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Title: Augsburg Now Fall 2015: Scholarship In Action
Collection: Alumni Magazine Collection
Search Result: Sideline support Beyond fjords and freeways Boom or bust Homecoming 2015 SCHOLARSHIP IN ACTION FALL 2015 | VOL. 78, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weis...
Show more Sideline support Beyond fjords and freeways Boom or bust Homecoming 2015 SCHOLARSHIP IN ACTION FALL 2015 | VOL. 78, NO. 1 INSIDE AUGSBURG NOW Vice President of Marketing and Communication Rebecca John ’13 MBA rjohn@augsburg.edu Director of News and Media Services Stephanie Weiss weisss@augsburg.edu NOTES FROM PRESIDENT PRIBBENOW On being faculty-guided In recent issues of Augsburg Now (apparently still the name of this fine publication—see page 7!), I’ve written about our Augsburg2019 vision to be “a new kind of student-centered urban university, small to our students and big for the world.” I’ve also turned cultural myths on their heads, arguing that colleges should be student-ready and not the other way around. As compelling as our vision is, the studentcentered and student-ready Augsburg still has at its heart a distinguished and dedicated faculty whose commitment to our students and their education is as it always has been—unparalleled, hard-working, and full of imagination and resolve. In other words, as we aspire to be studentcentered, we will always be faculty-guided. In all of my travels to visit alumni on behalf of Augsburg, the conversation inevitably turns to the faculty member who asked the right question, introduced a new way of thinking, became a mentor, stayed in touch, changed my life. The values and commitments of the legends of Augsburg’s faculty—Christensen, Chrislock, Torstenson, Quanbeck, Peterson, Nelson, Colacci, Sateren, Mitchell, Hesser, Shackelford, Gus, Gabe—are now alive in the Augsburg faculty of the 21st century. And some of their stories are in the pages that follow. Stories of creative and groundbreaking teaching, such as the work of Associate Professor of Political Science Joe Underhill, whose 15-year dream to spend a semester with students on the Mississippi River is now a reality with this fall’s “River Semester.” Imagine a dozen students, two faculty members, and a river guide or two traveling almost 1,800 miles from St. Paul to New Orleans in canoes, engaging the biology and politics of the Mississippi River over three and a half months. Makes you want to go back to college! Stories of relevant and timely research, such as the project undertaken by Associate Professor of Sociology Tim Pippert to explore the impact of the oil boom in North Dakota, seeking to understand the various social implications for the communities at the center of the dramatic change. It’s the Gold Rush all over again, but with 21st century challenges to the well-being of individuals and communities. Stories of faithful service, which has been recognized by President Obama in naming Augsburg one of five finalists (for the second year in a row) for the President’s Award for Interfaith Dialogue and Service. Our robust interfaith work with students and our neighbors is led by faculty members Martha Stortz and Matt Maruggi from the Religion Department, along with College Pastor Sonja Hagander and Distinguished Fellow Mark Hanson ’68. And don’t miss the fun interview with Nancy Fischer, associate professor of sociology and urban studies, who ties her research about secondhand clothes to serving the needs of our neighbors. For almost 150 years, it has been Augsburg’s faculty who have guided our work as a college and whose wisdom and experience have equipped our students to change the world. May it always be so. Faithfully yours, Director of Marketing Communication Stephen Jendraszak jendra@augsburg.edu Communication Copywriter and Editorial Coordinator Laura Swanson ’15 MBA swansonl@augsburg.edu Creative Associate Denielle Johnson ’11 johnsod@augsburg.edu Marketing Copywriter Christina Haller haller@augsburg.edu Production Manager Mark Chamberlain chamberm@augsburg.edu Photographer Stephen Geffre geffre@augsburg.edu Advancement Communication Specialist Jen Lowman Day dayj@augsburg.edu Contributor Kate H. Elliott 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 PAUL C. PRIBBENOW, PRESIDENT Send address corrections to: langemo@augsburg.edu. Email: now@augsburg.edu AUGSBURG NOW Fall 2015 02 Around the quad 08 Annual report to donors 10 Uncorking the mysteries of wine 13 Sideline support 18 Beyond fjords and freeways 20 Boom or bust 26 Homecoming 2015 28 Auggies connect 32 Class notes 40 In memoriam 26 Andrew Held ’05 celebrates his 10-year class reunion and totes his daughter, Mabel, through the Taste of Augsburg at Homecoming 2015. Learn more about Homecoming events and honorees on pages 26 and 32. On the cover: A pump jack extracts oil from the Bakken shale formation that lies miles below a field of grain outside Williston, North Dakota. Learn about the state’s new oil landscape: pages 20-25. Correction: In the Summer 2015 issue of Augsburg Now, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota mistakenly was identified as a U.S. senator in the article “Making their mark,” which described a research experience that drew a student-faculty duo to East Africa and Capitol Hill. All photos by Stephen Geffre unless otherwise indicated. A scene from the River Semester launch event held September 1. AUGGIES MAKE A SPLASH WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING The first-ever Augsburg College River Semester—a three-and-a-half month program in which a dozen students as well as faculty members will travel almost 2,000 miles of the 2,350-mile Mississippi River from St. Paul to New Orleans while studying the arts, humanities, and sciences—departed from St. Paul’s Harriet Island on September 1. As part of the kickoff, the River Semester class, created and led by Associate Professor of Political Science Joe Underhill, was joined by a group of nearly “This is my ideal form of higher education. 100 community members It’s experiential, engaged with the community, who paddled in canoes interdisciplinary, physical, and mental.” from St. Paul to South St. —Joe Underhill, lead River Semester professor Paul. Many media outlets Winona Daily News, September 15 covered the launch, and Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton proclaimed September 1 Follow the crew on their journey at augsburg.edu/river/blog. “Augsburg College River Semester Day.” 2 Augsburg Now AUGGIE PLAN OFFERS PATHWAY to four-year degree This past spring, officials from Augsburg College and Minneapolis Community and Technical College launched the Auggie Plan, an efficient and affordable track to a four-year degree for students whose academic achievement at MCTC prepares them for upper-level coursework at Augsburg. This partnership was a natural fit for the colleges as both are located in the heart of Minneapolis, provide student support services, value intentional diversity, and are committed to developing future leaders. COLLEGE AWARDS 2015 Augsburg College is nationally recognized for its commitment to intentional diversity in its life and work. This year’s accolades include: • The 2015 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine for the College’s commitment to intentional diversity and student engagement and activism. Augsburg College physician assistant students gather outside their new classrooms in Northwestern Hall at Luther Seminary. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM relocates to Luther Seminary campus Augsburg College’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program recently relocated to a leased space on the Luther Seminary campus in St. Paul. The new location provides improved educational and office space for the program and makes room on Augsburg’s main campus for other groups whose current space doesn’t fully support their needs. The agreement with Luther Seminary models the type of collaborative partnership that Augsburg, as a new kind of urban university, seeks. Augsburg’s signature PA program will have effective space to remain competitive, and Luther Seminary will be able to better optimize the use of its own facilities. In addition, since Luther Seminary primarily serves graduate-level students, the Augsburg PA program aligns with the campus’s commitment to graduate academic achievement and contributes to its vibrant higher education experience. • Placing No. 6 on the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute’s 2015 Rankings of the Best Christian Colleges and Universities published based on academic reputation, financial aid offerings, overall cost, and success of graduates in the job market. • The American Indian Science and Engineering Society’s Winds of Change magazine’s Top 200 Schools for Native Americans—the second time since 2013 Augsburg earned this recognition for its American Indian support community and graduation rates. • Ranking No. 5 on College Magazine’s Most Transgender-Friendly College list for working to make campus welcoming for transgender students and offering comfort, safety, and freedom to all students. • Recognition as one of five U.S. finalists for the 2015 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction in interfaith and community service—the only institution named a finalist in both 2014 and 2015. • Being named a 2016 Military Friendly® School for extraordinary work in providing transitioning veterans the best possible experience in higher education. GRANT OF NEARLY $450,000 FUNDS INTERNSHIPS FOR 200 AUGGIES An Augsburg College education plays an integral role in preparing our world’s future leaders to make meaningful contributions to their communities, businesses, governments, and families. At the same time, Augsburg offers opportunities for students to gain on-the-job and internship experience so that they can focus on their vocational exploration. The College’s efforts in these areas garnered a boost when the nonprofit Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corporation extended for an additional three years the Career Ready Internship grant first awarded to Augsburg in 2014-15. In all, the College will receive nearly $450,000 through the new grant, which will be used to create 200 paid internships for low-income and first-generation students interested in the opportunities available at for-profit corporations and nonprofit organizations. Moreover, this grant supports the College’s Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work—a highly visible anchor of the College’s commitment to students’ experiential education and vocational discernment. Fall 2015 3 BOARD OF REGENTS At its annual meeting in September, the Augsburg Corporation elected a new member to the Board of Regents and reelected several board members. Vicki Turnquist [pictured] was elected to her first, four-year term. She has more than 30 years of banking experience and serves on the Board of Directors of Citizens Independent Bank in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Turnquist was the founder and CEO of Private Bank Minnesota, which sold in June 2014. Unhealthy trees are safely removed from campus. EMBRACING GREEN HORIZONS In late summer, two of the three remaining elm trees in Augsburg’s quad— an alumni gift from more than 50 years ago—were removed because of Dutch Elm disease. While it was sad to lose the trees, the College reserved some of the wood to be transformed into pieces of art, partnering with Tom Peter, a local certified arborist and woodturning artist. The elms created wonderful character of space in the quad for decades and have helped inspire a longer-term vision of the central campus as a larger green space that, over time, will become an even more significant component of campus life. The design for an expanded quad is one of the principal ideas resulting from work done in 2011 to develop a campus master plan and has inspired new thinking around a special campaign effort to support the creation of an “urban arboretum”—a multi-functional green space that deepens the student, faculty, staff, and community experience through hands-on education, research, and recreation. Courtesy Photo welcomes new member Regents elected to a second, four-year term include: • Karen (Miller) Durant ’81, vice president and controller of Tennant Company; • Matthew Entenza, an attorney in private practice at the Entenza Law Firm; and • Jeffrey Nodland ’77, president and CEO of KIK Custom Products. Those elected to third, four-year terms include: • Andra Adolfson, business development director for Adolfson & Peterson Construction; and • Rolf Jacobson, pastor, writer, speaker, and professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. LEADING FOUNDATIONS AND CORPORATIONS SUPPORT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN A recent $1 million grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation has helped the campaign to build the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion to surpass its goal. During the fundraising campaign, several large philanthropic foundations and corporations joined forces in support 4 Augsburg Now of the Hagfors Center, including the Bush Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation. The campaign also received support from 3M, Ameriprise Financial, General Mills, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo. “We are honored that the College’s work to promote interdisciplinary studies through the Hagfors Center received generous funding from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation,” said Heather Riddle, vice president for Institutional Advancement. “The Hagfors Center will support Augsburg in expanding research opportunities and will help shape student learning for 21st century realities.” AROUND THE QUAD This fall, the Student Lounge in the Christensen Center reopened following a renovation designed to offer improved spaces for student organization meetings, community events, study sessions, and—of course—fun. Courtesy Photos CONVOCATION SERIES 2015-16 Now in its 25th year, the Convocation Series offers the Augsburg community an opportunity to share in enlightening conversation with outstanding leaders and visionaries. In September, the series kicked off with the joint Bernhard M. Christensen Symposium and Fine Arts and Humanities Convocation featuring renowned author, Pulitzer Prize nominee, and PBS NewsHour contributor Richard Rodriguez and his presentation “Living Religion.” Rodriguez is recognized for writing about provocative topics such as education, race, politics, the AIDS epidemic, and religious violence. In November, the Center for Wellness and Counseling Convocation welcomed Antony Stately, director of the Behavioral Health Program for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, and his presentation, “Running into the Storm: Renewal of the Spirit.” SAVE THE DATE Join us on Monday, January 18, for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, and on Tuesday, February 16, for the Batalden Seminar in Applied Ethics featuring Donald Warne, a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe and director of the Master of Public Health Program at North Dakota State University. All events are free, public, and held in the Foss Center. For detailed information, go to augsburg.edu/convo. Fall 2015 5 ON THE SPOT Nancy Fischer discusses “The Social Life of Secondhand Clothes” Photos taken at Succotash 781 Raymond Ave., St. Paul REDUCE. REUSE. RECYCLE. For decades this adage has prescribed an approach for improving individuals’ personal impact on the environment, and today the once underrated middle “R” is among the chicest ways to go green. Augsburg College Associate Professor Nancy Fischer teaches courses in sociology; environmental studies; urban studies; and gender, sexuality, and women’s studies. Her current project, “The Social Life of Secondhand Clothes,” is a sociological analysis of the secondhand and vintage clothing industry. Fischer is exploring the emergence of secondhand clothing as a trend in pop culture, the places and urban spaces that sell these clothes, and the many reasons people buy them. Here is a glimpse into an area of the fashion world where some looks are truly timeless. Q: What factors have contributed to the emergence of vintage clothing as a popular fashion trend? A: Wearing old, out-of-style clothing was first a subcultural fashion statement— think beatniks, hippies, and punks. It was 6 Augsburg Now a rebellion against post-war consumerism, an appreciation of craftsmanship, and ecoconsciousness (as a political statement against a wasteful society). In the late 1960s—first in London, then in New York City—fashionable youth started visiting thrift stores, purchasing Edwardian coats and Victorian