Homecoming Week kicked off with the third annual Maroon & Silver Society reception on Tuesday, September 23, in the Arnold Atrium of Hoversten Chapel. The Maroon & Silver Society recognizes donors who give generously to the College鈥檚 annual fund, The 麻豆区 Fund, with gifts of $1,000 or more each year.
Continue reading “Maroon & Silver Society Reception Celebrates Record Growth”
Urban High School Scrubs Camp 2014 celebrated its 5th year with 89 students, a 39% increase from 2013. Students learned about many different careers in the health sciences.
Scrubs Camp is hosted at 麻豆区 College, giving students the opportunity to experience daily campus life and learn about the college application process. More than 70% of the students attended camp on a scholarship.聽聽 Camp costs $430 for a 5-day, day camp experience. Funding from Boston Scientific provided full scholarships for 22 students.
Campers chose from over twenty different offered workshop sessions, attended four field trips, and actively participated in hands-on medical scenarios on the simulation bus. Courses included concepts of engineering, physical therapy, physician assistants, mental health speakers, biomedical technology, herbal medicine and more.
Support from Boston Scientific has greatly influenced the growth and impact of Urban Scrubs Camp. More than 300 students have participated in Scrubs Camp since its pilot year at 麻豆区 College. Students consistently reflect that it facilitates a greater understanding of the college application process and provides effective health care profession career readiness. Ninety-eight percent of students who attended camp this year reported that spending time on campus helped them better understand and visualize themselves at college and 99 percent reported overall satisfaction with their camp experience.
The 麻豆区 Associates celebrate 30 years of fundraising and fellowship during Wednesday of Homecoming week with their annual meeting and afternoon tea. Mistress of Ceremonies Marty Stortz, Bernhard M. Christensen Professor of Religion & Vocation, will speak on the theme of 鈥淲omen Who Serve.鈥� The event is open to all.
麻豆区 Associates, 90 members strong, serve the college and the people they assist by hosting estate sales. For their efforts in organizing, cleaning, pricing, and selling the household items, the Associates receive one-third of the sale proceeds. With three to six sales per year, they generate good will and resources, while raising funds to provide scholarships to 麻豆区 students.
In addition to the funds raised through estate sales and Associate membership fees, the Associates raise funds by annually hosting the Velkommen Jul brunch and Scandinavian boutique the first weekend in Advent, as well as a tea in the spring.
In 1996, the Associates set up an endowed scholarship fund. Earnings from the endowment provide a scholarship each year, and additional dollars raised throughout the year sponsor the Christensen Scholars.
Associates are graduates and/or friends of the College who may be family members of graduates, faculty, or staff, or who are simply impressed by the spirit of giving and want to be a part of it.
Social time begins on Wednesday, September 24, at 1:30 p.m., followed by the annual business meeting and afternoon tea at 2 p.m. in Hoversten Chapel and Arnold Atrium. Register for this event on the Homecoming Registration page by Sept. 12.
We want to see Traveling Auggie at home, work, and at play!
Print and cut out Traveling Auggie and take him with you wherever you go, snapping photos of him along the way in funny, creative, or just everyday situations. Then, share your adventures on social media with #TravelingAuggie.
Simply…
1. Print
2. Cut
3. Photograph
4. Share with #TravelingAuggie
Happy Traveling!
The 42nd Annual Pride Festival was held this past weekend, June 28-29, 2014. This year, 麻豆区 College hosted a booth at the festival, current students, alumni, parents, and friends of the College were all encouraged to stop by the table to learn about 麻豆区 College and life in the city. Those聽who stopped by the booth received a pair of 麻豆区 College sunglasses in addition to other Auggie “swag”.
Yesterday, the 麻豆区 College A-Club hosted the 50th annual Clair Strommen A-Club golf tournament at the Oak Glen Country Club located in Stillwater, Minnesota. Over 125 Auggies showed up in support of 麻豆区 College student athletes and the A-Club.
