed that education should be for all, no matter their circumstances, and that the quality of that education should be of the highest order because that is what God expects of those faithful servants who have been given the gift to teach. This is our distinctive gift for the world, an educational experience like no other available to those who might otherwise not have the opportunity. This is our distinctive gift for students from many different backgrounds and experiences. This is our distinctive gift to have a community in which access to education is celebrated and encouraged and, yes, even demanded. We dare not keep back any of the educational opportunity with which we have been entrusted because it is our distinctive gift from our You will read in the following rent students and alumni who have been welcomed at Augsburg and offered a demanding and relevant education that serves them for a lifetime. ln these stories I trust that you will find-as I have come to know in my experience here-that our saga, our DNA, our values, and character lead us to pursue the pursuit of freedom through a liberal arts approach to learning, by serving our neighbor and the world, and by the centrality of faith to our vision Augsburg experience available to all who will be formed by our college's rare and distinctive vision of education for lives of meaningful work and faithful of education. service. lt's a saga worth retelling and celebrating! Another central theme in our saga is powerfully illustrated in the articles in this issue of the Augsburg's high-quality education accessible to all learning, and service. Our commitment to an accessible education is a remarkable legacy from our Jeff Shelman shelman@a ugsbu rg.edu Sports lnformation Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.ed u l)irector of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@a ugsbu rg.ed u wwwaugsburg.edu I I Augsburg Nowis published by Augsburg College f I PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT I i 221 1 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 0pinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. lr I l ll I tssN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to Advancement Services cB t42 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 hea lyk@a ugsb We believe deeply in making those who seek to learn at the intersections of faith, Director of l{ews and Media Services pages about cur- ever more avidly a commitment to making an /Vor.,r¡. barnesb@a ugsburg.ed u ancestors and our gracious and loving God. Augsburg is shaped by an immigrant sensibility, by Augsburg Webmaster//far 0nline Bryan Barnes u rg.ed u E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1 181 Fax:612-330-1780 fall 2009 Features English 111 compiled by Wendi Wheeler '06 Velkommen Jul's sweet traditions compiled by Betsey Norgard Finding perspective by Jeff Shel man Iliscovering joy in the challenges of leadership by Jeff Shelman Making Augsburg possible by Wendi Wheeler '06 Annual report to donors, 2008-09 ct) +, É -(¡) +) -O (J Depa rtments 4 Around the Ouad 6 Spotlight-Trip to Egypt I Auggies on the field g It takes an Auggie 12 Auggie voices 't3 Homecoming 2009 47 Alumni news 52 Class notes 56 My Auggie experience 0n the cover Juventino Meza Rodriguez arrived in St. Paul from Mexico at age 15 Through determination, hard work, and a lot of support, he's one of the many students helped into college by Admission Possible. 6 ffi ¡iFiw All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 6 (*, fi Wg First-year day students began their semester with City Service Day, spending an afternoon working on I prolects in the neighborhoods around Augsburg. ffiH ì llFrtar*-.- .l.<^?* oY 4 't &^t around the Augsburg keeps going green Sustainability Awareness Month September on campus not only included the beginning of fall classes, but a month-long series of events and activities designed to raise awareness and change habits related to sustai nabi I ity. Sustainability Awareness Month (SAM) was the brainchild of Augsburg students, several of whom participated in faculty-led study abroad programs, including Sustainable Cities in North America with Professors Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer in the summer of 2008. After students in the course worked with A'viands to create a composting program in Augsburg's dining facilities last year, their next step toward a more environmentally friendly and sus- r r¡ I f =l JæI trE æ E ßE ffi Ll mE E fl fl G Augsburg was the afternoon location of the West Bank Farmers Market each week, bringing fresh, locally-grown vegetables to the Augsburg community. tainable campus was a month of events. "We want this to bring the campus together," said senior Kjerstin Hagen, a leader on the project. "lt takes all of us to e make this happen." Each week was centered around a different theme, with tabling, information, activities, and speakers, including nationally known author and activist, Bill McKibben. The themes for SAM were waste reduction and management, alternative trans- portation, alternative energy and consumption, and connecting communitìes through food. Community Garden and Farmers Market Augsburg's community garden increased this summer as an additional area was turned into garden plots. A total of 40 plots grew produce and flowers for the Augsburg community and neighborhood residents and organizations. didn't grow their own vegetables in the commugarden, nity fresh produce was available each week on campus at the West Bank Farmers Market, a project of the Brian Coyle Augsburg students joined 5,000 groups around the world that marked the lnternati0nal Day of Climate Action sponsored by 350.0rg. The number signifies the highest safe level of carbon emissions in parts per million. For those who Center and Augsburg Campus Kitchen. Three farm families sold their locally-grown and eco-friendly vegetables and herbs during the summer and into the early cold fall at Brian Coyle Center in bring about action to reduce atmospheric carbon emissions to 350 ppm, deemed the highest safe level by NASA scientists. Auggie students led bikers to the State Capitol for a rally on the Capitol lawn, sponsored by the Will Steger Foundation, Oxfam, 1Sky, and Augsburg in support of global climate change action. Rep. Betty the morning and at Augsburg by Foss Center in the afternoon. McOollum and Rep. Keith Ellison, among other legislators, told those gathered to "keep your voices loud." 350 lnternational l)ay of Climate Action Augsburg students planned a full day on October 24 as part of the lnternational Day of Climate Action, the project of Bill The bikers arrived back on campus in time to join a crowd at halftime on the footballfield for a photo that was posted online at McKibben and 350.0rg. Activities around the world aimed to and Day Student Body Government. 4 www.350.org. The halftime event was sponsored by Campus Ministry Augsburg Now I 7- Mayor meets with students After returning from New Zealand last summer, Richmond Appleton '09 was so enthusiastic that he wrote a letter t0 Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak. Applelon was in l{ew Zealand lor five weeks with 25 students led by biology professor Brian Corner and political science professor loe Underhill to study Biodiversity and Environmental Politics. "tveryone is aware of the environment, of sustainability, of food production, and energy use. From the north island to the south island, everything is consistent." Appleton, a senior environmental studies maior, Ever Cat Fuels in lsanti, Minn., opened its plant t0 produce biodiesel from the Mcgyan process, which has student, faculty, and alumni r00ts at Augsburg. Ever Cat Fuels opens in lsanti Minneapolis. He contacted Rybak, a strong sup- What began as a student research project in a Science Hall laboratory made another step toward changing how fuel will be produced in the future when Ever porter of sustainability efforts, who welcomed Cat Fuels held a grand opening for its biodiesel plant in late September. wanted to bring ideas from l{ew Zealand back to such a meeting. Kjerstin Hagen'10, an American lndian studies major who studied urban sustainability last summer in Portland, 0re., and Vancouver, 8.C., joined The plant, located about 40 miles north of campus in lsanti, Minn., is expected to produce about 3 million gallons of biodiesel per year when fully operational. lt represents the first large-scale application of the Mcgyan process of making biodiesel. The Mcgyan process came out of research by Augsburg undergraduate and Appleton at the meeting. She was one of the stu- Rhodes scholar Brian Krohn'08 and creates biodiesel from waste oils. The process dents involved in implementing Augsburg's com- doesn't require food stock to work and doesn't create any waste products. The Mcgyan process-named for Ever Cat Fuels founder and Augsburg alumnus posting program and planning Sustainability Awareness Month. Ihe students shared their travel experiences with Rybak and told him about ongoing sustainability efforts at Augsburg, many of which were initiated by students. "Augsburg is doing exactly what I believe in," Rybak said. The three agreed that informing and educating the community is an important factor in promoting urban sustainability. Rybak encouraged Appleton Clayton McNeff '91, Augsburg chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, and Ever Cat scientist Ben Yan-has certainly attracted a lot of attention. "When I see something like this, it's everythingthat we talk about in Washington," said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who spoke at the grand opening. McNeff said Ever Cat Fuels is already planning to expand its facility in lsanti. ln addition, the company is licensing the Mcgyan process, and it is expected that other biodiesel facilities will be built across the country and the world. McNeff also said that a donation to Augsburg's planned Center for Science, Business, and Religion will be made for each gallon of biodiesel sold. and Hagen to sign up for one of the city's committees so that they could continue lheir work outside of Augsburg. 22nd Annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum Striving for Peace: A Question 0f Will March 5-6, 2010 at Augsburg College Honoring 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Martti Ahtisaari lnternational peace negotialor and former president of Finland www.peaceprizeforum.org Sponsored by Augsburg College, Augustana College (Sioux Falls), Concordia College (Moorhead), luther College, and St. 0laf College Fall 2009 5 around the Augsburg's first travel to Egypt As a child, I spent most of my summers in Egypt. When I became language and culture. After learning about the history of Nubia and director of the Pan-Afrikan Center, I proposed taking students to Egypt so they could study in a country with both a rich history and current events of interest. After a year-and-a-half of planning and its relationship to Egypt, the students spent the day with a Nubian community located in Aswan. We later ventured to Hurghada, a city on the Red Sea located in the Eastern Desert. We drove over an hour to visit a Bedouin community with only 30 members. Due to the harsh nature of the desert, all of their water comes from a local well, and they raise the animals needed to survive. We shared a meal with this community, which allowed the students to experience the vast expanse and isolation of the desert. lt was eye-opening to see what it takes to survive there. 0ur trip to Egypt evoked a lot of thoughts and feelings within our students. They had to interact with people who speak different languages, practice different religions, and come from a very differ- collaborating with Professor Phil Adamo, who teaches ancient history at Augsburg, we arrived last May in Cairo wilh 22 students. We began our journey in Africa's largest city, a 1,OOO-year-old metropolis that is home to more than 20 million people. Beyond Cairo, our three-week excursion took us through Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan, and Hurghada. 0ur two courses covered Ethnicity and ldentity in Ancient and Modern Egypt, focusing on Egypt's ancient past and exploring its modern identity, including a discussion of religion. Although Egypt has an overwhelming Muslim majority there is also a significant Orthodox Christian community. As such, students visited some of the oldest lslamic mosques and Christian churches and monasteries in the world. 0ne stop was Al-Azhar University and mosque, which is one of the oldest higher education institutions in the world. We later went to the Hanging Church, one of the sites said to have been visited by Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Outside of Cairo, we visited St. Makarios Monastery, another monastery on the Holy Family's travels through Egypt. ln discussing Egypt's place in the ancient world, we acknowledged that ancìent Egyptian society is often over-romanti- cized, Ieading to a diff iculty in reconciling the past with the current state of affairs. To give context and help students understand the many changes Egypt has undergone, we explored Egypt's relations with its neighbors, both past and present. Our f irst stop, Abu Simbel, is an ancient temple built by the Egyptians, in an area then known as Nubia, to show Egypt's dominance in the region. Although Nubia is no longer a separate kingdom, the Nubian people have a distinct 6 Augsburg Now È ent worldview. We challenged stereotypes, explored history, and dug deep into what it means to be an American traveling overseas. cities, resorts, mountains, and deserts on our quest to learn more about Egypt. lt was a wonderful experience to take students to the place where my family originated, and I look forward to possibly going back. We traveled through MOHAMED SALLAM Director of the Pan-Afrikan Center and instructor in the Departments of Sociology and History a7- Two new regents elected to board The Augsburg Corporation, at its annual meeting in September, elected two new members to the Board of NEW Bt00MlNGIf)l{ CEI{TER-Augsburg students can now study toward an MBA or a Master of Arts in Leadership degree in Bloomingon at St. Stephen Regents and re-elected six lutheran Church, conveniently located near l-494 others. and France Ave. For graduates of nearby Elected to a four-year term on the Augsburg Board of Regents: Ann Ashton-Piper (above left) Ann Ashton-Piper is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has worked extensively in the information technology field and is president of The Bridgie Group, a small lT consulting firm. She is active in her church, Peace Lutheran Church in Bloomington, where she recently chaired the Call Committee. She and her husband, Ken, who is an architect, are also active in theìr community, supporting local nonprofit and charitable organizations such as Lake Country School, Groves Academy, and the Children's Theater Company. They have five children and live in Bloomington. Normandale Community Gollege, a bachelor's degree completion program (AA to BA) i¡ communi- cation studies or business administration is planned at the new Bloomington Center. NEW S()ClAl- W0R|íMBA DUAL DEGREE-A new MSWMBA dual degree is specifically designed for MSW alumni who completed the Program I)evelop- ment, Policy, and Administration (PDPA) c0ncentra- tion; it will offer the knowledge, experience, and values necessary for success in both business and human services systems. Lisa Novotny'80 (above right) URBAII DEBATE IEAûUE AT AUûSBURG-llow part Lisa Novotny'80 is vice president, Human Resources at General Mills, and Augsburg's Sabo Genter for Citizenship and Learn- has responsibility for human resource strategy and leadership across the sup- ing, the Minnesota Urban Debate league (MNUI)L) ply chain and iechnology organization. Prior to General Mills, she held similar positions for Dain Bosworth and First Bank System. Novotny received her sponsors six high school programs and three junior Bachelor of Science degree in social work and Spanish from Augsburg College St. Paul, serving several hundred students, teach- ol high school debate programs in Minneapolis and in 1980 and a Master of Arts in industrial relations from the University of Min- ers, and coaches. lt is one ol the college-readiness nesota. She and her husband, Rev. lVìark Flaten, are members of Edina Community Lutheran Church. They have two daughters; one of them is a current partnerships Augsburg supp0rts t0 provide access to underserved and low-income high school stu- Augsburg sophomore. dents in the Twin Cities. Elected to a second, six-year term was: '65, chairman, Swenson Anderson Financial Group "LlVE l-lFE . Dan Anderson AT THE STRETï LEVEI"-Day student body president Sam Smith welcomed first-year Elected to second, four-year terms were: Hagfors, founder and president (retired), Norsen, lnc. . Jodi Harpstead, chief operating officer, Lutheran Social Service of lVìinnesota . Dean Kennedy'75, president, TFI Securities . Marie McNeff, academic dean (retired) and professor emerita of education, . Norman . Augsburg College Paul Mueller'84, physician and chair of internal medìcine, Mayo Clinic students at the opening convocation with a mes- sa!e: "At Augsburg my life and my learning have been enriched by the constant reminder thal the city and the community are the largest classrooms you can find. ... Where I currently live, on the l3th floor of Mortensen Hall, the view of downtown Minneapolis is both beautiful and intimidating. Up that high, it's impossible to make out faces or street signs. At street level, though, life in the .,ì.;i; .:iii:¡ l1 ;i;i ;,; i,,'r!i i ¡ f\l¡;:.;! "\'J l i, ; i ¡ r:r i i i, :.,i t r,' r' i ¡I I r,,. i: ¡i t I ;!'.¡iiì;:ì : (i,;:lt!l:,¡lllt t'i:0ìli:rlr j ;:r::rìrriûli: j:r, ii ii;ltilr, r'.,i1Ìr Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods ¡!{¡ 1' doesn'l seem as complicated, foreign, or hectic as it appears from the bedroom. My hope [is that I youJ will evenlually learn to live life in the city at iiq¡i'r'jr: i ;r,,1, slreet level." Fall 2009 7 r: fl H IIütrNrcNER Þ ru 'j" I 1 tl Þ t¡ ¿t I ,,,i it takes an Campus Kitchen wins youth philanthropy award {ugsburg's Campus Kitchen program was honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals with the Outstanding Youth Award for 2009 at National Philanthropy Day in Minneapolis in November. Augsburg students were recognized for the program they largely plan and run that serves more than 1,700 meals each month to low-income and homeless persons, and communities in need in the Cedar-Riverside and Phillips neighborhoods. The student leadership team of 8-12 Augsburg student volunteers provides the essential component for the program-people power. Under direction of the staff coordinator and two student interns, the team coordinates other volunteers for three cooking shifts and six food deliveries each week. Meals are prepared, stored overnight, and delivered the following day. The students also gìve of their heart, providing conversation and offering companionship to the individuals they serve. The Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College was established in October 2003 and is one of only 15 Campus Kitchen organizations around the country. The program brings together the college dining service, local community groups, and individuals to plan, prepare, The Campus K¡tchen at Augsburg received the y0uth philanthr0py award, recognizing lhe work ol the students and volunteers who serve 1,700 meals per month in the neighborhoods around Augsburg. deliver, and serve meals. ln the past two years, Campus Kitchen has expanded its activities: . A'viands food service-From their arrival at Augsburg ìn June 2008, A'viands, a local food service provider, has embraced Campus Kitchen and provides access to food that would otherwise be thrown away. Donations also come from community food- . . Summer Garden and Nutrition Education Project-Augsburg students teach neighborhood youth from the Brian Coyle Community Center and Somali Confederation about health, nutrition, garden- banks and other institutions. . Communìty Supported Agriculture (CSA)-Campus Kitchen is the site coordinator for all Augsburg CSA shares and receìves six shares through Ploughshare Farm's Food for Folk Project. Community garden-Over three years, Augsburg's community garden has provided space for neighborhood residents, Augsburg employees, and community organizations to grow their own food. ing skills, and cooking nutritious meals. . West Bank Farmers Market-ln partnership with the Coyle Center, local farmers selltheir produce once a week during the summer in the morning at Coyle Center and in the afternoon at Augsburg-and often donate unsold food to Campus Kitchen. . Service-learning-Augsburg history students get hands-on learning about how resources are collected, distrìbuted, and controlled in the "living text" of Augsburg's Campus Kitchen. ln its six years, Campus Kitchen has been the recipient of three awards recognizing the program's outstanding service and achievements: Student Organization of the Year, given by Augsburg College; Harry Chapin Self-Reliance Award, given by World Hunger Year in 2OO4; and the Great ldea Award, given by America's Promise. Read more about Campus Kitchen at www. a ugsbu rg. ed u/cam puskitchen. BTTSEY NORGARD flr v View more photos and learn more about why Campus Kitchen was nominated for the youth philanthropy award at www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2009 I t tr3 /,) il d a Å il ru ã E u Ê m Éì ø ry ffi N ruG E ffi ¡E il ¡i Ë I æl ry = E_f re Grerc ú dE FG ¡E re @t ¡ E M E E E r f a a ù o C E ul.umtlIl ttÈrunrarñt^EREEI ffi ffi ffi I ffi tr il !a Z ET H E¡ r) I n I il l¡ E f r'l ¡ ffi ffi ffi Hffifl m E $ ffi fl t7 E age 77, Herb Chilstrom '54 got an offer he couldn't refuse. The retired ELCA presiding bishop was invited to serve as interim director of the Linnaeus Arboretum at Gustavus Adolphus College while its director is overseas for ayear. The transition from Chilstrom's 50-plus years as pastor and bishop to administrative gardener, he AI tells his friends, was easy: "l'm going from tending flocks to tending phlox." Chilstrom gained an appreciation and love for gardening from his mother, a gardener ahead of her time who, along with her husband, pul organically grown food on their table. He pursued that interest in retirement when he studied to become a .fu1 * .t master gardener. "lt turned out to be one of the most enjoyable educational experiences l've ever had," he says. When the Chilstroms moved to a townhome in St. Peter, Minn., Herb volunteered his services to the arboretum. For seven years he nurtured flowerbeds back to blooming beauty and created a vegetable garden behind the restored settlers' cabin-which was a necessity for every settler, as well as his own family, During this time the arboretum began to restore more than 80 acres back to its native prairie. Now as interim director, he has enjoyed launching "The Linnaeus Order of Nasturtiums," a cadre of volunteers who tend the arboretum's flora. lVlostly retirees, the order has "taken off like gangbusters," Chilstrom says. Despite the initiation, that is, which requires each volunteer to eat a nasturtium blossom laced with cream cheese. "People are almost begging to get into the order," says Chilstrom. He has recruited 20 volunteers in two months, and all have passed the initiation. For Chilstrom, this second "calling" also has theological roots. He says that while Lutherans consider Christ's life, death, and resurrection in the Second Article of the Creed as the heart of Christian faith, "we may have emphasized it to the point where we don't appreciate as much as we should the First Article, about creation as the gift of God." "Being involved in a place like the arboretum," Chilstrom continues, "gives me a chance to create some balance, to be committed to making this place as beautiful as it can be in a world that is quite broken, where we don't appreciate the gifts of nature, and where there's so much desecration of the environment." It's also a chance for some historical reflection. Chilstrom recounts how so many settlers, including his great-grandparents, arrived in lVìinnesota penniless and began breaking up the prairie, with disregard for Native peoples and their land. "Now when we recapture part of that into native prairie, we are helping people step back and think about what it was like for Native Americans to live here, how they survived in that setting, and the beauty of the prairie," he says. ln sum, Chilstrom says, "lfeel that in my retirement I've been uniquely blessed to be located in a place like this where I can think about some of these good ihings that are important to us." ,i lì i r{)lì{'/\,li) /\ Í,tlow E ¡ \ I \ti \l \ I HfIMECOMING 2OO9 September 28-0ctober 4 Despite the rains and chilly weather, spirits were high at the 2009 Auggie Adventure, as hundreds of alumni, students, faculty/staff, and friends celebrated Homecoming. 0ueen Jamie Krumenauer and King Kevin Khottavongsa presided at the football game halftime festivities and cheered the Auggies despite their loss to Hamline, 38-28. Alums sampled classes from Augsburg professors, met fellow alumni authors, enjoyed their reunions, and ended the weekend with a bang at the fireworks display. Fall 2009 13 'Ëff'{ itr'¿ i 1 2009 Augg¡e Adventure 14 Augsburg Now DISTINGUISHEIl ALUMNI FIRST ]lECA]lE AWARIl Tove Dahl'84 and Curt Rice'84 Tove Dah l-Associate Professor, Psychology, University of Tromsø, Norway Curt Rice-Director, Center for Advanced Study in Theoretical Linguistics, University Brenda Talarico, '99 PA Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Program, Augsburg Col lege of TromsØ, Norway SPIRIT fIF AUGSBURG AWARD Phebe Hanson '50 Poet, teacher, founding member of The Loft Literary Center James E. Haglund, Augsburg Regent Emeritus and Parent President and Owner, Central Contai ner Corporation ; Co-owner of Spectrum Screen Printing Joyce (Anderson) Pfaff '65 Professor Emerita of Health and Physical Education, Augsburg College 2flO9 ATHLETIC HALL flF FAME Bob Arvold '82, Wrestlìng Joel Engel '87, lvlen's Basketball Matt Farley'88, Baseball Dallas Miller'88, lvìen's Hockey Ruth 0lson '60, Women's Basketball Sonja Slack Payne '91, Softbatt, Tennis Drew Privette '89, Football, Men's Hockey Richard Thorud '56 Daniel Roff '82, Football Retired engineer, Toro Company Stefanie Lodermeier Strusz '98, women's Basketball @ For more aboul Homecoming and the alumni award winners, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2009 15 THE DESTINATION IS THE SAME: EARNING A COLLEGE DEGREE. BUT THE PATHS TO THAT CAN BE AS DIFFERENT AS DAY AND WEEKEND/EVENING. For many, Augsburg College is a traditional liberal arts college with 18- to 22-year-olds ENGLISH living on or near campus. lt's the place where they went just a few months after graduating from high school and spent the next four years. There is another side to Augsburg as well. lt's one where classes are held on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and some evenings. ln this evening and weekend program, students are older, they are more likely to have a full-time job, and they often juggle more family responsibilities than traditional day students. They study in both Rochester and lVinneapolis, at four locations. While the two groups are demographically different, the education they receive is as close to the same as possible. For example, business majors in the day program take the same courses as business majors in the evening and weekend program at all locations. Where the education differs has more to do with the life experiences students bring to the classroom. As one way to see this, we talked to students and faculty members in a day and weekend section of English 111. This class, Effective Writing, is one that nearly every Augsburg student takes. As seen in their favorite books and authors, the younger day students tend toward escape fantasy and horror fiction, exploring the dark and the macabre. The older weekend/evening students show more interest in philosophy, psychology, and spìrituality-perhaps seekìng more understanding, meaning, and comfort their lives. Enjoy "meeting" these Augsburg students. COMPILED BY WENDI WHEELER 16 Augsburg Now in by the numbers EVENINû/WËEKENI) UNI|ERGRADUATE PR0GRAM (Minneapolis Campus) DAY UNDERGRAI)UATE PR()GRAM Total students enrolled: 809 Total students enrolled: 2,01 3 Average age: 35 Average age: Male/female rat¡o: 37/63 21 Male/female ratio: 50/50 Students of color: l5% Students of color (total): 25% Students of color (first-year class): 42% Fall 2009 17 & H m M@m ffi isG Eil tr \\¡ 6 fl H *'å iÀ . r t J --J J ì I -¡ {Ulli lli E}l e.J J sweet trad¡t¡ons Velkommen Jul is one of Augsburg's most popular traditions, a Scandinavìan welcome to the holiday season. Augsburg alumni and friends look forward each year to the splendid banquet of sweets and treats provided by the Augsburg Associates. Enjoy these cookie recipes that come from the hands and hearts of the Associates. Some recipes date back generations to family members who attended Augsburg Seminary in the late 1800s. JOIN US AT VELKOMIVìEN JUL ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, BEGINNING WITH CHAPEL AT 10:15 A.M. COMPILED BY BETSEY NORGARD Fall 2009 19 { { Grandma Rand's Krumkake 1 pt. whipping cream 1 c. sugar l tsp. vanilla 2 c. f|our Pinch of salt 1 c. milk Whip cream until stiff . Add sugar gradually. Mix vanilla and add flour and salt, which have been sifted together. Add milk slowly, beating constantly. Bake in krumkake iron, a teaspoon- ful at a time (no more). Remove from iron and roll immediately. Makes about 10 dozen. Fattigmann Berliner Kranser Þ 6 6 6 2 6 egg yolks, 3 egg whites Tbl. sugar Tbl. cream Tbl. melted butter 2 hard cooked egg yolks Il2 c. sugar 2 raw egg yolks 1 c. butter f 2-712 c. flour (use less) fat for frying cardamom seeds lour salt van Beat egg yolks and whites together until illa thick and lemon colored. Add sugar and Mash cooked egg yolks with fork. Add sugar and continue beating; add cream and beat again; blend in butter. Crush cardamom seeds to powder and add with enough flour to make a dough f irm enough to roll work into a wet and pasty mixture. Add raw egg yolks and mix well. Add butter and mix. Add flour, salt, and vanilla. Take dough about the size of a walnut and roll into pencil shape about seven inches long. Form a ring, overlap ends (like a pret- Roll thin as paper, cut into diamond shapes about 5 x sprinkle with powdered sugar. * Augsburg Now inches. Deep-fry brown. Drain on absorbent paper and e, 20 2-Il2 in hot fat 2-3 minutes or until golden zel). Dip in raw egg white, then into crushed loaf sugar. Bake a|325 degrees until light brown. Mom's Rosettes 4,t I 1 1 I 2 eggs 1/4 tsp. salt 2 Tbl. sugar 3/4 c. milk (can use whole or skim) .# dü Il4 c. waler 1 tsp. vanilla 1 c. f lour canola or vegetable oil for deep frying Heat oil in a deepfryer to 375 degrees. (Be sure to have a thermometer in the oil as you fry the rosettes and maintain an average of 375.) Put the rosette iron in the oil as it heats-a hot iron and oil temperature are most important for crisp rosettes. Jule Spritz { 1 c. butter 1 tsp. almond extract 2-tl2 c. flour Batter: ln a deep bowl, lightly whip the eggs, salt, and sugar with a fork, just to mix. Don't overbeat it. Combine the milk, water, and vanilla. Alternately add 1/3 of the liquid and 1/3 of the flour to the egg mixture and repeat until all are mixed. lf the batter isn't smooth, put through a sieve to remove the lumps. 4 small egg yolks (or 3 large) 2/3 c. sugar 1/4 tsp. salt Cream sugar and butter, add almond extract and egg yolks and beat well. Add flour and salt. Put cookie dough in cookie press and press out cookies on cookie sheet. Decorate Lay out paper toweling on cookie sheets to cool the rosettes after frying. Have a bowl of sugar for dipping the hot rosette into after it comes off the iron. with red and green sugar. Bake about 12 minutes at 400 degrees. A couple of forks will be useful to remove the rosette from the iron. With hot oil and hot iron a|375 degrees, and absorbent cloth or several paper towels ready, quickly remove the rosette iron from the oil, quickly shake off any excess oil over the deepfryer, dab the iron on the paper towel, and quickly immerse the iron into the rosette batter-not going over the top edge of the rosette iron-and quickly return the iron to the deepfryer. After about 15-20 seconds in the oil for a light brown color, gently remove the rosette from the iron using a fork. Be sure to keep the iron in the oil heating as the rosette continues to brown; turn it with the forks to get uniform browning; and remove from the oil with the forks and place on paper toweling with the hollow side down to drain off any excess oil While warm, dip in sugar. Cool completely and store in large cookie tin in a cool place. Makes approximately 36 rosettes. Fall 2009 21 Ð perspective BY JEFF SHTLMAN I 22 Augsb s' Lisa Jack It was a summer of mood swings and wide-ranging emotions. ln May, Lisa Jack found herself on the cover of the los Angeles Times'Calendar section. The Augsburg psychology professor had a camera around her neck as is talk of a Paris showing of the photos "The majority of students, they enjoy being engaged and challenged," Jack said. "l love challenging them and to be that until two years ago were housed in a chal lenged. " basement box, Jack is far less interested than she was even this summer. That's because real life suddenly While Jack's photos have been seen across the globe and she has been inter- While the 36 photos of 0bama are now on display at Occidental, and there reappeared. 0n July 25, doctors told Jack's viewed by outlets ranging from The New York Times to the television show Exfra, Jack has never heard a word from mother that she has ovarian cancer. ln examining her family history, Jack and Obama or anyone at the White House. her sister were then told that they are ings with Obama in recent years, is all right with that. She understands the job he has to do and that the photos are from a long time ago. And she also has display at a hip West Hollywood art genetically predisposed for the disease. And because there isn't a way to screen for ovarian cancer, the only way for Jack to protect herself would be to have sur- gallery. gery herself. she sat cross-legged and dressed in black in the California sun. Her 1980 photographs of now-President Barack Obama-which were originally published in Time magazine-were about to go on She had become the photographer she wanted to be at the time she took those photos when they were both under- graduates at Occidental College. There was now enough buzz about her work for singer-songwriter Seal to check out the photos. Her photographs captured what she has described as Obama's youth and playfulness. And she knew she wanted some sort of platform." With Jack needing to help provide care for her mother in New York and planning for a significant medical procedure of her own, Jack was pictures. forced to adjust her teaching load at the last minute. Jack was not years. New camera in tow, she spent part of her summer in North Dakota shooting photos of professional rodeo cowboys and the livestock they ride. She began conversations about some photography projects. She was excited about rediscovering what she had once thought would be a career. "Once I purchased the camera, I went to practice at the IUniversity of able to teach an AugSem first-year seminar and is llmited to one psychology internship course for upperclass students. "l was adamant that I teach this semester," she said. "l have to have a life. I can't be all cancer all the time. And I love to teach. I have a class of seniors and I know them all. lt'll be fun." Because while Jack's love of photography was rekindled Minnesota'sl Raptor Center," Jack said. "When I put everything in my computer, I said, '0h my God.' I didn't lose any when she unearthed the nearly 3O-year-old photos of vision. " Obama, she still wants to All was great, right? Not so fast. Because that part of the summer seems so long ago. some new-fou nd perspective. "lt's an ugly, horrible, heinous disease," Jack said. "They call it the silent killer. I've done a U-turn into a cancer activist. But maybe it was the point in finding those photos, to have to continue telling stories through That's why Jack began taking photographs again for the first time in many Jack, who has had two chance meet- teach. With an extremely outgoing personality and non-stop professor energy, Jack loves the classroom setting. Fall 2009 23 Mafk HanSOn calls it a "kicking and screaming" calling. The son of a parìsh pastor, Hanson had no interest in follow- difficult times, ELCA presiding bishop Mark Hanson '68 finds great joy in his calling and seeks to stay focused 0n Ggd's w3rk in the world. Even through ing his father into mìnistrY. Sure, Hanson went to Union Theologi- cal Seminary after graduating in 1968 from Augsburg with his wife, lone (Agrimson) '68, but ihat was onlY because he received a scholarship to try it for a year. Even when he f inished up at Union, Hanson went as far as to stand in line to regìster to begin graduate school classes in psychology before he realized that wasn't what he wanted to do with his life. "l ended up going to therapy for six months to f igure out what was going on ìn my lìfe," Hanson says. "And it was only after sìx months of therapy that realized I was f ighting, for all the wrong I reasons, the call to ministrY." Now, nearly 40 years later, Hanson f inds himself as the presìding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at one of the most challenging times since the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches merged to form the ELCA in the late 1980s. The nation's financial instability has led to a downturn in contributions to the church. The nation's changing demographics have left the ELCA as a graying organization with ìts strength in parts of the natìon that aren't growing. And, in the wake of votes taken at August's Churchwide Assembly on topics of human sexuality and homosexual clergy in committed relationships, there are many individuals and congregations pondering whether the ELCA is the place for them. And despite the current challenges "I think that ìn anxious times that have dimensions of conf lict in them, the temptation ìs to go into enclaves of likeminded people to both reinforce the convictions one holds with those likeminded people, and often to articulate that those whom you are not in agreement with are so wrong," Hanson says. "l have worked to be very connected relationally. "ln a culture that is so polarized, facing the ELCA, Hanson loves his job. "l f ind great joy in what I do," especially around issues of personal Hanson says, while sitting in his 11th- morality, and tends to be increasingly f loor off ice that overlooks Chicago's 0'Hare lnternational Airport. "I use joy very intentionally. Joy, for me, has its source in my faith. I literally f ind great joy in this call. I told a group of pastors that I have the best call in the church and what was fun was that a bunch of them lìned up to argue with me about why theirs is better. I liked that." But Hanson acknowledges that these times are challenging. And that's why Hanson has spent-and will be spend- ing-a signif icant amount of time engag- fractious, contentìous, and too often mean-spirited, can we exemplify in our witness another way to live-together and honoring our dìfferences, but in the context of our unity?" J im Arends, a I97 4 Augsburg gradu- ate and current bishop of the LaCrosse lWisc.l Area Synod, saYS one of Han- son's biggest strengths as presiding bishop is his ability to communicate in general and to listen in particular. "lt is going to help, it can't but help," Arends says. "He respects you. I don't ing in conversation, even if the actions think I've ever seen anything even close at the Minneapolis Convention Center to disrespectful. With his authority and height, he's still able to make people be make things a little awkward and u ncomf ortable. comfortable and relax around hìm. That's tough with the height of his collar and the big cross he needs to wear." How does he do it? Hanson saYS some of it is because of what he learned at Augsburg. Because while there are challenges within the church, there are far Discovering in the Challenges of leadership BY JEFF SHELMAN Fall 't 2009 25 1l more sign if icant issues-poverty, dis- ease in third-world countries, and health concerns among them-that the ELCA is trying to tackle. "The call for us as Christians is not to be turned inward in conf lict with each schools of higher education. We have great colleges and universities in the church, but I think Augsburg has really positioned itself where I would want to see a college of this church to be." for work about 80% of the time. "There are some days when I've gone to the airport where I've given the United desk my driver's license and said, 'l forgot to look, where am I going again?"' Hanson other and miss this moment to be engaged in God's work in the world; And as Hanson progressed from parish pastor to bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod to, now, presiding bishop, Augsburg gave me that perspective," he Hanson sees a thread that goes back to says. "Augsburg always reminded me that whatever is going on with you, Augsburg. will have a lot to do with continuing com- "My whole life has been shaped by the intersection of intellectual curiosity, faith, and how faith and intellect shape one for a life in leadership," Hanson says. "The phrase I use for what I got from Augsburg and Union is an unquenchable curiosity of faith and life. I've never stopped being curious. I think Augsburg fostered that. I'm going to be free to ask questions and to serve my neighbor, particularly the one who is struggling with issues of justice and munications, building relationships, and leading a church that has members asking serious questions about the future. While the conversations and e-mails aren't always positive from individuals concerned about the ELCA's actions, Hanson remains within your family, within the church, there is a world that calls you." That was true in the mid-to-late 1960s when Hanson studied sociology, and it is true now as Hanson also watches Augsburg as a parent. Four of his six children have or currently are attending Augsburg. His daughter Alyssa, an alumna of the College, is also teaching math in the Weekend College program. "When lone and I were at Augsburg, we were invited, encouraged, challenged to immerse ourselves in the city, CedarRiverside, North Minneapolis, and that has not stopped," he says. "0ur daughter who is a senior there now has been to Central America twice. The immersion and context have grown from the immediate Cedar-Riverside neighborhood to now the world. "l'm all 26 over the world looking at Augsburg Now says with a laugh. "That's pretty bad. I'm prepared for where I'm going, but there's a lot of travel." That travel, in the upcoming months, upbeat. "l am proud to serve in leadership right "l lead 70 million Luther- now," he says. ans in the world and lead the largest Lutheran Church in the United States; around Lake Harriet for Chicago's Edge- that's just an amazing thing that I am called into that sort of leadership. lf the criticism begins to take a personal toll, then I can no longer be an effective leader. I think that the gospel is too good news for me to get so discouraged that I can't, with brook neighborhood, he's rarely there. It's tough to be at home when you travel great passion, proclaim the good news of Jesus. " poverty." And Hanson has plenty of opportunities to be curious as presiding bishop. While he and lone have traded the area "We have great colleges and universities in the church, but I think Augsburg has really pos¡t¡gned itself where I would want t0 see a college of this church t0 be." rl I ï H ffi \t'/ith more than 4,000 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs, Augsburg College strives to create an intentionally diverse and vibrant community by welcoming students of varied backgrounds and experiences. For many of the students who come to Augsburg, being an Auggie is a dream come true because at one time in their lives, the idea of going to college was nearly impossible to imagine. That's where Admission Possible comes in. This program, which was founded in Minnesota in 1999 to help low-income high school students get into college, has brought more than 100 students to Augsburg since its found- H ing. Ihis fall, 63 Admission Possible alumni joined the Augsburg community as first-year students-more than any other private college in the country. E tr Admission Possible made Augsburg possible for these students. Not only has this program enriched the lives of students and their families, it has also benefited the Augsburg community. Finding Admission Possible Juventino "Juve" Meza Rodriguez'11 came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 15 years old. Unlike his parents or siblings, Meza Rodriguez had been fortunate to attend school beyond the sixth grade and, though he did not speak English, he was excited m H m about continuing his education in a Minnesota high school. "l come from a low-income working family; my parents and their parents didn't go to school. My mom made a big push for education for her children because she wanted us to do something she wasn't able to do," he says. Meza Rodriguez tested into the ninth grade and began classes at Arlington High School in St. Paul. ln his neighborhood and in his family, no one had gone to college. "As kids we always said we want to be this or that," he says, "but realistically I wasn't thinking that college would be a possibility for me. And my parents of course didn't think it was an option either." ln his sophomore year, he dropped out of school, following his friends who had started working and were making money. "l was out of school for one week, and I did not enjoy life," he says. He asked his parents to help him get back into school, and after that week he appreciated his education more than he had before "l knew I wanted something more, but I wasn't sure what that was and I didn't have people around me who had done it either." With a renewed enthusiasm for high school, Meza Rodriguez asked a guidance counselor about college. "She told me I couldn't go," he says, but she eventually found a program for him and suggested he apply. That program was Admission Possible. From the moment he was accepted into the program, Meza Rodriguez was on his way to college, but he was in unfamiliar 28 Augsburg Now q F n Ð territory. "When I told my parents that I wanted to go to college, theyasked how I wasgoingtodo it. I said,'l have no idea."' Because his parents were unable to support him f inancially and because they had no experience with higher education, lVleza Rodriguez says they left many of the decisions about school up to him. "They would always say, 'Tu sabes lo que haces,'(You know what you're doing). But I didn't know what I was doing." Getting to Augsburg l-lis Admission Possible coach did know what to do to navigate the complicated and sometimes intimidating landscape of college application. Twice weekly in his junìor and senior years, lVIeza Rodriguez met with his coach and other students. He prepared for the ACT and learned how to select a college that matched his interests, complete the admissions applications, and apply for financìal aid including scholarships. Admission Possible also encouraged lVeza Rodriguez to make connections at schools by going on campus visits and attending education fairs. At one such fair for Latino students, he met Carrìe Carroll, Augsburg's assistant vice president of admissions. "When I got to Carrie's booth, I told her I had heard about Augsburg and she started asking me questions. We talked for two hours," he recalls. "She was very welcoming and showed an interest in me that other schools didn't bother to show." After their meeting, Carroll e-mailed lVleza Rodriguez and encouraged him to apply to Augsburg. "I applied, and Carrie called my AP coach within six days and said I had been admitted. I was the flrst student in my AP class to apply and the first to get accepted." il I I Carroll says Admission Possible students are attracted to Augsburg because of the f inancial aid that helps make college possible for more than 90% of traditional day college students. Two programs-Augsburg College Access Program (ACAP) and the Augsburg Promise are aimed at assisting f irst-generation and low-income students. ACAP provides a four-year grant for students who have participaled in a college readiness program. The grant covers the cost of luition not met with federal or state grants for students who are Minnesota residents, have an ACT score of 20 or belter, and have cunrulative grade point average of at least 3.25. lVlore a importantly, Carroll says studenls come because ALrgsburg has made an institutional commitrnent to providing access for nrany different types of studenls, to creating an intenlionally diverse cam pus, and to engaging students in service to the conrmunity. All of these commitments connect closely to Admission Possible values. "At Augsburg, we are aware of the obstacles some students have faced and will continue to face. We value our students." As Fall 2009 in 29 Meza Rodriguez's case, Carroll says often a student will make the choice to come to Augsburg, even though they have been accepted elsewhere, simply because the Augsburg staff takes the time to get to know them personally. accessible to anyone, regardless of his or her background or circumstances. Beyond admission onto their campuses." lt has also helped colleges and universities address much of the stigma that is attached to low-income stu_ Meza Rodriguez says that Admission possible has also changed campus atmospheres by introducing students who might not have considered college in the past. ',Ap helps colleges get out of their comfort zone," he says, "by welcoming more and more diversity Once students are accepted and begin their college studies, they still encounter d many challenges that can make staying jn school iffic u lt. dents, challenging the notion that they are low-achieving or unpre_ pared. ln fact, while the fall 2009 first-year class includes 40% ln the past, a team of Admission posstble staffers did some tracking and outreach to their alumni after they had started college. Most of their assistance had been reactionary, however, and they were often brought in when a student was in the midst students of color, the average ACT score and class rank have of a crisis. pared for success and dedicated to making the most of their college This year, Admission Possible has developed a structured col_ remained consistent among Augsburg's incoming classes over the past four years. Carroll agrees, adding that Admission possible students are pre_ on their individual campuses. experience. "These are smart, capable students who work very hard to succeed. They just need to be taught how to do this.', Meza Rodriguez is just one example of the motivated and tal_ Ben Pierson is the college coach at Augsburg this year. Having an office on campus is important because for Admissjon possible ented students who find a fit at Augsburg through coilege readiness programs. He received a president,s Scholarship, which recognizes alumni, "AP" means "help." Students know they will find a caring adult in Pierson as well as a reliable source of information academic achievement and leadership potential, and he is an Honors program student. ln his three years at the College, he has and support. also been a senator in student government, helped found a Latino lege program with coaches who work one-on-one with students Pierson works with Augsburg's director of retention, the Enrollment and Financial Services staff, admission counselors, and with the other student support programs. His objective is to maintain contact with students and help them find the resources they need before they want or need to drop out. student organization, and conducted summer research with President Pribbenow as his mentor and adviser. This fall Meza Rodriguez is studying poverty, inequality, and social change in the Metro Urban Studies Term (MUST) through HECUA, the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs, and is doing an internship with the Citizens League in St. paul. He Making dreams poss¡ble has also organized a group at Augsburgto help connect the more than 100 Admission Possible alumni who are now enrolled at the College readiness programs like Admission possible are just one of College. When he participates in Commencement, Meza Rodriguez knows the many ways students find Augsburg and realize their dreams. But this program benefits more than the students who enroll and graduate. Meza Rodriguez and the other Admission possible alumni fea_ tured here set examples for their peers, siblings, and their commu_ nities. Their experiences demonstrate that a college education is @ 30 will be an inspiration not only to members of his community but to his younger siblings, ages 4 and g, whom he hopes will one day follow in his footsteps. "My siblings can see that college is pos_ sible. So many people around me can now see that it is possible.,, he also Learn about Adm ission possi ble at www.adm ission possi ble.org. Read more about the other Augsburg Admission possible students pictured here at wwuaugsburg.edu/now Augsburg Now lucky Dirie'13 Houa lor '13 Farrington Starnes'12 È! b¡ Fall 2009 31 DEAR FRIEI{tlS, As I write to report to you on the successful completion to a most extraordinary year of economic challenges, I remain filled with gratitude for your steadfast support to Augsburg College. While each week last fall brought more bitter news than the previous regarding our financial institutions, we maintained a watchful and cautious eye over our students, our revenues, and our gifts. I was so pleased and humbled that through these difficult months our enrollments remained high, our programs strong, and your giving constant. During this difficult year, your gifts made an Augsburg education possible for many students who would not have otherwise been able to continue theìr studies. At Augsburg, we are committed to providing the access for these students of differing faiths, cultures, and ethnicities to thrive and to become the next leaders in creating safe and sustainable communities. Together, we continue to learn how "We are called to serve our neìghbor. " Durìng this past year, as a teaching and learning community, WE ARE CALLEI} TO SERVE (lUR NEIGHB(lR we also explored in many ways what it means to live more sustainably in the city. I was so proud of our students, who pushed the College for changes that made us better stewards of our gifts and of God's creation. Augsburg is now a leader among educational institutions in the use of renewable energy, in support of alternative transportation practices, and in the adoption of a food composting program. As we move forward, I ask for your abiding and increased participation and support in the next years as we continue to work together for a stronger and more vibrant future for our college, and for our students. S incere ly, * L- ? PAUL C. PRIBBENOW PRTSIDENT 32 Augsburg Now \ Your annual fund gift helps to 1 .., retain talented faculty, like chemistry professor maintain Augsburg's low 2 ... l4:l Vivien Feng, and 4 ... keep Augsburg affordable by providing a portion of the academic scholarships and financial aid received by 90% of day students. studenUfaculty rati0. make it possible for curious and talented students to stay on campus 5 during the summer to engage in full{ime research with a faculty mentor. 3 ... provide up{o-date computers and technology services critical to ... fund student programs and co-curricular activities, like campus ministry, athletics, internships, and ethnic student services. 6 ... provide the special equipment, safety equipment, and supplies for our science laboratories. teaching and learning. È1. r,' ,ç $¡ "$,ft.., t{Ol\¡b^ GIVING IN ACTI(¡NWhat Students and Alumni Say Nate Johnson '11 Rossing Physics Scholar, StepUP program Ali Rapp '11 Honors student, "Homemade" blogger ln Augsburg's unique Honors program, Ali and her fellow students participate in deep discussions about controversial questions. "There's a degree of openness in Honors that you don't find in other classes," she says. Another way Ali expresses her- self is through her blog on Homemade, the site that gives current and future Auggies a sense of what life is really like for students at Augsburg. "We really get to the heart of issues, and I'm glad we have that kind of freedom to be ourselves and to be Junior Nate Johnson has an interest in how things work and was drawn to the problem-solving part of physics. This year he was named one of four Rossing Physics Scholars in the nation by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Johnson grew up in St. Croix Falls before entering substance abuse treatment in high school. At Augsburg, Johnson is in the StepUp pro, gram, a program that is much of the reason why he chose the College and where he f inds community, support, faith, and discipline. "When I was looking at colleges, every time I went to genuine." Augsburg, I felt excited about it," Johnson says, "... other college settings felt daunting." Your giving supp0rts personal growth in Augsburg's Your giving supp0rts paths to healthy lives in Augsburg's Honors program StepUP program re [vftÌÞfçIÌtillln iffi ffi u EÐ K ru@w E F H l ll I I I llll[l il I I¡l il fIrlI¡Eñ] Shonna Fulford'09 Myles Stenshoel Scholarship The Augsburg faculty did more than just teach Shonna Fulford, a 2OO9 graduate from Perham, Minn. "They are truly there to teach you what they know, to let you discover things you may never Annika Gunderson '11 have otherwise, and to help you President's Scholar, world traveler ln her three years as an Auggie, Annika Gunderson '1 t succeed in everything you want to do," she says. As the recipient of the endowed scholarship for students pursuing careers in political science, she also had the opportunity to get to know has almost spent more time away from Augsburg than on campus. This international relations and Spanish major from Winona, Minn., has studied abroad three times, spending five weeks in is named. This student orientation leader and Homecoming queen hopes to return to Augsburg some day, perhaps as a Cuernavaca, Mexico; a semester in Central America; and member of the administration. another semester in Brazil. Gunderson suggests that all students take advantage of the many study abroad opportunities Your giving supp0rts scholarships endowed to honor Professor Emeritus Myles Stenshoel, for whom the scholarship available to Augsburg students. "lt's important to be able to challenge yourself to go beyond, to experience something unfa- faculty careers and commitment miliar." Your giving supports life-changing experiences thr0ugh Augsburg's Genter for Global Education Michele Roulet '10 WEC Student Senate Michele Roulet found Augsburg at the State Fair. Returning to college after a two-year degree and full-time work, she enjoys working at her own pace for "a chance to figure out who I am." The studio art major has studied abroad in Central America and Europe. She has also found a niche in the Weekend Student Senate and has served as its president, making sure that Augsburg's weekend and graduate student voices are represented on campus. Your giving supports leadership in Student Government Fall 2009 35 GIVING IN ACTIflNSupporting Augsburg Chemistry Students: John and Marvel Yager John Yager '7 4 was not a typical Augsburg f reshman. Although born in Minnesota, he grew up traveling in a military family. He picked Augsburg because his parents were expected to retire in the Twin Cities; his uncle, Dr. 0. Lewis Zahrendt, was an Augsburg graduate; and Augsburg's admissions materials were the most appeal i ng. It was a good choice. Yager says he considers Augsburg "one of the most fortunate events of my life as far as my education was concerned." His goal was medical school and he majored in chemistry and biology. Yager credits his academic success to what he believes are still the hallmarks of Augsburg's chemistry department-high levels of integrity, dedication, and a commitment to achievement-as well as the dedication of the chemistry faculty-Courtland Agre, John Holum, Earl Alton, and Arlin Gyberg. Yager also credits his classmates, the "phenomenal group of very bright and hard-working students, who helped me work all the harder." But even more crucial to his college success was the support Yager received when his older brother, with whom he was living, was tragically killed in an accident. ln coping with grief and trying to decide whether to stay at Augsburg, Yager contacted Rick Thoni, the director of student advisers, who arranged for housing options that Yager needed to stay in school and supported him through the While his first job involved hands-on chemistry, his subsequent work has taken him into related fields and aspects of immuno- chemìstry-q ual ity assurance, regu latory affairs, cl in ical trials, and literature research and publications. He is a patent-holder on a medical device used in endoscopy. "l've had great opportunity to really apply chemistry," Yager says, "to apply the discipline of what I've learned over the years to a career that has been extremely rewarding personally." He notes that while he didn't pursue a medical career, his work has contìnually helped people through development of better medical products. Yager currently'works for a new company, Acist Medical Systems, which manufactures products that help physicians ing them reach out to me was something l've never forgotten," administer the contrast agent used in angiography. Yager has continually remained connected to the Chemistry Department and Augsburg. He has lectured in senior seminars, Yager says. served as a mentor to chemistry students, and coached students After graduation Yager took additional chemistry courses and worked as a pathology assistant at St. Mary's Hospital. While medical school did not become part of his future, in the pathology lab through the hurdles of f inding their first jobs. He enjoys maintain- crisis. "Feeling that connection and that bond to the College, and feel- he met Marvel, who also worked in the lab and later became his wife. Yager turned to industry and took a position with an immunodi- agnostics company, researching and manufacturing products that improve medical diagnostic testing. Thirty-f ive years later he has worked at all of the major immunochemistry companies in the Twin Cities and has been on the cutting edge of medical research in number of start-up companies. 36 Augsburg Now a ing this connection and being on campus once in a while. "l just feel at home," he says. John and Marvel Yager value education and have supported Augsburg chemistry students through the Augsburg College Chemistry Alumni Scholarship. At times, Yager has also been able to provide an employer match to their funds. "As my career has advanced and we've looked at our values as a family," Yager says, "the idea of giving back has been fundamental." Yager says that for them Augsburg is the natural place to give, and with the scholarship endowment, the gift keeps giving. T 2OO8.2OO9 FINAI{CIAt H¡ûHLIGHTS Where the Money Comes From Where the Money Goes 7o/o 3o/" Government grants 3o/o Equipment and capital improvement 2o/" Other sources Student salary 5% \ 3o/o Debt service \ Private gifts and grants .3o/o /utititi"t t2/" Room and board ffi m ffi $34.5 $33.7 $30.5 $26.6 $26.2 $24.8 2009 Endowment Market Value $23.2 Ï22.7 $23.3 May 31, 2009 $20.0 $26,211,136 As $r 6.4 of May 31, 2009, we have annual realized and unrealized losses of 2I.7% on our endowment. $r 4.2 $11.5 Our five-year average annual return on the endowment is .18%, and the lO-year average annual return is I.42%. We are committed to maintaining the value of the principal gifts and to provide support to the College in perpetuity. 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2ît7 2008 2009 Endowment Assets (in millions) June l, 1 995 - May 31, 2009 Fall 2009 31 llEAR FRIEI{llS, It is my distinct pleasure to share with you news about the many gifts and contributions made to Augsburg College between June 1, 2008, and May 31, 2009. I am filled with gratitude at the generosity of our thousands of alumni, parents, and friends who wholeheariedly supported the College during this past year of unprecedented economic challenges and uncertainty. Together, for the benefit of our students and community, we were able to witness many successes and end our year with an operating surplus. I'd like to highlight just a few examples. . We increased the number of donors who made gifts during the year to a total 4,75L This support went to The Augsburg Fund, student scholarships, capital projects, and fine arts, athletics, signature programs, and other important i n itiatives. of ¡ Perhaps most exciting, especially in a challenging economy, was the success of The Augsburg Fund, our fund for unrestricted gifts for the College. For the second year in a row, it reached its $1 million goal, surpassing last year's mark for a total of $1,003,210 from 3,400 donors. ¡ Also for the second year in a row, I am proud to tell you that we received 100% participation in The Augsburg Fund from the Augsburg Board of Regents, the Alumni Board of Directors, the President's Cabinet, and-for the first time-the staff of the lnstitutional Advancement Division. This was a gratifying sign of commitment from WE Lfl(lK BACK WITH GRATITUDE ANIl F(lRWARD WITH EXPECTATION F()R A YEAR OF CflNTINUED SUPPflRT FflR flUR STUDENTS these key groups of leaders. . Augsburg also received 619 gifts totaling $387,000 to new or existing scholarship funds. Scholarships are a primary source of financial aid for many students at Augsburg, and we are again grateful for the 334 generous individuals who chose to establish or con- tribute to these funds, this new academic year with the largest enrollment and greatest diversity of any incoming first-year class, we look back with gratitude and forward with expectation for a year of continued support for our students. I thank you for your continued, unfailing support. As we enter Sincerely, JIRTMY R. WELLS VICT PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT 38 Augsburg Now t¡FEÏIME ûIVI}IG The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who have generously given a minimum 0f $100,000, including planned gifts, over a lifetime. We are immensely grateful for their examples of loyalty and commitment to the College. '68 and Tamra Nelson Ernest+ and Helen Alne Phillip+'55 and Lynne Gronseth George Donald '60 and Violet Anderson Carolyn and Franklin Groves Barbara Tjornhom Daniel '65 and Alice Anderson Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Robert'51+ and Carolyn Odegard R. Luther Olson '56 '54 Nelson and Richard Nelson Brian Anderson '82 and Leeann Rock'81 James and Kathleen Haglund Charles and Catherine Anderson Hearst Foundation Beverly Halling '55 0ren and Donald '53 Oren Earl and Doris Bakken Loren Henderson John and Norma Paulson Loren and Mary Quanbeck'77 Barber Elizabeth '82 and Warren Bartz Donald Hennings Grace Forss Robert '50 and Ruth Paulson Glen Person '47 Paul '63 and LaVonne Olson '63 Batalden '57 Herr and Douglas Herr Donald '39 and Phyllis Holm Harvey Sidney '57 and Lola Lidstrom '50 Berg Allen and Jean Housh Addison and Cynthia Piper Barbara and Tane Birky Garfield Hoversten '50 David Piper Roy'50 and Ardis Bogen Huss Foundation Harry and lVlary Piper John+ and Joyce Boss Sandra and Richard Jacobson Philip '50 and Dora Frojen'49 Quanbeck Donald Bottemiller and Shellie Reed Kinney Johnson '65 Mark'53 and Jean Raabe Rodney and Barbara Burwell James Johnson and Maxine lsaacs Alan Bush Foundation Dean '75 and Terry Kennedy Curtis and lVlarian Sampson Carlson Companies Bruce and Maren Kleven Ward C. Schendel The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation David and Barbara Kleven Ruth Schmidt '52 Richard '74 and Nancy Colvin E. Milton Kleven '46 James and Eva Seed David and lVìary Brandt '79 Croft Dean and Susan Kopperud Rodney Theodore and Pamala Deikel Kraus-Anderson Construction Company John and Martha Singleton Corporation Foundation Darrell '55 and Helga Egertson Rhonda Tracy L. Elftmann '81 Diane and Philip Larson Fuad and Nancy El-Hibri George Leland and Louise Sundet Philip and Laverne Fandrei Winifred Helland '37 Formo+ and Jerome Formo'37+ James Lindell '46 Dean '81 and Amy Sundquist Gary'80 and Deanna Tangwall Jeny and Jean Foss Jennifer and Richard Martin P. Dawn Heil William and Anne Frame Barbara and Edwin Gage General Mills Foundatìon Marie and Larry McNeff Teagle Foundation Gerard and Anne lVeistrell Hoyt '39+ and Lucille lVlesserer Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Robert '63 and Marie Tufford Michael '71 and Ann Good Robert '70 and Sue lVidness Emily Anne and Gedney Tuttle '84 and Jean Taylor '85 H. Theodore '76 and lVlichele Grindal Raymond '57 and Janice Grinde Paul '84 and Nancy Mackey '85 Mueller Robert Wagner '02 William and Stephanie Naegele Ronald '68 and lvlary Kay Nelson Scott Weber '79 Del uxe Roger Griffith Spitzer'85 Kwiecien and Paul Kwiecien '86 ice '74 and Catherine L. B. Schendel Sill '82 Glen and Anna Skovholt Gladys Boxrud Strommen '46 and Clair David Lankinen'88 Strommen'46+ '61 and lVary Larson Harris '57 and Maryon Lee Arne '49 and Jean Swanson R '52 and Joanne Varner '52 Peterson '52 lVarkland Glen A. Taylor Foundation laylor'78 Robert Wick '81 Every effort has been made t0 ensure that all nanes are included and spelled correctly. lfyou notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. * Deceased Fall 2009 39 PRESItlENT'S CIRCTE GIFTS RECEIVTD JUNE 1, 2OO8 TO MAY 31, 2OO9 The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who have generously made leadership gifts to the College 0f $1,000 or more in the 2008-09 fiscal year. Ruth Aaskov'53 Margaret Clyde Andra Adolfson Joseph Cook'89 William '51 and Marolyn Sortland '51 Halverson Elling and Barbara Halvorson Peter '70 and lVìary Agre Walter and Janet Cooper Jill Hanau Lois Richter '60 Agrimson and Russell Agrimson Brent Crego '84 Clarence Hansen'53 Edward '50 and Margaret Alberg George Craig Alexander and Roberta Kagin Sally Hough Daniels '79 '72 and Janet Dahlman Mark '68 and lone Agrimson '68 Hanson Jodi and Stanley Harpstead Bartley Davidson '76 Hunt and Diane Harris Julie Edstrom'90 Richard and Dail Hartnack Leif Anderson Judy Thompson Eiler '65 Christopher Haug'79 and Karl Starr Deloris Anderson '56 Dantel'77 and Patricia Eitrheim David '67 and Karen Jacobson Daniel '65 and Alice Anderson Richard '72 and Tamara Ekstrand Helen Haukeness'49 and James Ranck Robert'77 and Katherine Anderson Brian Anderson '82 and Leeann Rock '81 Fuad and Nancy EI-Hibri Lisa Svac Hawks '85 Avis Ellingrod Mark Hebert '74 Catherine and Charles Anderson Rona Quanbeck'48 Emerson and Victor Emerson Philip'42 and Ruth Helland Scott'76 and Lisa Anderson Ronald Engebretsen Leo Henkemeyer Steven and Stephanie Anderson Susan Engeleiter Garry Hesser and Nancy Homans Frank'50 and Georgette Lanes'50 Ario Christine Pieri '88 Arnold and James Arnold '88 Stephen '68 and lVìarilyn lVcKnight '67 Erickson Donald '39 and Phyllis Holm Dean '68 and Diana Olson '69 Ersfeld L. Craig'79 and Theresa Serbus '79 Estrem Linda Baìley '74 Holmen and Kenneth Holmen '74 Paul Holmquist '79 Richard '87 and Carla Bahr lVlark and Margie Eustis Joeì and Alice Houlton Dorothy Bailey John '82 and Joan Moline'83 Evans Kermit '50 and Ruth Hoversten Robert Barber'56 Allison Everett'78 and Kenneth Svendsen '78 Clarence '41 and lVarguerite Hoversten Elizabeth '82 and Warren Bartz Paul '63 and LaVonne Olson '63 Batalden Barbara Farley Jane and Patrick Fischer Allen '64 and Lenice Hoversten Philip '71 and Patricia Hoversten Duncan Flann '55 Jerelyn Hovland '63 and Clyde Cobb Paul '59 and Pearl Almquist .James '58 and Beverly Almquist Jean Hemstreet'68 Bachman and Harold Bachman Vera Thorson Benzel '45 '67 Haugen Dawn Formo fom'72 Jerome Formo'37+ Joseph Hsieh'61 and E. Mei Shen Hsieh Birgit Birkeland '58 William and Anne Frame Andrew Fried '93 Glenda and Richard Huston Nancy Paulson '70 Bjornson and JoAnne Digree '68 Fritz and Barry Fritz Brandon Hutchinson'99 J. Ragnar Bjornson Buffie Blesi '90 and John Burns David '68 and Lynn Boe Leola Dyrud Furman '61 Barbara and Richard Hutson Karon Garen Duane'68 and Diane llstrup John '47 and lrene Jensen Sidney'57 and Lola Lidstrom '50 Berg Norman '59 and Delores Berg John Berg'59 Ann Garvey and Karen Howe lVlichael and Barbara Hubbard Anthony'85 and Traci Genia Glen'52 and lrvyn Gilbertson Carol Oversvee Johnson '61 Bruce Brekke Orval and Cleta Gingerich Michael Brock Andrew and Carolyn Goddard Ruth E. Johnson '74 and Philip Quanbeck ll lVerton '59 and Jo An Bjornson '58 Johnson Adam Buhr'98 and Laura Pejsa '98 Alexander '90 and Simone Gonzalez Danìel Johnson'75 Robert and Brenda Bukowski lVichael '71 and Ann Good Gary'74 and lVelody Johnson Carolyn Burfield '60 Shirley Larson '51 Goplerud and Dean Goplerud Thomas Gormley and Mary Lesch-Gormìey Craig Jones Marilyn Saure '61 Breckenridge and Tom Breckenridge Charles Bush Bruce '68 and Lois Hallcock '68 Johnson Eric Jolly Paul and Judy Grauer Cynthia Landowski '81 Jones and Rick Jones Carrìe and Peter Carroll Charles and Barbara Green H. Theodore '76 and lVichele Grindal Jennifer Abeln John and Peggy Cenito lVabeth Saure '58 Gyllstrom and Richard Gyllstrom Janet L. Karvonen-Montgomery and Alan Keith '65 and Lynn Chilgren Herbert'54 and E Corrine Chilstrom David and Kathy Haaland Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Patricia and Paul Kaufman C. Lee Clarke James and Kathleen Haglund Dean '75 and Terry Kennedy Marion Buska '46 Christine Coury '91 Campbell and Craig Campbell 40 Augsburg Now Carol Jones '78 Kahlow and Larry Kahlow lVontgomery lVichael Kivley '89 Jellrey'77 and Becky Bjella '79 Nodland Charles and Ritchie Markoe Scribner Linda Klas '92 Norma Noonan James and Eva Seed E. lVlilton Kleven '46 Roselyn Nordaune'77 Adam '01 and Allison Seed Elsie Ronholm Koivula '49 Lisa Novotny '80 and lVark Flaten Phyllis '58 and Harold Seim Joanne Stiles '58 Laird and David Laird Richard '70 and Linda Seime Kalhryn'72 Lange and Dennis Sonifer Teny'7O and Vicki Nygaard Leroy Nyhus '52 Ruth Ringstad '53 Larson and lVarvin Larson Robert Odegard '51+ Frankie and Jole Shackelford Earl '68 and Lisbeth Jorgensen '70 Sethre Norman '85 and Kim Asleson '84 Okerstrom Stephen and Kay Sheppard Harris '57 and Maryon Lee Sandra Larson '69 Olmsted and Richard Olmsted '69 Chad '93 and lVìargaret Shilson Thomas and Gratra Lee R, Luther 0lson '56 David Soli '81 Andre Lewis '73 and Kathleen McCartin Orville '52 and Yvonne Bagley '52 0lson Earle '69 and Kathleen Kupka '69 Solomonson Debora and John Liddell William and Mary 0'lVìeara Donald '53 and Beverly Halling '55 Oren Allan '53 and Eunice Nystuen '50 Sortland Alice Lindell '58 and Gordon '59 Lindgren Mary Sue Zelle Lindsay and Hugh Lindsay Beverly Ottum Arne and Ellen Sovik Patricia and John Parker Carolyn Johnson Dana Lonn John and Norma Paulson Robert and Joyce Engstrom '70 Spector Kathy Lowrie Robert'50 and Ruth Paulson Richard '74 and Karen Pearson Alan Petersen '58+ Harvey '52 and Joanne Varner '52 Peterson Todd '89 and Amy Steenson Karin Peterson Gladys Boxrud Strommen '46 Eugene'59 and Paula Peterson Corwin and Doris Peterson Philip '79 and Julia Davis '79 Styrlund Arne'49 and Jean Swanson '52 Markland Ron '69 and Jane Petrich Terry Marquardt'98 and Gary Donahue Carol Pfleiderer Jennifer and Richard lVartin Sandra Phaup'64 Dean '81 and Amy Sundquist Jeffrey'79 and Melissa Swenson Nicole Swords '01 and April Leger '02 Jo Anne Sylvester '68 and Larry Dieckman Gary '80 and Deanna Tangwall Jean Taylor '85 and Roger Griff ith '84 Paul '60 and Nancy Thompsen Dick '61 and Jane Thompson lVlartin Larson '80 James Lindell '46 Wenona '55 and Norman Lund Thomas'68 and Carol Batalden '68 Luukkonen Pamela and Robert lVlacDonald Philip '79 and Diane Madsen Kay Malchow'82 and Stephen Cook Lyle '68 and Susanne Starn '68 Robert '71 and Cheryl Lindroos lVìalotky '72 Marlin Paul C. Pribbenow and Abigail Crampton Pribbenow Donald '66 and Margaret fVattison Karl D. Puterbaugh'52 Donna McLean Philip '50 and Dora Frojen '49 Quanbeck lVlark'53 and Jean Raabe Tara Cesaretti '97 lVcleod and Chrìstopher McLeod '00 Lori Lassi '80 Rathje and Tim Rathje'86 IVarie and Larry lVìcNeff Clayton '91 and Denise Sideen Beverly Ranum '78 '94 McNeff Meyer and Dennis Meyer'78 John '62 and Ruth Sather '63 Sorenson '80 Spargo and Lawrence Spargo Donald and Annelies Steinmetz lVìyles and Eunice Stenshoel Beverly and Thomas Stratton Ralph and Grace Kemmer '58 Sulerud Bruce and Sharon Reichenbach Harold and Maureen Thompson Eunìce Kyllo '62 Roberts and Warren Roberts Gordon '52 and Gloria Parizek'53 Thorpe E. Palmer Rockswold David and Martha Tiede Deidre Durand 'BB and Bruce lViddleton John '68 and Linda Roebke Frances Torstenson Robert '70 and Sue Midness Laura and Martin Roller Lawrence '69 and Susan Turner Frances Roller Peter Turner Timothy '74 and Deborah Anderson '73 Miller John'77 and Gail Ronning Emily Anne and Gedney Tuttle Joyce Schroepfer lVliller '02 Philip Rowberg'41 Gerald '48 and Judith Betty and Paul Tveite Julie Lien '82 and Steve Vanderboom Paul '70 and Barbara Durkee Gay Johnson '71 lVikelson '66 Minear and Spencer lVlinear '66 Ryan '59 and Sylvia Sabo Robert Minicucci Thomas'59 and Ruth Carlsen '60 Moen Mark'79 and Pamela Hanson '79 Moksnes Curtis and lVìarian Sampson '70 and Dennis Veiseth Norman '76 and Kathryn Anderson '76 Wahl Judith and William Scheide David and Sarah Warch Thelma lVlonson '41 Carolyn Hanson '68 Schildgen and Loìs Thomas and Lorraine Morgan William Schildgen Ruth Schmidt '52 Jeremy and Tracy Wells LaWayne '51 and D. LaRhea Johnson '51 IVlorseth lVlartin Alne'65 Schroeder and William Schroeder lVìary '76 Wattman and Douglas Shaw John '49 and Arnhild Werket Wheelock Whitney and Kathleen Blatz James lVloulsoff lVlarilee Paul '84 and Nancy Mackey '85 Mueller Suzanne Ziemann Schulz '87 Robert Wick '81 Donald Murphy '43+ Ruth lVurphy John Schwartz'67 Diane Pike and Stephen Willett Ronald '68 and lvlary Kay Nelson lnez'59 and Lyall Schwarzkopf David and Catherine Woìd Mildred Nelson '52 Erik and Leigh Schwarzkopf Todd Yeiter Beverly Omdahl Nelson '55 Douglas Scott and Grace Schroeder Scott Estate of E. lrene Lasseson Neseth '38+ Michael '08 '71and Bonnie Scott Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. lf you notice an errot please clntact Kev¡n Healy at l-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. * Deceased Fall 2009 41 flRGANIZATIflNS GIFTS RECTIVED JUNE 1, 2OOB TO MAY 31, 2OO9 The following list recognizes organizations that provided generous gifts to Augsburg College 0f $1000 0r more in the 2008-2009 fiscal year Peace Lutheran Church of Plymouth Carl & Eloise Pohlad Family Foundatjon 3M Foundation Halleland Lewis Nilan Sipkins & Johnson PA. Accenture Foundation Hazelden Foundation Al Franken for Senate Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation Hennepin County Charles N. and Florence S. Hensel Education Fund American Lutheran Church Huss Foundation Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi L.L.P Foundation Ameriprise Financial IBM Corporation The Summit Group Ameriprise Financial Employee Gift Matching lnstitute of American Physics TCF Foundation Kresge Foundation A'viands Lockheed Martin Corporation Thrivent Financial For Lutherans Thrivent Financial For Lutherans Foundatìon Bassford Remele lVìacalester College UBS Foundation Beckman Coulter, Inc. lVarble Lutheran Church Bonner Foundation lVat Bandits Wrestling Club US Bancorp Foundation Vista De La Montaña United Methodist Church Campus Kitchens Project, lnc. The McGee Group Wabash College Collegiate lVìarketing IVlDTA Data Recogn ition Corporation Merck Partnership For Giving Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program Wells Fargo Foundation Community Support Deloitte Foundatron Minneapol is Public Schools Winthrop & Weinstine, PA. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America M Program FPL Group Foundation, Inc. nnesota Legislative Society Minnesota Private College Foundation i The New York Academy Gethsemane Professional & Benevolent Fund Edwin and Edith Norberg Charitable Trust GI\4AC.RFC Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation E N 0 FTE D At The following Research Corporation National Trust For Historical Preservation 0f Medicine Bill& Melinda Gates Foundation General Mills Foundation SV Presser Foundation S0G IETY, SupportingAugsburg's mission intothefuture list recognizes those members wh0 have documented planned gifts to Augsburg College during 2008-09, becoming charter members of the Sven Oftedal Society. Daniel '65 and Alice Anderson Anna J. Hanson L. Beth Buesing Opgrand '45 E. William Anderson'56 Rodney E. and Arlene B. (Selander) Hill John Peterson+ Keith and Beverly Anderson Lorna Hoversten Elìzabeth Anne and Warren Bartz Sherry Jennings-King Quentin '50 and E. Lucille Quanbeck Nancy M. (Joubert) Raymond Oliver Dahl '45 Clair Johannsen '62 Dean and Susan Kopperud Gladys Boxrud Strommen Sally Hough Danìels '79 Laura Kompelien Delavie '92 Paul Kwiecien and Rhonda Kwiecien Robert '65 and Kay Tyson Avis Ellìngrod David W. Lankinen '88 fVìary Loken Veiseth Duane M. Esterly Luther and Janice Larson Beverly Gryth Al lVlarvin and Ruth Larson ice Evenson Allison M. Everett and Kenneth Svendsen H I '52 Villwock+ and H. Robert Villwock Julie (Gudmestad) and Joe Laudicina Robert Wagner '02 Rev. John and Grace (Nydahl) Luoma Dr. Scott J.M. Weber '79 Rev. Terry Frovik Lyle and Susanne lVìalotky Ann Garvey Orval and Bernell Moren James and Corrìne Hamre Roger lVì. Nelson 42 Gary Tangwal Augsburg Now ,-t c0r{sEcuTtvE ûtvtNG The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who have generously given for 10 or more consecutive fiscal years. lVlarcellus '54 and Thelma Johnson Rachel Hendrickson '71 Julian and Bruce Julian George'46 and Jean Christenson '49 Sverdrup Jennings '51 and lVìary Schindler '48 Thompson Roberta Kagin and Craig Alexander Allan Tonn '75 Sharon Dittbenner'65 Klabunde and Sheldon '49 and Margery Manger'47 Torgerson Consecutive Giving, 25 !€âts 0r nì0t0: Ruth Aaskov'53 Harold'47 and Lors Black '47 Ahlbom Kenneth '61 and lVìarilyn Ellingson '62 Akerman Charles and Ellora Alliss Educational Foundation Raymond and lVlargaret Anderson Jerome Kleven '58 Frances Torstenson Catherine and Charles Anderson Lowell '54 and Janice Kleven Daniel '65 and Alice Anderson Elsre Ronholm Koivula '49 Margaret Sateren Trautwein '37 Rebecca Helgesen '67 Von Fischer and Kristin Anderson Joan Johnson l. Shelby Gimse Andress '56 Frank'50 and Georgette Lanes'50 Ario Stanley'57 and Mary Esther Baker Archie Lalim '5O George '61 and lVary Larson Linda Larson '70 and C. jerry Sells Harris '57 and lVìaryon Lee lrene Ppedahl Lovaas'45 Roger'57 and Fern lVlackey lVlarie and Larry McNeff Paul'70 and Barbara Durkee '71 Mikelson Spencer'66 and Gay Johnson '66 Minear Andrew'50 and Barbara Kolden '50 Balerud Paul '63 and LaVonne Olson '63 Batalden John Benson'55 Vera Thorson Benzei '45 Jack'49 and LeVerne Berry Doris Frojen Bretheim '51 Beth Torstenson '66 Richard Klabunde '53 Kuder and Calvin Kuder '60 Thomas Von Fischer Thomas '63 and Gloria Joyce Wadsworth David and Catherine Wold 20 -24 year s consecutive Lois Richter '60 Agrimson and Russell Agrimson Charles'63 and Lois Luthard '65 Anderson Julie Teigland '69 Anderson and Gary Anderson Ray Anderson '49 Hamar'34 and Wanda Severson '40 Benson Theodore '51+ and Carolyn Berkland James'49 and Barbara Ekse'48 Carlson Jeroy'48 and Lorraine Carlson Thomas '59 and Ruth Carlsen Thomas and Lonaine Morgan Birgit Birkeland '58 Linda Carlstedt '63 Mildred Nelson '52 Mary Twiton Gloria Burntvedt Nelson '43 John and Carolyn Cain Carl '59 and Kathleen Aaker'62 Casperson Paige Nelson '74 David '72 and lVlichelle Karkhoff '72 Christianson Roselyn Nordaune'77 Wayne '69 and Pamela Bjorklund '69 Carlson Addell Halverson Dahlen '43 Richard '74 and Nancy Colvin Laverne lVoe '48 Olson and Paul 0lson Orville '52 and Yvonne Bagley '52 Olson Joyce Catlin '73 Casey and Paul Casey Lester Dahlen '39 Moen '59 Bosben and Robert LeVon Paulson Bosben Dinter'52 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) lVlarsha Fred '60 and Janet Engelmann Roger Reynold '41 and lVarian Erickson Ruth Ann Gjerde Fitzke '67 '68 and Dean 0lson-Strommen '56 and Janet Ose Patricia Strecker'64 Pederson and Dean Pederson John '82 and Joan Moline'83 Evans Marilyn Pearson '76 Florian and Kenneth Florian Glen Person '47 Edward Evenson'41 Jerome Formo '37+ Robert'68 and Alice Draheim '68 Peters Harvey '52 and Joanne Varner '52 Peterson Rachel Rohde '76 Gilchrist and Chris Gilchrist Leonard '52 and Anabelle Hanson '51 Dalberg James Ericksen '69 Alan'67 and lVarilyn Albaugh '67 Gierke Shirley Larson '51 Goplerud and Dean Goplerud Janet Evenson Paul and Judy Grauer David Proctor'63 Raymond '57 and Janice Grinde Philip '50 and Dora Frojen '49 Quanbeck James'61 and BettyAnn Redeske James '68 and Linda Gilbertson '71 Romslo Olive Ronholm '47 '63 Potratz and Edward Potratz Leland '53 and Eunice Fairbanks Paul '62 and Susan Grover Sonia Overmoen'62 Gullicks and lVlilton Gullicks Kenneth '58 and Aldemar Johnson '57 Hagen Evelyn Amundson Sonnack '43 Arvin '55 and Twila Halvorson Herbert '51 and M. Joyce Tallman '52 Hanson Philip '42 and Ruth Helland Thomas'57 and Arlene Hofflander Norman and llene Holen Allen '64 and Lenice Hoversten Florence Retrum Hovland'40 Ruth E. Johnson'74 and Philip Quanbeck ll Donald and Annelies Steinmetz Wayne Johnson Garry Hesser and Nancy Homans lVyles and Eunice Stenshoel Duane and Ruth Johnson Howard'51 and Nouaneta Hjelm Gladys Boxrud Strommen '46 James '61 and Caroline Holden Merton '42 and lrene Huglen '42 Strommen Marvin'49 and Dorothy Quanbeck '48 Johnson Daniel '70 and lngrid Kloster þ9 Koch Bradley '63 and Linda Holt Luther'39 and Helen Strommen James Kottom '52 Gloria Johnson'51 Grace Kemmer '58 Sulerud and Ralph Sulerud Joanne lVìarlys Ringdahl '53 Gunderson and Charles Gunderson Arlin Gyberg lVabeth Saure '58 Gyllstrom and Richard Gyllstrom Edward+ and Shirley Hansen Sylvia Kleven Hanson '50 Betty Johnson '58 Haas and Charles Hass Marjorie Wilberg Hauge '50 Marilyn Peterson '63 Haus and George Haus lVartín '59 and Sylvia Sabo Ruth Schmidt '52 James'54 and Ethel Nordstrom '55 Shiell Arnold '48 and Carol Skaar '58 Stiles'58 Laird and David Laird Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correcily. lf you notice an enot please clntact Kevin Healy at 1-800-2/3-06J7 or healyk@augsburg.edu. * Deceased Fall 2009 43 l\4artin Larson '80 Robert '56 and lVary Erickson '58 Lockwood David '53 and Janice Anderson '54 Rykken Scott Daniels '82 and lVlarcia Pape-Daniels Ann Erkkila Dudero '86 Audrey Nagel '51 Sander '68 and Janice Bell '70 Schmidt Brent Lofgren'88 Dann Forsberg'80 Gary Susan Lageson '77 Lundholm and lVlark Lundholm Joann Koelln Frankena'72 Kevin '78 and Catherine Rosik '00 Shea Lynn '50 and lVliriam Hoplín '50 Lundin '66 Luoma Ronald '56 and Christine Munson '56 IVlain Kristin Settergren '86 l\4cGinness and Gary and Barbara Glasscock Glen and Anna Skovholt John '65 and Gracia Nydahl Alexander'90 and Simone Gonzalez Allan '53 and Eunice Nystuen '50 Sortland Robert and Nancy Granrud Paulette Nelson '67 Speed and John Speed Lloyd Grinde'56 David '63 and Karen Henry'64 Steenson Tito Guerrero Steve McGinness Donna lVlcLean Bonnie Johnson '67 Nelson and Bryce Nelson lll Beverly and Thomas Stratton Suzanne Overholt'67 Hampe and John Hampe Dorothy Joy Swanson '51 Jacquelyn Bagley'51 Hanson and Kenneth Hanson Jelfrey'79 and Melissa Swenson Karla lVorken '81 Thompson and Shirley Christensen '75 Nickel and Daniel Nickel Christopher Haug'79 and Karl Starr lVìargaret Nelson Foss Nokleberg '48 Carolyn Hawkins Edwin and Edith Norberg Charitable Trust Rodney'62 and Jane Helgeson Robert '55 and Karin Herman Rodney'59 and Arlene Selander'59 Hill Robert Nordin '64 Jonathan Nye Thomas Thompson Kenneth '83 Ogdie and Al Ogdie Norman '85 and Kim Asleson '84 Okerstrom W. Donald '34 and Glenda Olsen Edith Hovey Glenda and Richard Huston Rosemary Jacobson '69 IVìary 0lson Lawrence'69 and Susan Turner Jeanne lvl Kyllo '69 Wendschuh and '74 and Linda Bailey '74 Holmen Leroy Nyhus'52 lVìaren Lecy Mark'79 and Janelle Tonsager Ronald Wendschuh Donald '89 and Melinda Mattox '91 Wichmann Janet Cooke '59 Tilzewilz and Donald Zilzewilz Robyn Arnold Zollner '80 Kinney Johnson '65 James'64 and Rose Parks Janet Batalden'61 Johnson and 10-14 years consecutive Eugene'59 and Paula Peterson Eileen Quanbeck '46 Dennìs'61 Johnson Morris '52 and Marjorie Danielson '52 Johnson Ordelle Aaker '46 Norman '59 and Ardelle Skovholt '54 Quanbeck Luther'68 and Joanne Kendrick The American Foundation Paul '59 and Pearl Almquist Bruce and Sharon Reichenbach E. fVilton Kleven '46 Scott'76 and Lisa Anderson Stephen '76 and Karen Reinarz Carrie Kosek'85 Knott and Gerald Knott Dean'74 and Janet Nelson '76 Anderson Judith Sandeen'72 Janet Griffith '83 Sandford and David Sandford Joyce Opseth Schwartz'45 Ronnie'62 and Karen Scott Kari Beckman '81 Sorenson and Neil Sorensen La Vone Studlien '58 lVlillard '52 and Dorothy Knudson Leif Anderson Duane and lVìary Alyce Krohnke Scott Anderson '96 Lois Knutson '62 Larsen and Paul Larsen lVargaret Anderson Elizabeth Mortensen '56 Swanson and Annette and Col. Henry C. Lucksinger, Jr. LeRoy'52 and Carole Anenson Bill and Anne McSweeney Daniel '65 and Mary Tildahl '65 Meyers Charles '63 and IVlary Jo Arndt Robert '70 and Sue Midness Mary Arneson and Dale Hammerschmidt James '88 and Christine Pieri '88 Arnold Viclor'42 and Rhoda Miller Susan Hanson '82 Asmus and Kevin Asmus Ruth Weltzin '45 Swanson and Edwin Swanson Andrew Moen '87 Dorothy Bai ley Norman H. Tallakson Charitable Trust Alan Montgomery and Lawrence'52 and Jayne Balzer James Swanson Jacqueline'80 and John Teísberg Janis Thoreson '78 Dennis'58 and Doris Barnaal Janet Karvonen-lVontgomery Lawayne '5i and D. LaRhea .Johnson '51 lvìorseth Arlin Becker '88 '73 Becker and Charles Becker '50 Berg Adrian Tinderholt '38 Karl Nestvold'54 Catherine Berglund Wells Fargo Educational IVatching Gift Program Norma Noonan Sidney '57 and Lola Lidstrom Gunnar+ and Mary Wick Betsey and Alan Norgard Robert Wick '81 Robert Odegard '51+ Gertrude Ness Berg'51 Andrew '64 and Jean Amland Pamela Zagaria Ruth Pousi Ollila'54 Carolyn Berkland Gary '65 and Jean Pfeifer '64 0lson '65 Berg Anthony and Kathy Bibus '65 and Jean Blosberg 15-19 years consecut¡ve Brian Anderson '82 and Leeann Rock'81 Robert'77 and Katherine Anderson R. Luther 0lson '56 Jack'62 and Nìna Osberg John '79 and Rebecca Lundeen '79 Aune -iohn and Norma Paulson Dennes'57 and Florence Helland '54 Borman Richard and Nancy Borstad Willard Botko Rosemarie Pace Gary Ronald and Anna Marie Austin Daniel '51 and Lois Pearson Bruce '64 and Nancy Braaten The Batalden Advised Fund Donald Peterson'49 Daniel and lrene Brink Christine Wacker'87 Bjork and Steven Bjork Rebecca '63 and lVavis Bjurlin Davìd '68 and Lynn Boe Elizabeth Pushing'93 Quentin '50 and E. Lucille Quanbeck l\4ichael Burden '85 Barbara Hanson David Christensen'52 Joyce and Walker Romano lVlorris 44 Augsburg Now '88 Pfabe and lVìaurice Higgins '68 Raymond and David Raymond Roxanne Raunschnot'82 Buchanan and Jim Buchanan Eìnar Cannelin '38 William Capman Gregory Carlson '74 '65 MacNally and Thomas MacNally John and Peggy Cerrito lrene Shelstad Henjum '52 Marie Haf ie Herbert'54 and E Corrine Chilstrom Gregory'61 and Kay Hanenburg'62 Madson Judith Christensen Jeff Christenson '82 Rand'82 and Kay Kennedy'82 Henjum Peter'92 and Becky Hespen Kristen Hirsch '91 Montag and Paul Montag Janet Niederloh '58 Christeson and Sylvia Hjelmeland Carlos Mariani Rosa John '70 and Lynn Benson '69 Hjelmeland Julie Magnuson '61 Marineau and Richard John Christeson Raymond lVlakeever Patrick'72 and Nancy lvlarcy C. Lee Clarke iohn'81 and Karen Hofflander Joseph '53 and Connre Cleary Dean '57 and Jane Holmes Donald '60 and Ruth Thorsgard '59 Homme John '59 and De Anne lVartinsen James'59 and Joanne Horn Jon '58 and Judith lVlatala Elizabeth Horton Phillip '62 and Karen Tangen '63 lVattison Lillian and Vernon Maunu Dana Holmes '81 lVclntyre and Vernon Mclntyre '79 Tara Cesaretti '97 lVlcLeod and Christopher'00 Judith Norman '66 Coppersmith and Norman Coppersmith Cheryl Solomonson '89 Crockett and Marineau Donald '65 and Delores Hoseth Larry Crockett 0liver Dahl '45 Kermit '50 and Ruth Hoversten Tom'72 and Karen Howe Sally Hough Daniels '79 Rhoda lVonseth Lois Mackey Davis '58 Mark '88 and lVìarya lVlattson Laura Bower '91 Cunliffe and Wayne Cunliffe '59 Huglen and Erling Huglen '83 Hultgren Suzanne Doree Bruce and Jean lnglis Julie Edstrom '90 Darrell '55 and Helga Egertson Judy Thompson Eiler '65 Carolyn Ross Robert '71 and Cheryl Lindroos '72 Mar|in lVlcLeod Meca Sportswear lnc. Robert '59 and Mary Lundquist '60 Meffert '89 lsaak and James lsaak Joan and Richard lVleierotto Jeffrey '80 and Jacqui Jarnes David '68 and Elaine Melby Thomas '86 and Susan Miller David '79 and Amy Eitrheim '63 Johnson and Charles Johnson Laurel Jones '69 Johnson and Larry Johnson Bruce '68 and Lois Hallcock '68 Johnson Daniel'77 and Patricia Eitrheim Carolyn Johnson '63 Mark 'BB and Tamie lVlorken Avis Ellingrod Douglas'66 and Kathryn Wall '66 Johnson Kari Elsila and lVlichael Buescher Glen and Marlys Johnson Rona Quanbeck'48 Emerson and Victor Emerson Margaret Johnson Paul '84 and Nancy Mackey '85 lVìueller Scott '81 and Debra Musselman Michael Navane and Lynette Engebretson Ellen Stenberg Erickson '51 Joan '94 and Mark Johnson Doris Wilkins Curtis '84 and Jody Eischens Dean '68 and Diana Olson '69 Ersfeld Martha Johnson Theodore '68 and lVlichelle Johnson Duane Esterly'75 L. Cratg'79 and Theresa Serbus '79 Estrem '78 Kahlow and Larry Kahlow Jennifer Abeln '78 Moren Edor'38 and Dorathy Nelson Lany '65 and lVarilyn Nelson Ronald '68 and Mary Kay Nelson David '64+ and Johnson lVlark Ronald '59 and Elizabeth Miskowiec Jonathan '78 and Bonnie Lamon E. lrene Lasseson Neseth '38+ Steven '64 and Rebecca '64 Nielsen John '68 and Martha Fahlberg Suzanne Kelley'69 Robert '73 and Linda Nilsen Karen Faulkner Benjamin and Christine Kent James '57 and Shirley Norman William and Anne Frame James Kerr Donald '65 and Carolyn Francis Richard '69 and Cheryl Nelson lerry'67 and Pauline North Dakota Community Foundation '70 King Linda King '78 Terry'7O and Vicki Nygaard Edward '54 and Winifred Nystuen '54 Nyhus Ann Garvey Marie Gjenvick Knaphus '45+ Richard '69 and Sandra Larson '69 Olmsted Barbara Gilbert'81 LaRhae Grindal Knatterud '70 Howard and Bettye Olson Lorraine Vash '67 Gosewisch and David Gosewisch Dean and Susan Kopperud Cedric '61 and Marlys Olson John '66 and Mary Jo Greenfield Carmela Brown Cindy Greenwood '05 Joan Kunz Beverly Halling '55 Oren and Donald '53 Oren ith '84 and Jean Taylor '85 H. Theodore '76 and Michele Grindal Steven '81 and Kathy Grinde Julia Ose'62 Grose and Christopher Grose Jean Venske '87 Guenther and Stephen Guenther Richard '72 and Carol Habstritt Robert'80 and Lori LaFleur George '50 and Vivian Lanes Steven 0'Tool '74 Andrea Langeland Ervin '56 and Sylvia Moe '59 Overlund Marvin and Ruth Ringstad'53 Larson Patricia Solum Park'02 Julie Gudmestad '65 and Joseph Laudicina John '52 and lvlary Peterson '54 Leak Roger'50 and Donna Wang'52 Leak Jacqueline Kniefel Lind'69 Patricia and John Parker James'67 and Laurie Lindell Dwight '60 and Marion Pederson Rosemary and Andrew Link Dale Pederson'70 Arlene and Gene Lopas Linda Christensen'68 Phillips and Gerald Phillips Frovik Roger Griff Lucille and Roger Hackbart Shirley and Hansen John '69 and Barbara Harden Robert'83 and Lynne Harris Burton '72 and Rollie Haugen Lisa Svac Hawks '85 Dawn Hendricks '80 Gerald '59 and lVaxine Hendricks Olivia Gordon '84 Kranz and David Kranz '62 Lorents and Alden Lorents Vicki and Daniel 0lson Russell '63 and Ruth Osterberg Robert'50 and Ruth Paulson Peace Lutheran Church of Plymouth Howard '53 and Vicki Skor'59 Pearson Leanne Phinney'71 and Mark Schultz Jack'53 and Darlene Lundberg James Plumedahl '57 lVlarissa Hutterer Machado '99 Jill Pohtilla Every effort has been made to ensure that all nanes are included and spelled correctly. lfyou notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. * Deceased Fall 2009 45 lnez Olson '59 Schwarzkopf and Lyall Schwarzkopf Richard '70 and Linda Seime Drew'87 and lVìolly Privette Jerry '83 and Susan Warnes 'BB Quam lVlark '53 and Jean Raabe Dick '61 and Jane Thompson Sue Thompson '85 Nicolyn Rajala '70 and Bill Vossler John Rask '71 Frankie and Jole Shackelford Gordon '52 and Gloria Parizek '53 Thorpe lVarlys Holm '57 Thorsgaard and Arlen Thorsgaard Charles Sheaffer Richard '56 and Darlene Thorud Paul Rensted'87 John '50 and Norma Shelstad lVlìchael James'75 and Jude Ring David '59 and Arline Ringstad James'63 and Patricia Steenson '65 Roback Donavon '52 and Ardis Roberts Stella Kyllo Rosenquist '64 Chad '93 and lVargaret Shilson l\4ark and Ann Tranvik Eugene and Margaret Skibbe Gordon '57 and Karen Egesdal '61 Trelstad '72 and Nancy Becker '72 Soli Joyce Engstrom '70 and Robert Spector Heidi Wisner '93 Staloch and l\4ark Staloch Ronald '58 and Naomi Stave lVìerry Tucker Earl '68 and Lisbeth Jorgensen '70 Sethre Alan Philip Rowberg'41 '85 and Rhonda Riesberg '84 Tjaden Betty and Paul Tveite Robert'50 and Dee Ulsaker Joan Swenson Van Wirt '78 Joan Volz Richard Sandeen '69 Roger'54 and Bonnie Stockmo Calvìn '51+ and Bonnie lVlartinson '59 Storley Mary Mether'69 Sabatke and Bruce Sabatke '68 Sharon and Stephen Wade Pauline Sateren Steven '65 and Chynne Strommen Rebecca and Michael Waggoner Carol Watson Saunders'68 Philip '79 and Julia Davis '79 Styrlund Norman '76 and Kathryn Anderson '76 Wahl Jan Pedersen '68 Schiff and Tom Schiff John '69 and Stephanie Johnson '71 Sulzbach Michael '64 and Carla Quanbeck '64 Walgren Rodney and Elizabeth Schmidt Kenneth Svendsen '78 and Allison Everett'78 l\4ichael and Leslie Schock Stephen '76 and Antoinette Laux'77 Sveom Lois '76 Wattman and Douglas Shaw John '49 and Arnhild Werket Larry '65 and Muriel Berg '67 Scholla Brian Swedeen '92 and Teni Burnor'92 Heidi Norman '88 Wise and John Wise Arvid '63 and Lillian Schroeder Diana Talcott Edmund '53 and Rose Youngquist Roger'62 and Jean Schwartz Barbara and Eugene Thompson ALUMNI GIVING BY CTASS YEAR The following list indicates the percentage of alumni from the traditional day program in each class year who made a gift during 2008-09 Total participation for all class years, 21%. 7934 1935 1936 r937 1938 1939 1940 T94T 40.007" 50.00% 50.00% 62.50y" 64.7'I"/" 25.00% 52.94% L949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 37.36"/. 1970 24.37"/. 45.83"/" 24.307" 7994 t7.49y" 1981 7982 L8.97"/. 17.44% 1995 1996 7997 1998 1999 70.73% 13.92% 4.23% 9.72% 10a? 18.4I"/" 17.73"/. 17.42y" 13.46"/. 14.34% 15.69% 2004 2005 5.247" 9.45"/. Lr.48% 7.58% 43.657" 47.75% 46.O9"/" I97 4 26.42% 38.31% 36.88% 37.97% 40.76% 7975 24.68% I976 23.5a% 1991 8.70% 2006 4.78% I977 24.65% 23.92% t992 70.o7% 993 ro.7t% 2007 2008 5.56y" 3.05% 48.t5% 1961 45.83% L962 42.86% 1963 Augsburg Now 29.90ï. 46.4O"/o 19.09% 1958 1959 1960 1947 1948 46 37.447" 30.70y. 4L85"/. 34.357" 1979 1980 I957 t946 1944 34.75% r r972 r973 1945 1943 35. 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1984 1985 1986 7987 1988 1989 1990 40.63% 48.44% 38.10% 45.65% 48.72% L942 i0% L964 47.27% 33.52% 44.53% 50.86% 197 1978 26.IO"/. 25.,ry" 1 1132% 19.I2"/. t2.20% 2000 2007 8.37% 2002 2003 8.74% 5A3% alumni news ,fi, ,ì. Dear valued alumni ancl friends, s I write this article, we are passing ;! into autumn, and every year this ', brings a palpable sense of nostalgia and ref lection. This year I have been considering some of the principles and ideals I learned while a student and at Augsburg. As alumni we are all aware of the another in our closely def ined lives. We belong to chatting commu_ nities, Facebook, MySpace, and thousands of other digital groups, which could be argued constitute a community. We cannot deny that technology has grven us the ability to stay in contact and have more access to informatlon than ever before, but the question we need to consider is, are we truly following our duty and responsibllities of our fellowship in humankind? Each of us will have a different answer to this question, but none of us can deny that we are living in a time that needs all of us to themes of vocation, caritas flove), and the duty to be an active part of our community. These themes were the foundation of the educa_ actively be involved in the world we live. My call to dutyto each of you, as alumni, is to take some time to rediscover the communities tion we received from Augsburg and are stillthe foundation for stu- in which you belong and consider how you can participate and make a difference. A great place to start is by examining one community in which you belong: Augsburg College. As a member of the Augsburg community, a great first step would be to visit the dents today. However, my question is, what does each of these tenets mean to us today, as alumni? Vocation and caritas are def ined without much difficulty in our lives. We know that through our education we are able to work in our various fields and through love have last_ ing and def inable relationships with our fellow human beings. But in our hectic lives, how do we def ine our community? The notion of community has gone through some interesting changes over the years. We used to define community by main fac_ tors of geography and/or common goals and ideals. However, this has evolved over the years with the advancement of digital capabil_ ities and how we communicate. Today we use Twitter, write brief emails, and compose quick text messages to communicate with one Augsburg Col lege al umn i relations page, www.augsburg.edu/alum and go to Get lnvolved. There are many opportunities to get n i, involved and volunteers are always needed. I wish you all happy ref lections in this autumn season. ù'* &*uDANITL HICKLE '95 ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Alumni Board Augsburg Associates Campus lfitchen at Augsburg Alumni mentors Advent Vespers volunteers GET INVÍ}NE.D There's a place for youl Learn more at www.augsburg.edu/alumni Fall 2009 4l .: alumnl news 0ur 'Uniquely Augsburg' faculty add a special touch to alumni events Have you ever wondered if those Þ costumes at the Renaissance Festival are really accurate? Did you have any idea how the government's € stimulus billwould affect you? Ever considered what it would be like to see the ltalian countryside through the eyes of an art historian? These and many more are the opportunities you have when Augsburg faculty join you in the Uniquely Augsburg alumni events and programs. While not everyone is able to come to Augsburg's campus, a number of professors are bringing the Augsburg experience to areas around the Twin Cities, sharing their expertise and passions, answering questions, and helping interpret policies and issues into news you can use. Michael Lansing, assistant professor of history and director of environmental studies, talked about the value of hands-on learning in Augsburg's new environmental studies program. He led the Lake Minnetonka eco-tour cruise in June, describing environmental issues of the large lake and answering questions about its ecology. Phillip Adamo (pictured left), associate professor and chair of the History Department and director of medieval studies, hosted lunch in Augsburg's tent at the Renaissance Festival and answered questions about what's real and what's not. He also led a tour around the grounds, stopping at a 16th-century lrish cottage replica to give a glimpse of what life was like then. When Auggies gathered in August for "Auggie Night at the Races" in Shakopee, accounting professor Stu Stoller kicked off the night with a presentation on "The Odds of Winning." The quarterly Eye-Opener Breakfast Series provides alumni professionals an opportunity to start the day with networking and a talk by an Augsburg academic. ln April, Economics Department chair Jeanne Boeh spoke about the stimulus package, how it affected the economy, and what it meant for most people. The Uniquely Augsburg concept also extends to travel opportunities. The November tour to ltaly was led by art professor Kristin Anderson, whose passions include the art, archìtecture, history, and culture of this region. Uniquely Augsburg alumni events have succeeded in engaging alumni in great ways to experience an Augsburg education without coming to campus. Watch for upcoming events in your area; the next one may be just around the corner. Keep up on all alúmnì events at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Journey to the Emerald lsle of lreland à Join friends from lhe Augsburg College community for an in-depth journey through lreland. Explore centuries of heroic history, visiting archaeological sites dating lo S,000 BC. Experience the intense rugged beauty of land carved from the sea, contrasling with the meticulous gardens of stately castles. D¡scover the spirit of Celtic Christianity at ancient monaslic communities where Christianity flourished during the Dark Ages. Celebrate contemp0rary lrish culture with passion-filled music and food at local pubs. The tour departs in early 0ctober 2010 and will be hosted by Augsburg faculty. A detailed tour brochure will be available in December. To receive the brochure, contact Alumni Relations, 6l 2-330-1 1 73 or alumni@augsburg.edu. Kylemore Abbey, in County ûalway, the oldest ol the lrish Benedictine abbeys, is one of the sites on the alumni itinerary in 0ctober 2010. 48 Augsburg Now The Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings Continuing the Augsburg Choir's 75th anniversary celebration, Augsburg is proud to announce that the Augsburg Choir recordings from 1949-1979 will CD versions of Box 3: Sateren Finale I972-73: An Ascription of Praise; includes Sateren's composition by the same name I974-7ú Day of Pentecosf; includes Sateren's composition by the same name soon be available. These re-mastered historical treasures will be I975-76: And Death Shall Have No Dominion; visiting director released as The Augsburg Choir 1977-78: Here Comes Our Kingi includes Sateren's composition legacy Recordings. by the same name ldar Karevold I978-79: Gloria; includes the title piece by leland Lars Edlund B. Sateren '35 Three boxed sets, each containing five CDs, will be produced: Box 1: From Opseth to Sateren 1949-50: Augsburg Choir, with Henry P. Opseth conducting. lncludes Jeg er saa glad, Praise to the Lord, and Song of Mary I95I-52: includes Sateren's Cycle for Christmas and his arrange- The Augsburg Cho¡r Legacy Recordings will add to the richness of the choral tradition of the past, present, and future. Dr. Bill Halverson '51 has written a monograph about Leland B. Sateren's life and career that will be included with the recordings. These ment of The Sun Has Gone Down 1954-55: includes Sateren's Christmas Canticle 1956-57: includes Knut Nystedt's Cry Out and Shout recordings will also confirm the historical and continued significance of Augsburg College as a place of preparation for service in community and church. The Augsburg Choir Legacy Recordings will be available early next year through the Augsburg College Bookstore. For information 196I-62: includes Sateren's His Compassions Fail on ordering the CDs, go to the Music Department website, Not www.augsbu rg.ed u/m usic. Box 2: Sateren lntermezzo 1964-65: includes music from the European tour, spanning 400 years of music from Corsi and Bach to Jean Berger 1967-68: Praise to God; includes Sateren's Seek Not Cost: $49 per boxed set; $135 for all three boxed sets, plus shipping and handling. Afar for Beauty 1969-7O: Thy Truth Within; includes Sateren's composition by the same name I970-7I: Make a Joyful Noise; includes Sateren's The Poor and Needy I97I-72: The Redeemef includes Sateren's A Choral Cycle The Redeemer co8 2 frJ f"¡t" sfr . "tol r9 "ttrf ".Ðl to -øt úr gÉ¿ 'ÍlrJ to f'bf ìp ìo îtff -seal 1¡lr glr sïrì9 slo9 ?<otp' to flrf "d goræ' \) $$ to {rf gdtu' siog Fall úrr 2009 49 ì,o úo . "ñú'gP alumni news Experience the beauty and culture of Norway e JC \ Join Augsburg's Center for Leadership Studies e for an educatìonal and cultural tour to Norway, The tour includes: r Five days in Oslo-located on a fjord, surrounded by hills, and full of the excitement of a large, cosmopolitan city . A journey westward by motor coach through Kongsberg, the his- June 5-15,2010. This toric Numedal Valley, and Hardangervidda (the mountain special ly-designed tour plateau home of large reindeer herds) to stay in a charming traditional hotel in Geilo includes visits to Oslo, Kongsberg, Geilo, o A famously scenic train ride to the fjord village of Flåm and a . Two nights in picturesque and historic Bergen on Norway's . west coast A journey south by motor coach and ferry to Stavanger, designated "European Capital of Culture" for 2008. Stavanger was the Bergen, and Stavanger. While in Oslo, the group will be hosted Diakon cruise on the Aurlands and Naeroy Fjords by hjemmet U n iver-' sity College, an Augsburg partner school that maìn departure point for Norwegian immigrants to Amerìca. After offers a master's degree ExperiencethespectacularbeautyofNorway's invalue-based leaderfiordswiththeCenterforLeadershipStudies ship.Accommodations nextlune' wiil be on or near campus. Faculty from Diakonhjemmet will lead three morning sessions to complement the travel, providing an inside perspective and an opportunity to reflect on what is seen and learned. an overnight stay, the tour departs for home from Stavanger. Cost: $3799 (includes airfare, accommodations, in-country travel, entrance fees during group excursions, tour guides, workshops at Diakonhjemmet, and 15 meals). Space is limited to 26. For information about the tour and a PowerPoint preview, con- tact Patty Park at 612-330-1150 or parkp@augsburg.edu. Welcome home, 0ld Main bell augsburg Augsburg's first 0ld Main building opened in 1 8i4, and until it was razed to build Sverdrup Hall, its bell called the campus communityto meals and events. This bell has recently come back to Augsburg, and will find a new place and pur- pose 0n campus. We're planning a story about the bell in the spring issue of Augsburg I'low,about its history, its travels, and its return home. Scouring our archives, we haven't been able to learn much about it, or find it pictured in archive photos. I)o you rememberthis ()ld Main bell? Please help us learn more about how and when did it-where was it located, it ring? What do you remember about it? After the bell served its duty in ()ld Main, il became part of Augsburg student traditions-participating in sports and other student activities. What do you remember-tell us, even anonymously, if you wish! E-mail information and stories to now@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1 181. We invite you to become part of the "rest of the story" about the 0ld Main bell. 50 Augsburg Now ) -r- 5g-Y[:Aft: ftliüNîoil|-$LAlifi 0r ß59, lyngdal, Walter Lundeen HflMECOMING 2OOg {g-YF,Aftj ftlîUNï01,f-$LA$$ ûF 1gõg Front row (L t0 R): Arlene Uejima, Karl Sneider; Row 2 ([ to R): l{ancy (Rolfe) Rolfe-Bailey, Lynn (Benson) Hlelmeland, Janice (Hawkins) Halvorson, Kristi Holden; Rows 3,4 combined (L to R): Roberta (Halseth) clausen, J0an (Halverson) Holt, Diana (0lson) Ersfeld, Ardell (Th0rpe) Bengtson, Ron Holden; Row 5 (L to R): Greg Clausen, Eunice Helgeson, Judy (Johnson Kangas) Lies, pam (Fredrickson) Gunderson; Row ô ([ to R): Diane (Helgeson) carter, lois (peterson) Bollman, Julie (Kreie) Eidsvoog, sue (Halvorson) Bjerkestrand; Row 7 (L to R): sharon (Mielke) Eian, shirley (Swee) Seutter, Alvina (Strand) Skogen, Linda (Stewart) Miller, larry Turner; Rows B, I combined (l to R): Jacqueline (Kniefel) [ind, Joel Branes, Daryl Miller, wayne carlson, pamela (Bjorklund) carlson, 25- I FA ft, ftElf$l,i0l,f gLAf,-: 0f rue+ - laurie (Ofstedal) Frattallone, [aurie ([indell) Miles, Sonja Thompson, Carmela (Brown) Kranz, Kim (0lsen) Melotte, lisa (Rykken) Kasfler (L to R) Richard Fenton; Rows 1 0, 1 1 combined ([ to R): ûlen Peterson, larry Matthews, Bruce Mestemacheç Mike Essen, Bob Bliss, Gary Boen Fall 2009 51 ass nOtes c FlSheldon Johnson beean in Sepas interim sJperintend ent at lVleadow Creek (Minn.) Christian School. He retired in 2000 after 33 years as superintendent of the lVlonticello School District, and has since served four prior stints as an interim superintendent. Ult.ro.r. Richard E. Lund, MD, is a retired radiologist, living in Edmonds, Wash He and his wife, Ann, have been married for 43 years and have five grandchildren. rlxrad@aol.com tltSusan Nelson has been teachlne elementary special education for 23 years in ihe Davenport (lowa) Community Schools. She coached lhe 1995 and 1999 World Games Special Olympics lowa tennis teams and the 2006 National Games lowa tennis team. Uf l!fllon Uü.r Hageseth retired in Sepo.itro m his 27 -year tenure as co-founder and director of the Counseling and Testing Center at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He plans to pursue photography and woodworking, as well as play tennis and golf, and volunteer in the community. Kathy 0lson entered the contest in September for an at-large seat on the Waverly (lowa) City Council. She retired last year as CUNA Mutual human resources director and serves on two non-profit boards in her community. FSii;: i'iåi,' H tilì:t åi^ David Ctoss works at U N IVAC/ UNISYS Cadence Design Systems. Robert Strandquist has taught high school English around the world. He has been a twolime Fulbright exchange teacher, a scholar at Oxford and in lreland, and has run 15 marathons. Now he's "tiredno, re-tired." [arry Turner has raised a family, retired from the Burlington Northern Santa l-e Railway, served22 years in the Naval Reserve, and now enjoys opportunities to travel and expand his photography hobby. ] ! (Johnson) Sullivan llSharon Ann lJreceived the "Excellence in Jacqueline (Kniefel) l¡nd'94 MAt works at the Airport Foundation MSP to recruit, train, and recognize 300 volunteers for Travelers Assistance. She completed her Master of Arts in Leadership degree at Augsburg and has served as Augsburg's Alumni Board president. 52 Jill (Beck) Burch works at Accenture Kay (Peterson) Sauck is president and CEO of Sauck Media Group, a publishing company that she founded in 2009 in Fairmont, lVlinn She launched Womeninc magaÀne in 2004. ln 2008, after a series of personal tragedies, she started Midwest Caregìver, which has now become Caregiving in Ameñca. Coming in spring 2010 is a third publication called MN Rivers. Bank. at Best Buy. Shari Kay (Hackbarth) Hunter completed an MBA at the Unìversity of St. Thomas and works at Provincial Karen Jensen works for the State of Minnesota. After graduation she look an Oulward Bound course, found a passion for outdoor adventure, and has paddled around the world. Five years ago, she lost her husband, Jim Rada, when he died while paddling a whitewater river. Teaching Award" from the California Council for Adult Education. She is a kay@sauckmed ia.com metropolitan ad ult education ¡nstructor at Hope Services, San Jose, Calif., where she teaches life skills to over 150 adults who are developmentally disabled. O,4ì Mary Saturday evening lazz show, Corner Jazz, on KBEM Radio, after working for 12 years at Minnesota Public Radio. 't f (}rjworkshop in music therapy, lJane (Catlin) Bracken, a firstlgraOe teacher at Cannon Falls (Minn.) Elementary School, was selected by her peers as the elementary Teacher of the Year in Ann Sullivan began host- Ctl,tnea Q 2Xt]l luedtke-Smith organized a "lVlusical Play: Learning through Music," at the Fraser School last February. T flJanice Nelson is a new memt l,nu, of the board of directors ot Southwest lnitiative Foundation in Hutchinson, Minn. She is an attorney with the law firm of Nelson Oyen Torvik in lVlontevideo, IVlinn., and works with real estate, estate planning, elder law, and probate. Lisa (Rykken) Kastler is program executive at Youth Encounter and oversees national and international traveling ministry teams and weekend events. She has enjoyed opportunities to use her theatre studies in youth minislry. Kim Marie 0lsen taught elementary and middle school and served as a youth minister. Her husband retired from active duty in the U.S. Navy, and they are now settled in Wisconsin. Ja nuary. @'/f-Wanda (Hemphill) Borman has O¡Þworked, traveled to Europe and Asia, and ¡s an instructor in the Eagan Art House and manager of the Eagan Ad Festival. Liz (Peterson) Sheahan has worked at Ministry Home Care, Inc., where she has created Telly-award-winning videos on home healLh and hospice care used in fundraising. (Strommen) Johnson is J9'ùco-chairing f,Andrea Paul St. Children's Hospital Association's CHAnging Lives 60th Annual Ball. Proceeds from the November 21 benefit go to Children's Hospitals and Clinics of M in Kristi (Sanford) Goetsch enjoyed a wonderful 30-year career in the Seattle Public Schools from 19691999. Since then she has been doing volunteer work with the elcierly and teaching Sunday School. management consulting firm, Drakulic & Associates, which currently contracts in the operations and development areas w¡th Hope Chest for Breast Cancer. t f nesota. ÊRev. David Halaas was called Uìo ,.ru. as senior pastor at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Williston, N.D. Church of Christ and Nerstrand (Minn.) United lVlethodist Church A group of Auggies from the late 1970s found an occasion to get together for dinner in Minneapolis last April. Front row, L to R: Laura (Berg) Nelson '79, Steve Nelson'78, Steve Wehrenberg'78, Sue (Johnson) Wehrenberg'79, Pam (Hanson) Moksnes last summer. '79, Lynn Schmidtke'79; Back row, Llo R: Steve Pheneger, LuAnn (Johnson) Drakulic spent $Sue {22years working at Honeywell, and then left to run her own Pheneger, Mark Moksnes'79, Tim Gordon'80, Ga¡l (Wagner) Gordon'80, Karin (Larson) Monson, Greg Monson'79 (in back), Susan Streed McNaughton, Bill Voedisch. Laurie (Carlson) Voedisch, Chris Geason '78, Julie (Edson) Geason'79 7 8::'3f,:iii:i:l j;i1Ï,ïñ:; J I Augsburg Now ) rr .þ è þ q Adrienne (Kuchler) Eldridge Jason, welcomed a son, Hudson lsaiah, on June 12. She is the program and lff,¡ V-3.and her husband, ø organizational manager at the First Lutheran Church and Bay Lake q Camp. aeke@hotmail.com Q.flSven 9l.his OEllir¡am Zien Edgar and Scott Edgar were married on July 5 in St. Louis U UPark, Minn. Auggies in the wedding party included Molly Rivets'06, Erlandson has published fourlh book, Badass Alia Sheirman'08, Laya Theberge'06, Dayle Vanderleest'04, Peter lindemann '04, and Karley Kielty'07. Music professors Robert Stacke'71 and Ned Kantor played in the klezmer/jazz band. Miriam is orchestra director at J.F. Kennedy High School in Bloomrngton, and Scott is completing his master's degree in counseling and psychological services at St. Mary's University of Jesus: The Serious Athlete and a Life of Noble Purpose. Written for "the most ¡ntense, focused, and fiercest athletes," the book is rooted in "Jesus' First and Greatest Commandment and his personal ethos of radical other-centered love." Minnesota. Natasha Hamann is a family medicine physician at Allina Medical Clinic in Buffalo, lVinn. flfi.Sarah Huerta'06 MBA and her U Uhusband, C¡aig'09, wel- comed theìr second child, Connor Brian, on April 24. He joins big brofher Brady,2-112. (l ÇAllison (Cornell) and Matt llUBroughton'06 were married in a small ceremony on June 27 . f he couple lives in Hanover, N.H., where Malt is a graduate student in physics at Dartmouth College and Allison works for the Dartmouth Medical School Development Offìce. The photo was taken by Ryan Bethke'09, fì Roper-Batker is the presiÚÚoent uÅo cro of the women's Foundation of lVinnesota, which she has served since 2001. She received a diploma from the Higher Trade Union College in lVloscow, where she studied trade union movements. flLee Bethany Buchanan married Micheal Scott, a high school special education teacher, in June 2008. A year later they started Grace Homes-Williston House, a residential care home for seniors in lVlinnetonka. After working as a O.tì rll.Charles social worker, Bethany graduated from nursing school in 2001, and worked at Fairview University Medical Center and Methodist Hospital as a medical-surgical nurse prior to opening the care home. ln 2003, 2004, and 2005 she did month-long medical mission tours in Nigeria. Tracy (Glumich) Hovland and her husband, Erik, have a six-month-old daughter, Ava. June (Kirk) Nelson returned to West Africa 15 months ago, where she works at the Hopital Protestante in Ngaoundere, Cameroon, a mission hospital that trains Christian African physicians to become surgeons. Megan Renze has been in Florida for 10 years. She completed her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Miami Law School. O OAaron Shatol Tyra received a Star Award 2008 from the lVlinnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (N/l0LN) in recognition of her commitment to volunteering and dedication to influencing health care by advancing professional nursrng leadership, particularly with the Metro Alliance Education and Service Collaborative for Expanded Enrollment of Baccalaureate Nurses. Petrasek married David Alan Hurley on Oct. 28, 2008, in Van Nuys, Calif. Paul works at FedEx and David Alan works at the VA Medical Center. They traveled to Disneyland for a honeymoon and Gabriel directed the lJ lJregional premiere of How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back at the Stages Theatre in Hopkins, lVlinn., in lVlarch. The musical won a regional Tony award following its premiere in Chicago last year. Chiho Okuizumi is program coordina- tor at VH1 Save the lVlusic Foundation in New York City, which provides access to instrumental music education to children in more than 1,600 public schools across the U.S. OTPaul r'l I live in Avon, Calif. Q$toucin da (0lson) Bjorklund rJ.rJ-works at Vascular Solutions, I nc. employed at the time of her wedding at Appleton Cardiology Associates in Appleton, Wis., as a physician assistant. Kevin is a high school math teacher and head track coach at Clintonville High School. Marcy received his MBA the Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, in 2008 and accepted a promotion to senior internal auditor at Valspar in Minneapolis. He travels fl 2Max U úfrom widely doing internal audits, including the U.S., Europe, and China. ln 2OO4 he married his wife, Jessica, in a Celtic mass held in Syracuse, N.Y. They live in lVinneapolis with their Persian cat, Eleanor Rigby. fddam Nugent and Carolina U T(Chiesa) are living in College fi Station, Texas. Adam is studying for a lVlaster of Landscape Architecture degree at Texas A&M, and Carolina is teaching at South Knoll Elementary School. Bourn works as a promanager with youth service agencies and the Minneapolis Public Schools on the North Side. He has run for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to keep parks on the North Side safe and pro- O FBrad tlilgram and has moved to Los Angeles. grammed. He has received the Presidential Service Award for his work with youth. (l{¡ (l'fleremy fl lEm¡ly Nugent'07 MA[, '09 MBA lJ lis engaged to Nick Loiacano Jennifer Langman married Reese in Cameron, Wis., on August 9, 2008. Jennifer earned a master's degree in health science from Duke University and was U-LKevin Anderson adapted one of his poems into a l0-minute play, "Jones'n," which was produced as part of the Bedlam Theatre's TenMinute Play Festival in May. Uf Fall 2009 53 prof ile A Colombian Auggie in Europe- Paola Murcia '99 s ,1 È How did a Latin American Auggie from Colombia end up in Belgium via Minneapolis and Costa Rica? Paola lVurcìa has lived in Antwerp, Belgium, for three years now, working for Dole Fresh Fruit as the banana allocation assistant for Europe. ln this role, she is the contact person between the European market for Dole bananas and the production in Latin America. This journey began in the mid-1990s when another Auggie from Colombia introduced Paola to Eloisa Echavez, then the director of Augsburg's Hispanic/Latino Student Services. Echavez met with Paola's parents when she traveled in Colombia, and they agreed to Paola's going to Augsburg. She studied international relations, political science, and Apart from her work, Paola Murcia '99 enjoys traveling in Europe and had a great view ol the Thames in London from the london Eye ferris wheel. French, and graduated in 1999. A year later, she took a posi- tion in San José, Costa Rica, with Dole, and over the next six years she was continually promoted and grew in the company about those subjects," Paola says, "and it's important when you live abroad that you try to blend in as much as possible. toward the appointment in Dole's European division. Also, to be open-minded!" Shortly after arriving in Belgium, Paola ref lected on how she felt Augsburg had provided a foundation for this new When Paola arrived in Europe, for the first time she found herself in a place where she didn't understand anything at all. experience. ln Antwerp, although most people speak English, the language is Dutch (Flemish). But, since Belgium's off icial languages are Dutch, German, and French, she could use her French from Augsburg and fully appreciated the efforts of professor Pary Pezechkian, who pushed her to master it. As of now, Paola plans to stay in Europe, working in the international f ield. She has studied Dutch and is striving to "l have used what was learned in political science and international relations to be the professional and the person I have become," Paola wrote. "As Professor Norma Noonan puts it better than I could, [she wrote to me,] 'You are living international relations, which is even better than merely studying ìt! You are living the multicultural experiences that you have had in all the countries through which you have passed."' Paola would encourage current students to pay a lot of attention to history and geography, as well as language. "There is still an ìmage that Americans don't know much perfect her French and German. She is also now accustomed to the continental European winter, and she credits her years in Minnesota for preparing her for this, as well. BEÏSTY NORGARD Shannon Olson works as a marketing associate within a new type of teaming structure at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, called Professional Office Practìces (POP). 0uincy Osborn joined the athletic staf f at Ohio University as an assislanI coach in wrestling, after serving in the same position for Augsburg's wrestling team. at an outdoor ceremony along the Mississìppi River and drove to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon. Daniel Manley is a police officer in Glen Ridge, N.J. and saved the life of a choking baby on the second day on his job after having recently completed police academy training. Alia Scheirman began her service in the Peace Corps in Ukraine al the fl QTasha Christensen married l, [tNikolaus Browne on June l3 54 Augsburg Now end of September. fi $Abigail Ferjak, with a major in U üyoulh and family ministry, is beglnning study at Yale Divinity Graduate College and wants to explore the possibility of teaching in a college setting. Matthew Tonsager has joined the Elm Creek Associates of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans as a financial associate with the organization's Central l\4innesola Regional [inancial Office. Of;ATUATI PfiO$f;AMIì Jeff Falkingham '95 MAL received favorable reviews from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London for his second novel, Sherlock Holmes: In Search of the Source, released on January 6, the 155th birthday of Holmes, The historical f¡ction ¡s set in l896 in Sl. P¿ul. Read Lhe review at www.sherlockhol mes.org. u k/pdf/ DM290.pdf. Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don't forget to send photosl For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, 0f program from a memorral service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg llow Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 14È,2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Full name Maiden name Class year or last year attended ln Memoriam [arson, Gertrude (Amundson)'35, Denver, Colo., age 100, on Aug. 3. Dahl, Jeffrey'74, Cottonwood, Minn., age 56, on Sept.30. Street address Pautz, Richard'37, Minneapolis, age 96, on July 4. Former athletic director, director of public rela- Treichel, Scott G.'76, Webster, Wis., age 55, on July 31. City, State, Zip tions, Augsburg regent emeritus, and 7972 Distinguished Alumnus. Ahlberg, Ruth C. '¿14, Chesterton, Ind., age BB, on Aug. 25. Johnson, Edwin 0. '44, Minneapolis, age BB, on Aug. 16. larsen, Marguerite (Greguson)'45, Carlton, Minn., age 86, on July 4. Strand, Carl '46, Owatonna, Minn., age 87 , on Aug. 12. Wessman, Rev. Willis'48, Topeka, Kan., age BB, on July 26. ls this a new address? O Yes D No Olsen, Daniel ,1. '78, Apple Valley, IVinn., age 53, on May 4. Mason, WilmaÆom-Ba-Equay (Windy Woman) '81, Bemidji, Minn., age 61, on Sept.10. Home telephone E-mail Ballot, Sarah (Carlson) '98, Minneapolis, age 33, in early July, in an auto acc¡dent. Okayto publishyoure-mail address? Allegrezza, Genevieve'04, Anchorage, Alaska, age28, on Aug.3. Employer Johnston, Hannah (Bratzel)'07, St. Paul Park, lVinn., age 27, on June 25, of cancer. Position OYes trNo Work telephone Garstenbrock, Walter '49, Austin, Minn., age 86, on July 7. Brown, Orpha (Grimsrud) '50, Wick, Cheryl '11 PA, Rochester, IVìinn., age 25, on July 25, of cardiac arrhythmia. Phoenix, Ariz., and Portland, Ore., Druck, Rachel age 80, on July 27. Oct.17. '12, age 23, [alim, Archie'50, lVladison, Conn., age 80, on Aug. 9. 1990 Distin- Sulzen, Zoya'12, Minneapolis, at the end of July. ls spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? O Yes tr No lf yes, class year on Spouse's name guished Alumnus. Berkland, Rev. Theodore'51,'54 Sem, Grantsburg, Wis., age 80, on June 20 of multiple myeloma. Sortland, Rev. Howard'51, Plymouth, Minn., age 86, on Aug. 3. Balerud, Paul'54, North Platte, Neb., age 79, on Aug. 5. Nelson, Judith (0lson) '65, Shell Knob, lVlo., age 66, on Aug. 29. Jones-Hermerding, Ertwin'69, Otter Anderson, Margaret (Klinner), Edina, Minn., age 86, on June 19, She lVlaiden name Your news: taught home economics at Augsburg and was the widow of Ernie Anderson'37. Pedersen, Myrtle Edith, Hudson, Wis., age 100, on Aug. 12. Wrightsman, Rev. Bruce, Garnavillo, lowa, age 75, on Oct. 4, of heart failure and amyloidosis. He taught in the Department of Religion and Philosophy,1960-63. O I know a student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Tail, Minn., age62, on Aug. 11, in a motorcycle accident. 2003 Distinguished Alumnus. Fall 2009 55 t c I ffi 7 t t å ffi hs t*d{ bJ Ë I Ê fF,---# z1 E E Ë ffi Í ¡ E E I ffi¡ s Ét zì 4ä nr r æà E ÆrcSBURG Non-Profit 0rg. U.S. Postage COLLEGE PAID lVlinneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031 221 1 R iverside Aven ue Minneapolis, MN 55454 áîl v To see other photos of Auggie Eagle around campus during the week of Homecoming, go to www.augsburg.edu/now What will Auggie do next? As part of the Homecoming celebration, Auggie (or a paper cutout of Auggie from the Homecoming brochure) wandered around campus and had his photo taken for the online photo of the week. Here Auggie is studying sociology in the library.
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Augsburg Now Summer 2009
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Augsburg Now Summer 2009
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Augsburg Now Spring 2009
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Augsburg Now Spring 2009
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Alumni Magazine Collection
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AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2009 VOL. 71, NO. 2 inside auggies Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Augsburg Choir, 75 years Twin sisters, twin dreams Core to compost Travel How green is Augsburg? Studying sustainability page 20 the neig...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW SPRING 2009 VOL. 71, NO. 2 inside auggies Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Photo Years of Life-Changing contest winners Augsburg Choir, 75 years Twin sisters, twin dreams Core to compost Travel How green is Augsburg? Studying sustainability page 20 the neighborhood youth Green planning Feeding go green Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu notes from President Pribbenow Generosity and Sustainability t his issue of the Augsburg Now offers many inspiring stories of ways in which our community is learning about and practicing what it means to live sustainable lives in the city. I’ve been thinking a good bit lately about why the Augsburg community has made such great progress in living out its commitment to urban sustainability, and I’ve found myself exploring the meaning of the original motto for Augsburg Theological Seminary and College, the bold claim found in John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh.” I’m struck by how this scriptural promise is both a statement of generosity and of sustainability. Augsburg College practices generosity most authentically when it lives as the Word made flesh—sustainable, present, rooted, of service, and faithful. My teacher, Martin Marty, taught me that colleges are indigenous communities—that is, they are native to a particular place, a particular environment, a particular set of values, and practices that define the institution—and that means something for the way they live their lives. What does it mean to think about Augsburg College as an indigenous community? What does it mean that the Word has become flesh and lived among us here? I lift up for our attention three simple aspects of Augsburg’s identity—ways in which the Word becomes flesh here and the values we seek to sustain: • The central focus of our identity is that wherever Augsburg College is found—here in this neighborhood, in the city, in Rochester, or around the world—our most authentic work is learning and teaching. And the wonder of learning is that it involves acts of generosity and sustainability in its every detail—from teachers who teach what they love; to students who seek to learn out of curiosity and passion; to texts that bear the wisdom of the ages for our reflection; to conversations that help us pay attention to the Word, to each other, and to the world; to practices and commitments that help sustain our environment. Creative Director Kathy Rumpza ’05 MAL rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler ’06 wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski ’08 nagorski@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Webmaster/Now Online Bryan Barnes barnesb@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services • A second aspect of our identity is the way in which this city, a particular place—much different now than in 1869—is still a place that demands our attention and respect and concern. Democracy still is practiced in this place with our neighbors. Education still happens in this place with learners and teachers all around us. Engagement and service still are at the center of our lives with each other in this place. Sustaining this urban place, this urban environment, is an act of generosity—for our diverse neighbors, for our diverse selves, for the whole of creation, now and into the future. Jeff Shelman shelman@augsburg.edu • The final aspect of our identity is our firm grounding in the Christian faith—a confident faith that frees us to learn, to live, to practice hospitality with all of our neighbors, to be a force for good in the world, to affirm our calling as people of faith and a college of the church, to be God’s people in this place, and to know that grace and truth abound where the Word becomes flesh. www.augsburg.edu I celebrate the generosity that is Augsburg’s faithful work in the world—the Word made flesh here, each and every day. I celebrate the sustainability of our indigenous character, our indigenous work, and our indigenous place. And I recall the concluding words of John 1:14 that remind us that the Word made flesh is “full of grace and truth.” Oh, how the world needs a Word of grace and truth. And here it is! PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 spring 2009 Features 6 10 12 Augsburg Choir - celebrating 75 years by Betsey Norgard 16 30 Twin sisters, twin dreams by Jean Spielman Housh International Programs Photo Contest 14 20 23 auggies go green 16 Toward a more sustainable Augsburg by Betsey Norgard contents 19 How green is Augsburg? 26 augsburg now 20 Environmental connections: Green starts here by Jeff Shelman 23 Studying sustainability by Wendi Wheeler ’06 26 Green Planning 28 Core to compost Photos and text by Stephen Geffre 30 Feeding the neighborhood youth by Wendi Wheeler ’06 32 How green is our magazine? Departments 2 4 5 8 33 36 40 Around the Quad Auggies on the ice Auggie voices It takes an Auggie Alumni news Class notes My Auggie experience On the cover We celebrate in this issue all the commitments, changes, and progress that Augsburg has embraced in learning how to be a more sustainable college in the city. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. around the quad Augsburg receives Carnegie classification Augsburg was recently selected by the Carnegie Foundation as one of 119 colleges and universities in the nation to receive the classification for Community Engagement. This affirms that the school has institutionalized community engagement in its identity, culture, and commitments. It also affirms that the practices of community engagement are aligned with the institution’s identity and form an integral component of the institutional culture. The classification has three categories—curricular engagement, outreach and partnerships, and a category for both engagement and outreach—and Augsburg received the latter, comprehensive classification. In a letter to Augsburg President Paul C. Pribbenow, Jim Scheibel, executive director of the Minnesota Campus Compact, congratulated the College on this recognition. Scheibel wrote, “As a country that faces an economic crisis, and as a community that witnesses division and strife across the globe, we need students, faculty, and campuses that are fully engaged. This recognition says you are doing your part and acknowledges that you are serious about fulfilling the mission of the College.” Augsburg has included “student engagement” as one of nine specific academic goals for the institution. The Augsburg Experience signature curriculum requirement encourages direct involvement with people and organizations external to the College, All first-year students spend an afternoon during September Auggie Days working on community projects—painting, gardening, cleaning up, or whatever needs doing in the neighborhood with Augsburg’s community partners. first-hand discovery and application of knowledge, self-awareness through reflective and critical thinking, and exploration of what one is called to do in the world. Augsburg is a committed partner to particular nonprofit and educational groups within the nearby urban neighborhoods, including Cedar-Riverside, Seward, and Phillips. In addition, the College has instituted programs and policies that support community engagement for the campus community. All staff members receive two days of paid leave time for community service. A note to the editor “I found the ‘Lights, camera, and action’ feature in the fall 2008 Augsburg Now very interesting. This photograph was taken in the Augsburg Art Studio in the early 1970s during a session of a hands-on class teaching 16mm filmmaking with synchronized sound. As a student from 1965-1970, I had a work-study job showing films and doing photography working for Robert Zeller, who at that time was director of instructional services. He is the first person whom I recall to have taught a course in film studies at Augsburg. Warren Hanson, John Mitchell, and Larry Glenn (left to right in the photo) were all students in the course taught by local filmmaker Paul Rusten. Warren was a registered student. As John was a faculty member and I was director of the audio-visual center, we were invited to participate in the class without receiving credit.” LARRY GLENN ’70 2 Augsburg Now Brian Krohn—Augsburg’s first Rhodes Scholar Brian Krohn ’08 arrived at Augsburg with plans of being a film major and eventually became a chemistry student. In November he was selected as a Rhodes Scholar—Augsburg’s first. Krohn, a native of Cloquet, Minn., was one of 769 initial U.S. applicants from 207 colleges and universities for this year’s Rhodes Scholars. After making it through an interview process and being selected, Krohn became one of 32 Americans who will study at Oxford University beginning in fall 2009. There, Krohn will focus on environmental change and management in order to combine public policy expertise with the scientific knowledge he has gained at Augsburg. In the summer of 2006, Krohn began research into new ways to produce biodiesel fuel. He acknowledges that he didn’t really expect to break any new ground, but he wanted to give it a shot. The combination of Krohn’s research, the teaching of chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, and Augsburg alum Clayton McNeff led to the discovery of the Mcgyan Process to produce biodiesel in a cleaner and more environmentally friendly way. “For me, Brian’s work on the biodiesel project is a great liberal arts story,” President Paul C. Pribbenow said. “There’s a connection between a student with a question, a faculty member, and an alum. They work on a problem and come out with a response that, in this case, is pretty groundbreaking. “Brian stands for the well-rounded education that we provide for all of our students. We’re proud of him and proud that his Augsburg education prepared him,” Pribbenow continued. In addition to his work with biodiesel, Krohn is a Goldwater Scholar who was a founder of the Honors Review, a new journal for student scholarship at Augsburg. He organized the inaugural Agre Challenge, an event in which teams were challenged to build a catapult to fling a 20-pound sandbag various distances. Diane Pike receives the Stewart Bellman Award Diane Pike, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) and professor of sociology, is the 2008 recipient of the Stewart Bellman Award for Exemplary Leadership from The Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching and Learning. She was honored in November at The Collaboration’s annual conference. For more than 25 years at Augsburg, Pike has been recognized for her excellence as a classroom teacher and as a role model for other faculty members, in large part due to her ongoing leadership in faculty development workshops, consulting, and summer institutes, and her avid attention to the research literature on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Pike’s accomplishments at Augsburg have included re-envisioning the work of the Committee on Faculty Development, integrating activities for faculty and professional staff members, and creating dedicated space for student learning and CTL in Lindell Library. Most notably, however, has been her leadership in the creation of the new AugCore general education program—guiding the design team work and faculty collaboratives on specific issues, as well as securing a Bush Foundation grant for implementation and work on the course evaluation project. She is the incoming president of the Midwest Sociological Society. Spring 2009 3 Auggies on the ice Tiffany Magnuson— a star on ice and on the field If it weren’t for finding cheap hockey skates at a tent sale, Tiffany Magnuson’s athletic career might have been quite different than it is today. “My dad didn’t want me playing hockey. They bought me figure skates, because my dad didn’t want me messed up with the hockey guys,” said Magnuson, whose father is a hockey coach in their hometown of Green Bay, Wis. “They bought the figure skates for me, and I couldn’t skate in them because of the toe pick. But my dad always said that I had a natural hockey stride, and I kept telling him that I wanted black skates.” So Magnuson’s mom found her a pair of black skates— hockey skates. “My mom always said, ‘Wal-Mart started your career,’ because they had a tent sale at Wal-Mart on hockey skates,” Magnuson said. A senior, Magnuson has excelled at two sports during her Auggie career—hockey and softball—and will leave Augsburg as one of the top all-around female athletes in school history. Magnuson finished her hockey career as the school’s second leading goal-scorer and No. 3 point-producer. She was a four-time All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection. In softball, Magnuson played three positions—second base, first base, and pitcher—during last season’s run to the MIAC playoffs for the first time in program history. A threetime All-MIAC selection, she enters this season with a .379 career batting average as the Auggies leadoff hitter. Magnuson, a finance major and accounting minor, was recruited to play hockey at Augsburg and she said she chose Augsburg because it was a small school in a large city. Being active in back-to-back sports has helped her learn to manage her time. “Sports have taught me about leadership, being committed and competitive, about interacting with others, and having to all come together for a goal,” said Magnuson, who wants to work on the business side of a sports team. “It’s a family [atmosphere], and for me being away from my family, it helps me with my life. That’s what I like about Augsburg, the close-knit atmosphere.” DON STONER 4 Augsburg Now auggie voices Engaging in the big questions The Lilly Scholars seminar is a place where students can feel comfortable talking about the big questions in life. Questions like, Is Christianity the only true religion? What does it mean to forgive someone? What is God calling me to do? For Mark Tranvik, associate professor of religion and director of the Lilly grant program, the seminar is the heart of the year-long program designed for juniors and seniors who are considering seminary or graduate study in theology or sacred arts. Once a month they meet to discuss assigned texts, engage with guest speakers, and reflect on biblical passages or issues in the Christian tradition. Each year, 10 or 11 Lilly Scholars, who receive a $2,100 scholarship, are selected from more than twice that number. Among the current scholars, the average GPA is 3.75. In addition to the seminar, Lilly Scholars visit Luther Seminary and can take courses there. “There is an ongoing hunger in the intellectual community for genuine theological conversation among students that the Lilly Scholar program honors,” says Tranvik, who is also an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Creating a comfortable place for these critical conversations is his goal. And, he adds, “doubters are welcomed.” Jenni Pickford, a philosophy and religion major, finds the seminar most valuable for “the openmindedness I’ve gained from hearing about views that differ from my own.” What she appreciates is that “there are other students out there who are interested in more than just a grade and do this for the love of learning.” “The greatest impact for me is the group friendship and discussions that carry throughout other classes,” says religion major Denise Shuck, a Weekend College senior who is planning to enter Luther Seminary. “I have a great appreciation for the diversity of opinions about the topics we’ve discussed.” Abby Ferjak, a senior, finds it easy to integrate what she does in the Lilly Scholars program to her youth and family ministry classes. “It’s important for youth to understand that vocation is not simply what one might do as a career; but rather, that everyone has many vocations, and [that] they don’t have to wait to fulfill their vocation.” And that’s exactly what the Lilly Endowment hopes to hear. Their goal for funding programs in church-related, liberal arts colleges that explore vocation is to nurture a new generation of voca- In their monthly seminar, Professor Mark Tranvik (above, in blue shirt) seeks to create a comfortable atmosphere for the Lilly Scholars to discuss and explore vocation. (L to R) Denise Shuck, Leah Jarvi, Tranvik, Cody Oaks, Allison Streed, Alexander Garver, Abigail Ferjak, Natalie Sasseville, and Ashley Weston. tionally-guided leaders—both pastoral and lay—for church congregations. Lilly Scholars are one part of Augsburg’s $2 million grant program, Exploring Our Gifts, that began in 2002 and is directed by Tranvik. Over its six years, Lilly Scholars have included a mix of younger and older students and have cut across disciplines, for example, among science and social work majors seeking ways to combine faith life with their fields. Last year four Lilly Scholars continued to Luther Seminary (all with full scholarships), two chose law school, one entered the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, one is in congregational youth ministry, and one began graduate study in social work. About half of all Lilly Scholars have entered seminary. During their year as Lilly Scholars, the students serve as role models within the larger community. They develop a portfolio, reflecting on vocation and what they carry with them from the year. Cody Oaks, a current Lilly Scholar, finds inspiration in Tranvik’s ability to merge the pastoral with the academic. “He provides the model of a pastor-scholar I would like to embody in my own work and call to teach,” Oaks says. He will enter Princeton Theological Seminary this summer and begin to seek ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Kyle Zvejnicks, a 2006-07 Lilly Scholar, reflected on community. “The seminar has reminded me of the importance of community in vocation, namely that we need each other. … Just as much, we don’t come with the same vocation for everyone, but each with their own, and not for themselves but for others.” To learn more about Exploring Our Gifts, go to www.augsburg.edu/lilly. BETSEY NORGARD Spring Fall 2008 2009 5 The Augsburg Choir— celebrating 75 years This academic year, the Augsburg Choir celebrates 75 years—a choral tradition of distinction and excellence. The Augsburg Choir was founded in 1933, when the Men’s Glee Club and the Ladies’ Choral Society, who had sung together on various occasions, voted to unite, under the direction of music department chair Henry P. Opseth. The first student president of the choir was a third-year music major and future choir conductor Leland B. Sateren. The new choir lost no time in preparing for tours and performances. In 1935, their tour through the Midwest took them more than 2,000 miles for 20 concerts, including a coast-to-coast broadcast in Chicago with the National Broadcasting System. On their return, they sang a home concert at Central Lutheran Church. Choir business manager Orville C. Hognander ’36 planned the tour, plus arranged for a series of 18 Sunday evening radio broadcasts on WCCO radio, the “Hour Melodious.” This program also was accessible over open channel across the country and brought visibility to Augsburg, reconnecting many alumni to the College. In 1946, Leland B. Sateren ’35 returned to Augsburg to join the music faculty. Following Opseth’s death in 1950, Sateren was named conductor of the Augsburg Choir. For the next 29 years, the Augsburg Choir developed its own distinctive tone quality, musicality, and professionalism under Sateren. While the choir continued to share the Gospel through church music, Sateren evolved a more contemporary classical sound, especially in his own compositions. His passion for 1933 Scandinavian music brought attention to music and composers relatively unknown in the U.S. In 1975, the Augsburg Choir’s 40th anniversary tour took them to Scandinavia. They traveled by boat down the Norwegian coast, from above the Arctic Circle to Oslo, and sang in the Trondheim Cathedral. Leland Sateren retired in 1979, and the direction of the choir passed to Larry L. Fleming, a noted choral conductor and composer. In his first year, the choir was chosen as the official representative from the U.S. to sing in Augsburg, Germany, at the 450th commemoration of the Augsburg Confession. Fleming also established Advent Vespers, the College’s annual 1975 Augsburg Choir is founded 40th anniversary choir tour Leland B. Sateren ’35—choir director Peter Hendrickson ’76—student choir president and future choir director Henry P. Opseth—choir director Leland B. Sateren ’35—student choir president and future choir director 6 Augsburg Now The majestic Advent Vespers service each year at Central Lutheran Church presents Augsburg’s four choirs, with part of the service sung as a massed choir of over 200 voices. holiday program, as a service of music and liturgy, which now attracts up to 8,000 people at its four services and will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2009. Fleming left Augsburg in 1986, and for the next several years the Augsburg Choir was under the direction of Thomas Rossin. In 1994, after serving a short time as interim director, Peter Hendrickson ’76 was appointed the choir’s new conductor. Over the past decade and a half, he has realized his vision for Augsburg’s choral program—one that offers distinct choral experiences for all students, including the extended Augsburg family, with different repertoires: • Augsburg Choir—a cappella touring choir • Riverside Singers—women’s chorus • Cedar Singers—men’s chorus • Masterworks Chorale—symphonic chorus All four choirs, as well as an orchestra and liturgical party, participate annually in Advent Vespers. In 2004, for the 25th anniversary, Twin Cities Public Television recorded the service and won a Regional Emmy award for the production. The program has been shown on public television during the holiday season since then. One of Hendrickson’s passions is language, and to date, his choirs have sung in more than 15 languages. “We owe it to our students in the choral program to educate them not only in Augsburg’s commitment to the Lutheran choral tradition, but also in creating, through music and language, a better understanding of other cultures and our responsibility to be world citizens,” Hendrickson says. The Augsburg Choir’s March tour this year took them south, traveling from Nebraska to Texas, and locations in between. Currently the choir is planning next year’s tour, a trip that will take them to China in 2010. 2009 The Masterworks Chorale marks 15 years Hendrickson founded the Masterworks Chorale in 1994 as a symphonic chorus of approximately 100 voices, made up of students, faculty and staff, alumni, and others connected to the Augsburg community. Unique to a college campus, Masterworks Chorale presents programs of great choral works and explores new masterworks. In 1996, the chorale performed for the first time the entire Visions from Hildegaard by Minnesota composer Stephen Paulus. In 1997, it presented the English-language premiere of Norwegian composer Egil Hovland’s opera, Captive and Free, and in 2001, the English-language version of Finnish composer and conductor Kari Tikka’s opera, Luther. The Masterworks Chorale performs three times per year—at fall and spring concerts, and for Advent Vespers. A number of chorale members are Augsburg alumni who sang as students in Leland Sateren’s choirs. “The Sateren choir alumni in Masterworks keep the legacy and spirit of the Sateren era alive,” Hendrickson says. “It’s a wonderful connection for our current students, a passing of the torch, so to speak, from then to now.” BETSEY NORGARD 75th anniversary year For a longer story about choir history with additional photos, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Peter Hendrickson ’76—choir director 7 it takes an Auggie A legacy for promising students President’s Scholarships recognize students with exceptional academic ability and leadership potential and can provide financial support up to full tuition for four years. Donors who choose to endow a President’s Scholarship make special connections with these students, and those that follow them, one after another, as they see an Augsburg education made possible. E. Milton Kleven ’46 taught school in Minneapolis for 33 years and knows what this means to students from low-income families. He and his family have endowed three President’s Scholarships and enjoy being part of the lives of the students who receive them, helping them begin their work and careers free from college debt. Milt Kleven’s Augsburg story began in a home two blocks from the College, where his Norwegian immigrant mother and father raised nine children. Since Augsburg was the college in the neighborhood, six of the Kleven children attended, with three completing their degrees. In 1940, Milt followed his sister Agathe, who had just graduated from Augsburg. Like most students then, Milt’s studies were interrupted by World War II, and in 1946 he returned and finished. Their brother Luther graduated in 1950. Milt graduated with a major in mathematics and a minor in physical education. His strongest and longest friendships he formed in the Augsburg A-Club, even though his student job downtown at the Minneapolis Club kept him too busy to participate in most sports, except for lettering in golf. Kleven’s Augsburg story has a romantic twist on a broken leg. In late 1943 he left Augsburg to enter Navy pilot training. When he suffered a broken leg, he decided to spend the eight-week recovery period back at Augsburg, completing his math major with Professor George Soberg. 8 One evening in Augsburg’s library, in the basement of Old Main, he met Dorothy Lijsing, the daughter of a Swedish immigrant father and mother, and she became his wife and partner for 53 years. Dorothy transferred to Gustavus Adolphus College and graduated there. They were married in 1947. Soon after graduating, Kleven began teaching mathematics in the Minneapolis Public Schools. In addition to teaching, he also served as the teacher representative with Great West Financial on a voluntary investment fund created following a strike in 1970. From that experience, he learned a great deal about investments and wise financial planning that has served him well. In the 1950s, the Klevens were approached by Sig Hjelmeland ’41, Augsburg’s development director, and asked for the first time to consider giving back to Augsburg. “My parents always set aside their tithe,” Kleven says, “and taught us that giving is a part of our responsibility.” In 1958, he and Dorothy established a scholarship in honor of his parents, Magnus and Kristofa Kleven. In its 50 years, more than 200 Augsburg students have benefited from the financial support of this scholarship. During the 1960s, the Klevens continued their philanthropic support to Augsburg, and for many years worked closely with development officer Jeroy Carlson ’48. In 2001, when Dorothy passed away, Kleven established a scholarship in her name. With college costs skyrocketing, he knew from his large family what a difference a full tuition scholarship could make for students from low-income families, like those he had taught in Minneapolis. “That’s the main thing,” Kleven says. “I want to help kids who have a need, and I want it to be a full scholarship.” So, the Dorothy Lijsing Kleven Scholarship became the first endowed President’s Scholarship, and provides a full scholarship to a student interested in choral music, as Dorothy had been throughout her life. This endowment was created by Milt and their four children and families—Bruce and Maren Kleven, David and Barbara Kleven, Barbara and Zane Birky, and Diane and Philip Larson. In 2007, the family created two additional endowed President’s Scholarships. They added Dorothy’s parents, David and Florence Lijsing, to the original scholarship for Milt’s parents and raised it to the level of a full President’s Scholarship. The third was created in Milt’s name—the E. Milton Kleven Scholarship for public service, so he can enjoy supporting students with a real financial need who plan to enter public service. Kleven helped to facilitate two other scholarships. The Margaret Andrews Scholarship was established by Kleven and his fellow Trade and Industry coordinators in the Minneapolis public school system to honor their supervisor, Margaret Andrews. The Donald C. Carlson Scholarship, through the Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation, is named for founding pastor Donald Carlson ’42 to support a Normandale member attending Augsburg. The Kleven legacy also includes major support to capital projects. In 1995-96, the family worked with President Charles Anderson and gave $1 million toward the construction of Lindell Library. Milt founded Kleven Flooring Service, which installed hardwood flooring in houses in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. Over the years, he provided hardwood floors throughout the Augsburg campus, including the Augsburg Room in Christensen Center and Augsburg House. His most recent gift celebrates his over 60-year tie to Augsburg A-Club and close friendships with Glen Person ’47 and Dick “Pork Chop” Thompson ’61. Together, as part of the construction of the new press box on Edor Nelson Field, the three provided the funding to name the Jeroy C. Carlson Hospitality Room in Kennedy Center in honor of their longtime friend and colleague. For more information about endowing a President’s Scholarship honoring Augsburg’s most promising students, contact Doug Scott, assistant vice president for development, at 612-330-1575 or 1-800-273-0617. BETSEY NORGARD Becky Shaheen ’11 Becky Shaheen is a sophomore from Elk River, Minn., majoring in vocal music performance and composition, with a pre-engineering minor. She sings in the Augsburg Choir, Gospel Praise Jazz Ensemble, and other ensembles. This is her second year as the recipient of the Dorothy Lijsing Kleven President’s Scholarship in choral music, and she keeps in touch with the Kleven family. “Music is my life, and this semester I’ve been able to dedicate more time than ever before to music. I am finally realizing that being a musician is possible … “This scholarship has opened so many doors for me. I don’t have to worry so much about the financial issues, and it has provided me with confidence and such an ‘I can do anything!’ attitude. “When I first met the family, it was like meeting a huge part of my extended family that I didn’t know about. … A picture of the family and me taken at the scholarship brunch hangs by my desk, a reminder of the people who are making this journey possible. “ twin sisters Twin sisters Twin dreams “Our Augsburg professors were supportive and encouraged us to pursue our dream ...” BETTY BOWERS, MD Barbara and Betty Bowers knew they wanted to grow up to be doctors when they were six years old. The twin sisters were born in Mora, Minn., and graduated from Augsburg in 1972. They attended medical school at the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1976. “Our family doctor, Dr. Harry Berge, encouraged and supported us in our dream,” says Barbara Bowers, MD, “although we’d never even seen a woman doctor.” The Bowers twins were two of George and Opal Bowers’ four daughters. The family lived in Brook Park, Minn., when the twins were young. “Our parents raised us to believe that if we worked hard we could achieve anything.” Betty and Barbara studied diligently through grade school and graduated from Forest Lake High School. “We never took a test without thinking about our goal,” Barbara explains. “We would not be dissuaded by naysayers.” Today, Barbara Bowers is medical director of Fairview Southdale Breast Center and Fairview Southdale Hospital Medical Oncology Clinic. Betty Bowers, MD, is medical director and an anesthesiologist with the McGee Eye Surgery Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. 10 Augsburg Now How did two young women from small-town Minnesota make it through college in the big city? “We received incredible personal attention and felt cared for at Augsburg,” Barbara says. The twin sisters found the small class sizes and nurturing environment a perfect place to study the sciences. “Our Augsburg professors were supportive and encouraged us to pursue our dream,” Betty explains. Although, there was one science professor who did not give them full credit for their class work. “He had a special curve for us,” Barbara says. “His attitude really was indicative of society at the time. It was the late 1960s, and few women were pursuing careers in science, let alone medicine. But we didn’t lose heart.” At Augsburg, the Bowers sisters were exposed to different cultures and religions. “Our professors knew us as people, not just students in the classroom,” Barbara explains. “Rabbi Schwartz took us to his synagogue and invited us to his home for Seder.” While it took a lot of hard work to get through medical school, “We were encouraged by those who meant the most to us,” Betty says. “Sometimes naive belief serves you well.” Claus Pierach, MD, a professor at the University of Minnesota twin dreams Medical School, recognized right away that the Bowers sisters were unique. “Not only were they identical twins—they were equally enterprising.” Pierach serves on the admission committee for the University of Minnesota Medical School. “I see and study many applicants, but I see few students as determined as Betty and Barbara Bowers.” After completing medical school, Barbara Bowers did her residency at what was then Northwestern Hospital. Pierach worked closely with Barbara in her internal medicine rotation. “It was no surprise that she earned the title of chief resident.” It was during her internal medicine residency at Northwestern Hospital that Barbara became intrigued by the cancer patients she treated. “They were strong people, and it really sparked my interest in medical oncology,” she explains. Barbara decided to specialize in medical oncology. “At that time, I thought I’d work in cancer treatment and work myself out of a job in about 10 years.” While cancer has not been cured, Barbara has seen significant advances in cancer treatment and prevention. “We are seeing more cancer patients live longer. There has been progress in preventing certain cancers through increased patient understanding of the role diet and exercise play in our lives.” “As a physician, my role is to partner with patients. To do that, we need to educate patients, give them the information they need to make decisions regarding their care, and communicate on the same wave length—making sure that they know they are the most important person on our care team.” For Barbara, caring for cancer patients is where medical science and compassion meet. “I’m a scientist,” she explains. “I love studying the periodic table. Everything in the universe is up there except one thing—the heart, the human element.” Barbara is married to a physician and has two daughters and a son. While in medical school, Betty thought she’d become a surgeon. She was the first female surgery resident at Hennepin County Medical Center. In the fourth year of her general surgery rotation, Claude Hitchcock, MD, approached her about taking a six-month anesthesia rotation at the Mayo Clinic. “It’s been a good fit for me. I’ve been practicing anesthesiology since 1981.” She’s been with the McGee Eye Surgery Center since 2005. Betty is married to a physician and has two daughters. Looking back, Barbara and Betty remember many good times amid the grueling schedule of medical school. “But we got through it all by tucking our chins in and working hard,” Betty says. Both physicians say they have enjoyed tremendous job satisfaction from their careers in medicine. “I would encourage anyone dedicated to helping people to choose a career in medicine,” Barbara says. “The medical field is constantly changing and offers academic challenges, but most of all it is personally rewarding.” JEAN SPIELMAN HOUSH Housh is married to Allen Housh, a former Augsburg regent. She came to know Dr. Barbara Bowers when she was treated for breast cancer in 2004. Photos submitted by the families and Fairview Southdale Hospital. “As a physician, my role is to partner with patients. To do that, we need to ... make sure that they know they are the most important person on our care team.” BARBARA BOWERS, MD Betty Bowers, MD Barbara Bowers, MD Spring 2009 11 International Programs 3 Photo Contest Portraits 1st place: Bethany Thompson “Doi Suthep Girls” Chiang Mai, Thailand 2nd place: Katie MacAulay “Llamas and the Lost City of the Incas” Peru 3rd place: Sara Black “Another Walk of Life” Ibarra, Ecuador Landscape/cityscape 1st place and Best of Show: Emily Hanson “Holocaust Memorial” Berlin, Germany 2 2 2nd place: Katie Woolever “Looking Through Mada’s Dwelling” Northern Namibia 3rd place: Kayla Skarbakka “Boireann” County Clare, Ireland 2 Photojournalism 1st place: Emily Hanson “GDR Shopkeep” Wittenburg, Germany 2nd place: Tyla Pream “Festival of San Giovanni–Boy with Flag” Florence, Italy Augsburg Now 3 12 Augsburg Now 3 3rd place: Christine Tresselt “Coffee in the Cloud Forest” Miraflor, Nicaragua 1 1 2 0 0 8 1 s e i g g u a n e e r g go sustain. respond. recycle. 14 Augsburg Now “The Augsburg College community is deeply committed to what it means to build a sustainable urban environment.” —President Paul C. Pribbenow clean. reduce. build. Save. 15 e l b a n i a t s u s e r o Toward a m g r u b s aug BY BETSEY NORGARD Living sustainably is no longer merely an option. As a vast majority of the world’s people struggle for resources to sustain even simple lives, a small minority consume at rates that will quickly deplete Earth’s resources and imperil future generations. Environmental concerns are now front and center on our national agenda. But beyond these, the broader considerations of sustainable living—economic and social policies that determine how resources are shared—remain difficult to tackle. Augsburg’s history, mission, and vision call for the College to engage in these broad discussions of sustainability. The two vision documents of 1997 and 2005 spell out an institutional vocation for the College rooted in a blending of Lutheran heritage, immigrant history, and urban location that demands a caring stewardship of God’s creation. As the College explores how it lives out its institutional vision—We are called to serve our neighbor—it must look beyond the changes brought about by green practices and invite the deeper conversations in community that probe the meaning of living sustainably in the city. The greening of Augsburg The Environmental Stewardship Committee (ESC), made up of faculty, staff, and students, leads the environmental initiatives of the College. Created in 1990 as a task force, it was revitalized by President William Frame in 1999 and given both purpose and strength. Tom Ruffaner, longtime committee chair and custodial supervisor, believes that the comprehensive “Waste Wise” audit carried out in 1999 became the “driving force behind ‘greening’ at Augsburg.” The audit “not only identified areas of waste and inefficiencies across campus but also offered resources to make improvements.” The ESC Vision Statement in 2004 summarized its goals: “The stewardship of the urban and global environment can only be pursued if we take these steps toward using less, living more simply, and acting with the care and awareness of the impact of actions on the people and ecosystem within which we live and on which we all depend.” In 2006, Augsburg’s new president, Paul C. Pribbenow, quickly embraced the growing urgency to address issues of sustainability and gave voice to a deeper understanding of sustainability within Augsburg’s mission and vision. The changes across campus in the past three years have been significant. Sustainability is infused through Augsburg’s curriculum and grounded in its daily practices—on campus, in the community, and around the world. Augsburg participates in two important institutional collaborations: • Presidents Climate Commitment—President Pribbenow joined more than 600 American college and university presidents to sign an agreement to “neutralize greenhouse gas emissions and to accelerate the research and educational efforts of higher education to equip society to re-stabilize the earth’s climate.” One person’s difference if mr. green 16 Augsburg Now Augsburg had a “Mr. Green” contest, TOM RUFFANER ’98 might well be the best candidate. Over the past decade, he has led Augsburg toward greater commitments in sustainable living. Ruffaner has pushed Augsburg to bring about environmental improvements in energy use, safer cleaning products, and recycling and waste reduction (starting with a comprehensive Waste Wise audit). He also helped the College study its transportation habits and commuting alternatives. And, he has chaired the Environmental Stewardship Committee and supported community efforts. In fall 2007, Ruffaner received an Individual Achievement Commuter Choice Award, given by Metro Transit, that recognizes organizations and individuals for their creative solutions in promoting alternatives to driving alone. He also served on the advisory committee that helped design the light rail station nearest Augsburg. A 1998 graduate in metro-urban studies, Ruffaner is the custodial supervisor at Augsburg. A report has just been completed that measures the College’s carbon footprint. • Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC)—Five colleges (Augsburg, Hamline, St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Macalester) are exploring ways to create a stronger academic identity that clearly expresses their shared identity as an urban institution and centers on the theme of sustainable urban development. Ideas may include curricular development, community outreach, research, service-learning, internships, study abroad, and faculty development. Students step forward green vehicles, and become engaged in the political process. Augsburg’s chapter of the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) began the initial efforts to recycle in the 1970s. Recently, its Environmental Task Force, along with student groups, has led projects on campus, including: • Focus the Nation teach-in—Augsburg joined organizations across the country in setting aside a day to engage the entire campus in conversations on sustainability. “MY DAD TELLS ME, ‘DREAMS ARE FREE. DREAM BIG, IT WON’T COST MONEY.’” Some of the most exciting projects for sustainability have come from student-led initiatives. Students have researched alternative fuels, organized teach-ins, gained student backing to support wind energy, pushed the College to purchase —Alex Hoselton ’08 Focus leads to wind energy My dad tells me, “Dreams are free. Dream big, it won’t cost money.” I listened and dreamt and acted big by forming an ad hoc organization and, with other students, started organizing for the Focus the Nation teach-in in January 2008. The teach-in provided rich liberal arts perspectives to more than 500 attendees and launched momentum towards switching Augsburg’s energy consumption from fossil fuel to wind energy. The organizing students petitioned Day Student Government for a referendum to impose a fee of $14.75 per semester to purchase wind energy. The referendum passed, with 68% of the vote, and day students now contribute more than $54,000 annually. Contributions from Weekend College Government and the administration enable us to purchase enough wind power to make Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus 100% free of fossil fuel electricity. We have reduced the equivalent in carbon emissions of taking 26,000 cars off the road or planting 69 square miles of trees each year. 17 The case for a green vehicle • Wind energy purchase—Both day and weekend student governments held referendums in which students voted to add a new student fee to contribute to wind energy purchase. It enables Augsburg to offset 100% of its fossil-fuel electricity costs on the Minneapolis campus, making the College one of the largest purchasers of wind power in the state. • Hybrid security vehicle—When a security vehicle was due for replacement, a student group pushed for the College to buy a hybrid fuel vehicle. • Food services changes—Students initiated the practice of composting food, saving three-quarters of a ton of trash. • Environmental history of Augsburg— The 2007 Environmental Connections class researched and wrote “From Rural to Urban: The Environmental History of Augsburg College 1872-2005,” studying its relationship to nature, technology, and humans. • Trash audit—In order to call attention to lackadaisical attitudes toward recycling, a group of students went through twodays’ worth of garbage and showed how nearly 70% of it was either compostable or recyclable. Much work remains before Augsburg can be satisfied it is consuming only what Earth can renew. But now, that work is increasingly carried out with greater consciousness of the impact made by personal choices and practices, both on the self and on an interconnected and interdependent global community. 18 Augsburg Now The green vehicle initiative developed from the inspiration of Brian Krohn’s biofuel discoveries and my resources as a member of Augsburg Day Student Government in fall 2008. Almost immediately Reid Larson and Steve Eichten also committed themselves fully to the project. Collectively, the four of us found that our goal was to ensure that our next Department of Public Safety vehicle was both a fiscally and environmentally sound investment. After hearing estimates that the department puts nearly 150 miles daily on their vehicle, we realized that having either a biodiesel or hybrid would surely be cost effective. It turned out that a Ford Escape Hybrid would save the college $30,000 annually by our low-end estimates. Initially finding little support in the purchase of a hybrid, the group prepared for a meeting with President Paul Pribbenow. We presented him with graphs on two- and fouryear savings, a list of ways that he would be supporting the Presidents Climate Commitment he had signed earlier in the year, and a list of colleges, universities, and police departments that all had successfully integrated hybrid vehicles into their programs. By meeting’s end the president had given us an oral commitment to the Ford Escape, and said that John Pack, director of public safety, had also expressed his support earlier in the day. By September 2008 the College’s new hybrid vehicle was in use on campus. The Green Vehicle Coalition, as it has developed into, sees this particular project only as a first step toward many long-term goals. “THE GREEN VEHICLE INITIATIVE DEVELOPED FROM THE INSPIRATION OF BRIAN KROHN’S BIOFUEL DISCOVERIES.” —Jake Quarstad ’10 How GREEN is Augsburg? how College initiatives • American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment—completed the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory for 2001-08 • Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities will collaborate on studying urban sustainability • HourCar hub on campus • Discounted transit passes • Reserved carpool parking • Fair trade items sold in bookstore • Purchasing enough wind energy to offset electricity Student-led initiatives • Led Focus the Nation teach-in—Jan. 2008 • Proposed and passed extra student fees for purchase of wind energy • Friends of the Mississippi River stewardship • Pushed for green vehicle initiative to purchase hybrid security vehicle • Environmental studies major and minor • Presented at Campus Compact conference • Fall 2009—Fate of the World i-term class • Created bike-share program • Campus Kitchen program and community garden • Launched composting in dining area green is Food service • Composting program ? • Gradual move toward trayless dining, starting with Trayless Tuesdays • Take-out materials—all corn-based and compostable • Purchase all produce from a five-state region • Fair trade coffee available in campus eateries Internal practices • Double-sided printing on all campus copiers • All copy paper on campus—30% post-consumer waste • Ongoing re-use center • Recycling of cans, glass bottles, plastic, paper, cardboard, and yard waste • Recycling for appliances, carpets, furniture, batteries, electronics, ink • Compostable paper towels in all public restrooms • Changed all faucets and showers on campus to water-saving fixtures • Energy-efficient fluorescent lamps in public areas, increasing use of CFL bulbs augsburg • Moving toward 100% “Green Seal” cleaning chemicals • Display board and fairs to facilitate public transportation Environmental studies program • Paddled the Mississippi River to study environmental and river politics • Built rain gardens to capture runoff • Researched and wrote an environmental history of Augsburg College • Studied, prepared, and served a healthy, local, sustainable lunch 19 l a t n e m n o r i Env s n o i t c e n n co GREEN STARTS HERE The topic of conversation on this early December afternoon was pumpkin ice cream, a dessert that summed up many of the conflicts that go along with making environmental change. In Environmental Connections, the gateway course for Augsburg’s new environmental studies major, history professor Michael Lansing and political science professor Joe Underhill take an issue and break it down over a semester. In fall 2007, the topic was water. This past fall, a dozen Augsburg students looked at food and just how it ends up on our plates. At the end of the semester, the Environmental Connections students had to take what they learned and plan a menu for a lunch that was served in the Christensen Center Commons. Nutrition and taste were important to the students. But so were environmentally friendly practices, the use of vegetables grown in the Augsburg greenhouse, and supporting local farmers and companies. And that led to the lengthy discussion about whether they should serve pumpkin ice cream from Kemps or buy it from Izzy’s, a St. Paul ice cream shop. The students knew they wanted the Izzy’s because the ice cream is made with organic products and the shop uses solar power. But there was the issue with price. Kemps wasn’t as environmentally friendly, but the students could get more ice cream at a lower price. Because while it’s easy for people to say that they want to take environmental concerns into consideration when making decisions, the tone sometimes changes when being green is more expensive. In the end, the class reached a compromise and would get ice cream from both. “That discussion was everything the class was about,” says Kathy DeKrey, a first-year student from Bemidji, Minn. “I thought we should have put up the cost and got just the Izzy’s ice cream. “A lot of people aren’t willing to put forth the initial costs to make good decisions and that is too bad.” It was the kind of broad, big-picture thinking that the professors hope comes out of this interdisciplinary class. Because things like food, water, and energy— a potential topic for next year—impact so many parts of society, Underhill and Lansing bring in guest lecturers from departments across campus. “WHATEVER YOU DO, IT IMPACTS SOMETHING.” —Peter Klink ’12 20 Augsburg Now BY JEFF SHELMAN Studying the urban environment Here’s what you won’t find in Augsburg’s new environmental studies major: a windmill suddenly being constructed in the middle of Cedar-Riverside, repeated trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and anything that could be considered rural. “That’s not what we want,” Lansing says. “That’s not who we are.” The term “environmental” is often equated with rural, with wetlands, and with ecosystems. But Lansing and Underhill are much more interested in making an impact on and around campus. After all, the Mississippi River is only a few blocks away. There is a Superfund site in Minneapolis’ Phillips neighborhood because of high amounts of pesticides and herbicides previously produced there. The local Sierra Club office is just across Interstate 94 in the Seward neighborhood. Students in both the water and the food classes took the light rail to downtown Minneapolis to learn about the impact of St. Anthony Falls. For the initial class, the falls demonstrated the importance of water in relation to the creation of energy. Last semester, the falls taught about the milling process and the history of Minneapolis. In addition to being a vehicle for teaching, studying environmental issues in an urban environment creates opportunity. “If you’re interested in the wilderness and studying ecosystem dynamics, this probably isn’t the right program,” Underhill says. “But if you want to do something on human impact, you have to be where the people are. Humans are having a huge impact so we have to spend time where the most people are.” In the water class, the students constructed rain gardens on the Augsburg campus. The gardens are positioned to collect water runoff from campus buildings. In addition to adding plant life to campus, the rain gardens keep runoff water from eventually reaching the Mississippi River. “We are uniquely situated in a city neighborhood and are privileged to have a variety of opportunities to explore the interconnectedness of urban life with both human and natural forces.” —President Paul C. Pribbenow 21 Getting students out of the classroom and getting their hands, quite literally, dirty very much fits into the experiential teaching Augsburg is known for. “We want students to be aware of their immediate surroundings,” Lansing says. “We don’t want to put them in a sealed classroom and learn about grand theories while ignoring what’s going on around them.” Changing attitudes Peter Klink is in his first year at Augsburg after taking classes a year ago at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. He always had an interest in the outdoors, but he didn’t really know just how complex food is. “Most cows are fed corn hay because it gets them fat quicker, but it’s not as good for people,” Klink says. “But if you stop feeding them corn hay and feed them grass, the corn industry is hurt. Whatever you do, it impacts something.” Klink, who grew up in Stillwater, Minn., found his habits as a consumer changing as the semester progressed. His biggest change—the result of learning about the environmental cost of transporting food across country—has been to make a greater effort to buy locallygrown food. “I want to know where it comes from,” Klink says. “Also, it’s a way to support local businesses. The way the economy is, I’m all about supporting local businesses rather than some big corporation.” Because the Environmental Connections class is a gateway course and largely for first-year students and sophomores, the students enter at different points. “Clearly the most satisfying thing is when they start with no clue and as the semester goes on, the light bulb starts to come on,” Underhill says. The environmental studies major—which will feature classes from a variety of departments on campus—is very much in its infancy at Augsburg. While the curriculum has been approved and the requirements laid out, simply offering a major doesn’t guarantee student interest. In addition to providing a base of knowledge, the gateway course also shows students with interest in the environment some of the possibilities that are out there, that an environmental studies major isn’t limited to a job in nature or working as some sort of scientist. “There’s a lot of green stuff that’s going to be used in the future,” says Klink, who is going to major in business and at least minor in environmental studies. “I think there is going to be a lot of opportunities for jobs in that area. There’s wind energy, solar energy, green architecture. To have a background where you understand that is a key thing.” And getting students on the path toward understanding is what the Environmental Connections class is all about. 22 Augsburg Now studying y t i l i b a sustain BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 If you want to study sustainability, you need to go where it’s done best. Students in the Sustainable Cities in North America summer course spent three weeks in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C., learning about the successes and challenges of two of North America’s most sustainable cities. What they discovered, amidst green buildings and miles of bike trails, is that being sustainable requires attention to many interconnected aspects of life. This interconnectedness, they learned, means that what is beneficial for some may be detrimental to others, so working together to build strong communities is crucial to the success of sustainability measures. In the end, the students not only learned more about their world; they were also empowered to bring their creativity and enthusiasm back to Minneapolis to implement a plan that would help Augsburg become a greener, more sustainable campus. “EDUCATION IS KEY. IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHY YOU ARE DOING IT OR WHY IT’S IMPORTANT, YOU WON’T CONTINUE.” —Kjerstin Hagen ’10 Studying sustainability Sustainability is a measure of the quality of life for citizens in an area. It involves water and air quality, access to transportation, ability to find work and make a living, local food systems, energy use, the creation and maintenance of green buildings, housing availability and affordability, land use, and waste management—for starters. To be ranked high on the sustainability scale, a city must do more than pave bike trails and purchase hybrid buses. Citizens must be educated about greenhouse gas emissions produced by their cars and about the effect of those emissions on the environment. The city must provide resources that citizens and businesses need to start and continue environmentally friendly efforts, such as incentives to use public transportation, access to buses or light rail, and routes that bring people easily from their homes to the places of work and back again. To be truly sustainable, these efforts must be culturally appropriate and make the best use of the resources available in the area. And finally, the practices of sustainability must not only continue over time, they must improve as the city changes and grows. The Sustainable Cities course was a short-term Augsburg Abroad program led by sociology and metro-urban studies professors Lars Christiansen and Nancy Fischer. The professors wanted not only to study sustainability in an urban context 23 While in Portland and Vancouver, the students and instructors: but also to travel sustainably and to minimize the impact of their program on the cities they visited. Rather than rent a van or bus, Christiansen and half of the class traveled by bicycle while Fischer and the remaining students used train, street car, and their own two feet to get around in each city. “You really get to learn a city when you’re ‘behind bars,’” says Jon Peterson ’10, a sociology major from Excelsior, Minn. “When I went to Portland with my family, we rented a car. I didn’t learn nearly as much about the city and didn’t have the appreciation.” Traveling by bicycle helped the class reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and also gave the students an opportunity to experience the cities more fully. • Stayed in Epler Hall at Portland State University, a green dormitory and Portland’s first LEED-certified building • Explored neighborhoods using the five-minute walk exercise • Met with city government officials and policymakers to learn about urban planning, waste management and recycling, and transportation • Met with community organizers to learn about grassroots movements and civic engagement • Visited several professors to learn about sustainable development research and sustainability efforts on university campuses • Toured farmers markets and community gardens and talked with the people who sell and grow in these spaces • Participated in Portland’s Night Ride and a Critical Mass bike ride in downtown Vancouver For a video interview with Christiansen and Fischer to learn more about what they and their students did, saw, and learned in the Sustainable Cities in North America class go to www.augsburg.edu/now. Sustainability is complicated As they studied and explored Portland and Vancouver, the students began to gain an appreciation for the complexity of creating and maintaining a sustainable city. “A lot of our experiences brought up the idea of equity,” says Ricky Oudekerk ’09, an international relations and peace and global studies major from St. Paul. “What might be a sustainable idea for the wealthy or for the government might not work for everyone.” The class went to Vancouver’s East Hastings neighborhood—a site of controversy centered on an effort to clean up an The students cool off in Jamison Square. 24 Augsburg Now area nestled between popular tourist destinations as the city prepares to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. There, many students said they witnessed poverty and desperation unlike anything they had ever seen. “Basically they’ve quarantined the homeless and addicts into a four-block area,” explains Oudekerk. “While it’s sad, the support resources for those people could be centralized. And they have activists from their community. That was the first time I’ve ever seen homeless and addict activists.” Though both cities offer a robust transit system, the students learned that if citizens don’t have access or aren’t able to afford the fares, the system is not truly sustainable. “The transit system in Vancouver severely marginalizes lower income people,” Peterson says. Bus fare in Vancouver ranges from $2.50 to $5, and the fare covers only 90 minutes. In a city with a median income of $62,600 (CDN) where the average home price is more than $410,000, many people have been pushed out of the city and away from their places of work. “We discovered that fare didn’t last very long once you are trying to get out to the suburbs, where many people have moved who are seeking cheaper residences,” Fischer says. “Before this course, I thought sustainable cities would be utopias where nothing bad ever happens,” says Meagen Swartzer ’08, a media writing major and urban studies minor. “With every good comes something bad. Once you reach perfection, not everybody can afford it.” Sustainability at Augsburg Once students learned about the many dimensions of urban sustainability and began to understand its intricacy, Christiansen and Fischer challenged them to turn their knowledge into action. The professors knew that in order for the class’ project to succeed, it had to be driven by the students so that they would educate and motivate each other. The class visited City Farmer, an organization that promotes sustainable urban farming in Vancouver. Through their site visits and conversations, the students had learned that their project had to be right for Augsburg. “The recipe for sustainability is different and unique in every place,” says Oudekerk. “The mix of what you’ve got to work with, including the people and the culture, needs to be taken into account in order to build a sustainable city.” In Portland, the class saw many of the one-block parks for which the city is known. As he explored the city, Peterson thought about the park in the center of Augsburg’s campus. “We saw a lot of urban spaces the size of Murphy Park where they had done great things,” Peterson says. “I thought we could really pay tribute to our heritage by rethinking and reforming that park and creating a more usable public space.” Several members of the class also discussed creating a mural with other community groups on the wall bordering I-94 at the southern edge of campus. “We wanted to transform that space and bring people together,” says Kjerstin Hagen ’10, an American Indian studies major. One idea that has been successfully implemented is a composting program in campus dining facilities. Working with Augsburg’s foodservice provider, a group of students formulated a plan to collect organics and compostable paper products and to reduce the amount of waste in the Commons cafeteria. Composting bins and signage were added to the cafeteria in the fall. Students from the class helped diners place their compostable items and trash into the appropriate containers and an- Leann Vice-Reshel ’10 (and Jon Peterson ’10 background) navigated the cities on bicycles. swered questions about the program. “Education is key,” says Hagen. “If you don’t know why you are doing it or why it’s important, you won’t continue.” According to Jay Cross, Augsburg Dining Services manager, the effort has resulted in a significant reduction of waste. “Now we have only one bag of garbage per day,” compared to 12 to 15 six-gallon bags that were collected daily prior to the implementation of the program. Currently, Swartzer and Hagen are working on a grant to purchase more composting bins for the campus’ retail foodservice operations and for offices and residence halls. Sustainable lessons For many of the students in Sustainable Cities in North America, studying in Portland and Vancouver gave them much more than a comfortable acquaintance with the two cities. They learned lessons that changed their habits, their choices, and their lives. Michael Wethington, with other Augsburg students, is organizing a bicycling tour back to Portland from Minneapolis. The group plans to contact policymakers and examine current legislative standing on alternative transportation with a focus on cycling in both Minneapolis/St. Paul and Portland. They’ll perform a cross analysis of the cities: future directions and applications from one city, that may work effectively in the other. Others who already had an interest in sustainability developed a deeper understanding of the issue. “This class trip really helped to broaden my view of the multi- Street musicians played at a Portland farmers market. faceted nature of sustainability,” Peterson says, “and helped to strengthen my personal values for all the dimensions of sustainability.” The experiential nature of the program helped Oudekerk make connections to past classes and his personal interests. “This class made it easy for me to connect the dots between what I have read and what I was doing in the cities.” Oudekerk, who plans to work in the area of sustainable urban development in the future, came to understand that change happens when people work together. “This class influenced my understanding of the importance of community. Things that bring people together create sustainable relationships and healthy community. There are profound and significant benefits when this happens.” Fischer and Christiansen have received a grant from the Canadian Studies Faculty Enrichment Program and plan to return to Portland and Vancouver with another group of students in 2010. The photos from Portland and Vancouver were taken by students in the Sustainable Cities in North America class. 25 n e e r G planning The Center for Science, Business, and Religion (CSBR) is Augsburg’s first new academic building in 60 years and will replace the 60-year-old, inefficient Science Hall. CSBR will have a story to tell—of excellence in the sciences, of intersections and connections among disciplines, of transforming city hardscape to more welcoming green space, of sustainability on display. Students like Andrew Nguyen and Reid Larson will benefit from the learning opportunities this state-of-the-art building will offer. The CSBR will be a LEED-certified building, created in collaboration with a prestigious, experienced, innovative team of consultants: Holabird & Root Architects have won awards for sustainability and design for college science centers they’ve created. Their design is based on Augsburg’s concept of intersections, offering a physical and intellectual framework for bringing disciplines into dialogue with each other. McGough Construction’s “Bright Green” pre-construction and planning consultation helps CSBR to take advantage of the most innovative green building techniques and goals. oslund.and.associates approaches landscape design as art, as simplicity, and, at Augsburg, as a laboratory for sustainable environmental practices in dialogue with themes of intersections. Key concepts of the CSBR The building—organized around a “necklace” of public spaces that encourages the community at large to cross paths Linking circle—serving as a gateway to the neighborhood and city, with connections to Lindell Library and Sverdrup Hall Expanded quadrangle—a landscape laboratory, creating green commons on campus from west to east, articulating with Murphy Square, the city’s first public park “THE NEW BUILDING WILL BE A FRAMEWORK FOR HIGH EXPECTATIONS, AND WILL EXEMPLIFY THE EXCELLENCE AND HIGH ACHIEVEMENTS AT AUGSBURG COLLEGE.” —Andrew Nguyen ’10 26 Augsburg Now Environmental task force What’s green about CSBR Specific planning for LEED certification carried out at the preplanning stage among architects, contractors, and landscape designers Sharing of interdepartmental resources in efficient academic “neighborhoods” throughout the building Building siting and design encouraging pedestrian traffic, moving auto traffic away from commons area, plus welcoming green space replacing city hardscape Rainwater cisterns collecting water to irrigate greenhouses and flush toilets Landscape laboratory—on-site stormwater containment, integrating native species, and interpreting features of urban sustainability Highly efficient HVAC and heat recovery systems, with optimal siting for solar exposure and for harvesting daylight deep into the building Air quality systems recycling gases and fumes Innovative, sustainable materials, preferably locally-sourced and expressing themes of intersections in panels, forms, surfaces Transportation hub—center for bicycle storage and conveniences; site for shuttle transfer to light rail MPIRG (the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group) is a student group at Augsburg that has been hard at work on environmental sustainability issues on campus. I’m the leader of the Environmental Task Force within MPIRG … [that] has been involved in many environmental sustainability projects over the past few semesters, including working with the current and past food services companies on introducing compostable cups to the dining locations, composting food wastes, and introducing another day of trayless dining in the cafeteria. We have also been an integral part of converting the College to buying 100% wind energy, made possible largely by the Focus the Nation event last year. In addition, the task force works on environmental education and awareness, one example being the Detox Forum. Most of our work last semester was centered around putting together a survey on the commuting habits of Augsburg’s students, faculty, and staff. This survey looked at the distance people commute from their homes to Augsburg and how they get here, the results of which were put into the larger Greenhouse Gas Inventory of the entire College for the Presidents Climate Commitment. As a student, I have been central in the discussions around the science building, especially around the “green” or sustainable features of the new building. I have done a lot of work, some of it through MPIRG, ensuring that the science building has a green roof. I hope to continue my work in environmental sustainability as I graduate from Augsburg and go on to graduate school in mechanical engineering, and then ultimately find a career in the renewable energy field. “AS A STUDENT, I HAVE BEEN CENTRAL IN THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE SCIENCE BUILDING, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE ‘GREEN’ OR SUSTAINABLE FEATURES.” —Reid Larson ’09 CSBR by the numbers 134,000 square feet, LEED certified, an addition to Sverdrup Hall, 75,000 square feet for eight academic departments (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer science, psychology, business, and religion) • • • • • • 8 classrooms 21 teaching labs 6,000 square feet of student-faculty research space 2,000 square feet of greenhouse space on the roof of the building Informal gathering spaces for learning and conversation Skyway linking circle to Lindell Library core TO t s o p m co BY STEPHEN GEFFRE THE JOURNEY OF AN APPLE A year ago, all food waste from Augsburg’s dining center was hauled away and dumped in a landfill with the trash of thousands of other Twin Cities businesses, homes, and schools. Last fall, however, the fate of Augsburg’s garbage changed when students from the Sustainable Cities in North America course (see story on p. 23) worked with A’viands, the College’s food services provider, to launch a campus composting program. Photojournalist and staff photographer Stephen Geffre followed an apple as it traveled more than 60 miles—from a Wisconsin nursery through Augsburg’s kitchen and dining center to a composting facility in Chaska, Minn., where it once again will travel to nurture spring plantings. In the autumn, workers at Nesbitt’s Nursery, near Prescott, Wis., harvested the apple and shipped it more than 60 miles to the Augsburg kitchen where it was served to diners. The remains of the apple were tossed into the composting bin with napkins, chicken bones, jello, pizza crusts, etc. The apple remnants and its compostable companions were transported to Chaska, in the regular twice-a-week pick-ups. There, the apple core was mixed with other biodegradable materials like tree clippings and yard waste. Over the course of 90 days the mixture was turned, separated, mixed again, and heated until it’s ready to emerge as compost. This nutrient-rich material will be sold this spring to landscapers, community gardeners, and to the nearby Minnesota Landscape Arboretum to provide nourishment, perhaps, to an apple seedling there. “We strive to use up no more clean air, water, energy, and raw materials in a year than the earth can provide for it.” —President Paul C. Pribbenow 28 Augsburg Now “ALL YOU NEED IS A BUCKET, AND EVERY LITTLE THING HELPS.” —Meagen Swartzer ’09 29 Feeding The Campus Kitchen program at Augsburg College not only feeds people’s bodies—it also feeds the minds of students. Last spring, the program moved a part of its operation from the kitchen to the garden, opening an outdoor classroom to children from the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. The idea for Augsburg’s community garden blossomed last spring when students and staff prepared 40 plots on the west side of campus. The plots are available to Augsburg faculty, staff, and students as well as neighbors from Cedar-Riverside and Seward. Brian Noy, coordinator of the Campus Kitchen program, says, “The garden provides a beautiful entrance to our campus and a way to welcome the community. It’s a common space for people to work together to do something meaningful.” Through an internship program developed with the Center for Service, Work, and Learning, the garden has also become an extension of Campus Kitchen. Last summer, two Augsburg 30 Augsburg Now THE NEIGHBORHOOD youth BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 students worked with youth from day programs at the Brian Coyle Center and the Confederation of Somali Community. The interns worked in the garden and in the kitchen, teaching students how food is grown and how to prepare healthy meals. “This is a whole new program that feeds youth in a fuller way,” Noy says. Augsburg junior Ruth Senum was the “garden intern” last summer. She and approximately 50 elementary school children planted seeds, “I THOUGHT OF THE WATERING, WEEDING, AND HARVESTING AS OUR CLASSROOM CHORES.” —Ruth Senum ’10 tended plants, and harvested much of the produce from four garden plots. Senum says the children were surprised to learn where food comes from and that it can look different in the garden than in the grocery store or on their plates. “When I showed them the broccoli plant, they thought it was huge,” she says. “They only see it all chopped up.” She says students also were interested in the fact that some plants have flowers before they produce fruit or vegetables. “Just seeing the whole process from seed to produce was a very new experience for them,” she says. The children were disappointed about the limitations of a Minnesota growing season. “They asked where the banana tree was, and it was interesting for them to understand why we can’t grow a lot of fruit here.” The internship taught Senum, an education major, techniques for her future classroom. “I thought of the watering, weeding, and harvesting as our classroom chores,” she says, but she discovered the students liked being in the garden more than they liked doing garden chores. “You need to find a good system to keep them working,” she says. Senum also learned that students liked interactive learning activities much more than sit-down learning. “They wanted to talk to each other, run around, do arts and crafts,” she says. “Getting them out of their desks and walking around is important.” The garden also serves as a learning environment for Augsburg students, but Noy says opportunities were limited because the bulk of the work is needed when most students are away from campus. As a solution, a simple greenhouse was added to the garden area, extending the growing season by one month in the spring and in the fall. “It makes a huge impact because we can engage actual students and classes outside the garden and allow them to get involved with the growing space,” Noy says. The students in Environmental Connections, the introductory course in Augsburg’s environmental studies major, used the greenhouse in the fall to grow vegetables and herbs for their final project. The class studied how food fits into socio-economic and ecological systems and prepared and served a meal in the campus dining center (see story on page 20). 31 ? HOW GREEN IS our magazine How green is our printing? The paper used in the printing of this magazine is certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody standard and contains 10 percent post-consumer waste. What does this mean? In the process of writing and designing a “green” issue of the Augsburg Now, we asked ourselves what we could do to make the magazine itself more environmentally friendly. Using recycled paper and safe inks is an easy way to accomplish this, but we wanted to do more. So, instead of adding more pages we’re utilizing one of the most valuable resources available to communicators and marketers—the World Wide Web. This issue of the Augsburg Now is the second in which we’ve added “Web Extras” at www.augsburg. edu/now. These online features allow us to add material to tell richer, more creative stories than we can using print alone. In this issue, we have added a story on sustainable study abroad, a growing trend in education. The story connects our readers to tools they can use to minimize their impact on the environment while traveling. We also have a video interview with the professors and some of the students involved in the Sustainable Cities in North America course (see page 23). On camera, they share their enthusiasm about the work they are doing to create a more sustainable Augsburg. In the future, we will continue to use the Internet to improve our communication with alumni and friends of Augsburg College. As we continue to expand Now online, we invite our readers to share ideas and feedback with us at now@augsburg.edu. 32 Augsburg Now FSC is an independent, non-governmental, nonprofit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Through its certification program, foresters, paper manufacturers and distributors, and printers all agree to abide by strict standards. These standards are designed to ensure social, economic, and ecological needs are met for current and future generations. This Chain of Custody ensures responsible handling of the paper product from forest to printed piece. The percentage of post-consumer content indicates that at least 10 percent of the paper in the magazine has been reclaimed from what would have otherwise ended up in a land fill. FSC Chain of Custody can trace a printed piece back through the production process to identify where the wood pulp came from. Find out where this magazine had its roots and how our corporate partners are committed to being green at www.augsburg.edu/now. Please recycle this magazine after you’re done reading. 10% PLEASE RECYCLE E R A s e i augMgENTALLY FRIENDLY ENVIRON We know many readers love to open their mailboxes to a new magazine, but we also know many are concerned about the use of our natural resources. Please let us know if you wish to read Augsburg Now online instead of receiving a copy by mail. E-mail now@augsburg.edu with the subject line “Read Now online.” Include your full name and current mailing address so we can identify and adjust your record. You’ll receive an e-mail message when the Now is posted online. auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … February 2009 Greetings, alumni and friends, d uring these interesting and turbulent times, I am certain that most of you are feeling the effects of this economic climate in your personal lives. As members of the Augsburg community, we are called to be fundamentally concerned about our neighbor, which means to be concerned and care about the household of all people. We are to work toward full inclusion of all of our neighbors assuring that everyone has access to the resources necessary for life, and that everyone is allowed to fully participate in the life of the community. This emphasis on community may come in direct conflict with our modern lives. We often live for ourselves and focus on our own family needs. But as members of a community, we are called to invest time and effort in responding to the needs of others. As a member of the Augsburg alumni community, we are reminded that we no longer live in a world of fixed boundaries. We need to maintain a sense of commitment to our neighbors around the globe. Keeping alumni who live in the city, state, and around the world engaged with the Augsburg community is important to the life of the College. The Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations has developed the following activities encouraging alumni engagement: • Project IGNITE (Involving Graduates Now In Thoughtful Engagement) is a new program to build stronger relationships with College alumni, many of whom are not currently connected to Augsburg. Read more about Project IGNITE on p. 34. • A corporate alumni plan will engage young professionals, midcareer professionals, and sole practitioners through networking events, continued education opportunities, and an alumni benefit that will help promote their businesses to other Augsburg graduates. Alumni will host receptions at their places of business for President Pribbenow to connect with alumni and update them about the College. • A program for recent graduates will focus on engaging alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years. An advisory board of recent grads will assist in planning events for their fellow alumni. • Outreach events will engage alumni who reside in the outer metro area and in Rochester; Duluth; Washington, D.C.; and Norway. Interesting events that infuse an Augsburg connection include a Lake Minnetonka eco-cruise tour led by an Augsburg faculty member, an alumni-directed theatre production in Anoka, and a “Down by the Riverside” event in Rochester. Being an Auggie is a gift and staying engaged is priceless. NOW@augsburg, a new monthly e-newsletter, has been initiated to update you on current happenings and events, continuing education opportunities, and Augsburg news. So, do your part by keeping connected and staying engaged with the Augsburg community. Sincerely, JOYCE P. MILLER ’02 (BSN-ROCHESTER), ’05 MAN ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Spring 2009 33 auggie alumni news Project IGNITE set to launch Many Augsburg graduates stay connected with the College through the years. They come to events or games on campus, they volunteer, and they donate to The Augsburg Fund. But there are others who just don’t stay connected. That's something the College—thanks to a nearly $230,000 grant from the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation— hopes to change over the next three years. Project IGNITE (which stands for Involving Graduates Now In Thoughtful Engagement) will work very directly and personally with alumni. Over the next year, Augsburg students will conduct face-toface visits with more than 500 alumni to ask them about their views on Augsburg and their interest in volunteer opportunities with the College. The hope is that more than 1,600 alumni will receive visits in the next three years, mostly those alumni living in and around the Twin Cities metropolitan area. “For a college, our alumni are a strategic advantage and if you don’t use that, you’re missing an opportunity,” President Paul C. Pribbenow said. “This gives us an opportunity to link current students and recent grads with alumni of all ages. Your current students and recent graduates are often your best spokespeople for what’s really happening.” Student representatives have been hired and trained by the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations, and visits to alumni are already underway. Alex Gonzalez ’90, a senior financial adviser for Thrivent Finan- (L to R) Denise Aasen, Manager of Lutheran Relationships for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; Alex Gonzales ’90, Senior Financial Advisor, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Augsburg regent; President Pribbenow; Megan Benrud ’10, Student Body President; and Kim Stone, Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations. cial for Lutherans and an Augsburg regent, said the grant is part of the mission for the not-for-profit organization. “Our goal is to help grow Lutheran communities and Lutheran institutions,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not just the money, these dollars will help grow engagement. It will help get alumni engaged into giving to the school.” The grant is part of the foundation’s Lutheran Grant Program, designed to help Lutheran institutions and organizations take advantage of unique growth and service opportunities. It also supports the interests and needs of the Lutheran community. In 2007, the program distributed approximately $5 million through 100 separate grants. Project IGNITE is designed to become a model program for alumni programs in other ELCA colleges. For additional information, contact Kim Stone in the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1173 or stonek@augsburg.edu. Discover Italy with fellow Auggies “WAS IT IN SHORT, EVER TO BE ELSEWHERE WHEN ONE COULD BE IN ITALY” —EDITH WHARTON You are invited to join the fellowship of other Augsburg alumni and friends on a journey of discovery to Italy in early November. Travel among the medieval hill towns of Tuscany, discovering history along with the beauty of the surrounding vineyards and olive groves. In Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, learn and understand how art pulled Europe out of the Dark Ages. In Umbria, where art is prayer, visit the town of Assisi that stands out for its inspiration and reflection. Find an education in history and a tapestry of art, architecture, and culture woven over thousands of years in the Eternal City of Rome, one of the founding cities of Western civilization and a significant place in the story of Christianity. All along the way enjoy the delights of the Italian people and cuisine. The details of this custom-created travel experience are being finalized. Contact the Office of Alumni and Constituent Relations at 612-330-1085 or alumni@augsburg.edu to learn more about this unique travel opportunity. 34 Augsburg Now Called to Lead Professionals Moving from Success to Significance Augsburg College admits a diverse group of established alumni and friends each year for the Called to Lead program. Six weekly seminars give you an opportunity to examine your life and work. The seminar is co-sponsored by the Center for Faith and Learning, and the Center for Leadership Studies at Augsburg. Called to Lead is designed to expand the skills and knowledge of individuals who have demonstrated leadership within their profession and the community. Through collaborative and interactive experiences, participants engage with each other and their facilitators as they explore their own call to lead. Augsburg College accepts applications and nominations for the Called to Lead program from a diverse group of alumni and friends, including business leaders, professionals and academics, directors and staff of community service organizations and civic associations, managers from government agencies and community activists. For more information contact Norma Noonan in the Center for Leadership Studies, at 612-330-1198 or noonan@augsburg.edu. @ w o n AUGSBURG More ways to keep in touch Do you receive NOW@augsburg? It’s the new Alumni and Constituent Relations e-newsletter that goes out the first week of each month to alumni and parents. Get quick updates on College and alumni news, and check the calendar for alumni events during the month. To receive NOW@augsburg, e-mail alumni@augsburg.edu. Thrivent rewards your volunteer time Your volunteer hours for Augsburg can count even more through the GivingPlus program at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Thrivent will give Augsburg $25 for your volunteered hours for Augsburg (25 or more per year) working on projects or activities, or participating on committees, boards, and task groups. Report your volunteer hours on the Thrivent matching form and make your time even more valuable. To find out about volunteer opportunities, e-mail volunteer@augsburg.edu. Have you “friended” Auggie Eagle on Facebook? Go to his profile and check out what Auggie is up to. Join your classmates to celebrate! 50th Reunion —1959 40th Reunion—1968, 1969, 1970 25th Reunion—1983, 1984, 1985 10th Reunion—1998, 1999, 2000 Recent Grad Reunion —2004-2009 Homecoming football game vs. Hamline University ’09 E T A D E H 4 SAVE T October 1- lege l o C g r u b s Aug 9 0 0 2 g n i Homecom ing u/homecom d .e g r u b s g www.au Spring 2009 35 alumni class notes 52Pines, Minn., was selected for Rev. Arvid “Bud” Dixon, Circle a 2008 Honorary Award of the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice, given for long and significant contribution to the causes of peace and social justice. 68professor of biology and direc- Ted Johnson, Northfield, Minn., tor of biomedical studies at St. Olaf College, gave an address, “Students, New Science Building, and the Liberal Arts,” at St. Olaf’s Opening Convocation, on Sept. 4. 69 Rev. Peter Strommen, Shakopee, Minn., accepted a call to Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake, Minn., that began on Sept. 1. He has just completed a long tenure as the bishop of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. tary children and conversational English with adults at the Bible School. Larry Turner and Robert Storeygard ’76, along with David Tiede, Bernhard Christensen Professor of Religion and Vocation, attended the 10th anniversary of the Bible School (Center for Christian Education) in Martin, Slovakia, a Lutheran school that educates adult students for serving in congregations and communities. The “Decade of Miracles” celebration, July 4-6, included performances from the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church choir, Mahtomedi, Minn., who also performed elsewhere in Slovakia. Participants from 18 U.S. congregations taught Vacation Bible School with 330 elemen- Peter Agre, Baltimore, Md., was awarded the Annual Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Lung Research on Dec. 11 at the annual meeting for the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation (WRMPPF), for his groundbreaking work in aquaporins and potential benefits to lung research. He is director of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute in the Bloomberg School of Public Health. 70 77Wash., began as director of Rev. Arne Bergland, Puyallup, church relations for California Lutheran University in September, acting as a liaison between the university and the church community. Rod Skoe, Clearbrook, Minn., was honored in November as a recipient of a 2008 Torch and Shield, the highest award presented by the University of Minnesota-Crookston. He represents District 2, northwestern Minnesota, in the Minnesota Senate and has been involved in farming in Clearbrook, Minn., since 1985. 78Lake, Minn., has been named Steven Hoffmeyer, White Bear commissioner of the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. He served as deputy commissioner and has been with the bureau since 2002. In October, Augsburg religion professor Phil Quanbeck II and his wife, Augsburg regent Ruth Johnson ’74, led “An Aegean Odyssey to Turkey and Greece,” with a group of 23, including seven other Auggies. For 10 days, they traveled and studied the world of the Apostle Paul, Byzantium, and modern-day Greece and Turkey. (Back row, men, L to R): Jerry Kleven ’57, Art Rimmereid ’53, Paul Anderson, Jim Weninger ’92 MAL, Phil Quanbeck, Mike Bailey, Tom Stertz, Kirk Gill, Jim Martenson, David Larson, Larry Turner. (Middle row, women, L to R): Sylvia Hanson ’50, Char Rimmereid ’52, Karen Freeman, Liz Weninger ’92, Julie Larson, Carmen Clementson, Cindy Martenson, Nancy Anderson, Sally Tonsager. (Front row, women, L to R): Jennie Wilson, Ruth Johnson ’74, Kathy Bailey, Lynn Stertz, Sue Turner, Alice Peterson, Denise Shuck ’09. To read about their tour and see photos from their travels, go to www.augsburg.edu/now. 36 Augsburg Now 79Ill., serves as the practice Brian Carlsen, Buffalo Grove, 87 77 Neil Paulson ran in the Orlando (Fla.) Utilities Commission race in December. His photo appeared on the cover of Runner magazine because he runs without a shirt in all weather there, which is always tropical compared to Minnesota. Scott L. Anderson and his wife, Susan, Minneapolis, welcomed the birth of John Scott on Jan. 30, 2007. Scott is an insurance and financial service agent for Farmers Financial Solutions LLC. ScottLAnderson38@msn.com leader of organizational learning at St. Aubin, Haggerty & Associates, a strategic HR consulting firm. He recently co-authored a book on business and workforce leadership, Attract, Engage & Retain Top Talent, from Author House books. Leslie (Morland) and Jonathan Carlson moved from Bozeman, Mont., back to St. Paul where Leslie has taken a nurse practitioner job at HealthEast Clinics. 80St. Paul, Minn., has been apJulie (Petterson) Leslie, West pointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty as a parent member to a three-year term on the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care. She is a licensed educator and the director of Augustana Preschool. 82began teaching 11th- and Karl Spring joined Fox 21 in Duluth, Minn., in September as chief meteorologist and travels to schools throughout northern Minnesota to teach students about meteorology. Previously, he was chief meteorologist at KBJR-TV in Duluth. 94Sarya, Charlevoix, Mich., reGwendolyn (Christiansen) ceived her Master of Arts degree in music education in December from the University of St. Thomas, with a concentration in Orff-Schulwerk. She and her husband, Dave, have a fiveyear-old son, Luke. She teaches K-4 music and movement and fifth-grade band at Concord Academy in Boyne, Mich. gwensarya@yahoo.com Sara Trumm, Chicago, began in October as program coordinator for the Center for Christian-Muslim Relations for Peace and Justice at the Lutheran School of Theology. She had just spent two years in India. Rick Bennett, Morgan, Minn., 91tag were married in Hoversten Kristen (Hirsch) and Paul Mon- 89 Sue Hakes began a two-year term as mayor of Grand Marais, Minn., to which she was elected in November. Chapel on Oct. 18, with Auggies in attendance: Velda (Stohr) Gabrielson ’90, Betty Christiansen ’91, Laura (Ferry) Lee ’92, Brenda Lunde Gilsrud ’91, Liz Pushing ’93, Jennifer Tome ’99, and Aaron Pelaccia ’07. Kristen is a marketing communication manager at Goodwill/Easter Seals Minnesota, and Paul is in sales and marketing. They live in St. Paul. 92 Sharol (Dascher) Tyra, received a Star Award 2008 from the Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (MOLN) in recognition of her commitment to volunteering and dedication to influencing health care by advancing professional nursing leadership, particularly with the Metro Alliance Education and Service Collaborative for Expanded Enrollment of Baccalaureate Nurses. 12th-grade students in chemistry and human anatomy in Cannon Falls, Minn. Wendy (Shields) and Bradley Falls, Minn., with big brother, Jackson, announce the birth of Lachlan Bradley, on March 9, 2008. Brad is a physician assistant at SMDC Health System-International Falls, and Wendy is a stay-at-home mom. wreiners@frontiernet.net Rachel Brist is a physician as- of Bigfork Valley Hospital clinics in Coleraine and Marcell, Minn. 84in Tromsø, Norway. Tove was 02artistic director for SOS Play- named a Knight of the First Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, by King Harald V, for the advancement of Norwegian language and culture in the United States. She is a peace studies educator at the University of Tromsø and has served for 26 years as dean of Skogfjorden, Concordia College Norwegian Language Village. Curt began on Jan. 1 as vice president for research and development at the University of Tromsø—the world’s northernmost university vice president. This is a new position resulting from the merger of the University of Tromsø and Tromsø College. ers, two troupes of pre-teen actors who perform for elementary and middle-school audiences, helping them cope with life. He often writes scripts based on requests from educators to deal with particular topics. 86Minn., joined UCare health Heather Schwartz joined the consumer marketing practice of Weber Shandwick in Minneapolis-St. Paul as an account supervisor. Previously she had been a brand public relations director. Tove Dahl and Curtis Rice live Frank Gilbertson, Maplewood, 98Reiners ’99, International 01sistant and has joined the staff plan in November as provider network management director. Previously, he spent 11 years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, most recently as senior director, provider relations planning. Andrew Bernstrom, St. Paul, is Katie Lindelfelser’s research as a master’s degree student at the University of Melbourne (Australia) was published in a co-authored article, “Bereaved Parents' Experiences of Music Therapy with Their Terminally Ill Child,” in the Journal of Music Therapy, fall 2008. She is teaching a music therapy course at Augsburg this spring semester. Spring 2009 37 alumni class notes Rev. Rachel (Oldfather) Stout, Wadena, Minn., was installed as associate pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in September in Wadena. Her husband, Ryan, is the new pastor at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New York Mills. They have a son, Soren. 04 Amanda Engesether is working with the current city planning director in Kinston, N.C., and will take over that position in July when he retires. Previous to this, she worked as a planner in Johnston and Onslow Counties in North Carolina and completed an internship at the Urban Design Center in Raleigh, N.C. Chris Stewart, Lakeville, Minn., became vice president of operations for BOR-SON Construction in Minneapolis. He will manage all general construction operations for the company. Previously he was head of Target’s national field operations team. 05 Andrea (Carlson) and Riley Conway are living in Hershey, Pa. Andrea is a third-year medical student at Penn State, and Riley works at Border Books and is a student in the distance master’s degree program at Hamline University. They were married in 2005. 06Marrandino were married on Maureen Parker and Martin Oct. 25. Maureen is a board certified music therapist at KSB Hospital in Dixon, Ill., where Martin is also employed. He also is a student at Sauk Valley Community College. Kasey Yoder, Duluth, Minn., is coowner of Two Guys Pizza in Duluth, and working 80-hour weeks, doing everything from menu planning to becoming a master of the pizza oven. 00Burnsville, Minn., and her Missy (Carlson) Bakeberg, husband, Randy, welcomed the birth of their twins, Cooper Joshua and Ava Morgan on Oct. 11. Cooper weighed 7 lbs., 5 oz., and Ava weighed 5 lbs., 13 oz. 00 Denitza (Batanova) Stevens, Chandler, Ariz., and her husband, Joel, welcomed their son, Roman David, on April 26 in Scottsdale, Ariz. 08Sept. 2008-Feb. 2009 in Jenni Olson volunteered from Iringa, Tanzania, teaching communications at Iringa College/Tumaini University. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Anita Raymond ’94 MSW is a 2008 recipient of the fourth annual Shelley Joseph-Kordell Award from Volunteers of America-Minnesota for service to older adults. She is a social worker for Volunteers of America-Minnesota’s Protective Services and Geriatric Care Management and Consultation Services. 05Robertson were married on Britni Morgan and Jeremy 05Stephen Belde were married Melynda Kleewein and on Aug. 1 in Anchorage, Alaska. Melynda works at New York Life in Anchorage and coaches hockey for the Alaska Firebirds. Stephen is a teacher with the Anchorage school district and also coaches hockey for the Alaska Firebirds and the South High School boys’ hockey team. Oct. 4 in Crystal, Minn. Auggies in the wedding party included Kyle Howard ’04, Jillian Janicki ’04, Jim Lindell ’04, Nick Collins ’04, and Tom Delisle ’06. In March they are moving to Brainerd, Minn., to start a lawn/cabin care company, Bear Paw Cabin Care. 95his second book published, Jeff Falkingham MAL, has had Sherlock Holmes: in Search of the Source, a work of historical fiction set in St. Paul in December 1896. A sequel to an earlier work, Sherlock Holmes and the County Courthouse Caper, it’s set in Jeff's hometown of Browns Valley, Minn., in November 1886. Originally released in June 2007 as a fundraiser for victims of the March 2007 flood in Browns Valley, it has raised over $6,500 for flood relief. Excerpts from both books can be found at www.cccaper.com. Falkingham now lives in Eden Prairie, Minn., and works in advertising for Northern Tool + Equipment of Burnsville. 38 Augsburg Now 08UST Tommie, Tony Nagorski, Jen Janda married her favorite 07Henning on Oct. 4 in Red- Megan Schiller married Brent wood Falls, Minn. Auggies in the wedding party included Marrissa Henry-Mashuga, Maria Belen Power ’07, and Miesha Martin-Freeman ’08. Megan is an administrative assistant in the Automated Clearing House (ACH) Operations at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis, and Brent is an inside sales representative for Braas Company in Eden Prairie. They live in Waverly, Minn. on Aug. 2 in Eagan, Minn. An Auggie, Megan Carlson ’08, was in the wedding party. Jen works in the Marketing and Communication Office at Augsburg and Tony attends the St. Thomas School of Law. They live in downtown Minneapolis. augsburg then Send us your news and photos Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or e-mail to alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news to the Augsburg Online Community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. ____________________________________________________________ Full name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name ____________________________________________________________ Class year or last year attended ____________________________________________________________ Street address ____________________________________________________________ City, State, Zip When today’s Old Main was conceived late in the 1870s, the College planned for many of the new utilities and comforts of the day—plumbing with running water and restrooms, steam heat, and built-in electric fixtures. This marked a shift from a campus that was ecologically independent (with a barn housing a horse, cow, and pig) to one that linked itself to the growing urban infrastructure for water, waste, and energy. Taken from “From Rural to Urban: The Environmental History of Augsburg College, 1872–2005,” written by the students in Environmental Connections and revised by Alex Hoselton ’08 and Alex Ubbelohde ’08. Is this a new address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Home telephone ____________________________________________________________ E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? q Yes q No ____________________________________________________________ Employer ____________________________________________________________ Position ____________________________________________________________ Work telephone In Memoriam Donald Murphy ’43, Mounds View, Minn., age 87, on Nov. 24. Dr. Nancy English ’73, Duluth, Minn., age 57, on Aug. 8. Robert W. Johnson ’49, Burnsville, Minn., age 82, on Aug. 17. Stacy Sellers ’01, Inman, Neb., age 31, on Jan. 2. Pearson, Wayne ’49, Wildomar, Calif., age 83, on Dec. 27. Kerry Affeldt ’05, Wykoff, Minn., age 45, on Sept. 21, of injuries from a motorcycle/auto accident. Rev. James E. Peterson ’50, Bloomington, Minn., age 79, on Sept. 26. Ronald Lund ’50, Wanamingo, Minn., age 82, on Aug. 21. Mary Ann Olsen ’53, Minneapolis, age 78, on Sept. 18. Beverly An (Gryth) Villwock ’52, Charlottesville, Va., age 78, on Nov. 29. Mavis (Strand) Hafstad ’54, Eagan, Minn., age 75, on Aug. 11. Ahmednur Ali ’10, Minneapolis, Minn., age 20, on Sept. 22. Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? q Yes q No If yes, class year ________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Spouse’s name ____________________________________________________________ Maiden name Your news: ____________________________________________________________ Kathleen (“Katie”) Wiltgen ’10, Winona, Minn., age 21, on Nov. 29, in an auto accident. ____________________________________________________________ Mathew Ackerman ’10, Dallas, Texas, age 23, on Dec. 7. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ q I know a high school student who is interested in attending Augsburg. Spring 2009 39 my Auggie experience Richmond Appleton ’09 Environmental Studies Richmond Appleton is passionate about giving back to his communities—the Twin Cities and his birthplace of Liberia. Early in his Augsburg career, he was a biology major and planned to attend medical school. However, when the environmental studies program began, Appleton knew this was the path he should take. He became the first student to formally declare the major. Appleton has overcome a great deal in his life. As a young boy, he contracted polio and was paralyzed on his left side. He often had no access to medical care, but his parents took him to native healers. “There were no social services or hospitals,” he says. “There was nothing to count on in emergencies.” Over time, he recovered the use of his arm and leg. When civil war broke out in Liberia in the early ’90s, his family fled to the Ivory Coast. Appleton’s mother was separated from them, and he also lost his father, brother, and sisters for four weeks because he couldn’t run fast enough to keep up with them. Eventually the family was forced to Ghana where they stayed in a refugee camp until they immigrated to the U.S. in 2004. A desire to make a difference influenced Appleton’s decision to join the environmental studies program where classes in ecology and biodiversity fuel his interests in social work and public service. Although he wants to help his country, he likely won’t return to live permanently. He says Liberia is rebuilding after years of violence and destruction, but that much remains to be done. “People are sick from the effects of a polluted environment.” While at Augsburg, Appleton has been active in the neighborhood. He chairs the Augsburg Student Activities Council diversity committee and serves as a residence life community adviser. In January, he traveled to Cuernavaca, Mexico, with students from the Scholastic Connections program to learn about sustainable agriculture practices in Mexico. Appleton plans to graduate in December and is researching graduate programs in environmental studies. “I am interested in public policy in urban areas, conflict management in war torn countries, community development, agriculture, sustainability, and bio-agriculture.” Appleton plans to study sustainable food production and how it can minimize the human impact on the environment. JENNIFER L. HIPPLE, WEEKEND COLLEGE STUDENT 40 Augsburg Now an augsburg legacy Mr. Augsburg still supporting students Jeroy and Ainy Carlson Kirsten Bar ’10 In 1958, when Minnesota celebrated its centennial, Jeroy Carlson ’48 was one of 1,958 state champions honored by the state. “Jack Dempsey was at the ceremony,” Carlson said, “and he told us, ‘The greatest asset America has is its youth.’ That’s still true.” Carlson and his wife Lorraine “Ainy” support Augsburg students through planned gifts because they believe what Dempsey said. Carlson, known to many as “Mr. Augsburg,” spent 44 years as a student-athlete, teacher, coach, and staff member with the College. “I tried to be of help to anyone I could,” he said. With a charitable gift annuity, the Carlsons fund a scholarship that supports students who are studying music or physical education and who demonstrate a commitment of service to others. This year’s recipient of Jeroy and Ainy Carlson’s scholarship is Kirsten Bar ’10, a music therapy major who has worked throughout her education with people with Hungtington’s disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s. “The students and faculty in the music department have a special place in our hearts for those who have contributed to scholarships,” said Bar. “For some students, these scholarships make a huge difference from year to year. We appreciate the financial support and very much enjoy seeing the donors at our performances.” After completing her studies, Bar hopes to return to her hometown of Billings, Mont., to start the city’s first music therapy practice. “Investing” with an Augsburg charitable gift annuity rather than with a bank gives the Carlsons a locked rate of return for their lifetimes, and they will be sure that the remainder will go to the scholarship after their death. 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 River Politics Students in Professor Joe Underhill’s Environmental and River Politics class travel through Lock 1 on the Mississippi River. During the class, students study current debates about the extent of environmental problems, and examine how those problems are manifested on campus and in our immediate surroundings. Exploring the issues from a canoe gives them different perspectives.
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Augsburg Now Fall 2008
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AUGSBURG NOW FALL 2008 VOL. 71, NO. 1 inside auggies 1 Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Nursing Years of Life-Changing at the grassroots level Travel that transforms Clever student + wise professor + Travel expert alum = awesome discovery Ready, action, page film20 suc...