petticoats, and vintage dressing began to move into the mainstream. The emergence of the vintage trend accompanied a global expansion and standardization of the international garment industry. People who buy vintage usually buy new clothing as well, but vintage shopping provides a different experience; you never know what you might find. Q: A: How is purchasing secondhand clothing advantageous for society? Buying secondhand clothing generally is a form of reuse and keeps clothing out of landfills. Ideally, clothing should never go into landfills. Torn and dirty clothing can be reused as insulation and as paper. But that doesn’t mean we should buy clothes with abandon and then donate them. Most secondhand clothing winds up being shipped to developing countries where in some cases it has undermined traditional garment-making industries. Vintage clothing—as a subset of secondhand—is advantageous because it tends to retain its value. Vintage clothes also reveal our own industrial history. We see those “Made in the USA” labels, and sometimes more specifically “Made in Minneapolis.” There’s value in that historical glimpse at the past. Q: A: What’s your favorite vintage piece to wear? I have a favorite for every season. For winter in Minnesota, my favorite is a 1950s plaid swing coat. It was made in Dallas(!) from boiled wool, which is thick and super warm. It’s custom-made, and I always picture the Texan coat-maker taking on this garment as a rare challenge. Go to augsburg.edu/now to learn more about the social life of secondhand clothing. Nancy Fischer is collaborating with other secondhand clothing lovers on a new book. If you wear vintage and are interested in discussing your role as a consumer as part of her research, email fischern@augsburg.edu. AROUND THE QUAD AUGSBURG HOSTS FIRST-EVER CAREER EXPLORATION SERIES More than 25 companies and organizations participated in an on-campus career and internship fair. Augsburg College this autumn hosted an on-campus career and internship fair along with its first five-week career exploration series. The students who attended the fair met with organizations seeking individuals trained in disciplines including accounting, biology, chemistry, communications, computer science, marketing, religion, and more. The major and career exploration series, organized by staff of the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work and Institutional Advancement, provided nearly 175 students opportunities to explore majors and careers by disciplines. The series included programming on professional studies, fine arts and humanities, natural and social sciences, pre-health sciences, and the needs of students still exploring several degree programs. This series was made successful in part due to nearly two dozen Augsburg College alumni who served as panelists and who shared details about their career paths since graduation. SIGNS OF CHANGE Excitement for the future Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion grew on campus after its construction site was marked. This multidisciplinary building will house, among other departments, many of the programs currently residing in Science Hall—a building that had its own site marker as pictured [below on right] during the 1947-48 academic year. Archive Photo AUGSBURG NOW to remain name of College magazine This summer, members of the Augsburg College community were invited to consider whether the College’s magazine name, Augsburg Now, aligned with and supported the publication’s purpose and key roles. A survey allowed people to share feedback on the magazine’s existing name and to consider whether two options, Augsburg Experience and Augsburg Spirit, would be better. The results from the survey point us toward retaining the name Augsburg Now. There clearly is an established resonance with the current name, which uplifts the publication’s ability to: • • Foster inspiration and pride. • Bridge the Augsburg of today with people’s past experiences. • Define and illustrate what it means to be an “Auggie.” • Help the Augsburg community learn how to talk about itself and equip individuals to advocate for the College. Provide intellectual stimulation and ongoing education. We appreciate the opportunity for conversation on the magazine name and are grateful to all those who took time to participate in this process. Fall 2015 7 2014-2015 AUGSBURG COLLEGE ANNUAL REPORT TO DONORS G enerous donors have come together to make this the most successful fundraising year in Augsburg College history. Driven largely by contributions to the campaign for the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, alumni and friends gave $35,404,222 during fiscal year 2014-15. This is the fourth year in a row in which donors have contributed more than $10 million to the College and more than doubled last year’s total of $14.6 million. In addition Aybike Bakan ’11, ’15 MPA Dahlberg and Peterson Family Scholarship Hometown: Istanbul Studying: Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Favorite thing about Augsburg: “I appreciate its focus on community service and social justice. It also allowed me to grow as an open-minded individual and encouraged me to seek meaning in the work that I want to do in the future.” Joseph David “J.D.” Mechelke ’16 David Huglen Strommen Endowment, the Glen and Marilyn Person Scholarship, and the Joel and Mary Ann Elftmann Scholarship Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota Studying: Youth and Family Ministry Augsburg College’s influence: “I have become vocation-centered, concerned with social justice, and I am learning to connect faith to social issues.” 8 Augsburg Now to providing crucial funding for the transformative Hagfors Center, the philanthropy of more than 5,600 donors this year helps Augsburg attract talented students and the dedicated faculty and staff who teach and guide them. The gifts provide financial aid, building maintenance and support, and instructional and other resources that allow Augsburg to educate informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. REVENUE BY SOURCE 67% Tuition 11% Room and board 11% Private gifts and grants 4% Government grants 7% Other sources EXPENSES BY CATEGORY 43% Salary and benefits 28% Financial aid 19% Operating expenses* 3% Debt service 3% Utilities and insurance 2% Capital improvements 2% Student salaries *Expenses in this category include: facility repairs and maintenance, information technology expenditures, marketing expenditures, membership dues and fees, outside consultants, supplies, and travel and business meetings. ENDOWMENT MARKET VALUE May 31, 2015—$40,463,556 $38.3 $34.6 $33.3 $32.4 $31.5 $28.2 $27.2 $27.8 $40.5 $29.8 $24.5 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 (IN MILLIONS) Aisha Mohamed ’16 General Memorial Scholarship Hometown: Minneapolis Studying: Biology Proudest academic achievement: “Being able to say I’m a biology major and feeling at home in a lab.” As of May 31, 2015, Augsburg had annual realized and unrealized gains of 10.7 percent on the Augsburg College endowment. The five-year average annual return on the endowment is 7.12 percent, and the 10-year average annual return is 4.47 percent. The College is committed to maintaining the value of the principal in order to provide support to the College in perpetuity. Fall 2015 9 BY CHRISTINA HALLER Jennifer Chou ’99 has never been afraid to ask deep and probing questions—a quality that helped her to make the most of her time at Augsburg, where students are encouraged to explore their talents and learn through hands-on experiences in order to find their callings. Her thirst for inquiry, as well as her ambition, helped get her to where she is today—a successful entrepreneur who made a career out of her great interest in and passion for vino. Craving knowledge Chou’s curiosity sparked her fascination with wine. During her childhood, she noticed her grandmother would always serve wine at holidays. What does wine taste like? Why is wine only for grownups? Why is wine enjoyed on special occasions? Chou’s enthusiasm grew into a passion. While an Augsburg College student, she further explored her interest by joining a monthly wine club where she attended tasting events to learn more—from how to identify main flavor and scent components to the basic characteristics of all the varietal grapes to the histories of the world’s best wine-producing regions. Seizing key opportunities As a communication studies major and business minor, Chou found work as a financial advisor shortly after graduation. While attending job-training courses in Dallas, she made friends with a man in the hotel gym who recommended a very specific wine to her. She bluntly told him that she’d never heard of it, and asked if he was a 10 Augsburg Now “sales guy” for the company. Once again her inquisitiveness pulled through for her. It just so happened that he, in fact, was the winemaker and CEO of Napa Wine Company. Their friendship blossomed, and his knowledge helped hers to grow. “So I always joke that I got into the wine business by working out,” said Chou. Soon after that serendipitous encounter, Children’s Home Society, for whom Chou volunteered, asked if she would request wine donations from distributors for their annual winemakers dinner. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m fearless, I’m not afraid to ask!’” Chou recalled. “So I went and asked four different distributors for wine donations, and they said, ‘Wow, you really know quite a bit about wine and seem to enjoy it. Have you ever thought about selling it?’” So Chou took a job selling wines for a distributor, traveling to California, Oregon, France, Italy, and South Africa to gain a deeper understanding of each supplier’s wine so she could better sell it. Learning over a glass of wine Because of her extensive wine savvy, friends started asking her for wine etiquette advice. “I would get asked questions like, ‘How am I supposed to hold a glass of wine, under the bowl or the stem? Are you supposed to swirl the glass? In a restaurant, why does the server present the bottle?’’’ said Chou. “This was stuff my friends realized they needed to know in order to stay relevant in the business world—hosting clients at a restaurant or thanking someone with a bottle of wine.” As a way to share her knowledge and enlighten others, she founded The Savvy Grape, a business dedicated to educating people about wine through fun, hands-on experiences. To be an authority on the subject, Chou became a Certified Wine Specialist. This certification required rigorous examinations by the Society of Wine Educators, testing Chou’s expertise and mastery of viticulture and wine production. Chou quickly found a niche with professional organizations and was able to start out by connecting with fellow Auggies who were also business owners. “Being an Augsburg alumna helped because one thing I always find is that Auggies like to help other Auggies!” said Chou. For employers, such as finance and law firms, Chou educates people about wine etiquette while providing a fun and entertaining wine-tasting activity at events such as member drives, holiday parties, employee development conferences, and client appreciation events. At these events, Chou teaches people “how to taste wine like a professional,” offers tips on food and wine pairings, and answers attendees’ questions about wine. Fighting for what you believe in In order for Chou to legally pour wine in a corporate event space, she had to work hard lobbying to change the law, making it legal for a licensed wine educator like herself to hold wine education events in commercial spaces. With determination and grit, Chou hit the pavement, reaching out to her local senators and representatives to see who would be willing to assist. She found Minnesota Sen. Dan Hall ’74 who helped her to navigate the system at the Capitol and get the Wine Educator License signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton in 2012. Making a living out of wine Chou’s unquenchable curiosity for the world, unstoppable work ethic, liberal arts education, and strong Auggie connections helped to make her dream of making a living out of wine a reality. Chou has authored Wine Savvy, a chapter in the book, “Socially Smart & Savvy.” Below are some of her favorite tips featured in the book. Tips for the wine lover Put red wines in the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving, and take white wines out of the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving. This will help your red wines be less acidic and allow you to taste more flavor in your whites. Don’t know what to give as a hostess gift? When in doubt, choose a sparkling wine, or “bubbly,” as Chou likes to call it. You can spend as little or as much as your budget allows, and it’s festive for most occasions. Not sure which wine to order in a restaurant? Ask the server for a sample to see if you like it. A restaurant would prefer that you like a wine and order more rather than not like it and order water. This works especially well if you are trying to order a bottle for the table. 12 Augsburg Now Student Sports Medicine Assistant Kayla Fuechtmann ’16 Augsburg athletic trainers collaborate across campus and within the community to achieve a holistic approach to the safety and wellness of student-athletes BY KATE H. ELLIOTT T he score was tied at 2-2 in the fourth inning as a University of Wisconsin-Stout slugger knocked a foul ball down the right field line. Auggie outfielder Brian Bambenek ’07 sailed through the air—glove extended. The ball landed in the pocket, then popped out as his body slammed into an unprotected portion of fence at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. After minutes of darkness, the then-senior’s eyes blinked opened to see Augsburg College’s Head Athletic Trainer Missy Strauch hovering over him. She monitored numbness in his fingers and toes, held his hand in the ambulance, and called his parents, Nancy and Mike, to report that their son had injured three disks in his neck. During the days and weeks that followed, Strauch went well beyond her job description to get Bambenek back in action. “I am forever in debt to Missy for all she did for me,” said Bambenek, who today is co-owner of the Great Lakes Baseball Academy in Woodbury, Minnesota. “She is an incredible trainer who truly loves Augsburg College, and we still find time to catch up a few times a year. And her cutting-edge research in arm care continues to influence my work with athletes.” These types of bonds with athletic training staff are the norm at Augsburg. During her 18-year tenure, Strauch has built an expert, dynamic team of professional trainers and student assistants who collaborate across campus and within the community to achieve a holistic approach to the safety and wellness of Augsburg’s more than 500 student-athletes. It’s fast-paced, passionate work. Strauch and her staff know players’ names. They generate daily injury reports Fall 2015 13 Student Sports Medicine Assistants Jack Duffy ’16 (left) and Alison Ranum ’17 (right) aid Auggie running back Michael Busch ’16. and conduct pre- and post-season screenings, and a member of the medical staff travels with every team to most away contests. Strauch demands best practices and has championed increased data collection and the adoption of many advancements, including the computerized concussion evaluation system, IMPACT. She and her staff connect with professors to formulate accommodations for injured student-athletes. “At its core, our role is about relationships—building trust with coaches and student-athletes and developing supportive partnerships throughout campus and with professionals in the community. We work to become part of the team. Assistant Mitch Deets, for instance, camped for a week in northern Minnesota for a cross country team training trip. Assistant Athletic Trainer Kassi Nordmeyer will be traveling to Boston with volleyball this fall and then wrestling and softball throughout the year,” said Strauch, who works specifically with football, men’s and women’s hockey, and baseball. “We don’t have all the bells and whistles of Division I schools, but I 14 Augsburg Now would stack our program’s continuity of care against any of them. And you won’t find stronger bonds. I should show you our stack of Christmas cards and wedding invitations from former studentathletes. Those personal connections make all the difference.” Baseball head coach Keith Bateman agrees. “First-year and transfer studentathletes are often a little hesitant to disclose an injury because they are afraid of not playing. And coaches like being in charge, so I would say many athletic trainers run into walls with team leadership. But not here, not with Missy. She won’t let them or us get away with that,” said