麻豆区 alumnus Ross Murray ’00 recently attended the inaugural White House Forum on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights. Ross currently serves as the Director of News for GLAAD, a non-profit聽media advocacy organization for the LGBT community. Murray has also been listed by Mashable as聽one of 10 LGBT Rights Activists to follow on Twitter.聽Following the visit to the White House, we caught up, to ask Murray a few questions.
About Ross
Through my advocacy as Director of News at GLAAD, the nation’s media advocacy organization for the LGBT community, I spend a lot of time sharing the stories of a wide range of LGBT people. One of those areas has been labeled Global Voices, a program that shares the stories of people all around the globe advocating on behalf of LGBT causes, in addition to building media attention around the draconian anti-gay laws in places like Uganda, Russia, and Nigeria.
How did your invitation to the White House Forum on LGBT Human Rights come about?
The White House used the fact that June is celebrated as Pride Month, to hold a convening on LGBT and international human rights. I was invited, along with leaders from the nonprofit, advocacy, corporate, and international community. We listened to Ambassador Susan Rice and notable guests describe what the Obama administration is doing to advance LGBT and human rights abroad. We also participated in panels and breakouts to tell the administration what other steps are needed.
How did you prepare for this event?
My preparation was mainly my background working on LGBT issues globally. I felt good that I was aware of all the steps that the U.S. has taken, and what actions our leaders are still considering. I also thought that the most valuable part was listening to the LGBT advocates from Uganda, Kenya, Russia, Argentina, and China.聽In fact, one LGBT leader, whose work I have admired for so long, made the most memorable statement in a breakout session: “If Obama says that Uganda should not persecute gay people, then it will be seen as Western imperialism. But if celebrities like Christian Renaldo, Jay-Z, or Rihanna say the same thing, then the young people will follow what they say.”
How did your education at 麻豆区 College prepare you for your role at GLAAD?
My passion for advocacy really was sparked in my time at 麻豆区 College. My undergraduate degree in Youth & Family Ministry has been a foundation for the work that I do. I resisted being an advocate, but my time with faculty like Doug Green, Janelle Bussert, Mark Tranvik, Robert Groven, and Pastor Sonja Hagander really helped me integrate my learning and apply it out in the wider world. Then, later, when I did my MBA at 麻豆区, I learned to think strategically and act smartly.
What advice would you give to current Auggies about advocacy work?
麻豆区 already puts a great emphasis on engagement with the community and the world. I think that Auggies need to look inside themselves to see where that passion lies…where they are called in the world. It takes time, and no one can do it alone. I’ve been blessed to be able to follow my passion, and I encourage others to find ways that they can help make the world better for others.
For the first time – 麻豆区 Associates and 麻豆区 Women Engaged (AWE) came together to launch an intergenerational event for Auggie women – alumnae and friends!
Author, speaker and former KARE 11 and HGTV personality Joan Steffend spoke with more than 100 Auggie women on campus on Saturday, May 17 to explore how women handle life鈥檚 many gripping expectations.
During Steffend鈥檚 keynote address she said she spent her first 50 years of life trying to measure up to the expectations of others at the expense of inner peace.
As a young child, the red-headed, Cambridge, Minn.-native enjoyed reading, imagining and performing, but felt guilty for not being like others. She often felt lonely and looked for ways to capture the love and attention of even those closest to her.
She studied with Warner Brothers, got married, had children, was a local- and cable-TV personality, and bought a cabin, but still didn鈥檛 feel like she was measuring up. She felt an unsettling lack of joy.
Steffend finally had a paradigm shift at age 50 after her only sister passed away from cancer. The gut-wrenching loss helped Steffend put her own life in perspective. She realized she had spent her whole life ignoring her true self and that she was ultimately responsible for her inner peace.
Steffend, now a 58-year-old author and speaker, said she doesn鈥檛 spend time apologizing for who she is anymore.
鈥淚 have my own ruler,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd I am measuring up!鈥�
Steffend鈥檚 keynote address was accompanied by inspirational musical performances from alumnae Laura Schmidt 鈥�11 and Becky Shaheen 鈥�11 and thought-provoking comedy performances from the writers and actresses of 鈥�2 Sugars, Room for Cream,鈥� Carolyn Pool ’91 and Shanan Custer.