Show more AUGSBURG NOW FALL 2008 VOL. 71, NO. 1 inside auggies 1 Augsburg Now The Magazine of Augsburg College 25Nursing Years of Life-Changing at the grassroots level Travel that transforms Clever student + wise professor + Travel expert alum = awesome discovery Ready, action, page film20 success! Street pastoring in Wales get political Editor notes from President Pribbenow Our neighbors o ne of the most compelling moments in the Christian scriptures is the question asked of Jesus by one of his disciples: “And who is my neighbor?” His answer, of course, is the parable of the Good Samaritan. For me, the disciple’s question is at the heart of the mission and vision of Augsburg College—a question that is at once theological, reflecting our understanding of what God intends for us to be and do, and also educational and practical, helping us to link our learning with service. So, let’s do some theology! Ask yourself— who is my neighbor? Is it the Somali woman I met this morning on Riverside Avenue struggling to carry her groceries home from the bus stop? Or is it the family in the ravines of Cuernavaca, Mexico, who will offer me both refreshments and life lessons when I meet them on a Center for Global Education trip? Or is it my classmate, who is struggling with balancing school with life at work and home, and who needs my time and comfort? Once the question is asked, we are compelled, as was Jesus himself, to answer with stories and parables—stories of how being educated at Augsburg prepares us to serve our neighbors no matter when or where we encounter them. In that way, the question leads us to think about the links between learning and service. A central aspect of an Augsburg education is to nurture and sustain the work of civic engagement—the practices of citizenship, negotiating our lives together, navigating what political philosopher and Roman Catholic theologian John Courtney Murray once called the “intersection of conspiracies,” his definition of democracy. Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Creative Director Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Editorial Wendi Wheeler wheelerw@augsburg.edu Creative Associate-Design Jen Nagorski nagorski@augsburg.edu Here at Augsburg, we believe we are called to serve our neighbor. I am so proud of our Augsburg community for its abiding commitment to civic engagement, to meeting the needs of our neighbors—there are abundant examples of ways in which students, staff, faculty, regents, parents, and alumni are modeling for all of us and the rest of the community what it means to be reflective, productive, and responsible citizens of our campus, our neighborhood, and our world. At the same time, I want to challenge all of us to think at an even deeper level about the work of civic engagement, to see it not simply as acts of service and compassion, but also as the abiding and messy business—the lifelong business—of being educated, of building communities of trust and accountability, and of helping to create a more just and humane world. The stories in this issue of Augsburg Now about the Center for Global Education (CGE) offer fine examples of how the Augsburg community has answered the question of “Who is my neighbor?” time and again in parts of the world where our neighbors are partners in the work of teaching and learning. We celebrate CGE’s remarkable legacy and promise in Augsburg’s continuing and common work to serve our neighbors. Yours, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni and Constituent Relations Kim Stone stonek@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published by Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, Minn., 55454 Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 a fall 2008 Features 14 Lights, camera, and action by Bethany Bierman A new film major has come of age and now attracts students from around the world. augsburg now 19 Get Political! by Wendi Wheeler ’06 Augsburg students got up front and backstage as interns for The Washington Center at the Republican National Convention. 24 Travel that transforms by Betsey Norgard contents Augsburg’s Center for Global Education reached the quarter decade mark last year and continues to transform the way students and participants view global issues and challenges. 29 Annual report to donors, 2007-08 Departments 2 4 6 13 45 56 Around the Quad It takes an Auggie Auggies on the Field Augsburg Voices Alumni News and Class Notes My Auggie Experience On the cover (L to R) Erik Franzen, Mai Lee, and Ben Krouse-Gagne—three of Augsburg’s interns for The Washington Center at the Republican National Convention—each found unexpected discoveries in the experience. Editor’s note: Welcome to Augsburg Now’s new look! If you visited us at the State Fair last summer or at our Web site lately, you’ve noticed more vibrancy and energy— with just a touch of edginess. We’re in the city and we’re all about learning by doing—whether it’s in the classroom, on the playing field, around the world, or on the floor of the Republican National Convention. Please let us know what you think, or what you’d like to see in the Now. Auggies are everywhere, and we want to connect with you. E-mail us at now@augsburg.edu or call 612-330-1181. — Betsey Norgard, editor All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. around the quad Regents elected and honored Five new members were elected to four-year terms on the Augsburg Board of Regents at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Corporation Governing Board in September. In addition, Anthony L. Genia Jr., MD ’85, was re-elected to a second fouryear term. Mark A. Eustis, president and CEO of Fairview Health Services. At the board’s fall meeting, outgoing regents were honored for their commitment, loyalty, and service. Those leaving the board after serving several years are Michael Freeman and Beverly (Halling) Oren ’55. Regents who retired after two six-year terms are Rev. Gary Benson ’70, Ron Nelson ’68, and former board chair Ted Grindal ’76. In addition, two ELCA bishops completed ex officio terms: Rev. Harold Usgaard, Southeastern Minnesota Synod, and Rev. Peter Rogness, Saint Paul Area Synod. Three retirees worked closely with students Darrell Wiese ’59 has always had a knack Alexander J. Gonzalez ’90, senior financial advisor at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Eric J. Jolly, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota Gloria C. Lewis, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities Marshall S. Stanton, MD, vice president for clinical research and general manager of the cardiac rhythm disease management business of Medtronic, Inc. Appointed to three-year terms on the board, ex officio, are Bishop Craig E. Johnson, Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA, and Bishop Duane C. Pederson, Northwest Synod of Wisconsin, ELCA. To read more, go to www.augsburg.edu/regents for finding “diamonds in the rough,” baseball and football players who may not have put up the big numbers in high school, but had the potential to shine. It’s estimated that Wiese, a 1959 Augsburg alumnus, helped to bring literally hundreds of students to Augsburg over the last several decades as a recruiter and assistant coach. For his lifetime of service to Auggie athletics, Wiese was honored with the Distinguished Athletic Service Award this fall. “I always had a genuine concern for youth and athletics, and something always kept drawing me back to Augsburg over the years,” Wiese said. “I would talk about Augsburg and say it was a great school with friendly people; they’ll give you a chance to succeed and get your degree.” After Wiese had been scouting for talent as a volunteer for more than 20 years while still owning and operating his family farm in rural Northfield, Minn., he spent more than a decade as an assistant coach for both the football and baseball teams. Several of his football recruits provided the backbone of the Auggies’ 1997 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title team, the school’s first since 1928. Many of his players were key members of the 2005 MIAC baseball playoff team. “One of the things that strikes me so much about Darrell is his ability to identify potential talent,” said former football coach Jack Osberg, now a football coach and A-Club advancement manager. … “When he recruits, he doesn’t just recruit the athlete, he recruits the family and gets great connections with the families and siblings of the athletes he recruits.” Wiese officially retired from coaching after the 2008 baseball season. A baseball team trophy has been named in his honor—the Darrell Wiese Most Respected Player Award. DON STONER 2 Augsburg Now Retiring faculty and staff, continued Karen Sutherland, professor of computer science, came to Augsburg in 1999 and retired at the end of the academic year in May. Often her students would find her in the small lab in Sverdrup surrounded by computer robots roaming the floor— AIBO dog robots used for their ease in teaching basic programming, and search and rescue robots designed to stay in communication with each other during emergency situations. They were all part of National Science Foundation grant research in which Sutherland collaborated. These projects were at the core of Sutherland’s passion for improving how computer science is taught to non-traditional students, including weekend students, immigrants, women, and first-generation college students. “These students didn’t relate well to computer science and how we were teaching it,” Sutherland said. With the grant funding she could do a better job of both attracting and retaining non-traditional students. The National Science Foundation CSEMS (Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship) program enabled her to offer scholarships to non-traditional students. She had upper-class students serve as peer mentors to CSEMS students, encouraging them toward career possibilities in computer science. “A number of our young people want to do something to make this world better,” Sutherland says. “They don’t see how computer science is going to help that. You have to show them ways it can, and they have to see how they could make a difference, a mark.” Via e-mail, she keeps in touch with many former students, some who have accepted jobs in industry directly after graduation and others going on to graduate programs. There is no shortage of plans for her retirement, which center around gardening and travel. Even her gardening will keep her near a computer, as she serves as the webmaster for the Garden Club of Ramsey County. At her lake home, she serves as a board member of the lake association, working to promote shoreline conservation and sustainability. Kenneth N. Erickson ’62, in his nearly 40-year tenure teaching physics, allowed students to see just how vast the world is and just what is possible. After one year at Augsburg in the 1960s, Erickson returned in 1970 and never left. For much of that time, he held a shared professorship between Augsburg and the University of Minnesota, cooperating with the University’s physics and astronomy faculty in grant-funded research. “As part of the shared appointment at the “U,” I was able to do a lot of research,” he said. In 1970, Erickson started an active undergrad research program at Augsburg. In 1991, he started the Minnesota Space Grant Consortium, part of a NASA-funded program that provides research and program development grants to students and faculty. “His satellite studies and rocket experiments in Alaska, often involving other scientists from around the globe, gave his students a window to a much wider and very exciting world,” said Mark Engebretsen, an Augsburg colleague. “He helped many of his students catch the excitement of trying to find out new things about our world.” The soft-spoken Erickson is reluctant to discuss his achievements, but colleagues and many former students appreciated Erickson’s teaching and mentoring. Stu Anderson ’78, a current member of Augsburg’s physics faculty and a former student, said, “He displayed the art of an excellent teacher—to invite students into the voyage of discovery, to develop an appetite and tolerance for mathematical complexity, and to give students like me the courage to be persistent.” Matt Broughton ’06, a physics and English major who was awarded a Fullbright grant called Erickson—who has a scholarship established in his name—“the best instructor he had in college.” Now Erickson is staying busy by growing corn and soybeans and raising cattle on his farm near Cambridge, Minn. “I haven’t done much physics lately,” he joked. WENDI WHEELER BETSEY NORGARD Fall 2008 3 it takes an Auggie New President’s Circle recognizes annual giving During Homecoming Week, President Pribbenow announced the creation of the President’s Circle, a new giving society that recognizes annual gifts of $1,000 or more, at several levels of support. By recognizing all current gifts, the President’s Circle shares the Augsburg story among greater numbers of alumni and donors and builds stronger connections with the College today. Within the President’s Circle, one of the top funding priorities of the College is the Augsburg Fund, which provides support across a range of critical needs of the College. Most important is the financial support made possible through the Augsburg Fund that helps the College fulfill its promise to a richly diverse student body. Financial support makes an Augsburg education possible for more than 85% of its students. The Augsburg Fund also provides needed support for current technology to improve teaching and learning, faculty recruitment and retention, facilities maintenance and renovation, and opportunities for community events and services. “There’s no other way to give to so many priorities—to touch the lives of so many students in so many different ways—than through the Augsburg Fund,” says Jeremy Wells, vice president for institutional advancement. “It’s giving that moves Augsburg forward just as it also honors its past.” The President’s Circle Challenge, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, will match all increases in gifts to the Augsburg Fund up to $1,000 for those who become charter members of the President’s Circle. President’s Circle members will receive a special pin and a new, members’ e-newsletter plus invitations to special events and other benefits offered for support at higher levels. Sven Oftedal Society honors Augsburg’s legacy Augsburg’s Heritage Society, which recognizes donors who have made a future gift commitment to the College, has a new name and identity—the Sven Oftedal Society, named for the second person appointed to Augsburg’s faculty, who became the College’s third president and chaired the Board of Regents for over three decades. During the 1870s, vast numThe recognition of donors who make future gifts to the College bers of immigrants flocked to has been named the Sven Oftedal western and northwestern MinSociety, in honor of Augsburg’s third president, who saved the Col- nesota. Augsburg’s move to Minlege from bankruptcy, ensuring an neapolis in 1872 placed it closer to Augsburg education for the center of Norwegian-American future generations. settlement, but by 1877, the College faced a financial crisis that threatened its very existence. Augsburg was heavily in debt; the region was in an economic depression. Sven Oftedal stepped forward to lead a heroic fundraising effort that saved Augsburg. Oftedal rallied and inspired farmers, merchants, businesses, and churches throughout the 4 Augsburg Now region to support Augsburg’s mission, an effort securing gifts from over 30,000 individuals. Augsburg was no longer a school of a select few—Augsburg truly became a school of the people. Exemplifying Augsburg’s commitment to civic involvement, Oftedal established a community newspaper, was elected to the Minneapolis Board of Education, appointed to the Minneapolis Library Board, and served as the president of Augsburg’s board for 36 years. His legacy of service is honored by Augsburg through the founding of the Oftedal Society to recognize the loyalty and vision of those who make a commitment of future support to the College. “By renaming the planned giving recognition society in honor of Sven Oftedal, we have a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the nature of Augsburg’s foundation—its roots,” noted Jeremy Wells, vice president for institutional advancement, “and to reaffirm that those ideals continue to be the core of the College and its mission. To learn more about the Sven Oftedal Society or making a gift of future support, contact the Office of Planned Giving at 1-800-273-0617 or via e-mail to development@augsburg.edu. Another million-dollar year! • The Augsburg Fund, the College’s annual fund, reached its goal of $1 million—for the third time and the first time outside of a campaign year—ending the fiscal year at $1,001,979. • Important to achieving this goal was the President’s Challenge of $100,000, which resulted in additional giving of nearly $69,000 in new or increased gifts, triggering a total of $158,000 in challenge gifts. This was made possible by Don ’53 and Bev (Halling) Oren ’55 and anonymous donors. • During this last fiscal year, a 100% participation rate was reached with gifts to the annual fund from all members of the Augsburg Board of Regents, the Alumni Board of Directors, and the President’s Cabinet. It’s Augsburg Calling … Mai Yer Vang ’11 Mai Yer Vang was born in Thailand and moved with her family to the U.S. in 1994. When she was in high school, Vang was introduced to Augsburg on a tour with the Upward Bound program. “We had a really good tour guide who showed us everything on campus,” she said. Vang liked Augsburg’s small campus atmosphere and was intrigued by a presentation given by Richard Webb, a counselor for Augsburg’s TRiO program, a U.S. Department of Education program that helps first-generation college students overcome class, social, and cultural barriers to completing their education. “My family is on welfare,” Vang said, “but Richard talked about financial aid and told us that we could go to Augsburg if we wanted to. He helped us understand that a college education was possible.” In fact, Vang became the first in her family of eight children to attend college. She came to Augsburg in the summer, before many of her classmates, for TRiO’s Summer Bridge program, a five-week residential program that introduces students to the college experience with classes, academic support seminars, workshops, and social activities. As a TRiO scholar, Vang must not only maintain a 3.0 GPA each term, she also meets regularly with her TRiO counselor to discuss her academic progress and financial issues. TRiO students complete all of their financial aid application paperwork on their own, an often-daunting procedure many of her peers delegate to parents. Vang is grateful for this experience because she is now helping one of her older sisters complete college and financial aid applications. For two years, Vang has worked as a caller for the Augsburg Fund in Augsburg’s Office of Institutional Advancement. Through her conversations with alumni, Vang has received career advice and has learned more about Augsburg traditions and history. “I learned that Homecoming used to be huge here,” she said, “and there were a lot more dances and royalty and parades during the year than we have now.” To date, Vang and the student caller team have helped raise more than $114,000 for the Augsburg Fund. To learn more about the Augsburg Fund and other ways to support students like Mai Yer Vang, go to www.augsburg.edu/giving. WENDI WHEELER ‘06 Mai Yer Vang ’11 is one of the student callers of Phonathon and enjoys learning about Augsburg in past years from the alumni she calls. Fall 2008 5 Auggies on the field Jordan Berg: Football, physics, and far more Division III athletics is more than simply the games. It’s just as much about academics, family friends, and hobbies. Augsburg senior quarterback Jordan Berg understands the importance of balancing. On the field, the Gaylord, Minn., native is already the most accomplished passer in Augsburg history, owning single-season and career records for passing touchdowns, completions, and yardage. Despite starting his college career at Division II MinnesotaDuluth, Berg is on pace to break the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference career passing record of 7,290 yards. But Berg is more than just a quarterback. He’s also a physics major with a 3.8 GPA. In his time at Augsburg, Berg has taken classes ranging from chemistry to American Sign Language, and Christian Vocation and the Search for Meaning. “One of the reasons that Jordan is so successful is his preparedness,” says offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Drew Privette. “He is prepared on the field, in the classroom, and in his social life. If we have a quarterback’s meeting and Jordan also has a big test in one of his classes, he’ll find a way to reschedule the meeting, so he can take care of his first priority, his academics.” Berg, a self-described “motor head,” has a variety of other interests. He restored his own Harley-Davidson motorcycle, complete with a custom paint job. He designed t-shirts for the football team. And Berg designed two tattoos for himself and a few others for his teammates. “Jordan is a unique blend of character, artist, and student-athlete. He is gifted in each of those areas and it is a joy to work with such a colorful and outstanding individual,” said football head coach Frank Haege. KELLY ANDERSON DIERCKS 6 Augsburg Now For the full story, go to www.augsburg.edu/now homecoming ’08 2008 Alumni Awards DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI LaRhae (Grindal) Knatterud ’70, specialist on aging, Minnesota Department of Human Resources Dennis Kalpin ’61, retired mathematics teacher and coach, Alexandria, Minn. FIRST DECADE AWARDS Zach Curtis ’98, actor, artistic director, and theatre manager Jeffery Cameron ’96, intellectual property attorney, E.J. Brooks and Associates, PLLC Save the date for Homecoming 2009—September 28-October 3 For more about Homecoming and the alumni awards, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2008 7 Grassroots health care the CENTER CLINIC Augsburg nursing student Eileen Johnson confronts poverty and patient needs at the small, volunteer-run Center Clinic in Dodge Center, Minnesota. arty Alemán has a passion for public health. She is one of Augsburg’s Rochester Campus nursing faculty, and she believes that “greater community and social awareness make a better citizen and a better nurse, no matter where they work.” Thus, it seemed fitting that she, along with the Augsburg nursing program, was chosen by the Center Clinic in Dodge Center, Minnesota, a small, rural, volunteer-staffed clinic, to receive their Social Awareness award at their annual appreciation event. From her office at Olmsted County Public Health, Alemán coordinates a number of the county’s public health nursing positions. As the Community Health II nursing instructor at the Augsburg Rochester Campus, she integrates her knowledge of public health and connections to community health agencies with the course content to be a catalyst for transformation in the lives of most of the Rochester Bachelor of Science in nursing M 8 Augsburg Now (BSN) students. She loves it. She loves introducing her students to a side of health care that few of them have ever seen. Community Health II is Augsburg’s only BSN course with significant clinical hours outside of the classroom; all 48 hours must be spent in community health settings. Alemán notes that about 90% of Rochester BSN students are hospital nurses. “Some students have only worked in surgery where they see a very limited view of patient care. Community health nursing is not such a controlled environment,” she says. It stretches and challenges the students. Alemán helps students to navigate the challenges of a different healthcare culture and to connect the dots of relevance between their work in a large hospital to social justice in the community. To that end, she raises questions within the context of diversity about the uninsured, about poverty and patient needs upon dismissal from the hospital, and about the community resources to meet those needs. She also encourages students to consider health issues in public schools such as drug and alcohol abuse, sexual activity, bullying, and obesity. Clinical hours bring the questions of the classroom into the realm of experiential knowledge. Students integrate these experiences, comparing them to their currently held beliefs, and seeing things first hand rather than in text. They return to class and talk about the experiences and how their current belief systems are being challenged. For their clinical hours, students may choose from a number of cultural immersion options or community health settings in Olmsted County or in the county where they reside. Alemán is fluent in Spanish, having spent four years early in her nursing career living and working in Ecuador, and has coordinated and led immersion trips and home stays for students in Nicaragua and Guatemala. It’s obvious that Alemán has a special place in her heart for arranging student placements in county community health settings. She encourages them to divide their time among a variety of agencies and clinics. Her students can be found at the Good Samaritan Medical Clinic, Migrant Health Clinic, Christ United Methodist Church Health Fair, the county jail, and working with church parish nurses. The Center Clinic, directed by Jan Lueth, who is also a public health colleague of Alemán, is a favorite placement for Alemán and her students. Lueth welcomes the students and describes the clinic as “a small non-profit agency staffed by volunteer nurses, nurse practitioners, and Mayo doctors and residents that provides family planning and limited healthcare services to the uninsured and underinsured, many of whom are Latino.” Some of the BSN students have chosen to continue volunteering at the clinic. One student returned for six months as a paid staff member. Since the clinic relies heavily on volunteer hours to stretch their limited revenue, Lueth says their services are invaluable. “Social awareness is an important part of our mission at the Center Clinic,” says Lueth. “We believe that awareness is the first step toward social change.” Part of the clinic’s motivation for giving Alemán and the nursing program the Social Awareness award was that “always their questions and comments challenge us to clarify what we believe and strengthen our determination to continue our mission,” Lueth says. When asked about Alemán’s passion for social awareness, Lueth says, “only a professional like Marty, who truly empathizes and appreciates the complicated world in which our clients reside, and the positive effect that nursing students could experience by exposure to this, would have considered the Center Clinic as a possible clinical site for her students.” She continues, saying the clinic is “a world where, like a messy closet, you can make the conscious choice to close the door, so you don’t have to look at it. But, you still know the mess is there. … Marty puts her foot in the door, so you have to look, have to experience the ‘mess’ at least for a moment.” LIBBY HENSLIN ’06 OPERATIONS AND ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR, ROCHESTER CAMPUS “Social awareness is an important part of our mission at the Center Clinic. Pictured, right: In her community health nursing course, Augsburg student Eileen Johnson (left) is learning from Center Clinic staff person Ramona González (center) about difficulties faced by clinic patients, many of whom are Latinos. We believe that awareness is the first step toward social change.” Fall 2008 9 awesome DISCOVERY clever student + wise professor+ experienced alum = BY WENDI WHEELER AND BETSEY NORGARD Brian Krohn (second from right) poses with the scientists who named the process (“Mcgyan”—from their own names) that they hope will revolutionize the biofuel industry: (L to R) Chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, SarTec vice president Clayton McNeff ’91, Krohn, and SarTec chief scientist Ben Yan. A student’s passion for research Brian Krohn originally came to Augsburg to study film, but after only one semester without any science classes, this lifelong scientist felt “so deprived” that he officially changed his major to chemistry. Even so, he was unsure where the degree would lead him. “I thought with a degree in chemistry, I could only be a teacher or a pharmacist,” he said. Then in the summer of 2006, Krohn received a grant from Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) program. It was support to conduct research, one of his passions. He and his adviser, chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, were both interested in biodiesel, so Krohn set out to find a more efficient way to produce the fuel. Krohn describes the research process as difficult but exciting. “You have to really dig into the whole process and read all the literature to join into the conversation about your topic before you can figure out what you can contribute,” he said. Whereas most undergraduate researchers “do what they are told, like calibrate a machine all day,” according to Krohn, he had more freedom to explore and experiment. Eventually his work led to the discovery of a process that converts animal feedstock to biodiesel. Gyberg advised Krohn to contact alumnus Clayton McNeff ’91, a chemist and vice president of SarTec, a company specializing in yucca-based products and CEO of ZirChrom Separations, a chromatography company. McNeff, his chief scientist at SarTec Ben Yan, and Gyberg took Krohn’s idea and created the “Mcgyan” Process (from their three names), an efficient and environmentally friendly method that will allow McNeff’s new start-up company, Ever Cat Fuels, to produce more than three million gallons of fuel per year at a first-of-its-kind biodiesel plant in Isanti, Minn. Krohn says it was his research and connections through Augsburg, not the discovery itself, that opened doors for him. In fact, he said this opportunity might never have been available if not for McNeff’s ties to the College. “It’s almost unheard of that the vice president of research would sit down with an undergraduate student and his old professor,” he said. clever student 10 Augsburg Now wise professor A professor’s connections to industry It’s an event, says chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg, that probably wouldn’t have happened anywhere else in the world. He’s referring to senior Brian Krohn’s research, his relationship with Clayton McNeff ’91, and the partnership that ultimately yielded the invention of the Mcgyan Process. Gyberg, who is beginning his 42nd year teaching at Augsburg, has supervised many student research projects over the years beginning with Richard Olmsted ’69, the husband of current Augsburg chemistry professor Sandra Olmsted ’69, in the summer following their junior year. Krohn began his research by poring over hundreds of abstracts of research on biodiesel. Eventually he found two examples of projects that had been somewhat successful, which had suggested that solid-state strong acids might be effective catalysts for conversion of plant oils to biodiesel. Gyberg knew that this material was used as a bonded solid stationary phase in chromatography, so they attempted a conversion using a batch process that had been used since World War II. Gyberg summed up the results: “It didn’t work.” Then Gyberg recalled a seminar given four years earlier by McNeff on zirconia-based stationary phases used for liquid chromatography and the ease with which it could be bonded with various substances. Gyberg contacted McNeff, and Krohn and Gyberg went to present their research to McNeff at SarTec Corporation. They asked for some bonded strong acid zirconia and again tried a batch process experiment with no success. “Here is where the confluence of events occurred that would not likely have happened anywhere else,” said Gyberg. McNeff’s ZirChrom Corporation is a world leader on zirconia and its properties. McNeff and fellow scientist Ben Yan had been working on oven-heated zirconia-based high temperature liquid chromatography. It occurred to McNeff that pressurized, heated, continuous column catalysis using solid-state acidified zirconia might work—and it did, the very first time. The Mcgyan Process was born. “It would appear that this is only the beginning,” Gyberg said. Research continues, with SarTec and Augsburg investigating algae growth as a feedstock source for biodiesel as well as other reactions that are possible for new types of biofuels that have not been possible to synthesize before. Gyberg is also working on a project with a University of St. Thomas engineering professor who believes that in three years all biodiesel will be made using the Mcgyan Process. They are developing a “pickup bed biodiesel plant” that the individual farmer could use to make his own biodiesel fuel. This would also benefit Third World countries where jatropha, a weedy bush that grows on noncropland and needs only about eight inches of rain or so a year, is readily available. Jatropha can produce about five times more plant oil a year for biodiesel than soybeans, and the Mcgyan reactor is the only one that can completely convert the oil efficiently and cleanly to biodiesel with virtually no waste and no pollutants. Rather than spend his summers on the golf course or on the lake, Gyberg supervises research because, he says, “It keeps things interesting and exciting, keeps one up with current science, and keeps the mind sharp.” He adds, “One of the great pleasures over the years is using my background and experience to work with students, some of whom are smarter than I am.” Gyberg says students are fortunate to be able to do research at Augsburg, since faculty there can spend more time working with students than at large research institutions. Above, left: Senior Brian Krohn and chemistry professor Arlin Gyberg explain the Mcgyan Process, a new, improved method of making biodiesel, at a press conference in March. Fall 2008 11 awe som e SarTec vice president Clayton McNeff ’91, whose team discovered the Mcgyan Process, shares the discovery with alumni and friends during Homecoming in September. “It can be cost effective and environmentally friendly— experienced alum and it’s portable.” A chemist on the cutting edge In March 2008 at a press conference at Augsburg College, Clayton McNeff became somewhat of a media sensation in the biodiesel world. He is vice president of SarTec Corporation, and together with his chief scientist Ben Yan, his former professor Arlin Gyberg, and Augsburg student Brian Krohn, McNeff announced a discovery they said would revolutionize biodiesel production and lessen or eliminate the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. This was the first public announcement of the Mcgyan Process and the biodiesel fuel it can produce more efficiently, less costly, and without harmful byproducts than existing processes. He went on to announce that the group was already successfully producing 50,000 gallons per year at a pilot plant, and even powering the plant with it. Through a new company, Ever Cat Fuels, a new large-scale production plant is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2009 that will yield three million gallons per year, using non-food grade corn oil from ethanol plants and free fatty acid waste products from the current conventional biodiesel industry. In July the Star Tribune described the Mcgyan production process as immensely appealing to countries and companies around the world because “it can be cost effective and environmentally friendly—and it’s portable.” The goal is for farmers to be able to produce the biodiesel they need to run their farms completely on site. More than 35 countries have contacted SarTec inquiring about the technology. Algae is a large part of McNeff’s vision. He refers to it as the “holy grail” of biodiesel production because it can be grown utilizing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from 12 Augsburg Now bioethanol and coal-burning power plants, and it can potentially yield enough oil for biodiesel to replace all U.S. petroleum needs without competing for food crops or cropland. SarTec, in partnership with Augsburg and Triangle Energy, is pursuing this research with grants from Great River Energy and Xcel Energy. McNeff is a 1991 Augsburg chemistry graduate, who pursued his PhD in analytical chemistry at the University of Minnesota. He joined SarTec, the company founded by his parents where he first worked as a high school student, fostering his love for science. In 1995, as he became known for his expertise with zirconia, McNeff co-founded ZirChrom Separations, Inc., along with Steven Rupp and University of Minnesota professor Peter W. Carr. Carr has won numerous awards in the field of analytical chemistry and has been announced as the recipient of the 2009 American Chemical Society Award in Analytical Chemistry. In 2002 McNeff was awarded the Tibbetts Award from the Small Business Adminstration’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. This award was given in recognition of McNeff’s achievement in innovation, research, and business that contributed to the commercial success of ZirChrom Separations. McNeff considers the success of the experimentation leading to the Mcgyan Process as “serendipity,” but it’s a success that can extend far beyond their projected goal of three million gallons per year and be licensed worldwide to companies seeking more efficient and sustainable fuels. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/chemistry DIS COV ERY V Courtesy Glendine Soiseth auggie voices Street pastors bring care and hope to the streets Glendine Soiseth graduated from Augsburg and Luther Seminary in 2004 with a dual degree—Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Theology. She was ready for the challenge of an international experience and is the supervisor of therapy services for a fostering agency in Flintshire, Wales. She lives in nearby Chester, England. In 2006 Soiseth heard about the three-year-old Street Pastors program and trained as a street pastor leader in Wrexham, Wales. She led her team on patrol once or twice a month, from around 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Recently, with her move to Chester, she also serves as a Chester lead street pastor and will alternate patrols and voluntary time between the two locations. In September she wrote about street pastor work for a community ministry blog in Chester. With permission, we’ve reprinted excerpts from it. Call Historically, I have consistently been involved in faith, community, and political organizations, either working with people, programmes, or the community in developing a voice and making a difference. When the St. Margaret’s vicar in Wrexham started talking about Street Pastors during a service, I immediately experienced a ‘call.’ Not a lightning bolt, but it was made very clear that this (street pastoring) was something I needed to do. I realized I was being asked to take a leap of faith despite not knowing how the new initiative would take me. After training and graduation, I was out on the streets in my street pastor uniform talking and explaining to people, door staff, vendors, police, and emergency personnel what a street pastor is and does. Community When I mentioned to people at the time that I lived in Wrexham, the response was universal, ‘nothing good comes out of Wrexham … .’ I knew it would take more than a marketer or one person to make a difference. It would take the ‘Urban Trinity’—police, civic partners, and church—coming together in agreement on community initiatives and protocols, as a means for it to work. Glendine Soiseth ’04 MSW/MA Theology dual degree graduate (left), is a social worker in North Wales and volunteers as a street pastor in an interdenominational church/community initiative with Rev. Trevor Beckett (right). Street pastors are now recognized, respected, and welcomed in the community by pub/club goers, police, emergency personnel, door staff, street vendors, CCTV, and visitors. They have witnessed and experienced our commitment, tenacity, unconditional positive regard, and passion for what we do. We’ve been accepted as part of their community for not only sticking it out when it is raining, cold, and miserable, but, more importantly, for listening, being authentic, and providing practical assistance—not preaching ‘heaven and hell,’ but getting back to basics of what it means to be a ‘caring’ community and how diversity can bring together unity. Hope I can’t begin to tell you all the stories I have heard on the street in my role as street pastor. … about the drug dealer, or the rugby player, or the person we picked up off the road just before a car came round the corner, or the person who had been involved in a cult, or the alcoholic, or the soldier. But they are just stories about people you don’t know. What I do know is that Street Pastors makes a difference in our community. I make a difference. We make a difference. From a human perspective, getting back to basics with the above is a step in not only providing a community with hope, but also it can be a difference between life and death for that person we talk to on the street. … A good deal of our work is ‘working in the moment where that person seems to be at that time.’ Street pastoring works. I truly feel blessed and privileged every time I go out into the street.” Street Pastors is an inter-denominational church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen, and dialogue. For information, go to www.streetpastors.org.uk. BETSEY NORGARD Fall 2008 13 LIGHTS, CAMERA, AND ACTION BY BETHANY BIERMAN Augsburg’s film program, based in liberal arts and giving students knowledge in production, performance, and theory, attracts students from around the world. 14 Augsburg Now ugsburg film comes of age The coffee shop in Christensen is nearly full, so we grab two empty stools by the computers in the back. Wes Ellenwood sits poised on the stool, looking relaxed in his blue jeans and vintage New York baseball cap, balancing his coffee between his hands. “What makes our department unique is its three tracks,” he explains. The former NYU professor specializes in documentary and 16mm film and was just last year given full-time status, making him the only full-time film faculty member. He breezes through the description as if he’s told it many times before. There’s the production track (creating films and videos), the performance track (acting for the camera), and the theory and culture track (the analytical track). “And our faculty are not just faculty—they are professionals and experts in film.” Picture, bottom left: For more than a decade, communication studies professor Deb Redmond has worked with alumni to nurture the film courses that have grown Augsburg’s film program. Pictured, below: Auggie Mike Bodnarczuk ’85 built a career in music video production and has helped other Auggies get a start in LA. Just then communication professor and director of the program Deb Redmond approaches with a young man. “I’m sorry, but may I interrupt?” she asks. “Matt, this is Wes Ellenwood, who teaches our production courses. Wes, Matt is looking at transferring to Augsburg to study film.” The professors exchange knowing glances. This is not the first time such an introduction has been made. In fact, the film department averages two visitors per week. For a program that officially finished its fourth year, numbers are exploding. While Augsburg has a strong history of graduating students who have excelled in film, it was only in 2004 that the major was added. It jumped from one graduate in 2006 to now nearly 40 students. Five new film majors transferred in this past semester. “We’re different from most of the metro college campuses,” Ellenwood tells Matt and me, “because there is actual film being shot on this campus.” He goes on to explain that because Augsburg students develop an understanding of film, video, television, and digital media, in addition to being grounded in the liberal arts, these graduates are better prepared than most to truly succeed in the industry. A seed is planted It was the early ’80s, and every Friday English professor John Mitchell showed movies in his class. One student recalls nearly leaping out of his seat with excitement. “He really opened up the gateway for me,” says Michael Bodnarczuk, the son of Ukrainian immigrants and a St. Paul Johnson High School graduate. He Nick Vlchek A LIGHTS CAMERA ACTION had come to Augsburg to study prelaw and to play soccer. “I got very involved with politics with my lifelong friend John Evans … and Franklin Tawha, but then started spending a lot of time with film.” Bodnarczuk took a 16mm film course taught by a friend of Mitchell’s during January term. “After that, I was completely hooked, and then it became an addiction.” He took Julie Bolton’s television class and Stan Turner’s class in newswriting at St. Thomas. Jeroy Carlson found him an internship at KARE11, which turned into a job editing stories for the sunrise show. But Bodnarczuk’s passion was music videos, and how they told a story in four minutes. Augsburg didn’t have cable at the time, however, so with the rise of the MTV boom, he persuaded the College to invest in a satellite dish for the top of Christensen Center. He’d record videos and host a showing on Sunday nights during dinner, until they got too risqué and the administration shut him down. Beyond the classroom, he made connections with several people, including Jimmy Jam, Steve Rifkin (editor of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy) and Darrell Brand (cameraman). During college, he directed videos for Twin Cities music sensation The Jets and spent a couple days as a production assistant on Purple Rain. Following graduation, he worked at a law firm for a while but just wasn’t satisfied. He drove to Hollywood in a Fall 2008 15 Augsburg’s first “official” film grad, Trevor Tweeten ’06 has won awards for his films and is now living and working in New York. yellow Dodge Charger, with about a thousand dollars in his pocket, moved in with a friend, and volunteered on an American Film Institute film. Through persistence and personal connections, he eventually started to get work. His first breakthroughs were as a production assistant on Lionel Ritchie’s “Say You, Say Me” video and the film La Bamba, which led to work on Stand and Deliver. “It snowballed from there.” Within two years he was producing his own videos and commercials such as Michael Jordan’s Gatorade ads, and within a decade was running the commercial/music video department of A Band Apart with co-founders Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender. While his Hollywood connections blossomed and his résumé grew, his Augsburg connections never died. 16 Augsburg Now Breaking new ground “Michael [Bodnarczuk] wanted the film major here desperately,” recalls Redmond. “He contacted us.” Redmond and theatre professor Martha Johnson traveled to LA to spend time meeting with him about the idea. This became the impetus for the program. Courses in film continued to find their way into the catalog, and when confirmation came from the dean’s office, a film minor was established. As more and more Augsburg graduates entered the world of film, momentum for the program continued to grow. President William Frame visited Hollywood to raise money for the film program, and Bodnarczuk donated equipment and money for it. Students like Adam Schindler ’00 and Hanne Anderson ’99 came to Augsburg before the major was established, but knowing that film was their passion. Schindler took creative writing classes, looking to hone his storytelling ability, and ended up with a communication major and minors in English and film. “As I continued churning out scripts, taking broadcast production courses, film-related J-term courses, I was approached by a few students about the possibility of forming a film group.” They applied for a grant through Student Senate, and, with the help of Redmond, put together the Augsburg Association of Student Filmmakers (AASF). “We were pleasantly surprised when we had 30 or so students show up for our inaugural meeting,” Schindler remembers. “It was a very collaborative effort with all the members chipping in film ideas, cameras, and loads of time,” says Anderson. While he was still a student, Schindler had a chance to meet Bodnarczuk through a contact in Augsburg’s Alumni Office. Bodnarczuk extended Schindler an invitation to intern if he ever decided to move to LA. Needless to say, Bodnarczuk was the first person Schindler called when he made the decision to go west. “I hired a lot of Auggies,” Bodnarczuk recalls. “I helped open doors for them because I knew how hard it was for me. I think every single one of them has gone on to greatness. I am very happy for and very proud of them.” A distinctive major emerges “It took years to put [the major] together because we really wanted it to be interdisciplinary, and truly based in the liberal arts,” says Redmond. The application for approval of the major was submitted during the 2002-03 school year and was approved for fall of 2004. In the past year, Ellenwood has begun teaching full time, and additional courses have been added. Today, first-year film students are not allowed to take production courses, but instead start with still photography and core academic courses. From there, they take courses in the history of cinema, criticism, and issues in contemporary cinema, which lead into documentary and acting courses. Students have the opportunity to take electives in areas such as graphic design, journalism, and art, and for their lab science requirement they may take Physics for the Fine Arts. Robert Cowgill, who spent years as a dramaturg at the Guthrie and is past performer, owner, and manager of the Oak Street Cinema, teaches courses in analysis. Elise Marubbio, an award-winning author on the representation of Native Americans in film, teaches courses that cross-list between the American Indian studies and film programs. “Our focus is on training students to recognize within a system like Hollywood that there are very particular narratives around groups of people,” Marubbio says. “Our hope is that film students begin to realize that when they create a film and an image of someone, they need to be aware of the cultural implications.” Marubbio coordinates Augsburg’s Native American Film Festival. “The combination of things that we’re doing is unique to Augsburg.” The program’s first student to officially major in film was Trevor Tweeten ’06. “The whole theory side at Augsburg was fantastic, between [John] Mitchell and [Robert] Cowgill,” he says. “There’s a practical side of it with Deb [Redmond] and Wes [Ellenwood], but also the heavy side of theory and history. I think there’s a good balance … I feel really lucky to have gone to a liberal arts school and have a broader understanding of politics and life and literature and all that stuff.” Augsburg also brings in adjunct faculty who are experts in their field, such as Christina Lazaridi, a New York-based screenwriter whose first screenplay was nominated for an Emmy. She teaches screenwriting in the summer. Beyond the classroom, the program encourages study abroad and internships. It is often past graduates who provide the internships for current students. “We are growing our own,” says Redmond. “When people come to Augsburg to study film, they are not committing themselves to four years, but for life … We’re growing our own faculty, in essence.” “The thing that fits with the mission of the College is we’re looking for people with a commitment to a message, particularly using the language of film to tell their stories,” Redmond states. One such example is a film by senior film major David Siegfried, who used still photographs with voiceover to tell the story of the teaching career of his grandfather, Augsburg anatomy and biology professor Erwin Mickelberg. In his film are photos of Siegfried’s mother riding her bicycle in Murphy Park as a young child. (http://davidsiegfried.com/ mycampusfinal.html) The current crop “We’re grounded now,” says Ellenwood, pointing to the fact that there is now a common place for film students to hang out, a space shared by communication, film, and theatre students. Just through the hallway of faculty offices are the editing suites, then the film studio, and the “closet” they hope will soon become the screening room. “Loitering is happening on a regular basis. That’s a good thing.” Ellenwood attributes the increased interest in Augsburg’s film program to the fact that it is deeper and broader than most programs. “Without any marketing, students are finding us. Word is getting out,” he says. Students have come from as far as Argentina, and now India. “We need more faculty, space, and equipment to allow for the increasing number of students.” “Our hope is to grow donors,” Redmond says. “It can start with supply items, like an extension cord, then volunteering to take interns, then, if they’re in the position to hire, to look at our graduates. Eventually, they can donate larger sums of money.” At the end of each semester, there is a screening of student work. The event is not broadcast across campus, and yet last semester’s screening filled the TV studio, with over 100 in attendance. “That’s an astounding number for us,” says Ellenwood. Starting in fall 2007, film students Film professor Wes Ellenwood, who specializes in documentary and 16mm film, connects students with film pros in the Twin Cities for hands-on experience. Fall 2008 17 were included in the Fine Arts Scholarship program, which awards $3,000 per year to selected students who have demonstrated excellence in film. Four students were awarded the scholarship in its inaugural year. This fall Augsburg is launching a partnership with the highly-regarded film studies program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. MCTC students will be able to complete a four-year degree in film studies at Augsburg, and Augsburg film students will be able to take courses in the film program there. A rich harvest Students who recently graduated have enjoyed rubbing shoulders with professionals in the business, just as those in the early days. w Ben Katz ’08, Steven Jacobson ’08, Trevor Tweeten ’06, and Joe Lueben ’07 all worked on a film accepted into the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival last year. Matt Goldman, who has written for Disney and for Seinfeld, directed the film. “Working with Matt opened up a lot of doors,” says Lueben. “It was the first time we’ve taken somebody else’s story, and not our own.” The four also created a feature film called “Bits” with a group of Augsburg alumni, which has been featured on www.mnfilmtv.org and was screened at the Uptown Theater in August. He has freelanced for such organizations as 3M and the University of Minnesota, and worked on a Kid Dakota music video, on a short film with the lead singer of Motion City Soundtrack, and made a 50-minute compilation of clips of Minnesota-made films. For his senior project, Katz worked ho’s who in film alums with Ellenwood to research the documentation needed for an independent film. With a 90-page script, he created a production book with scene breakdown, shooting schedule, budget, and business plan, which he then presented to the writer in LA. “I love that the program’s grown with me,” says Katz. “When I started out [at Augsburg], everyone was excited about the film program, but the department was not very structured. It’s gotten better. Once Wes was hired full time, it changed. It’s a real program now.” “It’s this current wave of graduates who will probably be the best ones,” Wes says of the dozen or so who graduated this last spring. “They are positioning themselves to be out in the industry, in the field; not pumping gas.” Bethany Bierman formerly worked in the Office of Marketing and Communication and lives in Minneapolis. To learn more about Augsburg’s film program, go to www.augsburg.edu/film Michael Bodnarczuk ’85 Owner of Battle Creek Productions. Past president and co-founder (along with Quentin Tarantino and Lawrence Bender) of A Band Apart, which produced videos for such megastars as U2, Metallica, and Bon Jovi (and in 1999 alone was up for 21 of the MTV Awards). Adam Schindler ’00 Past assistant to producer Lawrence Bender. Assistant to the executive producer of Desperate Housewives; current assistant for director Marty Calner. Semi-finalist in the Academy of Motion Picture’s Nicholl Screenwriting Contest; horror script, “Sundown.” Garret Williams ’89 Attended graduate school at the American Film Institute; directed Spark, which received a Best Director Award; selected as one of nine filmmakers for Fast Track in 2005 on his work on Lost Dog. IFP Blockbuster/McKnight Film Fund winner. JoLynn Garnes ’02 Editor of The Fearless Freaks, featuring the Flaming Lips documentary, winner of the Mojo Vision Award. Has edited videos for artists such as Liz Phair, Hilary Duff, and Prince, as well as Target commercials, the feature documentary Summercamp!, and video visuals for Beyoncé’s 2007 world tour. Bryce Fridrik Olson ’97 Director of feature films The Caretaker (2008) with Jennifer Tilly and Judd Nelson, and Be My Baby . Co-produced instructional DVD “OT for Children with Autism, Special Needs & Typical.” Hanne Anderson ’99 Emmy nominee for camera editing for her work on Guiding Light; editor for digital group at Spike TV, and, as a sideline business, co-owns Riveting Productions, a DVD authoring company that works primarily with Comedy Central Records. Jenny Hanson ’05 Completing graduate work in Austria in a trans-arts program; owns Sprouted Wolf Productions; teaches film at North Hennepin Community College and Normandale Community College. Trevor Tweeten ’06 The first official film major. Won first place at the Oak Street Cinema’s 24hour film festival; recently moved to New York City to freelance; currently shooting for TLC’s What Not to Wear. THE PIONEERS 18 Augsburg Now auggies In the first days of September, while Gulf Coast residents battled Hurricane Gustav, more than 45,000 Republican delegates, party officials, volunteers, and members of the media converged on the Xcel Center in downtown St. Paul for the 2008 Republican National Convention. An event as significant as the RNC was not contained, however, to a single site. Across the Mississippi on Augsburg’s campus, students and faculty from 48 colleges and universities met for a two-week program of the The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Because of its commitment to civic engagement and service-learning, Augsburg was chosen to host the seminar in conjunction with the convention. Twenty-three Augsburg students participated in internships through the program, each working in the preparation and planning stages to learn about the behind-the-scenes efforts involved with a national convention. Augsburg communication studies professors Robert Groven and Kristen Chamberlain served on the faculty of The Washington Center Seminar. Three Augsburg students shared their convention experiences—a young Hmong woman who changed her major from premed to political science, a graduate student who entered a state legislative race, and a politically liberal political science major who learned that Republicans and Democrats are more similar than he thought. l a c i t i l o p t e nter G ngton Ce ashi W e h T h wit BY WENDI WHEELER ’06 The Washington Center at the RNC Fall 2008 19 ’11 Ben Krouse-Gagne Getting active in politics The Washington Center at the RNC 20 Augsburg Now Though he says he has been involved in politics for a short time—just two-and-a-half years—Ben Krouse-Gagne has done more than some of us will do in our lifetimes. He worked on Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer’s Senate campaign, did a summer internship with the Anti-War Committee, served as a delegate to the 2008 Democratic state convention in Rochester, Minn., and spends weekends door-knocking for state congressional candidates. Krouse-Gagne, a second-year political science major who grew up in Minneapolis’ progressive Seward neighborhood, said he was really always involved in politics because his family, neighbors, and church community were politically active. Then in high school, he traveled to the School of the Americas in Georgia, a military combat training school and the site of frequent anti-war protests. “It really hit me when they read the names of those killed in the war,” he said, “and one of the names was ‘one-month-old baby.’” That experience fueled Krouse-Gagne’s desire to become active and led him eventually to a summer job at TakeAction Minnesota, where he worked to educate voters about political issues. “People don’t understand how state politics affects them,” he said. “A lot of people don’t even know who their state representatives are.” His RNC field placement was with the Bloomberg News Service. On the first day of the convention, he covered the protests outside Xcel Center. “I knew a lot of the people and organizations protesting,” he said, which gave him an opportunity to get close to the action. Protestors told him their goal was to slow down the convention. “Inside, they didn’t even know what was happening out there,” he said. “It didn’t slow down the convention at all.” Through conversations with delegates, Krouse-Gagne learned that he had more in common with Republicans than he thought. “Republicans are just the same as us,” he said. “They want what we want, just in a different way.” Krouse-Gagne also became friends with Eric Franzen, another intern who is currently the president of the Augsburg College Republicans. The two are working with the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning, with the help of Augsburg Sabo Professor Garry Hesser, to bring speakers to campus to further the “Get Political” civic engagement events. Their goal is to ensure that the Augsburg community is exposed to multiple perspectives on political issues. Being at the RNC made Krouse-Gagne want to be a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention and to become even more involved in politics. A lot can happen in four years. ’11 Mai Lee Changing courses In the Hmong culture, young people often follow the path chosen for them by their parents. For Mai Lee, a second-year student from Minneapolis, this meant a career in medicine. Though she had always wanted to study political science, she pushed the idea away and filled her fall semester schedule with science courses. “I was all set to take biology and chemistry and 99% sure about majoring in pre-med,” Lee said. Then she attended the 2008 Republican National Convention, and that experience changed her course. Days before the fall semester began, Lee changed her major from premed to political science. “At the convention, I met many people who gave me good advice about a career in politics,” she said. Lee thought her family would disapprove of her decision, but she knew she needed to trust her instincts. “My dad wasn’t too happy,” she added, “but I said I just knew pre-med wasn’t what I wanted to do.” Lee said she had always considered herself politically conservative, but the convention gave her an “up-close look at the Republican Party” and persuaded her to consider a career in public or government administration. She wants to change the immigrant mindset that government is “bad” or against them. “I want to help people,” she said, “and show people that government can be good.” As a Hmong American woman, Lee acknowledges that she would be a minority in the public administration world. “There are not many Hmong women in politics,” she said. “I could change that and make a little difference if I get involved.” During the convention, Lee was placed with Fox News as a “runner.” She ran errands, picked up politicians or celebrities, brought coffee to producers, and did whatever else was needed. “At one point, I had to pass out these ridiculous Fox News hats to convention delegates,” she said. “If they didn’t want it, I was told just to put it in their faces.” Her convention experience not only influenced Lee’s future, it also encouraged her to become a more active citizen. She’s joined the Augsburg College Republicans and says she is watching the news and reading the paper more. “I’m doing what voters should do,” she said. While she plans to support John McCain, Lee says she will still not be discouraged from pursuing a career in public service if the presidency goes to the Democrats. “If McCain doesn’t win the election, it won’t be over for me.” The Washington Center at the RNC Fall 2008 21 ’10 MAE Eric Franzen Because I can Even at the RNC, Eric Franzen felt like he was in the minority. He was certain that he and another intern from St. Louis, Mo., were the only Republicans placed with Talk Radio News Service. As a student in Augsburg’s Master of Arts in Education program, Franzen is not required to complete an internship. He applied to The Washington Center program because he said he recently became intrigued by the “reality” of politics. “Politics is real people doing real things with real consequences,” he said. “It’s democracy in action.” He felt the convention would provide an opportunity to become part of the political reality. For his internship, Franzen covered convention events with a video camera and then posted interviews and stories on the Talk Radio News website. His most rewarding experience, however, happened after the convention because he said he finally felt free to have open conversations about politics with other students at Augsburg. “This campus is very politically liberal,” Franzen said. “Some of us get a little nervous.” Franzen is grateful to Augsburg for hosting The Washington Center program because he said it created opportunities for dialogue and has allowed him to engage with others, including his politically liberal friend and fellow intern, Ben Krouse-Gagne. “I want to push for political diversity and inclusivity at Augsburg,” he said, “but certain opinions aren’t always included in the discussion.” In the future, Franzen aspires to hold a public office. He even added his name to the ballot in the Republican slot for the District 60A state representative seat. His opponent? Margaret Anderson Kelliher, the 10-year incumbent and current speaker of the House. Why would a young graduate student put his name on the ballot against an incumbent in an overwhelmingly liberal district? Franzen answered. “Because I can.” “No one was running, and I didn’t want to see the office go unopposed,” he said. “My goal was for voters to have a choice, so I’m doing what I can to give them that choice.” Though he’s not likely to unseat Kelliher, he’s has been campaigning, calling voters, and attending events to promote his candidacy. “It’s a lot of work.” 22 Augsburg Now Paul Nixdorf In the production of Fiddler on the Roof, Janet Paone ’83 met John Vaughn, who became her kidney donor. Here, as Golde and Tevye, they once again ask, “Do You Love Me?” The Kidney Kabaret for Janet Paone BY BETSEY NORGARD In a summer 2007 community theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof, Janet Paone ’83 played Golde. Golde’s husband, Tevye, was played by John Vaughn, a Northwest Airlines pilot. Four months later, she underwent transplant surgery and received a kidney that was given to her by Vaughn. Paone remains amazed at how this whole series of events evolved. Since September 2005, Paone had appeared in the cast of Church Basement Ladies, playing Mrs. Vivian Snustad, in the comedy based on the book Growing Up Lutheran, by Janet Letnes Martin ’68 and Suzann (Johnson) Nelson ’68. While Paone had lived with reduced kidney functioning since birth, it worsened into renal failure, and her doctors put her on the transplant list. Paone turned down out-of-town gigs, and a friend told her about the Fiddler production, a show she had done as an Augsburg student and loved. When she got to know Vaughn, he asked about her illness. “Oh, I need a kidney,” Paone said offhandedly. “Well, you can have mine,” Vaughn replied. Paone took this as purely a casual remark, but Vaughn persisted. He told her he would contact the clinic. Prelimi- nary tests showed him to be a potential match, to be confirmed with a battery of testing. They became close friends. Four months later, Paone’s regular check-up indicated she had reached a crisis point and would have to start dialysis until a transplant became available. After Fiddler, she and Vaughn had gone their own ways, and she thought he might have reconsidered. She set a date for dialysis. But the very next day, Vaughn contacted her with news that he had finally been able to schedule the battery of tests. He asked how she’d been. She told him honestly, and added, “Is that kidney still available? “I just started crying,” Paone says. “The timing was crazy.” Vaughn was a good match, and on November 27, after several heart-toheart talks with him, Paone received the kidney he donated. She says he told her that the true gift she could give him in return was her good health. Paone’s recovery went remarkably well, and she was back on stage in the winter, continuing her role as Mrs. Snustad in Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping. She and Vaughn have remained in close touch since. What Paone now faces are thousands of dollars in medical bills, with few resources to cover them. A month after surgery, several friends in the theatre community began talking about a fundraiser, and a planning “posse” formed, including several Augsburg classmates. Katie Koch ’06, assistant to the director at the Guthrie Theater, knows Paone well and served as coordinator. The “Kidney Kabaret” played at Augsburg on April 21, with many actors and musicians stepping forward to donate services, time, and talents, which also included technical support for sound and lighting, and event decorations. A silent auction offered more than 125 items from theaters, restaurants, churches, sports teams, and radio stations. The program acts were all friends, co-actors, and colleagues of Paone from past theater productions. WCCO’s Frank Vascellaro and Dale Connelly, from Minnesota Public Radio, co-hosted the evening. Special guest Dr. Mark Odland, Paone’s transplant surgeon, was introduced, along with staff from HCMC’s kidney transplant program. Vaughn was recognized and lauded for his gift of life to Paone. More than $15,000 was donated, and the Janet Paone Transplant Fund was set up at U.S. Bank with the help of Auggie classmate David Young ’82. Sponsors for the event were Curt Wollan and TroupeAmerica, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, and Augsburg. For more information, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2008 23 Travel that transforms BY BETSEY NORGARD The Center for Global Education Amazing. Life-changing. Transforming. Participants are not shy about describing their experiences on trips organized by the Center for Global Education. They seek out opportunities to talk about what they learned, and they want to return. The difference is that they have not been on casual, sightseeing trips, but reflective travel; and CGE has built a reputation as a national leader in international experiential education. 24 Augsburg Now Courtesy CGE-Namibia Courtsey CGE Social work students from eight colleges spend a semester learning about social work issues and meeting social work students in Mexico City and Cuernavaca— and here, posing next to papayas in rural Morelos. While the first student seminar in Mexico took place in 1979, it wasn’t until 1982 when Joel Mugge led a group that officially established the Center for Global Service and Education. He did this in response to a request from the Lutheran Church for programs to raise awareness of international issues. Mugge developed a new form of international education, basing the curriculum on the educational principles of Brazilian educator and theologian Paulo Freire. In this, students learn in a cycle of three phases. Initially they have direct experience in the local community, listening to the voices of people not usually heard in mainstream media, telling their own stories and stories of their communities. Then, informed by readings, students reflect on what they saw and heard. Lastly, as a group, students share their reactions, discuss issues, and formulate actions to carry with them. It becomes a continual process of “learning how to learn.” CGE’s programs include study and travel abroad for students, faculty development in global education, and customized group travel around specific issues or targeted for specific groups. As a result of these programs, CGE has served as a catalyst in the Lutheran Church for a new understanding of global mission, putting people from the U.S. face-to-face with people in local communities around the world to learn from each other and build partnerships across faiths. CGE programs tailored for small businesses have helped their employees understand complexities in social, economic, and political issues, and the development of more responsible global citizenship. “The goal is not to simply educate persons, but to encourage them to pursue a life of involvement that will ultimately lead to wisdom,” says Larry Hufford, a political science professor at St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, who has led numerous study seminars with CGE’s as- sistance and who finds them spiritually renewing. During the 1980s and 1990s, CGE planned travel seminars literally around the world. Study centers with resident Augsburg faculty and staff were then established in three locations—Cuernavaca, Mexico; Managua, Nicaragua; and Windhoek, Namibia. Offices and staff are also located in El Salvador and Guatemala. CGE became known for the quality of learning their travel provided; in 1988 they were hired by the American Society of Newspaper Editors to organize a seminar for journalists to Central America and Mexico. CGE has also received Fulbright grants to organize several group projects. In 2003, the program was named the National Society for Experiential Education’s Program of the Year. In 2001, the position of CGE director was expanded to include the associate dean of international programs. The Office of International Programs (OIP) was created, which, in addition to CGE, includes Augsburg Abroad, the study abroad office; International Partners, including European institutions in Germany, Norway, and Finland that have reciprocal agreements for study with Augsburg; and International Student Advising, providing advising and advocacy for international students at Augsburg. Students say… Comments from the “Religion and Christian Faith” travel seminar to El Salvador, January 2007 NATALIE SASSEVILLE ’09 “Going on the trip to El Salvador was like getting stuck in an earthquake—it shook me and all of my values to the core…Never before have I felt so inspired or impassioned…” JOE SKOGMO ’08 “This trip gave me knowledge that cannot be learned in any textbook, but it is knowledge that one cannot do without in order to understand the magnitude of human responsibility, vocation, and global citizenship. Studying in El Salvador is simply the greatest practical application for understanding why our vocations matter.” MICHELE ROULET ’09 “The people of [El Salvador] are our textbook, and their stories are frightening and funny and inspiring. To say that everyone comes back changed is to make light of the experience. People come back enriched, enlightened, and energized.” OLEE AMATA ’11 “The concept of affecting another human being by decisions I make made me see the world differently. … As a business major, I want to learn how I can help be a global citizen when globalization is the enemy to developing countries.” Fall 2008 25 Courtsey Donna DeGracia Students training to become physician assistants visited clinics in Guatemala, learning about healthcare practices there and presenting health clinics—such as teaching children about oral hygiene. INTERNATIONALIZING AUGSBURG EDUCATION Shortly after the arrival of new Augsburg president Paul Pribbenow in 2006, the College began to focus on internationalizing Augsburg education. OIP launched efforts to integrate study abroad experiences into the curriculum of all majors on campus, seeking to create a culture shift toward a more internationalized campus and college experience for students. The goal is a more seamless relationship between campus curriculum and study abroad. Students may choose from the semesters abroad offered by CGE or participate in other study abroad programs approved by the Augsburg Abroad office. In addition to infusing study abroad into all majors, CGE has made it possible for all students—undergraduate and graduate—to have a cross-cultural experience. For weekend students it means only a oneor two-week course, a shorter time away from family and work than the semester program. For graduate students, it means a short-term seminar that directly links to their program work or research. For all students, the direct, personal experience in another culture is carried back into their lives and work at home. A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS Following are examples of programs that have been designed for specific disciplines or target audiences: 26 Augsburg Now Social work in a Latin American context This semester-long program in Mexico for social work undergraduate students was developed within a unique consortium of eight colleges and universities in South Dakota and Minnesota—both public and private. It provides a common experience for students at schools lacking the resources to create a program of their own. This experience gives future social work professionals better preparation to serve the needs of Spanish-speaking clients in their home areas. The social work students live at Augsburg’s center in Cuernavaca. They take classes in culture with Augsburg’s adjunct faculty there, and classes in social work theory and practice with a visiting professor from one of the consortium institutions. In 2006, the consortium was awarded the Council on Social Work Education’s Partners in Education award for “advancing education for international social work.” Exploring health care in Guatemala In July the physician assistant studies master’s program became the third graduate program to offer a study abroad course tailored for its students. Twelve students traveled to Guatemala for two weeks to learn about indigenous culture, and specifically to explore health practices and spirituality in Mayan cultures. While there, the students visited clinics, learned about deep social and cultural disparities, and presented programs on healthcare topics, such as hypertension and diabetes. They learned and saw how healthcare practices can be developed with vastly fewer resources—something which may serve them well as they seek physician assistant positions in areas with underserved populations. Before traveling, the PA students raised money to buy supplies and materials to give to the clinics, such as over-the-counter vitamins and pain relievers, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, etc. Lilly vocation seminars As part of “Exploring Our Gifts,” Augsburg’s grant from the Lilly Endowment for exploration of vocation, a total of nine travel seminars have been designed with a focus on vocation. Religion professor Bev Stratton has twice led a vocation-themed seminar—Religion and the Christian Faith (REL 480)— to El Salvador, where students have studied how powerfully the faith of the Salvadoran people has impacted their struggles for social justice. These courses fulfill the students’ keystone requirement—a seminar generally taken in their last year that pulls together their total Augsburg experience, combining the liberal arts foundation with their in-depth major, while revisiting the Courtsey Jennifer Hipple As part of the Hoversten Peace Seminar, an Augsburg faculty, staff, and student group stopped for a photo while touring the fields of a coffee cooperative in Guatemala. critical conversations about vocation. The El Salvador group visited massacre sites, met with survivors, and heard from leaders such as Bishop Medardo Gomez of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church, who spoke about how he sees his vocation at work in El Salvador. The group also became immersed in the work and legacy of Archbishop Óscar Romero, killed in the civil war in 1980. The Lilly seminars have given students both a cross-cultural experience and a framework to understand how Christian vocation is part of daily life. Other Lilly seminars have taken students to Namibia, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. Hoversten Peace Seminar Supported by the Hoversten Peace Endowment, this biennial travel seminar for Augsburg faculty, staff, and students aims to develop a strong learning community among participants. Pre-departure orientation introduces the group to each other, and living and learning together abroad strengthens their bonds. Upon return, the group continues to build community around their common experience by sharing it with the larger Augsburg community. In August, 10 faculty, staff, and students—coincidentally, all women—par- Courtsey Rachel Olson “I learned how to learn” Hannah Glusenkamp ’09 Students in the 2005 study seminar to El Salvador studied the legacy of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was killed while championing the struggle of the Salvadoran people during their long civil war. ticipated in the 10-day “Peace and Reconciliation after Conflict: A Guatemalan Perspective.” The women learned about the history of civil war and the peace accords, heard from leaders with differing perspectives, and confronted the realities of the local communities. The efforts to internationalize the Augsburg campus are showing results. In 2007-08, a record number of 221 Augsburg students studied abroad. As their first quarter-century came to a close, CGE director and associate dean Orval Gingerich noted in their anniversary publication that “the work of CGE is unfinished, and is perhaps more important than ever in bringing tools for critical analysis and action and ultimately hope to a new generation of students, professors, and global citizens.” Stay tuned for the next 25 years. Hannah Glusenkamp is a senior majoring in women’s studies, with minors in Spanish and religion. At the 2008 Peace Prize Forum at Concordia College in Moorhead, she was selected as one of Augsburg’s two Peace Scholars, a new program that strives to develop students leaders aspiring to careers in world peace issues. Glusenkamp studied on two CGE programs—“Sustainable Development and Social Change” in Central America, and “Gender, Sexuality, Politics, and the Arts” in Mexico. “Both of these experiences challenged, shook up, and reshaped my values, beliefs, and world view,” she wrote. “From the first day of the trip we, the students, were encouraged to reflect on our multi-dimensional selves and to approach education from a holistic standpoint, a standpoint that incorporates all aspects of our lives into the learning process.” At the Council on International Educational Exchange conference last fall, Glusenkamp and nine other student panelists were asked to share the most important thing they learned while studying abroad. “I thought about the question for a moment and then realized that my answer had to be, ‘I learned how to learn,’” she said. “I learned to become an active participant in my education. … I learned to be curious and to ask questions. I can no longer travel to a city or country without wondering what the healthcare system is and if it benefits the people in that community, or how the public transportation runs, or how subsidies in the United States might affect the agricultural practices of the indigenous peoples in that community. … I learned to question whose voice I am hearing and whose voice is being left out. “My experiences and time with the Center for Global Education … showed me that I am not just a student of Augsburg College for four years, but rather that we are all students of life, with the rights and responsibilities to engage in the dynamic, liberating, and transformative ongoing process of experiential education.” Fall 2008 27 TRAVEL SEMINARS 850 sponsored groups CGE has worked with 25 Celebrating years of educating for transformation by Kathleen McBride, regional co-director for Central America and adjunct professor, Center for Global Education Crossing borders and challenging boundaries is a powerful metaphor for our journey of the last 25 years. It is the title of the first Center for Global Education publication that documented the collective memory of our first years of work. The Center’s initial experiences in 1979 included crossing the Mexican border with students for short-term educational experiences. Since that time, thousands of participants have joined the Center’s travel seminars to Mexico, Central America, the Philippines, the Middle East, Southern Africa, and [locations in the U.S.]. As educators, we see our role as one that engages students and participants in the world, facilitating critical analysis and reflection that leads to action. We believe that intercultural dialogue and collaboration with decision makers and historically disadvantaged urban and rural communities are a way of developing greater understanding of the power relations in the world and planting seeds towards more just relations and fair practices. These assumptions are at the root our pedagogical model. An expanded pedagogical framework While the pedagogy of Paulo Freire continues to be the foundation of our educational process (experience—reflection—action), in recent years other kindred approaches, including feminist and indigenous pedagogies, have influenced our practice and strengthened our analysis. All of 28 Augsburg Now the numbers 12,000+ travel seminar participants Center for Global Education SEMESTERS ABROAD 300 colleges, whose study semesters are arranged by CGE, including institutions in the U.S., Germany, Canada, and Norway 1,900 semester program participants COUNTRIES VISITED 40+ in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, India, Southeast Asia, China, and Hong Kong, and the U.S. CGE FACULTY AND STAFF LOCATIONS 9 Minneapolis 16 Mexico 9 Nicaragua 1 El Salvador 2 Guatemala 8 Namibia And, millions of stories shared, hearts touched, and perceptions changed over 25 years across the globe. these pedagogies place significant emphasis on learning in community. For Freire, learning in community is one of the foundations of liberating education. Historically, learning in community has been a fundamental characteristic of indigenous teaching and learning, though underrepresented in traditional educational systems. Similarly, feminist pedagogy upholds learning in community as central to educational processes that gives voice to all people, particularly women, whose experience and voice have oftentimes been silenced. Concepts of autonomy and empowerment that are key to feminist and indigenous scholarship have informed our methodologies and expanded our understanding of the world and of the educational process. Our efforts to foster ongoing critical analysis of power relations in the world are grounded in a practice of intercultural dialogue and experiences that continue to break open new understandings of the world, leading us to a deeper analysis that continually informs our teaching. Ongoing challenges While our role has become clearer with regard to our niche in the field of transformative education, we still face significant challenges. As we facilitate participants’ reflections on educational experi- ences and encourage the exploration and implementation of action steps, we are confronted with an institutional challenge if we are in fact going to continue to practice what we teach. To fully engage the circle of praxis with the goal of transforming society, follow-up to participants’ experience as they return to their home communities is essential. How do we, as an institution, provide a space for participants and students to fully engage the circle of praxis upon their return? How can we facilitate the exploration of actions steps in participants’ home communities? … The Center for Global Education’s work today continues to be the fruit of dialogue and reflections with staff and resource people from over a dozen countries and hundreds of students and participants from the United States who have inspired our work, shaped our analysis, challenged our language, and informed our worldview. We are excited to be engaged in an educational process that will continue to be refined and changed in the coming years by new generations of staff and participants engaged in transformative education. Excerpted from Global News & Notes, Summer 2007; 25th Anniversary Issue: “Building a Just and Sustainable World: Educating for Transformation” AUGSBURG COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS 2007-2008 Fall 2008 29 DEAR FRIENDS, I write with a deep sense of humility and gratitude for your remarkable support of Augsburg College. When I received the call to serve as the 10th president of Augsburg College, I enthusiastically accepted, filled with a sense that God intended my life’s work to intersect with Augsburg’s mission and vision. I give thanks every day for the opportunity to serve this special college. I am impressed by the deep commitment so many individuals show toward Augsburg and its important work in the world. This annual report is a reminder to all of us of the importance philanthropy plays in the life of our college, and in the lives of our students. On their behalf, thank you for your generosity. Our common work here at Augsburg calls us to be good stewards of the many gifts and resources we’ve been given. Each year, thousands of alumni, parents, and friends make gifts not to the College, but through the College, directly benefiting the many students we serve. These students either embark on, or continue, their vocational journeys here at Augsburg, and the WE BELIEVE WE ARE CALL many gifts we receive on an annual basis directly imTO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR pact their experience—in the classroom, on campus, and in our neighborhood. We have a new and bold way of stating the vision of Augsburg College. It is this: We believe we are called to serve our neighbor. It is a vision statement that resonates deeply with the legacy and promise, the commitments and values, and the aspirations and reality of our college. It is a statement that confirms our strong conviction that faith, learning, and service are at the very heart of our identity as a college. I am especially grateful for the faculty and staff of the College who live out this vision in educating our students. To continue to live out this vision in a very real and meaningful way, Augsburg College needs your abiding and increased participation and support. I ask each of you to join me as we work together to secure a strong and vibrant future for our college, and for our students. Sincerely, PAUL C. PRIBBENOW PRESIDENT 30 Augsburg Now ED ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2007-08 Six new regents elected to board Six new members were elected to fouryear terms on the Augsburg College Board of Regents at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Corporation in October 2007. In addition, Michael Good and Jennifer Martin were re-elected to second six-year terms. New members: Andra Adolfson, business development director of Adolfson & Peterson Construction, Inc; Rolf Jacobson, writer, educator, and associate professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary; Ruth E. Johnson, MD ’74, consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic and assistant professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School. She was recognized as a Distinguished Alumna of Augsburg in 1996; Stephen Sheppard, former CEO of Foldcraft Co; Joan Volz ’68, private practice attorney specializing in mediation; Bonnie Wallace, scholarship director, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Garry Hesser appointed new Sabo Professor President Pribbenow announced the appointment of Garry Hesser, professor of sociology and director of the MetroUrban Studies program, as the College’s first Sabo Professor of Citizenship and Learning. His work in this new role lays the groundwork for the establishment of an endowed Martin Olav Sabo Center and chair. As the Sabo Professor, Hesser’s activities include collaboration with the Center for Service, Work, and Learning concerning student engagement and leadership, and development of events, Students from the organic chemistry and analytical chemistry class labs paused to thank Augsburg donors John ’74 (chemistry) and Marvel Yager for their gifts that support scholarships for chemistry majors. Their $10,000 annual gift is fully matched by John’s employer, Beckman Coulter, and has provided $80,000 over the past four years to support chemistry students. programs, and lecture series that promote civic engagement and build community outreach. Hesser has taught at Augsburg since 1977 and is recognized as a pioneer in experiential education. In 1997 he received the Thomas Ehrlich Award for leadership in service-learning, and in 2004 was named the Minnesota Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The Sabo Center in Citizenship and Learning is the culmination of nearly 20 years of fundraising and advocacy by the friends and colleagues of Martin Sabo ’59 that celebrates the College’s commitment to education for democracy. Metro-urban studies director and professor Garry Hesser (right) was appointed Sabo Professor of Citizenship and Learning, honoring the legacy of retired Congressman Martin Sabo ’59 (left). Fall 2008 31 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2007-08 Two Augsburg giants are mourned Within one month of each other last year, Augsburg lost two of its most wellknown and longstanding faculty. Joel Torstenson ’38, professor emeritus of sociology, died on October 18, 2007, at the age of 94. So much of Augsburg’s identity today as a college of the city stems from Torstenson’s work at Augsburg. He founded the sociology and social work departments, and the metro-urban studies program. He developed urban programs in Minneapolis that launched HECUA (the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs) and that led to the work of our Center for Service, Work, and Learning, including Engaging Minneapolis, which requires all students to connect with the city in their studies. Torstenson graduated from Augsburg in 1938. He went on for his master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Minnesota in history and sociology. In 1947, Augsburg president Bernhard Christensen invited him back to Augsburg, even while still completing his PhD, to develop programs in sociology and social work. Torstenson’s deep commitment to social issues led him to explore and work in farmers’ cooperative movements, rural community life, churchlabor relations, racial justice and human rights, and urban studies, especially studying the question of the role of a 32 Augsburg Now liberal arts college in a metropolis. Torstenson’s memoir, Takk for Alt: A Life Story, opens a window into his life’s work and thought. Leland Sateren ’35, professor emeritus of music, died on Nov. 10, 2007, at the age of 94. Sateren graduated from Augsburg in 1935, and for the next 10 years attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota, where he was music director at the KUOM radio station. After public service during World War II he returned to Augsburg, and four years later he became chair of the Music Department and director of the Augsburg Choir. He retired in 1979. His work includes more than 400 choral pieces he composed, and he was passionate about Scandinavian choral music. Sateren introduced the work of many Scandinavian composers to American choral directors. Among Sateren’s many notable accomplishments are premieres of works with the Minnesota Symphony Orchestra and a commissioned piece at the United Nations to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Sateren was the first recipient of the F. Melius Christiansen Memorial Award for choral directors. In 2002 he was awarded the Weston Noble Choral Directors Award. He was also honored Home economics graduates from 1950 to 1970 honored the memory of their mentor, teacher, and friend Ruth Segolson, who served as chair of the Home Economics Department. Following her death in 1980, a fund was established to provide a special gift in her memory. In November, on behalf of all former home economics majors, Jerilyn Hovland Cobb ’63 presented a tea service to the College, pictured here as it was first used at the Augsburg House reception honoring convocation speaker Jane Fonda. (L to R) President Pribbenow, Abigail Pribbenow, Dora (Frojen) Quanbeck ’49, and Philip Quanbeck Sr. ’50. ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2007-08 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton held a campaign rally at Augsburg on February 3, just prior to the “Super Tuesday” primaries. With one day’s notice, Augsburg staff, along with her campaign team, readied Melby Hall for the lively Sunday afternoon event that drew nearly 5,000 people, plus local and national media. with the St. Olaf Medal, presented by King Olav V of Norway, and received two honorary doctorates. Sateren’s impact on the many hundreds of Augsburg students who sang in his choir was remarkable. Peter Hendrickson ’76, director of choral activities and current conductor of the Augsburg Choir, studied with Sateren. A number of other Sateren choir alumni currently sing in the Masterworks Chorale at Augsburg, directed by Hendrickson. $100,000 Class of 1957 Endowment Fund Congratulations to the Class of 1957 alumni and their spouses for establishing the Class of 1957 Endowment Fund in celebration of their 50th class reunion. Their commitment and loyalty help ensure that Augsburg can meet the needs of its future students, especially Jane Fonda presented the 2007 Koryne Horbal Lecture in November, sharing her thoughts on the importance of beginning the “third act” of her life as she celebrated her 60th birthday. in areas of financial aid, program support, enhanced technology, and student support services. The endowment was jumpstarted through the generosity of a class member who provided matches for all gifts up to $50,000, challenging fellow classmates to participate at all levels. Augsburg is grateful to the Class of 1957 for creating this important legacy during their milestone year to honor their Augsburg education. The foundation provides for today’s and tomorrow’s students. It keeps them connected to the traditions and heritage of the College as they craft their own legacies and ties with students who come after them. Spirit of Augsburg Award Beverly Nilsson, professor emerita of nursing, taught at Augsburg from 1977 to 2001, serving as department chair from 1978 until her retirement. Distinguished Alumnus Award Dr. Bruce Amundson ’60, a leader in the Peace Corps, Job Corps, and in rural community health programs; presently works to advance the integration of medical care and mental health care in Washington State. Distinguished Alumnus Award Jim Pederson ’56 former legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Dept. of Public Safety. 2007 Homecoming Awards The First Decade Award Jasmina Besirevic-Regan ’97 dean of Trumbull College, one of Yale’s undergraduate residential colleges. To read more about the 2007 Alumni Awards, go to www.augsburg.edu/now Fall 2008 33 2007-2008 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Where the Money Comes From Where the Money Goes 3% 5% 3% Government grants Other sources 3% Debt service Equipment and capital improvement 2% Student salary 6% 4% Private gifts and grants Utilities 12% Room and board 20% 47% Salary and benefits Financial aid 74% Tuition 21% Other $34.5 $33.7 $30.5 2008 Endowment Market Value May 31, 2008 $33,692,461 As of May 31, 2008, we have annual realized and unrealized losses of 3.4% on our endowment. However, last year’s annualized return was over 16%. Our five-year average annual return on the endowment is 6.21%, and the ten-year average annual return is 5.39%. We are committed to maintaining the value of the principal gifts and to provide support to the college in perpetuity. $26.6 $24.8 $23.2 $25.4 $22.7 $23.3 $20.0 $16.4 $14.2 $11.5 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 Endowment Assets (in millions) June 1, 1995 – May 31, 2008 34 Augsburg Now $26.7 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 DEAR FRIENDS, As we begin our 140th academic year, it is truly my pleasure to share with you the many gifts and contributions made to Augsburg College between June 1, 2007, and May 31, 2008. Even more important than the thousands of gifts received, however, are the thousands of generous alumni, parents, and friends who made these gifts. This past year, my first at Augsburg, was an exciting one. Following on the heels of the successful Access to Excellence campaign, a great deal was accomplished for the benefit of our many students. With deep gratitude, I would like to highlight much of the success we accomplished together. • We were blessed to receive over 9,000 gifts last year from more than 4,600 donors. The support and generosity of these individuals make a direct and positive impact on the lives of our students in many ways. These gifts went to support the Augsburg Fund, student scholarships, capital projects, the fine arts, athletics, signature programs, and many other important initiatives. • One exciting highlight from this past fiscal year was that the Augsburg Fund, our fund for unrestricted gifts to the College, topped the $1 million mark for only the third time ever and the first time outside of a campaign year. Our result of $1,001,978.91 was a 10% increase over the prior fiscal year. We received 5,143 gifts from 2,763 donors to reach this goal. • Several key groups also came together last year in support of Augsburg College through their philanthropy. I am so proud to inform you that we received 100% participation to the Augsburg Fund from the Board of Regents, the Alumni Board of Directors, and the President’s Cabinet. This type of support from these three groups of individuals demonstrates the type of commitment to this institution by its various groups of leaders. • Augsburg also received 853 gifts totaling $756,094 to new or existing scholarship funds, including the establishment of 12 new endowed scholarships. Two additional scholarships were also funded at the presidential level, bringing our total of President’s Scholarships to three. Scholarships are a primary source of financial aid for many deserving students at Augsburg, and we are again grateful that hundreds of generous individuals have chosen to establish or contribute to these funds, directly benefiting our student learners. YOUR SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OUR STUDENTS • The College also completed its first year of residency in the new Oren Gateway Center and its first fully-operational year in the new Kennedy Center. These two new facilities, direct results of the generosity shown in the last capital campaign, have made a positive permanent impact on the life of this institution. Students now directly benefit from new residence halls, state-of-theart classrooms, athletic and wellness facilities, and important gathering and meeting spaces. As we enter yet another year with great anticipation of what the future will hold for our college, and our students, we look back with tremendous gratitude for the many blessings we have been given. We are most grateful for each and every gift we receive and I thank you most sincerely. Sincerely, JEREMY R. WELLS VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Fall 2008 35 LIFETIME GIVING The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who have generously given a minimum of $100,000 (since 1980), including planned gifts, over a lifetime. We are immensely grateful for their examples of loyalty and commitment to the College. Ernest+ and Helen Alne Charles and Ellora Alliss Education Foundation Oscar+ ’38 and Leola+ Anderson Brian Anderson ’82 and Leeann Rock ’81 Charles and Catherine Anderson Daniel ’65 and Alice Anderson Donald ’60 and Violet Anderson Earl and Doris Bakken Loren and Mary Quanbeck ’77 Barber Elizabeth ’82 and Warren Bartz Paul ’63 and LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden Sidney ’57 and Lola Lidstrom ’50 Berg Barbara and Zane Birky Roy ’50 and Ardis Bogen John+ and Joyce Boss Donald Bottemiller Rodney and Barbara Burwell Bush Foundation Carlson Companies The Curtis L. Carlson Family Foundation Shirley Cherkasky Richard ’74 and Nancy Colvin David and Mary Brandt ’79 Croft Theodore and Pamala Deikel Deluxe Corporation Foundation Darrell ’55 and Helga Egertson Tracy L. Elftmann ’81 Philip and Laverne Fandrei Jerry and Jean Foss William and Anne Frame Barbara and Edwin Gage General Mills Foundation Michael ’71 and Ann Good Roger Griffith ’84 and Jean Taylor ’85 H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde Phillip+ ’55 and Lynne Gronseth Carolyn and Franklin Groves Stephen ’70 and Margaret Gundale James and Kathleen Haglund Hearst Foundation Loren Henderson Donald Hennings Grace Forss ’57 Herr and Douglas Herr Donald ’39 and Phyllis Holm Allen and Jean Housh Garfield Hoversten ’50 Robert Hoversten Huss Foundation Sandra and Richard Jacobson James Johnson and Maxine Isaacs Kinney Johnson ’65 Dean ’75 and Terry Kennedy Bruce and Maren Kleven David and Barbara Kleven E. Milton Kleven ’46 Dean and Susan Kopperud Kraus-Anderson Construction Company David Lankinen ’88 Diane and Philip Larson George ’61 and Mary Larson Harris ’57 and Maryon Lee James Lindell ’46 Arne ’49 and Jean Swanson ’52 Markland Marie and Larry McNeff Gerard and Anne Meistrell Hoyt+ ’39 and Lucille Messerer Robert ’70 and Sue Midness Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. If you notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. + Deceased 36 Augsburg Now Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller William and Stephanie Naegele Barbara Tjornhom ’54 Nelson and Richard Nelson George ’68 and Tamra Nelson Ronald ’68 and Mary Kay Nelson Robert Odegard ’51+ R. Luther Olson ’56 Beverly Halling ’55 Oren and Donald ’53 Oren John and Norma Paulson Robert ’50 and Ruth Paulson Glen Person ’47 Harvey ’52 and Joanne Varner ’52 Peterson Addison and Cynthia Piper David Piper Harry and Mary Piper Mark ’53 and Jean Raabe Alan Rice Curtis and Marian Sampson Ward ’74 and Catherine Schendel Ruth Schmidt ’52 James and Eva Seed Rodney Sill ’82 John and Martha Singleton Glen and Anna Skovholt Gladys Boxrud Strommen ’46 Leland and Louise Sundet Dean ’81 and Amy Sundquist Glen A. Taylor Foundation P. Dawn Heil Taylor ’78 Teagle Foundation Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Robert ’63 and Marie Tufford Emily Anne and Gedney Tuttle Scott Weber ’79 ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 ANNUAL GIVING GIFTS RECEIVED JUNE 1, 2007 TO MAY 31, 2008 The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who generously gave a minimum of $1,000 in the 2007-08 fiscal year. 3M Foundation Ruth Aaskov ’53 Accenture Kate Addo Andra Adolfson Adolfson & Peterson Construction Aegon Transamerica Foundation Peter ’70 and Mary Agre Lois Richter ’60 Agrimson and Russell Agrimson Edward ’50 and Margaret Alberg Charles and Ellora Alliss Education Foundation Paul ’59 and Pearl Almquist The American Foundation Ameriprise Financial Brian Anderson ’82 and Leeann Rock ’81 Charles and Catherine Anderson Daniel ’65 and Alice Anderson Deloris Anderson ’56 Donald ’60 and Violet Anderson Kim ’73 and Nancy Kerber ’74 Anderson Leif Anderson Robert ’77 and Katherine Anderson Scott ’76 and Lisa Anderson Steven and Stephanie Anderson William ’86 and Kelly Anderson I. Shelby Gimse Andress ’56 James ’88 and Christine Pieri ’88 Arnold Carla Asleson ’91 Al Assad The Aston Group, Inc. Avaya Communication B R Direct Marketing, Inc. Dorothy Bailey Stanley ’57 and Mary Esther Baker Paul ’63 and LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden Stephen ’67 and Sandra Batalden Estate of Abner B Batalden Tracy and Janel Beckman Vera Thorson Benzel ’45 Norman ’59 and Delores Berg Sidney ’57 and Lola Lidstrom ’50 Berg Samuel ’97 and Melissa Wieland ’97 Bergstrom Daryl and Marylee Bible Birgit Birkeland ’58 Robert and Lynda Bisanz Nancy Paulson ’70 Bjornson and J. Ragnar Bjornson Stephen ’74 and Janet Blake Buffie Blesi ’90 and John Burns David ’68 and Lynn Boe Boeing Company Kevin Bonderud ’79 Amy Bowar ’97 Thomas ’78 and Julie Bramwell Marilyn Saure ’61 Breckenridge and Tom Breckenridge Heidi Breen Bruce Brekke Kyle Brown ’88 Adam Buhr ’98 and Laura Pejsa ’98 Carolyn Burfield ’60 Marion Buska ’46 BWBR Architects Cargill Foundation Laurie Carlson ’79 and William Voedisch Wayne ’69 and Pamela Bjorklund ’69 Carlson Carolyn Foundation James and Kimberly Cassens John and Peggy Cerrito Shirley Cherkasky Keith ’65 and Lynn Chilgren Rev. Dr. Herbert ’54 and Rev. E Corrine Chilstrom David ’72 and Michelle Karkhoff ’72 Christianson Harlan ’57 Christianson C. Lee Clarke Jerelyn Hovland ’63 and Clyde Cobb Richard ’74 and Nancy Colvin Joseph Cook ’89 Walter and Janet Cooper The Cotswold Foundation Trust Brent Crego ’84 George ’72 and Janet Dahlman Sally Hough Daniels ’79 Bartley Davidson ’76 Dow Corning Corporation Matching Gifts Downey McGrath Group, Inc. Karen ’81 and Charles Durant Beverly Durkee E.A. Sween Company Julie Edstrom ’90 Darrell ’55 and Helga Egertson Judy Thompson Eiler ’65 Daniel ’77 and Patricia Eitrheim ELCA Tracy L. Elftmann ’81 Elftmann Family Foundation Fuad and Nancy El-Hibri Avis Ellingrod Rona Quanbeck ’48 Emerson and Victor Emerson The Eppley Foundation For Research, Inc. Edna Kastner ’42 Ericksen Dennis ’64 and Mary Lou Ervin ’64 Erickson L. Craig ’79 and Theresa Serbus ’79 Estrem Alice C. Evans Barbara A. Farley Jane and Patrick Fischer Dawn Formo Jerome Formo ’37 Jamie Fragola William and Anne Frame Andrew Fried ’93 Laurie ’80 Fyksen-Beise and William Beise Estate of Charles T. Gabrielson Barbara and Edwin Gage General Mills Foundation Anthony ’85 and Traci Genia Glen ’52 and Irvyn Gilbertson Hugh ’58 and Kay Lemmerman ’60 Gilmore Orval and Cleta Gingerich Estate of Richard Irving Gisselquist Gerald and Susan ’76 Glaser Global Impact GMAC-RFC Andrew and Carolyn Goddard Goldman, Sachs & Co Michael ’71 and Ann Good Gopher Wrestling Club Shirley Larson ’51 Goplerud and Dean Goplerud Roger ’61 and Barbara Milne ’60 Gordon Thomas Gormley and Mary Lesch-Gormley Paul and Margot Grangaard Robert and Nancy Granrud Fall 2008 37 Paul and Judy Grauer Greater Twin Cities United Way Charles and Barbara Green William and Judith Green Roger Griffith ’84 and Jean Taylor ’85 H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde Stephen ’70 and Margaret Gundale Margaret and Gunderson Mabeth Saure ’58 Gyllstrom and Richard Gyllstrom Patrick ’78 and Debra Haar Mark ’77 and Naomi Hall Halleland Lewis Nilan Sipkins & Johnson P.A. William ’51 and Marolyn Sortland ’51 Halverson Clarence Hansen ’53 Anna Hovland ’58 Hanson Skylar ’01 and Jennifer Hanson Estate of Russell I. Hanson and Viola M. Hanson Jodi and Stanley Harpstead Robert ’83 and Lynne Harris John H. Harris III Memorial Foundation Richard and Dail Hartnack Christopher Haug ’79 and Karl Starr David ’67 and Karen Jacobson ’67 Haugen Dorothy Haugen Helen ’49 and James Haukeness Lee Hawks ’84 Lisa Svac Hawks ’85 Philip ’42 and Ruth Helland Raymond Henjum ’55 Leo Henkemeyer Hennepin County Grace Forss ’57 Herr and Douglas Herr Garry Hesser and Nancy Homans Bruce ’90 Holcomb and Caroline Vernon Kenneth ’74 and Linda Bailey ’74 Holmen Dean ’57 and Jane Holmes Homeland Foundation Elizabeth Horton Joel and Alice Houlton Allen ’64 and Lenice Hoversten Clarence ’41 and Marguerite Hoversten Kermit ’50 and Ruth Hoversten Philip ’71 and Patricia Hoversten Joseph ’61 and Mei Shen Hsieh Michael and Barbara Hubbard Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation Joseph and Linnea Daigle Hudson Alvin John and Ruth Huss Huss Foundation Mohamed Hussein ’03 Glenda and Richard Huston 38 Augsburg Now Brandon Hutchinson ’99 Barbara and Richard Hutson IBM Corporation Duane ’68 and Diane Ilstrup Imation Corporation Mary and Tony Jacobson Sandra and Richard Jacobson Bruce ’68 and Lois Hallcock ’68 Johnson Carol Oversvee Johnson ’61 Ruth E. Johnson ’74 and Philip Quanbeck II Estate of Louisa Johnson Kinney Johnson ’65 Merton ’59 and Jo An D. Bjornson ’58 Johnson Craig Jones Roberta Kagin and Craig Alexander Jennifer Abeln ’78 Kahlow and Larry Kahlow Cheri Hofstad ’85 Kamp and Thomas Kamp Dean ’75 and Terry Kennedy Mary Ann Kinney ’04 Cody Kirkham Michael Kivley ’89 Linda Klas ’92 E. Milton Kleven ’46 Jason Koch ’93 and Heather Johnston ’92 Elsie Ronholm Koivula ’49 Dean and Susan Kopperud Kopp Family Foundation Joanne Stiles ’58 Laird and David Laird Martin Larson ’80 Marvin and Ruth Ringstad ’53 Larson Julie Gudmestad ’65 and Joseph Laudicina Bernadine and Sidney Lee Harris ’57 and Maryon Lee Andre Lewis ’73 and Kathleen McCartin James Lindell ’46 Gaye and Stephen Lindfors Mary Sue and Hugh Lindsay Dana Lonn Stanley ’56 and Gailya Ludviksen Wenona ’55 and Norman Lund John ’65 and Gracia Nydahl ’66 Luoma Pamela and Robert MacDonald Janet Mackenzie ’90 Roger ’57 and Fern Mackey Philip ’79 and Diane Madsen Kay Malchow ’82 and Stephen Cook Lyle ’68 and Susanne Starn ’68 Malotky Terry Marquardt ’98 and Gary Donahue Jennifer and Richard Martin Norman ’57 and Gayle Engedal ’57 Matson Donald ’66 and Margaret Mattison Donna Demler McLean Christopher ’00 and Tara Cesaretti ’97 McLeod Marie and Larry McNeff Merck Partnership For Giving Merrill Lynch Daniel ’65 and Mary Tildahl ’65 Meyers Deidre Durand ’88 and Bruce Middleton Robert ’70 and Sue Midness Paul ’70 and Barbara Durkee ’71 Mikelson Dennis ’67 and Christine Miller Gerald ’57 and Frida Mindrum Spencer ’66 and Gay Johnson ’66 Minear Minnesota Hockey Coaches Assoc. Minnesota Private College Foundation Jeanette Mitchell Thomas ’59 and Ruth Carlsen ’60 Moen Thelma Monson ’41 Alan Montgomery and Janet KarvonenMontgomery Thomas and Lorraine Morgan LaWayne ’51 and D. LaRhea Johnson ’51 Morseth Sharon Mortrud Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller Dylan ’97 and Wendy ’96 Nau Gordon Nelson Mildred Nelson ’52 Robert ’44 Nelson and Helen Johnson-Nelson Ronald ’68 and Mary Kay Nelson Steven ’64 and Rebecca ’64 Nielsen Norma Noonan Edwin and Edith Norberg Charitable Trust Roselyn Nordaune ’77 Jane Huseby ’65 Norman Shirley and James ’57 Norman Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation Terry ’70 and Vicki Nygaard Leroy ’52 and Betty Munson ’53+ Nyhus Oak Grove Lutheran Church Robert Odegard ’51+ Richard ’69 and Sandra Larson ’69 Olmsted Donald Olsen ’60 Bruce L. Olson ’71 Dean Olson ’00 R. Luther Olson ’56 Beverly Halling ’55 Oren and Donald ’53 Oren Beverly Ottum Patricia and John Parker Subhashchandra ’75 and Annette Hanson ’74 Patel John and Norma Paulson Robert ’50 and Ruth Paulson Peace Lutheran Church of Plymouth Richard ’74 and Karen Pearson Glen Person ’47 ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 Corwin and Doris Peterson Eugene ’59 and Paula Peterson Harvey ’52 and Joanne Varner ’52 Peterson Karin Peterson Ron ’69 and Jane Petrich Sandra Phaup ’64 Jay Phinney ’79 Presser Foundation President Paul C. Pribbenow and Abigail Crampton Pribbenow Project Consulting Group Karl D. Puterbaugh ’52 Linda Hanwick ’64 and John Putnam Lois Quam and Matthew Entenza Philip ’50 and Dora Frojen ’49 Quanbeck Mark ’53 and Jean Raabe Lloyd ’63 and Linnea Raymond RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation Donald F. and Mary Sue Zelle Reed Fund Bruce and Sharon Reichenbach Stephen Rivard and Christine Jett-Rivard Eunice Kyllo ’62 Roberts and Warren Roberts Frances Roller Olive Ronholm ’47 Philip Jr. and Margaret Rowberg Philip Rowberg ’41 Gerald ’48 and Judith Ryan Martin ’59 and Sylvia Sabo Curtis and Marian Sampson Audrey Nagel ’51 Sander Judith and William Scheide Ruth Schmidt ’52 Inez Olson ’59 Schwarzkopf and Lyall Schwarzkopf Douglas Scott and Grace Schroeder Scott Michael ’71 and Bonnie Scott Charles and Ritchie Markoe Scribner Milan ’48 and Marian Sedio James and Eva Seed Phyllis ’58 and Harold Seim Richard ’70 and Linda Seime Frankie and Jole Shackelford Shepherd of the Glades Lutheran Church Stephen and Kay Sheppard Chad ’93 and Margaret Shilson Michael and Pamela Sime Russel ’50 and Virginia Thompson ’50 Smith Neal ’57 and Judy Fosse ’61 Snider Steven and Pamela Snyder David Soli ’81 Earle ’69 and Kathleen Kupka ’69 Solomonson John ’62 and Ruth Sather ’63 Sorenson Allan ’53 and Eunice Nystuen ’50 Sortland Arne and Ellen Sovik Joyce Engstrom ’70 Spector and Robert Spector Gary ’68 and Jeanette Stangland David ’63 and Karen Henry ’64 Steenson Todd ’89 and Amy Steenson Donald and Annelies Steinmetz Myles and Eunice Stenshoel Jeffrey ’82 and Peggy Stoks Beverly and Thomas Stratton Gladys Boxrud Strommen ’46 Philip ’79 and Julia Davis ’79 Styrlund Grace Kemmer ’58 Sulerud and Ralph Sulerud Kenneth Svendsen ’78 and Allison Everett ’78 Brian Swedeen ’92 and Terri Burnor ’92 M. Douglas + and Solveig Swendseid Jeffrey ’79 and Melissa Swenson Gary ’80 and Deanna Tangwall Elizabeth and Kenneth Tankel P. Dawn Heil Taylor ’78 Glen A. Taylor Foundation TCF Foundation Jacqueline ’80 and John Teisberg Paul ’60 and Nancy Thompsen Harold and Maureen Thompson Jennings ’51 and Mary Schindler ’48 Thompson Richard ’61 and Jane Thompson Gordon ’52 and Gloria Parizek ’53 Thorpe Marlys Holm ’57 Thorsgaard and Arlen Thorsgaard Thrivent Financial For Lutherans David and Martha Tiede Christine Toretti The Toro Company Allan ’75 Torstenson and Frances Homans Frances and Joel ’38+ Torstenson Todd Tourand ’99 Gordon ’57 and Karen Egesdal ’61 Trelstad Lawrence ’69 and Susan Turner Peter Turner Emily Anne and Gedney Tuttle Betty and Paul Tveite F. Clayton ’72 Tyler and Jackie Parker ’76 Cherryhomes UBS Foundation Morris ’42 and Grace Ulring US Bancorp Foundation Ruth Usem Catherine Van Der Schans Julie Lien ’82 and Steve Vanderboom Mary ’70 and Dennis Veiseth Peter and Linda Vogt Frank ’69 and Wendy Wagner Robert Wagner ’02 Norman ’76 and Kathryn Anderson ’76 Wahl Martha and Steven Ward Colleen Watson ’91 and Mary McDougal Lois ’76 Wattman and Douglas Shaw Wells Fargo Educational Matching Gift Program Wells Fargo Foundation Community Support John ’49 and Arnhild Werket Wheelock Whitney and Kathleen Blatz The Whitney Foundation Mary and Gunnar Wick Robert Wick ’81 David and Catherine Wold John ’74 and Marvel Yager Ziemann Insurance Services, Inc. Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. If you notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. Fall 2008 39 CONSECUTIVE GIVING The following list recognizes alumni and friends of Augsburg College who have generously given for 10 or more consecutive fiscal years, as indicated by the number in parentheses. (Gifts received since 1980) 3M Foundation (25) Ordelle Aaker ’46 (11) Ruth Aaskov ’53 (29) Lois Richter ’60 Agrimson and Russell Agrimson (16) Harold ’47 and Lois Black ’47 Ahlbom (29) Edward ’50 and Margaret Alberg (11) Paul ’59 and Pearl Almquist (10) Charles and Catherine Anderson (28) Daniel ’65 and Alice Anderson (29) Deloris Anderson ’56 (17) Elizabeth Manger ’53 Anderson and Delbert Anderson (10) Kristin Anderson (10) Leif Anderson (10) Margaret and Raymond Anderson (11) Margaret Anderson (10) Ray Anderson ’49 (21) Robert ’77 and Katherine Anderson (16) Scott ’76 and Lisa Anderson (10) Theodore ’48 Anderson and Eliazbeth Hibbeler-Anderson (10) William ’86 and Kelly Anderson (12) LeRoy ’52 and Carole Anenson (11) Frank ’50 and Georgette Lanes ’50 Ario (28) Elyce Lundquist ’58 Arvidson and Marvin Arvidson (22) John ’79 and Rebecca Lundeen ’79 Aune (17) Dorothy Bailey (14) Stanley ’57 and Mary Esther Baker (29) Elizabeth ’82 and Warren Bartz (10) Paul ’63 and LaVonne Olson ’63 Batalden (15) Gerald ’56 and Nancy Baxter (10) Hamar ’34 and Wanda Severson ’40 Benson (12) John Benson ’55 (29) Vera Thorson Benzel ’45 (25) Gertrude Ness Berg ’51 (15) John Berg ’59 (17) Sidney ’57 and Lola Lidstrom ’50 Berg (10) Jack ’49 and LeVerne Berry (27) Anthony and Kathy Bibus (10) Birgit Birkeland ’58 (22) Gary ’65 and Jean Blosberg (11) David ’79 and Peggy Boots (12) Bruce ’64 and Nancy Braaten (12) 40 Augsburg Now Heidi Breen (15) Daniel and Irene Brink (13) Michael Burden ’85 (14) Carolyn Burfield ’60 (10) Marion Buska ’46 (19) Daniel ’61 and Faith Carlson (11) Jeroy ’48 and Lorraine Carlson (29) Laurie Carlson ’79 and William Voedisch (11) Roger ’54 and Dorothy Carlson (10) Wayne ’69 and Pamela Bjorklund ’69 Carlson (19) Wendell ’63 and Grace Carlson (10) Linda Carlstedt ’63 (29) Joyce Catlin ’73 Casey and Paul Casey (27) Carl ’59 and Kathleen Aaker ’62 Casperson (11) Peggy and John Cerrito (10) Rev. Dr. Herbert ’54 and Rev. E Corrine Chilstrom (12) Judith Christensen (10) Paul ’59 and Gloria Christensen (11) Jeff Christenson ’82 (10) Janet Niederloh ’58 Christeson and John Christeson (11) David ’72 and Michelle Karkhoff ’72 Christianson (20) Joseph ’53 and Connie Cleary (11) Richard ’74 and Nancy Colvin (28) Donald and Janice Conrad (18) Laura Bower ’91 Cunliffe and Wayne Cunliffe (10) Oliver Dahl ’45 (11) Addell Halverson Dahlen ’43 (18) Lester Dahlen ’39 (29) Leonard ’52 and Anabelle Hanson ’51 Dalberg (28) Sally Hough Daniels ’79 (10) Lois Mackey Davis ’58 (10) LeVon Paulson Dinter ’52 (22) Hans ’56 and Donna Dumpys (21) Linda Lundeen ’74 Dunn and Douglas Dunn (14) Julie Edstrom ’90 (12) Ruben ’45 and Thelma Egeberg (10) Judy Thompson Eiler ’65 (10) Curtis ’84 and Jody Eischens (10) Daniel ’77 and Patricia Eitrheim (10) ELCA (21) Elftmann Family Foundation (14) Avis Ellingrod (13) Valborg Kyllo ’54 Ellingson and Phillip Ellingson (15) Rona Quanbeck ’48 Emerson and Victor Emerson (15) Mark and Lynette Engebretson (10) Fred ’60 and Janet Engelmann (20) James Ericksen ’69 (27) Reynold ’41 and Marian Erickson (19) Dean ’68 and Diana Olson ’69 Ersfeld (15) Alice C. Evans (10) John ’82 and Joan Moline ’83 Evans (22) Leland ’53 and Eunice Fairbanks (22) Marilyn Pearson ’76 Florian and Kenneth Florian (26) Jerome Formo ’37 (27) William and Anne Frame (12) Esther Oleson ’54 Freund and Norman Freund (11) R. Mark Frey (10) Andrew Fried ’93 (11) Marilyn Elness ’53 Froiland and Philip Froiland (17) Terry ’67 and Pauline Frovik (10) Ann Garvey (10) Alan ’67 and Marilyn Albaugh ’67 Gierke (29) Donald ’60 and Nancy Gilberg (14) Rachel Rohde ’76 Gilchrist and Chris Gilchrist (19) Borghild Gisselquist (10) Gary and Barbara Glasscock (11) Alexander ’90 and Simone Gonzalez (18) Shirley Larson ’51 Goplerud and Dean Goplerud (28) Lorraine Vash ’67 Gosewisch and David Gosewisch (10) Paul and Judy Grauer (27) Douglas Green and Becky Boling (10) Cindy Greenwood 2005 (10) H. Theodore ’76 and Michele Grindal (22) Raymond ’57 and Janice Grinde (29) Steven ’81 and Kathy Grinde (11) Paul ’62 and Susan Grover (27) John and Laurie Grygelko (12) Fern Hanson Gudmestad ’41 (26) Sonia Overmoen ’62 Gullicks and Milton Gullicks (22) ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 Marlys Ringdahl ’53 Gunderson and Charles Gunderson (21) Arlin Gyberg (29) Mabeth Saure ’58 Gyllstrom and Richard Gyllstrom (27) Mark ’77 and Naomi Hall (20) William ’51 and Marolyn Sortland ’51 Halverson (10) Arvin ’55 and Twila Halvorson (28) Edward and Shirley Hansen (24) Sylvia Kleven Hanson ’50 (12) John ’69 and Barbara Harden (11) Evelyn Green ’49 Harris and Edward Harris (12) Betty Johnson ’58 Haas and Charles Hass (28) Christopher Haug ’79 and Karl Starr (13) Marjorie Wilberg Hauge ’50 (25) Burton ’72 and Rollie Haugen (14) Marilyn Peterson1963 Haus and George Haus (27) Philip ’42 and Ruth Helland (21) Gerald ’59 and Maxine Hendricks (10) Robert ’55 and Karin Herman (10) Garry Hesser and Nancy Homans (29) Jean Magnuson ’57 Hicks and David Hicks (10) Rodney ’59 and Arlene Selander ’59 Hill (12) Helen Sigvald Hjelmeland ’41 (12) Sylvia Hjelmeland (11) Thomas ’57 and Arlene Hofflander (20) James ’61 and Caroline Holden (21) Norman and Ilene Holen (20) Dean ’57 and Jane Holmes (10) Bradley ’63 and Linda Holt (28) James ’59 and Joanne Horn (10) Donald ’65 and Delores Hoseth (10) Robert ’67 and Jane Hosman (23) Allen ’64 and Lenice Hoversten (29) Kermit ’50 and Ruth Hoversten (11) Edith Hovey (15) Florence Retrum Hovland ’40 (21) Joseph ’61 and Mei Shen Hsieh (19) Glenda and Richard Huston (17) Bruce and Jean Inglis (12) Rosemary Jacobson ’69 (14) Jeffrey ’80 and Jacqui Jarnes (11) Bruce ’68 and Lois Hallcock ’68 Johnson (11) David ’64 and Karen Johnson (10) Doris Wilkins ’63 Johnson and Charles Johnson (12) Duane and Ruth Johnson (21) Glen and Marlys Johnson (10) Gloria Johnson ’51 (20) Janet Batalden ’61 Johnson and Dennis ’61 Johnson (13) Joan ’94 and Mark Johnson (14) Kinney Johnson ’65 (18) Laurel Jones ’69 Johnson and Larry Johnson (13) Marcellus ’54 and Thelma Johnson (10) Martha Johnson (10) Ruth E. Johnson ’74 and Philip Quanbeck II (21) Kenneth & Lillian Ysteboe ’51 Ose Ervin ’56 & Sylvia Overlund Theodore ’68 and Michelle Johnson (12) Wayne Johnson ’58 (26) Helen Johnson-Nelson and Robert ’44 Nelson (13) Roberta Kagin and Craig Alexander (28) Jennifer Abeln ’78 Kahlow and Larry Kahlow (11) Cheri Hofstad ’85 Kamp and Thomas Kamp (11) Richard ’69 and Cheryl Nelson ’70 King (11) Cody Kirkham (11) Sharon Dittbenner ’65 Klabunde and Richard Klabunde (22) E. Milton Kleven ’46 (11) Jerome Kleven ’58 (12) Lowell ’54 and Janice Kleven (24) Leo Klohr and Judy Occhetti-Klohr (12) LaRhae Grindal Knatterud ’70 (12) Millard ’52 and Dorothy Knudson (13) Daniel ’70 and Ingrid Kloster ’69 Koch (11) Elsie Ronholm Koivula ’49 (28) James Kottom ’52 (23) Joan Johnson1953 Kuder and Calvin Kuder (26) Joan Kunz (10) William ’52 and Edith Kuross (11) Sigrunn Kvamme ’53 (18) Robert ’80 and Lori LaFleur (16) Joanne Stiles ’58 Laird and David Laird (26) Archie Lalim ’50 (28) George ’50 and Vivian Lanes (14) Linda Larson ’70 and C. Jerry Sells (23) John ’52 and Mary Peterson ’54 Leak (13) Roger ’50 and Donna Wang ’52 Leak (12) Harris ’57 and Maryon Lee (25) James ’67 and Laurie Lindell (10) James Lindell ’46 (27) Rosemary and Andrew Link (10) Robert ’56 and Mary Erickson ’58 Lockwood (16) Brent Lofgren ’88 (17) Irene Ppedahl Lovaas ’45 (15) Jack ’53 and Darlene Lundberg (11) Susan Lageson ’77 Lundholm and Mark Lundholm (19) Roger ’57 and Fern Mackey (24) Marie Hafie ’65 MacNally and Thomas MacNally (12) Margreta Magelssen ’72 and David Hallan (23) Richard ’55 and Mary Mahre (10) Ronald ’56 and Christine Munson ’56 Main (10) Raymond Makeever (10) Michael ’65 and Lynne Marcy (10) Carlos Mariani Rosa (10) Julie Magnuson ’61 Marineau and Richard Marineau (10) John ’59 and De Anne Martinsen (12) Michael McCully (12) Kristin Settergren ’86 McGinness and Steve McGinness (19) Donna McLean (22) Tara Cesaretti ’97 McLeod and Christopher 2000 McLeod (10) Marie and Larry McNeff (28) Meca Sportswear Inc (11) Joan and Richard Meierotto (11) Daniel ’65 and Mary Tildahl ’65 Meyers (17) Erwin ’54 and Carolyn Ryan ’56 Mickelberg (10) Robert ’70 and Sue Midness (19) Paul ’70 and Barbara Durkee ’71 Mikelson (28) Victor ’42 and Rhoda Miller (12) Thomas ’59 and Ruth Carlsen ’60 Moen (10) James Mondo (10) Alan Montgomery and Janet Karvonen-Montgomery (10) Thomas and Lorraine Morgan (26) LaWayne ’51 and D. LaRhea Johnson ’51 Morseth (20) Mildred and Van Mueller (24) Paul ’84 and Nancy Mackey ’85 Mueller (12) David Narr ’94 (11) Bonnie Johnson ’67 Nelson and Bryce Nelson (25) Edor ’38 and Dorathy Nelson (12) Gloria Burntvedt Nelson ’43 (26) Larry ’65 and Marilyn Nelson (13) Mildred Nelson ’52 (29) Ronald ’68 and Mary Kay Nelson (12) Steven ’64 and Rebecca ’64 Nielsen (10) Erika Staub ’51 Niemi and Wayne Niemi (17) Timothy ’82 and Jane Nohr (10) Margaret Nelson Foss Nokleberg ’48 (21) Norma Noonan (14) Edwin and Edith Norberg Charitable Trust (20) Roselyn Nordaune ’77 (28) Betsey and Alan Norgard (14) James ’57 and Shirley Norman (11) Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation (19) Jonathan Nye ’72 and Wendy Worner (17) Terry ’70 and Vicki Nygaard (10) Leroy ’52 and Betty Munson ’53 Nyhus (16) Steven O’Tool ’74 (10) Fall 2008 41 Maren Lecy ’83 Ogdie and Al Ogdie (19) Norman ’85 and Kim Asleson ’84 Okerstrom (18) Sandra Larson ’69 Olmsted and Richard ’69 Olmsted (12) W. Donald ’34 and Glenda Olsen (20) Bettye and Howard Olson (16) Laverne Moe ’48 Olson and Paul Olson (22) Orville ’52 and Yvonne Bagley ’52 Olson (28) R. Luther Olson ’56 (11) Vicki and Daniel Olson (10) Kristen Olsrud ’80 (11) Laurie Nelson ’79 Orlow and Steven Orlow (19) Jack ’62 and Nina Osberg (18) Jim ’64 and Rose Parks (20) Arnold ’52 and Betty Paulson (12) John and Norma Paulson (11) Daniel ’51 and Lois Pearson (22) Dale Pederson (10) Glen Person ’47 (23) Eugene ’59 and Paula Peterson (21) Harvey ’52 and Joanne Varner ’52 Peterson (29) Rebecca Arvold ’88 Pfabe and Maurice Higgins (14) Jay Phinney ’79 (29) Leanne Phinney ’71 and Mark Schultz (11) Jill Pohtilla (10) Presser Foundation (12) David Proctor ’63 (22) Elizabeth Pushing ’93 (14) Jerry ’83 and Susan Warnes ’88 Quam (10) Dagmar Dahl Quanbeck ’36 (29) Eileen Quanbeck ’46 (15) Philip ’50 and Dora Frojen ’49 Quanbeck (12) Quentin ’50 and E. Lucille Quanbeck (15) Mark ’53 and Jean Raabe (12) Larry and Beverly Ragland (16) James ’61 and BettyAnn Redeske (12) Donald ’53 and Donna Erickson ’54 Reimer (10) Robert and Gail Rice (17) Pamela Birdsall ’75 Richard and Jerry Richard (10) Donavon ’52 and Ardis Roberts (12) Eunice Kyllo ’62 Roberts and Warren Roberts (17) Leeann Rock ’81 and Brian Anderson ’82 (10) Marion Roe ’50 (12) Frances Roller (11) Joyce and Walker Romano (11) Olive Ronholm ’47 (29) Stella Kyllo Rosenquist ’64 (10) Philip Rowberg ’41 (10) Martin ’59 and Sylvia Sabo (29) Audrey Nagel ’51 Sander (16) Pauline and Leland ’35+ Sateren (11) Maryls Harkman ’54 Schmidt and Leonard Schmidt (11) Ruth Schmidt ’52 (29) Michael and Leslie Schock (10) Joyce Opseth Schwartz ’45 (26) Roger ’62 and Jean Schwartz (13) Inez ’59 and Lyall Schwarzkopf (29) Ronnie ’62 and Karen Scott (20) Richard ’70 and Linda Seime (12) Charles Sheaffer (10) John ’50 and Norma Shelstad (17) James ’54 and Ethel Nordstrom ’55 Shiell (28) Chad ’93 and Margaret Shilson (11) Nora Anderson ’83 Sillerud and Jon Sillerud (16) Patricia ’67 and Elmer Sitkin (10) Arnold ’48 and Carol Skaar (29) Glen and Anna Skovholt (14) Evelyn Amundson Sonnack ’43 (27) Angeline Rolland Sorenson ’50 (25) Susan Lindberg ’70 Sorenson and Earl Sorenson (11) Allan ’53 and Eunice Nystuen ’50 Sortland (16) Naomi Christensen ’81 Staruch and Steven Staruch (26) Ronald ’58 and Naomi Stave (12) Ruth Framstad Steen ’43 (10) Donald and Annelies Steinmetz (29) Myles and Eunice Stenshoel (10) Hannah Mehus Stensvaag ’38 (29) Roger ’54 and Bonnie Stockmo (11) Calvin ’51 and Bonnie Martinson ’59 Storley (10) Beverly and Thomas Stratton (14) Gladys Boxrud Strommen ’46 (13) John ’81 and Heidi Strommen (13) Luther ’39 and Helen Strommen (26) Merton ’42 and Irene Huglen ’42 Strommen (29) Steven ’65 and Chynne Strommen (10) La Vone Studlien ’58 (20) Grace Kemmer ’58 Sulerud and Ralph Sulerud (29) George ’46 and Jean Christenson ’49 Sverdrup (27) Dorothy Joy Swanson ’51 (18) Elizabeth Mortensen ’56 Swanson and James Swanson (19) Brian Swedeen ’92 and Terri Burnor ’92 (13) Jeffrey ’79 and Melissa Swenson (16) Every effort has been made to ensure that all names are included and spelled correctly. If you notice an error, please contact Kevin Healy at 1-800-273-0617 or healyk@augsburg.edu. 42 Augsburg Now Jennings ’51 and Mary Schindler ’48 Thompson (29) Karla Morken ’81 Thompson and Thomas Thompson (13) Richard ’61 and Jane Thompson (10) Sue Thompson ’85 (10) Gordon ’52 and Gloria Parizek ’53 Thorpe (13) Marlys Holm ’57 Thorsgaard and Arlen Thorsgaard (11) Richard ’56 and Darlene Thorud (10) Adrian Tinderholt ’38 (28) Michael ’85 and Rhonda Riesberg ’84 Tjaden (10) Allan Tonn ’75 (28) Mark ’79 and Janelle Tonsager (19) Sheldon ’49 and Margery Manger ’47 Torgerson (23) Beth Torstenson ’66 (28) Frances and Joel ’38+ Torstenson (15) Mark and Ann Tranvik (11) Margaret Sateren Trautwein ’37 (23) Gordon ’57 and Karen Egesdal ’61 Trelstad (16) Trinity Lutheran Congregation (10) Lawrence ’69 and Susan Turner (10) Betty and Paul Tveite (12) Beverly Gryth ’52 Villwock and H. Robert Villwock (21) Rebecca Helgesen ’67 Von Fischer and Thomas Von Fischer (12) Norman ’76 and Kathryn Anderson ’76 Wahl (10) Michael ’64 and Carla Quanbeck ’64 Walgren (14) Lois ’76 Wattman and Douglas Shaw (11) Scott Weber ’79 (12) Charleen and Donald Weidenbach (27) Donald ’89 and Melinda Mattox ’91 Wichmann (16) Mary and Gunnar Wick (16) Robert Wick ’81 (22) David and Catherine Wold (12) E. Lorraine Yokie (22) Edmund ’53 and Rose Youngquist (10) Janet Cooke ’59 Zitzewitz and Donald Zitzewitz (11) ANNUAL REPORT 2007-08 ALUMNI GIVING BY CLASS YEAR The following list indicates the percentage of alumni in each class year who made a gift to Augsburg College in 2007-2008 (day program, undergraduate alumni). Total particiaption for all class years, 22% 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 40.00% 50.00% 50.00% 62.50% 64.71% 25.00% 52.94% 40.63% 48.84% 38.10% 45.65% 48.72% 48.15% 45.83% 42.86% 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 47.27% 33.52% 44.53% 50.86% 46.40% 37.88% 37.36% 45.83% 43.65% 47.75% 46.09% 38.31% 36.88% 37.97% 40.76% 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 35.10% 34.75% 30.70% 41.85% 34.35% 29.90% 24.37% 24.30% 26.10% 25.51% 26.42% 24.68% 23.58% 24.65% 23.92% 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 19.09% 17.89% 18.97% 17.44% 18.41% 17.73% 17.82% 13.46% 11.32% 19.12% 14.34% 15.69% 8.70% 10.07% 10.71% 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 10.73% 13.92% 4.23% 9.72% 11.48% 7.58% 12.20% 8.37% 5.43% 8.14% 5.28% 9.45% 4.78% 5.56% Fall 2008 43 THE 2007-2008 AUGSBURG COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT AUGSBURG COLLEGE BOARD OF REGENTS 2007-2008 Andra Adolfson Dan W. Anderson, Class of 1965 Rev. Gary E. Benson, Class of 1970 Jackie Cherryhomes, Class of 1976 AUGSBURG ALUMNI BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007-2008 Michael O. Freeman Dr. Anthony Genia, Class of 1985 Michael R. Good, Class of 1971 H. Theodore Grindal, Class of 1976 Norman R. Hagfors Lew Beccone, Class of ’98 MAL Jodi Harpstead Buffie Blesi, Class of ’90, ’97 MAL, president Richard C. Hartnack Chad Darr, Class of ’04 Rolf Jacobson Dale Hanka, Class of ’60 Dr. Ruth E. Johnson, Class of 1974 Calvin Hanson, Class of ’98 Dean Kennedy Daniel Hickle, Class of ’95 Dean C. Kopperud James Kline, Class of ’01 André J. Lewis, Class of 1973 Lee Anne Lack, Class of ’67 Jennifer H. Martin Julia Mensing, Class of ’00 Marie O. McNeff Joyce Miller, Class of ’02, ’05 MAN Dr. Paul S. Mueller, Class of 1984 Jamie E. Smith, Class of ’04 WEC Ronald G. Nelson, Class of 1968 Carolyn Spargo, Class of ’80 Beverly Oren, Class of 1955 Jacqueline Teisberg, Class of ’80 Paul C. Pribbenow Jennifer Tome, Class of ’99 Rev. Peter Rogness, ex-officio Barry M. Vornbrock, Class of ’96 MAL Stephen Sheppard Philip Styrlund, Class of 1979 Emily Anne Tuttle Rev. Harold Usgaard, ex-officio Joan Volz, Class of 1968 Rev. Norman W. Wahl, Class of 1976 Bonnie Wallace FEW COLLEGES ARE AS WELL POSITIONED A S A U G S B U R G T O S AY, T H I S I S O U R W O R K — WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBORS. —DAVID TIEDE, BERNHARD CHRISTENSEN PROFESSOR OF RELIGION AND VOCATION, AND FORMER PRESIDENT OF LUTHER SEMINARY www.augsburg.edu/giving 1-800-273-0617 44 Augsburg Now auggie alumni news From the Alumni Board president … June 2008 Alumni and friends, am writing this article on the same day as commencement for hundreds of graduates of the Augsburg for Adults undergraduate and graduate programs. When I was an undergraduate, Weekend College was still in its infancy and the College did not yet offer master’s degrees in any subject area. Look how far we have come over the last 20 years—Augsburg is now a force in education for adults in undergraduate programs in Minneapolis and Rochester and six programs for graduates. Wow! Who would have thought? Well, thankfully for all of us, so many brilliant people had the foresight and perseverance to make it a reality. As alumni, we benefit from all that the College is and will become. Why? Because regardless of when we graduated, our degrees gain value as the College increases its visibility through the accomplishments and success of its programs, professors, and students. If you are like me, you place a great deal of value on your degree from Augsburg. Take care of it, nurture it, and invest in it through participation and giving. The students of today will one day bring greater value to it. With the close of the school year in June, my tenure as your president also came to an end. I am grateful for the opportunity to represent the alumni and have had a tremendous amount of fun. I turn this column over to a wonderful new leader, Joyce Miller, who will represent you with vigor and passion. i Good luck to you all and take care, October 2008 Alumni and friends, utumn is a season of great beauty. During this time, the Midwest becomes transformed into a menagerie of colors. This transformation within nature is a metaphor for the educational experience of an Augsburg alumnus/a and current student. Liberal arts courses nurture the growth of human talent and promote a sense of metanoia, defined as embracing thoughts beyond one’s present limitations. The menagerie of fall colors can represent the uniqueness of individuals and the intentionality of embracing diversity within our daily lives. Augsburg College promises an education like no other. This promise addresses the following three areas: a • To have a special regard for each other—This statement entails having respect for everyone’s unique talents, core values, and cultural traditions. • To provide an educational experience like no other—Education involves exploring a deeper understanding of faith and the search for meaning, developing a global perspective, engaging work within the community, and finding new ways of knowing to promote purposeful living. • To seek opportunities to develop—This promise promotes an expanded view of the world, stresses appreciating differences in others, seeks connections, sustains open dialogue, and prepares to lead in this complex environment. We can certainly look at these statements and realize how our education at Augsburg has played a role in the discovery of our meaningful career paths in the world. As I begin my presidency of the Alumni Association, I promise to use my leadership gifts to align the work of the Alumni Board with the mission, vision, and promise of the College. The Alumni Board members are committed to support the College’s vision—We believe we are called to serve our neighbor—through involvement in service activities, action projects, and campus events to enhance the work of the College. As alumni, stay connected by attending upcoming events such as Advent Vespers, athletic activities, theatre productions, or other alumni events. Or just simply keep in communication with us. Stay connected wherever you are! Looking forward to a great year. Sincerely, BUFFIE BLESI ’90, ’97 MAL OUTGOING ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT JOYCE P. MILLER ’02 (BSN-ROCHESTER), ’05 MAN ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Fall 2008 45 auggie reunion Alumni from more than six decades gathered with their classmates. Class of 1958 Reunion Attendees: James Almquist, Elyce (Lundquist) Arvidson, Robert Bagley, Dennis Barnaal, Vernon Berkness, Elaine (Nelson) Bernards, Birgit Birkeland, Doris (Johnson) Deml, Dale Evavold, Hugh Gilmore, Byron Golie, Mabeth (Saure) Gyllstrom, Aldemar (Johnson) Hagen, Kenneth Hagen, Anna (Hovland) Hanson, Betty (Johnson) Hass, Philip Heide, Carl Hellzen, Ruth (Thorsgard) Homme, Jerome Kleven, Gwen (Johnson) Krapf, Joanne (Stiles) Laird, Gary Lange, Gordon Lindgren, Alice (Lindell) Lindgren, Marilyn (Troy) Manley, Lydia (Dyrlid) Moe, Faye (Brenni) Moen, Wallace Oien, Roger Olson, Magne Olson, Alfred Reesnes, Ronald Stave, La Vone Studlien, Grace (Kemmer) Sulerud Class of 1968 Reunion Attendees: Ruth Aaskov, Ann (Larson) Anthonisen, W. Bruce Benson, Priscilla (Platt) Berg, Joel Bjerkestrand, David Boe, Donald Britt, Margaret (Engel) Catlett, Janet (Braaten) DeGaetano, John Eckberg, John Fahlberg, Douglas Frisk, JoAnne (Digree) Fritz, Mary (Michaelsen) Garmer, Jane (Eidsvoog) Gisselquist, James Gisselquist, Kim Gudmestad, Lynn Gunderson, Pamela (Fredrickson) Gunderson, Ione (Agrimson) Hanson, Theamarie (Loberg) Harriday, Leif Hartmark, Claudia (Melvie) Hartmark, David Heidtke, Donald Horner, James Hoseth, Gerald Jensen, Carole (Braud) Jensen, Theodore Johnson, Bruce Johnson, Herald Johnson, Frank Lawatsch, Pamela (Pilcher) Lawatsch, Janet (Letnes) Martin, Suzann (Johnson) Nelson, Charles Niles, Perilyn (Brown) Olsen, Kathryn Olson, Miriam (Cox) Peterson, Richard Quenemoen, John Roebke, James Romslo, Judith (Anderson) Schaubach, Jan (Pedersen) Schiff, Carolyn (Hanson) Schildgen, Gary Schmidt, Kathleen (Nyquist) Schornstein, Clair Severson, Myrna (Jorgenson) Sheie, Jo Anne Sylvester, Constance (Ackerson) Wanner, Patricia (Korogi) Wehr, Mary (Timm) Zimmerman 46 Augsburg Now homecoming AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER SEPTEMBER 22-27 Class of 1983 ’08 Reunion Attendees: Amanda Barrick, Mary (Thureson) Belden, Mary (Yurick) Bennett, William Bullock, Kevin Erickson, Mark Hassenstab, James Haugen, Les Heen, Scott Henderson, Annette (Walen) Hokanson, Miriam (Gisselquist) Jensen, Karina Karlen, Paul Kuehn, Pamela (Brakke) Lanning, Susan (Hackbarth) Lundquist, Daniel Nayman, Stephen Nayman, Karsten Nelson, Allison (Larges) O’Day, Timothy Olson, Mary (McNevin) Saari, Janet (Griffith) Sandford, Nora (Andersen) Sillerud, John Singh, Diane (Wood) Sponheim, Christine (Nelson) Swanson Class of 1998 (Left to right) August Negele, Erick Agrimson, Adam Buhr, Laura Pejsa, Angela (Loew) Reichart, Wade Johnson, Andry Andriambololona-Jercich, Phil Berglin Fall 2008 47 auggie alumni news Meet Kim Stone … DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS At the end of August, Kim Stone joined the Division of Institutional Advancement as director of alumni and constituent relations. Stone came to Augsburg from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla., where she was executive director of alumni programs and was responsible for the overall management and implementation of a comprehensive alumni relations program. She served as a liaison to various university offices and departments to further the mission of the University Alumni Association and to enhance the relationship between the alumni and their alma mater. Her experience there includes recruiting and engaging alumni volunteers to participate in alumni programs and events, preparing and administering annual budgets for the alumni programs office, and supervising a team of nine alumni professionals. Previously, Stone was at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., as director of alumni relations and coordinator of alumni programs. In these roles she managed the strategy of the Alumni Annual Fund and other university fundraising efforts. Stone organized and coordinated alumni Homecoming activities, was responsible for all alumni (90,000 worldwide) communications, and oversaw and supported the Alumni Council Board to enhance growth of the NSU Alumni Association. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication, with an emphasis in public relations, at Minnesota State University, Mankato. She also has a master’s degree in international business administration from Nova Southeastern University. Stone grew up in St. Paul and is excited to be back in the Twin Cities serving the members of the Augsburg community. She looks forward to engaging Augsburg alumni and constituents through strategic programming, effective communication, and volunteer development. To contact Kim Stone, call 612-330-1173 or 1-800-260-6590, or e-mail stonek@augsburg.edu. 48 Augsburg Now Augsburg license plates Display your Augsburg connection! Augsburg license plates are available through the Minnesota Department of Transportation. www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/PlBrochure/CollegiatePlates.htm Alumni e-mail for life Sign up for Auggie alumni e-mail for life. Contact Alumni Relations at alumni@augsburg.edu to request an account. The service is provided by Google Apps. Augsburg offers test prep courses Studying for the LSAT, GRE, or GMAT? Check with Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity Office (URGO) for courses offered throughout the year at a very reasonable cost. Courses are open to current students, alumni, and others in the Augsburg community. Go to www.augsburg.edu/urgo and select Test Prep for the ongoing schedules of classes. Get Involved. Volunteer! Would you like to be part of an exciting group of people who love Augsburg as much as you do? Volunteering is a great way to stay connected to the College and other alumni, and there are many ways to get involved. Join with fellow Auggies and help engage others to be part of the Augsburg experience. Augsburg Associates, Alumni Board, Advent Vespers, reunion committees, mentors, and Campus Kitchen are just some of the available opportunities. Let us know where your interest lies—call Pat Grans at 612-330-1329 or e-mail gransp@augsburg.edu. augsburg then Trinity Lutheran celebrates 140 years Augsburg College owes much of the reason for its presence in Minneapolis to Trinity Lutheran Congregation. In 1871, when the fledgling Augsburg Seminary was near bankruptcy in Marshall, Wisconsin, Trinity pastor Ole Paulson led a committee to secure the land, materials, and funding to establish Augsburg in Minneapolis, as the city was envisioned as a future center for Scandinavian-American culture. In 1896 Trinity Lutheran Congregation built a new church on the edge of Augsburg’s campus, which served as the venue for many Augsburg events over the years. This building fell victim to the construction in 1966 for the I-94 freeway. The altar painting that hung in that church, painted by Norwegian artist Markus Grønvold, was copied from his painting in St. John’s Church in Bergen, Norway, and shipped to Minneapolis. When Trinity’s church was razed, the painting was placed in storage. It now hangs in Hoversten Chapel, which has been Trinity Lutheran Congregation’s worship home for a number of years. 1963 Augsburgian In Memoriam Sateren, Leland B. ’35, Edina, Minn., age 94, on Nov. 10, 2007. Samuelson, Mary ’49, Brighton, Minn., age 81, on July 12. Aamodt, Bradford O. ’65, Plymouth, Minn., age 75, on Feb. 13. Schmidt, David Hans ’85, Phoenix, Ariz., age 47, in October 2007. Kruse, Una (Lee) ’38, Sunnyside, Wash., age 91, on Sept. 25, 2007. Calderwood, David ’50, Birchwood, Minn., age 81, on Sept. 18, 2007. Gruidl, Daniel J. ’93, Trophy Club, Texas, age 45, on Aug. 3, 2007. Torstenson, Joel ’38, Minneapolis, age 94, on Oct. 18, 2007. Howells, Richard ’52, Bloomington, Minn., age 78, on April 10. Longmire, Linda (Nelson) ’67, Kronenwetter, Wis., age 63, on July 29, of cancer. Quanbeck, Vardon M. ’40, McVille, N. Dak., age 86, on Dec. 24. Lundeen, Donovan T. ’53, Northfield, Minn., age 77, on June 7. Brooks, Chester L. ’42, Duluth, Minn., age 89, on March 5. Skogsbergh, Samuel P. ’53, Hayden, Idaho, age 77, on Aug. 25, 2007. Smith, Rev. Louis C. ’42, Riverside, Calif., age 86, on Sept. 5, 2007. Rykken, Franklyn “Lindy” ’56, Roseau, Minn., age 78, on May 2. Jensen, Rev. Louis F. ’48, Dubuque, Iowa, age 87, on June 24. Oliver, Rev. George “Jim” ’60, Baraboo, Wis., age 76, on Feb. 15, following complications from surgery. Henjum, Arnold E. ’49, Morris, Minn., age 82, on March 5. Hoffman, H. Wayne, Bloomington, Minn., age 82, on July 3. DeVrieze, Jerry D. ’64, Midland, Mich., age 66, on June 30, of multiple myeloma. Baumbach, Cynthia ‘70, Lake City, Minn., age 60, on July 1. Orpen, Julie Ann (Hoel) ’76, St. Peter, Minn., age 53, on June 15, of breast cancer. Quanbeck, Beth Marie ’76, West Des Moines, Iowa, age 53, on Nov. 12, 2007. Lumbar, Dean ’81, Edina, Minn., age 46, on Jan. 7, at home of complications from colon cancer. Brusletten, Nancy (Raaum) ’84, Shakopee, Minn., age 45, on Dec. 28, of cancer. Bedard, Mark T. ’95, Hudson, Wis., age 34, on Nov. 9, 2007, of injuries incurred on police duty. Feuer, Aaron ’07, unexpectedly in April. Eriksen, Rolf, Minneapolis, age 84, on Nov. 7, 2007, Augsburg’s first varsity soccer coach in 1970. Eklof, Edgar, Golden Valley, Minn., age 80, on Dec. 1, Music Department faculty during the 1960s. Hoel, Mathilda, St. Paul, age 95, on July 13, former registrar’s office and food service employee. Fall 2008 49 alumni class notes 50 Phebe Hanson was lauded at an event in March commemorating International Women’s Day and her 80th birthday. Readings by female poets and screenings of a short documentary about Phebe were featured, honoring her many years as a mentor to other writers. 56 Rev. James Parks is serving until June 30 as an English teacher in the ELCA’s Global Mission Department in a Lutheran High school in Kocise, Slovakia. His wife, Rose Ann, and their three children are planning trips to visit him and travel in Eastern Europe during the year. Previously he served an interim ministry in Outing, Minn., for several months, and traveled, including a van trip to Alaska. Lute Olson, head coach of the University of Arizona basketball team, announced his retirement after 24 years. His career there includes 23 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, 11 Pac-10 titles, four Final Four appearances, and the 1997 national championship. Judith Reynolds has recently retired from the Kenosha (Wisconsin) Public Library after 37 years of employment as a librarian. 57 67 Robert Goodrich has joined Timber Creek Golf Course in Watertown, Minn., as a golf pro, with 43 years of teaching experience. 59 Darrell Wiese retired from Augsburg after a longtime career as assistant coach in baseball and football. 60 Margaret (Homme) Hiner is retired in Phoenix, Ariz., where she has been since 1961 working as a recreation leader, substitute teacher, 4-H leader, and mother. At Augsburg, she played on the 195657 Auggiettes basketball team and has fond memories about how Coach LaVonne Peterson “let a kid who loved sports and basketball be on the team.” Lowell “Zeke” Ziemann is still working and loves his job as an agency compliance officer with Park Avenue Securities in Scottsdale, Ariz. 61nis in the Northland James Holden has written Ten, a history of boys’ high school tennis in Minnesota, covering its 75-year history with chapters about champions, prominent coaches and families, dynasty teams, and more. To learn about the book, go to www.jimholden.com. Dennis Kalpin has stepped down as head football coach at Alexandria (Minn.) High School after 17 years there. His total coaching career, all at the secondary school level, is 47 years. 50 64 Augsburg Now 65 66 Larry Hoff completed his third long-distance journey across the USA using no motorized vehicles. Over the summers of 2006 and 2007, Larry canoed and bike-portaged from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. In 2002-2003 he hiked the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail, a “life-changing” event. In 2004 he bicycled approximately 10,000 miles around the perimeter of the USA. Before retirement in 2000, Hoff was teacher and assistant principal at Superior High School in Wisconsin. Carleen (Nordin) Tjader recently retired after teaching third grade for 23 years in the New Richmond (Wis.) school district (before and after a “15-year maternity leave” to raise her children). Each year her classes have adopted a manatee in Florida, plus made a quilt containing squares made by each student. She looks forward to traveling with her husband, Mike; spending time with her grandsons; volunteering at church; and trying her hand at writing. 69 Diane (Helgeson) Carter completed a 21-year career teaching seventh-grade English in the Hudson (Wis.) Middle School and in retirement plans to use her time for gardening and travel. She and her husband, Jim, have two children— daughter Kirsten, who also is a teacher, and son, Matthew. 72 Tom Haas continues to work at Park Nicollet Clinic in Minneapolis, where he recently stepped down after a decade in department chair leadership roles. He has now had more time to spend at the family lake home, continue collecting jazz and classical LPs, and more seriously resume playing his trumpet. Jacqueline (Wolhart) Harvestine completed her first year as a fulltime Master of Divinity student at Luther Seminary. Kathy (Seim) Tilderquist, a business teacher, was selected in January by her co-workers as “Teacher of the 70 Earlier this year, along with their spouses, five Auggies in the Class of 1970 who lived together in a house on campus celebrated the 40th anniversary of their becoming roommates. They continue to meet once a month for lunch as well. (L to R, back row: Lynn [Benson] Hjelmeland ’69, Terry Nygaard ’70, Phil Walen ’70, John Hjelmeland ’70, Paul Mikelson ’70, Barbara Harden, and John Harden ’70. Front row: Vicki Nygaard, Teri Walen, and Barbara [Durkee] Mikelson ’71. Year” at Cannon Falls (Minn.) High School. She began as a math teacher, but has taught in the business department since 1987. She wrote the curriculum for many courses and has taught students on equipment ranging from manual typewriters to modern computers. has earned 10 medals and was the first to earn medals in four different sports. He is a professor of professional and physical education at Bemidji State University and was the first person in the U.S. with a visual impairment to earn a doctoral degree in physical education. 73 74 Jim Mastro, a pioneer in athletics for the blind, was honored with the 2008 Medal of Courage award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla. As a Paralympic athlete, he Rev. James Arends, pastor at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in LaCrescent, Minn., was elected June 7 to a six-year term as bishop of the La Crosse (Wis.) Area Synod in the Evangelical Lutheran 72 Ronald Johnson, principal at Hutchinson (Minn.) High School, was named in February as the 2008 Minnesota High School Principal of the Year. He is also a candidate for the National High School Principal of the Year, to be announced at the 2009 National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) convention in February. He will join other state honorees at the Principals Institute in Washington D.C. this fall. 74 Scot Davis was honored as Wrestling USA magazine’s 2007 Coach of the Year. This year he won his 800th varsity career coaching victory, the most career wins of any wrestling coach in U.S. history. He has been at Owatonna High School for 21 years, leading 10 “Top 25” nationally-ranked Owatonna teams. ber of the Minnesota Baseball Association. high school principal at Rugby High School for the past 11 years. 77 81 Rev. Mark Braaten recently published his second book, Prayer as Joy, Prayer as Struggle, by Liturgical Press. It studies prayer through biblical and personal stories, and explores prayer as both a gift and struggle. His first book, in 2006, is Come Lord Jesus: A Study of Revelation. He is senior pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Tyler, Texas, a bilingual congregation worshiping in English and Spanish. Kurts Strelnieks recently joined Associated Commercial Finance, Inc., in Eagan, Minn., as their Minnesota market manager. 78 Dennis J. Meyer was named the first chief marketing officer at Ellerbe Becket, a global design firm. He will be based in their Minneapolis office and serve on the firm’s leadership team to develop and execute its global marketing strategy and implement the firm’s vision. Naomi Williamson opened a new restaurant, Sanctuary, on Washington Avenue in Minneapolis. 79 77 Heidi (Leaf) Haagenson has published a book, The Tenney Quilt, which tells the story of a quilt with 700 signatures created in 1928 in Tenney—Minnesota’s smallest city of six people—as a fundraiser for the local dance hall. She is the special projects coordinator at Ridgewater College in Willmar, and is married to David Haagenson ’76. 79 Phil Madsen and his wife, Diane, own and operate a truck used to transport expedited freight, traveling the 48 states and Canada. Read their stories from the road at www.successfulexpediters.com Church in America (ELCA). He will be installed on October 18. gion Coach of the Year, and the Big Ten Coach of the Year. Phil Lundin was named the men’s cross country and track and field coach at St. Olaf College. Since 1986 he has coached at the University of Minnesota, including the last 13 years as head men’s track and field coach. In 2003 Phil was named U.S. Track Coaches Association Coach of the Year, the Midwest Re- Bill Nelson, manager of the Dundas (Minn.) Dukes amateur baseball team and part of that team for over 30 years, was inducted into the Minnesota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame in September 2007. He has also served as head baseball coach at Carleton College and has been executive director and a board mem- Linda Sue Anderson played the part of Miss Prism in Pendulum Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest earlier this year at the Loading Dock Theatre in downtown St. Paul. David Cherwien directs the National Lutheran Choir, which dedicated its May 3 concert to the memory of Leland Sateren ’35 and performed five of his works. Debra (Mercier) Peters earned a Certified Management Accountant designation in April 2007. She is a finance manager/controller for Pella Windows and Doors and lives in Bloomington, Minn. David Zwingel has been named the 2007 North Dakota Secondary Principal of the Year by the North Dakota Association of Secondary School Principals, with sponsorship also from Met Life. He has been the Rev. Richard Buller was elected chaplain of the Minnesota House of Representatives by its members on March 10. He is pastor at Valley Community Presbyterian Church in Golden Valley and a member of the board of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. His son, Peter, is a sophomore at Augsburg. Pamela Crowell began on July 1 as the new vice president for research at Idaho State University in Pocatello. Previously she was the associate dean for research and graduate education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science. Janna (Wallin) Haug and her husband, Rev. Arden Haug, have accepted an assignment to Bratislava, Slovakia, where he was called as regional representative to Europe for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Division for Global Mission. Janna accompanies him as the associate in that position, along with their two sons, Vitali and Alexei. Dr. Erik Kanten was named the 2008 Family Physician of the Year by the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP). He practices at the RiverView Clinic in Crookston, Minn., and at clinics in Fertile and Red Lake Falls. He also sees students at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, on campus. Dana (Holmes) McIntyre traveled to China in fall 2007 as head coach of one of two female Special Olympics basketball teams from the U.S. for the 2007 World Games in Shanghai. She has been a recreation therapist at Minnesota Extended Treatment Options. 82 Jane Maland Cady joined the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis in April as international program director and will oversee McKnight’s grantmaking in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Fall 2008 51 alumni class notes 87 Deanna Germain published a memoir, Reaching Past the Wire, about her 18 months serving as a nurse in Kuwait and Iraq, which included time as chief nurse in the Abu Ghraib prison following the revelations of abuse and violence. Tammy Johndro-Pressley was named director of external communications at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill. Previously, she was manager of business development at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, Ill. Karen Reed received an Award for Superior Accomplishment in December from the Department of Mental Health of California. She is a music therapist at Atascadero State Hospital and was commended for her plan to lower restraints, seclusion, and lengths of stay in restraints for people in the Mentally Disordered Offender program by over 50 percent. Devoney Looser’s book, Women Writers and Old Age in Great Britain, 1750-1850, was published by Johns Hopkins University Press in August. Go to www.press.jhu.edu/books/ title_pages/9473.html. Devoney currently serves as president of the Midwest Modern Language Association, a non-profit organization of teachers and scholars of literature, language, and culture, and will preside at its meeting in Minneapolis, Nov. 13-16. Bruce Smith began teaching physical education to sixth through twelfth grades and high school Spanish, in addition to coaching B-squad football, at LeRoy-Ostrander (Minn.) School in September. 88 Melanie Herrera opened a franchise in Apple Valley, Minn., of Butterfly Life Fitness, which focuses around solutions for fitness, weight loss, and healthy living for women. Melanie was Augsburg’s first female All-American athlete. Anne Panning’s collection of short stories, Super America, was published in October. The New York Times Book Review said, “[It] radiates infectious optimism … Her enchanting Norahs and Alices, Tobys and Theos drag you effortlessly into their very American lives … ." 89 Rev. La Andriamihaja, pastor of Jordan New Life Church in North Minneapolis, helped launch the “Jordan New Life Hub” to help residents identify social services. The project is a partnership sponsored by the ELCA between suburban and urban congregations to bring volunteers together. Geoffrey Gage was named in September 2007 to the University of St. Thomas Board of Trustees. He is founder and president of the Geoffrey Carlson Gage marketing and advertising firm. 52 Augsburg Now 94 Brad Klein and his wife, Lanica (Lynch) ’95 proudly announce the birth of their identical twin boys, Noah Addison and Micah Andrew. They were born on July 1, 2007, shortly after Brad and Lanica celebrated their 10th anniversary on June 21. Brad is a senior systems analyst at the ELCA Board of Pension, and Lanica is public school librarian turned stayat-home mom for the near future. lanicak@att.net. 94 95 Dan Werner and his wife, Shayne Hamann, welcomed the birth of their twin sons, Drake and Dylan, born on May 10, 2007, who are on their way to becoming future Auggie football players, like their dad. 97 Tracy (Holloway) Drier and her husband, Thane ’99, announced the birth of their son, Caden August, on March 15, 2007. He joins big brother Tristan, 3. Michelle (Strauss) Ohnstad returned to work after being a stay-at-home mom and has two positions—head librarian at La Jolla Country Day School and library media specialist at Pacific Ridge School. She is also co-editor of the AIM Library & Information Staffing Bulletin Blog. Rachel (Roth) Erkkila is the registrar for the Des Moines (Iowa) Area Community College. Previously she was registrar at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn., and Walden University in Minneapolis. Mark Lorenzen and Dawn Van Tassel ’95, St. Louis Park, Minn., welcomed their first child, daughter Julia Grace Lorenzen, on Aug. 2, 2007. 91 Carla Beaurline, founder, cohost, co-producer, and account executive of “Around Town” Media, won the Twin Cities Media Network Diamond Award for TV Personality of the Year. In addition, she won TV Sales Person of the Year. “Around Town” airs on Metro Cable Network Channel 6 in Minneapolis. Tom Ross is the new associate head coach-defense at Hanover College in Hanover, Ind. 92 Larry Anderson published a book, Raptured Alive: Return of a Prodigal Son, in September 2007 and writes music for his gospel band. Gregory Stohr was named vice president of sales at Transtar Autobody Technologies in Brighton, Mich., a manufacturer of automotive refinish and bodyshop repair products. Sharol Tyra, of Life Illumination presentation and coaching, was elected to serve a two-year term on the Minnesota Board of Directors of the National Speakers Association. 94 Jennifer (Feine) Hellie ’04 MAL accepted a position as development coordinator at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp in Amery, Wis. Previously she worked as an admissions counselor and academic adviser at Augsburg. 95 Noelle (Hallblade) Epp was named as marketing communications specialist in October at Professional Services Marketing, Inc. in New Brighton, Minn., and will focus on copywriting services. Dave Manka was named assistant volleyball coach at North Dakota State University in February. 96 Scott Magelssen and his wife, Theresa (Hoar) ’95, live in Bowling Green, Ohio, with their son, Trygg Magelssen, born in 2005. Scott teaches in the graduate theatre program at Bowling Green State University and published a book in spring 2007 about living history museums. Theresa teaches first grade at Powell Elementary School in North Baltimore, Ohio. 98 Aaron Cross and Katrina Grimsey were married, after 15 years of friendship, first in the United Kingdom and then in the U.S. on July 6, 2007. Aaron is a motivational speaker and received Augsburg’s First Decade Award in 2005. They live south of London. aaron.cross@motivationonwheels.com 99 Lisa Nos-Tollefson married Mark Tollefson in December 2006. Lisa and Mark welcomed the birth of Taylor Elizabeth on Nov. 20, 2007. Dr. Martin Richards was featured in the Hudson Star Observer in July about the geothermal heat pump system he had installed at his home. He expects to use only one-tenth of the liquid propane gas that he used last year without the pump. He is an emergency room physician at United Hospital in St. Paul, at the Baldwin (Wis.) hospital and emergency rooms in Regina and Hastings, Minn. 98 99 Chris and Jaime (Kyle) ’01 Rothe moved last fall to Rochester, Minn., with Kennedy, 2, and AJ, three months old. 00 Kathleen (Lindquist) Blilie and her husband, Eric, welcomed the birth of Erin Catherine, three months early on June 15, 2007, weighing 2 lb., 9 oz. She joins big brothers Andrew and Alexander and is loved by her uncle, Orville Lindquist ’96. Philip Berglin was named the 2006 Minnesota Businessman of the Year as a top U.S. business leader successfully integrating business and financial success. In March 2006 he traveled to Washington, D.C., to receive the award, attend a breakfast with President Bush, and begin to meet over a three-month period with Minnesota legislators. He works at the Rum River Lumber Company in Coon Rapids. Stacie (Ferrazzo) Chiodi and her husband, Ron, welcomed the birth of Cyrus Samuel, on February 5, born in Bennington, Vt. Tom Ruffaner was presented the Individual Achievement Commuter Choice Award by MetroTransit Rideshare in November for promoting commuter benefits and alternate modes of transportation. 99 00 Jennifer (Crego) and Chad Carls welcomed their fourth son on July 10, 2007. Nicholas Isaac joins brothers Tommy, 5, A.J., 3, and Brock, 2. Chad is getting his administrative license (in education) and Jen is home with the boys. 00 Trena Bolden Fields and Jerome Fields ’01 announced the birth of their daughter, Kayla Lee, born Aug. 18, 2007. Jill Ruprecht was married to Joseph Camp on Sept. 2, 2007 in Macomb, Ill. They currently live in Chicago. 00 MacAdam Gordon and Nicole Robertson were married on November 10 in Minneapolis. He works as an insurance agent at Ray Smith Insurance in Plymouth, Minn. 01 Hilary English Crook married Jacob Seljan in Duluth, Minn., on September 29, 2007. The wed- ding party included Emily Crook ’07 as maid of honor, Eilidh Reyelts ’06 as personal attendant, and DJ Hamm ’08 as usher. Also in attendance were Auggies Nancy English ’73, Ann Bostelmann Webster ’96, Karin (Sabo) Mantor ’86, Julie Sabo ’90, and Martin Sabo ’59. Norwegian professor Frankie Shackelford also attended. Hilary is an attorney working at Thomson West in Legal Sales, and Jacob is vice president of the Risk Analytics Department of US Bancorp. They live in Minnetonka. Jessica (Norman) Hafemeyer opened a law firm in Faribault, Minn., on August 1, 2007, Ibeling Hafemeyer, Ltd. The practice includes family law, bankruptcy, and estate/probate law. www.ibelinghaemeyer.com. Angie Rieger was named an assistant hockey coach at Hamline University. She has also been chosen to join the Whitecaps, Minnesota’s first professional women’s hockey team. Nicole (Warner) Simml, currently living in Frankfurt, Germany, performed a recital of 20th-century American music last November at the American Consul General’s residence in Markkleeberg. 02 Amy Carlson has completed the surgical technology program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and has accepted a surgical technician position at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis. Lindsay (Bonner) Pavelka directed the Galveston Island Children’s Chorus last year from September through December. In summer 2007, she developed and directed Summer on Stage, a children’s performing arts camp with the east-end theatre company in Galveston. She is an arts educator, voice instructor, and actress in the Galveston area, where she lives with her husband, Matthew. Zac Schnedler began last fall 03as a school/guidance coun- selor for grades 7-12 in the Braham (Minn.) school district. Fall 2008 53 alumni class notes Sara Willcut is in her first season on the Minnesota Swarm Performance Dance Team as well as teaching dance, coaching dance teams, and taking classes. She recently launched Ascending Star Dance, an online dance magazine, and helped form the Ascending Star Dance team, which performs at semi-professional football games in the MidAmerican Football League. She also volunteers with her teams for Feed My Starving Children. 04 Kelly Chapman graduated magna cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, Calif. She is the winner of a full scholarship to attend the International Koefia Academy of Haute Couture and Art of Costume in Italy. She is currently studying Italian in preparation for her study. Abbey Payeur is a sixth-grade integrated language arts and social studies teacher at Oak View Middle School in Andover, Minn. In May she was honored as one of the 20 recipients of the Teacher Outstanding Performance (TOP) awards, presented by the Anoka-Hennepin School District. She was also one of four winners of a $1,000 grant for a project at her school, plus a cash award. Laura Simones completed the Ford Ironman Florida 2007 triathlon last fall, placing 872 out of the nearly 2600 participants and 18 of 68 in her division. In addition she completed the Triple By-Pass in Colorado (100+ miles with three climbs over 10,000 ft.) and then biked back to Minnesota. 05 Michael Howard is a communications specialist at the Minnesota House of Representatives. michaelhoward10@gmail.com Jeremiah Knabe received a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary on June 16. Rebecca Welle ran the New York Marathon last fall, finishing 4422 in the field of 40,000 runners. She cut about six minutes off her previous personal best, finishing in 3:31:56. 54 Augsburg Now 07 Aaron Dowzak and Emily Hull were married on Sept. 1, 2007, and moved to Port St. Lucie, Fla., where Aaron is director of youth and family junior and senior high at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and where they will love happily ever after. Christianna Schmit is interning in music therapy at University Hospitals, Case Medical Campus, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her supervisor and their music therapy program were recently featured in the “Making a Difference” segment on NBC Nightly News. 01 Marie and Brent Odenbrett ’02 welcomed the birth of Emma Louise Marie on Oct. 19, 2007. 02 02 John Goodale married Crystal Thompson at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Swanville, Minn., on July 28, 2007. Crystal is a 2004 graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and is employed at Graco, Inc. in NE Mpls as a channel marketing specialist. John is employed as an account executive at Novus Print Media in Plymouth. They live in Maple Grove, Minn. 03 Nicolas Thomley ’06 MBA was featured last fall in Twin Cities Business and honored in January in their 2007 Small Business Success Stories as the co-founder (at age 19) of Pinnacle Services, Inc. This company, which has grown rapidly, provides services to people with disabilities, including help in finding housing and employment, in-home care, etc. She works during the day at the Center for International Health at Regions Hospital. Her husband, Rev. Tchanong Hurh, is pastor at House of God Trinity Christian Church in St. Paul. Frank Huebner and his wife, Elizabeth, announced the birth of their son, Andrew, on July 13, 2007. They live in New Prague, Minn. Tim Wahl and Lisa Uehling were married on Aug. 18, 2007, in Rochester, Minn. They live in Minneapolis where Tim teaches math at Rosemount High School and Lisa works in the Technology Leadership Program at Target headquarters in Minneapolis. Katie Winter began in Sept. 2007 as a reporter for the Pipestone County Star in Pipestone, Minn. Graduate Programs Jeff Falkingham ’95 MAL was a finalist in the Young Adult Fiction category of the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group 2008 Next Generation Indie Book Awards for his book, Sherlock Holmes and the County Courthouse Caper. The book was originally published by Beavers Pond Press of Edina, Minn., in September 2001 and re-released in June 2007, with all proceeds going to flood victims in Jeff’s hometown of Browns Valley, Minn. www.cccaper.com Jim Addington ’93 MAL was named a “Facing Race Ambassador” by the St. Paul Foundation for the work he has done over many years and through the Minnesota Collaborative Anti-Racism Initiative that he and his late wife, Imani-Nadine Addington, founded in 1995. Jim has helped more than 20,000 people at churches, colleges, and public institutions to understand and dismantle racism. Heather Reeve ’00 PA has been a physician assistant at the ELEAH Medical Center in Elbow Lake, Minn . May Mua ’01 PA has partnered with Dr. Phua Xiong to establish Quik Urgent Care Clinic, the first Asian American privately-owned and operated urgent care facility in St. Paul. Danny Storm and Sarah Schultz ’04 were married in Hoversten Chapel on Aug. 2. Danny is an audit/tax accountant with Denny Hecker Automotive Group and Sarah is a child protection social worker with Hennepin county in Minneapolis. They live in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Alissa Abelson ’06 MSW welcomed a baby girl, Madilyn Gwen, on July 21, 2007. She lives in New York and is a social worker at FEGS in downtown Manhattan. Gwen Nordahl ’07 PA joined the Battle Lake Clinic in Battle Lake, Minn., as a physician assistant in October. Send us your news and photos 03 Emily Gerard and her husband, Craig Maus, welcomed their daughter, Caroline Mae, on Feb. 8. 04 Julie Andert and Jeremy Nelson ’05 were married on Oct. 20 in Pax Christi Catholic Community Church in Eden Prairie, Minn. Wedding party Auggies included Kiera Peterson ’04, Rebeca Welle ’05, Joshua Remme ’06, Tyler Kraft ’06, and Joseph Wessbecker ’04. Julie works in human resources at West Side Community Health Services, and Jeremy works for Comcast in Sales and Marketing. They built a home together in Blaine. Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, or e-mail to alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news to the Augsburg Online Community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Full name Maiden name Class year or last year attended Street address 05 Jamie Ann Johnson married Christopher Kerestes in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. They live in Newark, Del., where Jamie is pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at the University of Delaware and an associate degree in nursing through Delaware Technical and Community College. Chris is a research assistant and PhD candidate in electrical engineering working to improve solar cells for solar energy. City, State, Zip Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Home telephone 05 Paul Raukar and Chelsea Haxton welcomed the birth of their son, Evan Tyler, on May 30, 2007, born in Virginia, Minn. Paul is a self-employed business owner. praukar77@hotmail.com E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Employer Position Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No If yes, class year Spouse’s name Maiden name 06 Ryan Adrian-Hendrick Rivard and Kristin Gulbrandson announce the birth of their daughter Nora Lucille Rivard, born Dec. 31, 2006. They live in Evanston, Ill., where Ryan is a student at Chicago-Kent College of Law. riss23@gmail.com Sara Holman married David 06Nash on July 26 in Wisconsin Your news: Dells, Wis. They currently live in Omaha, Neb., where Sara is a copywriter for THT Designs and David is a medical student at Creighton University. Fall 2008 55 my Auggie experience Patrick Flood ’08 B.S., social work, with a minor in religion Patrick Flood, a 2008 graduate, reflected on his four years at Augsburg… “During opening convocation in 2004, the freshmen marched to the chapel as professors lined the path, clapping and welcoming us. They didn’t know us yet but they were there to support us. After four long years, many of those same professors once again lined up on Commencement day, clapping and congratulating us on a job well done. I couldn’t have imagined on that first day what the impact of this would be. How I became an Auggie: It was important for me to stay in the ELCA family, since my mother is a Lutheran pastor. Attending a small private liberal arts college in an urban setting also appealed to me. (What really sold me, however, were Augsburg’s skyways and tunnels that make life much more comfortable in the dead of winter!) Augsburg highlight: During my junior year I had an opportunity to study abroad by taking a spring semester course—Social Work in a Latin American Context—through the Center for Global Education (CGE). The program was centered in Cuernavaca, Mexico and focused on experiential learning, global perspectives, and social and economic justice. During the semester I took a Spanish language class, three classes in social work, and completed an internship at Las Palomas, a local nursing home. … I learned a lot about the differences between our cultures. In Mexico it’s much more traditional for the elderly to be cared for by their children; they become part of the nuclear family structure. The number of elderly in nursing homes is much lower than in the U.S. The Augsburg impact: Conversations with professors and students had a very positive influence on me. My religion class with Professor Mary Lowe challenged my thoughts and beliefs. Her enthusiasm rubs off on students and pushes them to think critically and analytically about the Bible and how that can translate into bigger issues. Next steps: Although I am a social work major, I was a student worker in Augsburg’s Institutional Advancement office for four years. I learned about the importance of giving back to the community through philanthropy and stewardship. Because of those experiences and one-on-one mentoring, I’m interested in pursuing an entry-level job in development. Wherever life takes me, I feel well prepared for the journey, thanks to Augsburg. INTERVIEWED BY JENNIFER L. HIPPLE, WEEKEND COLLEGE STUDENT 56 Augsburg Now CAROLYN AND DALE ’60 HANKA are firm believers in free enterprise and entrepreneurship, a fact that’s reflected in their successful careers. Carolyn was a university marketing instructor; Dale was a financial planner and bank president. Together they owned and managed a title company. Now retired, the couple is acknowledging the importance of Augsburg College to their success by establishing an endowed scholarship. “We thoroughly appreciated our time as students at Augsburg College. The College gave us so much—small classes, individual attention from professors, and the opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership. Today the College is still a very special place. Faculty and staff challenge students to grow in academic achievement as well as in personal relationships. The College’s vision that “we are called to serve our neighbor” is vital to the college community, the community “The College gave us so much— small classes, individual attention from professors, and the opportunity to learn teamwork and leadership.” around Augsburg, and the world we live in. When we decided to acknowledge the importance of Augsburg in our lives by establishing the Dale and Carolyn Hanka Business Scholarship, Augsburg provided us with the ideas and counsel that made it easy through a charitable gift annuity. Not only does it establish a scholarship, but we receive income and tax benefits. The best benefit? Knowing that scholarships make an Augsburg education possible for so many students.” YOU HAVE A VISION FOR AUGSBURG. P L A N N E D G I V I N G C A N M A K E I T A R E A L I T Y. Become a member of the Sven Oftedal Society at Augsburg by making a gift through your will, trust, life insurance, or other planned gift. There are many ways to give a gift that will last a lifetime and make a difference for Augsburg students. 1-800-273-0617 www.augsburg.edu/giving Watercolor Taking advantage of the beautiful fall colors along the Mississippi River, art professor Tara Sweeney took her beginning watercolor class down along the St. Paul shoreline. 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031
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Augsburg Now Fall 2007
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Augsburg Now Fall 2007
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705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 1 Augsburg Now SUMMER ACTIVITIES P. 12 IMMERSED IN BOLCOM P. 18 SOCIAL WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE P. 24 A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS FA L L 2 0 0 7 VOL. 70, NO. 1 Making orchids more affordable page...