Bateman, who is in his 13th year at Augsburg. “She and her staff become such a part of our teams that they know when players are having a bad day by the way they carry themselves. They want student-athletes to play, to be tough, but not to be stupid.” A thoughtful evolution Former head football coach Jack Osberg ’62 worked closely with Strauch for more than 10 years, watching the sports medicine program grow from a part-time enterprise to a comprehensive team that features four certified athletic trainers, one athletic training intern, one physician assistant fellow, 11 student sports medicine assistants, two physicians, one chiropractor, and two physical therapists. “As students at Augsburg in the late ’50s and early ’60s, we didn’t have athletic trainers. Coaches took care of taping, injury rehab, and other training situations. The technology, knowledge, equipment, facilities, communication, and pre-season conditioning available to coaches and student-athletes now is remarkable,” said Osberg, who served as head coach for 14 years and as an assistant coach from 2007-10. “I respect Missy and her staff having observed their mentoring of student assistants, poise when handling serious injuries, and focus on the latest training techniques.” Women’s hockey player Claire Cripps ’16 is one such student who can testify to the program’s expert attention and nurturing approach. Days before midterms last year, the forward sustained a concussion on the ice, leaving her with headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and an inability to focus for almost two weeks. “Missy sent an email to the dean and each of my professors explaining what happened, which led to postponing my exams until I had the ability to study and focus again,” said the exercise science major who plans to pursue a doctorate of physical therapy. “There were no issues with any of my professors, and they all wished me well, which made me really feel that sense of community that convinced me to come to Augsburg after my first visit to campus.” Advancements in prevention Although the most common injuries are routine sprains and bruises, concussions and other serious traumas are a growing area of concern as student-athletes’ speed, size, and strength has increased. But, Strauch says, the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation also have improved. In collaboration with Twin Cities Orthopedics, Augsburg’s implementation of IMPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) establishes a baseline for each student-athlete so that health care professionals can quickly and accurately measure changes and potential damage in the aftermath of a concussion. The team’s cuttingedge equipment and data collection, paired with the College’s longstanding relationships with area doctors, ensure that concussions are addressed promptly and thoroughly. Dr. B.J. Anderson, who serves as Augsburg’s director of general medicine, said the College’s sports medicine program offers a “gold standard” of care, particularly when it comes to addressing serious injuries. “I’ve worked with athletic trainers across the globe, and Augsburg’s team is second to none,” said Anderson, who is a primary care provider for the University of Minnesota Boynton Health Service. “The College’s neurocognitive testing is state of the art, and the staff’s relationship with me and other doctors results in continuity of care. We get them in early, address the problem, and get them back in action.” It’s collaboration and conversation among Augsburg faculty and staff that make all the difference in ensuring student-athletes perform their best in competition and in the classroom. When Carol Enke, instructor for Health, Physical Education and Exercise Science, noticed that a typically advanced student turned in puzzlingly poor work, she reached out to her colleagues. “Earlier in the semester, I had used the student-athlete’s work as an example of excellence in class, so when she turned in a below-average lab assignment, I called Missy right away,” said Enke, who served as Augsburg’s head softball coach for 21 seasons. “I knew the student had experienced a concussion weeks prior because Missy called me after the incident. [When] we realized that the injury affected the student-athlete’s ability to analyze ... the entire campus community came together in support. That’s what we do at Augsburg.” And, while Augsburg Athletics employs progressive protocols to safely assess and treat injuries, the College is equally focused on prevention. In June, Ryan Rasmussen came on board as Augsburg’s head strength and conditioning coach and has since worked closely with athletic trainers to keep student-athletes in optimum condition. He is the first collegiate strength and conditioning coach certified in a novel restorative movement approach called RESET. Rasmussen says the system pinpoints and eliminates compensation patterns, empowering Augsburg student-athletes to return to play faster and achieve better performance through optimal movement. “To reap the full benefits of physical activity, we need flawless posture and movement, and this restorative approach helps us achieve just that,” Rasmussen said. “Having a team of people who are concerned with the health of our athletes is hugely important. We recently collaborated on rehab for a hockey player with a torn ACL. She is returning to play this year and was the top performing woman among the five teams reviewed during our conditioning test.” Inspiring mindful studentathletes Mental health and nutrition also are pillars of wellness that the Athletics staff is committed to addressing in a collective, proactive manner. Sports medicine professionals advise studentathletes about the latest in nutrition and collaborate regularly with Augsburg’s Center for Wellness and Counseling to ensure student-athletes are aware of the center’s resources and community support. Center Director Nancy Guilbeault said anxiety and stress are increasingly present in student-athletes lives, but Augsburg is committed to helping all students have healthy, happy college days. Head Athletic Trainer Missy Strauch assists offensive lineman Andrew Konieczny ’15 during Augsburg’s Homecoming football game. “This fall, we worked with Athletics to develop four sessions for incoming student-athletes to address alcohol consumption, mindfulness, body image, and healthy relationships. Athletics, more than many, knows the importance of working as a team to confront the challenges our students face, so they are wonderful partners,” said Guilbeault, who has worked at Augsburg for 36 years. “Coaches and athletic training staff are often the first to notice when a student-athlete might need to talk with us, and they stick with them throughout the process—often walking them over to the Center or attending a session with them.” Guilbeault says mental health is often tied with injuries, as student-athletes feel stress associated with “letting the team down” or experience mental health issues because of certain physical traumas. Her team of counselors and the Center’s collaboration with a psychiatrist and community resources ensure students receive optimum care. “Our students receive up to 10 counseling sessions each academic year, and if they need additional support beyond that, we refer them to one of our community partners and keep up with their care,” Guilbeault said. “Mindfulness meditation techniques are particularly important for student-athletes because the approach encourages student-athletes to be aware of their bodies and present moments, becoming more resilient to stress.” 13 12 Building on a strong foundation Like any strong foundation, the sports medicine team’s roster of professionals and holistic, collaborative approach took years to build; but behind the staff hires, the new technology, and personal bonds is Strauch— driving herself and her staff to become more than just “trainers who wrap ankles.” They are a passionate team of professionals who will do whatever it takes—from stirring the Crock-Pot at potlucks to calling professors— to ensure student-athletes have the tools and support they need to succeed and achieve their life goals. “Our profession has changed dramatically in the past decade. Many of my mentors were focused solely on the injury, and we now take a much broader view, a much more involved role,” Strauch said. “And the best part about it is that we will continue to grow and continue to adapt to the demands of the future. “Augsburg is a community dedicated to finding new and better ways to support our students in every aspect of their lives. And Athletics is a family of student-athletes, parents, coaches, and trainers—all striving to do better, work harder, and represent the best of Augsburg. I love this school. Go Auggies!” 16 Augsburg Now TRAINING CENTER BUSTLES WITH ENERGY In this photo illustration, the Augsburg College training center is a hive of activity. Student-athletes buzz in and out to get care before and after practices and games while athletic training staff assess injuries. After professional staff determine the appropriate care for a student-athlete, the College’s student sports medicine assistants implement treatment and get hands-on practice in their field of study. The training center always is humming with action and support meant to help Auggies do their best in competition and in the classroom. 2 1 4 6 5 3 7 8 14 11 10 9 Assistant Athletic Director and Assistant Softball Coach Melissa Lee ’04 and Assistant Athletic Trainer Mitchell Deets work at the electronic record check-in station. 1 Assistant Athletic Trainer Kassi Nordmeyer administers a pre-practice ultrasound on Jessica Lillquist ’16, a member of the volleyball and basketball teams. 2 Courtney Lemke ’17, volleyball, is treated with hot packs and electric stimulation. 3 Head Athletic Trainer Missy Strauch completes a knee evaluation on soccer player Mohamed Sankoh ’16. 4 Jerrome Martin ’17 is treated 5 with a cold compress before football practice. Carter Denison ’17, Marta Anderson ’17, and Ashley Waalen ’17. 8 Jorden Gannon ’18 gets postfootball practice hydrotherapy. 9 R.J. Cervenka ’16, a football player, ices his shoulder after practice. Kayla Fuechtmann ’16, a sports medicine assistant and hockey player, hauls a hydration cooler back from practice. Sports Medicine Assistant Beth Zook ’17 tapes the ankle of soccer player Ngochinyan Ollor ’15. Soccer players receive hydrotherapy. The players are, from left, sports medicine assistant Student Medicine Assistant Aden Lehman ’17 tapes the ankle of football player Mac Kittelson ’16. 6 7 10 Logan Hortop ’17, a sports medicine assistant, tapes the ankle of Sean Adams ’17, a member of the cross country and track teams. 12 Sports Medicine Assistant Kristopher Woods ’17 delivers wound care to football player Tyler Sis ’16. 13 Silvia Cha ’19, member of the cross country team, does ankle rehabilitation. 14 11 Fall 2015 17 Caitlin Crowley ’16, left, and Associate Professor Phil Adamo peruse documents in the archive area of Lindell Library. Professors team with students to research and share College history BY STEPHEN JENDRASZAK I f you’re interested in the history of Augsburg College, you’re probably familiar with “From Fjord to Freeway,” a book published by long-time professor of history Carl Chrislock ’37 in 1969. The publication, which tells the story of the first 100 years of the College, is receiving renewed interest and attention as we approach the institution’s sesquicentennial in 2019. But no history is complete. Phil Adamo, associate professor of history and director of the honors program, is authoring a new book with students to bring further aspects of the impact and personality of the College to life. 18 Augsburg Now The new book, to be published during 2019, will include previously untold stories from the early years of the College. For example, the story of Augsburg’s first president, August Weenaas, and the sacrifices he made to found Augsburg is told in “From Fjord to Freeway.” But largely unremarked upon is the story of Valborg Weenaas, his wife, who followed him from Norway to Marshall, Wisconsin. She eventually housed 10-20 students in their home, moved to Minneapolis when Augsburg did the same, and passed away in the Twin Cities at only 37. Of course, the book also will address the events of the 50 years that have elapsed since the earlier work’s publication, such as Augsburg’s response to the 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis and its aftermath. The College offered its campus facilities to and worked closely with the Red Cross, Minneapolis’ Emergency Preparedness Team, and the Minneapolis Police Department to set up the Family Assistance Center, a place where family members of missing victims gathered to receive news updates, talk with grief counselors, and more. Perhaps most importantly, this new look at Augsburg’s past will strive to address the history of ideas that have shaped and been shaped by the community. “What I’m interested in, which is not done very often, is a history of ideas,” Adamo said. “Those ideas are wide-ranging—from theological issues early on to evolution, which was a controversial subject in religious circles. This was new stuff when the College was founded.” The book is a deeply collaborative effort, giving students opportunities to hone their skills in research and writing while producing a work for publication and being credited as contributors. Students this past summer worked in the College archives with Adamo every weekday morning, and donated a portion of their hours to cataloging documents for the College archives. Caitlin Crowley ’16, a transfer student and history major, documented letters from Augsburg’s fifth president, Bernhard Christensen ’22, to Auggies serving in World War II. “He was the president of the College; he must’ve had a million things to do,” Crowley said. “And yet, there are just folders and folders of personal letters he wrote. [Soldiers] would respond; he would write back. He would tell them what was happening at the College. It made me really like the guy.” Crowley’s own family history, in fact, is entwined with Augsburg’s. Her mother, Deborah (Frederickson) Crowley ’76, married her father on campus in the building that bears Christensen’s name. And her maternal grandfather, Jerrol Frederickson ’43, attended the College for two years before joining the air force just before Pearl Harbor. However, Crowley has yet to find a letter from Christensen to her grandfather. This is the third summer Adamo has worked with a group of student researchers on the project. Students in the first two summers each wrote a single, extensive chapter, but this summer’s group focused on a series of shorter vignettes. Students explored leaders including former College presidents George Sverdrup, class of 1898, and Oscar Anderson ’38; Dean of Women Gerda Mortensen; coaches and athletes like Edor Nelson ’38 and Devean George ’99; and events such as the admission of women in the 1920s. “It almost felt like being a journalist,” Crowley said. “We were given two topics a week. We also had to write about what was happening outside the College during the same time. It was a great way to learn about this variety of topics that I previously didn’t know anything about.” Each Friday, the students and Adamo met to read their sections aloud and critique one another’s work. “Phil could be kind of brutal, which was good,” Crowley said. “Even after just a few weeks, all of us were getting to be much better writers.” In addition to Adamo and the students working on the book, another group of historians is making use of tools Chrislock could only have imagined in 1969—smartphone apps and the Internet—to share the broader history of Augsburg’s Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Jacqui deVries, professor of history and director of general education, and Kirsten Delegard, scholar in residence in the history department and creator of the Historyapolis Project (historyapolis.com)—an endeavor to share the first narrative history of Minneapolis in more than 40 years—are working with Anduin Wilhide, a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota, to develop a digital history tour of the area. The project will provide both a website and apps for iPhones and Android devices. The team is now seeking funding to complete the digital upload process and to engage students in the researching and writing of additional tours. The project initially was intended to introduce new students to the neighborhood and its rich history, though, as it grew, it became clear that it will now serve a broader audience. The goal is to have the app available as the incoming class arrives in fall 2016, offering a window into the past just as new students join the