Steffend’s story was used to kick off the table conversations where participants answered specific questions about their life’s journey so far. Attendees engaged in multi-generational small-group discussions, facilitated by alumnae table hosts, about the challenges and victories of measuring up to their own expectations and those of others.
鈥淚t was a great event to reflect on whether I am internalizing social expectations or I am living and being myself,鈥� said one attendee.
Other attendees raved about the wonderful variety of women with whom they had a chance to ineract.
鈥淸It was] so great to speak with other women from different walks of life,鈥� said another attendee.
The inspirational morning was rounded out by an alumnae panel involving author, teacher and social worker Lee Furman ’61; Minnesota鈥檚 first Native American lesbian legislator Susan Allen ’92; and Vietnamese immigrant Tina Nguyen ’08. The three panelists spoke about building their faith and confidence to defy the odds of succeeding in cultures very different from their own. It concluded with meaningful reflection from Abigail Crampton Pribbenow who shared her own perspective of how she feels she is measuring up.
The “Am I Measuring Up?” event was a collaboration between the AWE Advisory Board, the 麻豆区 Associates Board and more than two dozen Auggie volunteers. The two boards look forward to collaborating more to provide Auggie women the opportunity to connect, learn and give.
麻豆区 College had 1,054 State Grant recipients on campus this past academic year鈥攖hat was 34 percent of all 麻豆区 undergraduates. In total, 麻豆区 students received more than $3.4 million in State Grant awards.聽 In support of this program, which bridges the gap between loans, scholarships and other aid, 12 students attended the Day at the Capitol for State Grant advocacy.聽 These students met with Representative Phyllis Kahn and Senator Greg Clausen 鈥�74 for a networking breakfast in the morning, and spoke with over 24 legislators throughout the day.
Yeng Vang 鈥�14 describes how the state grant program helped him attend 麻豆区, 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be here if not for grants and scholarships. Things like the State Grant allow you the opportunity to go to college, opening the door to future possibilities.鈥�
If you are interested in showing your support of the state grant program,聽 to receive occasional email updates, newsletters and action alerts on important issues facing state and federal financial aid in Minnesota.
Are you interested in contributing to research on healthy aging?聽 The Psychology Department鈥檚 aging lab is looking for participants, aged 60 鈥� 80, to take part in paid, on-campus research on a variety of psychological issues such as memory, attention, and decision making.
Our research lab was created three years ago with the goal of investigating normal, age-related changes in thinking and behavior.聽 Given the demographic changes in our country due to increases in longevity, studies on the cognitive abilities of older adults are becoming a vital part of psychological research.聽 Our primary goals in researching cognitive changes in older adulthood is to help shape public policy, dispel stereotypes, and identify ways to make our 鈥済olden years鈥� the very best they can be.
Besides contributing to the larger scientific research community, we also focus on training the next generation of student researchers.聽 Our undergraduate student researchers collaborate closely with faculty to address unanswered questions in the field.聽 Our students have presented their findings at local conferences, and some have already gone on to work in the field after graduation. Students frequently say that meeting with participants is one of the most enjoyable experiences of their time on campus!
To produce quality research and positive learning experiences for our undergraduates we need people who are interested in contributing their time and effort to a worthwhile cause. Most of our experiments take less than an hour to complete. You are paid for your time, and parking on campus is free to our participants. The results of your participation are always kept in strict confidence, and we have detailed procedures for ethical and responsible conduct in experimental research. Before you agree to participate in any individual study, we make sure to inform you of the nature of the tasks you would be doing, and any potential benefits or risks to participating. You are always free to cease participating at any time.
If you, or anyone else you know, is interested in finding out more information, please contact Dr. Ben Denkinger at denkinge@augsburg.edu, 612/330-1172, or our lab e-mail at augsburgaginglab@gmail.com. We will respond with answers to any of your questions, as well as details about how to get signed up for experiments starting this fall.
