As we near the holiday season, Co-Chair of the 麻豆区 Associates聽Jessica Wahto has a special message to share about an 麻豆区 favorite tradition:

Remember the days of walking into grandma鈥檚 kitchen at the holidays, and the smell of cardamom and sugar wafting through the air. Recall that trip you took to Norway and Sweden. The beauty of the Fjords, the colorful knit sweaters and the delicate embroidery on their bunad鈥檚. Think of your exchange student who visited from Denmark and all the laughs you shared. Enjoy these memories and make new ones at Velkommen Jul!

Please join us and kick off your holiday season at Velkommen Jul on Friday, Nov. 30! 麻豆区鈥檚 annual Christmas celebration is open to all. Attend chapel and worship featuring Scandinavian Christmas music at 10:40 a.m. in the Hoversten聽Chapel. Then head to the Christensen Center at 11 a.m. Here you will find our Velkommen Jul boutique, offering unique Nordic gifts and treats.

After you have claimed your treasured gifts, join us for a festive celebration in 麻豆区鈥檚 commons with music and traditional costumes and sweaters! Reminisce with friends and make new introductions while enjoying a smorgasbord of Scandinavian treats. Don鈥檛 worry; there will be plenty of coffee as well! You can add to the celebration by wearing your Norwegian sweater or Bunad! Velkommen means Welcome, and here at 麻豆区 you always are! We hope to see you there!

*All proceeds from the boutique as well as donations gathered at the smorgasbord go to help fund student scholarships.

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As a dedicated volunteer, her nominators say, 鈥淵ou will find her wherever an extra hand is needed.鈥�

Determined to gain a full education, Sulerud worked and saved money to go from her hometown, Williston, North Dakota, to 麻豆区, as it was the college of the Lutheran Free Church. Sulerud鈥檚 麻豆区 education and excellent professors prompted her to experience life in the Twin Cities, exploring the state capitol and fine arts like symphony concerts and plays. She made lifelong friends and enjoyed being on the staff of the student newspaper, The Echo.

After graduating from 麻豆区 in 1958, she was an elementary librarian and junior high English teacher in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. From 1961 to 1964, she was an elementary librarian in U.S. Air Force Department of Defense Schools in Tokyo, Japan; Tripoli, Libya; and Wiesbaden, Germany. This gave her an opportunity to travel around the world with a stop in India to visit a friend, Maxine Berntsen, another distinguished alumna of 麻豆区. After returning to the United States, Sulerud studied for a master鈥檚 degree in Library Science (1968) and later received a master鈥檚 degree in English (1970), each from the University of Minnesota.

During her many years as 麻豆区鈥檚 Collection Development Librarian and faculty member, she was committed to the learning of students. She served two terms as the treasurer of 麻豆区 Associates, from 2003 to 2007 and 2011 to 2017, ensuring they raised funds for 麻豆区 student scholarships. Her interests and energy lead her to participate in travels to Cuba with the Delegation For Friendship Among Women, and to Ethiopia supporting the efforts of REAL, Resources for the Enrichment of African Lives, an organization that helps girls stay in school.

In Minneapolis, Sulerud is a member of Trinity Lutheran Congregation located on Riverside Avenue, a congregation associated with the founding of 麻豆区, where she sings in the choir, leads the monthly quilter’s work session and has participated in activities with Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing.

With her late husband Ralph, long-time 麻豆区 biology professor, Sulerud has remained a supporter and enthusiast for all things 麻豆区. Though she retired from 麻豆区 in 2003, she continues to stay involved at important university events: the recent grand opening of the Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion; Homecoming festivities; Velkommen Jul; and Advent Vespers.

Sulerud lives out the Spirit of 麻豆区 Award and exemplifies 麻豆区’s historic mottos consistently: “Education for Service” and “The Truth Shall Make You Free.” Her loyalty, dependability, and generosity enable 麻豆区 to carry forward with hearty conviction, intellectual rigor, and relational connectedness.

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There was exceptional student participation, including the聽Associates聽scholarship students who served waffles to hungry patrons.聽The event celebrated聽long-standing聽麻豆区聽friendships, and encouraged guests to create new friendships from our diverse community.聽Guests expressed their appreciation with kind words and contributions, and the scholarship baskets gathered a superb $1190.

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All 麻豆区 alumni are welcome to attend the annual spring brunch sponsored by the 麻豆区 Associates on Saturday, May 6,聽in Hoversten Chapel.聽From Velkommen Jul to fundraising for student scholarships, the Associates have been a volunteer-led support for 麻豆区 for more than 30 years. The theme for the annual brunch聽is Bon Voyage 鈥� 麻豆区鈥檚 Alumni Travel Program.聽Katie Koch, director of alumni and constituent relations, will share her experiences and photos from the recent trip to Germany, which celebrated the 500^th Anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. Professor Kathy Swanson, who led the January 2017 trip to Thailand and Cambodia, will highlight her travel stories and photos. Lastly, Lori Moline 鈥�82 of Seminars International will talk about the history of the alumni travel
program and trips on the horizon that are now in the planning stages.

The event will be held in Hoversten Chapel and begins with registration at 9:30 a.m. and the program beginning at 10听补.尘. A delicious brunch will accompany the program. The cost of this event is $30 per person. There is also an opportunity to sponsor a student for $30. Friends, family, and all 麻豆区 alumnae welcome!