Augsburg community, ready to shape its future. President Christensen writes to WWII soldiers BY CAITLIN CROWLEY ’16 During World War II, Augsburg College President Bernhard Christensen ’22 diligently wrote to students and faculty stationed around the world to keep them up-to-date on happenings at home and on campus. Today in the College library’s basement, hundreds of letters between Christensen and these Auggies are archived in boxes. The correspondence tells the story of the school during the war. There are Christmas cards from Army bases and training camps, tales of life during war and life back home, well wishes and letters of recommendation for military positions and promotions, and sympathy notes to families grieving the loss of their loved ones. Christensen was deeply invested in corresponding with all the men involved in the war, a job that must have taken countless hours of dictation and typing. He included his personal thoughts in most all of these letters. In a letter to Arthur Molvik ’40, a student who later died in the war, Christensen wrote, “We can only hope that the clouds of war will not hang over us too long and that when peace does return it will be built upon a more secure basis than formerly. Only in a faith of this kind, I believe, can we have courage to carry on.” Fall 2015 19 AUGSBURG COLLEGE SOCIOLOGIST EXAMINES NORTH DAKOTA’S NEW OIL LANDSCAPE 20 Augsburg Now BY LAURA SWANSON ’15 MBA I n the summer of 2012, Tim Pippert lifted a couple of duffel bags into the back of his car and headed northwest on Interstate 94, beginning an almost 700-mile journey that drew him out of Minneapolis—beyond the steel and glass towers, the hectic grid of side streets and signs, and the flurry of Fortune 500 companies and all those who inhabit their cubicles and corner offices. Soon, the fields of western Minnesota and eastern North Dakota lined Pippert’s roadside. He rolled past patches of flax and sunflowers, wheat, alfalfa, and canola to a place where tilled acreage melted into an even more expansive landscape of ranches and natural prairie grasses. For decades—make that centuries—any description of western North Dakota seemed amiss without mentioning this place’s sheer vastness of space, the way gently rolling hills and rugged badlands disappear into broad horizons hugging big, bluish-gray skies. BUT NOW THE STORY WAS DIFFERENT. THIS AREA WAS IN THE MIDST OF A TRANSFORMATION. Fall 2015 21 Pippert was headed to Williston— the North Dakota city viewed as the epicenter of the latest North American oil boom. This isolated community was among a handful of towns and small cities dotting the map in four counties that together emitted a nearly magnetic pull for job seekers of all kinds. It’s likely that the route Pippert followed to Williston began in a similar fashion as the path truck drivers, frack hands, pipe fitters, hair stylists, and people working within numerous other industries took to North Dakota. That’s because Pippert’s curiosity with Williston was piqued by news stories describing the remarkable growth happening in this once stagnant community. What was unique about Pippert’s desire to work in the Roughrider State, though, was that he didn’t plan to fill a position in the oil industry or to hold a job supporting its employees at all. Instead, he sought to study the societal change underway in Williston and its surrounding areas along with individuals’ perceptions of it. Thus, he became one of the first scholars to explore what local residents perceive to be the costs and benefits of the boom. A NEW RESEARCH PHASE As an associate professor in the Augsburg College Department of Sociology, Pippert blends teaching, scholarship, and mentorship into his work each year, with an emphasis on each aspect varying in accordance with the academic calendar cycle. His interest in North Dakota’s changing cultural and physical 22 Augsburg Now landscape stemmed from in-class discussions with his students. Pippert asked his Introduction to Sociology class to bring in newspaper clippings related to current events as an assignment so that, together, the students could practice analyzing information using a sociological perspective. One article on North Dakota oil came in, then another. “That’s when things were in the very early stages of the boom, and there were sensational stories about folks making money hand over fist and people moving out there with nowhere to live,” Pippert said. “I’m from Nebraska, and there was only one stoplight in my entire county. I’m used to seeing all of these tiny towns decline in population or be relatively stable, certainly not growing. As a sociologist, I was just fascinated by what happens when a small town explodes in population overnight.” For years, North Dakotans were concerned about their state’s population decline, but the oil boom in the late 2000s dramatically changed the socioeconomic landscape in the region. In 2013, journalist Chip Brown wrote a New York Times Magazine article that said, “It’s hard to think of what oil hasn’t done to life in small communities of western North Dakota, good and bad. It has minted millionaires, paid off mortgages, created businesses; it has raised rents, stressed roads, vexed planners and overwhelmed schools; it has polluted streams, spoiled fields and boosted crime.” This article is among thousands penned since the start of the boom, but Pippert’s research takes an approach that’s different than the one most popular news media follow. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods over the course of his career, Pippert has examined subject areas such as the family ties of homelessness, the transition to parenthood, and the accuracy of photographic representation of diversity within university recruitment materials. As the next phase of his research, Pippert recognized that there’s certainly a story related to the development in North Dakota, but it’s not one that can—or necessarily should—be summarized in a 500-word, front-page exposé or in a 2-minute piece on the 6 o’clock news. Pippert is working to construct a longer narrative that is grounded in a sociological understanding of rapid population growth, allowing for an analysis of how the perceptions of local residents change over time. Of course history shows that people’s opinions shift as the state of the oil industry fluctuates, which it typically does. NORTH DAKOTA HAS BOOMED BEFORE “North Dakota has had oil booms before but never one so big, never one that rivaled the land rush precipitated more than a century ago by the transcontinental railroads, never one that so radically changed the subtext of the Dakota frontier from the Bitter Past That Was to the Better Future That May Yet Be,” Brown wrote. Since the beginning, the American oil industry’s history in north central states has followed a cyclical narrative of starts and stops, booms and busts. The subterranean shale that contains the much talked-about oil covers western North Dakota and northeastern Montana, and stretches into two Canadian provinces: Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Bakken shale was discovered in the early 1950s and named after Henry Bakken, a farmer who leased his land in North Dakota for an early well. At 14,700 square miles, it is the largest continuous crude oil accumulation in the United States. The shale has been in development since 1953 with periods of significant growth punctuating its more than 50year timeline. For instance, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, activity picked up in the upper Bakken when improved extraction technology married political and economic conditions that left the U.S. thirsty for domestic production. THE LATEST BOOM In the late 2000s, innovative engineering and technological refinements also played key roles in bringing about a new boom. The key to unlocking more of the oftensegregated oil deposits in the Bakken shale is horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, often called “fracking.” North Dakota has been described as a laboratory for coaxing oil from stingy rocks. While petroleum geologists have known for decades that layers of the Bakken contain light, sulfur-free oil, it has been much more puzzling how to extract it economically. Today, the Bakken contains some of the longest horizontal wells in the world. Drillers bore vertical shafts and then lateral shafts that extend out as far as three miles in order to harvest otherwise unreachable oil. However, horizontal drilling alone is often not enough to lure Bakken oil from the tightly clenched grasp that holds it roughly two miles below the earth’s surface. The majority of the shale won’t yield its oil unless pressurized water containing sand and various chemicals is pumped down the well to crack open hairline channels within thin layers of oil-and gasbearing rock. This procedure has been environmentally controversial given that the chemicals used in fracking have been known to be or suspected of being carcinogenic or otherwise poisonous. Geologists and engineers continually fine-tune the assortment of frack fluid recipes required in varying geological conditions, and they fracture wells in stages, sometimes repeating the process dozens of times at a single location. Waste from this process must be carefully handled and monitored to avoid contaminating groundwater, polluting surface areas, or injuring workers. Since petroleum engineers began combining fracking with directional drilling, thousands of new wells have been constructed—primarily in four North Dakota counties bordering the Missouri River: Dunn, McKenzie, Mountrail, and Williams. And, from 2006 to 2013, production from the Bakken formation increased roughly 150-fold, moving North Dakota into second place among domestic suppliers of oil, behind Texas and ahead of Alaska. This substantial growth in industry spurred a need for more of nearly everything—laborers, housing units, highways, railroads, power lines, and even patience. “I’ve never seen a more hardworking place,” Pippert said. “There are always things going on. I’m not sure how exactly to articulate it, but it’s like there’s always construction; there’s always truck traffic; there’s always activity on Sunday afternoons. It just doesn’t stop.” The change in Williston and other boomtowns may not stop, but it does slow. This year, slumping crude oil prices have led to a decline among communities affected by the oil industry. Williston was the fastestgrowing small city in the U.S. from 2011 to 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Yet, news outlets recently have described harder times. Bakken oil has always been expensive to produce and ship to refineries. So, when oil prices started to decrease in autumn 2014, oil producers tamped down their spending. This meant fewer rigs actively drilling for crude and less work for those who service new wells. In extreme cases, layoffs, reduced hours, and smaller paychecks have led workers into hard times and even out of town. “Lots of things have changed since 2012,” admits Pippert. “Now I have to write a potentially different story.” It’s said that North Dakota’s last oil boom, which occurred roughly 30 years ago, collapsed so quickly when oil prices crashed that people declared, “If you’re the last person in Williston, make sure you turn off the lights.” But what did this flight mean for the people who continued Fall 2015 23 ANALYZING AND WRITING Pippert mets with Deanette Piesik, CEO of TrainND living in that community? For Pippert, it’s important for sociologists to analyze how population shifts and the industrialization of rural areas strain community ties and impact the daily lives of long-term residents. This summer, he took his fifth and likely final trip to North Dakota to see how the recent slowdown has influenced life in Williston, to conduct follow-up interviews, and to hear from additional residents for the first time. Pippert met with Deanette Piesik, CEO of workforce development organization TrainND, to discuss whether she had witnessed any signs of an oil industry downturn. TrainND serves as a link between private industry and Williston State College by facilitating safety trainings and offering worker certification programs. After the conversation, Piesik said she appreciated the way Pippert used open-ended questions such as, “How’d that impact you?” and “What do you see?” rather than asking questions that would induce a negative response. “I guess I worry about how some of the things I say will get cut short or be portrayed the wrong way,” said Piesik, whose concern applies to news coverage ranging from national broadcasts to the local press. “Now, I could have been the type of person who was totally negative and that’s what you would have gotten … but I have faith that [Pippert is] writing a good piece about this oil boom and how it has changed this community. I think that’s a positive piece to do.” 24 Augsburg Now Over the course of three years, Pippert conducted 87 interviews to gather data, and he is entering the writing phase of his research—a time when he will synthesize all of this information. Naturally, analyzing more than seven-dozen conversations will be a challenging endeavor. “There comes a point, probably before that 87 number, where you don’t learn anything new,” he said with a laugh, “but it’s so interesting I just wanted to keep going.” Augsburg College sociology students helped to spur Pippert’s interest in the North Dakota oil boom, and they continue to play a role as this project develops. Students serve as research assistants by transcribing interviews and coding the information they contain so that Pippert can examine themes from year to year and from discussion to discussion. He plans to work with a research assistant supported by the 2015 Torstenson Community Scholars program, and he has supervised Ashley Johnson ’16 as she worked on an independent project on sex trafficking in North Dakota as part of her participation in the McNair Scholars Program. Overall, Pippert is positioned to assess the dramatic and immediate strain on infrastructure that North Dakota communities endured during the period of rapid growth occurring during the boom’s first few years. He also will look at longtime residents’ perceptions of oil workers and of crime. “There are certainly more crimes taking place, but whether they are proportional to the population increase is difficult to tell,” Pippert said. It is also complex to articulate how residents felt about an influx of new people in their communities. “As a sociologist, I’m interested in ‘insider’ versus ‘outsider’ framing,” Pippert added. “There seems to be a pretty strong sentiment among locals that they were frustrated with oil field workers. The saying was, ‘Go back home—unless you plan on staying.’” This phrase, Pippert noticed, articulates that longtime residents grew tired of people simply entering their communities for work and then leaving or sending their income to families and homes in other areas of the country. The locals would have preferred for the newcomers to contribute to and make a life in their communities well into the future. THE YEARS AHEAD As time unfolds, the challenges and opportunities presented in Williston may begin to surface in other communities that are in the midst of their own dramatic population growth, and Pippert’s research could serve as a study for navigating complex situations. The oil extraction technology pioneered in North Dakota is expected to have implications around the world, but it’s not only communities near oil deposits that may benefit from this scholar’s perspective. Ultimately, Pippert said, his story is about how the identity of a small town changes when significant industrial development causes a population shift. It’s about massive industry suddenly entering an area—any area—to utilize its resources. And when other communities follow down a similar path as Williston, it’s important for them to learn from the road that North Dakota already has traveled. “It really is about a boom,” Pippert said. “But the source of its spark doesn’t really matter.” A DARK SIDE TO A BOOM scholarship in action A s one of the first sociologists to study the effects of the most recent oil boom in North Dakota, Tim Pippert has been sought out by organizations looking to add context to their coverage of the changes occurring in the city of Williston and its surrounding communities. Pippert contributed to the Forum News Service’s reporting series on human trafficking and female exploitation, and he appeared in the documentary “BOOM,” which depicted human and sex trafficking issues haunting communities. The film tells the story of a recent college graduate who moves to North Dakota to get a job in the oil fields as a trucker and who becomes aware of criminal activity