Show more 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 1 Augsburg Now SUMMER ACTIVITIES P. 12 IMMERSED IN BOLCOM P. 18 SOCIAL WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE P. 24 A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS FA L L 2 0 0 7 VOL. 70, NO. 1 Making orchids more affordable page 14 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 2 Editor Notes from President Pribbenow on… Collaborating with our sister colleges and universities Y ou’ll read in this issue about a special program organized last spring to celebrate the musical legacy of the American composer, William Bolcom. The program, called “Illuminating Bolcom,” is a fine example of the sorts of remarkable opportunities our students enjoy as a result of our collaborative relationship with sister colleges and universities in the Twin Cities. Organized with our partners in the Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC)— Augsburg, the College of St. Catherine, Hamline University, Macalester College, and the University of St. Thomas—this special program gave our students and faculty unprecedented access to performances, master classes, and informal experiences with a world-class musical talent. What a privilege it has been for me to experience the many collegial and genuinely collaborative relationships that exist between Augsburg and its sister colleges and universities. Surely it is a sign of abundance that we can partner with higher education institutions that perhaps once were seen primarily as competition for students. Today, I believe these same institutions are modeling the sort of collaborative efforts that lead to innovation, a careful use of important resources, and a perspective on life in the world that eschews the sort of scarcity thinking and living that our culture promotes. We care deeply at Augsburg about living with a sense of abundance, and here are several collaborations I would like to lift up. We participate with the other 27 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in regular gatherings for administration and faculty members. In addition, many of the ELCA institutions participate together in insurance partnerships, tuition savings programs for parents, and tuition exchange programs for faculty and staff. Our partnerships also are sources of good ideas and best practices for our institutions, even as we celebrate our common links to the Lutheran church and its abiding commitment to vocation and education. We are proud charter members of the Minnesota Private College Council (MPCC), which serves as an advocacy, fundraising, and public affairs partnership for 17 private colleges and universities in Minnesota. Together we have a significant impact on creating awareness of, and access to, higher education in our state. ACTC is an innovative partnership begun more than 35 years ago that allows our students to register for courses on all five campuses; that organizes joint programs like the “Illuminating Bolcom” series; and that has created administrative partnerships that save our schools more than $2 million annually on supplies and services. Our athletic conference, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), is one of the premier small college conferences in the country and includes 13 of Minnesota’s private colleges and universities. There are several other national organizations in which we proudly participate: Campus Compact, which brings together colleges and universities dedicated to the public and civic role of our institutions; the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), to which we turn for best practices in teaching, learning, and administration, and tuition exchange opportunities for our faculty and staff; the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), our lobbying consortium in Washington, DC; and the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), working with us to promote the continuing relevance of liberal arts education in the 21st century. Surely these various partnerships and collaborative relationships point to the remarkable opportunities we have to enhance the Augsburg experience for all of our students and to model a way of working together, across institutional boundaries, to serve the public good. Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Staff Writer Bethany Bierman bierman@augsburg.edu Creative Director Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Class Notes Designer Signe Peterson petersos@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Media Relations Manager Judy Petree petree@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni Relations Heidi Breen breen@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published quarterly by Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, Minn., 55454. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services, CB 142 Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 Paul C. Pribbenow, president 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 3 10 Fall 2007 Contents Features 12 Summer activities Faculty and students take advantage of their summer time to pursue diverse activities on and off campus. 18 Immersed in Bolcom by Betsey Norgard A two-week festival gave Augsburg musicians extraordinary access to a renowned American composer. 22 Faith, vision, and a call to Guyana by Betsey Norgard Ruth Singh responded to a call 13 years ago to help the people in her homeland. 24 Social work for social justice by Holley Locher, with Michele Braley and Nils Dybvig 18 A couple gives up their Twin Cities jobs to become peacemakers amidst violence. © 2006 Katryn Conlin for VocalEssence Departments On the Cover: Chemistry major Caryn Quist experiments with chemical compounds, seeking less-expensive ways to grow orchids. 2 Around the Quad 8 Sports 11 Supporting Augsburg 27 Alumni News 29 Class Notes 32 Views All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 4 AROUND THE QUAD Teaching and learning awards The Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning Awards honor significant contributions to teaching and learning at Augsburg by faculty and staff in the areas of teaching, mentoring and advising, and services to students. The 2007 awards went to: Doug Green, professor of English, for teaching; to Susan O’Connor (center), associate professor of education, for mentoring and advising; and to Lois Olson (left), director of the Center for Service, Work, and Learning, for service to students. Congratulations, faculty! Tenure granted Keith Gilsdorf, economics Tenure granted and promotion to associate professor Phillip Adamo, history Lori Brandt Hale, religion Stella Hofrenning, economics Barbara Lehmann, social work David Matz, psychology Scholarships awarded for 2007-08 by the ELCA Foundation. Junior Reid Larson was named a first alternate and received $3,000 for academic expenses. The Rossing Physics Scholarships were established by gifts from Dr. Thomas D. Rossing, who taught at Northern Illinois University and St. Olaf College. They seek to encourage top physics students to attend ELCA colleges and universities, to help ELCA schools recruit top physics students, and to encourage students at ELCA schools to consider majoring in physics. This is the third year they have been awarded by the ELCA Foundation. Two students participate in international music program Meghan Sherer, who graduated in May, and senior Krista Costin were accepted to the Festivalensemble Stuttgart, a choir that is part of the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, founded and directed by conductor and artistic director Helmuth Rilling. They spent a month in Germany from Aug. 17-Sept. 13, with all expenses paid, together with a worldwide group of about 100 selected musicians. The performances included Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, and Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.The first two weeks, the choir rehearsed in southern Germany and then traveled for two weeks, performing in various festivals. In addition to the European Music Festival Stuttgart, they sang in the Rheingau Music Festival, Beethovenfest Bonn, and in Dresden, Halle, and Berlin. For several years, Augsburg has been one of the 24 audition sites around the world, and this is the first time that any Augsburg students have been accepted. Sherer performed with Augsburg’s Gospel Praise, and was a soloist with the group at the June Commencement. She graduated cum laude in May with a Bachelor of Music degree in music performance. Costin toured with the Augsburg Choir last year to Germany and the Czech Republic, and was a soloist at their Leipzig concert. 2 AUGSBURG NOW Darcey Engen leads “The Mother Project” A collaborative theatre project, staged at the Open Eye Figure Theatre in August, told the stories of six mothers from different ethnic backgrounds and traditions, across generations, who all tried to juggle their identities as care-giver, teacher, parent, worker, and leader. Darcey Engen ’88, assistant professor of theatre arts, led the collaboration of mothers—Jeany Parks, Nanci Olesen, Maria Asp, Sonny Case, Erin Carlson Sutton ’03, and herself—who created the work through writing exercises, recounting their individual journeys through motherhood. According to Engen, the women were drawn to “The Mother Project’ because each had grown restless seeking a place where their experiences could be told, and not finding it in literature, television, drama, or cinema. Kent Bodurtha receives Rossing Physics Scholarship Senior physics major Kent Bodurtha was awarded one of the two new $10,000 Rossing Physics Theatre arts professor Darcey Engen ‘88 worked with five colleagues to stage a presentation about their journeys and experiences of being mothers. Meghan Sherer ’07 Krista Costin ’08 ELCA News Service NOTEWORTHY 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 5 Physician assistants celebrate 10 years Augsburg’s Physician Assistant Studies program celebrated the 10th anniversary of its first graduating class at a reception and dinner on Sept. 15. Members of the graduating Class of 1997 attended, along with other graduates and faculty. “It was truly special to have so many classmates and original faculty join us to celebrate,” said David Barlow, a graduate of the Class of 1997 and current assistant professor in the program. “We’re fortunate to be part of a fabulous profession that makes a difference in so many lives.” One of the program’s early faculty members who couldn’t attend wrote, “In general terms, [the 1997] class most likely recently passed the one million mark in patients seen.” The 1997 physician assistant class, shown here as they graduated from Augsburg’s new program, reunited for a 10th-anniversary celebration in September, after treating probably more than one million patients during the decade. ELCA News Service Mark Hanson re-elected presiding bishop Rev. Mark Hanson ’68 was solidly re-elected presiding bishop of the ELCA for a second six-year term on Aug. 7, at the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Chicago. He is the third presiding bishop of the ELCA, is the second to be reelected, and is the second Augsburg graduate to serve in the ELCA’s highest elected office. “Six years ago I said that I do not view this as an election won but a call received,” Hanson told the assembly. “I view what you have done today [as] the affirming of that call to which I continue to hold with great humility and deep gratitude.” Prior to his election as presiding bishop in 2001, he and his wife, Ione (Agrimson) ’68, lived in the Twin Cities where he was bishop of the Saint Paul Area Synod. Several of their children have attended Augsburg. tration. She also served on the Institutional Review Board and was its chair for over a number of years. Sharon Patten, social work, is mourned The Augsburg community mourns the death of Sharon Patten, associate professor of social work at Augsburg for 16 years, who died from cancer in hospice care on Aug. 25. She was instrumental in the development of the Master of Social Work program, particularly in creating the Program Development, Policy, and Administration concen- Sharon Patten Bishop Mark Hanson ‘68 FALL 2007 3 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:19 PM Page 6 AROUND THE QUAD Star Tribune/Minneapolis-St. Paul 2007 Dan Schueller ’83 Coping with the bridge collapse Dan Schueller ’83 was on his normal bike commute from work along West River Parkway on August 1, when fate placed him as one of the first persons on the scene of the monumental collapse of the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River, just a mile from Augsburg’s campus. Tragically, Sherry Engebretsen, who worked for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and is the mother of Augsburg first-year student Jessica Engebretsen, was one of the 13 people killed in the bridge collapse. Several Augsburg staff were near the bridge when it fell, and at least one of them helped rescuers with victims on the wreckage. In the week that followed, Augsburg provided space on campus for the American Red Cross to set up a Family Courtesy photo After hearing a crack and seeing a cloud of dust in front of him, from the rubble he began to hear crying and moaning. “That’s what kicked me into gear,” he told the Star Tribune in an audio slide show. “I knew I had to climb up there and see if I could help somebody.” He left his bike, and was able to assist a number of people out of their cars and onto safe ground. One of the first persons on the scene of the bridge collapse, Dan Schueller ’83 helped people out of their cars to safe ground. Assistance Center, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, for families and friends waiting for news about their loved ones. During that same week, a public meeting of area and neighborhood business owners, with state, local, and federal officials was held at Augsburg to discuss how to help the local businesses cope with the effects of restricted traffic and detours. Retirees gave more than a century of teaching years Three long-time Augsburg faculty members, whose combined years of service amount to more than a century and a decade, retired in June. All of them have served under four Augsburg presidents, and two of them spent virtually their entire classroom careers at Augsburg. Robert S. Herforth, biology professor, set a high example for his students of the importance and quality of research. 4 AUGSBURG NOW Robert S. Herforth, professor of biology, came to Augsburg in 1967, from graduate work at the University of Nebraska. His research there focused on hereditary disease in fruit flies. Discoveries that he made The effects of the bridge collapse will endure long beyond the clearing of the wreckage spanning the river. Schueller said that when he attended a meeting of the weekly support group of bridge survivors, he was “very saddened to see so many people with bad backs and still having a hard time dealing with what happened.” — Betsey Norgard pointed out errors by leading scientists in existing scholarship, for which he received university honors. Over the years, Herforth taught animal physiology, developmental biology, genetics, and molecular biology; and he always stressed research. As a freshman at Augsburg, associate biology professor Dale Pederson ’70 was in Herforth’s classes. At Herforth’s retirement celebration, Pederson recalled Herforth’s fly lab, especially noting the quality of the technical drawings done by art professor Phil Thompson. Pederson called Herforth’s scholarship “exemplary.” Courtesy photo 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 Retired colleague Esther McLaughlin spoke about teamteaching general biology with Herforth and remarked about his patience. For enjoyment in his retirement, Herforth’s colleagues and friends presented him with an iPod filled with recordings of bird songs. 7:19 PM Page 7 how one should be in the world.” Griffin ascribed an “epic quality” to Kingsley’s career, and noted that Augsburg presidents have sometimes recognized her as quite an “adversary.” Colleague Don Steinmetz mentioned that Al Kloppen, health and physical education, connected with students both in the classroom and on the playing field as a football coach. Mary A. Kingsley retired after 43 years of teaching Spanish and sharing her passion for social justice issues. Mary A. Kingsley, associate professor of modern languages, came to Augsburg in 1964 and has taught Spanish here since. She served many terms as department chair, taking occasional breaks when it was held by a colleague. Former English faculty professor Joan Griffin commented on Kingsley's “passion for justice, especially if it’s an underdog that has been wronged.” She said that Kingsley “has engaged generations of students about department faculty have always preferred to have Kingsley on their side. In the early days of the Center for Global Education, Kingsley and her husband donated a house in Cuernavaca, Mexico, to Augsburg, which was used as the center’s base of operation for some time. Kingsley is enjoying her time in retirement at their cabin in the Apostle Islands. Alvin L. Kloppen, assistant professor of health and physical education, came to Augsburg in 1976 from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ill., where he had been defensive football coordinator. He served both as Augsburg’s head football coach and HPE faculty member for 10 seasons. He later served as an assistant football coach while still teaching. Assistant athletic director Paul Grauer commented on Kloppen’s tenure at Augsburg. “Al Kloppen had a ready smile and a funny story for everyone he encountered during his days at Augsburg. As a coach, Al was a tireless worker who always looked for innovative strategies and techniques which would give his team the greatest chance for success. In 1977, he was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) “Co-Coach of the Year” when the Auggies finished the season with an upset win over powerful Concordia College (Moorhead). “In the classroom, Al had an engaging approach which enabled him to connect with his students. He was there to give support and encouragement to all his students and especially to those who may have taken ‘the road less traveled’.” FALL 2007 5 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:20 PM Page 8 Medieval Minnesota: Summer camp at Augsburg College This summer, from August 5 to 11, 10 students from across the country flocked to Augsburg to learn about and, above all, experience the Middle Ages. They came for Medieval Minnesota, the weeklong summer camp for students ages 14 to 17 that encourages them to reimagine medieval life. For seven days, students worked and played together, learning everything from swordsmanship to Renaissance dancing, from calligraphy to bookbinding, from period music to storytelling. By the end of the week, they had researched and created medieval characters and built period costumes that they wore to a graduation performance at the famed Minnesota Renaissance Festival. Edward Peterson, 14, a student from Wilmington, Del., performed the rousing “Saint Crispin’s Day” soliloquy from Shakespeare’s Henry V. Other students, coached by music professor Merilee Klemp, performed a French love song about Robin Hood and Maid Marian, written by the 13th century troubadour Adam de la Halle. With the help of theatre professor Darcey Engen, the entire group wrote and performed in its own version of a Robin Hood play. The students also got a taste of college life. In addition to many of the classes being taught by Augsburg professors, they stayed in Urness Hall, were guided in research by Lindell reference librarian Bill Wittenbreer, and ate all their meals in the cafeteria. 6 AUGSBURG NOW Photos courtesy of Phil Adamo AROUND THE QUAD Every day they went to classes and workshops, from eight in the morning until eight at night. Just before bed they would unwind playing medieval board games— not Dungeons and Dragons, but Hnefatafl, a strategy game played by the Vikings! They also watched Augsburg’s first-ever Robin Hood Film Festival. Medieval Minnesota was recently featured in Renaissance magazine (vol.12 #2, issue 54), a national publication that features articles on history, as well as news from Renaissance festivals across the country. The story brought students to the camp from a number of states, including Delaware, Kentucky, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Two of the students who attended the 2006 camp are now enrolled as first-year students at Augsburg. Even the youngest students at this year’s camp have Augsburg on their list of possible colleges for the future. “The camp is meant to be educational and fun, in and of itself. But it’s also part of our recruitment plan for the major here at Augsburg,” said Phil Adamo, associate professor of history and director of the College’s Medieval Studies program. “We hope to have more students at the camp next year. Some of these will be returning students, and others will be their friends,” Adamo said. Medieval Minnesota held a soldout benefit on October 5 to From around the country, 10 high school students spent a week at Augsburg immersed in the history, culture, and customs of the Middle Ages—all part of Augsburg’s Medieval Studies program. (Back row, L to R) Joe Piper, Jack Randleman, Edward Peterson. (Middle row, L to R) Alyssa Perra, Kelly Ryan, Ben Davidson, Liz Ryan, Cambria Rosales. (Seated, L to R) Kayla Fratt, Jessica Larson. provide scholarships for the camp. That’s when former Monty Python member Terry Jones, who is also a well-respected medieval scholar, presented “Medieval Lives.” His presentation attempts to combat the image of the Middle Ages as a time of ignorance, misery, and superstition. Jones’ talk surprises and provokes, and makes you think, and leaves you smiling. At the end of the “medieval camp,” e-mail addresses were exchanged, as well as hugs. The students had only one question for each other: “Are you coming back next year?” There may be new students next year, and different students, but Medieval Minnesota will still inspire them in their love of history. For information on Medieval Minnesota, go to www.augsburg. edu/medievalstudies — Bethany Locke ’11 Bethany Locke is a Medieval Minnesota alumna, assistant counselor, and now is a first-year Medieval Studies major. 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 7:20 PM Page 9 Photos courtesy of Phil Adamo Second-year physician assistant . a 11/20/07 studies student Kate McKenzie spent time with a couple at Augustana Apartments as part of a graduate course that trains physician assistants, social workers, and nurses to become better skilled in meeting the various needs of older adults. Preparing for the ‘age wave’ In a new five-week summer course, Augsburg physician assistant (PA) students explored issues of aging in preparation for the anticipated needs of the nation’s baby boomers as they become senior citizens. The new course, Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Aging, focuses on building geriatric skills for professional social workers, nurses, and physician assistants. The goal is for older adults to be cared for by teams of healthcare providers working collaboratively to address needs comprehensively and holistically. Meeting one-on-one with older adults to learn about their needs has been part of the PA study curriculum for several years, but this course is the first to consider aging from an interdisciplinary approach. In the future the course will also include graduate social work and nursing students, and upper division psychology students. To shape the program, physician assistant studies professor Beth Alexander and social work professor Christina Erickson partnered with Augustana Apartments and Health Care Center, a nearby community of senior apartments, assisted living, and long-term care. Together with Augsburg alumna Patty Crawford, director of resident services at Augustana, Alexander and Erickson set up three sessions at Augustana where students could learn by directly interacting with residents. At a preliminary session, an interdisciplinary panel broadly looked at issues to offer an appreciation of the diversity of older adults’ lives. At the second session, the PA students spent the morning oneon-one with Augustana residents who are living independently. The students developed interviewing, listening, and relationship-building skills by asking open-ended questions to assess the residents’ social, psychological, spiritual, and medical needs. Second-year PA student Kate McKenzie met with a couple begining to deal with health issues. “This has been very challenging … for the couple,” says McKenzie. “Fortunately [they} have wonderful and supportive children who visit often and help out a lot.” In their final visit to Augustana, students examined specific cases of long-term care residents, reviewing their medical charts and discussing their needs. For McKenzie the class made an impact. “Combining social work, nursing, and physician assistant perspectives on older adult care has helped create a balanced picture of what geriatric care is truly all about,” she says. “There is so much more than meets the eye!” The course began as part of a three-year, $50 million project on gerontology funded by the Hartford Foundation with the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Augsburg is one of 72 social work programs across the country selected to prepare social workers to improve the care and well-being of older adults and their families. adults and the growing need for more specialized skills. Augsburg added the interdisciplinary collaboration as part of the College’s initiative to build bridges across programs. The opportunity to partner with Augustana, within a mile of campus, also engages these programs with its neighbors in the community. “The course has changed my opinion of geriatric care altogether,“ McKenzie says. And, meeting the residents of Augustana was something that will remain dear to her. — Betsey Norgard Alexander also recognized the need to better train physician assistant students in this area. She also recognized how often PAs, social workers, and nurses work together in caring for older Elizabeth Baker interviewed a resident to help understand how the role of a physician assistant fits into a multidisciplinary team of health providers caring for older adults. FALL 2007 7 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:20 PM Page 10 AROUND THE QUAD 2 A SPORTS Augsburg College names 2006-07 Senior Honor Athletes, athletic award winners Seven Auggies earned Senior Honor Athlete designation, the highest honor the College gives its senior student-athletes for accomplishment, leadership, and character on the playing field and in the classroom. Three Auggie student-athletes were named Senior Athletes of the Year. The awards were voted on by coaches in Augsburg’s men’s and women’s athletic departments. 2006-07 Senior Honor Athletes Emily Anderson, a biology major and chemistry minor with a 3.39 grade-point average, finished her career as one of the top forwards in Augsburg women’s soccer history. She earned All-MIAC first-team honors in her sophomore and junior seasons. Anderson earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District third-team honors in 2005 and was an Academic All-MIAC honoree in 2004. She has been a Dean’s List honoree and was a member of the Tri-Beta national biology honor society. 8 AUGSBURG NOW Jared Evans, a health and physical education major with a 3.27 grade-point average, earned All-American honors three times as a 149-pound wrestler at Augsburg, finishing seventh his sophomore season, fourth his junior season, and fourth in his senior season. He was a part of Augsburg teams that won national titles in 2004-05 and 2006-07. He earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-America honors in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. Erik Helgerson, an accounting and finance major with a 3.51 grade-point average, was a key member of an Augsburg men’s golf program that showed tremendous growth during his four seasons. Helgerson cut his stroke average nearly five points from his freshman to his senior campaigns and earned All-MIAC honors with top-10 finishes in the league meet three times. Andrew Johnson, a business administration and economics major with a 3.72 grade-point average, was another key member of the Augsburg men’s golf program. He cut his stroke average almost four points from his freshman to his senior campaigns. He earned All-MIAC honors this season, finishing fourth at the 2006 conference meet. He was also a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar last season. Christopher (Critter) Nagurski, a business management major with a 3.30 grade-point average, was one of the top scoring hockey forwards in the MIAC throughout his career, Nagurski earned AllMIAC first-team honors his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. In 2006-07, Nagurski finished second on the team in scoring with 40 points, as the Auggies returned to the conference’s postseason playoffs after a three-year absence. He also earned Preseason All-USCHO honors from U.S. College Hockey Online twice. Andrew Neumann, an elementary education major with a 3.46 grade-point average, shined in both football and wrestling. In football, he was named to the AllMIAC first team in both 2005 and 2006 and was an all-region selection by D3Football.com and Football Gazette. In wrestling, he competed twice at the NCAA Division III national tournament as a heavyweight, earning AllAmerican honors, among others. He received National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar AllAmerican honors in both 2006 and 2007. Shannon Olson, a marketing and communications major (public relations/advertising emphasis) with a 3.66 grade-point average, was a defender of an Augsburg women’s soccer team that qualified for the MIAC postseason playoffs three straight seasons. Olson earned All-MIAC first-team honors her senior season and Academic All-MIAC honors in 2005 and 2006. She was a multiple Dean’s List honoree. A p o A H t j s t t s N C h n D t H M p o h H 11/20/07 2006-07 Senior Athletes of the Year 7:20 PM Page 11 wrestler to win four individual national championships and the second college wrestler (with Cael Sanderson at Iowa State) to finish his career unbeaten and untied, with a 155-0 career record. He also played parts of two seasons of football at Augsburg as a quarterback, and in 2004 he set all of the school’s single-season rushing records. Betsey Norgard 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG y d Aaron Johnson, a health and physical education major, was one of the top forwards in Augsburg men’s hockey history. He earned All-American honors twice, as a first-team selection his junior and senior campaigns. This season, he earned MIAC Player of the Year honors and was one of two NCAA Division III players selected to compete in the 2007 NCAA Pontiac Frozen Four Skills Challenge at the Division I men’s hockey Frozen Four. He was also named a Preseason All-USCHO Division III West Region honoree this season by U.S. College Hockey Online. On Sept. 8, the football jersey of Scott Hvistendahl ’98 was formally retired. He is pictured here with the Gagliardi Trophy as outstanding NCAA Division III player in 1998, and shown with Jostens representative John Abel [left] and coach Mike Matson was one of the top linebackers in the MIAC during his football career, earning AllMIAC second-team honors in 2005 and first-team honors in 2006, while also earning AllMIAC Sportsmanship Team honors his senior campaign. In 2006 he was named to the Preseason All-Division III first team by Lindy’s National College Football Preview magazine, and in both 2006 and 2007 he earned D3Football.com and Football Gazette honors. For more about Auggie athletics go to www.augsburg.edu/ athletics. Scott Hvistendahl’s jersey is retired Jack Osberg [right]. At a halftime ceremony on Sept. 8 during the game against Northwestern College (Roseville, Minn.), the No. 30 football jersey of Scott Hvistendahl ’98 was formally retired. Hvistendahl is one of the top Division III receivers in history, having won, among many honors, the Gagliardi Trophy in 1998 as the division’s outstanding player. In the last game of his career, he broke NFL legend Jerry Rice’s record for receiving yardage with 285 passes for 4,696 yards received. The ceremony marks the 10th anniversary of the 1997-98 football season in which the Auggies captured the conference championship and reached the second round of the NCAA Division III playoffs. Hvistendahl’s honor was held during this Northwestern game because he serves as an assistant coach at the school. The Auggies went on to win the game, 31-26. — Don Stoner n Marcus LeVesseur, a health and physical education major, was one of the top competitors in the history of small-college wrestling. He became the first Division III FALL 2007 9 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:20 PM Page 12 AROUND THE QUAD Augsburg men’s soccer team has the trip of a lifetime in Argentina The soccer players trained at the CEFAR Academy (Centro Entrenamiento Futbol Alto Rendimiento/Center for High Performance Football Training), a private training facility. In addition, the Augsburg group toured the city of Buenos Aires, The Augsburg and CEFAR teams pose for a photo after the teamʼs first game in Argentina. experience gained from the trip was invaluable for the squad. “This experience will be one that will last a lifetime,” said Augsburg head coach Greg Holker. “Our guys played some of the best The team also attended two professional soccer matches in Buenos Aires and experienced the passion that Argentines hold for the sport. They were lucky to have the unique opportunity to tour the training facilities of Boca Juniors, one of the top teams in Argentine professional soccer. “Every day in Argentina is about soccer—it is not just a way of life, but a way to make a life,” Holker said. “Generally speaking, if a young boy growing up in Buenos Aires does not make it in a club, he is likely to fall victim to a life of delinquency. When they play, they are not only playing for passion, but for their lives.” To view daily stories from the trip, along with student-athlete diaries and more than 1,200 photos from the trip, go to www.augsburg.edu/athletics/msoc cer/2007argentina/index.html. Former Argentine professional soccer player and coach Jorge “Coqui” Rafflo coaches the Auggie players. Rafflo is the director of the CEFAR Academy, where the Auggies stayed during their trip to Argentina. often termed as the “Paris of South America.” The Auggies played four games against strong club competition, and though the team only scored one goal in the four contests, the 10 AUGSBURG NOW soccer they have ever played, and faced opponents with qualities they are unlikely to see again. On top of this, they experienced a culture that is not all that different from our own in the United States, with the exception of its incredibly strong sporting passion.” James See (9) brings the ball forward during Augsburg’s game against a River Plate reserve team. David Long (6) trails the play. — Don Stoner Photos by Don Stoner Andrew Seidel plays the ball during an Augsburg scrimmage against a CEFAR squad. Judy Petree The Augsburg College men’s soccer team had the experience of a lifetime in August, traveling to Buenos Aires, Argentina, for an 11-day training and competition trip. Twenty-seven players, along with five Augsburg staff members and several parents and family members, made the trip to Argentina. 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:20 PM Page 13 Making a gift to Augsburg It’s easy to make a donation to Augsburg College. All donations are tax-deductible. SUPPORTING AUGSBURG Putting your IRA to work for Augsburg Vera (Thorson) Benzel ’45 had decided to establish a family scholarship through her estate— until she learned of the advantage of gifting a portion of her IRA now. She and her late husband, Jerold ’51, met at Augsburg. After she graduated with a major in English, Augsburg offered her a job teaching secretarial studies in its business department. After raising her family, she also taught at the Minnesota School of Business. At Augsburg she graduated with a minor in music, and for many years enjoyed her time directing church choirs. Bob and their son, Loren, were both photographers who chronicled the life and culture of Nordic cultures, both in the five nations and among their descendents in Minnesota. In business together for many years, they were the official photographers for at least two Norwegian royal visits. They were also known for the colorful calendar they produced annually in Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish versions. Gifts online Go to www.augsburg.edu/giving to make a secure credit card donation. You can use the form to make a one-time donation or to set up recurring gifts. Gifts by phone To make a donation by phone, call Kevin Healy, director of advancement services, at 612-330-1619 or 1-800-273-0617. Gifts by mail You can mail your gift to: Development Office, CB 142 Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454 Matching Gifts Many employers and organizations have matching gift programs, and if you are a Thrivent Financial for Lutherans member, you are eligible for additional matching opportunities through the GivingPlus program. For complete information about making a gift, including the types of giving and giving programs, go to www.augsburg.edu/giving. After Loren’s death in November 2006, they established a fund in loving memory of him for students who are art majors studying graphic arts and design. In addition, they established a second endowed scholarship in Bob’s name to assist art students interested in photography. end of this calendar year. The law allows individuals aged 70 1⁄2 or older to make immediate gifts to qualified charitable organizations, including Augsburg, from funds they transferred directly from an IRA. Making a gift using your IRA The Pension Protection Act of 2006 presents a special giving opportunity—but only until the If you are interested in making a gift like this, you will not have to pay taxes on the amounts transferred. You can transfer any amount up to $100,000 on or before Dec. 31, 2007. The transfer counts toward your minimum required distribution as long as you have not yet received your 2007 distribution. The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you will receive the benefit even if you do not itemize your tax deductions. The best part of a gift from an IRA transfer is that you can witness the difference your philanthropic dollars make now for students at Augsburg College. Judy Petree The recently established Benzel Family Scholarship honors Jerold and Vera and their children, David ’71 and Ann (Benzel) ’78 Rieck, who both attended Augsburg. Since all of their careers have included business, their new scholarship will assist students who are studying business. Robert ’50 and Ruth Ann Paulson decided to use an IRA to fund a new endowed scholarship, which will provide encouragement and financial assistance to students in graphic design and photography. For information, call the Development Office at 612-330-1613 or 1-800-273-0617. — Betsey Norgard David Benzel ‘71 and Ann (Benzel) ‘78 Rieck (pictured here when they visited campus in September) together with their mother, Vera (Thorson) ‘45 Benzel, have established an endowed scholarship honoring their family from the transfer of funds from an IRA. President Pribbenow enjoyed talking with Robert ‘50 and Ruth Ann Paulson, as they established two endowed scholarships, one that is in memory of their son, Loren. FALL 2007 11 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 14 Courtesy photo SUMMER activities During the summer, students and faculty can be found in interesting and varied activities—research, internships, travel, summer jobs, and more... . Here are just a few examples of where Auggies spent their summer days this year. 12 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 15 Courtesy photo COOKING UP an internship Senior Emily Johnson used her summer job at camp as an internship to learn about the business side of running a camp and understanding the importance of leadership skills. This year she returned as head cook, and everything just fell into place. For a number of summers, Grand Rapids, Minn., native Emily Johnson and her friends spent time at Camp Hiawatha, a Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry (VLM) camp in northern Minnesota. After high school, she found a way to keep returning to camp while earning money for college—working as an assistant in the camp kitchen. Last year, when spring came around, she received a call asking if she would consider taking over as head cook at Camp Vermilion, VLM’s other camp, following the retirement of the longtime cook. She accepted … with trepidation. Johnson is a business management and economics major, set to graduate next May. She plans to use her management experience, combined with a love for the outdoors, to own and manage her own resort some day. After “ “I made all the mistakes there were,” Johnson says, as she talks about what she encountered in figuring out what to serve, how to make it, and how much food to order each week. It was good for me to take what I’ve learned in my classes and apply that knowledge… ” graduation she intends to seek a job at a resort in the Pacific Northwest. She'll bring added expertise in scheduling events from her student work on campus in the Event Services office. Johnson decided to shape this summer’s camp experience into formal learning to fulfill her required internship. She learned and wrote about aspects of business management in her work—how the camp runs as a business; how she could avoid unnecessary costs in ordering food; and how the kitchen staff manage and communicate important camper issues, like food allergies. “It was good for me to take what I’ve learned in my classes and apply that knowledge … away from school,” Johnson says. “It’s amazing how much of it comes into view when you’re in the midst of it. … I also learned how difficult being a good manager is.” Her work involved long hours and a lot of planning to feed campers who vary in age from kindergarten to ninth grade at nearly a dozen different sessions all summer. She was usually in the kitchen by 6:30 each morning, enjoying a brief calm before the day’s routine began. Figuring out what foods the campers would relish, and how much to make were among Johnson’s greatest challenges. Once she figured out some of the tricks to adapt and multiply recipes, she enjoyed borrowing some of her mother’s recipes to try out on the campers. Most of the time they worked well. What she learned included leadership training—values such as patience, compassion, and standing up for yourself— as well as business savvy. “I even felt I was able to contribute to conversations about business matters,” Johnson concludes. “That was a good feeling.” –— Betsey Norgard FALL 2007 13 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 16 OBSERVING Orchids Chemistry major Caryn Quist partnered with a local supplier to obtain the orchid stems needed to study chemical reactions that would help her understand how the costs of growing orchids might be reduced. With a national wholesale value of $100 million, potted orchids are second in popularity only to poinsettias, and the wholesale value is much greater. Thus, discovering how to best propagate low-cost orchids is big business. of phenols (a class of chemical compounds) produced in vitro under varying light and temperature conditions by phalaenopsis, a genus of approximately 60 species of “ The orchid breeder of Orchids Unlimited in Apple Valley thought so as well, so when junior chemistry major Caryn Quist approached him about sponsoring her summer research project, he jumped on board. In the initial stages of her project, beginning in January, Orchids Unlimited was the sole provider of orchid stems for research. Quist’s research focused on determining the total content It’s really exciting, taking this risk and knowing I could make a contribution. ” orchids. Other student researchers included Steve Eichten, studying adjustments with light quality in orchid propagation, and Nick Nelson, researching ways to manipulate the germination process of Ladyslippers. Mark Strefeler, associate professor and department chair of biology, led the research team. “Research is about going into the unknown,” Quist says. “It’s really exciting, taking this risk and knowing I could make a contribution. … It has certainly begun to change the way I observe and formulate questions about the natural world around me, and has given me a chance to see a slightly different side of academia. I feel really fortunate to have had this research opportunity.” While the summer research didn’t uncover any great discoveries, Quist considers it time well spent. “I learned how to do tissue cultures, and learning the process itself took a lot of time. We also ran into contamination issues, which slowed things down. … This fall, I expect more results.” Quist will continue her research through the coming year and eventually pass it on to a younger student. Through its Summer Research Program, Augsburg’s Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) students are given opportunities to explore theoretical and practical questions in depth under the mentorship of Augsburg faculty. For more information on summer research projects and URGO, go to www.augsburg.edu/urgo/. — Bethany Bierman 14 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 17 MUSIC to help the brain heal Senior music therapy major Holly Tapani studied the importance of multidisciplinary support for students with brain injuries to give them the best college experience. inadequate to treat the increasing numbers of survivors in rehab centers. And not many colleges are prepared to support brain injury survivors who want to pursue higher education. Last semester, in one of Holly Tapani’s music therapy courses, music and movement were incorporated into the learning of two Augsburg students who are survivors of traumatic brain injury. She immediately saw the benefits of music therapy to their learning, and she began imagining ways to also improve their overall college experience. “ Tapani understands the urgency of this work. More and more young people are recovering from brain injury, which is coming to be known as the “signature” injury of the Iraq War. The holistic therapies designed to go beyond the medical needs and address the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of brain injury are totally This is just the small beginnings of the program ” Tapani sought funding through Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) program to formally study the activities of the music and movement class—an opportunity to carry out needed research that can help future students. She interviewed the two braininjured students who participated in the class—both of whom have been successful academically despite their impairments from brain injury. Tapani asked them about the various types and levels of support they’ve received from campus resources, as well as from families and friends. The students reported general satisfaction in addressing their physical and cognitive needs, but they felt they lacked many of the social and emotional experiences typical of college students. Tapani proposed a program that pairs student survivors oneon-one with a student mentor who can manage the multiple aspects of support, beyond classroom tutors, for the survivors and help to make their college experience more normal. “This is just the small beginnings of the program,” Tapani says, but it will help colleges understand a need to develop the staff and knowledge to offer broader support to this growing population of students. In order to launch the mentor program, a benefit concert in September featured the trendy pop-rock band, The Abdomen. Next year, Tapani will complete a six-month internship, hopefully at a rehabilitation center, and graduate. Her long-term goal is to specialize in neurologic music therapy, further pursuing her interest and research in working with brain injury survivors. — Betsey Norgard FALL 2007 15 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 18 AUGGIES at AMNICON Courtesy photo 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG (L to R) 2007 grads Erik Hinderlie, Ted Fabel, Brett Cease, and senior David DeBlock spent the summer as canoe and backpacking guides at Camp Amnicon. Three recent Augsburg graduates and one senior spent their summer working as guides for canoe and backpacking trips around the heartland of Northern Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. “ adventure trips—kayaking, backpacking, Voyageurcanoeing—and retreat programs for youth and adults. “What makes Amnicon so foster agency programs,” says Cease. “Many of these kids have never had the opportunity to spend a week of their lives outside before. … I have never seen such profound change and positive growth come out of a week of a young person’s life than the work I get to take part in at Amnicon,” Cease continued. Many of these kids have never had the opportunity to spend a week of their lives outside before … Erik Hinderlie ’07, Ted Fabel ’07, Brett Cease ’07, and David DeBlock ’08 were guides at Camp Amnicon, an outreach of Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis. For 40 years, Amnicon has offered both ” unique is its strong commitment to getting the majority of its campers from at-risk groups throughout the state, whether from inner-city, reservation, or The groups visit areas including Lake Superior, the Brule and Namekagon Rivers, the Sylvania Wilderness, and the Apostle Islands. On some trips, campers paddle as a team in 34-foot Voyageur canoes on Lake Superior or in Voyageurs National Park. “Being canoe guides is undoubtedly one of the most inspirational havens in our lives,” says Cease of the experience he and the others have had. “It is because of places like Amnicon that I am continually reminded of the importance of building an intentional and caring, supportive community, like that which was modeled at Augsburg.” To read more about Camp Amnicon, go to www.amnicon.org. — Bethany Bierman 16 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 19 ADVENTURES IN HAITIAN MUSIC After teaching for years about work songs in various cultures, Stacke traveled into the Haitian hills and recorded sugar Bob Stacke cane workers playing a This was Bob Stacke’s fifth summer trip to Haiti as a volunteer band director and music teacher, but this year’s adventure he calls one of the most spectacular things he’s ever done. For Stacke, Augsburg’s band director, associate professor, and music department chair, one big difference in this year’s sojourn was the chance to spend the first two weeks there with his photographer daughter, Sarah Stacke, who is a staff photographer for the Minnesota House of Representatives. Another was that being with her also made it easier for him to pursue his own hobby, which also happens to be photography. Their first adventure, and Sarah’s assignment, was a week in Port Salut, where she shot photos for a non- governmental organization providing health care in southwestern Haiti. Bob’s highlight was traveling into the hills there and listening to the call-and-response work “ I think I learned more than they did. ” songs of the sugar cane workers. He says for years he’s been teaching about the cultural role of work songs in marking rhythm and giving structure to tedious work, but this was the first time he’s heard it live in the field. He documented the workers, their instruments, and songs in both photos and recordings. variety of homemade instruments. Sarah’s second assignment was photographing projects of Yéle Haiti, an organization started several years ago by GrammyAward winning Haitian recording artist Wyclef Jean. His foundation provides resources and inspiration targeted at Haitian youth, with music infused throughout. Yéle Haiti’s programs include food distribution, health care, education scholarships, films, sports, and music programs, which involve thousands of people and reach far into the poorest and most violent Haitian neighborhoods. But Bob’s primary reason for being in Haiti was to teach band and percussion at the Holy Trinity Episcopal School summer music program in Portau-Prince. Professional musicians and music students keep returning as volunteers to teach in this summer program, working with Haitians ranging in age from elementary kids to young people well into their twenties. “This experience was so much fun,” Bob says. “I teach them Western music all day, and all night they teach me how to play their music. I think I learned more than they did.” He describes their music as incredibly complex and driving, with meters that defy barlines, and with countermelodies and melodies laid on top. Next year he’ll likely return to Haiti. But before that, he’ll lead a two-week study trip for Augsburg students to Jamaica to reconnect with the second of his three favorite Caribbean music traditions—Haitian, Jamaican, and Cuban. ■ — Betsey Norgard FALL 2007 17 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 20 © 2006 lEssence for Voca Conlin Kathryn Immersed in Bolcom by Betsey Norgard Augsburg students Kristen Lueck and Bri’Ann Wright struggled for weeks to feel comfortable with the four-hand piano piece they would play in concert, with the composer in the audience. Little did they know it would be a world premiere. For several weeks in the spring, music students and faculty in the five Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC)—Augsburg, Hamline, Macalester, St. Catherine, and St. Thomas—enjoyed a rare experience to explore and absorb the musical genius of a single composer, William Bolcom, winner of a Pulitzer Prize and four Grammy awards. Through master classes, concerts, and coaching, they interacted collectively and one-on-one with this most interesting and eclectic composer. It was all part of the “Illuminating Bolcom” festival, organized by 18 AUGSBURG NOW Brian 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 21 n tt Holma Brian Sco The centerpiece of the Bolcom festival was a huge, multimedia concert, including video images of William Blake’s illustrations for his poems, showing here “The Tyger.” Bolcom’s popularity is often attributed to the accessibility and variety of his music, often an eclectic borrowing across musical genres. Songs of Innocence and of Experience, for example, includes a country western rendition of “The Shepherd,” and ends with a raucous, Bob Marley-reggae interpretation of “A Divine Image.” Beyond composing, Bolcom keeps a busy performance schedule accompanying his wife, Joan Morris, a versatile mezzo-soprano cabaret singer. (Minnesotans may be surprised to discover that Bolcom wrote “Lime Jell-O Marshmallow Cottage Cheese Surprise,” a cabaret tune made popular by Morris and often played in the context of Minnesota local culture.) Ragtime music is another of Bolcom’s musical passions, and the recordings he made in the 1970s of Scott Joplin’s music are often considered the force behind the revival of ragtime music and the inspiration for the rags that Bolcom himself composed. Exploringgenius It was all part of the “Illuminataing Bolcom” festival, organized by Philip Brunelle and his Twin Cities ensemble, VocalEssence, and involving many of the area’s top performing arts organizations. Star Tribune music critic Michael Anthony predicted that this festival might prove to be the Twin Cities’ ACTC faculty and music students enjoyed more than a dozen opportunities to connect with William Bolcom in lectures, coaching sessions, and performances. For his consideration, they prepared selections of his works for voice or instrument, for solo performance or in ensembles, as in the following highlights: “classical event of the year.” Courtesy photo s 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG Versatilecreativity William Bolcom is a down-to-earth pianist, teacher, and composer—and clearly was grateful and completely engaged in the two-week attention to his work. A child prodigy pianist by age 5, he began studying music at the University of Washington at age 11, and went on to study with composers Darius Milhaud and Olivier Messiaen. Since 1973, he has taught at the University of Michigan. “Illuminating Bolcom” presented a diversity of his gospel, chamber, classical, and stage music. The festival centerpiece was a multimedia concert at Orchestra Hall, “Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” presenting the 46 poems of William Blake’s collection of the same name, set to music by Bolcom. The 2005 recording of this work won four Grammy awards. May music graduate Bri’Ann Wright (right) and music therapy major Kristen Lueck (left) played a 30-year-old piano piece by Bolcom (center) that turned out to be a historic performance. FALL 2007 19 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 22 Lecture/Recital—At the University of St. Thomas, Bolcom The music has been called “monumental”—46 numbers, with lectured about his own process for composing the music in sound ranging from classical to ballad to gospel to country Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience. The evening western. Stacke, associate professor and chair of the music recital, which he attended, focused on performances of the department, called it “about the hardest music he had ever same Blake poems set to music by a variety of other composers, played, but just amazing.” and included performances by Augsburg students—sopranos Meghan Sherer, Kaila Frymire, and Evelyn Tsen; and tenors Surprisepremiere Andrew Kane and Brian Halaas; accompanied by Kirsten Bar Schubert Club Courtroom Concert—Wright and classmate (oboe), Melody Buhl (clarinet), and Jerusha Sunde (piano). The Kristen Lueck had an even more amazing personal Bolcom program also included faculty soprano Janet Gottshall Fried, experience when they played in the concert sponsored by the and Sonja Thompson, who provided accompaniments. Schubert Club, featuring ACTC students. Student Composer Master Class/Band Rehearsal—Senior music For that concert, they had been given a four-hand Bolcom performance pianist Bri’Ann Wright was a student in Carol piece, called “Abendmusik,” which he had written for his piano Barnett’s music composition class that Bolcom visited. She and teacher, married to an astronomer. classmate Adrian Moravec were writing and preparing a piano film score accompaniment to the 1920s German silent film, “It’s a cosmic, ethereal piece; very slow, with chords appearing Pandora’s Box, being shown on campus. The task was all over the piano, out of the air,” says Wright. It’s also “very daunting—to compose, play, and improvise music to fit the film. difficult, obscure, and abstract,” she continues, “and you can't Playing their score for Bolcom proved invaluable, as he gave wrap your ears around it easily.” them tips for how to use the piano more effectively with film. Lueck says that in practicing it, they counted for months just to Faculty Chamber Music Concert—At Hamline University, in a get the rhythm and timing in their brains. Only a few weeks concert titled “A Little Night (Chamber) Music,” faculty from all before the coaching session with Bolcom preceding the five ACTC colleges, including Augsburg faculty Merilee Klemp concert, she says, the piece had “just begun to gel in our (oboe), Jill Dawe (piano), and Angela Wyatt (saxophone), minds and fingers.” performed a series of Bolcom’s chamber works all containing night themes. Rebroadcasts of portions of this concert on At the coaching session, Lueck says, Bolcom was very laid Minnesota Public Radio extended its listening audience. back. He made some random remarks and confirmed their dynamics for portions of the piece. He also made a passing Lecture in Music History Class—Just as Klemp’s music history comment that in 30 years he hadn’t seen that piece again nor class was completing a study of 20th-century music, they had a heard it played. visit from Bolcom, one of the composers they had been studying. Roberta Kagin, associate professor of music and Wright and Lueck opened the concert with “Abendmusik.” director of the music therapy program, attended the class and When Bolcom was asked to explain the piece to the audience, observed that “Students opened their music history textbooks he mentioned that it had never been performed. and were reading about him, as he stood in front of them.” “So,” declared emcee Randall Davidson, Augsburg’s fine arts “Songs of Innocence and of Experience”—Three Augsburg manager, “this is a world premiere!” Wright and Lueck were faculty members—Klemp (oboe), Bob Stacke (percussion), and then brought back on stage for accolades and hugs. Matt Barber (percussion)—played for “Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” the centerpiece concert at Orchestra Hall. “It was an huge, overwhelming honor,” Lueck said of the Faculty member Steve Lund was the orchestra contractor. It was performance, “and a privilege to work with Bri and [Bolcom]. a gigantic performance, illuminating in vivid sight and sound the … Playing for him was an affirmation of our work.” And a very poetry of William Blake, with 13 soloists and three choirs, lucky day for two unsuspecting college music students. supported by an orchestra of 95 players. All through the concert, striking video images based on Blake’s own illustrations Students Tammy Smith (flute) and Nikki Lemire (harp) also for his poems were projected on a huge screen. played in that concert, performing two selections from Bolcom’s “Celestial Dinner Music.” 20 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 23 Kathryn Conlin for VocalEssence Courtesy photo Senior Tammy Smith received coaching from Bolcom, along with recent grad Nikki Lemire on harp, for his piece they would play in concert. May music graduate Bri’Ann Wright (left) and music therapy major Kristen Lueck (right) walked off stage to applause, not yet realizing they had just performed a world premiere by one of the country's leading composers. Learnerstogether A collaborative grant from ACTC, conceived by Davidson, Bolcom’s settings to the Blake poetry. At Augsburg, this included funded the various activities that aimed to involve faculty and students in the Honors Program and British literature course who students from at least three ACTC schools at each event. explored the poetry from the perspectives of the music. Klemp says that the ACTC collaboration afforded valuable Davidson was thrilled with the impact of the Bolcom festival. opportunities for everyone involved. Students and faculty were “Rarely has an American composer been celebrated like this,” learners together as they worked with a master teacher. he says. “The festival has given our students extraordinary access Students became music professionals as they worked side-by- to Bill Bolcom, and will remain an important point of reference in side with their own teachers to prepare Bolcom’s music for their lives for years to come; there is no substitute for first-person master classes and performance. And, student and faculty experiences. Augsburg’s participation helped build deep and from the five colleges collaborated to sample a wide variety of lasting partnerships within the Twin Cities’ world-class arts the musical genres that make up this composer’s life work. community and a premier fine arts program at the College.” ■ The Bolcom festival and the ACTC grant also encouraged To read more about the Bolcom festival, go to students and faculty in disciplines outside of music to examine www.illuminatingbolcom.org. FALL 2007 21 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 24 Courtesy of Guyanese Outreach 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG substitute taught at vocational and technical schools, eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in industrial technical education at the University of Minnesota and securing a full-time teaching position in apparel arts at Minneapolis Technical College. During this time, she began to dream of going back home to help the Guyanese people living in poverty, a vision she planned to follow in her retirement. Singh’s life changed, however, with auto accidents that left her with long-term disabilities, unable to continue teaching. In 1993 she felt compelled to address the vision and answer the call. She made plans to return to Guyana, together with two of her sons—John, who graduated from Augsburg in 1983, and Earl. “As long as this is what I am called to do, they would support me,” she says. Guyanese Outreach Singh tells of feeling fearful that she had nothing to offer the Guyanese officials, whose help she needed to secure resources and locations for her work. founder Ruth Singh helps a child learn to read. Faith, vision, and a call to Guyana by Betsey Norgard Ruth Singh’s story is about paying attention to a vision. It’s about answering a call. And it’s about how life can bring this about unexpectedly. For the past 13 years, Singh has been responding to a call she received from the Lord to return to her native Guyana to help her home country meet its basic needs in poverty. As she has traveled back and forth in these years, the vision has been transformed from strictly 22 AUGSBURG NOW providing humanitarian relief to creating programs that help people escape systemic poverty through education. Singh first came to the U.S. from Guyana in 1957 with her husband, who was studying on a scholarship. She studied home economics at Augsburg, and has fond memories of Dean Gerda Mortensen’s days on campus. The Singhs returned to Guyana in 1960, but stayed only three years. When they came back to the Twin Cities in 1963, Singh concentrated on raising her four sons. In 1979, the Singhs divorced, and Ruth decided to return to school. With good skills in sewing and embroidery, she studied and “Lord,” she recalls praying, “address my fears … you could let me help You [in Guyana] by helping me walk boldly into those [government] offices.” Three months later, she had plans to teach women to sew. It was clear that she would not move to Guyana but keep her house in the Twin Cities and travel back and forth, so that she could collect shipments of materials to help meet basic needs in her home country. In 1995, her fledgling organization, Guyanese Outreach (GO), sent its first container of relief items—clothing, toys, medical and dental supplies, and other basic necessities. She recruited women for her sewing classes, with the initial meetings taking place in Hindu temples, and began teaching and sharing the gospel with them —without electricity, on pedal sewing machines, and with many women who couldn’t read or understand to sew with patterns. h d r s n m 11/20/07 7:21 PM Back home, GO found a home base at Brooklyn Park Lutheran Church, and partnered with several other congregations, including Hope Lutheran Church, to collect the materials and money to begin expanding their work. In 1997, GO secured an old building in Guyana, without roof, windows, or doors. Several spaghetti dinners later in Minnesota, they had raised funds to help repair and rehabilitate it as a vocational center. In the past decade, the work of Guyanese Outreach has exceeded all expectations. Beginning with sewing and computer classes in the two rooms at this building, they have added after-school reading programs, additional sewing and crafts classes for all ages, Internet access for the community, and a library of more than 6,000 books. In addition to teaching out of their Vo-Tech building, they arrange for a number of after-school satellite locations, mostly in churches. Page 25 warm milk and some snacks when they arrive. The program also gives monthly basic food staples to the families of participating children. A second primary-level program, TOPS, targets children who were not able to pass the Grade 6 exam. GO teaches them sewing and crafts to build their vocational skills and self confidence for making a good living. A future plan for GO is to address the special needs of these TOPS students and return them back to the normal track to receive their school diplomas. Teams of GO volunteers travel to Guyana for short terms, and recently more mission trips are being arranged, mostly through STEM (Short Term Evangelical Missions). GO also partners in-country with NGOs, and is working with both VSO and Peace Corps volunteers to set up classes, train teachers, and provide some management. Ruth Singh’s vision doesn't end here. GO's space and resources are now stretched to the limits, and for several years they have been negotiating with the government and searching for a new location. GO’s ongoing Gateway Project proposes a new 17,000 sq. ft. architectdesigned center that offers space for classes as well as for mission groups, and is just waiting for sufficient physical and fiscal resources. Guyanese Outreach 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG In the Twin Cities, Guyanese Outreach has a volunteer board, currently headed by Teacher Olivia Phillips’ after-school reading class at the Streams of Power Church John Olson. His first involvement always begins with a warm cup of milk. with GO was packing crates of supplies to send to Guyana. In the shift from humanitarian Computer classes teach the basics of Two years later, he joined the board, and relief to job training classes and teaching, now heads plans for the Gateway it is Singh's firm belief that “the way to help computer literacy to all ages, and Singh says there are few government offices there Project. On Oct. 7, a benefit concert this generation and future generations is that don't have workers who were past featuring Christian music group to help them through education.” students in GO’s computer classes. “downhere” was held. In 2005, after-school classes were One of GO’s newest programs teaches sex Singh continues to travel back and forth launched for primary students ages 6-11 education to teenagers, using the to Guyana, more and more frequently to build functional literacy through abstinence curriculum developed by Dr. dealing with various government offices reading, writing, and spelling. They focus James Dobson, in order to confront the high as their program expands—something on phonics, in cooperation with the local rates of HIV/AIDS, the highest in the Western that may now be easier than those first school system. The goal is to help students Hemisphere except for Haiti. offices she tried to boldly enter 13 succeed on the Grade 6 examination, years ago. thus enabling more children to enter the All of GO’s classes are offered at no cost to secondary level track rather than the participants, except for the higher level “We’re small,” she asserts, “but the fruits vocational education. So far the program computer classes, which have a very we yield are phenomenal.” ■ has served around 500 children, and modest fee. The only paid employees at continues to expand to other villages as GO are the local staff in Guyana. The funding becomes available. teachers, for the most part, are untrained in teaching. GO provides training in phonics, Since the children come at the end of reading, or their subject material, plus a their school day, often hungry, Singh small stipend. forged a partnership with Food for the Poor to provide the children a cup of FALL 2007 23 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 26 SOCIAL WORK for by Holley Locher, together with Michele Braley ’96 MSW and Nils Dybvig ’96 MSW SOCIAL justice a uthor Thomas Friedman coined the phrase, “the world is flat,” to describe the process by which society has become global and interdependent. In this context, social workers are obligated to address social injustices at every level and be culturally competent and responsive to people from all corners of the world. Two Minneapolis social workers have traveled many miles to do this. In 1996, after graduating from Augsburgs Master of Social Work program, husband and wife Nils Dybvig and Michele Braley quit their jobs, moved to the State of Washington, and decided they would quit their jobs again in 10 years. So, in September 2006 they took a year’s leave from their jobs and left for Barrancabermeja, Colombia, in the Magdalena Medio region of oil production, mining, and agriculture. 24 AUGSBURG NOW y r 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 27 They are volunteers with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), an the role of U.S. tax dollars in Colombia and works through Congress organization that devotes the same amount of discipline and to convert this funding into social and economic development self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking as armies devote to funding. In June the U.S. House of Representatives passed a war. CPT places violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and revision to Plan Colombia that reduces military aid and increases militarized areas around the world. To date, Braley and Dybvig development aid; similar actions occurred in the Senate. have been working primarily in rural areas with Colombians who have been threatened with violence and feel more comfortable Braley and Dybvig spend their days attending meetings and with an international presence. And violence is definitely visiting with people in rural areas. For instance, Braley tells of one something that Colombians have lived with every day—for at weekend that she and her husband spent in a small community least 40 years. on the Opón River. In the early 1960s, amidst a climate of great social and economic “This is a community that was violently forced off their land several inequality, two left-wing guerrilla groups (the FARC and the ELN) years ago,” she says. “CPT was invited to Colombia to assist this formed, partly in response to the struggle for access to land rights community in returning. Currently, a team from CPT takes the two- on behalf of poor farmers. In the 1980s, large landowners and hour canoe ride to the community every week to spend time with drug traffickers privately funded paramilitary groups (still in the people. Most of the time is spent in people’s homes, but we existence) that oppose the guerrilla groups. While these also stop to talk to any armed groups in the area to let them know paramilitary groups often work in concert with the Colombian who we are, and to ask them to respect the rights of the local military, they are not officially affiliated with the government and people.” are, therefore, able to use aggressive—often horrifically cruel and violent—tactics. The paramilitaries are responsible for 70% of the The goal for a visit Dybvig made to an indigenous community was human rights violations against civilians. “to make them [the people] more visible by publicizing their struggles in an area that has a strong presence of both the FARC It is sad to note that many of the casualties in Colombia's war are and the paramilitaries.” not members of any armed group, but civilians. Guerrilla groups accuse civilians of collaborating with the Colombian military and On an 11-day trip in April, Braley and Dybvig traveled to Mina paramilitaries and vice versa. It is a vicious cycle that claims the Caribe, a rural mining village to bring an international presence to lives of nearly 3,000 Colombians each year. In the last 20 years, a five-day leadership training school, followed by a general over 3.6 million people have been forcibly displaced by violence assembly of more than 100 miners and farmers. Dybvig wrote, “we or the threat of it-more than in any other country of the world took a bus for three hours, then a taxi, then traveled an hour by except Sudan. boat, then another taxi, then two hours by four-wheel-drive truck, and finally three more hours by mule.” , The United Nations now calls the situation in Colombia the worst humanitarian catastrophe in our hemisphere. Through Plan When Army soldiers showed up as the assembly was to start, Colombia the U.S. has sent $4.7 billion to Colombia since 2000, tension increased. The local residents had already been victims to 80% of that as military aid. CPT works to educate others about harassment and detentions; and a mining federation leader had FALL 2007 25 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 28 Courtesy photos 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG Much of Braley's time is spent getting to know community members and attending their meetings, which often focus on health and economic issues. Michele Braley and Nils Dybvig apply their social work and peacemaking skills to support rural communities in Colombia threatened by the military presence and illegal armed groups. been killed earlier by the same battalion. Several hours of many death threats that the government was forced to drive discussions that CPT and other organizations had with the Army her around in an armored vehicle for her protection, as a human sergeant, plus calls from the government’s human rights rights issue. ombudswoman to the battalion’s commanding officer, finally resulted in orders for the Army to leave town. Braley believes they are immersed in “what I think is some valuable social justice work where we are definitely challenged Braley and Dybvig have noted many similarities between the to use our social work skills. … We are lucky to partner with great work they do in Colombia and social work in the U.S. They assert Colombian organizations, and it is interesting to learn how they that while the violence in Colombia is motivated by different provide social services to a rural population plagued by violence reasons and while community organizers risk their lives nearly and the legacy of 40 years of an armed conflict in this country.” every day to bring about change in their communities, some of the outcomes and struggles are analogous to those in “The work of CPT is very much in line with our social work values; Minneapolis. In one instance, after speaking with several young we work in communities where we are invited, and our presence men engaged in illegal fishing, Braley says “… these men allows others to make changes in their lives.” Braley says. “We reminded me so much of the men dealing drugs in Minneapolis. don’t come in with answers. And, we work to change policies in [They have] limited education, attraction to easy money, and our own country that are impacting the situation here.” the idea that their life could end by violence at any time. So why bother to play by the rules?” Dybvig and Braley were back in Minnesota for two months during the summer, but decided to spend one more year with They also see similar practices among women’s organizations in CPT and returned to Colombia in early September. both Colombia and the U.S. that move people from poverty to self-sufficiency. According to Braley, “To walk into their offices or To follow their work, go to www.nilsandmichele.blogspot.com. talk with their staff, you could not tell the difference from one of our programs in the U.S., if it weren’t for the language.” That is, Holley Locher is program coordinator in the Master of Social until she says that the director of the organization received so Work program. Michele Braley has served as an adjunct professor in the Social Work Department. 26 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:21 PM Page 29 ALUMNI NEWS From the Alumni Board president … Greetings fellow Auggies, There is something special about fall. While during summer we typically take time away from school and work, fall is when we return to our routines and reconnect with friends and colleagues. And so it is with the Augsburg Alumni Board. We enter fall with high aspirations for achieving our strategic goals, which are primarily centered on making connections with various campus and affinity alumni groups, participating in campus events, and ensuring that we tell the stories of our alumni. In order to achieve these goals, we need your help! • Become an Alumni Board volunteer for special projects or participate in alumni-sponsored events • Talk to your Augsburg friends and classmates about getting involved in the greater alumni association • Nominate special alumni or friends of the College for Distinguished Alumni, First Decade, or Spirit of Augsburg awards • Participate in the Career Networking event with current students • Sign up for Augsburg’s online community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni • Become a member of the alumni association The alumni association is not just a group of people who sit on the board. It is about providing an avenue for expression of our gifts and talents. It is about making a difference and conducting “real work.” And, finally, it is about you! So, are you interested in reconnecting with old friends and making new ones? Do you need more information about what we are doing and where we are going? If so, contact Heidi Breen, at breen@augsburg.edu. Welcome! New members join Alumni Board At the June meeting of the Augsburg Alumni Board, Buffie Blesi ’90, ’97 MAL, began her term as president. The other officers are: Joyce Miller ’02, vice president; Carolyn Spargo ’80, secretary; Chad Darr ’04, treasurer; and Barry Vornbrock ’96 MAL, past president. Three new members joined the Alumni Board at this meeting: Daniel Hickle ’95 graduated with a major in journalism and a minor in economics. At Augsburg, he wrote for the Echo and interned with the Career Services Office, where he worked on a monthly newsletter for graduating seniors. He also worked off campus with autistic adults and children to help them develop socialization skills. Hickle owns and operates Fortis Agency, a full service insurance brokerage, in Brooklyn Park. On the Alumni Board, he would like to help further Augsburg’s mission in the community. Jim Kline ’01 MAL, served as a student representative on the Graduate School Committee. He received his bachelor’s degree from Southwest College in Winfield, Kan.; he is a retired Marine Corps colonel, and has 35 years of leadership and management experience. Kline is vice president of operations at SICO America Inc. in Minneapolis, and is responsible for the operations of three factories and product development. He is serving on the Alumni Board to show his support for liberal arts education. Lee Anne (Hanson) Lack ’67 had double majors in German and English. While attending Augsburg, she wrote for the Echo, sang in the Women’s Choir, was involved in theatre, and helped plan many events, including the Honors Day Assembly, Religious Emphasis Week, and the Spring arts event. Known as having a knack for making people laugh, she values diversity, justice, and kindness. Lack is an assistant financial associate in charge of financial products and service sales at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Golden Valley. On the Alumni Board, she wants to remain connected in a meaningful way and make a significant contribution to the school she loves. The mission of the Alumni Board is to support and serve Augsburg College in its stated mission and to actively promote involvement of alumni and their giving of time and resources to the College and the Alumni Association. Buffie Blesi ’90, ’97 MAL President, Augsburg Alumni Board FALL 2007 27 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 30 ALUMNI NEWS Experience Spain and Portugal—March 2008 Visit Greece and Turkey—October 2008 You are invited to join an Augsburg alumni group to visit Portugal, Morocco, and Spain, from March 27–April 6, 2008. Alumni and friends are invited to join religion professors Phil Quanbeck II, accompanied by his wife, Augsburg regent Dr. Ruth Johnson, and Mark Tranvik for educational travel in October to the cradle of western civilization and early Christianity, Greece and Turkey. The 11-day tour begins and ends in Lisbon, Portugal, and includes two nights in Lisbon, two nights in Madrid, two nights in Tangier, two nights in Seville, and one night in Granada. All along the way stops will be made for site visits. The land portion of this trip is $1499 each based on double occupancy. A few single supplements are available for an additional $319. Airfare is additional, and can be booked by you or arranged for you. Current airfare with Trafalgar Air is approximately $995. For further information and a brochure, contact the alumni office with your name and address at alumni@augsburg.edu. To reserve a place on the tour, a $200 deposit is required; if you choose Trafalgar Air for your round-trip airfare, an additional $100 is needed. Reservations must be made by December 10 and space is limited. This tour is sponsored by Augsburg A-Club, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Augsburg. The tour begins in Istanbul, the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires and travels along the Aegean coastline to the port of Kusadasi. From there, a two-night cruise through the Greek islands of Patmos, Rhodes, and Santorini arrives in Athens. This study tour explores the history, culture, and legacy of the Greco-Roman world and cities associated with the Apostle Paul and the rise of early Christianity in the Greek and Roman context. The tour looks at the legacy of the Byzantine Empire and considers the rise of the Islamic empire of the Ottoman Turks, with some attention to modern Turkey. The tour concludes with Athens and Corinth, with a visit to the Parthenon on the Acropolis and Mars Hill. Granada, Spain Athens, Greece The tour includes visits to museums, open air archaeological sites, and modern cities, with expert local guides. The tour leaders provide lectures and insight from their previous travel in this region and their fields of study and expertise. For further information contact Phil Quanbeck II at 612-3301006 or quanbeck@augsburg.edu. Santorini, Greece 28 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 31 CLASS NOTES 1951 1981 1989 1994 Rev. Leonard E. Dalberg, Buellton, Calif., is a retired pastor and was named California’s Volunteer of the Year by the California Association of Homes and Services for the Aged. His wife, Annabelle (Hanson) ’52 continues to serve as church organist. She began playing the piano for Sunday School as a teenager 65 years ago. The photo shows them at Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis in August 2006. Karla (Morken) Thompson, Pine Island, Minn., is a physical therapist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. In June 2007 she was certified as a clinical specialist in orthopaedic physical therapy and celebrated 26 years at Mayo Clinic. Her son, Danny, is an Augsburg sophomore. Jody K. Johnson earned a master’s degree in community counseling at University of Wisconsin-River Falls and works as a child protection social worker. She and her husband, Mike, have four children, ages 7 to 14. The two youngest are adopted from India and Korea and have special needs. Carley (Miller) Stuber, and her husband, William, Shakopee, Minn., welcomed the birth of their daughter, Carolyn Sophie, on March 30, pictured here with big sister Kirsten, 23 months. 1968 Gretchen (Strom) Schmidt, Ventura, Calif., has retired and began an 18-month road trip in July with her husband in their “fifth wheel.” At the end of the trip, they’ll settle in South Carolina. 1978 Julie Anne (Johnson) Westlund, Duluth, Minn., has been director of career services at the University of MinnesotaDuluth since 1988. This year she received the John Tate Award for Excellence in Advising from the University of Minnesota. jwestlund@umm.edu 1982 Laura (Lam) Redding, Samois-sur-Seine, France, has published Late Blossom, a chronicle of wartime Viet Nam, and a memoir of life, loss, and love. She is a refugee from Viet Nam, who graduated with a degree in business administration. Princeton University has identified Late Blossom as required reading for a new graduate course on the Viet Nam war era, and a university in Japan is also interested in using the book in their Southeast Asian Studies Department. In Paris, several book clubs have selected it for reading, and a French translation is expected soon. 1992 Heather (Wagner) Rand, Duluth, Minn., was a candidate for the District 3 Duluth City Council seat. She works as Duluth planning commissioner and chair of the citizen committee that developed the Duluth Comprehensive Land Use Plan. She is also a Duluth heritage preservation commissioner and a higher education commissioner. 1997 Paul Cicmil, Minneapolis, began in July as one of two undergraduate representatives (recruiters) for DeVry University in the Twin Cities at its Edina Center. Read more about Laura and Late Blossom at her blog, http://lauraonvietnam.blogspot.com Join the Augsburg Online Community • Keep in touch with classmates • Find out what’s happening on campus • Change/update your address and e-mail www.augsburg.edu/alumni FALL 2007 29 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 32 CLASS NOTES Carolyn Herman ’05 and Tessa Flynn ’05 1998 2004 Jamie Larkin married Kelli Leick on Jan. 27, 2006; they live in White Bear Lake, Minn. On April 18, they welcomed the birth of their son, Jack Thomas. Kerry Lynn (Keller) married Cole Patrick Bryan ’03 on Aug. 25, 2006; and they live in St. Michael, Minn. Cole is in purchasing and sales with RoadRite Truck Sales. klkeller82@yahoo.com Carolyn Herman and Tessa Flynn, were honored June 22 by Admission Possible as the AmeriCorps Members of the Year at Admission Possible. AmeriCorps volunteers work with this program to help economically disadvantaged students gain college admission. Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak proclaimed June 22 as Carolyn Herman Day in Minneapolis, and June 24 as Tessa Flynn Day, for serving the citizens of Minneapolis admirably, with passion, pride, and unending commitment to [their high schools] and to [their] students. Herman worked at Patrick Henry High School and helped 34 seniors gain admission to college, and helped them raise nearly $175,000 in scholarships. Currently she is at the University of Hyderabad in India as a Rotary Ambassador Scholar studying literature. Flynn, worked at North High School and also helped 34 seniors gain admission to college, with nearly $250,000 in scholarships awarded. 1999 Rebecca Welle ‘04 and Laura Olson ‘89 Trudy Marie (Kueker) married Michael Howard on May 26, 2006; they live in Woodbury, Minn. She is an RN, CCRN for Healthways and Healtheast. tmhoward@mm.com 2000 Rev. Melissa (Moyle) Pohlman, Minneapolis, was one of the presiding ministers at the daily worship on Aug. 7 at the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Chicago. She is the presiding minister at Christ English Church in Minneapolis. Rebecca Welle ’04 (left) and Laura (Henning) Olson ’89 (right) took a break from volunteering around the city with Meals-onWheels to visit the Auggieasaurus in Murphy Square. They both work at ING in downtown Minneapolis. Becky is also the women’s assistant cross country coach at Augsburg. 30 AUGSBURG NOW Harry Ford, Brooklyn Center, Minn., is director of Emerge Villages. Its program, Fathers and Children Together (FACT), which provides transitional housing for custodial fathers and their families, received a Family Strengthening Award from the United Neighborhood Centers of America/Annie E. Casey Foundation. A 2005 Y Sara Baufield ’05 married Justin Sorby on May 5 at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Wayzata, Minn. Sara is currently pursuing another bachelor’s degree in early childhood development at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Justin graduated in 2004 from North Dakota State University and works as a grain merchandiser for Archer Daniels Midland. They live in Mankato, Minn. 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 33 2006 In Memoriam Emily Soeder, Washington, D.C., has been appointed an associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting. For eight months, she worked for the assistant secretary in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education. During the summer she traveled to Haiti with a group working at an orphanage. Tungseth, Rev. Erling M. ’40, Cambridge, Minn., age 89, on July 21. Correction: In the summer issue’s note about Lauren Falk ’06 and her new business, Lauren B. Photography, her e-mail contact was omitted. You can reach her at laurenbfalk@aol.com. Waggoner, Sylvia (Haukeness) ’47, Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 3, 2006. Johnson, Wilgard “Will” ’57, Lexington, Ky., age 75, on July 25. Calderwood, David ’50, Birchwood, Minn., age 81, on Sept. 18, of cancer. SEND US YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, or e-mail to alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news to the Augsburg Online Community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Full name Maiden name Schmidt, David Has ’85, Phoenix, Ariz, age 47, on Sept. 27. Class year or last year attended Street address City, State, Zip Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Home telephone E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Employer Position Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No If yes, class year Spouse’s name Maiden name Your news: “Auggie is an action verb” t-shirts were worn by all first-year students on City Service Day. FALL 2007 31 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 34 VIEWS Auggie women who participated in sports prior to 1988, when athletic letters were first awarded to women, were honored with framed “A” letters at an event in September that celebrated 35 years of varsity women’s athletics at Augsburg. A maroon-letter day for Auggie women athletes by Augsburg News Service and Betsey Norgard September 28 was a special day for 78 Auggie women who competed in sports at Augsburg prior to 1988, the year in which the first athletic letters were awarded to women. They finally received their letters as well. The dinner that evening celebrated 35 years of varsity women’s athletics at Augsburg, as well as the rich history of women’s athletics prior to the Title IX era. In 1972 Augsburg’s varsity women’s basketball and volleyball teams were started, along with gymnastics and tennis. The celebration event started in the LaVonne Johnson Peterson Health and Physical Education Center, named for “Mrs. Pete,” the longtime instructor, women’s athletic director, and coach of the famed “Auggiettes” basketball team of the mid-1950s. Following dinner, current female student-athletes led a Parade of Champions from Kennedy Center to Hoversten Chapel, accompanied by a brass band. In a ceremony there, the alumnae received framed maroon A’s and a place in Augsburg’s sports history. Though the varsity era of Auggie women’s athletics began in 1972, there have been women’s College dating to the mid-1920s. From the 1940s to the 1970s, there were numerous intramural sports sponsored for women, including the Auggiettes basketball team. They competed in the Minneapolis Park Board league and compiled a 125-5 record in 15 seasons from 1950 to 1965. At Homecoming in October, the unbeaten Auggiettes team of 1956-57, celebrating its 50th anniversary, was honored with induction as a group into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. In an article printed in the Star Tribune following the celebration event, assistant athletic director Marilyn Florian ’76 recounted how, on her first day of classes at Augsburg, she asked then-athletic director Joyce Pfaff ’65 when volleyball practice would begin, assuming there was a team. Florian said Pfaff then started and coached a team, learning the sport as she went. “She knew we had talent and desire,” Florian said. “We just needed the opportunity and we’re all grateful we got it.” This was a sentiment echoed throughout the evening’s athletic festivities. For more about women’s athletics, go to www.augsburg.edu/athletics. Current female student-athletes led a Parade of Champions from Kennedy Center to Hoversten Chapel, where the alumnae athletes were honored and awarded athletic letters. 32 AUGSBURG NOW 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 35 CALENDAR For music information, call 612-330-1265 For theatre ticket information, call 612-330-1257 For art gallery information, call 612-330-1524 February 22–April 4 Augsburg Art Department Faculty Exhibition NOVEMBER Gage Family Art Gallery, Oren Gateway Center Reception: Friday, Feb. 22, 5– 7 p.m.
 Artist talk: March, TBA November 30 Velkommen Jul Celebration 10:15 a.m.—Chapel Service, Hoversten Chapel 11 a.m.—Scandinavian treats and gifts, Christensen Center January 20 2008 Convocation Series 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation Ekwueme Michael Thelwell, “Visions of a Just Society: Dr. King’s Legacy” 1 p.m., Hoversten Chapel November 30–December 1 That All May Have Light 28th Annual Advent Vespers: A service of music and liturgy 5 and 8 p.m. each night Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis For seating envelopes, 612-330-1265 JANUARY February 28-29 2008 Convocation Series FEBRUARY February 1-10 The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt; transl. by Maurice Valency Guest directed by Luverne Seifert ‘83 Feb. 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. Feb. 3 and 10 at 2 p.m. Tjornhom-Nelson Theater January 11–February 22 Contemporary Native American Art Christensen Center Art Gallery Artist reception: Friday, Jan. 18 Artist presentation: TBA January 16–February 1 
 Augsburg Art Club Exhibition Student Art Gallery, Christensen Center February 29–April 4 Kelly Connole, Where the Sky Meets the Earth Ceramic installation
 Artist Reception: Friday, Feb. 29, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
 Artist Presentation: TBA (group show) Gage Family Art Gallery, Oren Gateway Center Reception: Friday, Jan. 18 Artist talk: TBA Barbara Harman: Prints, MixedMedia Drawings, and Artist Books Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics “Reinhold Niebuhr for the 21st Century” Rev. Robin Lovin, Cary McGuire University Professor of Ethics, Southern Methodist University Feb. 28—7:30 p.m., Hoversten Chapel Feb. 29—10 a.m., Hoversten Chapel February 15-16 2008 Convocation Series Dr. Ned Hallowell Feb. 15, “Worry” 3:30 p.m., Hoversten Chapel Feb. 16, “CrazyBusy” Noon, Hoversten Chapel MARCH March 11-14 The Exception and the Rule by Bertolt Brecht, transl. by Eric Bentley Guest directed by Warren C. Bowles March 11, 12, 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. Foss Studio Theater FALL 2007 705384_CATALOG:705384_CATALOG 11/20/07 7:22 PM Page 36 Our college in the city Augsburg has gone through dramatic changes over the past three years, including new turf on the football field and the addition of the Kennedy and Oren Gateway Center buildings, which have given the College a new look from the air. Photograph by Stephen Geffre. 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031
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Augsburg Now Summer 2007
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703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:00 PM Page 1 Augsburg Now COMMENCEMENT 2007 INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS SUMMER 2007 VOL. 69, NO. 4 Diggin’ Dinos in Murphy Square page 6 P. 4 P. 7 703724-Pages 1-12, 17...