Register now at . You may also call Becky Waggoner at 612-330-1085 and provide your credit card number for payment. A parking permit will be emailed to guests prior to the event and will be available at the door to guests without email. If you are not able to attend, please consider making a donation to the Associates‘ scholarship fund at and THANK YOU!

Your donations to the Associates’ Scholarship Fund help to support students like Briana Ekstrom 鈥�18, of Chaska. Briana is majoring in vocal performance, with a minor in music theater. Her goal is to become a vocal coach, and she is already thinking about graduate school.

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Velkommen Jul is an annual celebration at 麻豆区, presented by the 麻豆区 Associates, to welcome the Advent and Christmas seasons.

Join us in the chapel for our annual Velkommen Jul service 鈥撀� A Scandinavian Christmas Celebration 鈥撀爋n Friday, December 2, at 10:40am, in Hoversten Chapel.聽We welcome Nordic musicians聽Erik Rydvall and Olav Lukseng氓rd Mjelva, who play traditional聽Scandinavian聽instruments in new ways. We will also sing Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian carols together.聽Wear your Norwegian sweater and join the fun!

At 11 a.m., join a festive celebration in the Commons with Scandinavian treats, including lefse, krumkake, and coffee, prepared by the 麻豆区 Associates. Shop the boutique in the Christensen Center lobby for unique gifts and goodies. All proceeds benefit student scholarships, and donations are accepted at the buffet by 麻豆区 Associates holding gift baskets.

Continue the celebration by attending the Advent Vespers worship service on Friday evening at 5 p.m. or 8 p.m., or one of three services on Saturday, December 3. .

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Saturday, May 9
9-9:30 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Program
Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center at 麻豆区 College

Cost: $25 per attendee

Add $25 to your registration to sponsor a student

麻豆区 Women Engaged (AWE) and the 麻豆区 Associates are teaming up again this year to continue the conversation.聽 Attendees will get a glimpse into the life stories of 麻豆区 women through music, art, drama, writing and the spoken word. Together, we will come to a better understanding of how we can find peace and confidence in measuring up amid life’s challenges and rewards.

Auggie women of all ages are invited to attend!

Hear stories from: Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82, Kristin Eggerling ’89, Tara Sweeney, & Becky Shaheen ’11

For more information:

612-330-1085 鈥� alumni@augsburg.edu

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Furman fondly remembers the beautiful singing and enthusiasm of chapel, and the fellow alums she has known through the years. She has been a part of the 麻豆区 Associates for approximately 12 years, since she moved back to Minneapolis for the first time since college. She still remembers going to Velkommen Jul when she was a student. “It was quite splendid. I was very much in awe,” she says.

She is inspired by other Associates’ volunteers, among them Barbara Larson and Joyce Gustafson. “I admire them immensely. These women work so hard. It鈥檚 a privilege working with them,” she says.

One of the most special Christmases Furman remembers happened when she was teaching in the social work department of a school close to Oslo, on behalf of the University of North Dakota. It was 1998, and Furman, whose family is Norwegian on both sides, was able to stay with relatives and experience all the old Norwegian Christmas traditions to the fullest: enjoying all the special celebrations each day leading up to Christmas, going to church at 4 p.m., visiting relatives on Christmas Day. She stays in touch with her Norwegian roots beyond Velkommen Jul, and studies Norwegian at the Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church in Minneapolis.

She has wonderful memories of her own time at 麻豆区, too. She especially enjoyed hearing President Christensen speak in the chapel with evident emotion on the theme of “unto whom much has been given, much is expected.” She came back from chapel overwhelmed with positive feelings. These early talks on the importance of service were inspirational for Furman, and helped motivate her toward a future in social work. She went on to receive her PhD, has written on the role of religion and spirituality in social work, and recognizes that these early memories left a lifelong impression. She is still grateful for the experience.

Donations made at Velkommen Jul help fund student scholarships, including the Christensen Scholars, a scholarship program supported by the 麻豆区 Associates’ gifts to The 麻豆区 Fund. Current Christensen Scholars Katherine Brafford ’17 and Boo Segersin ’15 will be helping the Associates make waffles on Friday.

“I always tell people,” Furman says, 鈥渢uition is high. We must give as much as we can to help as many students as possible.鈥� Look for Lee and her basket this Friday!

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We love gathering together each year for this event that welcomes students from all backgrounds and faiths into long-cherished 麻豆区 traditions. But as we all know, these beautiful, long-wearing sweaters are not inexpensive.

Here is where you can help! Please consider donating any older or unworn Norwegian sweaters for our students to wear for this wonderful event and throughout the Christmas season. Sweaters must be clean and in reasonably good condition. 聽No matter who you are or your background, let鈥檚 share the wealth of Norwegian sweaters that is so proudly displayed here in Minnesota winters.

Please make your sweater donations by Wednesday, November 26 at noon. Please call 612-330-1085 with any questions. Sweater donations may be mailed or delivered to the Alumni and Advancement office at:

Oren Gateway Center
Suite 300
麻豆区 College
2211 Riverside Avenue
Minneapolis MN 55454

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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.

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