present in his new surroundings. The nonprofit iEmpathize created the documentary to raise awareness about child exploitation and to help industries ranging from oil and gas to trucking and hospitality better train employees to recognize and respond to trafficking. The film was screened in November 2014 at North Dakota’s first statewide summit on human trafficking, which Pippert attended as a featured panelist. He discussed his research in front of the U.S. attorney for North Dakota, the state’s attorney general, local and federal law enforcement agencies, victims’ advocates, social service providers, tribal officials, and others who—he said—came together to ask, “How big of a problem is this?” and “What are we going to do about it?” For Pippert, seeing his scholarship have a life outside of an academic setting has been personally rewarding and publically valuable. Brad Riley, founder and president of iEmpathize, visited Augsburg College in March with Anthony Baldassari, the film’s protagonist and an engagement ambassador for the organization’s Boom Campaign, which assists communities across the United States. The two men joined Pippert in screening the film and leading an on-campus discussion on the issues it portrayed. Baldassari, Pippert, and Riley also served as presenters at Visit iEmpathize.org to learn how this organization works to educate boom communities to recognize and respond to human trafficking issues. the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Forum, of which Augsburg College is a host sponsor. Pippert’s role in the film helped to “give a real, authentic, and clear unpacking of what’s happening, why it’s happening, and where it’s happening,” Riley said. The film was designed to be a catalyst for conversation in communities where human trafficking already had a foothold or within groups that have an ability to help curtail the offense. In addition, “BOOM” is a teaching tool for the curricula iEmpathize distributes to law enforcement, schools, health care institutions, and other organizations located in areas that are at risk of encountering their own human trafficking issues. “If we can predict where boom towns might be in the future, we can come in and help set up a little bit of infrastructure on the front end,” Baldassari said, which helps to give people the opportunity to intervene in a safe and practical way. Fall 2015 25 26 Augsburg Now BURSTING WITH AUGGIE PRIDE A fireworks display over Murphy Square lights up the night during Homecoming weekend. Nearly 600 Auggies representing more than six decades and from as far away as Norway attended the 2015 Augsburg College Homecoming celebration. The class with the most attendees? Alumni from 1965, marking their 50th reunion! If you’ve never had the chance to see the campus canopied in fireworks, you should plan to attend Homecoming in 2016. The 2015 Homecoming Alumni Award recipients and Athletic Hall of Fame inductees are featured in Class Notes: pages 32-39. To view videos recognizing the award recipients, go to augsburg.edu/now. Fall 2015 27 FROM THE ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT Dear alumni and friends, W elcome to the 2015-16 academic year! Thank you to Chris Hallin ’88 for serving as alumni board president last year. I’m excited to become board president at a time when our group continues to evolve and increase its engagement with alumni in the life of the College. As the campus community looks forward to the sesquicentennial of Augsburg in 2019, we all have the opportunity to participate in the strategic vision set forth by the Augsburg Board of Regents, which states: “In 2019, Augsburg College will be a new kind of student-centered, urban university, small to our students and big for the world.” There is much work that we as alumni have done and can do to support this vision. Mark your calendars for the next Student and Alumni Networking Event on February 9, which gives students access to one-on-one discussions with alumni professionals on campus. Alumni can also partner with the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work, as we did this September for the first-ever Fall Career and Internship Fair, to provide alumni and students with meaningful connections. We also work to make annual traditions, such as Homecoming and Advent Vespers, special for alumni of all generations. Throughout the coming year, your alumni board will hear from Augsburg guest speakers about internships, research, study abroad, and service work and learning that shape an Augsburg education. As we listen, we will consider how alumni can support the important work of the College. There are three dimensions in the Augsburg2019 strategic plan (found at augsburg.edu/augsburg2019) that are relevant to our work: • Dimension 1: Educating for lives of purpose—across the disciplines, beyond the classroom, and around the world. As alumni, we can help students outside the classroom and in a manner that equips them to succeed through mentoring, internships, and more. • Dimension 2: At the table with our neighbors and institutional partners, shaping education to address the world’s needs. As alumni, our workplaces and Auggie-owned businesses can work with Augsburg to expand internship opportunities that allow students to build their skills, discern their vocations, and open doors to careers. • Dimension 3: Built for the future—a vital and sustainable institution. Alumni can strengthen collaboration and financial sustainability through our consistent financial support and by sharing the good news about the College among our professional and faith communities, and with our friends and families. As alumni, we have a direct impact on our College in small and large ways. Our participation is key to the future viability and sustainability of our college and of Auggies. I hope you will join us. JILL WATSON ’10 MBA ALUMNI BOARD PRESIDENT UNIQUELY AUGSBURG TRAVEL Augsburg College alumni, parents, families, and friends are invited to join international tours led by faculty members whose distinction and expertise add to one-of-a-kind travel experiences. If you are UPCOMING TOURS: interested in participating in Germany and the Czech Republic travel opportunities or attending Thailand and Cambodia an information session, contact Sally Daniels Herron ’79 at To learn more, go to augsburg.edu/alumni/travel. herron@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1525. 28 Augsburg Now NOVEMBER 12, 2015 Thanks for Giving to the Max! Thank you to all those who supported Augsburg College on Give to the Max Day. Your gifts enable great opportunities for students in academics, athletics, and campus programs. See the wide variety of projects supported by this annual day of philanthropy at augsburg.edu/now. AUGGIES CONNECT FROM RIVERSIDE AVE. TO RIVERSIDE, CA A demand for Auggies Augsburg is closing the distance between Riverside Avenue in Minneapolis and Riverside, California, through the successful partnership of Augsburg faculty, alumni, college programs—and, of course—talented students. The collaboration is proving so effective that faculty mentors at the University of California-Riverside are calling for more Auggies. When Dixie Shafer, director of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity (URGO), visited doctoral candidate Tom Lopez ’11, she heard in no uncertain terms from Lopez’s mentor and department of mechanical engineering faculty member Lorenzo Mangolini: “I want more of your students. I want more Augsburg students. Your students know what they’re doing in the lab from day one.” Over the past six years, several Augsburg graduates have landed at UC-Riverside with full funding to attend doctoral programs. The students have a team of Auggie advocates supporting them all the way. The team includes staff from TRIO/McNair Scholars; URGO; STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Programs; and alumni who have walked a similar path. The Riverside pipeline Augsburg sociology alumni Matthew Dunn ’08, Jenna Mead ’09, and Zach Sommer ’10 were among the first Auggies to blaze a trail to UC-Riverside. They were later joined by Lopez and doctoral candidate Justin Gyllen ’11, a computer scientist and physicist working on an educational technology project to help first-year engineering students improve their note-taking. Now those Auggies have been joined by two more alumni from the physics and math departments: Gottlieb Uahengo ’13 and Amir Rose ’14. Rose, one of five Augsburg McNair Scholars to attend UC-Riverside, credits that program’s role in his success. The McNair program is a two-year opportunity that helps prepare low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented students for graduate school. Rose, whose current research is focused on breeding sterile mosquitoes to eradicate populations of disease-spreading mosquitoes, also credits Augsburg physics professor David Murr ’92 for teaching him research skills and independent thinking. Even current Augsburg students gain research experience at UC-Riverside. Last summer, chemistry student Oscar Martinez ’16 worked with Lopez and also traveled to Scripps Research Institute in Florida. Circle of Support Now that these Auggies are studying and researching in Riverside, Dr. Steve Larson ’72 says it’s his turn to help. Larson, a member of the Augsburg Board of Regents, has been in California since 1980. Three years ago, Larson, chief executive officer and board chair for Riverside Medical Clinic and a generous supporter of the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, found out that there was not just one, but a group of Auggies in Riverside, and he invited them to dinner at his home. He has had them back every year, and has been joined by Augsburg College President Paul Pribbenow and Shafer. “We all have something in common,” Larson said of his dinners with the Augsburg alumni and students. “Everyone appreciates what happens at Augsburg College.” There’s a circle of involvement with the College, Larson explained, that begins as a student, continues as alumni go out into the world, and finally turns back to support student success and the future of the College. “This is my turn,” he said. He is excited for how the Hagfors Center will continue to inspire high-caliber students and faculty to take their work to the next level. “Keep those Auggies coming,” Larson said. [Top to bottom]: Augsburg College Regent Steve Larson ’72 supports students like Gottlieb Uahengo ’13 and Oscar Martinez ’16—two of the Auggies whose academic pursuits have led to the University of California-Riverside. Fall 2015 29 AUGGIES CONNECT THOUGHTFUL GIVING Less effort. More impact. “Mr. Augsburg” has spent 44 years of his life—so far—inspiring Auggies to invest in the life of the College. Whether in his role as a student, parent, grandparent, or as alumni director and fundraiser for Augsburg, Jeroy Carlson ’48 has inspired Auggies through the decades to remain connected to their alma mater. The work, connections, and inspiration fostered and forged by Carlson led an anonymous donor to make a generous $165,000 lead gift to name a gathering space in the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion in honor of Carlson and his wife, Lorraine. Augsburg College Regent Dennis Meyer ’78 and Beverly (Ranum) Meyer ’78 also were inspired by Carlson’s leadership and dedication to the College and decided to make a second gift. The couple’s most recent contribution of $25,000 will go to support the space named in honor of the Carlsons. During his long tenure with Augsburg, Carlson helped countless students get their careers off the ground. “He never hesitated to pick up the phone to make a connection,” said Dennis. One of Carlson’s introductions helped Bev make an important professional connection to launch her teaching career. “There were many 30 Augsburg Now faculty and staff members at Augsburg who provided career guidance and direction, but Jeroy stands out for us,” she said. “I admire the connections Jeroy developed with alumni and his ability to make things happen,” Dennis said, noting that Carlson raised millions for the College. “When he called and asked for something, people gave because they had great respect for Jeroy, his love of Augsburg, and the people who contributed to its success.” Donors are invited to make a gift to the Jeroy and Lorraine Carlson Atrium Lounge—a designated space in the Hagfors Center where the Augsburg community will gather, foster relationships, and build community. Great progress already has been made for this $250,000 initiative, which will end on December 31. There is just $60,000 left to raise to name the space. Please join fellow Auggies touched by the Carlsons’ spirit of generosity and belief in Augsburg. Send your gift, marked “Jeroy Carlson Initiative,” to: Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Avenue, CB 142, Minneapolis, MN 55454. For more information, contact Kim Stone at stonek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1173. Courtesy Photo Courtesy Photo Jeroy and Lorraine Carlson Atrium Lounge Make a difference at Augsburg—this and every month—with Thoughtful Giving. A Thoughtful Gift is a monthly sustaining contribution, paid automatically with a deduction from your checking account, credit card, or debit card. Your monthly gifts help provide a steady, reliable income stream, allowing Augsburg to focus more resources on financial aid and student services. Think about it—monthly donations make it easy to budget—and it feels great to know you are making a difference every month of the year. Visit augsburg.edu/giving to start your monthly giving today. If you have questions or want to become a Thoughtful Giver through the mail or by telephone, contact Margo Abramson at abramson@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1557. Thank you for keeping Augsburg strong and thriving with your financial support. I believe in Thoughtful Giving. Sue and Larry Turner ’69 have made an automatic monthly gift since 2013. AUGGIES CONNECT Buy a brick. Honor a legacy. What started out as a group of first-year Auggies from Washburn High School in Minneapolis commuting to campus for classes led to friendships that have transcended job relocations, marriages, losses of parents, and births of grandchildren. Now those Auggies—dear friends for nearly a half-century—are celebrating their life-long relationships and Augsburg’s role in bringing them together by buying a brick to support the College’s new Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion. In the late 1960s, after spending a year commuting to college, the friends decided to live on campus. Although they put their names in the housing lottery, they came up empty. The group learned from facilities staff that there was a house on campus that needed some fixing up and that, if the group was willing to do the work, they could move in. The group cleaned, painted, and got the house ready to live in. John Hjelmeland ’70 and Paul Mikelson ’70 moved into the house in the fall of 1967. By winter break, more Auggies moved into the house: John Harden ’69 and Phil Walen ’70 from Washburn High and Terry Nygaard ’70 from Columbia Heights. The five roommates spent the remainder of their time at Augsburg in the house located where the Charles S. Anderson Music Hall now stands. While the friends all pursued different fields of study, their friendship remained as strong then as it does now. After graduation, Mikelson married and left for a U.S. Army position in Germany, and Hjelmeland and Walen moved out of state. During that time, the group started to circulate a handwritten chain letter as a way to stay in touch. Each of the friends lived in a different city, and the group kept the letter in circulation for 10 years. Eventually, all five Auggies returned to the Twin Cities and began to meet for monthly lunches. This past September, Walen passed away, but the remaining four friends continue to meet regularly. “Augsburg was the place where we cemented our friendship and kept it going all these years,” Mikelson said. While Walen was still alive, the five former roommates together bought a brick to commemorate their camaraderie and Augsburg’s place in it. The brick, which will be displayed as part of the new Hagfors Center, will be inscribed, simply, “2207 S. 7th St.” Courtesy Photo 45 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP INSPIRES A BRICK Top: Augsburg College alumni on their graduation day [L to R]: Phil Walen ’70, Paul Mikelson ’70, John Hjelmeland ’70, John Harden ’69, and Terry Nygaard ’70. Bottom: Four of the men continue to meet monthly for lunch. THERE IS STILL TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE HAGFORS CENTER! Buy a brick to honor a family member, a teacher, a friendship, or a relationship that defines Augsburg for you. Augsburg will inscribe a brick with your name or the name of someone you’d like to honor. Each brick will be incorporated into the building of the Hagfors Center, creating a lasting legacy for the future of Augsburg. Foundation Brick (40 characters, 3 lines) = $250 Legacy Brick (80 characters, 6 lines) = $500 augsburg.edu/csbr | 612-330-1085 Fall 2015 31 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES 1951 Einar Unseth ’51 marked his 90th birthday on June 29. After farming with his father, Unseth served in the occupation army in Japan. He then attended Augsburg College and Luther Seminary. He served as a missionary to Japan with the American Lutheran Church (now ELCA), and later pastored Lutheran churches in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Unseth and his wife, Luella, recently moved to Lester Prairie, Minnesota. They have six sons, 22 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. 