Show more 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:00 PM Page 1 Augsburg Now COMMENCEMENT 2007 INTERNATIONAL PHOTO CONTEST A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS SUMMER 2007 VOL. 69, NO. 4 Diggin’ Dinos in Murphy Square page 6 P. 4 P. 7 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:00 PM Page 2 Editor Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Notes from President Pribbenow on… Staff Writer Bethany Bierman bierman@augsburg.edu Design Manager Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Class Notes Designer Students at the center of our lives I t is the end of July as I pen these Notes for the summer 2007 issue of Augsburg Now, and we have just concluded our summer orientation for more than 400 incoming first-year students, the Class of 2011. I am as energized as always by the sense of wonder and hope that comes with an incoming class of college students! At the other end of the continuum, you will find in the following pages the stories and images of our two 2007 Commencement ceremonies—the first early in May for our day undergraduates and our physician assistant graduate students; the second late in June for our weekend undergraduates and the other five graduate programs (nursing, social work, education, leadership, and business administration). All combined, we graduated more than 900 new Auggie alums this spring—what grand celebrations we enjoyed! I have been thinking a lot about this continuum of student experiences—and have enjoyed some rich and important conversations the past several months with the Augsburg community about how we might better honor the centrality of students to our life as a college. It is, above all, about the promise we make to our students. Let’s call it the Augsburg Promise. As students come to us, no matter their prior experience or background, we regard them as: Photographer As they enter the College—as undergraduates or graduate students—we engage them in missionbased academic and social experiences that prepare them for meaningful work and service in the world. In the classroom, on the playing fields, in the residence halls, on stage, and in the neighborhood, students enter a teaching and learning community that prepares them to make a living and to make a life in the world. And as they leave us, our students remain at the center of our lives as graduates whose lives and work are emblems of this college’s aspirations and commitments. We expect them to have gained an informed vision of the world, focused on discovery and appreciating difference. We prepare them for intelligent understanding, full of curiosity and a commitment to dialogue. And we offer them remarkable opportunities for relevant experience, learning to apply what they have learned and lead others. Students are at the center of our lives. There is no more energizing and engaging work. And there are few places that do it as well as Augsburg College. It is the Augsburg Promise, a promise we strive to keep each and every day. Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Faithfully yours, Send address corrections to: Advancement Services, CB 142, Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu • Gifted—a gift to us and the world, to be cared for, educated, and nurtured, • Called—on a vocational path that we will help them discern and navigate, • Accountable—persons of responsibility and integrity. Signe Peterson petersos@augsburg.edu Media Relations Manager Judy Petree petree@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communication David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni Relations Heidi Breen breen@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published quarterly by Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, Minn., 55454. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Paul C. Pribbenow, president E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 3 Summer 2007 4 Contents Features 4 2007 International Programs Photo Contest Selected winners of the seventh annual student photo contest for international study programs showcase the experiences of students abroad. 6 An “Auggieasaurus” in Murphy Square by Betsey Norgard 7 Senior Jen Janda created the “Auggieasaurus” as Augsburg’s entry in the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Diggin’ Dinos project. 7 Commencement 2007—May Nearly 400 students in undergraduate semester programs and the Physician Assistant program received their diplomas in May. 10 Commencement 2007—June In the College’s first Commencement focused on programs in the trimester schedule, undergraduate and graduate students who studied on weekends and evenings received their degrees. Departments 10 On the Cover: “Auggieasaurus” is one of about 50 dinosaur statues decorated and displayed by local businesses and organizations as part of the Science Museum’s 100th-year anniversary project, Diggin’ Dinos. Studio art major Jen Janda created Augsburg’s entry. 2 3 13 inside back cover Around the Quad Supporting Augsburg Alumni News Calendar All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 4 AROUND THE QUAD NOTEWORTHY Social Work Student of the Year Lisa Luinenburg ’07 was named Social Work Student of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for her “outstanding scholarship and service to the community.” She graduated in May with double majors in social work and international relations. Physician Assistant program earns national award Augsburg’s Physician Assistant program was recently awarded the 2007 American Academy of Physician Assistants’ Constituent Organization Award of Achievement for a high school curriculum project developed in 2005. With the help of the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA), the PA faculty developed a program to educate high school students about the role of a PA, increase the diversity among PA providers, and provide health education and hands-on learning. In May 2006 and 2007, Augsburg hosted high school groups on campus who participated in interactive educational activities on how diseases, specifically HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, can spread, as well as how to administer a neurological exam and take blood pressures. Current PA students and recent graduates helped with the teaching. 2 AUGSBURG NOW Nou Chang ’09 joins Minnesota’s Future Doctors Junior Nou Chang participated this summer in Minnesota’s Future Doctors, a program to explore the medical profession that is sponsored by the University of Minnesota and Mayo Medical School. Over three summers, it aims to increase the number of Minnesota minority, immigrant, and rural physicians by helping these students develop academic skills, an understanding of medicine, and an appreciation for serving in an underserved community. Chang, a biology and English major with a religion minor, immigrated with her family to Rochester, Minn., from Thailand in 1988. She also is the recipient of a Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation Scholarship that awards potential student leaders who intend to dedicate a portion of their lives to community service. She works with homeless Hmong refugee children, ages 612, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Community Council, and hopes to create a center where the homeless children can participate in culturally-based programs. Rick Thoni retires as WEC celebrates 25 years As Weekend College celebrated 25 years in May, the program’s founder, Rick Thoni, prepared to retire from the College in June, after 35 years of service. Mia Bothun, WEC student body president, spoke at the 25th anniversary celebration on behalf of WEC students, urging them to become more involved in building greater community. Rick Thoni, with his wife, Linda, listened as President Pribbenow announced the creation of the Richard J. Thoni Award for a graduating WEC student that Thoni joined Augsburg in 1972 as a part-time psychology professor and counselor in the Student Affairs Office and went on to fill such roles as associate dean of students, acting vice president of student affairs, vice president for research and development, director of Weekend College, and vice president for enrollment management. On May 17, students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Weekend College gathered to look back on a quarter century. President Pribbenow commented that the number of stories from faculty and staff of being asked to help students get an education clearly demonstrates the organic nature of how WEC grew, beginning with the student at the center. He also commented on the commitment of Rick Thoni and others in WEC who didn’t merely launch the program, but threw themselves into the work of meeting students’ needs. would honor him “in an abiding way.” Don Gustafson, professor of history, applauded WEC students and described the rewards of teaching in WEC—meeting students who bring different experiences, perspectives, and commitment to class. In Thoni’s honor, President Pribbenow announced the creation of the Richard J. Thoni Award, which will be given annually to a graduating WEC student whose actions, commitments, and future aspirations most profoundly demonstrate a commitment to Augsburg’s motto, “Education for Service.” 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 5 SUPPORTING AUGSBURG The Kennedy Center— filled with Auggie spirit On May 4, the dedication of the Kennedy Center, the three-story addition to Melby Hall, brought together Augsburg alumni, donors, regents, faculty, staff, and students in celebration of Augsburg athletics, fitness, and health and physical education. Greco-wrestling champion Alan Rice President Pribbenow expressed gratitude to was greeted by President Pribbenow the family of former regent James Haglund in front of the Alan and Gloria Rice and his wife, Kathleen, whose gifts provided Wrestling Center, a state-of-the-art the spacious, new fitness center bearing their training facility for Augsburg’s family name. championship team and GrecoRoman wrestling. President Pribbenow (second from left), together with President Emeritus William Frame (left) and lead donors Dean ‘75 and Terry Kennedy, cut the ribbon to showcase the new training, fitness, locker, classroom, and hospitality facilities. The Lute Olson Hall of Champions highlights and celebrates the accomplishments of The open entryway provided a great gathering place for the many Auggie student-athletes across 18 men’s and women’s intercollegiate sports. the Augsburg community to celebrate the dedication. SUMMER 2007 3 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 6 2007 International Programs Photo Contest FIRST PLACE “Mysterious Ireland” Anthony Porter ‘07, Wicklow, Ireland SECOND PLACE “Cliffside: Bonsai Overlooking Tea Hills” Ryan Treptow ‘07, Munnar, Kerala, India THIRD PLACE “Beneath African Skies” Krista Costin ‘08, Ada-Foah, Ghana LANDSCAPE 4 AUGSBURG NOW HONORABLE MENTION “Eiffel Tower“ Laura Henry ‘07, Paris, France 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:01 PM Page 7 PHOTOJOURNALISM SECOND PLACE “Untitled” Jennifer Oliver ‘07, Chiang Mai, Thailand FIRST PLACE AND BEST IN SHOW “Pilgrims and Three Oceans Converge at Sunrise” Ryan Treptow ‘07, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India THIRD PLACE PORTRAITS “The Boat Keeper” Allison Hutterer ‘07, Rabat, Morocco SECOND PLACE “Lumbini Woman” Ryan Treptow ‘07, Bijapur, Northern Karnataka, India FIRST PLACE “Las Hermanitas” (“The Little Sisters”) Megan Schiller ‘07, San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala SUMMER 2007 5 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 A 8/22/07 11:02 PM ugsburg senior Jen Janda has been “Diggin’ Dinos” this summer—not on an archeological dig in Egypt, but in downtown St. Paul. It’s part of the “Diggin’ Dinos” summer celebration honoring the 100th anniversary of the Science Museum of Minnesota. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, 53 dinosaurs were placed around the streets of St. Paul, mostly downtown, and seven in the parks of Minneapolis as part of their 150th anniversary celebration. Much like the Snoopy statues a few years ago, these dinosaurs have been painted by local artists. Until Labor Day, Janda’s 4.5 feet tall by 8 feet long, 80 lb. dinosaur will live in Murphy Square, Minneapolis’s oldest park, located in the heart of Augsburg’s campus. When the College joined the project, Janda was selected as Augsburg’s designer by the art faculty. In keeping with the overall theme, she named the dinosaur “Auggieasaurus.” All the statues were painted during the Diggin’ Dinos Paint-Off at RiverCentre in St. Paul, just before Memorial Day weekend. “My idea for the Auggieasaurus was to incorporate Murphy Square’s history into a ‘map’ of the various activities that go on in the Page 8 park each spring and fall because of its location in Augsburg College’s campus,” Janda says. Around the base of the statue, she inscribed: Murphy Square Celebrating 150 Years, 1857-2007 “From cow pasture to community center” The Dinosaur of Minneapolis Parks The activities she depicts on the Auggieasaurus are: • Runners—The Auggie cross-country team runs around Murphy Square every fall. • A biker—Minneapolis has many biking commuters who travel through the park area every day. • A picnic scene • A student reading Murphy Square, the College’s literary and arts journal • Kayaks, representing Minnesotans’ love of the outdoors The four legs of the Auggieasaurus are designed to represent the Minneapolis skyline, Augsburg campus, Seward neighborhood, and the University of Minnesota. On Sept. 9, all the statues will be auctioned off to benefit the work of the Science Museum of Minnesota in its next century. Janda is a senior in the Honors Program, with an art studio major. During the summer she is working on a project to illustrate a book for children in hospitals to help them understand medical treatments and surgery. She also works as a graphic designer in the Marketing and Communication Office. • A Somali family, representing the rich cultural diversity of our neighborhood • Frisbee players • The Campus Kitchen van that delivers meals in the neighborhood A S U R A U E I S an G G AU lives in murphy square by Betsey Norgard and Judy Petree page design by Jen Janda ’08 A Paint-Off took place in downtown St. Paul as local artists created dinosaurs to be placed around the city, all in honor of the Science 6 AUGSBURG NOW Museum of Minnesota. 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:02 PM Page 9 traditional day undergraduates and master’s program in physician assistant studies commencement Jeanette Clark receives Marina Christensen Justice Award Jeanette Clark, a senior graduating with a double major in metrourban studies and youth and family ministry, was selected as the 2007 recipient of the Marina Christensen Justice Award. Each year, this honor is presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies Augsburg’s motto, “Education for Service.” Clark, a President’s Scholar, participated in the Honors Program as well as Concert Band. At Augsburg, she held numerous leadership roles, including serving as a campus ministry commissioner, resident adviser, and leadership team member for the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College. As a Spanish minor, Clark spent a semester in Cuernavaca, Mexico, through Augsburg’s Center for Global Education, where she worked for a pre-school and after-school program. This past year, Clark created a spring break opportunity for students staying in Minneapolis, called “Go Away Here.” In order to show students opportunities in the city, it included service projects, visits to neighborhood organizations such as the Sierra Club and East African Women’s Center, and social outings. The award recipient must have demonstrated a dedication to community involvement as characterized by the personal and professional life of Marina Christensen Justice, who reached out to disadvantaged people and communities. — Jen Winter ’07 Senior Jeanette Clark was honored with the Marina Christensen Justice award from President Pribbenow for her work in the community and on campus. May 2007 SUMMER 2007 7 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:04 PM Page 10 Eboo Patel, founder of the Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core, in his Commencement speech, described the “faith line” that separates religious pluralists, who seek tolerance and cooperation, from the religious totalitarians. excerpts from the commencement address “The Faith Line: On Building the Cathedrals of Pluralism” Eboo Patel … In his new book, Peace Be upon You, Zachary Karabell writes: “If we emphasize hate, scorn, war, and conquest, we are unlikely to perceive that any other path is viable … ”. Hate, scorn, war, and conquest sounds like a pretty good summary of our newscasts; it certainly seems like the dominant narrative of our times. And the soundtrack of violence these days appears to be prayer—in Arabic, in Hebrew, in Hindi, in various inflections of English. There are many who are eager to divide humanity along a faith line: Sunnis vs. Shias, Catholics vs. Protestants, Hindus vs. Buddhists. I believe there is something else going on. I believe that the faith line is indeed the challenge of our century, but it does not divide people of different religious backgrounds. The faith line does not separate Muslims and Christians or Hindus and Jews. The faith line separates religious totalitarians and religious pluralists. A religious totalitarian is someone who seeks to suffocate those who are different. Their weapons range from suicide bombs to media empires. There are Christian totalitarians and Hindu totalitarians and Jewish totalitarians and Muslim totalitarians. They are on the same side of the faith line: arm in arm against the dream of a common life together. A pluralist is someone who seeks to live with people who are different, be enriched by them, help them thrive. Pluralists resonate with the Qur’annic line, “God made us different nations and tribes that we may come to know one another.” Pluralists are moved by the image of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. marching together with the Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel in Selma. Pluralists love the words of the poet Gwendolyn Brooks: We are each other’s business We are each other’s harvest We are each other’s magnitude and bond… We pluralists far outnumber the totalitarians. What if we let ourselves imagine? What if we began building? What if every city block were a cathedral of pluralism; every university campus; every summer camp and day care. There would not be enough bombs in the world to destroy all of our cathedrals. Read the full Commencement Address at www.augsburg.edu/commencement/ patel.pdf President Emeritus Charles S. Anderson (right), who led the College from 1980-1997 during a period of significant growth, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. Maria Belen Power is the third in her family to graduate from Augsburg. She poses here with sister and brother Ana Gabriela ’05 and Camilo Jose ’02, and their uncle, Dennis Power, from White Plains, N.Y. The three grads are from Managua, Nicaragua, where their mother, Kathleen McBride, is the Center for Global Education regional co-director for Central America and adjunct professor. 8 AUGSBURG NOW 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 11 As the graduates process down the street lined with faculty, hands are shaken, hugs exchanged, and high-fives given. m” Theatre arts professors Darcey Engen ’88 Physician Assistant program director Dawn (second from left) and Martha Johnson (second Ludwig places the master’s hood on Huong from right) pose with grads James Lekatz (left) Timp, one of the 31 newly-graduated PA and Justin Hooper (right). students. President Emeritus William V. Frame, who retired last year from Augsburg, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, and was lauded for his work in sharpening the mission of the College. SUMMER 2007 9 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 12 The flags of the Commencement procession represent the countries of Augsburg’s graduating students. A I t e t w s h i w f t t w e p T r b a 2007 weekend, evening, and graduate programs commencement Faculty line both sides of the street as graduates march through them on their way to the ceremony. June Nursing Department chair Cheryl Leuning takes a photo of instructor Pauline Utesch ’05 MAN (right) with graduates in the Bachelor of Science nursing completion degree program. Roberta Kagin, associate professor and director of the music therapy program, shares a graduation moment with her daughter, Julia (Metzler) Mensing ‘00, who serves on Augsburg’s Alumni Board and received her 10 AUGSBURG NOW MBA degree. a d i a w s e e 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 13 Angela Brand receives first Richard J. Thoni Award In honor of his retirement from Augsburg, the Richard J. Thoni Award was established earlier this year. It was awarded for the first time on June 24 to Angela Brand, a social work major. Beyond the required 240 hours of public service volunteer work Brand completed for her major, she also provided parenting instruction and visitation supervision to a working mother in Chisago County. She facilitated and organized meetings to ensure that the transportation needs of clients at the Chisago County Social Services office were met. Additionally, Brand developed an evaluation of the youth-oriented services provided by Chisago County Social Services. The county is currently following up on her recommendations to ensure that youth are better prepared for their transition into adulthood. During his or her time at Augsburg, the award recipient must have demonstrated a dedication to the kind of community involvement characterized by the personal and professional life of Richard J. Thoni, who until his retirement in June 2007, served as a tireless advocate for higher education at Augsburg. — Jen Winter ’07 Social work major Angela Brand is the first recipient of the Richard J. Thoni Award, established in honor of the retiring Weekend College founder and given to a weekend student committed to service in the community. Dean Barbara Edwards Farley places a doctoral hood on Srividya Raman, who received her master’s Martin Marty, retired University of Chicago professor and degree in social work, spoke on behalf of the historian of religion, who was awarded an honorary Doctor Class of 2007 and told how, after receiving a of Humane Letters degree. In his Commencement speech, business degree in India, she realized her he gave suggestions about learning to live life as a process, passion was in “doing something different that not a product, continually questioning and testing. was closer to [her] heart.” A future college coed straightens the tassel of her mom’s mortar board following Commencement. More than 50 graduating students and their families from Rochester were able to leave the driving to Augsburg and relax on their way to and from the Commencement ceremony. SUMMER 2007 11 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 14 Going to college with your mom With more classes than ever offered in Weekend College, more students are finding out what it’s like to attend college with their parents. The Clark and the Spargo families are two who have had more than one generation attend Augsburg simultaneously. Jeanette Clark and her mother, Mary Simonson Clark, both graduated in the spring. The Spargos have three family members graduating from Augsburg this year and next. According to Clark, “Augsburg’s graduate programs and Weekend College facilitate adult learning and, therefore, increase the prevalence of multi-generational students in families.” The Clark family went through four commencements this past spring. There were so many that Mary referred to their graduation schedule as: “It’s a weekend, who needs a robe?” Jeanette graduated from Augsburg with a Bachelor of Arts degree in youth and family ministry and metro-urban studies on May 5. Mary graduated from Luther Seminary with a Master of Arts in theology on May 27. Mary’s other daughter, Marie, graduated from the New School of Architecture and Design in San Diego, Calif., with a Master of Architecture on June 16, and Mary received the other half of her dual degree, a Master of Social Work, from Augsburg, on June 24. Concerning being coeds together, Mary said, “I needed to learn how to be on the same campus with my daughter without either of us interfering with each other’s schedules.” Jeanette added, “To be honest, I had some small anxieties when my mother started college at Augsburg. It just doesn’t fit the norm to go to college with your mother.” But both assert that not only did it work, but that the family grew closer because of it. Jeanette claimed, “I think it was really good for both of us to have others in our family who were going through the stress of homework, tests, etc. at the same time. I think this really promoted understanding.” Jeanette Clark (left) who graduated in May, shares graduation joy with her mother, Mary Simonson Clark, who completed dual master’s degrees at Luther Seminary and Augsburg College. For more on Jeanette, see page 7. The Spargos had three members attending Augsburg last year, and all three participated in Advent Vespers. Antonio graduated in May with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and secondary education. Carolyn, mother to Annika and Antonio, graduated from Augsburg in 1980 and will complete the Master of Arts in Leadership program next year. She says, “It’s been fun to have some of the same professors my kids have.” Annika, who will graduate next year also, with a Bachelor of Arts in music and education, adds, “Although there are several of us on campus, we all have our separate programs which allow us to maintain some individuality.” Continuing, she says, “I think the neatest thing about being a family of Auggies is that I have seen and met so many different people from different departments at the school whom I normally would not know.” — Jen Winter ’07 the class of 2007—956 graduates May 5, 2007—semester programs 31 Master of Science, Physician Assistant Studies students 409 Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science 440 Total graduating June 24, 2007—trimester programs 234 Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science 172 Weekend College 52 Rochester 10 United/Unity/Mercy Hospitals 20 Master of Arts, Education 26 Master of Arts, Leadership 15 Master of Arts, Nursing 178 Master of Business Administration 43 Master of Social Work 516 Total graduating An MBA degree was also awarded posthumously to Shika Addo, a student in the program, who died in April 2006. 12 AUGSBURG NOW ALUMNI NEWS From the Alumni Board president … Greetings fellow Auggies, Well, a year has come and gone. My time as president of the Alumni Association is at an end. My hat is off to all the wonderful folks on the Alumni Board and to the faculty and staff at Augsburg. They’re a great group dedicated to Augsburg and her mission. As I handed off the president’s role to Buffie Blesi, we had a great strategic planning retreat in June to define our new objectives. I’m excited to report to you that our focus areas for 2007 include: • Augsburg Stewards—Connect with the Augsburg Stewards and build our Auggie Pride! • Career Development Program—support Augsburg’s efforts around Career Development for (soon to be) alumni; • Gateway—participate in the opening of the Oren Gateway Center and ongoing activities there • Vespers—support the annual Advent Vespers programming • Awards Committee—honor Auggies each year who have done amazing things in service to the world and Augsburg’s mission • Augsburg Now Advisory Committee—provide input and advice to the great group of folks producing the Augsburg Now • Affinity Groups—build connections with other groups at Augsburg • Fundraising—help build Augsburg’s strength through support of the Annual Fund Centennial Singers perform in the Twin Cities The Centennial Singers, a male chorus of Augsburg alumni and friends, will present a series of concerts this fall in the greater Twin Cities area. The chorus was formed in the early 1990s of former Augsburg Quartet members to revive and continue singing the gospel quartet tradition. Since then, they have toured both to Norway and the Southwest U.S. twice. Fall Concerts/Appearances: Fri., Sept. 28, 7 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church, Staples, Minn. Sat., Sept. 29, 7 p.m. Salem Lutheran Church, Deerwood, Minn. Sun., Sept. 30, 4 p.m. Cambridge Lutheran Church, Cambridge, Minn. Sat., Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1900 7th St., New Brighton, Minn. Sat., Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Calvary Lutheran Church of Golden Valley,\ 7520 Golden Valley Rd., Golden Valley, Minn. Benefit—Wilderness Canoe Base Sun., Oct. 21, 4 p.m. Colonial Church of Edina, 6200 Colonial Way, Edina, Minn. Sat., Oct. 27, 7 p.m. Community of the Cross Lutheran Church, 10701 Bloomington Ferry Rd., Bloomington, Minn. Sun., Oct. 28, 4 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Dr., Woodbury, Minn. Sat., Nov. 3, 7 p.m. Minnetonka Lutheran Church, 16023 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, Minn. Sun, Nov. 4, 4 p.m. St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 9201 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, Minn. You are invited and encouraged to participate. Please contact the Alumni Relations office. All my best to you and your family as the cycle turns and we start another year. Barry M. Vornbrock ’96 MAL President, Alumni Board, 2006-07 SUMMER 2007 13 CLASS NOTES 1950 1969 Frank Ario, Minneapolis, was featured on the Minnesota Public Radio show, Midday on May 18, in a program, “Two Minnesotans Touched by WWII; Two Strikingly Different Stories.” Royce Helmbrecht, Austin, Minn., is principal at Lyle Community School in Lyle, Minn., a small school of 240 students recently named by Newsweek in the top five percent of high schools in the nation. 1952 Robert R. Hage Sr., Hector, Minn., was entered into the Minnesota High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame on April 21. He is the former football coach at Hector High School. Rev. Orville Olson and his wife, Yvonne (Bagley), Excelsior, Minn., celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination. He is currently a pastor at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior. Gifts will be given to the Timothy Olson Memorial Scholarship, honoring their son. John R. Hubbling, St. Paul, Minn., received the Max Hecht Award from ASTM International Committee D19 on Water. The committee cited Hubbling for his outstanding service and advancing the study of water. He is laboratory manager for Metropolitan Council/ Environmental Services in St. Paul, and also serves on ASTM International’s international committees on waste management, and quality and standards. 1970 1967 Gerrie Wall (Neff), Rapid City, S. Dak., retired in May, after a five-decade teaching career, from Western Dakota Technical Institute (WDTI) in Rapid City, where she has taught in the general education department for the last 18 years. At this year’s commencement ceremony, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the school, and is the first faculty member to be honored with its highest award. Mary (Tweeten) Gladwin, Pocatello, Idaho, has retired after 21 years in education. She taught in Cottage Grove, Minn., and was the media specialist at Grace Lutheran and Hawthorne Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho. physical education and aquatics in the Glynn County (Ga.) schools. She was also principal horn with the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and played in other bands and small brass groups. At Augsburg, she played in a brass group named Neophonic Brass with Mike Savold, Bob Stacke, Johnny English, and others, and would love to continue playing brass music. 1982 Les Heen, Maynard, Minn., was recently appointed president and general manager of Pioneer Public Television in Appleton. He and his wife, Barbara (Westerlund) ’89, have two children, Chris, 9, and Erik, 6. Barbara (Mattison) Lagrue, Lamberton, Minn., has recently moved back to the Midwest, with her husband, Paul. For many years, she taught adaptive 14 AUGSBURG NOW John Sheehan, Lakeville, Minn., has been named boys varsity basketball head coach in Lakeville South High School. For seven years he was an assistant coach with the Lakeville North girls team. 1997 Jasmina Besirevic-Regan, Hamden, Conn., and her husband, Matt, welcomed their second daughter, Lejla, on June 14, 2006. Rev. Scott M. Ludford, Hayward, Wis., was installed as senior pastor of First Lutheran Church on January 21, after serving at Concordia Lutheran Church in Superior, Wis., for eight-and-ahalf years. 1987 Jody Abbott was recently named senior vice president and chief operating officer at North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital to provide direction for upper management in the areas of nursing services, support services, and facilities. Previously, she worked at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, Okla., in a similar position. 1992 1975 1993 Rev. Judith Bangsund, San Jose, Calif., is pastor, along with her husband, Rev. James Bangsund, at Timothy’s Lutheran Church. She graduated in nursing, served with her husband in Tanzania for several years, and became ordained. Join the Augsburg Online Community • Keep in touch with classmates • Find out what’s happening on campus • Change/update your address and e-mail www.augsburg.edu/alumni CLASS NOTES 1999 Cheri Johnson, Minneapolis, received a $25,000 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Writers, through the Loft Literary Center, in creative prose. She has graduate degrees in English from Hollins College and the University of Minnesota and is a regular participant in the English Department Homecoming Reading and Career Night. 2000 Sara M. Quigley, St. Paul, Minn., graduated on May 27 from Luther Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. She is the youth director at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in White Bear Lake, Minn., and hopes to become ordained in the ELCA. Jennifer Rensenbrink, and her husband, Adam Miller, Minneapolis, welcomed twins, a boy and a girl, at Fairview Riverside Hospital on June 9. Rowan Charles weighed 5 lbs., 2 oz.; and Anneke Rensenbrink weighed 4 lbs., 14 oz. certified nursing assistant/ environmental aide at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minn. 2003 Natalia Pretelt, Roseville, Minn., was mentioned in the Money and Business section of the Star Tribune on April 15 for her role as a loan specialist with the Minneapolis Consortium of Community Developers. She is involved in microlending and small loans to help immigrants and others start businesses. Jonathan Fahler, has studied since 2004 in the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences program at Loyola University Chicago and was recently admitted to medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. John Tieben, St. Louis Park, Minn., received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota on May 4. Tieben and his wife, Danielle (Slack) ’04, will live in Duluth, where he will serve a three-year family practice residency in the St. Mary’s/Duluth Clinic Health System, St. Luke’s Hospital, and the Duluth Family Practice Center. Options, a volunteer mentoring program that connects with atrisk kids, ages 10-14, in the Twin Cities through biking and running. See blog photos at bolderoptions.org. 2005 Brooke Dornbusch received a Master of Arts in counseling degree in May from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Mo. Mark Simmonds, placed fourth in the 120-kilogram GrecoRoman class at the 2007 USA Wrestling Senior World Team Trials. He is a damage controlman third class (DC3) in the U.S. Navy, operating out of the Mayport, Fla., Naval Station and is a member of the Navy’s wrestling team. 2006 Lauren Falk, Eden Prairie, Minn., has started her own portrait/wedding photography business, Lauren B. Photography, with on-location photography of weddings, portraits, and events in the Twin Cities metro area. Graduate Programs Jeff Falkingham ’95 MAL, Eden Prairie, Minn., donated his services to author a 2007 commemorative edition of his earlier book, The County Courthouse Caper, recounting the history of his native Browns Valley, Minn. The publisher, Beaver’s Pond Press, has donated 1000 copies for the city to sell as a fundraiser for its Long-Term Flood Recovery Fund. Dietrich-Swanson Wedding 2004 2001 Emily Waldon, Salem, Mass., recently joined the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates at its Cambridge internal medicine practice as a physician assistant. She received a master’s degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Formerly she was a Max Langaard, Oakland, Calif., was recently featured in an article titled, “Teaching Leadership through Coaching.” The article is focused on the Sports-4-Kids program centered in the Bay area inner city schools. The program attempts to help children become not only healthier but also to learn what it takes to lead. Laura Simones, St. Paul, has biked from Boulder, Colo., to Minneapolis with Bolder Hannah Dietrich and Nathan Swanson ’05,, Lincoln, Neb., were married on June 8, in Luverne, Minn. The wedding included several Auggie students and staff, including Sadie Dietrich ’09, Lynde Kuipers ’08, cross-country and track coach Dennis Barker, Marcia Gunz ’05, Anna (Ferguson) Rendell ’05, Kyla Rice ’05, Tim Stowe, and Janeece (Adams) Oatmann ’05. Jeremiah Knabe ’05 also served as an officiant at the wedding. Hannah is a doctoral student at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and Nathan is pursuing a job with Lincoln Public Schools. SUMMER 2007 15 CLASS NOTES SEND US YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, or e-mail to alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news to the Augsburg Online Community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Full name Maiden name Class year or last year attended Street address City, State, Zip In Memoriam Larsen, Norman ’34, Morristown, Minn., age 97, on June 12. He was a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Woolson, Gladys (Oudal) ’34, Minneapolis, age 92, on May 9. Knudsen, Rev. Richard I. ’37 Sem, Minneapolis, age 95, on July 10. Gilseth, Margaret (Chrislock) ’40, St. Charles, Minn., age 88, on June 10. She was a Distinguished Alumna. Framstad, Rev. Waldemar ’41, Marinette, Wis., age 87, on June 14, after a lengthy illness. Ahlberg, Rev. G. Harold ’42, Valparaiso, Ind., age 86, on June 4. Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Home telephone Stolee, Magdalene (Gronseth) ’42, Kenyon, Minn., age 87, on June 11. E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Employer Position Work telephone Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No If yes, class year Spouse’s name Maiden name Your news: 16 AUGSBURG NOW Estness, Borghild ’43, Minneapolis, age 92, on July 8. She served as a recorder in Augsburg’s Office of the Registrar. Gronseth, Luther C., Sr., ’43, Apple Valley, Minn., age 86, on June 23. Lindahl, Burton J. ’50, Wayzata, Minn., age 82, on May 22. Bakken, Rev. Hardis C. ’52, San Pablo, Calif., age 97, on May 5. Thompson, Robert D. ’52, Bloomington, Minn., age 81, on June 29. Pundy, Eileen “Dolly” ’59, Minneapolis, age 69, on May 4. Peterson, Rolf ’61, University Place, Wash., on April 24. Heimbigner, Marlene (Hanggi) ’65, Olympia, Wash., on Jan. 15. Timmons, Peter ’74, St. Paul, age 63, on June 16, from pancreatic cancer. Ness, Sheela Jo ’86, Plymouth, Minn., on July 4, of injuries from an auto accident. Galland, John H. ’93, Durango, Colo., age 56, on May 18, in an auto accident. Hope, Jared ’00, West Concord, Minn., age 28, on May 8 of injuries from an auto accident. Neitzel, Daniel Kurt ’06, Eden Prairie, Minn., age 27, on June 11. Ward, Sister Agnes, CSJ, on April 10. She taught classical languages at Augsburg in the 1960s. 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 15 CALENDAR For music information, call 612-330-1265 For theatre ticket information, call 612-330-1257 For art gallery information, call 612-330-1524 SEPTEMBER September 10 Seventh Annual Scholastic Connections Gala and Dinner Celebrating the scholarship/ mentorship program and the four ethnic services programs Free and open to the public 6:30–8:30 p.m.—East Commons, Christensen Center Info and reservations: 612-359-6480 or scholar@augsburg.edu September 24-25 2007 Christensen Symposium Everyday Life in the Light of the Gospel Rolf A. Jacobson, associate professor of Old Testament, Luther Seminary. Free and open to the public. September 24, “Why Do You Weep? Sadness, Grief, and the Gospel” 7 p.m.—Hoversten Chapel September 25, “How Can I Keep from Singing? Laughter, Joy, and the Gospel” 11 a.m.—Hoversten Chapel September 27 Theatre Artist Series From Augsburg to the Guthrie Theater Katie Koch ’06, stage manager and executive assistant to Joe Dowling, Guthrie Theater 9:40–11:10 a.m.—Tjornhom-Nelson Theater September 14–October 26 Glass from the American-Swedish Institute and Its Local Influence Gage Family Art Gallery, Oren Gateway Center Opening reception: Friday, Sept. 14, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Artist Presentation: To be announced September 14–October 26 Reweaving a Life Prints by Alejandro González Aranda and baskets by women weavers of Tlamacazapa, Guerrero, Mexico Christensen Center Art Gallery Artist Printmaking Demonstration: Friday, Oct. 12, 8:30–10:10 a.m. Artist Presentation and Reception: Friday, Oct. 12, 3:30–5:30 p.m. September 18 Theatre Artist Series Technical Direction at the Guthrie Theater Craig Pettigrew, assistant technical director 9:40–11:10 a.m.— Tjornhom-Nelson Theater September 20 Featured Artist Presentation A Life in the Theatre Peter C. Brocius, artistic director, Children’s Theatre Company 7 p.m.—Tjornhom-Nelson Theater October 17 Many Voices: Bold Visions Convocation Series Peter Bisanz, film director, documentary One 10 a.m.—Hoversten Chapel NOVEMBER November 2–11 Life is a Dream (La vida es sueño) by Pedro Calderon de la Barca Directed by Martha Johnson Nov. 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, and 10 at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 and 11 at 2 p.m. Tjornhom-Nelson Theater OCTOBER October 8 Theatre Artist Series Working in the Theatre Buffy Sedlacheck, literary manager, Jungle Theatre 12:10–1:10 p.m.—Tjornhom-Nelson Theater October 8–13 Homecoming 2007 See www.augsburg.edu/alumni for information October 11 Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet November 14 2007 Koryne Horbal Lecture Anne Pedersen Women’s Resource Center Jane Fonda “My Life’s Lessons about Sex and Gender” 10 a.m.—Hoversten Chapel November 30 Velkommen Jul Celebration 10:15 a.m.—Chapel Service, Hoversten Chapel 11 a.m.—Scandinavian treats and gifts, Christensen Center October 12 1957 50th Anniversary Celebration Homecoming Convocation Homecoming Luncheon Campaign Completion Celebration and Oren Gateway Center Dedication Dept. of Sociology 60th Anniversary Celebration November 30–December 1 That All May Have Light 28th Annual Advent Vespers: A service of music and liturgy 5 and 8 p.m. each night Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis For seating envelopes, 612-330-1265 English Alumni/ae Reunion and Reading October 13 1967 40-Year Reunion Picnic in the Park Football game vs. University of St. Thomas Auggie Block Party SUMMER 2007 703724-Pages 1-12, 17-20:Layout 1 8/22/07 11:05 PM Page 16 An Augsburg Mural Augsburg’s history is celebrated in the mural across the Barnes and Noble Augsburg Bookstore windows at the new Oren Gateway Center. Artwork by photographer Stephen Geffre. 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031
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Augsburg Now Spring 2007
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Augsburg Now KEYSTONE CONNECTIONS URBAN LEGENDS AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS SPRING 2007 VOL. 69, NO. 3 Martin Sabo retires The ending of an era page 16 P. 21 A PLACE OF THEIR OWN A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R P. 12 P. 26 Editor Notes from President Pribbenow on… Being a ...
Show more Augsburg Now KEYSTONE CONNECTIONS URBAN LEGENDS AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS SPRING 2007 VOL. 69, NO. 3 Martin Sabo retires The ending of an era page 16 P. 21 A PLACE OF THEIR OWN A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R P. 12 P. 26 Editor Notes from President Pribbenow on… Being a college in the city B ut seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare will you find your welfare. (Jeremiah 29:7, RSV) One particular afternoon last fall, I was shepherded through the nearby Cedar-Riverside neighborhood by our legendary community ambassador Mary Laurel True. She introduced me to good people whose lives and work intersect with the College. We sat in one of the four mosques in the neighborhood and spoke with the elders about peace and the God of Abraham, about our lives here together, about our children, and about the world and how frightening it can be to live with strangers. In other words, we spoke as fellow humans living together in the city. I love the city (despite my rural upbringing) and my recent experiences in our neighborhood lead me to revisit some of the historical themes that fascinate me about city life. My first thoughts go to the role that neighborhoods play in a strong urban life. Though we are a city, we live our lives in neighborhoods. It is in the neighborhood where I come face to face with the challenges and joys of negotiating my life with others. I think of Jane Addams, who made the west side Chicago neighborhood near Hull-House the sphere of action for her efforts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to build a stronger democracy. There are many of us who still believe her settlement house idea has relevance for the 21st century. It is not a philosophical exercise—it is the daily living with, abiding with, meeting the needs and sharing the aspirations of neighbors that defined the work of Miss Addams and her colleagues, and that needs to define our lives in cities as well. A second theme about cities is the ways in which they reflect our abiding pursuit of civilization. Sir Peter Hall in Cities in Civilization suggests that great cities have been at the center of artistic growth, technological progress, the marriage of culture and technology, and solutions to evolving social problems. Cities are places “for people who can stand the Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Staff Writer Bethany Bierman bierman@augsburg.edu Design Manager Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Class Notes Designer heat of the kitchen: places where the adrenaline pumps through the bodies of the people and through the streets on which they walk; messy places, sordid places sometimes, but places nevertheless superbly worth living in, long to be remembered and long to be celebrated.” Finally, I think of the late Jane Jacobs, the legendary urban theorist, whose The Death and Life of Great American Cities was a clarion call to arms for all those who loved the diversity and energy of cities that was being ravaged by trends in architecture and city planning. One of Jacobs’ main points was that the well-being of cities is defined primarily by common, ordinary things, like sidewalks, parks, defined neighborhoods, and a diversity of architecture styles and buildings of different ages. These common, ordinary things, when thought about with the needs and aspirations of citizens in mind, will create healthy, sustainable, and vital urban centers. It is not about spending a huge amount of money, but rather about a reflective practice of city life—the genuine work of urban planning. During my short time here at Augsburg, I have been challenged to think again about the role of colleges and universities in an urban setting. I am committed to the mutual dependency of colleges and the city. The paradigm for the relationships between cities and higher education must be less about extracting benefits from each other, less dependent on incidental impact, and more focused on the various resources that can be shared in the pursuit of a more robust, healthy, and meaningful urban life. I look forward to our efforts at Augsburg to give substance to this new (but not really so new!) paradigm of urban citizenship. Yours, Signe Peterson petersos@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Media Relations Manager Judy Petree petree@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Interim Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Communications David Warch warch@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni Relations Heidi Breen breen@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published quarterly by Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, Minn., 55454. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services, CB 142, Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 Paul C. Pribbenow, president Spring 2007 21 Contents Features 11 The Kitchen Connection by Betsey Norgard Weekend College student Tom Gouras uses his food service experience to feel more connected on campus and provide service in the community. 12 Fitting the Pieces Together by Betsey Norgard In their keystone courses seniors synthesize all their Augsburg experiences in preparing for the next step. 16 The Ending of an Era Photos and text by Stephen Geffre The boxes are packed and farewells said as Martin Olav Sabo retires from a 28-year career in the U.S. House of Representatives. 21 Urban Legends by Bethany Bierman Augsburg’s metro-urban studies alumni are making their marks as leaders in public service and city planning. 16 26 A Place of Their Own by Betsey Norgard The East African Women’s Center bustles with activity as mothers, children, grandmothers, and girls learn skills for living in a new community. On the Cover: Congressman Martin Olav Sabo, Class of 1959, retires from a lifelong career serving his constituents in Minneapolis and earning high respect from colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Departments 2 Around the Quad 6 Supporting Augsburg 8 Sports 29 Alumni News 36 Views All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. AROUND THE QUAD Brian Krohn awarded a Goldwater Scholarship NOTEWORTHY A team of Augsburg and University of St. Thomas students received honorable men- Junior Brian Krohn, who is majoring in chemistry with a biology minor, was awarded a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for the 2007-08 academic year. A total of 317 schol- arships were awarded from the more than 1,000 nominations made by college faculty in the fields of natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Krohn will join a research group this summer at the Graz Technical Institute in Austria, funded by the National Science Foundation. Two other Augsburg students received honorable mentions— Kent Bodurtha and Reid Larson, both in physics. tion at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York in March. Model UN team wins award A team of Augsburg and University of St. Thomas students received honorable mention at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York in March—Augsburg’s first award in nine years of competition. More than 4,000 students from the U.S. and 31 countries participated, with opening and closing ceremonies held in the UN General Assembly Great Hall. The student team represented the interests of India in the conference and met with the Indian Mission to the UN during the week in New York. Matt Broughton named a Fulbright Scholar Matt Broughton’06, who graduated summa cum laude with dual degrees in English and 2 AUGSBURG NOW physics, has been named a Fulbright Scholar to Germany during 2007-08. He will spend the year at the Technical University of Braunschweig, working in space physics research. It was during an internship with the National Academies’ Space Studies Board that Broughton began to see how research he had been doing fits into the larger context of national and international physics research, studying the relationship between the sun and earth. At the Technical University, he will study ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves in the magnetosphere, using data gathered from four satellites in the Cluster mission. He will be able to analyze the data with use of a wave telescope, a multi-spacecraft analysis tool, using techniques that scientists there developed. He already has a working relationship with the scientists and has received some training on the wave telescope. This summer Broughton will spend 10 weeks in Washington, D.C., in an intensive German language program. Coach and athletic director Ernie Anderson dies Ernie Anderson ’37, who served Augsburg College as its men’s basketball coach for 23 seasons and as its athletic director for 34 years, died on March 18 at the age of 90. Anderson was a part of the Augsburg community for more than 40 years. He attended the Augsburg Academy as a prep student in the early 1930s. He played basketball and baseball at Augsburg, graduating from the College with a hisErnie Anderson ’37 tory degree in 1937. Anderson served as men’s basketball coach for the Auggies from 1947-70, and as the school’s athletic director from 1947-80. He was inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1975. In 1984, Augsburg named its outdoor athletic field Anderson-Nelson Field, in honor of Anderson and fellow longtime coach Edor Nelson ’38. In 2001, the center competition court at Melby Hall was named Ernie Anderson Court in his honor, while the outdoor athletic field was rechristened as Edor Nelson Field. Men’s basketball coach Ernie Anderson is lifted in the air as the team celebrates its conference championship in 1963. PA students excel on certifying exam Physics students receive award All 28 of Augsburg physician assistant 2006 graduates passed the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) exam, required for physician assistants to practice in most states. While the mean score for all new grads nationally was 506, Augsburg’s mean score was 581, which put the program in the 91st percentile in comparison to other programs. Augsburg’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) was selected as an Outstanding Chapter for 2005-06. This is the fourth time in the last five years the chapter has been recognized among the top 10 percent of chapters nationally. Recognition is given for the breadth of SPS activities in research, public science outreach, physics tutoring programs, and interaction among its members. Brian Wood ’08 serves Students and money—dollar/sense Sophomore Cody Warren (left) and financial aid counselor Carly Eichhorst (right) teamed to teach students about financial literacy. Studies show that more than half of all college students acquire their first credit card during their first year in college. Nearly half of all college students have credit card debt, with the average debt over $3,000. Combine that with the fact that most parents feel they are neither prepared to talk to their kids about personal finances, nor do they feel they are good role models concerning financial planning and decisions. And few high schools offer courses on financial matters. Last year, Augsburg’s Financial Aid Office decided to do something about this and provide resources for students to as chapter president and Professor Mark Engebretson is faculty adviser. Best Workplace for Commuters The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation become more fiscally literate and learn to make responsible money choices. “Does Your Money Matter?” was offered as a series of formal presentations. This year, financial aid counselor Carly Eichhorst and sophomore student worker Cody Warren teamed up to revamp the program and ratchet up the level of conversation and participation. “I knew my peers didn’t have the [financial] information,” Warren said, as they planned a new program they called “dollar/sense.” Five sessions (three of which were repeated) were offered on weekday evenings: • Embark: Begin the Financial Journey • Build: Establish Credit. Maintain Credit • Plan: Chart Your Course • Renew: Financial Aid Springs Anew • Share: Time. Talent. Gifts included Augsburg among the Best Workplaces for Commuters in Minneapolis. It was recognized as an employer offering good benefits to employees for alternatives to driving alone to work every day. Augsburg faculty, staff, and students can buy discounted travel on buses and light rail, can make teleworking arrangements, and use carpools. Augsburg also hosts an HOURCAR hub in the CedarRiverside community, making a hybrid-fuel vehicle available for hourly rent by qualified drivers on campus and in the community. Lots of audience response and visuals in a relaxed atmosphere, plus some food, brought home the message to 20 to 40 students who came to each session of “dollar/sense.” Eichhorst was delighted at the response. “[A student who] attended last night’s event on credit scores … came to me this morning and told me he pulled his credit report right away last night and wanted to talk about a discrepancy,” she said. “[Another attendee] was a student who experienced financial problems last year … and he attended every single session of ‘dollar/sense’.” The word reached parents as well. One mother e-mailed, “It is really a shame that you don’t get more students attending those sessions since they are truly REAL LIFE and kids so often complain about learning things they think they will never use. Thanks to everyone in the Enrollment Center who put them on.” —Betsey Norgard SPRING 2007 3 AROUND THE QUAD Japanese artists visit Augsburg For two days in late February, Ayomi Yoshida and Bidou Yamaguchi engaged the Augsburg community with their talents and art. Yoshida is a printmaker, installation artist, and designer, whose work ranges from a colorful gift wrap line designed for Target to multi-story installation art. She is a fourth generation member of the illustrious Yoshida family of printmakers, which also included Toshi Yoshida, who taught at Augsburg during two summers in the early 1970s. For an exhibit at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (MIA) in 2002 featuring her family, she created a large installation of wood grain panels. The installation was purchased by Target Corporation and re-installed in their corporate executive suites in downtown Minneapolis. “Reverberation Ad Infinitum” is made up of four columns and a wall, each running three stories high, flanking a stairway. Out of each red column, Yoshida carved repeated lines of oval chips with a scoop chisel. The red chips were then glued to the white wall, creating positive and negative polka dots. Over 60,000 chips were carved, with three people working on it for three months. MIA curator Matthew Welch led a group of Augsburg students to Target Corporation to view Yoshida’s installation—an opportunity for the students to see the artwork in this restricted, nonpublic area. They appreciated the centuries-old, handcrafted nature of the installation, says Kerry Morgan, Augsburg’s coordinator of galleries, and were captured by “the physical process, the amount of work, and the time and dedication needed for it.” Morgan recounts that as people walk through the installation, “fascinating things happen to the eye, the grid becomes diagonal and casts shadows.” Bidou Yamaguchi demonstrates his master skills in carving masks from cypress wood for Japanese Noh drama. 4 AUGSBURG NOW Students explore the panels of a multi-story art installation created by Ayomi Yoshida at Target Corporation headquarters. Bob Ulrich, chairman and CEO of Target Corporation, greeted the group and told them that Target employees prefer walking the stairs through the installation to taking the elevator. Yoshida also is a designer for Target. Her gift wrap line, with polka-dot-and-lined patterns, has been described as making packages “too pretty to open.” Yoshida’s husband, Bidou Yamaguchi, is a master carver of masks for Noh drama. He is trained as a graphic designer, but became enchanted with the ancient craft of carving masks and their long history as part of an ancient art form. Carved and smoothed from a block of cypress wood by knives and chisels with three layers of steel, the masks are lacquer coated many times and then stressed to show age and wear. Yamaguchi tried his own hand at carving, and sought out a master carver with whom he could apprentice. After five years of study—only half the normal time—he was awarded the master carver status. He was also given his artist’s name, Bidou, a combination of words meaning the “god of war” and “a stack of wood.” Yamaguchi has lectured and demonstrated his craft at numerous institutions in Japan and other countries. His masks are part of the permanent collections of Target Corporation (which the students also were able to view on the tour) and the MIA. Bringing Yoshida and Yamaguchi to campus was a collaborative effort among the art galleries, Art Department, Theatre Arts Department, Art Club, Pan-Asian Student Services, and professor emeritus Eugene Skibbe, a friend of the Yoshida family. The presentations made by the artists were open to the public, and scheduled to involve classes in AsianAmerican theatre, sculpture, art history, and design. — Betsey Norgard Augsburg Stewards: Preserving history, keeping traditions alive The Augsburg Stewards have been involved in nearly every recent Augsburg event, and they are not much more than a year old. The 14-member group has already participated in Homecoming, orientation, an event honoring the Augsburg Associates, the annual Scholarship Brunch, and other events with alumni. Augsburg students can’t help but notice the Stewards, but many wonder, “Who are they?” If you refer to the group’s official statement, the Augsburg Stewards’ mission is “to engage students in the mission of Augsburg College in order to cultivate pride in place and purpose.” Lead Steward Solveig Mebust says, “We combine three important aspects of the College: we look at the history, the present traditions, and the future of the College and then try to make it all something to which students can relate. We basically provide the link between the students and the alumni. “We make connections with people whom you might not otherwise have met, and these are powerful people,” she says. “They make the difference between having an Oren Gateway Center or not, having a scholarship to go to college or not.” The Stewards don’t just make connections with alumni, but also focus on students. In an interview in spring 2006, Augsburg Stewards’ founder, Paul Cumings ’06, said, “Students are trying to find ways to connect with Augsburg, to The Augsburg Stewards seek ways to engage students in the history and traditions of the College and create links with alumni. (L to R) Rikki Starich ’07, Marie Sager ’09, lead Steward Solveig Mebust ’08, Sarah Valasek ’09, Cody Warren ’09. create meaning behind the school.” “That’s exactly what we try to do,” Mebust confirms. “We want students to be invested in this school, to take pride in our rich history, be involved in present traditions, and to help sculpt the future of the College.” The Stewards have already started working toward that goal. Each Steward receives a copy of the late professor emeritus Carl Chrislock’s Fjord to Freeway, a centennial history of Augsburg College. They then share the College’s history with the student body. For example, during Auggie Days, an orientation program for first-year Augsburg students, Steward Chris Kuhn presented a brief history from Chrislock’s book. The Stewards began in December 2005 when Cumings, the student body president, came up with the idea. “It’s important to learn the history of the College, to open up our past. That helps us learn why deci- sions have been made,” he said. Cumings asked a few students to join, wrote a constitution, and submitted the constitution to student government. In January 2006 the Augsburg Stewards became an official student organization. Currently the organization is structured into three main committees: the History Committee, the Present Committee, and the Future Committee, each led by a Steward member and focusing on one of the three main components. However, Mebust plans changes to the structure to make it easier for students to participate more fully. Formal recruiting for new Stewards has taken place during spring semester. In December the Stewards hosted an event called “What is an Auggie, anyway?” With information tables in Christensen Center, the group focused on what it means to identify as an Auggie and provided students with information, food, presentations, and a documentary about the College’s history. “There’s something unique about Augsburg. It’s always been the odd child out of the Lutheran colleges because we’ve never felt the need to compete,” says Mebust. “We produce amazing alumni who are leaders of both the political and religious realms, and their children are now attending Augsburg.” Mebust hopes to learn more about why Augsburg is so unique. She assigned the Stewards a long-term goal of discovering the personal history of the College. “Fjord [to Freeway] is a great history based on institutional life, but not [its] personal life.” Even while still evolving, the Augsburg Stewards are working hard to reach their goals. Mebust says, “We do our best to be involved … and to be the best representation of the College.” —Kari Aanestad ’08 Kari Aanestad is a junior, with double majors in English/writing and political science. SPRING 2007 5 AROUND THE QUAD SUPPORTING AUGSBURG Sabo Scholars … ‘Walking the talk’ One year after he graduated from Augsburg, 22-year-old Martin Olav Sabo was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1960 as its youngest member. In 1978 he was elected to the first of 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as one of its most liberal members. Throughout his entire career, he has exemplified Augsburg’s motto, “Education for Service,” and he leaves a legacy as one of the most fair-minded and principled legislators. In 1990, his friends, family, and alumni established the Martin Olav and Sylvia A. Sabo Scholarship in recognition of Sabo’s distinguished record. The scholarship is awarded to students who study political science and/or have engaged in public service, and aspire to careers in public policy. In 1994, fundraising began to build the Sabo Endowment for Leadership in Public and Community Service. In addition to the Sabo Scholarships, a summer leadership program for high school students, a lecture series, and academic support to public service are envisioned. Since 1995, nearly 50 students have been named Sabo Scholars, and some served internships in Sabo’s Washington office. A number have since chosen careers in public service. Garry Hesser, professor of sociology and director of the metro-urban studies program, says, “What we’re trying to lift up with the Sabo initiative is that graduates in urban studies walk the talk … . They stand for elected office and grapple with the complexities of public issues and The Sabo Scholarship The Martin Olav and Sylvia A. Sabo Scholarship, established in 1990 by friends, alumni, and family is awarded to students with demonstrated financial need and academic achievement who study political science and/or have engaged in public service or have interest in public policy. “I hope your college experience has taught you to listen, and that you will continue to listen. … I hope you will develop your convictions and your beliefs. I hope that you will pursue your passions. And I hope you do get involved and choose your causes. But always remember to listen. And remember—you may not be absolutely right.” — Martin Olav Sabo ’59 Augsburg Commencement address, 1983 6 AUGSBURG NOW public policies.” Here are four Sabo Scholars whose lives are centered around walking the talk of public service. For Minneapolis native Breanne Dalnes ’03, it took a year at another Lutheran college to realize she was an urbanite at heart. Once at Augsburg, a metrourban studies major became an instant fit. “I knew as soon as I discovered there was such a thing as neighborhood organizations that I wanted to get involved on such a grassroots level,” she says. While at Augsburg, Dalnes spent one semester with HECUA’s Metro-Urban Studies Term (MUST), which she says opened her eyes to a new way of thinking. She also served as a planning Junior Kari Aanestad’s internship teaching a recent immigrant to write has brought to life issues around community needs that her classes in political science have introduced. intern for the City of St. Paul. Her last semester, she spent a week in Washington D.C., where her group visited various nonprofits and Sabo’s office. “It was the perfect send-off to graduate school.” She received a Master of Urban/Regional Planning degree at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute in 2005 and currently serves as an associate planner for the City of Ramsey. “I’m putting my passions to good work and watching out for people who are too busy making ends meet to get involved in their communities or politics.” Erica Champer ‘04 chose Augsburg “for its integration into a world-class city.” She also chose metro-urban studies because, in Making a gift to Augsburg It’s easy to make a donation to Augsburg College. All donations are tax-deductible. her words, “it intertwined all of the areas I was interested in— history, economics, sociology, and politics, all with a focus on making the city a better place.” She now serves as an associate director of quality and compliance at Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights in Chicago. Champer climbed the ladder in a short period of time, becoming the youngest director in a company of 800. “At Augsburg I learned about public housing in Chicago and what a disaster it was, and now I’m here two years later working on a real solution!” says Champer. “I am working on issues that are meaningful to me—affordable housing, human rights, and more.” Kari Aanestad graduates next year with double majors in political science and English with a writing concentration. During her time at Augsburg, she has taken advantage of many opportunities to reflect on vocation, community service, and building democracy. “I love helping people and being a servant of the people,” Aanestad says. Her Honors Junior Colloquium, taught by President Pribbenow, focused on humanitarian Jane Addams, and what Aanestad took away was a deep appreciation of Addams’ belief that in serving people she did not expect to teach them, but to learn from them. Aanestad says her four classes during spring semester all seemed to synthesize around public serv- Ana Chilingarishvili’s international interest in children’s rights stem from her own experience growing up in the post-Soviet Union Republic of Georgia. Gifts online Go to www.augsburg.edu/giving to make a secure credit card donation. You can use the form to make a one-time donation or to set up recurring gifts. Gifts by phone To make a donation by phone, call Kevin Healy, director of advancement services, at 612-338-6537 or 800-273-0617. Gifts by mail You can mail your gift to: Development Office, CB 142 Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454 For complete information about making a gift, including the types of giving and giving programs, go to www.augsburg.edu/giving. ice. In political science theory, she studied what it means to be a civil leader and servant of the people. A statistics course taught her how knowledge is used and how public policy is translated for the general public. An internship gave her the chance to work oneon-one with a 46-year-old East African man, teaching him to write. She learned how education is empowerment, and how leaders have a responsibility to empower their people. Lastly, in American literature, she studied what it means to have a voice, and how in poverty people do not have any voice. Her thoughts after graduation include work with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps or AmeriCorps, giving her chances to offer community service and better understand the role of civic associations in a democracy. Ana Chilingarishvili graduates this year with a major in international relations and will begin law school in the fall. Her sights are set worldwide, beyond local and national boundaries. A native of the Republic of Georgia, she was 6 years old when the Soviet Union came to an end and independence was declared. Her family endured the civil war that followed and were fortunate to receive help from a number of international organizations. Chilingarishvili’s interest is in human rights law, especially children’s rights, so that she can help others in the same way. She doesn’t yet know exactly what that will be, but feels that Augsburg’s focus on vocation has helped her prepare for whatever may develop. When the Sabo Scholars had the opportunity to meet Martin Sabo on campus this spring, Chilingarishvili was amazed to hear about the roots of this legislator who has traveled the world—a tiny North Dakota community and a high school graduating class of three. — Bethany Bierman and Betsey Norgard SPRING 2007 7 AROUND THE QUAD SPORTS Auggies win 10th national title, claim nine All-Americans Claiming three individual national titles and making collegiate wrestling history for one of its wrestlers in the process, the Augsburg wrestling team won its record-10th NCAA Division III national championship in the last 17 seasons with a dominating performance in the tournament, held in March in Dubuque, Iowa. With nine All-Americans, including three titlists and two runners-up, Augsburg finished with 135.5 points, 36 points ahead of second-place Wartburg (Iowa), the defending national champion, with 99.5 points. Wisconsin-La Crosse finished in third with 92.5 points, Luther (Iowa) finished fourth with 86.0 points and the College of New Jersey finished fifth with 46.5 points. Augsburg head coach Jeff Swenson ’79 was named National Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the sixth time he has earned the honor in his 25-season career. After the championships, Swenson announced his resignation from his coaching position, in order to focus on his responsibilities as the school’s assistant dean for athletics and recreation. Sam Barber, who has served as an assistant on the Auggie staff for six seasons, was named the team’s new head coach. “We had a lot of ups, mostly, and a few downs,” said Swenson. “It’s hard for me when the year comes to an end because of the great seniors, but the bottom line is I’m proud of them as a group. They really came together in the last month of the season.” Augsburg has finished among the top two teams in national competition 19 times since 1975, has finished among the top four Wrestling head coach Jeff Swenson steps down after 25 seasons. Auggie coaches Jeff Swenson (lower) and Sam Barber (upper) watch their team With a commanding win, Auggie wrestlers captured their 10th national championship in March, with nine All-Americans. nationally the last 19 seasons in a row (the only NCAA school in any division that can make that claim), and has finished in the top 20 nationally every season since 1971 (NCAA from 1983 to present, NAIA pre-1983). Augsburg’s Marcus LeVesseur, a senior from Minneapolis, became the first Division III wrestler ever to win four national titles, and the second college wrestler ever to finish his career unbeaten and untied. LeVesseur, who won Division III national titles at 157 pounds three times (2003, 2004, 2005), finished his senior season at 31-0, and his collegiate career at 155-0, the second-longest winning streak in college wrestling history. Cael Sanderson went 159-0 during his career at Iowa State from 19982002, winning four Division I national titles. “It’s unbelievable,” Swenson said of LeVesseur’s accomplishment, “… no one had ever won four titles (at the Division III level), and only two guys have ever gone through their careers undefeated. He’s in great company with Cael [Sanderson].” Junior Quincy Osborn claimed his first national championship at 141 pounds. Osborn finished his first season as an Auggie with a 44-3 record, completing his third national tournament appearance. As a Division I wrestler at the University of Minnesota, he competed in national tournaments in both 2004 and 2005. Osborn is now 104-35 in his college career. Junior Jeremy Anderson also earned his first national championship, completing his second All-American season with a win in the 157-pound class. Anderson, who was a national runner-up last season, finished his junior campaign at 39-2 overall and his 83-5 in his two seasons as an Auggie. At 133, junior Jafari Vanier repeated his second-place finish from a year ago, and sophomore Seth Flodeen claimed national runner-up honors in his first national finals appearance at 125 pounds. Senior Jared Evans, a threetime All-American, closed out his career with his second straight fourth-place finish, and junior Robbie Gotreau finished his campaign at 41-6 overall. Heavyweight senior Andrew Neumann, in his second national tournament, finished fifth overall. At 197, junior Wally O’Connor finished eighth. Augsburg finished with an 11-1 dual-meet record this season. For the third time in the sixyear history of the event, Augsburg claimed the championship at the National Wrestling Coaches Association/Cliff Keen Division III National Duals in January. Academically, Augsburg finished 11th among Division III programs in the NWCA’s academic national rankings, with a 3.283 team gradepoint average. Five Auggies earned NWCA Scholar All-American honors—Evans, Neumann, Paul Bjorkstrand, Josh Hansen, and Brandon Klukow. wrestle to a national title. 8 AUGSBURG NOW —Don Stoner Jeff Swenson resigns as wrestling coach Augsburg wrestling head coach Jeff Swenson announced in March that he is resigning his coaching post in order to focus on his responsibilities as the school’s assistant dean for athletics and recreation. Swenson, a 1979 Augsburg graduate, served as head coach of the Auggies for 25 seasons (198084, 1986-2007), building the squad into a national small-college wrestling powerhouse. Under Swenson’s leadership, Augsburg won a record-10 NCAA Division III national championships and produced a career dual-meet record of 321-44. Associate head coach Sam Barber takes over as head coach. Sam Barber, who served as an assistant coach on Swenson’s staff for six seasons, is taking over head coaching duties for the Auggies. Barber has served as associate head coach for the last two seasons. A 1995 Upper Iowa University graduate, he served as head coach for the Peacocks in the 1999-2000 season. During his Augsburg tenure, Barber has been a part of three national championship squads and two national runner-up squads, and has coached 46 AllAmericans and 13 individual Jeff Swenson ’79 retires after 25 seasons, with a national title and Division III Coach of the Year honors. He shares the moment with his nearly-two-year-old son, Brady. national champions. He was named Division III Co-National Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 2006. In his role as assistant dean for athletics and recreation as a member of President Pribbenow’s staff, Swenson supervises the 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program, the athletic facilities department, and the College’s intramural athletic program. Swenson was named to the position on an interim basis in 2001, and his posting was made permanent in 2004. “I look forward to working with Coach Swenson in the years ahead,” Pribbenow said, as “we partner to make Augsburg one of the finest examples of NCAA Division III athletics in the country—a college that honors the connections between academics and athletics, that celebrates both sportsmanship and competition, and that helps our students to grow as individuals and teammates … I can think of no one better than Jeff Swenson to lead us in this vision for intercollegiate athletics at Augsburg College. His track record speaks for itself. His love for the College is unparalleled. And he has the passion, commitment, and skills to guide our athletics programs into a bright future.” Swenson has been a member of the Augsburg community for more than 30 years—as a student, coach, and administrator. A national champion wrestler at Augsburg in his senior year of 1979 with a career record of 10217, Swenson began his coaching career in his first year out of college, as an assistant coach on John Grygelko’s Auggie staff. Grygelko retired in 1980, and Swenson was named head coach. Swenson said that two years ago, he made the decision that he would step down from his coaching post this year. He said that focusing on his role in athletic administration will help him in his goals to improve every aspect of Augsburg’s athletic program among schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III. “For me, this is a cause for celebration. It’s not a sad day. It’s a great day. I’m able to listen to my vocational calling and lead the entire athletic department without having the coaching demands,” Swenson said. As an administrator, Swenson has led the Augsburg program through a period of unprecedented growth and improvement. This year, construction was completed on the new Kennedy Center addition to Melby Hall, which includes expanded classroom, meeting, and locker room space, along with a new fitness facility and a new wrestling training facility. Two years ago, a new SprinTurf surface was installed at Edor Nelson Field, and a new seasonal air-supported dome was installed for the first time this year over the field. “I’ve been around Augsburg since the fall of 1975, over 30 years,” Swenson said. “Augsburg has shaped me. Augsburg has made me who I am, and it’s allowed me to pursue my passion to be a coach. Now, I have a greater passion to lead the entire athletic department as a full-time administrator. I’ve learned a lot about leading and coaching by being the head wrestling coach here for 25 years. That’s going to help me as I lead Augsburg athletics into the future.” “I am proud to know Jeff Swenson and to be able to honor his remarkable career as our head wrestling coach at Augsburg,” Pribbenow said. “He has accomplished great things with his wrestling teams—10 national championships, countless individual titles, team academic achievements, and so on. But perhaps more than anything, I am proud of Jeff’s commitment and passion for that individual student who needs the guidance, support, and challenge to be the best he or she can be—as an athlete, as a student, as a person. Jeff exemplifies what makes Augsburg the special and rare place that it is—putting students first and helping them to grow to be successful, responsible, and good people. “Jeff Swenson leaves a remarkable legacy as the Augsburg wrestling coach. He has built a program that will endure as a shining example of quality and achievement. Now he has made the remarkable decision to bring his skills and passion to bear on moving Augsburg’s intercollegiate athletics programs to the next level of excellence. Surely there is no one better than Jeff to lead our athletics programs—both to the benefit of our student-athletes and the reputation of the College.” —Don Stoner SPRING 2007 9 Augsburg men’s hockey head coach Chris Brown was named Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Chris Brown Coach of the Year. In his first year as the Auggies head coach, Brown led the Auggies to a 12-10-4 record and third-place conference finish (9-3-4), as the Auggies clinched a berth in the MIAC playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Brown returned to Augsburg last season as an assistant coach under Mike Schwartz, a position in which he also served during the 1996-97 season. After leaving Augsburg in 1997, he was an assistant coach at Division I Alaska-Anchorage for three years, then served as head coach at Marian (Wis.) for four seasons (2000-04) and at Hamline for one season (2004-05). Brown was also named as one of 12 finalists for the Edward Jeremiah Award as the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year by the American Hockey Coaches Association. Aaron Johnson named MIAC Player of the Year Senior forward Aaron Johnson was selected by MIAC as the conference Player of the Year in men’s hockey. A three-time AllMIAC honoree, he also was 10 AUGSBURG NOW named for the second year in a row as a first-team selection on the AHCA/ RBK Hockey Division III All-American Aaron Johnson ’07 squad. In April, he was selected as one of two Division III players to compete in the NCAA Pontiac Frozen Four Skills Challenge during Division I men’s hockey Frozen Four in St. Louis, Mo. He was also one of eight finalists for the Sid Watson Award, given by the AHCA to the Division III National Player of the Year. Ed Saugestad receives Hobey Baker Legends of Hockey Award Former Augsburg men’s hockey coach Ed Saugestad ’59 was recognized for his lengthy and outstanding service to college hockey with the 2007 Hobey Baker Legends of Hockey Award. The award was presented by the Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation on May 3 in St. Paul. Saugestad coached Augsburg to a 503-354-21 record in a career that spanned 37 seasons. Only two other Division III coaches have amassed more than 500 career victories. In his 37 years of coaching, Saugestad took teams to national postseason play on 10 occasions (nine NAIA and one NCAA), winning NAIA national championships in 1978, 1981, and 1982. He was named NAIA National Coach of the Year after each of the national championships. He coached 22 AllAmericans at Augsburg. Saugestad and his Auggies won Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) regular-season titles six years in a row (1976-77 to 1981-82), and Saugestad was MlAC Coach of the Year six times. In 1998, the MIAC’s playoff championship trophy was christened as the Ed Saugestad Trophy. Saugestad began his Auggie coaching career while still a student at Augsburg, in 1958. He graduated with a double major in physical education and biology in 1959 and went on to earn his master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 1964. In addition to coaching hockey for parts of five decades, he also served on the Augsburg football coaching staff from 1959-84 (head coach in the 1970-71 seasons); men’s athletic director from 1981-87; and during his entire Augsburg career served as an instructor in the Health and Physical Education Department. Saugestad was named the 2002 recipient of the John MacInnes Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association for his contributions to the growth of amateur hockey in the United States. In 1996, the state of Minnesota declared Feb. 17 as Ed Saugestad Day, in recognition of his career accomplishments. Archive photo Chris Brown named MIAC Men’s Hockey Coach of the Year Sophomore Ed Saugestad (back row, second from left) played on the 1956-57 Auggie hockey team. Coach Saugestad studies a hockey pro- Saugestad’s hockey team captured a gram during the 1961-62 season. national championship in 1981. Weekend College student Tom Gouras uses his food service background as a volunteer in Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen, a great way for him to meet other students and feel more connected to Augsburg. The kitchen connection by Betsey Norgard “I can begin to see it take shape.” Tom Gouras, the Monday night shift leader at Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen, is looking at several pans of fried rice and vegetables, surplus food donated by a local restaurant through the Emergency Foodshelf Network. Alongside them sit other pans of pork riblets, wax beans and carrots, potatoes, and some melons. From the donations they receive, the Campus Kitchen volunteer crew transforms the various components into healthy meals to be heated, delivered, and served the next day—to the Brian Coyle Community Center and Trinity Lutheran’s Safe Place tutoring program in the CedarRiverside neighborhood, and at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center. “I call this Chinese medley,” Gouras says, as he combines several pans of rice and vegetables. It can be a challenge, as the crew never knows exactly what foods they’ll find when they arrive for the cooking shift. Sometimes, he says, “what goes into the soup is interesting.” Since Augsburg students are on break, Gouras’ crew tonight is a group of four students from Fridley High School with their teacher, a father with his middle school son who is doing community service, and Augsburg alum Bill Ogren ’73. All of them have become regular Monday night volunteers. Tonight, they cook the potatoes, chop the melons, and check out all the boxes of food to make sure everything is still fresh. Finally, pans are labeled—protein, starch, vegetable, and fruit—and everything is cleaned up to finish the evening shift. Gouras is a Weekend College student who has been volunteering at the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg since January. His 15 years of experience as a cook and chef are valuable in the kitchen to lead the crews of students and community volunteers. He entered Weekend College last spring after two years at Rasmussen College studying criminal justice. A native of St. Paul’s East Side, Gouras recites a litany of blue-collar jobs he’s held—furniture delivery, food service cook/chef, garbage truck driver, loading dock worker, chemical dependency technician, greenhouse hand, and, currently, delivery truck driver for the New French Bakery. While at Rasmussen, Gouras realized that in order to advance much higher than where he is and has been, he needs a four-year degree. He hopes his courses in psychology and sociology will prepare him for probation work with the county or state. He’s also open to possibilities that may develop during his studies. “I’ve been asked if I know my calling,” he says, “and I hope I find it. I’m open to it.” After two trimesters in WEC, Gouras began to understand how much of the college experience involves social interaction, and he wasn’t feeling very connected to Augsburg. Campus Kitchen appealed to him because he could use his food service experience, and he liked the program’s mission of reaching out to others less fortunate, making sure they have hot meals. Gouras is old enough to be father to most of the student volunteers, but he enjoys their enthusiasm, as well as sharing with them some of his “street smart” wisdom and common sense. Rachel Vallens, Campus Kitchen coordinator, recognizes what this does for the program. “Tom’s cooking experience and maturity really bring an added dimension to his cooking shifts,” she says. “The students look up to him as someone who knows what he’s doing and has done a lot in life.” Recently, Gouras took on an additional task. Three days a week, sandwiches and deli items are donated from the University of Minnesota, and when no one else could pick them up on Thursdays, he volunteered. It’s all part of giving back, which is why Gouras says he’s in the kitchen every week. Ⅵ For more information about Augsburg’s Campus Kitchen, go to www.campuskitchens.org. SPRING 2007 11 keystone courses Fitting the pieces together by Betsey Norgard In architecture, a keystone sits at the top of the arch and provides the shape and support to the curved pieces rising to it. In the Augsburg Core Curriculum, the keystone is the final piece that integrates what students have learned in their required general education courses and their chosen major with everything else they have done at Augsburg—co-curricular experiences, leadership development, service-learning, study abroad, and other areas of their Augsburg experience. 