1952 Dave Christensen ’52 and his brother Duane Christensen ’53 meet every morning to grab some coffee, buy copies of the Bemidji Pioneer and the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and catch up on the latest news. This tradition began in 1990 when Dave moved to Bemidji to retire. Dave taught school in Atwater, Minnesota, for four years and served in the U.S. Army before enrolling in Luther Seminary in St. Paul. Before retirement, he was a Lutheran minister at Adams, North Dakota; Warren, Minnesota; and Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. After Duane graduated from Augsburg, he served in the U.S. Army and then began a career in education as a band and choir teacher in Danube, Minnesota. He earned his master’s and specialist degrees at the University of Minnesota, and then worked as a school principal in several Minnesota districts. Duane moved to Bemidji, Minnesota, in 1969 and started the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council, an agency that provided special education services to 18 area school districts. He headed the council for 18 years before retiring. In 1990, the brothers built Maple Ridge Golf Course south of Bemidji. Harvey Peterson ’52, a former member of the Augsburg College Board of Regents and a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame, received a Distinguished Alumni Award at Homecoming 2015. He was recognized for his distinct level of dedication, leadership, and achievement over the span of his career. He and his wife, Joanne (Varner) Peterson ’52, are longtime, faithful supporters of the College. He was the CEO of CATCO, a truck parts supply company founded in 1949 by his father, Art Peterson. He has given unselfishly to his business and industry peers and associates, mentoring and advising many along the way. 1957 Grace (Forss) Herr ’57 was recognized with a Distinguished Alumni Award at Augsburg’s Homecoming in October, which also hosted a reunion for majors in home economics. Her award cited her entrepreneurial spirit, great generosity in establishing numerous scholarships, and longstanding commitment to Habitat for Humanity and the Guadalupe Center in Florida, where she lives with her husband, Doug. This past spring, the couple received the Spirit of Marco Island Award from a Rotary Club, which honored them for embodying the spirit of community through service. 1961 Karen (Erickson) McCullough ’61 walked Hadrian’s Wall Path, a nearly 80-mile trek, across northern England from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway. 1964 Mike Walgren ’64 was recognized with a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming in October. He has been manager of the Augsburg Centennial Singers since 2001. With his wife, Carla (Quanbeck) Walgren ’64, he lives out his vocation of being called to service. In his work with the Centennial Singers, professionally, and with his church, he puts his gifts and talents in service of the greater good—doing the difficult work with full engagement and without hesitation. He was recognized in 2001 with an Outstanding Professional Fundraiser of the Year award by the Minnesota chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is an active member of Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, where he sings in the choir. REUNION 1965 Augsburg College Regent Emeritus Dan Anderson ’65 was recognized with a Distinguished Alumni Award at Augsburg’s Homecoming in October, which also honored the 1965 men’s basketball championship team on which he played. Anderson in 1977 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on the court, including leading the basketball team to three conference championships, setting records for career points (2,052 points), and being named conference player of the year three times. Anderson is chairman of AdvisorNet Financial in Minneapolis. He has served on the board AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 1952 Glenn Thorpe ’60 hosted a celebration for his brother Gordon Thorpe ’52, ’55 to honor the 60th anniversary of Gordon’s graduation from Augsburg Seminary and ordination at Trinity Lutheran Church, which was on June 12, 1955. Gordon served in parishes for 41 years. At the celebration, Gordon was joined by his classmates David Rokke ’52, Carl Vaagenes ’50, ’55, and Bill Halverson ’51. Also joining them to celebrate were Augsburg seminarians Philip Quanbeck ’50, Allan Sortland ’53, Morris Vaagenes ’54, Jim Almquist ’61, Paul Almquist ’62, and Thomas Moen ’62. 32 Augsburg Now ALUMNI CLASS NOTES of directors for charitable organizations, has worked locally for Habitat for Humanity, and is active in his church community. Marilyn (Nielsen) Anderson ’65 treasures her memories of Augsburg band trips to the West Coast and the Augsburg Cantorians’ trips. She taught K-12 choir, band, music, and orchestra for 17 years and has written and published 25 children’s books. She taught writing courses for the Institute of Children’s Literature for 20 years. Anderson also has trained and showed dressage horses at international levels. If she could thank anyone at Augsburg, it would be James Johnson, her piano teacher, and Anne Pederson, who taught English. MaryAnn (Holland) Berg ’65 has had a life filled with music. She taught elementary music and piano for 20 years, and directed a championship barbershop chorus in Fargo, North Dakota, that took her to international competitions in London, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Seattle, and St. Louis. She currently sings with the Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists, a group she’s been with for 28 years. Her fondest memories of Augsburg include choir tours (especially the Norway tour in 1965) and serving as a student secretary for Leland Sateren ’35. She and husband, Arvid Berg ’65, cherish the memory of the Augsburg Choir singing at their wedding on November 21, 1964. Arvid has no doubt that Sateren inspired him to become a choral director and to strive for the highest performance standards he could achieve. Arvid’s fondest Augsburg memories are of Augsburg band and choir tours, including a five-week tour with the choir to Norway, Denmark, and Germany. Arvid spent 30 years as head of the music department at Oak Grove Lutheran High School in Fargo. He also had a 25-year military career, the last 19 years with the 188th Army Band of Fargo. His current interests include fishing, hunting, traveling, music, and his church. If she could, Adrienne (Strand) Buboltz ’65 would thank the Rev. Waldemar Anderson ’37 for encouraging her and three of her classmates from North Dakota’s Portland High School to attend Augsburg. She fondly remembers serving on the freshman social committee, decorating Christmas trees, watching high school classmate Dan Anderson ’65 play basketball, and meeting her future husband, Larry Buboltz ’65, at Augsburg. She especially enjoyed being instructed by Chemistry Professor Courtland Agre and Leif Hansen, her German teacher. Adrienne graduated from Moorhead State University in 1974 and became a Certified Public Accountant. She worked in public accounting, was a corporate controller, and taught at a vocational school. She opened an insurance brokerage in 1991 after receiving her insurance and brokerage licenses, and she retired in 2005. Larry keeps busy as chair of Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center in Minnesota. He serves on a committee to bring a bike trail to the community. He became a city councilman in 1976, and served until he was elected mayor from 1988 to 2008. He likes to Sharon (Kunze) Erickson ’65 says she took an interest in a certain physics lab assistant and eventually married him—Ken Erickson ’62, now retired from the Augsburg physics department. The couple lives in Cambridge, Minnesota, where Sharon taught first grade for 29 years. Sharon volunteers at their church and at the Cambridge Hospital when she isn’t spending time with family and friends. Helen (Friederichs) Griller ’65 has lived in and enjoyed Arizona for the past 28 years, but she has so many special memories of George Johnson ’65 spent more than three years in Pakistan teaching science students who ranged from the undergraduate to the doctoral levels. He and his wife, Leslye, both hold doctorate degrees in biochemistry, and, with support from the Bradley Hills Presbyterian congregation in Bethesda, Maryland, worked with Forman Christian College University in Lahore, Pakistan. The Johnsons view this school as an oasis of tolerance, and they served people who are Muslim and Christian, rich and poor, male and female. The Johnsons’ time in Pakistan convinced them how valuable it is for students and alumni to visit other countries to experience life and cultures. Before this teaching opportunity, George had a robust career in research science, often working in drug discovery and development. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. exercise, travel, play bridge, attend school sporting activities, and is active in Kiwanis. At Augsburg, Larry participated in the debate team and later coached debate at Detroit Lakes High School. He also taught history there until 1968. He joined Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. and became chairman in 2005. His high school band instructor, David Skaar ’55, initially encouraged him to attend Augsburg. One of the fondest memories Keith Dyrud ’65, holds from his time at Augsburg is his work publishing the campus newspaper, The Voice. Faculty who most influenced Keith were Carl Chrislock ’37 and Khin Khin Jensen, faculty in the history and political science department, and William Halverson ’51 and Paul Sonnack ’42, faculty in the religion department. Today, Keith enjoys writing history, construction, Norwegian studies, and outdoor activities. He lives with wife, Grace, in Lauderdale, Minnesota. They have six children and nine grandchildren. growing up in Minnesota that she still thinks of it as home. Treasured memories from her Augsburg experience include good friends, the International Associated Women Students trip to Oklahoma, sporting activities, Sno Days, and Freshman Days. Her current interests and activities include four grandchildren, book clubs, reading, traveling, the Scottsdale Garden Club, and activities at her church. Carmen Herrick ’65 passed the Certified Public Accountant exam in 1989 and then worked in public accounting. In addition to obtaining a bachelor’s from Western State College of Colorado, she attended the University of Oslo and Elverum Folkehøgskule in Norway, which afforded her the opportunity to travel throughout Scandinavia. Among her favorite Augsburg memories are living with 11 other girls in Kappa House, and her wonderful business education teacher. Current interests include learning Norwegian, playing bridge, lap swimming, and Silver Sneakers exercise classes. She has six grandchildren. Fall 2015 33 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES REUNION 1965 Don Hoseth ’65 returned to Augsburg in 1971 to earn his elementary teaching degree and taught for 32 years in the Robbinsdale, Minnesota, School District. He has been retired for the past 12 years and keeps busy with his 12 grandchildren. He is grateful for the influence of numerous professors as well as longtime coaches Edor Nelson ’38 and Ed Saugestad ’59. Jan (Mattson) Johnson ’65 and husband, Tom, live in Alexandria, Minnesota, and enjoy seeing their five grandchildren when they visit the Twin Cities. The Johnsons lived in the Philippines for one year and in Maine for another while Tom was in the U.S. Air Force. As a student, Jan worked in Augsburg’s Admissions office for Donovan Lundeen, who had visited her home prior to her decision to attend Augsburg. She relishes memories of singing under the direction of Leland Sateren ’35 in the Augsburg Choir, and feels privileged to have traveled to Norway, Denmark, and Germany with the choir for five weeks after graduating. Jan’s current interests include choir, golfing, quilting, reading, and travel. For Charles McCaughan ’65, Professor Emeritus of History Donald Gustafson was the faculty member who most influenced him as a student. McCaughan lives in Bagley, Minnesota. Dennis Morreim ’65 transferred to Augsburg after three years at the University of Minnesota. He remembers his advisor working to have all of his credits accepted, and he went from being a sophomore to a junior in one day. Morreim met his wife, Jeanne (Wanner) Morreim ’66, during orientation week. She was working in The Grill. The couple has been married 50 years. Dennis earned his master’s degree in divinity and a doctorate of ministry degree. He served churches in Manitoba and Minnesota for 38 years. During his time serving in Cloquet, Minnesota, he went to Honduras 17 times and helped to build eight schools in the Central American country. He spends his time now as a part-time chaplain at a local hospital and nursing home in Cloquet. He also is chaplain of the Minnesota State Senate. Dwight Olson ’65 can still make a mean grilled Spam sandwich and great Swedish pancakes, but can’t lower his golf handicap. Olson lives in San Diego with his wife of 50 years, Lois (Monson) Olson ’68. He founded Data Securities International and is listed in Wikipedia as the “father of technology escrow.” He started Gamma Phi Omega at Augsburg and says that Phil Quanbeck, Sr. ’50, professor emeritus of religion, was his most influential faculty member. Dwight and Lois have two sons and four grandchildren. He says that Lois agreed to marry him the day before graduation so that his family could afford to attend both events. The Rev. Gary Olson ’65 and wife, Jean (Pfeifer) Olson ’64, reside in Maplewood, Minnesota. Gary spends his time in creative writing. He and Jean attend many school events for their three grandchildren. On occasion, he still preaches. Gary’s memories from his time at Augsburg include the day when he was walking to class and walked past a sleeping male student whose dorm mates put his bed, dresser, lamp, and chair on the Quad lawn. Gary says that Esther Olson, a theater and speech professor, influenced him most as a student. Pat (Steenson) Roback ’65 and her husband, Jim Roback ’62, feel blessed to have chosen Augsburg to get their teaching degrees and to have been surrounded by students and staff who got to know them and helped shape them as they chose their future paths. The faculty member who most influenced Pat was Martha Mattson, an elementary education faculty member. Pat recalls that, “She was an icon! What a wealth of information she was, and [she] knew so much about the world because she traveled and lived in many faraway places. She even had a few of us over to her apartment once to teach us tatting. She was very good at it, and we were not.” Pat thanks all of the 1965 reunion committee members for their dedication, ideas, time, and hard work to make plans for Homecoming. Larry Scholla ’65 and Muriel (Berg) Scholla ’67 live in Willmar, Minnesota, and winter in Naples, Florida, where they enjoy the beaches of Marco and Naples, as well as several biking trails. They have five grandchildren. Larry volunteers at Kandiyohi County Historical Society in Willmar, and enjoys doing carpentry and general maintenance. He treasures the memory of being part of the football and baseball teams, and is grateful for the influence of Ed Saugestad ’59, who taught a kinesiology class. Augsburg College alumni and a current student jumped aboard “The Hoopla Train with Yard Master Yip and his Polkastra” at multiple stops of the show’s Minnesota-based summer tour, which included performances in communities ranging from St. Cloud to New Ulm. The Auggies sang, danced, and acted in a Vaudeville-style production, using techniques honed on the stages of Augsburg College. Described as “Lawrence Welk meets Hee Haw,” the production was produced by Sod House Theater and spearheaded by actor and director Darcey Engen ’88, chair of Augsburg’s Theater Arts Department, and Luverne Seifert ’83, actor and senior teaching specialist at the University of Minnesota. The original show featured “acts performed by a touring cast with appearances by several Augsburg alumni friends along the way,” according to Engen. 34 Augsburg Now “We were thrilled to be performing with Auggies in historic ballrooms and other venues across Minnesota where live music and dancing originated and many of our parents fell in love.” Engen and Seifert secured four Augsburg theater alumni and one current student to perform, including Lisa (Pestka) Anderson ’86, David Deblieck ’88, Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82, Deb Pearson ’83, and Riley Parham ’18. Another Augsburg alumnus, Justin Caron ’13, assisted with costumes. For the alumni, participating in “The Hoopla Train” offered an opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends and to recall past Augsburg theater experiences. “Some of my happiest memories were made on the stage at Augsburg,” said Logan. “It was wonderful to be back together with some of the people who played a role in making them.” Photo credit: John Grones Augsburg alumni collaborate on touring theater production Darcey Engen ’88 and Luverne Seifert ’83 perform as Aunt Woo and Uncle Yahoo. ALUMNI CLASS NOTES The Rev. Clayton Skurdahl ’65 spent 40 years in ministry, primarily in Colorado and Nebraska. His current interests include jogging/walking, gardening, traveling, and serving as a visitation pastor. He treasures his memories of Augsburg chapel times and says he was most influenced by Mario Colacci, a faculty member in the Department of New Testament Greek and Latin. Skurdahl also would like to thank Joel Torstenson, professor emeritus of sociology. After David Swenson ’65 completed a master’s degree in physics at the University of Minnesota, he was hired by Honeywell Aerospace where he went on to meet his wife, Bonny. He spent seven years building and operating a space simulation chamber for testing radiometers that flew on satellites. In 1974, he left engineering and moved to Colorado where he partnered with Bonny’s father to run a bicycle store, which they owned for decades. Among his favorite memories at Augsburg are influential professors, Concert Band, the Basin Streeters Dixieland band, basketball, tennis, physics experiments, and times spent with good friends. He and Bonny live in Longmont, Colorado, and David still works part time in the bicycle shop he once owned. In his spare time, he enjoys bicycling, hiking, travel, and music. Loren Wiger ’65 is in his fifth decade of teaching science. Most of his years were at Marshall Middle School in Marshall, Minnesota. He currently teaches at Southwest Minnesota State University, where he works with teacher candidates and teaches science methods courses. He has many treasured memories from his time at Augsburg including dorm life, where Dan “Big Dan” Anderson ’65 was the model student-athlete. Wiger says he used the phone quite often to visit with his future wife, Ruth, who was becoming a registered nurse at Deaconess Hospital. 1968 The Rev. Mark Hanson ’68 this fall served as Augsburg College’s Special Assistant to the President for Mission and Identity, helping facilitate on-campus conversations regarding the ways in which the College’s Lutheran Christian heritage and identity remain relevant to its academic mission and activities. This spring, Hanson will become the executive director of the College’s Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation, working to ensure that the center fully embraces its commitment to the theological concept of vocation. 1972 Luther Bakken ’72 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a thrower on the men’s track and field team. His 50’ 9” outdoor shot put throw from 1972 remains a school record. Bakken also played football while at Augsburg. 1974 Accomplished high school wrestling coach Scot Davis ’74 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame this year in recognition of his collegiate wrestling career. He earned AllAmerican honors in 1973 for his sixth-place finish at the NAIA National Championships, among other accolades. Family ties to Augsburg’s history abound for Deborah (Fredrickson) Crawley ’76. See page 18. 1978 Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Paul Meissner ’78 is one of the top players in the history of Augsburg men’s basketball. He is one of only 18 players to score more than 1,000 career points and remains a top 5 rebounder with more than 725 career rebounds. He also holds the school record for games played, with 114. Bonnie (Lamon) Moren ’78, wife of Jonathan Moren ’78, retired in June after 37 years of teaching developmental adapted physical education to students with special needs in Bloomington, Minnesota, Public Schools. David Raether ’78 recently gave a TED Talk at TEDxAmherst on the campus of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Raether’s talk was based on his experience of homelessness after a successful career as an award-winning television comedy writer. The talk was derived from a widely praised essay he wrote called “What It’s Like to Fail” that was awarded Best Nonfiction of 2013 by Longform.org and cited as one of the best pieces of journalism in 2013 by The Atlantic magazine. The essay also was featured in the Times of London Sunday magazine. Raether lives and works in Berkeley, California. 1982 As of July 1, Scott Ludford ’82 is the senior pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Shawano, Wisconsin. 1987 Augsburg women’s basketball star Barb Blomberg ’87 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. She holds the fifth-highest career points total in program history with 1,023 points. Blomberg served as team captain in both basketball and volleyball. Paul Rensted ’87 was appointed Charles County, Maryland’s director of human resources in August. Rensted has experience in all aspects of human resources management and conflict resolution and previously served as the director of human resources for the city of Annapolis. Rensted is certified with the International Personnel Management Association for Human Resources. His other professional affiliations include the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights State Advisory Committee; County Conflict Resolution Center Board of Directors; Baltimore Community Center Board of Directors; Public Interest Organization Governing Board; and Advocates for Herring Bay. He received his undergraduate degree in international relations and East Asian studies, and a master’s degree in political science from the University of British Columbia. 1988 Brad Anderson ’88 received Augsburg’s Excellence in Coaching Award in recognition of his impressive career as a high school football coach. He won three Minnesota State 5A Championships and has been selected as class 5A “Coach of the Year” multiple times. He has coached several players who have gone on to NFL careers. After serving for four years as the assistant principal of Robbinsdale Armstrong High School in Plymouth, Minnesota, Brenda (Bauerly) Damiani ’88 joined Cambridge-Isanti Fall 2015 35 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES High School in Cambridge, Minnesota, as its new principal. She obtained a special education emotional behavioral disability license from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and multicultural education from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Damiani continued her education, earning a K-12 administrative license from Hamline University in St. Paul. She is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from Bethel University in St. Paul. After 24 years in the Pacific Northwest, Dan Wright ’88 has moved back to Minneapolis with his wife, Kristen Haglund, and their sons Johan and Bjorn. Wright works from home as senior applications engineer at Nike. 1992 In April 2015, Terri Burnor ’92 received her master’s degree in divinity with a concentration in women’s studies from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. In September, she began a 10-month ministerial internship at First Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland, Oregon. Mike Pfeffer ’92 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding career as a lightweight wrestler. In 1992, he earned both MIAC Champion and AllAmerican honors and was selected as Augsburg’s Men’s Honor Athlete. He also was the captain of the 1992 team. Sharol (Dascher) Tyra ’92, a professional certified in Life Illumination Coaching and the 2015 President of the ICF Minnesota Charter Chapter of the International Coach Federation, was a semi-finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year by the TwinWest (Plymouth, Minnesota) Chamber of Commerce 2015 Small Business Awards. Candidates were selected on the basis of a number of factors, including their business vision, community service, drive, and risk-taking. 1995 David Boie ’95 has been named athletic director at Richfield High School in Richfield, Minnesota. Boie spent 18 years teaching physics and chemistry at the school and 13 seasons as its head baseball coach. Jeff Kaeppe ’95 received recognition for his Augsburg football career with an induction into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Kaeppe was a twotime team MVP and holds the school record for the longest reception, a 90yard catch against St. Olaf College in 1992. Former men’s hockey player Peter Rutili ’95 was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. Rutili earned MIAC All-Conference honors in 1994 and 1995. He also was selected twice as the team MVP and received a Rookie of the Year honor. 1998 Kerri Kangas ’98 had an outstanding pitching career on the Auggie softball team, an accomplishment that earned her induction into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame. She holds career records for both games and innings pitched. She remains in the top 5 for career wins, strikeouts, shutouts, and fewest walks. Retired alumna Terry Marquardt ’98 worked as a temp in the Alumni, Family and Constituent Relations department leading up to Homecoming 2015. She retired from 3M in 2008 after 34 years of service. She and her husband, Gary Donahue, divide their time between homes in Minnesota and Arizona. Jennifer Chou ’99 shares her love of wine on page 10. 2000 Christopher McLeod ’00 has joined Connexions Loyalty Travel Solutions in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, as a technology director. The Rev. Sara Quigley Brown ’00 was ordained in 2008 and has switched denominational affiliation from the ELCA to Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, where she is serving as ordained and open to a call. She resides with her husband, Russell Brown, in Anchorage, Alaska. She works as a chaplain with the Alaska Police and Fire Ministries. Interim Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, City Manager Michael Sable ’00 is returning to Hennepin County to work as the director of facility services. Sable worked in the northern Twin Cities suburb for six years and spent most of his tenure as assistant city manager. In addition to the 24-story Government Center downtown, the facilities director oversees personnel matters and operations at numerous facilities countywide. Sable received an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He and his wife live in Minneapolis with their children. 2004 “Babylon the Great has Fallen,” a book by Franchel Patton ’04, was published in March 2014. In the story, President Obama and newly elected President Hillary Clinton meet God face-to-face in this fast-paced, present-day depiction of Revelations and current events. Wubitu Ayana Sima ’89, ’15 MBA is the owner of Lady Elegant’s Tea Shoppe, a British tea room and store in St. Paul’s St. Anthony Park neighborhood. Raised in western Ethiopia, Ayana Sima came to the United States to study in the mid-1980s, along with her two young sons. Since graduating, Ayana Sima has worked with the United Nations in Congo, Malawi, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe, and for the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa. Back in the U.S. again, something was missing in her life without school, and she enrolled in Augsburg’s MBA program. Her husband, Admasu Simeso, helps her manage the tea room. From the NOW@Augsburg blog. Visit augsburg.edu/alumni/blog to read more. 36 Augsburg Now REUNION 2005 Since graduating from Augsburg, Andrea (Ladda) Brown ’05 attended law school at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul and graduated in 2009. She works as an assistant public defender in Ramsey County and offices out of the Second Judicial District. She was most influenced by James Vela-McConnell, professor of sociology, and his course titled Race, Class, and Gender. She says she uses many of the basic principles from this class in her daily arguments to the court. She would also like to thank Garry Hesser, professor emeritus of sociology, Diane Pike, professor of sociology, and Tim Pippert, associate professor of sociology. Denise Fossen ’05 remembers singing in Masterworks Chorale and performing at Advent Vespers as two cherished memories from her time at Augsburg. She is most proud of receiving a master’s degree from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and becoming a grandmother for the first time. She would like to thank David Lapakko, associate professor of communication studies, and Peter Hendrickson ’76, associate professor of music, for their influences on her during her time at Augsburg. She’s also grateful for her classmates’ participation in discussions before, during, and after class. Since September 22, she has served as pastor at Christ Lutheran in Hendricks, Minnesota. Keme Hawkins ’05 was recognized with a First Decade Award at Augsburg’s Homecoming in October. She is a freelance writer, independent scholar, and yogi living in Atlanta. She received her master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her doctorate in English at Emory University in Atlanta. Studying and practicing various forms of divination and energy work continues to be a lifelong mission for her. Hawkins has completed her first screenplay, based on the lives of her parents; she is pitching the writing to producers. AUGGIE SNAPSHOTS 2001 Erica Huls ’01 visited Minneapolis-St. Paul for a few days in July and had a mini-reunion with some of her closest friends and former classmates who live in Minnesota. Auggies included: Huls, Amy Carlson ’02, Merry-Ellen (Krcil) Bryers ’01, Ann (Peterson) Fisher ’01, Jason Bryan-Wegner ’01, Erica Bryan-Wegner ’01, and Katie Koch ’01. 