12 AUGSBURG NOW First-year day students begin their Augsburg education with Augsburg Seminar, a semester that includes orientation to residence life; development of skills and strategies they need for success in college; introduction to the themes of an Augsburg education, including vocation, service, community; and learning about Augsburg’s neighborhood and the city. It’s all about transition to college, integration into Augsburg’s learning community, and reflection on how they become responsible learners. Students learn that a hallmark of an Augsburg education is intentional reflection on vocation, or what they call the “v” word. All students study two semesters of “Search for Meaning,” which includes critical conversations on understanding and discovering one’s own gifts. The senior-year keystone course becomes the other bookend. Students synthesize all their in-classroom and out-of-classroom experiences as they focus on transition from college to the community, integration of what they’ve learned, and reflection on how they will use their gifts and knowledge—again, transition, integration, reflection. What does it mean to be a professional in their major? What does it mean to be a biologist, accountant, social worker, English teacher, actor, or whatever? Because conversations about vocation are revisited during the keystone, faculty need to feel comfortable and confident in discussing issues of faith and vocation in this context. A grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion, “Common Vocation, Distinctive Callings,” provides funding for keystone faculty to partner with religion faculty members. Together they strategize on content and methods for these crucial conversations. The vocation focus and other signature elements of the Core Curriculum—diversity, the city, service and service-learning— distinguish Augsburg’s keystone from other senior “capstone” courses. Russell Kleckley, associate professor of religion and coordinator of keystone seminars, explains that Augsburg’s keystones are “more intentional about the educational experience as a whole, to see how the general education experience has informed the [major] discipline and vice versa.” Diane Pike, sociology professor and director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, says that keystones “take the time, with guidance, to help students figure out how the pieces fit together for them.” She says, “We’re equally serious about the transition from college outward as we are about the transition to college from high school.” From the College’s point of view, the keystones measure how well Augsburg fulfills its promise to students. Are they satisfied with their experience, and do they feel well prepared and confident in what they know and will take away with them? keystone Psychology majors (clockwise from bottom) Rebecca Lewis, Tiah Colacci, Nghi Ngan, and Peter Chea played a version of the Game of Life in which the cards required players to discuss some of the bigger questions in life. the keystone variations Most students take the keystone in their senior year, and most often in connection with their major. This past academic year was the first time all students have had access to a keystone course. With a fair amount of flexibility, departments have created or modified existing courses, or collaborated across departments or divisions to create classes. psychology: the game of life The psychology keystone is a good example of a department capstone course that evolved into a keystone. All psychology majors have completed capstone internship semesters that includ- ed time on the internship site, plus time in class, plus papers, portfolios, etc. This year, the course changed to be one-half internship and one-half keystone, with about one-third of the total time devoted to issues around vocation. As part of the Wabash grant, Bridget Robinson-Reigler, associate professor of psychology, was paired with Mary Lowe, assistant professor of religion. RobinsonReigler says that she and Lowe had five or six conversations about vocation, and that Lowe helped her plan new activities to engage her students. “I was pleasantly surprised how unbelievably well the students have gotten into [the discussion of vocation],” says Robinson-Reigler. Early in the seminar, she offered her own model of vocation, and by opening herself to them, she set a comfortable tone for class discussion. In what became a popular activity, Robinson-Reigler introduced an adapted version of the Game of Life, in which a number of the play cards were rewritten with questions relating to vocation. Given this context, students felt comfortable first answering the questions themselves, then opening the conversation to everyone. In another session, students were asked to evaluate the effectiveness of their required liberal arts courses. Did they work? Why did Augsburg want them to study those courses? Some students responded by saying that without the keystone they never would have thought about these SPRING 2007 13 business and vocation John Knight, Center for Faith and Learning, encourages business majors to consider how their skills, beliefs, and values will influence decisions they make every day in the business world. questions, and this assignment helped them figure out what they had learned. Robinson-Reigler’s psychology keystone is a mix of day and weekend students, giving the class a combination of ages and experiences. While all students were in the same situation of finishing college and figuring out what was next to come, some interesting conversations were launched in the multigenerational class. One WEC student said that these discussions helped her understand her own daughter better. Some said it helped them understand and appreciate the younger day school population. Robinson-Reigler confirms that students are not getting any less psychology in the new capstone-keystone with the addition of the vocation conversation; 14 AUGSBURG NOW they’re just getting it differently. “I’ve taught this class before, but I love teaching it now,” she says. “I enjoy grading the papers!” keystone-capable english courses In their new curriculum, the English Department doesn’t have a separate keystone course, but rather several advanced courses designed as “keystone-capable.” Students are required to take one of these courses as a keystone, for which extra work is indicated. Much of that work is selfreflection, and requires students to consider, for example, their function as readers and to think about what is happening when they read. The nature and depth of their commitment to reading, and what, if any, responsibilities their reading entails. This reflection is more seamless in some courses than others. When Professor Doug Green teaches Advanced Studies in Language, Theory, and Method, he integrates reflection and vocation throughout the course, even for the non-keystone students. Last year he taught Criticism and Theory as a pilot keystone course. Students read Azar Nafisi’s Reading Lolita in Tehran and wrote about how they viewed the place of literature in their own lives and cultures. They had to respond to questions like, “How has my understanding of ‘self’ (who I am as a reader, writer, student, English major, woman or man, and human being) evolved as a result of my experiences at Augsburg?” John Knight, associate director of the Center for Faith and Learning, has taught several sections of the keystone course for the Business Administration Department, the College’s largest department. The course is a collaboration between the business and religion departments, and he co-taught the day section with religion professor Hans Wiersma. Titled Vocation and the Meaning of Success, the keystone objectives include reflecting upon the ways students have been transformed by their college experiences, especially in their business major; reflecting critically on beliefs and values they use in a diverse world; and reflecting on Augsburg’s understanding of vocation and a comparison to their own vocation. Knight finds that the feel of the class depends significantly on the class makeup—the day or weekend student mix, the mix of males and females, etc. Weekend College students, he says, who bring wider job skills and life experience to class, showed a “deep willingness to engage in the material … and really wrapped themselves around the [vocation] issues by the second class.” Some students are suspicious of the keystone as being a religion class and question its relevance to their future. Knight asks them to consider the bigger picture of meaning and purpose in their lives. What does it mean to be a business professional? How does he or she behave? He believes that somewhere down the road students will understand why they had to take this course and see the benefits from it. creating a life in the fine arts Students in music, visual art, and theatre share a cross-disciplinary keystone course, Creating a Life in the Fine Arts. The syllabus states that the course will “synthesize recurring powerful concepts of vocation with practical tools and realities.” Students will balance the “development of entrepreneurial skills with ‘intrapreneurial’ knowledge and awareness” while preparing for professional life in the community. The idea of shared courses across the arts is not new—several short-term courses have taken place over the past few years. What’s new is the infusion of the larger issues integrating liberal arts and vocation. Merilee Klemp ’75, associate professor of music, led the conversations among arts faculty around the new Core Curriculum. Anticipating the need to create a keystone course, she sought a Lilly Endowment grant for the music faculty to explore topics in music and vocation with a consultant, Janis Weller. Extending this conversation to art and theatre faculty formed the nucleus for the new keystone. It also promoted the building of a fine arts community among both faculty and students on campus. Weller taught the course, along with Klemp (music), Darcey Engen (theatre), and Tara Sweeney (art). Critical conversations about vocation began and ended the course. These included visiting guest artists, who spoke about their roles in the community and world. In conjunction with the Wabash grant, Sweeney was paired with Lori Brandt Hale, assistant professor of religion. They met frequently, and Sweeney describes the experience, “What I am discussing in the service of teaching the keystone is inseparable from what I am learning about my own vocation and practice as an artist at the same time.” Their discussions included how their religious upbringing or belief systems affected what and how they teach, and how they could challenge and support students to discover their own authentic voices. The keystone seniors across art, music, and theatre were encouraged to find common ground. In one exercise, teams of students were given ordinary objects, like a chair, and together asked to consider it from a number of perspectives—how the object could move or be used with their bodies, what the visual elements of the object were, what kinds of sounds the object could make. Practical sessions about being an artist were also included. Students practiced networking with introductions and business cards, and they had to prepare artist’s statements and professional résumés. Several break-out sessions separated the students into their respective departments for discussions specific to their fields. For the most, students resonated with the cross-disciplinary focus of the keystone. “I think working alongside artists in another genre is a rare gift in the college setting,” said music performance major Nikki Lemire. Still, she enjoyed working with her music classmates, however, and would have enjoyed more break-out time within her own department and less full-group time. Theatre major James Lekatz appreciated the practical elements of the course. Hearing from guest speakers—practicing artists, teachers, grants administrators— made him aware of their involvement in the community and the different styles they use. He said the course helped students deal with removal of the “safety net of Augsburg,” and taught them how to use specific skills, e.g., to get gallery space, to plan a show, etc. Over the next couple of years, the keystone courses will all be evaluated and revisions made where needed. But no matter what the form or content the senior keystone courses take, they will all continue to help students complete an Augsburg education as effective, informed, and ethical citizens. And to become adaptable and resilient— elements needed for success on whatever path they choose. Studio art major Rachel Nelson (top), theatre arts major James Lekatz (middle), and music performance major Catherine DeVoe (right) explore the properties and possibilities of a stool. SPRING 2007 15 Above: Martin Sabo smiles to greet a judge as he stands in the imposing Capitol Rotunda, 96 feet in diameter. Left (top): In their suburban Virginia home, Sylvia Sabo, Martin’s wife and college sweetheart, works on a crossword puzzle; her husband usually tackles Sudoku. According to Sylvia, playing the puzzles is part of their morning ritual. Left (below): Leaving Congress means many farewells, in this case to Pennsylvania’s 12th District congressman John Murtha, as the doors close in the Rayburn Building elevator. Right: The transition in leadership begins to seem more real as Sabo sits in a nearly barren office watching Rep. Nancy Pelosi read the results for the new Democratic leadership in the House. 16 AUGSBURG NOW The ending of an era CONGRESSMAN MARTIN OLAV SABO, Augsburg College Class of 1959, represented Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 28 years and became a fixture in the Democratic party. In 2006 he made the decision to retire from Congress and return to life as a private citizen. Augsburg staff photographer Stephen Geffre tagged along on the day Sabo and his staff vacated the corner office in the Rayburn House Office Building he had earned through seniority. Sabo actually spent the last month of his term in a basement cubicle in Rayburn HOB, with room enough for him and only one staff member. SPRING 2007 17 18 AUGSBURG NOW Olav Martin Sabo THE ENDING OF AN ERA Above: Martin Sabo takes a moment to read through the mail delivered to his desk. Left (top): After a rainy day, the sun finally breaks through to illuminate the dome of the United States Capitol, a stately presence in the nation’s capital city. Far left: Bonnie Gottwald, Sabo’s scheduler, packs up her small portion of the D.C. office. She is one of only two schedulers Sabo has had throughout his 28-year tenure in Washington, and she echoes the entire staff in saying that Sabo was always a joy to have as a boss. Middle left: Each departing representative receives a lengthy final checklist, to ensure as smooth a transition as possible. Left: Martin Sabo’s staff poses on the Capitol steps for their last official photo. SPRING 2007 19 THE ENDING OF AN ERA Above (top): Sabo chats with Kevin Bonderud, who served as his first communications director, during the office-closing party. Scattered across Sabo’s desk are mementos of more than two decades in the House of Representatives, including mock baseball cards with Sabo’s stats on them, photos, ashtrays, and T-shirts. Above: Back in his Minneapolis office, Sabo takes a few minutes to go through the mail. The plaques, hanging outside the door, are just a small sample of the honors and awards that mark the achievements of a long legislative career. Right: Each successive file drawer marked “empty” means that staffers are getting closer to having all files reviewed and sorted. 20 AUGSBURG NOW Auggies at the forefront General civil unrest swelled across the nation. Detroit was rioting, and downtown Minneapolis was starting to empty. College students demanded social change, and colleges responded with programs centering on the urban crisis. And, Augsburg College was at the forefront. Thirty-five years later, thanks to a visionary professor, an enterprising faculty, and a supportive administration, Augsburg’s metro-urban studies program graduates leaders who are making decisions about current issues and future needs, and planning for livable and sustainable neighborhoods and cities. Urban legends by Bethany Bierman in city planning It was the late sixties, and American cities were in crisis. Joel Torstenson’s vision laid the foundation for an urban studies program. His wife, Garry Hesser is professor of sociology and chairs the metro-urban studies program. Fran, joins him here. A program is born Joel Torstenson came to Augsburg as a history major from west central Minnesota. After graduating in 1938, he worked in education for Farmer’s Co-ops, earned a master’s degree in history and sociology, and began teaching part time at Augsburg. During the war years he joined the peace movement and community organizing. In 1947, he returned to Augsburg to develop its social work and sociology programs while completing his PhD in sociology. These programs provided a natural foundation for urban studies 20 years later. Torstenson writes in his memoirs, “The more [Augsburg] became involved in urban affairs, the more we began to ask the question— what is the appropriate role of a liberal arts college located at the center of an exploding metropolis?” In 1966, Torstenson used his sabbatical to explore this question. He visited urban studies programs at East Coast schools. Upon returning, he wrote a position paper with the rationale and proposal for a metro-urban studies program at Augsburg. In order to set this in motion, courses centering on the city were needed. Torstenson, Miles Stenshoel of the political science department, Orloue Gisselquist in history, Ed Sabella in economics, Ron Palosaari in English, and other faculty embraced this concept. In 1968, when Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, the director of youth programs for the American Lutheran Church, Rev Ewald Bash, wanted to address the cultural challenges head on. Colleagues encouraged him to contact Torstenson, who had a reputation for his pursuit of racial justice and human rights. “The Crisis Colony” was born from their conversation. Students lived on the north side of Minneapolis, first in public housing and later in an abandoned synagogue, while learning from people who lived and worked in the community. Led by Torstenson, Bash, and Stenshoel, it grew from an intense summer program, to a semester program, to the Metro Urban Studies Term, or “MUST,” the first academic program of the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA). Today, MUST is a key element for all urban studies majors and is one of the premier interdisciplinary experiential education programs in the nation. Torstenson took his second sabbatical in Scandinavia in order to explore how to build cities without crisis. Out of this came the Scandinavian Urban Studies Term, or “SUST,” the second program of 22 AUGSBURG NOW HECUA. Based at the University of Oslo, students attend seminars, go on field excursions, and volunteer with various community and governmental organizations. “Two unique ingredients contributed to the success of the [metrourban studies] program: commitments from faculty … and the programs offered through HECUA, which became catalysts and capstones for the major,” says Garry Hesser, professor of sociology and chair of the metro-urban studies program, who was hired in 1977 to succeed Torstenson. While the University of Minnesota and other private colleges established urban studies programs in response to the mid-’60s urban crisis, most have not survived. “Augsburg’s is one of the few that has retained faculty and administrative commitment,” Hesser says. “Over the past 35 years there has been a steady stream of graduates who have become professional planners, city administrators, elected officials, and citizens serving on planning commissions, hearkening to the call to public service.” With monies from the Lilly [Endowment] grant, a spring break trip to Washington, D.C., has run the past five years, exposing students to vocations in community development and public service. Up until this year, the group visited Martin Sabo at his office. This year they met with newly-elected congressman Keith Ellison and his staff. Many students decide on metro-urban studies majors after the trip. Here are several stories of careers that have been shaped by the metro-urban studies program. Allan Torstenson ’75 Transforming neighborhoods One of the first graduates of the metro-urban studies program was Allan Torstenson. In his first semester at Augsburg, the Dawson, Minn., native took his Uncle Joel Torstenson’s “Man in Modern Metropolis” course (now called “Community and the Modern Metropolis”) because it fulfilled a graduation requirement. “I tried my best not to disappoint him, and found it to be a fascinating subject,” says Allan. As a sophomore, he took an Interim course on new towns, which included meeting with architects and city planners and visiting HUD officials in Washington, D.C., and Columbia, Maryland. He loved the trip, but was still unsure of a major. He considered taking a break Allan Torstenson ’75 speaks to a metro-urban studies class about community Paula Pentel’s life experiences have informed her work in urban studies at the development. University of Minnesota and with her City Council seat. from school, but when he shared this with his uncle, Joel suggested the new SUST program, which was being offered for the first time in 1973. That cross-cultural experience was the eye opener he needed to decide on metro-urban studies. Today, Allan is a senior planner for the City of St. Paul, where he has worked since 1980. One of his most challenging and gratifying projects has been the Phalen Village Plan and redevelopment project. Through strategic vision, neighborhood involvement, and hard work, a run-down, auto-oriented area surrounding a failed shopping center was transformed into a more pedestrian- and neighborhood-oriented “urban village” with new housing, new jobs, a restructured neighborhood commercial area, a restored wetland, and a new sense of community. More than just “the guy who wrote the plan,” Allan researched solutions and wrote grants addressing the larger issues. In 1993 he authored the Phalen Corridor Redevelopment Proposal, leading to the Phalen Corridor Initiative and affecting much of St. Paul’s East Side. “The transformation in only a few years has been amazing,” Torstenson shared with one of Hesser’s classes recently. “A lot of what I did in this effort was influenced by the urban studies program at Augsburg. It’s not just about design, but addresses the real problems neighborhoods deal with to build and sustain socially and economically viable communities.” He also credits the SUST program as a foundation for many of the project concepts he considered. Washington Avenue down through the scrap yards … up through Cedar-Riverside, which in the early ’70s was very vibrant—it was a fascinating trip through time that I took every day.” A course she took from Joel Torstensen really resonated with her, and she abandoned the biology major. While at Augsburg, Pentel got involved in collective decisionmaking as one of the volunteer coordinators of North Country Co-op. Pentel also participated in SUST the fall of her junior year. “What I took back was planning for versus planning with the public.” Between Augsburg and graduate school in geography at the University of Minnesota, Pentel interned for the City of Richfield and became involved in her neighborhood organization. In 1985 she and her husband moved to Golden Valley, where she continued volunteering in the community, serving 12 years on the Planning Commission, seven years as chair. In 2004 there was a vacant seat on the Golden Valley City Council. Pentel was appointed to fill out the term and was reelected in 2005. During her tenure, she’s seen considerable improvements in regard to environmental stewardship, construction of the Luce Line bike trail, and creation of a vibrant downtown area. Pentel stays connected to her North Minneapolis roots by serving as a board member on the West Broadway Area Coalition and being active at the Hollywood Studio of Dance, a non-profit, parent-managed endeavor. “To be effective in what I do in my public life, I have to be articulate, informed, accepting, and open. A lot of that I developed at Augsburg,” she says. In her professional work, Pentel serves as undergraduate advisor for the urban studies program at the university. “I help students find their calling and what interests them.” She is particularly proud of mentoring Patricia Torres Rey, who became the first Latina woman elected to the Senate in the State of Minnesota. Pentel developed and now teaches a course on the urban environment, which examines the urban effects on air, water, and soil. “All environmental issues have a local component,” Pentel says. “I tell my students to look at Augsburg’s new low-impact parking lot [on the east edge of campus]. It’s a great example of a very innovative way to mitigate pollution from storm water runoff.” Pentel also continues the Torstenson legacy of hosting an annual open house for her advisees—about 80 of them. “I tell them, ‘This is your private college experience.’” Paula (Brookins) Pentel ’78 Teaching the next generation It was at Minneapolis North High School that Paula (Brookins) Pentel ’78 began her life-long interest in civic engagement. She witnessed the unequal distribution of resources while visiting various Minneapolis high schools with the debate and cheerleading teams, and also watched “white flight” from her north-side neighborhood. “I became interested in social justice and wanted to understand and affect change in how the city works.” Pentel chose Augsburg because it offered a biology major and allowed her to commute. “I rode the bus to and from campus for four years,” she recalls. “That’s how I really became interested in urban studies—riding down SPRING 2007 23 Tammera (Ericson) Diehm ’93 Giving citizens a voice Growing up in Coon Rapids, Minn., Tami Diehm was fascinated by the “inner city.” Her plan to be a social studies teacher changed when she took a metro-urban studies class from Andy Aoki her freshman year. “For me, the program was the perfect way to combine my interests in people, government, and the urban environment.” In the spring of her junior and senior years, Diehm interned with Anoka County, and during her senior year, she examined multicultural education in Minneapolis public schools for her senior honors project. Following graduation from Augsburg in 1993, Diehm spent several years raising three children but kept in touch with her interests through her appointments to the Columbia Heights Charter and Planning Commissions. She also kept in touch with Aoki, her adviser. While discussing her graduate school plans with him over lunch one day, he asked her if she could do anything, what it would be. Her answer? Law school, although she thought her three young children prevented her from pursuing it. Aoki said she owed it to herself to check it out. Three years later, in 2003, Diehm graduated summa cum laude from William Mitchell College of Law, which she attended on full scholarship. She clerked for Justice Russell Anderson of the Minnesota Supreme Court for one year and currently is an attorney at Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. Her practice focuses primarily on land use and real estate, assisting clients as they seek development approvals from local government. She also serves as the city attorney for Mendota Heights. In addition to her legal work, Diehm is serving her second term on the Columbia Heights City Council, and was elected as council president in 2006. She is also a member of the Economic Development Authority and the chair of the city’s Housing Redevelopment Authority. “There was a strong sense that Augsburg students should not only be an active part of the College community, but also an active part of the larger community in which the College is located,” says Diehm. “This desire to ‘give back’ has stayed with me and directly impacted my decision to run for my position on the City Council. I saw a need in our community—the need for young families to have a voice in the decision-making process of the city.” The desire to give back that Tami Diehm ’93 learned at Augsburg has influenced her decisions to serve in public office. 24 AUGSBURG NOW “Through my experiences at Augsburg, I realized that I could use my gifts to serve a need in the world, and thus follow the Christian concept of vocation,” says Diehm. “I have incorporated my ‘call to serve’ into my work—not only by adhering to the highest ethical standard in the way in which I practice law—but also through a commitment to providing pro bono legal services to those who would otherwise have only limited access to legal representation, and by serving my community on the city council.” These pro bono projects include representing women and children in domestic abuse cases, volunteering at a legal clinic where she advises people who are starting new businesses, and assisting with the formation of new non-profit organizations as they work to obtain tax exempt status from the IRS. “In both my legal work and my public service I feel I am using my gifts to serve a need in the world.” Diehm was named a “Rising Star” by Minnesota Law and Politics in 2007 and one of 15 “Up and Coming Attorneys” in 2006 by Minnesota Lawyer. Susan (Horning) Arntz ’94 Managing suburban growth Susan (Horning) Arntz decided in ninth grade civics that she would run for president in 2020, with her slogan being “A Clearer Vision.” Her love of government grew, and she came to Augsburg to major in political science. She learned of the metro-urban studies program in her second year and focused her electives around metro-urban studies courses. At a rally on campus her sophomore year, Arntz introduced herself to Hennepin County commissioner Peter McLaughlin, hoping to secure a summer job. His aide, fellow Auggie Mike Matson ’79, insisted she begin earlier, and she spent one-and-a-half years working for him. After graduation, she interned for the City of Shoreview and then began her professional career in assistant city administrator positions in Chaska and New Brighton, before becoming the youngest person ever hired as city administrator in the City of Waconia, where she has worked since 2001. “It’s a growing community, so much of what we do requires look- Susan Arntz ’94 leads the City of Waconia through its growth spurt. Today’s Students ing to the future on a daily basis,” says Arntz. “The people having these conversations may never be here to see these things happen, just as those before us made decisions that affect us today.” Arntz says the biggest challenge she deals with is how to manage the growth of the city, which has increased 25% in six years and shows no sign of slowing. This requires communication and cooperation with developers, the school board, property owners, and elected officials. “I think one of the best things that Augsburg taught me, both from a faith perspective and also from an educational perspective, was how to be receptive to all of those ideas and to have a guide for what I believe to be right.” As far as running for president, Arntz says, “The longer I serve in the capacity I am in, the less I’m intrigued by elected office. I can make an immediate impact on 10,000 people. We can make huge, positive improvements or small incremental improvements that will have a greater outcome down the road.” Arntz earned a master’s degree in public administration from Hamline University in 1999. In 2004, Augsburg awarded her the First Decade Award, and she has served on the Alumni Board. Rebecca Brown ’00 Promoting community development While her mother, Barbara (Anderson) ’66, is an alumna, it was the call of the city that lured Rebecca Brown of Appleton, Minn., to Augsburg. While at Augsburg, Brown completed five different internships and off-campus work-study opportunities, from working with a summer youth peace garden for the Seward Neighborhood Group, to teaching English for the South American arm of the YMCA in Quito, Ecuador. After her sophomore year, Brown took a year off to serve with AmeriCorps in order to truly live in the city. She took the bus every day from South Minneapolis to her work at an alternative high school in North Minneapolis. Brown also participated in HECUA her senior year, teaching Tomorrow’s Leaders Sarah Pesola ’07 of Wadena, Minn., chose metro-urban studies because, “It meant that I could study history, sociology, economics, political science, and other disciplines as well.” Pesola participated in SUST and recalls, “My semester in Norway was amazing. It had a huge impact on me, ultimately changing the way I view the world.” Pesola will begin to volunteer at a youth homeless shelter in Berkeley, Calif., through Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Since a mission trip to Detroit in junior high, Greg Hildebrandt ’08 has felt the pull to work with people living in the inner city. He went on the D.C. trip with Hesser last year and will participate in the MUST semester in the fall. “Students who are in [metro-urban studies] are very passionate about what they are doing,” Hildebrandt says. “They’ll carry this passion with them the rest of their lives, whether professionally or through volunteering.” Plans for the future include using his second major in mathematics to help with statistics and budgeting within a non-profit as well as tutoring students. Jeanette Clark ’07 felt a calling into urban ministry even as a student at Hopkins High School. She chose Augsburg for its metro-urban studies and youth and family ministry programs. At Augsburg, Clark served as a campus ministry commissioner and leadership team member for the Campus Kitchen. In March Clark created a spring-break opportunity, “Go Away Here,” which included service projects in the local community, visits to neighborhood organizations, and social outings. She will begin work at City South Cluster Ministries in South Minneapolis through Lutheran Volunteer Corps, then plans to begin Seminary with the hope of serving in an urban congregation. English and learning about community organizing, agriculture, and the economy in Ecuador and South America. She spent an additional seven months in Ecuador on her own, working with rural youth in agriculture. “Traveling abroad definitely makes me a better city planner,” Brown says. “It has opened my mind to varied ways of thinking and behaving in community. As a city planner, understanding and validating different points of view, opinions, and experiences is critical.” After graduating from Augsburg, Brown served over three years as code enforcement and neighborhood coordinator for the City of Crystal. She earned a master’s degree in city and regional planning with a specialization in economic development from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2006. She now serves as project coordinator for the City of Minneapolis’ Department of Community Planning and Economic Development. She works in neighborhoods to coordinate commercial redevelopment projects that incorporate public assistance. As for her future, Brown says, “I see myself in a life of public service, involved in state-level economic and tax policy in 15-20 years and perhaps an elected office.” Ⅵ For more information about programs mentioned, go to: www.augsburg.edu/sociology and www.hecua.org Travel abroad and internships prepared Rebecca Brown ’00 for city planning. SPRING 2007 25 T place A of their own Doroth Mayer by Betsey Norgard East African women spend time at the East African Women’s Center, established two he East African Women’s Center in Riverside Plaza near Augsburg’s campus is a busy place on a weekday morning. In this two-year-old program of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota (CSCM), several East African women sit at sewing machines, practicing sewing seams in bright fabrics. Others are pressing their fabrics or talking with a center volunteer. In the next room, behind a glass window, six or seven small children play actively under the watchful eyes of mothers and the center’s caregiver in the family childcare room. In the middle of the activity is center coordinator Doroth Mayer, often juggling a baby on her hip as she goes about her work. Rarely are there quiet moments for her in this center she co-created with CSCM’s executive director, Saeed Fahia. Since 1994 CSCM has served more than 18,000 Somali immigrants who have settled in Minnesota—the largest concentration in the country. CSCM provides resources and services to assist Somalis in navigating American systems and making the transition to living life in a new culture, while still preserving their traditions. CSCM is funded by county, state, and federal agencies, as well as a number of Minnesota foundations. The Women’s Center’s funding has come from the Office of Refugee Resettlement and local foundations including the Bush Foundation, the Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation, Sheltering Arms Foundation, and Wells Fargo. Within the East African refugee community, young mothers with children and elderly women who have arrived in the last few years remain especially isolated, some rarely leaving their apartments to take English classes, to meet American women, or to learn how to cook and prepare American food. When CSCM was offered a 2,000-square-foot location right in the middle of the Riverside Plaza housing complex, it secured grant money and opened the Women’s Center in February 2005. From the beginning, a family childcare center was an integral part of CSCM’s plan so mothers would have a safe place to leave their children and take English language classes, learn to sew, or simply to do their laundry and daily tasks. The Women’s Center currently serves 85-100 women and children every week. Different levels of sewing classes meet three days, morning and afternoon, with two teachers and six or seven women in each class. Fabric is provided, and the women learn the basics of how to sew and how to use sewing machines to make simple items, like aprons and bags. Some women’s skills are now advanced enough to make clothing for themselves and their children. years ago in Cedar-Riverside, for sewing classes, the family childcare center, and other activities. A partnership grows Augsburg’s partnership with the East African Women’s Center is relatively new. During President Pribbenow’s inauguration week last fall, a service group from Augsburg spent a morning painting at the center. One person in the group that day was Augsburg junior Kristen Hoyles, a youth and family ministry major. After hearing Mayer talk about renovation of the center and how much painting was still needed, Hoyles made a commitment not only to paint, but to teach two or three of the 26 AUGSBURG NOW Doroth Mayer adolescent girls in Girls’ Group how to paint, so together they could get the job done. She’s there on Friday afternoons and feels she is living out her theology by using her painting experience to help where it’s needed. “I’m in awe of how grateful the center has been for something I feel is no big deal,” Hoyles says. Mayer adds, “Kristen has no clue how much she means to us. She has finished the painting, and we’ve negotiated a new job for her—she is becoming our ‘handy person.’ She is starting by taking on the task of repairing the center’s tricycles so the little kids have trikes to use.” The group that visited the center also took great interest in the textile weavings hanging on the walls, made by Somali women from yarn donated to the center. The weavings represent the thousand-year-old tradition of East African “twine weaving,” originally using grasses and vines to make wall coverings, horse blankets, and bags used in their nomadic cultures. When President Pribbenow furnished his new office at Augsburg, he sought out Somali art, and now has samples of these weavings hanging both in his office and in his home. The Somali weavings will Kristen Hoyles, an Augsburg junior majoring in youth and family ministry, volunteers at the Women’s Center, teaching adolescent Somali girls to paint with her. also be featured on campus as the inaugural exhibit in the new Gage Family Gallery, scheduled to open in August in the Oren Gateway Center. A kitchen shower Mayer, who has worked for many years in community-based activities, would love to see more opportunities for the East African women to spend time with American women—she knows how much the women want to develop friendships with American women, learn from them how to live within American culture, and share East African culture with their new friends. Mayer sometimes takes women from the center with her when she buys groceries for center activities. The women ask about things they don’t know or understand and foods they’ve never seen before. “Last week at the supermarket, we saw some asparagus,” Mayer says. “We brought back several bunches and steamed it. It was a big hit. Even some of the little kids in the family child- care center tried it—cautiously, but they tried it!” When the Women’s Center space was renovated (with the support of the Bush and Phillips Foundations and the apartment complex managers, Sherman and Associates) a full kitchen was added at Mayer’s suggestion— and it has proven to be popular and very well used. She learned that giving the women recipes to try at home was not useful, since many of them don’t read or know how to follow recipes. But learning by observing and then trying it themselves was the way to go. “Once in a while we make quick bread to give the kids for snacks,” Mayer says. “We learned that women wanted to watch us make it. Then, after we make it together they tell us they feel comfortable trying it themselves at home.” The popularity of cooking led to another project initiated by Augsburg community services director Mary Laurel True. For Professor Bev Stratton’s religion class, in which students carry out projects that benefit the community, True suggested the idea of a kitchen shower for the Women’s Center. With a wish list provided by the Women’s Center to adequately equip their kitchen, the class sought donations from faculty, SPRING 2007 27 Doroth Mayer The Somali yarn weaving hanging in President Pribbenow’s office East African women enjoyed opening gifts for their kitchen from Augsburg faculty, students, symbolizes the partnership between Augsburg and the East African and staff at a “kitchen shower” initiated by Professor Bev Stratton’s religion class. staff, students, and friends. Fifteen women from Augsburg met nearly 20 East African women at the center, shared desserts and Somali tea, and gave them “presents” to open. In addition, cash gifts and Target and IKEA gift cards were given, to involve the East African women in shopping for their kitchen. Mayer was delighted and called it a great event. “Mary Laurel came up with the most creative way to bring women together that I’ve seen yet. She is giving women an opportunity to share their cultures in a respectful and joyous way.” Learning to lead Mayer recognizes that new leadership must grow from the women at the center. She is encouraging them to actively engage in whatever learning 28 AUGSBURG NOW opportunities are appropriate to their personal situations and to develop their leadership skills so that some day they have the capacity to run the center that they call their “home away from home. “In addition,” she says, “we need partners in the community who try to understand what we’re doing … partners who really get to know the women and plan together with them.” For Augsburg’s part, this kind of partnership wouldn’t be possible without its Center for Service, Work, and Learning, which establishes and nurtures a myriad of connections between the College and its surrounding neighbors—for tutoring, health education and fitness, sports clinics, music lessons, science teaching in the school, meals programs, use of campus facili- Doroth Mayer Women’s Center. ties, college preparation sessions, and so on. Augsburg partners with CSCM for two tutoring programs, one of which brings Somali high school students directly to campus twice a week for homework help from students in Augsburg’s Honors Program. The other program targets elementary and middle school students for tutoring and receives snacks from the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College Monday through Thursday. Already True has ideas for new projects, especially between the Women’s Center and Augsburg’s Women’s Resource Center. “We are so fortunate to have this new center in our neighborhood,” True says. “There is so much we can learn from each other, and so many ways we can work together to enhance the lives of women in this community.” Hoyles confirms this, saying that during her time at the center she is gaining a stronger sense of community, and “understanding that our world isn’t so big. “I think students who do not learn about our community are really missing out,” she says. Ⅵ ALUMNI NEWS From the Alumni Board president … Greetings fellow Auggies, As I’m sure you’re experiencing, the circle and cycle of life continues unabated this year. It is particularly noticeable to me this year because of the differences which reinforce the sameness (apologies and thanks to Dr. Palosaari—you helped me improve my writing skills tremendously and ensured that the poet in me remains untrammeled, too!). Let me explain … I’m both a student of and practitioner in the field of human systems dynamics. One way we model the world is through containers, differences, and exchanges. A container, like Augsburg College, is described by its differences which make a difference in the world. Then, as critical friends, we can exchange thoughts about those differences in our mutual container. One difference at Augsburg I want to bring to your attention relates to Commencement: • The school year is ending with graduation again—a common experience we alumni share and a tremendously important difference, that makes a difference in the lives of our alumni-to-be. Please join me in welcoming them into new stages of life as Auggie alumni by taking a moment to think warm, welcoming thoughts or remember them in your prayers. • Augsburg has two Commencement ceremonies for the first time in its history—one on May 5 aligns the cycle of life of traditional day students and physician assistant students on semesters, and one on June 24 aligns with WEC and graduate program students on trimesters. Please join me in saluting Augsburg’s leadership for recognizing the differences in the cycle of life for different parts of the student body and responding to provide a better graduation experience. Another difference I want to encourage you to check out is our Online Community. Go to www.augsburg.edu and click on the Alumni and Friends link: • To see up-to-date information on Alumni Relations • To check out the benefits available to you as alumni (did you know that as alumni you can use Lindell Library? Check out the Alumni Benefits link!). Read about it on the next page. • Log in to the Augsburg Online Community where you can search for fellow Auggies, keep the College up to date on contacting you, make a donation to support Augsburg, or read about fellow alumni. You can even read the minutes of the Alumni Association and its committees (log in to the Online Community, then select the Alumni Leadership>Alumni Board path). And finally, as you make a difference in the world, remember to stay in touch. We want to hear from you and we want to be able to contact you. • Let us know how you are and what you are doing through the Alumni Relations Office (alumni@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1181). • Register and visit our Online Community (www.augsburg.edu, click on Alumni and Friends, then Augsburg Online Community). Then update your profile and search for your fellow classmates. Go Auggies! Barry Vornbrock, ’96 MAL President, Augsburg Alumni Association We’re off to the races! Auggie Night at the Races Canterbury Park, Shakopee Thursday, August 2 5:30 p.m., picnic • 7 p.m., first race Complimentary entrance fee; fun for all ages. Space is limited. RSVP to rsvp@augsburg.edu by July 26. Alumni Board meetings Aug. 21, 5:30 p.m.—location to be confirmed SPRING 2007 29 ALUMNI NEWS Take advantage of Auggie alumni benefits Augsburg Legacy Award The Augsburg Legacy Award is available to full-time day students working toward their first bachelor’s degree, who are children or spouses of Augsburg graduates; siblings of current Augsburg students; or children or spouses of current ELCA pastors. No scholarship application is required. Students who qualify for both the Legacy Award and Regents’ Scholarship or Transfer Regents’ Scholarship will receive only one award, whichever is higher. Renewal is based on maintaining a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0, measured at the end of spring term. Amount: Minimum $4,000 per year Deadline: Accepted for admission by May 1 for fall enrollment; or Dec. 1 for spring enrollment www.augsburg.edu/day/finaid/ scholarships.html Discount on tuition for classes Alumni are offered up to four courses—one course per term—at 50% off the current part-time tuition rate (day or weekend programs). This benefit does not apply to alumni whose enrollment qualifies them for full-time comprehensive tuition. Tuition discount must be applied for in the same academic year as the course is taken. The following courses do not count for the benefits noted: directed study, independent study, internships, Summer School, graduate programs, study abroad, continuing education. The following do meet the requirements for the benefits noted: fall, winter, or spring term courses; student teaching; and partial courses (.50 and .25 education courses use one of the four benefits). NOTE: The tuition discount cannot be applied until after the 10th day of classes in the specified term. Book privileges in Lindell Library Free Augsburg library cards with limited services are available to alumni. Check with the circulation or reference desks for further information on how to obtain a library card. Augsburg License Plate Join the Augsburg Online Community It’s designed just for you— • Keep in touch with classmates • Find out what’s happening on campus • Send class notes about what you’re doing • Change/update your address and e-mail • Update your profile so others can find you • Make an online gift to Augsburg It’s fast and easy. Already, more than 500 alumni have registered. Simply go to www.augsburg.edu/alumni—have you signed up? If you have questions, e-mail healyk@augsburg.edu. 30 AUGSBURG NOW Display your Augsburg connection! Available through the Minnesota Department of Transportation www.dps.state.mn.us/dvs/ PlBrochure/CollegiatePlates.htm Athletic facilities Augsburg’s athletic facilities are available to alumni when they are not in use for special events, classes, or other activities. If you plan to come, it’s best to check first with the athletic facilities office at 612-330-1504, especially during the summer. Schedules are posted outside of ice rinks A and B (neither rink is available during the summer), the gym, and the fitness centers. Note: Use of the fitness centers is available only to graduates of the College. Alumni may use the racquetball court by signing up on the posted sheets at the court. Reservations must be made in person—no phone reservations are accepted. Alumni will be asked for identification when using the facilities. An Augsburg ID card (available in the Enrollment Center) or an A-Club pass will expedite your admission. Alumni using the facilities are allowed one guest each. CLASS NOTES 1950 1968 Roger “Bud” Leak, Excelsior, Minn., was named the 2007 recipient of the Cliff Thompson Award by the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association, at its banquet in March. The award is given annually for “long-term outstanding contributions to the sport of hockey in Minnesota.” He helped start the Minnetonka boys’ hockey program in 1952. Lois (Hallcock) and Bruce Johnson, Plymouth, Minn., were featured in a Minneapolis Star Tribune article in March about how families finance education. All three of their children—Leah, Thomas, and current senior Aaron—have attended Augsburg. 1964 Dennis J. Erickson, Los Alamos, N.M., was awarded the Distinguished Service to Safety Award, the highest honor bestowed by the National Safety Council, in recognition of outstanding service in the field of safety. He has worked for 35 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory and is scientific advisor in the New Mexico governor’s office. 1967 Loren Dunham, Fairmont, Minn., is retiring from public school teaching in Fairmont after 39 years in the classroom. He taught economics, psychology, American history, and International Baccalaureate courses, as well as coaching tennis and Economics Challenge and Knowledge Bowl. A former editor of Augsburg Echo, he says he feels he was “well-prepared academically for the many and various teaching assignments” he received. dunfritz@charter.net 1969 Matty (Janis) Mathison, Shawano, Wis., was honored with the Women’s Sports Advocates of Wisconsin Lifetime Achievement Award for 2007. In 1998 she retired from 35 years of teaching and 25 years of coaching volleyball at Shawano High School. 1970 Susan Pursch, Philadelphia, Pa., received the 2007 Tom Hunstad Award (known as the “Tommy”) at the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza. She has served as a youth minister and has coordinated and run programs for at-risk youth. Currently she is vice president for church and community partnerships at Liberty Lutheran Services in Philadelphia. Donald Q. Smith, Portland, Ore., retired as the publisher and editor of the weekly Monticello Times. In October he was honored with the James O. Amos Award by the National Newspaper Association, one of the highest tributes in community journalism. 1976 James Moen, Carrollton, Texas, retired last year from 27 years of serving as band director in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch school district. To honor his legacy the district named the new fine arts wing at R.L. Turner High School after him. In addition to spending retirement time with his family, he works with computers, is a substitute teacher, and accompanies students in music competitions. JLJAMS@msn.com 1977 Rev. Dr. Mark Braaten, Bullard, Texas, is senior pastor of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Tyler, Texas. His first book Come, Lord Jesus: A Study of Revelation, was published by Liturgical Press in January. His second book, on prayer, is scheduled for publication in fall 2008. James M. Strommen, Minnetonka, Minn., was recently re-elected president of the Minneapolis law firm of Kennedy & Graven, a firm of 36 lawyers located in downtown Minneapolis and St. Cloud. He practices in the area of municipal franchise, construction, and utility law. 1978 Rev. Guy Redfield was installed in November as senior pastor at Chetek Lutheran Church in Chetek, Wis. 1980 Carol (Kenyon) Dekker, Sheboygan, Wis., began as an administrative and operations assistant in marketing and public relations roles at BurkartHeisdorf Insurance in Sheboygan. Gary Tangwall, Lake Elmo, Minn., a senior financial consultant for the Landmark Group of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in Lake Elmo, has been honored as the second highest performer in 2006 among the organization’s 2,500 financial representatives. He is one of 25 Thrivent representatives invited to attend the Pinnacle Leadership Retreat in September in New York. 1985 Jean Taylor, Eagan, Minn., is president of Taylor Corporation in North Mankato, Minn., and has recently assumed additional responsibilities as chief executive officer. Denise (Rolloff) Tewes, Lincoln, Neb., announces the release of her first original CD, Apple of Your Eye, contemporary Christian music drawing from the psalms and reflecting on some of life’s experiences. She is choral director at Messiah Lutheran Church. denise@denisetewes.com James Rongstad, Pine Island, Minn., was appointed in January to a three-year term on the Van Horn Library Board. This is the public library serving Pine Island. In February he was appointed treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scout Council of River Trails, serving southeast Minnesota. SPRING 2007 31 CLASS NOTES Responsibility as an adjunct professor at William Mitchell College of Law. 1987 Scott L. Anderson married Susie Wilkey of Coon Rapids on April 8, 2006. He joined Farmers Insurance Group and Farmers Financial Solutions in March. They live in Minneapolis. ScottLAnderson38@msn.com. 1998 Brandon Reichel and Shannon Geiger were married Aug. 28, 2004. They welcomed a baby girl, Finley Vada, on Jan. 17, who was 8 lbs., 5 oz., and 21.5 inches long. 1992 Stacy (Shiltz) Abraham and her husband, Chris, in Milwaukee, Wis., announce the birth of Elijah James, on Jan. 26. Stacy is a teacher in the Milwaukee Public Schools. mrs.abraham@earthlink.net 1989 Thomas Stutsman, St. Louis Park, Minn., founded Stutsman Realty, Inc. in 1992 and is celebrating 15 years of business this year. 1991 Mark Keating and his wife, Amy, of Edina, Minn., announce the birth of their third son, Aidan Howard, on March 14, 2006. He joins brothers Owen, 5, and Carson, 3. Mark is an account executive at Symantec. Sharol Tyra, of Life Illuminations Presentations & Coaching has qualified for professional membership and joined the National Speakers Association. 1993 Kim (Swanson) Meslow and her husband, Jeff ’92, in White Bear Township, Minn., announce the birth of their third daughter, Hanna Rose, born on July 7. She joins big sisters Ally (5) and Kayla (3). kmeslow@swansonyoungdale.com Michelle Kay (Wincell) Nielsen and her husband, William, welcome the arrival of a daughter, Lena Kay, on Dec. 10. They were married in September 2005 and live in St. Paul. 32 AUGSBURG NOW 1996 Scott Magelssen, Rock Island, Ill., saw publication of his book Living History Museums: Undoing History through Performance, by Scarecrow Press in February. It treats performance practices and historiography at living museums in the U.S. and Europe. He and his wife, Theresa (Hoar) ’95, and two-year-old son, Trygg, will move to Ohio where Scott will teach theatre history at Bowling Green State University, starting in August. Heidi (Geyer) Ostrander is a physical education teacher at Valley View Elementary School in Columbia Heights, Minn., where she teaches the Dance, Dance, Revolution curriculum. She was featured on the Fox Morning Show in February. Brooke (Manisto) and her husband, Erik Reseland ’98, in St. Anthony, Minn., welcomed a daughter, Adeline, born on Feb. 3. She joins big sister Elsa, 3. 1994 1997 Will Stute has joined the Minneapolis law firm office of Faegre & Benson as a partner in the Business Litigation Group, focusing on litigation matters, particularly commercial fraud. He also teaches Professional Astrid Larssen, of Oslo, Norway, is currently living in Sydney, Australia, where she is in the process of finishing up a PhD in computer science. She has also lived and worked in Norway and Ghana since leaving the U.S. Wendy (Shields) and her husband, Bradley Reiners ’99 PA, in Prairie Farm, Wis., welcomed a son, Jackson Patrick, their first child, on Aug. 10. Brad works as a physician assistant at Luther MidelfortPrairie Farm Clinic. 1999 Aaron Smith and Jill (Pintens) are proud to announce the birth of Wyatt Douglas, born May 20, 2006. They currently live in Tucson, Ariz., where Aaron is a surgery resident and Jill is a physician assistant. With an internship at the White House, Emily Soeder carried out a dream and has stayed in Washington to gain the experince it has to offer for her future career choices. Inside the White House Emily Soeder didn’t realize how many statements she would be researching and fact checking, or how many definitions of ordinary words she would be looking up. But she did know that she had always wanted to work at the White House, and that is exactly where she landed during her last semester, before graduating summa cum laude from Augsburg in December. She had known for some time about internships available at the White House, and during her senior year worked with Lois Olson in the Center for Service, Work, and Learning to complete and submit the online application. Several months later, she was living what was for her an “amazing experience” as one of about 70 interns selected for fall 2006, and one of three in the Office of Presidential Speechwriting. “One of the most memorable projects I worked on was annotating a version of the speech the president was going to deliver to the UN,” Soeder says. It meant going through it line by line, ensuring the factuality of every word and statement. When asked how the real West Wing compared to that of the TV show of the same name, Soeder notes that in reality the West Wing is very small—not the huge area it seems to be on TV. In fact, nearly all of the administration’s staff offices are not located there, but next door in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Beyond her specific duties, Soeder has learned a great deal from the contacts with executive branch staff, as the interns listened to speakers such as Karl Rove, assistant to the president, deputy chief of staff and senior adviser, and Harriet Miers, counsel to the president. Her most exciting “Washington moment,” she says, came in November when she met President Bush the day after election results came in. Once her internship ended in December, Soeder was fortunate to be appointed as a confidential assistant to the assistant secretary in the Office of Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education. Here, she works on projects, scheduling, and briefing materials. Outside of work, Soeder volunteers as a tutor with Horton’s Kids, a non-profit agency that provides services to children from nearby, lowincome Ward 8 in D.C. The kids are bused to the Department of Education once a week for oneon-one tutoring by the employees. While at Augsburg, Soeder was involved with College Republicans, and has now become active with Young Republicans in D.C. To be hired for political or legislative jobs, she says, candidates generally need to show loyalty to a party or candidate. Campaigning at the grass roots is a great way to start building that experience, and she got a taste of it last fall by traveling to Ohio and Tennessee to work on local campaigns. At this point, Soeder doesn’t see herself staying in Washington, D.C., for a long time. She believes her career decisions will keep coming back to a basic question students at Augsburg are asked to consider—how am I going to impact the world in what I do? She appreciates the grounding she received in her communications courses, such as Persuasion, and the analytical skills and experience from participating on the Forensics Team. For now, she’s enjoying all Washington has to offer— politics, history, culture, and the excitement of being at the center of it all. SPRING 2007 33 CLASS NOTES Wendy (Hoekstra) Vogelgesang and her husband, David, in Litchfield, Minn., welcomed twin boys, August and Ewan, born three months early on Aug. 1. They spent three months growing at St. Cloud Hospital and Fairview Riverside Hospital neo-natal intensive care units. Read their journey at www.caringbridge.com/visit/wen dyandboys. They are doing well now, but everyone has gone through a lot. Wendy went back to work as a kindergarten teacher at Litchfield Public Schools in January, while David is a stay-at-home dad. and 21 inches long. Holly graduates in June with an MBA from Augsburg. hknutson04@yahoo.com 2003 2000 Julia Mensing works at Event Lab, an event-planning company, which was recognized for the second year in a row by the International Special Events Society (ISES) with a 2007 Minnesota Star Award in the “Best Event Design and Décor” category. 2006 2002 Brendan Anderson, Phoenix, Ariz., was commissioned by the Concordia Wind Orchestra in Irvine, Calif., to write a large concert piece, The Gift and the Wise Men, around the theme of Epiphany, for their orchestra and guest organist. It premiered in Phoenix while the orchestra was on tour in January. Matthew Chappuis and Jennifer (Lemke), Apple Valley, Minn., welcomed their first child, a daughter, Hattie Romae, on Aug. 18, weighing 8 lbs., 3 oz., and 21 inches long. He is a middle school physical education and health teacher in the Burnsville School District, and she is an eighth-grade science teacher in the Inver Grove Heights School District. 2004 Rick Dzurik was featured in March on KARE-11 TV news as a music therapist working with hospice patients. With his guitar, he makes house calls or visits hospice units to sing music requested by the patients and families—one of only a few certified music therapists in the Twin Cities who do this. Anna Warnes and Nathan Erickson ’03 were married in August and live in Eugene, Ore. Both are students at the University of Oregon; Nathan is pursuing a doctorate in sociology, and Anna is studying for a post-baccalaureate degree in nursing. 2001 Amy (Stier) Eppen and her husband, Jeff, in Belle Plaine, Minn., are proud to announce the birth of their son, Caleb Todd, born on Nov. 28. He was welcomed home by big sister Courtney, 22 mos. Amy is a therapeutic recreation coordinator at The Lutheran Home: Hope Residence. 34 AUGSBURG NOW Holly (Ebnet) Knutson and her husband, Jeremy, in Hugo, Minn., are the proud parents of a baby girl, Adelei Marie, born Nov. 28, weighing 8 lbs., 0 oz., India, beginning in the fall. She is currently employed at Admission Possible, through AmeriCorps, where she works with 34 low-income, first generation students, encouraging them to stay in school and helping them apply to college. Her work with Admission Possible was featured in a Star Tribune article. 2005 Carolyn Herman is a Rotary Ambassador Scholar and will continue study of literature at the University of Hyderabad, Katie Koch began a new position in April as the executive assistant to Joe Dowling, artistic director of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Graduate Programs Doris Rubenstein ’93 MAL is the new director for membership and development at the Resource Center of the Americas and draws on her background in Spanish, Peace Corps experience, and living in Puerto Rico and Ecuador. Her thesis focused on nonprofit organizations serving Minnesota’s Latin population. Jill Boike ’03 MSW joined Family Innovations in 2005. She has developed a new employee/intern training program and is also working as an outpatient therapist and clinical supervisor. jsalome@comcast.net Nick Thomley ’06 MBA was featured in the business section of the Minneapolis Star Tribune with a profile of the company, Pinnacle Services, that he founded while a sophomore in college. His high school job of working with disabled residents in assisted living led him to start a company that provides vocational, residential, and financial management services to the elderly and people with disabilities. In seven years, the company has reached $7.2 million in revenue. In Memoriam Ernest (“Ernie”) W. Anderson ’37, Edina, Minn., age 90, on March 18, unexpectedly. See story on page 2. Henry Erickson Chapman ’40, Coon Rapids, Minn., age 91, in Dec. 2006. He was a retired coach and athletic director from Proctor (Minn.) Public Schools and a member of Augsburg’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Delbert Rhodes ’41, Renville, Minn., age 89, in Nov. 2006. Chester L. Brooks ’42, Duluth, Minn., age 89, on March 5. He was a Distinguished Alumnus and husband of Ebba (Johnson) Brooks ’42. The Rev. Robert Erickson Warren ’46, Edina, Minn., age 82, on Feb. 27. Fabian C. Carlson ’49, Detroit Lakes, Minn., age 82, on July 21, 2006. SEND US YOUR NEWS AND PHOTOS The Rev. Oliver S. Solberg ’49, Appleton, Wis., age 87, on Jan. 10. Husband of Viola (Nelson) Solberg ’50. Please tell us about the news in your life, your new job, move, marriage, and births. Don’t forget to send photos! For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g. an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items, photos, or change of address by mail to: Augsburg Now Class Notes, Augsburg College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN, 55454, or e-mail to alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news to the Augsburg Online Community at www.augsburg.edu/alumni. Rachel M. Stennes ’49, Minneapolis, age 86, on Feb. 10. Full name Arlene Larsen ’49, Tacoma, Wash., age 75, on Dec. 13. Wife of Harold Larsen. Robert Hofflander ’51, Clitherall, Minn., age 79, on Jan. 29, of myelodysplastic syndrome. Husband of Dorothy (Gramling) Hofflander ’50. Maiden name John E. Seaver, Sr. ’54, Edgerton, Wis., age 74, on Feb. 2, after a long illness. City, State, Zip The Rev. James Glasoe Sr. ’57, Statesboro, Ga., on March 17, of lung cancer. Husband of Nicole (Jacobson) Glasoe ’62. Home telephone Class year or last year attended Street address Is this a new address? ❑ Yes ❑ No E-mail Okay to publish your e-mail address? ❑ Yes ❑ No Regie S. Huber ’74, Maple Grove, Minn., on Nov. 1. Employer Marlin (“Mike”) Kloster ’53, of Willmar, Minn., age 77, on Jan. 20. Position Timothy W. Hanson ’88, Ogilvie, Minn., age 40, on March 18, of injuries from a car accident. Is spouse also a graduate of Augsburg College? ❑ Yes ❑ No Work telephone If yes, class year Spouse’s name Maiden name Your news: SPRING 2007 35 VIEWS Celebrating 20 years of leadership by Kathy Rumpza, ’05 MAL On the evening of Sat., January 27, approximately 110 alumni, students, and guests gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Master of Arts in Leadership program at Augsburg College. The keynote address was given by Ryan LaHurd, president and executive director of the James S. Kemper Foundation, and former vice president of academic affairs at Augsburg. His presence was appropriate because of the significant role he played in the MAL Program’s inception. More than 20 years ago, LaHurd was key in launching a task force to explore graduate options at the College. After much research and discussion with business leaders it became apparent that there was a need in the market for a different type of program than was currently being offered—the kind of program that would provide students with the crucial broad-based knowledge and skills needed for success. Enter the era of an exciting program, differentiated from others by a liberal arts focus specifically on leadership. It offers solid content with academic rigor as opposed to a workshop format. The Master of Arts in Leadership program, started in January 1987, marked an important turning point for Augsburg and its entrance into the graduate market. During its 20-year history, the program has gone through transformation. While content, schedules, and support staff have changed, the signature “leadership model” that forms the basis for the program remains steadfast. Feedback from students and faculty has helped to hone and refine course offerings, and relevant courses such as Women and Leadership have been introduced. Another constant is the faculty. Norma Noonan, professor and director of the MAL program since 1993, notes that although the program has grown, she and instructors Diane Pike, Tom Morgan, and Garry Hesser have been teaching in the program since its inception. She says such loyalty comes from a simple idea—“faculty just love teaching in the program.” Noonan credits much of the recent program growth to the addition of professional graduate recruiters, and the fact that the program caters to “students who seek personal development and challenge.” The classes are “exiting and very stimulating,” she says. “We’ve had pinnacle 36 AUGSBURG NOW Norma Noonan is professor of political science and director of the MAL program. experiences in class … students are almost electrified by some of the discussions.” As far as alumni and students go, many have had life-changing experiences. Students often say that the program has changed their career paths, and many experience a personal metamorphosis as well. “People use it to define a turning point in their lives,” says Noonan. Individuals have been inspired to start their own businesses, and have been promoted to vice president or CEO positions. While it is true that completing the program has changed personal and professional lives, Noonan says that “completion is not the greatest indicator of success.” She quickly adds, “it emboldens you to take more risks, and brings a maturity in judgment.” And that seems to be the more important point. Although some aspects of the program have changed over time, it will remain a quality program that “tries to live the leadership model,” under the passionate direction of Norma Noonan. Her only regret: “That I didn’t have the knowledge—what we read, what we study—earlier in life.” For information on the MAL Program, go to www.augsburg.edu/mal MAL… by the numbers 203 21 22 56 MAL degrees conferred since 1989 MAL graduating class in 2006—the largest yet! Current MAL faculty and adjuncts Number of new MAL students in 2006-07 The Oren Gateway Center is coming Construction on the Oren Gateway Center is proceeding extremely well. The building should be ready for occupancy in the beginning of August, with departments and programs starting to move in during the middle of August. Watch for more updates—and mark your calendars for a grand celebration on October 12! SPRING 2007 John 14: 1-3 A group of Augsburg students traveled by train to New Orleans to spend their spring break working for Lutheran Disaster Relief. Students spent five days gutting and rebuilding houses affected by Hurricane Katrina. Here, workers find a plaque from the Gospel of John that fell from the attic of the house in which they were working. The verse offered a great source for reflection by the students. — Photo by Rachel Olson ’08 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Minneapolis, MN Permit No. 2031
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Augsburg Now Winter 2006-07
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Augsburg Now Winter 2006-07
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Augsburg Now MAKING CONNECTIONS P. 18 DOG ROBOTS IN CLASS P. 22 GLOBAL BUSINESS P. 24 A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS WINTER 2006-07 VOL. 69, NO. 2 A president is inaugurated page 12 Editor Notes from President Pribbenow on… The richness and wond...
Show more Augsburg Now MAKING CONNECTIONS P. 18 DOG ROBOTS IN CLASS P. 22 GLOBAL BUSINESS P. 24 A P U B L I C AT I O N F O R AUGSBURG COLLEGE ALUMNI & FRIENDS WINTER 2006-07 VOL. 69, NO. 2 A president is inaugurated page 12 Editor Notes from President Pribbenow on… The richness and wonder of human diversity S o God created humankind in God’s image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them … God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. (Genesis 1: 27, 31a, NRSV) I once heard a presentation from a nursing student who was part of a community health practicum course in a homeless shelter, who commented that before she went to her assignment at the shelter, her general feeling was that homeless people had done something to “deserve” their fate—she had no sense of how she could interact with these “people.” She was frightened. Once she had begun her assignment, however, she recounted how the residents of the shelter became her fellow citizens, her friends even. She learned their stories, grieved with them about bad decisions, unfair circumstances, sad and distressing experiences. She stood side by side with them in their struggles to find a home and set a new course for their lives. And she rejoiced in the role she could play in listening, empathizing, offering a word or hand or whatever might help. In her experience in that service-learning course, she learned about otherness and difference in ways that would make her a better nurse, a better citizen and neighbor, a better friend. This story is why I will never give up in our efforts to make diversity a core value of our academic and common work and why I am so pleased that this issue of Augsburg Now illustrates some of our efforts to promote diversity on campus and beyond. Creating, sustaining, celebrating, and supporting diversity is an abiding challenge for our college. Whether it is diversity of perspective, religion, ethnicity, race, social class, and so forth, there are critical voices from all sides pressing us to make the case for our philosophy, commitment, experience, policies, and practices related to diversity on campus and beyond. Here at Augsburg, we have the distinct gift of at least three compelling mission-based reasons for intentionally engaging the diversity of our world. Betsey Norgard norgard@augsburg.edu Staff Writer Bethany Bierman bierman@augsburg.edu Design Manager Kathy Rumpza rumpza@augsburg.edu Class Notes Designer Signe Peterson petersos@augsburg.edu • Theologically, we believe that God has created humankind in all its diversity in God’s own image. • Educationally, we believe that a liberal arts approach to learning and teaching is fundamentally committed to engaging otherness and difference so that we might genuinely understand and embrace the richness of human experience and creativity throughout the ages. • Civically, we are persuaded that educating for democracy is at least in part about preparing our students for lives in society that will require them to have the knowledge, skills, and values needed to negotiate their ways with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. This past summer, I had the privilege of visiting Augsburg’s study site in Cuernavaca, Mexico, where I, too, learned to face my fears and stereotypes of other cultures and life experiences. We all are still learning to admit our privilege, to embrace the wonder of difference and other experiences, to live as neighbors here on campus and in our community, where the world is becoming our neighbor in very concrete and real ways. Our work to educate students for democracy cannot be uncoupled from this commitment to diversity. This is why diversity on campus, in the neighborhood and city, in the church, and in the world is important—it is the heart of a healthy democracy. Yours, Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Augsburg Now Intern Erin Kennedy kennedy1@augsburg.edu Media Relations Manager Judy Petree petree@augsburg.edu Sports Information Director Don Stoner stoner@augsburg.edu Director of Alumni Relations Heidi Breen breen@augsburg.edu www.augsburg.edu Augsburg Now is published quarterly by Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, Minn., 55454. Opinions expressed in Augsburg Now do not necessarily reflect official College policy. ISSN 1058-1545 Send address corrections to: Advancement Services, CB 142, Augsburg College 2211 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55454 healyk@augsburg.edu E-mail: now@augsburg.edu Telephone: 612-330-1181 Fax: 612-330-1780 Paul C. Pribbenow, president 22 Winter 2006-07 Contents Features 11 A Change in Reference—Librarian to Volunteer by Betsey Norgard For nearly 15 years in retirement, Margaret Anderson has continued to volunteer in the library she once headed. 12 Ages of Imagination: The Inauguration of Paul C. Pribbenow Around themes of abundance, generosity, engagement, and service, Augsburg inaugurates its 11th president. 18 Making Connections by Betsey Norgard After five years, the Scholastic Connections program has proven a winner for both mentors and mentees. 22 See AIBO Walk … and Sit … and Wiggle Its Ears by Betsey Norgard Sophomore Jesse Docken finds both fun and challenge in “training” dog robots. 24 12 On the Cover: At his investiture as Augsburg’s 11th president, the seal of the College is placed around the neck of Paul C. Pribbenow by Board of Regents chair Ted Grindal ’76. Global Business by Bethany Bierman Augsburg business classes have built-in global experience from a very international faculty. Departments 2 Around the Quad 5 2006 Alumni Awards 6 Supporting Augsburg 8 Sports 28 Alumni News 40 Views Inside back cover Calendar All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. AROUND THE QUAD NOTEWORTHY Three new regents elected to board Three new members were elected to four-year terms on the Augsburg College Board of Regents at the annual meeting of the Augsburg Corporation in October. In addition, Michael O. Freeman and Philip Styrland ’79 were re-elected to second six-year terms. Freeman is a partner at Lindquist & Vennum, P.L.L.P., and Styrlund is president of The Summit Group, an international education and development firm. Richard C. Hartnack Since the beginning of his banking career in 1971, Hartnack has held positions in corporate banking at First Interstate Bank of Oregon, and in community banking at First Chicago and Union Bank of California. He currently is vice chairman and head of consumer banking at U.S. Bancorp. Hartnack has a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA and a master’s degree in business administration from Stanford University. He is a graduate of the Strategic Marketing Management program at the Harvard Business School. Congratulations to Jacki Brickman ’97 Augsburg alumna Jacki Brickman ’97 was one of two teachers in the Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts who were awarded a Milken National Educator Award in October. This award, from the Milken Family Foundation, recognizes teachers and principals across the country for their effectiveness in the classroom, accomplishments outside the classroom, leadership, and ability to inspire students, teachers, and the community. It carries a cash award of $25,000. Brickman, a 10-year teacher, is a teacher mentor at Hall International Elementary School in Minneapolis, working with other teachers at the school to test new techniques. Brickman, who also is an adjunct instructor in Weekend College, is the second Augsburg graduate to receive a Milken Educator Award. Margaret Knutson ’91, fifth-grade teacher at Orono Intermediate School, received the same award in 2004. Read about both teachers in the Augsburg Now spring 2006 article, “Teachers who Lead, Leaders who Teach,” at www.augsburg.edu/now. André Lewis ‘73 Since 2002, Lewis has served as director of marketing and community affairs and president of the RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation. Previously he held a similar position at Honeywell. His background in education includes serving as principal at both Washburn and South high schools. Lewis graduated from Augsburg and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. He has been active in Augsburg’s Corporate Connections program. Rev. Norman Wahl ‘75 Since 1996, Wahl has been executive pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church, the site of Augsburg’s programs in Rochester, Minn., and served on the task force that led to the formation of the Rochester campus. He has also been part of the alumni board, campaign cabinet, and on staff at the College. After Augsburg, Wahl graduated from Luther Seminary and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the seminary in 1997. 2 AUGSBURG NOW MBA consulting firm to start Small businesses and non-profits in Rochester can qualify for probono consulting services from Augsburg’s Rochester MBA students and graduates. This new service, Augsburg Alumni Consulting Team (AACT), extends the MBA field service program, in which all students work with a client in the community on business issues and applications. A “full-team” consultation by AACT on critical strategic or management issues will be staffed by four to eight volunteers. A “fast track” for focused issues will involve one to three volunteers in two or three client meetings. And, a “board match” program will help nonprofits build their board leadership. Additional support services—database design, Web design, research, etc.—may be added by Augsburg undergraduate business and computer science students. This College-sponsored consulting service will offer both experience and exposure to the students and alumni, and include a review process to build case studies. While beginning in Rochester, AACT hopes to also expand the program to the Twin Cities. For information, contact William Aguero at aguero@augsburg.edu. The “greening” of Augsburg Augsburg imagines environmental stewardship as central to its mission as a Lutheran college in the city. President Paul Pribbenow says, “The Augsburg College community is deeply committed to what it means to build a sustainable urban environment. … Our relationships with our diverse neighbors, with the Mississippi River, and with other neighborhoods in our vibrant city are opportunities for learning, for civic engagement, and for faithful service.” The institutional committee that grew out of a learning community seven years ago is now named the Environmental Stewardship Committee and provides leadership for the College in areas addressing sustainability. The committee’s growing website offers information and resources in the following initiatives: • Recycling/waste reduction—Recycling bins have risen to nearly 75% capacity in the last year and new equipment across campus reduces water consumption and energy usage. The College recycles household items to community organizations and established a re-use table. A number of measures adopted reduce storm water run-off from campus, which, perhaps more than anything else, has had an impact on water quality in the Mississippi River. • Transportation—Two light rail stations within walking distance and reduced fare bus-rail passes help the Augsburg com- munity increase its use of public transit, freeing up parking spaces. Accessible bike trails provide alternatives to driving. • HOURCAR—Augsburg is the newest neighborhood hub for HOURCAR—a hybrid vehicle that can be rented. • Curriculum—Across the curriculum, courses address sustainability issues, and study abroad is available in metrourban studies. A new environmental studies program is scheduled to launch in fall 2007. • River stewardship—Augsburg is an official “steward” of a portion of the Mississippi River near campus and regularly hosts “clean-ups” to prevent pollution. The Environmental and River Politics course explores issues related to restoration of the river ecosystem and ways in which our relationship to the river reflects the health of our community. • Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College—In its three years, Campus Kitchen has kept more than 35,000 pounds of food out of landfill and turned it into over 37,000 meals for the community. In the next year, Augsburg plans to launch a community garden to bring neighbors together and provide food for community organizations. • Building a green campus—The Environmental Stewardship Committee has a voice in the ongoing planning for the new Science Center, which includes a “green” roof and maximal use of sustainable architecture and products. Michael Lansing, assistant professor of history, wrote in the Augsburg Echo about Christensen Symposium speaker Douglas John Hall’s comments on “stewardly vocations.” Hall argued that everyone must make stewardship of the environment both a personal and collective priority. Lansing wrote that stewardly vocations “push us all toward recognizing and caring for the many other forms of life that we depend on for sustenance and comfort.” To learn more about sustainability at Augsburg, go to www.augsburg.edu/green or contact Tom Ruffaner, chair of the Environmental Stewardship Committee, at ruffaner@augsburg.edu. —Betsey Norgard Fond farewell to ‘Mr. Augsburg’ On Sept. 30 Jeroy Carlson ’48 officially retired from the campus and community he first came to more than 60 years ago. During that time, he served Augsburg as a student, volunteer, alumni director, and development officer. At a packed reception in his honor, Carlson was presented with a baseball jersey bearing his No. 10 and a “Jeroy Carlson” baseball card. He was also presented with framed photos of the Augsburg campus, as he knew it and as it is today. Known as “Mr. Augsburg” by his classmates and colleagues, Carlson excelled as a student-athlete in baseball, basketball, and football, and was part of four MIAC championship teams. He continued to work with the A-Club and helped establish the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1991, after serving on the alumni board and as director of alumni relations, the alumni office was dedicated as the Jeroy C. Carlson Alumni Center. See the winter 2005-06 Augsburg Now for a feature story on “Mr. Augsburg.” Vice President Tracy Elftmann ‘81 presents Jeroy Carlson with a baseball jersey bearing his no. 10. WINTER 2006-07 3 AROUND THE QUAD COMMENCEMENT Two commencements at Augsburg Beginning this year, Augsburg will offer two commencement ceremonies, in order to recognize the different academic calendars followed. A May 5 ceremony will be held for day students and physician assistant students who are on semesters; a June 24 ceremony will honor Weekend College, Rochester, United Hospital, and the other five graduate program students who follow trimesters. This year’s Commencement speakers are Eboo Patel on May 5, and Rev. Martin E. Marty on June 24. With a national fellowship in microbiology and an interest in infectious diseases, senior Richard Birkett is studying the genes encoding streptococcal bacteria. Senior Richard Birkett wins research fellowship Biology senior Richard Birkett is one of 43 students across the country to receive a 2006 Undergraduate Research Fellowship from the American Society for Microbiology. Its stipend funded his summer research with biology professor Beverly Smith-Keiling. The project, applied for jointly by Birkett and Smith-Keiling, looks at the characteristics of streptococcal bacteria and the genes that encode them. They study a particular streptococcal protein, discovered by SmithKeiling, that binds a human immune system protein, and its role in causing infections, especially in immuno-weak people 4 AUGSBURG NOW (neo-natal babies, elderly, and others who are immuno-compromised). The research involves manipulating the protein’s DNA in the laboratory to create mutants for further study. “We were thrilled to receive this ASM Fellowship,” says Smith-Keiling. “It is a prestigious award and played a significant role as a feather in our cap as one of several steps that Augsburg is taking to secure external funding, build our undergraduate research program, and move toward more scientific research at our institution.” Birkett’s interest in infectious diseases began in summer 2005 when he traveled to Tanzania with a microbiology study abroad course through Hamline University. He visited labs and small villages, and found the experience “eye-opening” in terms of lifestyle and conditions he encountered. To gain background in research, Birkett took a pilot course at Augsburg, Introduction to Research, designed to prepare second-year students for facultyled research. He credits that course for teaching him the discipline, motivation, and critical thinking needed for scientific study. The course was repeated this past fall, and Birkett served as a peer mentor. Birkett has thrived in the microbiology laboratory, and is interested in pursuing work in the health field with infectious disease, possibly attending medical school. He, along with Smith-Keiling and other students, will present their research at the American Society for Microbiology general meeting in the spring. “Richard has been the model for what we hope to continue, as students progress from their early years without research skills to excelling as independent researchers, and the fellowship played a key role,” says SmithKeiling. “It has been a privilege and joy to work with him.” Birkett came to Augsburg from Boston as a student in the StepUP Program, which supports students in chemical recovery. He says that Augsburg has been great for him. “I came to Augsburg for StepUP; I’m staying for science and the people.” —Betsey Norgard HOMECOMING 2006 Two honored as Distinguished Alumni Augsburg’s Distinguished Alumni are recognized for their significant achievement in vocation, for outstanding contribution to church and community, and for lives that exemplify the ideals and mission of Augsburg College. Glen Person ’47 A native of Minneapolis, Glen Person grew up in Augsburg’s neighborhood. He graduated with degrees in mathematics and business, and was one of the first students in Augsburg’s new business administration department. His college studies were interrupted by World War II, where he served in the U.S. Navy. Person’s vocational career involved two 20-year employments in the insurance industry. In 1948 he started as a bookkeeper at Fidelity and Casualty Co., and left in 1968 as its bond manager. From 1969 until his retirement in 1989, he was an accounting manager and bond vice president at W.A. Lang Company. From 1993 to 2005, Person served on Augsburg’s Board of Regents, as a member of the Finance Committee and as board treasurer. Over the years, he has been one of the most active members of Augsburg’s A-Club, and a frequent spectator and loyal Auggie athletic booster. He serves on the Claire Strommen Golf Tournament Committee. Person has also contributed financial expertise to numerous boards of directors, and as treasurer of Prairie Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, Minn. Lois (Peterson) Bollman ’69 Lois Bollman graduated in 1969 with a bachelor’s degree in English education from Augsburg, and went on to earn a master’s degree in reading. In 2001 she earned a doctorate in educational policy and administration of higher education. For the past 30 years, she has worked in a number of areas within the Minnesota community college system and is a recognized leader and administrator in areas of student assessment, college readiness, and developmental education. Her strengths lie in strategic planning, institutional research, and evaluation of academic programs. Currently she is vice president of strategy, planning, and accountability at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. Here, she developed the Urban Teacher Education Program, in collaboration with secondary and postsecondary institutions, that aims to inspire and educate students from urban schools to become teachers in their own communities. In 2003, Bollman led the faculty development work that received one of five national Theodore Hesburgh Awards from TIAA-CREF. Bollman has served as a class agent and is active at Edina Community Lutheran Church. First Decade Award The First Decade Award is presented to Augsburg graduates of the past 10 years who have made significant progress in their professional achievements and contributions to the community, and in so doing, exemplify the mission of the College. Spirit of Augsburg Award The Spirit of Augsburg Award honors alumni or friends of the College who have given exceptional service that contributes substantially to the well being of Augsburg by furthering its purposes and programs. Herald Johnson ‘68 Milana (Gorshkova) Pirogova ’96 Milana Pirogova graduated magna cum laude from Augsburg with a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations, and went on to earn a master’s degree in international economics from George Washington University. In 1998 she began working for the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, in Washington, D.C. She is now an investment officer in the Global Financial Markets Department and posted in Russia, her homeland. Two of her significant projects have included working with privatization projects in Bosnia and drafting the Mortgage Securities Law with the Russian national parliament. In her current work she is able to promote awareness and resources for the much-needed economic and educational development in Russia. She also has been an eager promoter of Augsburg College to prospective students in Murmansk, St. Petersburg, and Moscow. After graduating, Herald Johnson first became an admissions officer, then Augsburg’s first financial aid officer when new federal programs required administrative oversight. Over the nearly 40 years since, he became a pioneer, leader, and mentor among all of Minnesota’s financial aid officers. He is respected both for helping students understand and access financial resources to make college possible and for mentoring young professionals in the field. He is the only person to have been twice elected president of the Minnesota Association of Financial Aid Administrators (MAFAA). Johnson collaborated with Julie Olson ’90, ’04 MAL, now vice president of enrollment management, to create and implement the Enrollment Center, which brings together several student service offices into a one-stop shop for students. Johnson retired last summer, but continues to serve as a consultant on scholarship programs and with Augsburg’s government relations office concerning financial aid issues. —Betsey Norgard WINTER 2006-07 5 Photo courtesy of Martha Gisselquist AROUND THE QUAD SUPPORTING AUGSBURG The Clement A. Gisselquist Endowed Scholarship— an Augsburg family’s music legacy 6 AUGSBURG NOW All six of Clement and Borghild Gisselquist’s children graduated from Augsburg, and most of them were choir and band members during their college years. (L to R): James ’68, Joel ’77, Rebecca ’67, Borghild, Martha ’87, John ’72, and Miriam ’83. Gisselquist extended family includes 17 relatives with Augsburg connections. Clement’s brother, professor emeritus Orloue Gisselquist, attended Augsburg, as well as two sons, Richard and David. His wife, Marilyn, came to Augsburg and completed her bachelor’s degree in 1973. Clement and Orloue’s sister Grace E. Gisselquist ’49 married the Rev. Oliver Johnson ’50. Another sister, Marilyn, attended science classes at Augsburg as part of her nurses’ training and married Vardon Quanbeck ’44. While at Augsburg, Orloue, like Clement, sang in the choir and Grace belonged to the Music Club, both sharing their brother’s love for music. Another brother, John Irving, did not attend Augsburg, but his son, John E. Gisselquist, graduated in 1984. Even more telling is the musical legacy Clement left his six children, all of whom graduated from Augsburg. The youngest, Miriam (Gisselquist) Jensen ’83 was a music major and is now an organist and piano teacher— something her mother knows would have pleased her father. John, Class of 1972, sang in the Augsburg Choir and for many years has been a member of the National Lutheran Choir, performing in concerts throughout the U.S. Judy Petree The Rev. Clement A. Gisselquist enjoyed a lifelong love of music. He graduated from Augsburg College in 1941, and during his college years he sang both in the Augsburg Choir under Henry P. Opseth and in the Augsburg Quartet as its second bass when they toured in 1940. Following Augsburg, Gisselquist graduated from Luther Seminary, and he and his wife, Borghild, served churches in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Throughout his life, he always actively promoted his churches’ music programs. Borghild recounts how especially pleased he was when his church in Sioux City, Iowa, purchased a new organ. After Clement died in 1979, the family decided to establish a scholarship endowment in his memory and designed it to benefit students “of organ and/or choral music who desire to serve, professionally or otherwise, in the ministry of music of the Lutheran Church.” “Augsburg was close to his heart and we knew that music was something he was always interested in,” comments Borghild, recalling the family discussions. The scholarship just seemed a fitting way in which they could honor their brother, husband, father, and uncle. The remarkable fact is that the Nicole (Warner) Simml ’01 (left), who performs and teaches music in Germany, joined Krista Costin ’07 (right) as soloist with the Augsburg Choir’s concert in Leipzig, Germany last May. Both Simml and Costin are recipients of the Clement A. Gisselquist Church Music Scholarship. Rachel Olson ’08 Photo courtesy of Orloue Gisselquist The Rev. Clement A. Gisselquist (far right) sang second bass in the 1940 Augsburg Quartet. His love of music is passed on to students through an endowed scholarship Five of the Gisselquist women enjoyed meeting the current student scholars at the in his name. Photo taken from The Augsburg Quartets: A Mission-Driven Tradition, by annual Scholarship Brunch in November. (L to R): Martha Gisselquist, Becky Lien, Merton P. Strommen and David M. Larson. Borghild Gisselquist, Marilyn Gisselquist, and Miriam Jensen. Joel, Class of 1977, played tuba in the Concert Band for two years and sang in the Augsburg Choir during his senior year. The two oldest children, Rebecca (Gisselquist) Lien ’67 and James ’68, also sang in the choir. James is married to fellow Auggie Jane (Eidsvoog) ’73. Martha, a nurse, came to Augsburg to complete her bachelor’s degree in 1987. The Clement Gisselquist Scholarship keeps the extended family connected to Augsburg. A number of the relatives continue to grow the endowment by making gifts to the scholarship a part of their regular giving—in lieu of exchanging gifts within the family on special occasions. In the fall, Borghild said of her immediate family, “We’ve already talked about this Christmas, that we’ll make gifts to the scholarship instead of to each other.” The Gisselquists enjoy meeting the Augsburg students who receive the scholarship each year. The 2006-07 recipient, junior music major Krista Costin was studying abroad in Ghana during the fall and regrets missing the Scholarship Brunch. She fondly remembers meeting members of the Gisselquist family at last spring’s Music Scholarship High Tea. Costin sings in the Augsburg Choir and toured with the choir last May to the Czech Republic and Germany. Last year’s scholarship recipient, senior Nikki Lemire, is a harpist and a section leader in the choir at Central Lutheran Church. The 1998-99 scholarship holder, Nicole (Warner) Simml ’01, now lives in Germany and is enjoying a career performing and teaching voice. Last May she joined the Augsburg Choir in Leipzig on their tour in Germany, and joined Costin as a soloist. An earlier Gisselquist recipient, Melissa (Wieland) Bergstrom ’97 has been organist and choir director at Edina Community Lutheran Church, in addition to teaching and serving as director of choral activities at AnokaRamsey Community College. Several of the Gisselquist scholarship recipients have sub- sequently been chosen as Orville and Gertrude Hognander Music Scholars. With many of the Gisselquist Auggies making regular gifts to grow the scholarship endowment, future students—and per- haps additional Gisselquists— join Rev. Clement A. Gisselquist’s legacy to Augsburg’s music program—something that surely would please him. —Betsey Norgard Making a gift to Augsburg It’s easy to make a donation to Augsburg College. All donations are tax-deductible. Gifts online Go to www.augsburg.edu/giving to make a secure credit card donation. You can use the form to make a one-time donation or to set up recurring gifts. Gifts by phone To make a donation by phone, call Kevin Healy, director of advancement services, at 612-338-6537 or 800-273-0617. Gifts by mail You can mail your gift to: Developement Office, Campus Box 142 Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454 For complete information about making a gift, including the types of giving and giving programs, go to www.augsburg.edu/giving. WINTER 2006-07 7 AROUND THE QUAD SPORTS Brothers in soccer Vinnie Brooks and Ryan Kitzman are like brothers. Brothers united by soccer. For all but one year of the last dozen, the two have played on the same soccer teams—the same club teams, elementary school team, junior high team, high school team, and the same college team. Ever since they were each eight years old, growing up in Maple Grove, Minn., and attending schools in Osseo, the duo could be found on the same fields—Brooks on defense, Kitzman in the midfield. Best friends and players with similar competitive personalities, the two split for just one year— their freshman years in college, when Kitzman attended Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minn., and Brooks enrolled at Augsburg. But the pair reunited their sophomore years, became roommates, and helped to lead a renaissance in the Augsburg men’s soccer program. “I wanted to be back in the city,” Kitzman said. “I talked to Vinnie pretty much all my freshman