2003 Kristen Opalinski ’03 traveled to Turkey this summer on behalf of the Philadelphia-based Peace Islands Institute, a peacebuilding think tank founded in the Turkish Islamic tradition of Hizmet or “service.” Opalinski provided media support while conducting research on Sufism and feminism in relation to the 21st century Muslim world. After serving the ELCA in South Africa for 4 1/2 years, she’s now in her final year of studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. She hopes to return to international peacemaking or social justice work. Ishmael Israel ’05 is focused on community development. Israel left his position as executive director of the Northside Residents Redevelopment Council in April, and he now leads the Umoja Community Development Corporation. Those who influenced Sarah Lahr ’05 most at Augsburg were Curt Paulsen, professor emeritus of social work; her advisor Nancy Rodenborg, associate professor of social work; and Michael Schock, associate professor of social work. She also fondly remembers Merilee Klemp, associate professor of music, and Registrar’s Office staff members Wayne Kallestad and Linda and Toshimi Smith, who offered a positive work-study experience. She would most like to thank Paulsen for encouraging her to continue with a difficult internship because she still uses that experience to push herself through difficult tasks to promote growth. Lahr works full time at 2005 In August, five Auggies were among a team of 12 who ran 200 miles in less than 30 hours as part of the Ragnar Relay Series from Winona, Minnesota, to Minneapolis. Auggies included: Dan Vogel ’05, Clint Agar ’05, Paul Sanft ’05, Riley Conway ’05, and Andrea (Carlson) Conway ’05. Spring Fall 2015 2014 2014 37 17 ALUMNI CLASS NOTES the Wilder Foundation Caregiver Services Program as a care coordinator and part time as a social worker at United Hospital. Lucas Olson-Patterson ’05 helped to establish the Minneapolis Future Academic Ballers program in 2009 through the Neighborhood Youth Academy, a nonprofit organization that focuses on fostering achievement parity for underserved youth. The program combines academics and athletics through unique strategies to arm student athletes with the tools needed to succeed beyond the basketball court. After an outstanding career at Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota, Olson-Patterson went on to average 22 points per game at Augsburg from 2003-05 and was one of the top Division III players in the country. Faith (Durham) Perry ’05 says her most treasured memories from her Augsburg days are all the girls on seventh floor in Urness and trips to the bogs on Saturday mornings with Bill Capman, associate professor of biology. She was most influenced by faculty members Joan Kunz, associate professor of chemistry, and Dale Pederson ’70, associate professor of biology. Perry received a master’s degree in agricultural education and a certificate in sustainable community development. She works at General Mills as a sustainability analyst. She is married with two boys: Henry, 5, and Elliot, 3. Anna (Ferguson) Rendell ’05 is most proud of having her children, becoming a contributing author at incourage.me, being a mainstage speaker at the 2014 ELCA Extravaganza, and writing her first book titled, “A moment of Christmas: Daily devotions for the timestrapped mom.” Her treasured memories of Augsburg include being a resident assistant in Urness Hall her senior year, late nights with housemates in Anderson, FCA leadership 38 Augsburg Now meetings, the Norway band tour, working in the President’s Office for several years, and performing with the dance team at football games held in the Metrodome. Faculty members who influenced Rendell most were Bob Stacke ’71, professor emeritus of music, who she said always had faith in her and believed in her abilities and gifts, and Mark Tranvik, professor of religion, who poured himself into his students, making sure they were prepared for their real life vocations. Anna Warnes ’05 is a nurse practitioner at Crete Area Medical Center in Crete, Nebraska. Her fondest memories from her time at Augsburg include Advent Vespers, working in Admissions, and—of course—her lifelong friendships. The faculty member who was most influential to Warnes was Kathy Swanson, professor of English. She would like to thank Bob Cowgill, associate professor of English, for encouraging her to be passionate in her work and life. Warnes and husband, Nathan Erickson, have two children: Gustav, 5, and Knut, 2. 2006 Laya Theberge ’06 and her husband, Shomari O’Connor, welcomed a daughter, Nefertiti, in August. She joins sister Hatshepsut, 4, at home. 2011 The National Institute of Health recently published research conducted by Amanda (Symmes) Mofsen ’11, a former participant in Augsburg’s McNair Scholars Program. Mofsen joined the McNair program in 2010 and conducted research under the mentorship of Ken Winters, a psychiatry faculty member at the University of Minnesota. Mofsen’s work examined the association between Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and nicotine use among adolescents and young adults. Tom Wescott ’11 and his wife, Emily (Nelson) Wescott ’12, recently moved to Devils Lake, North Dakota, where Tom was called to serve Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Additionally, Tom and Nate Luong ’11 wrote an article for Word and World Theological Journal titled, “Coaching as a Model for Pastoral Leadership.” 2014 A research paper by Augsburg College Assistant Professor of Biology Matt Beckman and alumni Enrico Barrozo ’14 and David Fowler ’14 has been accepted for publication in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior. The paper is titled “Exposure to D2-like Dopamine Receptor Agonists Inhibits Swimming in Daphnia Magna.” The paper captured findings from the research team’s work during summer sessions and academic year terms, which was supported by Augsburg’s McNair Scholars Program and Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity. This is the first study that definitively identified a neurotransmitter receptor signaling pathway involved in Daphnia swimming and will help to establish Daphnia as a model organism in which to study movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease. Today, Barrozo is studying genetics in a doctoral program at the University of Florida, and Fowler works as a medical scribe in the Twin Cities while applying for medical school admission. Nakisha Davis ’14 has accepted a position with UCare as a transportation specialist. She hopes to attend graduate school in the next few years. Chad Johnson ’14, a two-time NCAA Division III national champion wrestler during his Augsburg career, placed second in the 125-kilogram (275.5-pound) weight class in the freestyle division at the USA Wrestling 2015 ASICS UWW University Nationals, held in June at the University of Akron. Johnson competed for the Minnesota Storm wrestling club. As a collegiate wrestler for the Auggies, Johnson was a four-time All-American, winning national titles in 2012 and 2013 at heavyweight, while finishing third in 2014 and seventh in 2011. Johnson completed his first year as an Augsburg assistant coach in 2014-15, helping to guide the Auggies to their record-12th NCAA Division III team national championship. Lauren Windhorst ’14 is working as a life enrichment assistant at an assisted living facility in Eagan, Minnesota. 2015 David Langemo ’15 would like to thank Frankie Shackelford, professor emerita of languages and crosscultural studies, for teaching him to speak Norwegian and Kevin Healy, former director of advancement services and prospect management, for allowing him to take the class. Langemo is very proud of this accomplishment. He works as an advancement systems specialist in the Institutional Advancement office at Augsburg. He and husband, Drew Schmidt, enjoy their pets Archie, Mali, Reggie, Stuart, and Trudy. GRADUATE PROGRAMS Tracy Keizer ’07 MPA is a physician assistant at an inpatient psychiatric intensive care unit at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. She also teaches Augsburg PA students as a guest lecturer during their didactic phase and as a preceptor during their clinical phases. Having emerged as a leader in the PA profession in Minnesota, she has testified at the State Capitol on a bill to increase access to outpatient mental health services. She was honored with the Presidential Award given by the Minnesota Academy of Physician Assistants. 2005 In 1998, Doris Acton ’10 MAN moved to Minnesota after completing a parish nurse training program through Concordia University. As a parish nurse, also known as a faith community nurse, she works at the 750-member Normandale Hylands Methodist Church in Bloomington, Minnesota. She has been a camp nurse on mission trips, and her mission work in 2004 took her to Sierra Leone, where she later helped start a clinic in collaboration with the Africa Uplifted organization. Casey Morris ’10 MPA is a board certified physician assistant in an urgent care center at Fairview Range Medical Center in Hibbing, Minnesota. Growing up in Ely, another city in Minnesota’s Iron Range, Morris developed a lifelong passion for the outdoors, particularly wilderness and remote medicine. She is a wilderness first responder and is certified by Advanced Wilderness Life Support. She is excited to now live closer to her hometown. Michael Grewe ’12 MSW, Augsburg’s director of LGBTQIA Support Services and assistant director of Campus Activities and Orientation, delivered a presentation titled, “Supporting Transgender Communities,” at a National Association of Social Workers Minnesota Chapter conference. System-Northland in Barron, Wisconsin, as a physician assistant. Homann previously worked as a nuclear medicine technologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Terrence Keller ’15 MPA joined Lake Region Healthcare in its urology department. Keller has a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and exercise science from Minnesota State UniversityMoorhead. He previously worked for Lake Region Healthcare as an athletic trainer and held athletic trainer positions at Augsburg College, Twin Cities Orthopedics, and Sanford Health. Graduate student editors Ashley Cardona ’15 MFA; Kevin Matuseski ’16 MFA; and Amanda Symes ’09, ’16 MFA helped publish the first book by Augsburg College’s Howling Bird Press. The press, housed in Augsburg’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, chose Marci Vogel’s manuscript, “At the Border of Wilshire & Nobody,” as the winner of the 2015 Howling Bird Press poetry prize. AUGGIES HONORED Dr. Amit Ghosh ’13 MBA, a Mayo Clinic physician, submitted a research study paper for publication with Augsburg College co-authors and faculty members Dave Conrad, associate professor of business, and Marc Isaacson, assistant professor of business. The paper, “Employee Motivation Factors: A Comparative Study of the Perceptions between Physicians and Physician Leaders,” was accepted for publication in the International Journal of Leadership in Public Services. Professor Emeritus of Physics Mark Engebretson was honored with a Spirit of Augsburg Award at Homecoming, recognizing his years as an active teacher-scholar, innovative courses, pioneering research on Earth’s space environment, and mentorship of nearly 100 undergraduate research students. Meghan Peyton ’14 MAL, who served as interim head coach for the Augsburg College men’s and women’s cross-country teams in 2014, has assumed head coaching duties on a permanent basis. Peyton has been a part of the Augsburg cross-country and track and field coaching staffs since 2010, and she will continue serving as an assistant coach for the track and field teams. Tom Witschen was recognized with a Distinguished Athletic Service Award at this year’s Homecoming for his nearly 20 years serving as the “Voice of the Auggies,” broadcasting Augsburg baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and volleyball over the air and online. Karlie Homann ’15 MPA joined the family medicine team at Mayo Clinic Health Maureen (Parker) Marradino ’05 fondly remembers participating in the Augsburg Choir, attending chapel services, being a resident assistant, singing at a few Auggies’ weddings, touring Seattle with the orchestra, performing at her voice recital and the recitals of many close friends, and celebrating graduation day. She would like to thank the students and professors who walked through all the tough courses with her. “We did this together, and it was a pleasure getting to know all of you and building four years of personal development with you. Your talents, passions, and spirits filled me and helped me grow as an individual and ultimately a working professional. Thank you!” Marradino said. “Auggies: Don’t forget where you’ve come from. Allow your past experiences (including your Augsburg degree) to shape your future. God bless you all.” 2010 Congratulations to Molly (Ehling) Conover ’10 and Ted Conover ’11 on their July wedding. [L to R]: Hannah Ehling ’15, Becky Ehling, Ted, Molly, Tim Ehling, and Abbey Ehling ’12. 2015 Taylor Kuramoto ’15 has been selected to serve as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in South Korea for the 2015-16 academic year. Fulbright receives thousands of applications each year, and Kuramoto was selected by both U.S. and South Korean committees. In her time outside of the classroom, Kuramoto plans to create English talking circles like those she participated in at the local Jane Addams School for Democracy as an Augsburg College Bonner Leader. She also hopes to use her experience as an Auggie soccer player to connect with students and peers who also enjoy the sport. Spring Fall 2015 2014 2014 39 17 37 In memoriam Alice M. (Norby) Digre ’40, St. Paul, age 98, on July 5. Florence L. (Borstad) Hiepler ’42, Camarillo, California, age 94, on August 21. LaVonne P. (Peterson) Volz ’44, Blue Earth, Minnesota, age 93, on August 14. Clara L. (Gudim) Jacobson ’45, Fairbury, Nebraska, age 92, on August 12. Marvin B. Johnson ’49, North Branch, Minnesota, age 88, on June 8. Maynard H. Kragthorpe ’49, Quilcene, Washington, age 92, on April 26. Donna M. (Tjornhom) Tverberg ’49, Ottertail, Minnesota, age 88, on July 20. George Capetz ’50, Minneapolis, age 91, on May 30. Stephen L. Engelstad ’51, St. Ansgar, Iowa, age 95, on July 23. Arden G. Wahlberg ’58, Mounds View, Minnesota, age 80, on June 18. Ann L. (Holmberg) Wilson ’80, Bronx, New York, age 57, on August 4. Daniel W. Pearson ’51, Minneapolis, age 86, on August 19. Kermit L. Kvamme ’60, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 77, on August 16. John C. Nichols ’82, Minneapolis, age 55, on April 28. Morris “Moe” M. Johnson ’52, St. Paul, age 86, on June 2. Larry F. Torgerson ’60, O’Fallon, Missouri, age 76, on June 2 Joyce K. Cleland ’86, Livingston, Montana, age 65, on July 19. Kenneth A. Kotval ’52, Morgan, Minnesota, age 85, on August 4. Russell A. Dudero ’61, Oakdale, Minnesota, age 77, on December 24, 2014. Tammy L. Schmitt ’92, Minneapolis, age 45, June 2. Roger M. Nelson ’52, Albert Lea, Minnesota, age 84, on May 29. LaVon F. (Moderow) Belanger ’53, Elk River, Minnesota, age 84, on May 22. Donald J. Bennethum ’53, Columbia Heights, Minnesota, age 87, on May 22. Robert W. Jakobitz ’53, Stewart, Minnesota, age 83, on August 7. Donald L. Hoplin ’50, Glenwood, Minnesota, age 93, on August 4. Corinne L. (Rethwill) Tiegs ’53, Ortonville, Minnesota, age 83, on June 6. Roger “Bud” K. Leak ’50, Excelsior, Minnesota, age 88, on August 1. Thomas “Tom” I. Benson ’56, Bella Vista, Arkansas, age 81, on May 16. Gordon J. Oberg ’50, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 89, on June 2. J. Sherman Boraas ’56, Waconia, Minnesota, age 86, on May 14. Marion R. Roe ’50, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 91, on July 13. Joanne M. (Luttmann) Gulla ’57, Portland, Oregon, age 79, on June 19. Helen E. (Green) Seline ’50, Appleton, Wisconsin, age 87, on August 28. L. Dwayne Thorson ’50, Smethport, Pennsylvania, age 91, on May 17. 40 Augsburg Now Sara “Sally” A. Duhrkopf ’61, Waterloo, Iowa, age 77, on June 28. Jeanette C. (Steiger) Nichols ’61, Roscoe, Illinois, age 76, on June 30. Ronald G. Moritz ’63, Estherville, Iowa, age 78, on August 23. Diane E. (Foshaug) Krogen ’65, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, age 73, on May 10. Lois M. Kalmoe ’70, Minneapolis, age 85, on May 30. Robert “Bob” E. Kanne ’71, Lake Elmo, Minnesota, age 67, on October 4, 2014. Carla M. (Beyer) Viseth ’71, Fargo, North Dakota, age 64, on June 9. John S. Ryden ’57, Hopkins, Minnesota, age 85, on August 1. JoAnn (Berg) Bablitch ’73, Minneapolis, age 65, on May 25. Janice Y. (Johnson) Joul ’58, Jackson, Minnesota, age 79, on June 29. Geri (Mills) Bjork ’77, St. Paul, age 60, on July 17. Jennine “Jeni” O. (Hugo) Heid ’93, Elk River, Minnesota, age 49, on July 5. Estellene A. (St. John) Zephier ’93, Wagner, South Dakota, age 56, on May 21. Mary L. (Oliva) Asche ’95, Circle Pines, Minnesota, age 61, on August 3. Linda “Lin” J. Faddler ’96, Oakdale, Minnesota, age 65, on July 18. Nicholas “Nick” L. White ’09, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 33, on June 8. Gregory A. Chubb ’10, Hopkins, Minnesota, age 35, on June 30. Louis C. Branca ’15 MFA, Minneapolis, age 81, on August 30. Abdulkadir Farah ’16 MAE, Minneapolis, age 58, on June 4. The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before September 8. Connie, Michelle ’15, Lauren ’12, and Lyle Grafelman at Commencement 2015. One More Reason to PASS DOWN THE AUGGIE TRADITION Discounted Tuition with the Augsburg Legacy Scholarship The Augsburg Legacy Scholarship recognizes traditional undergraduate students who are children or spouses of Augsburg graduates, siblings of current Augsburg students, and children or spouses of current Lutheran pastors. Legacy students enrolling for the fall 2016 term receive a minimum award of $13,000 per year upon admission to the College. augsburg.edu/firstyear/scholarships 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis, MN 55454 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Twin Cities, MN Permit No. 2031 An extraordinary welcome for an unprecedented incoming class Following tradition, the 2015-16 academic year kicked off with an Opening Convocation celebration where the Augsburg College community greeted incoming students and introduced them to facets of their new Auggie identity. A record 478 first-year, traditional undergraduate students arrived on campus this fall, and a talk by Associate Professor of Chemistry Joan Kunz highlighted “The five essential elements of an Augsburg education” with both flair and flare. Kunz is the most recent recipient of the College’s Excellence in Teaching award.
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