augsburg giving Archives - Giving to 麻豆区

TJ Bramwell 鈥�03 Aids the Next Generation

Posted on February 24, 2023February 24, 2023

Dr. TJ Bramwell 鈥�03, a biology major, has native roots in Tomah, WI, but when he chose to attend 麻豆区, he was not unfamiliar with the area. Bramwell鈥檚 father, Thomas D. Bramwell 鈥�78, also graduated from 麻豆区.

He recalled his parents and grandparents watching him play running back for the Auggie football team throughout his four years of college.

鈥淧art of my interest in joining the football team was that it was right after 麻豆区 won the conference title,鈥� Dr. Bramwell said. 鈥淭hat excited me, as well as the academics.鈥�

His interest in science, specifically biology, emerged during middle school, developing further in high school, and culminated with his time in the classroom and on the football field at 麻豆区.

鈥淏eing on the football team and seeing people get hurt, treated, and being able to come back and play again helped me realize that I wanted to be a doctor,鈥� Dr. Bramwell said. 鈥淚t helped me identify my ultimate goal of being an orthopedic surgeon and helping people.鈥�

He went on to do a few years of research at the Hennepin County Medical Center before getting accepted to medical school at Des Moines University and eventually completing a five-year orthopedic residency at Ohio University/Doctors Hospital, a journey that took nearly 15 years.

鈥淎 lot of what shaped my journey at 麻豆区 is the relationships I formed with my professors, specifically in the biology department,鈥� Dr. Bramwell said. 鈥淭hey helped me navigate the waters of constructing a resume and getting into summer research programs, things that are so important and at the heart of URGO.鈥�

Twenty years ago, when Dr. Bramwell attended 麻豆区, URGO (Office of Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity) did not exist. Now, URGO connects students with both new and existing research and scholarship opportunities on campus, across the U.S., and internationally.听

Dr. Bramwell said he gives to URGO because he wants to ensure students have the support they need to succeed, whether that鈥檚 MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) practice tests, study materials, or other contributions that will aid the next generation of medical professionals, and you can too.

Learn more and get involved.

Bruce 鈥�71 and Pam Santerre Believe in Second Chances

Posted on February 2, 2023

Bruce 鈥�71 and Pam Santerre believe in second chances, leading them to help others who want to evolve, and that鈥檚 why they give to the StepUP Program at 麻豆区.

Bruce, a biology and education major, said growing up in northern Minnesota he felt like there were few career paths if he stayed, but he had other plans.听听

Upon visiting 麻豆区, Bruce like many 鈥淎uggies鈥� fell in love with the campus and city life. He would go on to enroll at the university and join the football team, playing for four years while finishing his studies.

Unlike Bruce, Pam, an English major, was native to the cities. She lived in South Minneapolis, knew people who attended 麻豆区, and her church had an affiliation with the school.

Pam said she knew she wanted to go to college, but at the time there weren鈥檛 many career opportunities for women. However, Pam would find her opportunity at 麻豆区 and work for a number of organizations while putting herself through school.

鈥淲e [Bruce and her] formed many lifelong friendships at 麻豆区,鈥� Pam said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just one of the reasons why 麻豆区 is at the forefront of our minds鈥� when it comes to giving back.鈥�

The Santerres met at 麻豆区 and were married shortly after Bruce graduated. Six weeks later, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for National Guard training.听

When he arrived back in Minnesota, Bruce began teaching as a substitute teacher for the Minneapolis school system. And Pam was working at the Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent, which started her longtime career in information technology.

Pam received her master鈥檚 degree in theology and a certificate in spiritual direction, while working at Andersen Windows, where she later retired from. She continued her spiritual direction practice, companioning people who are exploring a deeper experience of the divine presence.听听

鈥淎 lot of what we do is at a spiritual level and basis,鈥� Bruce said. 鈥�This aligns with a core value in the StepUP program.鈥�

While completing his doctorate degree, Bruce, now a retired high school principal, wrote his dissertation on spirituality and leadership. He said part of that experience helped him understand the impact of spirituality in our [people鈥檚] lives鈥�.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a soft spot in our hearts for the work that the StepUP program is doing,鈥� they said. 鈥淪o many of those kids are overcoming some of the most incredible odds, and what we鈥檝e seen from 麻豆区, in helping their students, we want to be a part of.鈥�

You too can play an integral part in helping 麻豆区 students on their growth and evolution toward a brighter future. Learn more and get involved.

Justin Grammens 鈥�96 Helps STEM Students By Giving

Posted on December 16, 2022May 30, 2024

Justin Grammens 鈥�96 is a mathematics major who grew up in Minneapolis. His mother was a teacher for Minneapolis public schools, and his father worked as a doctor at Fairview Riverside, located across the street from 麻豆区.

Grammens said he was familiar with the area and 麻豆区, and one aspect that drew him to the school were the small class sizes which gave him a better connection to his classmates and instructors.

鈥淢y original plan was to start at a liberal arts school [麻豆区], then transfer to an engineering school,鈥� Grammens said. 鈥淏ut when I transferred from 麻豆区, I was sitting in a classroom with hundreds of other students and being taught by a TA, and I felt like why am I here?鈥�

He ended up transferring back to 麻豆区 and completing his degree. But Grammens said it wasn鈥檛 just the small class sizes that inspired him to return to 麻豆区, it was also the urban environment and the abundance of diversity that 麻豆区 offers.

At 麻豆区, Grammens was able to build relationships with many different people that he maintained after graduation. He has even come back to campus on multiple occasions and spoken with students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields about his career.

Grammens is an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas, teaching a class for their masters of software engineering program. He said that he is proud to bring the skills that he learned at 麻豆区 and share them with his students.

鈥淎 lot of the classes at 麻豆区 were exploratory and non-traditional,鈥� Grammens said. 鈥淚t was really about thought process, application, collaboration, and problem solving.鈥�

Around 2006, he started a company that was one of the first in the Twin Cities to develop mobile apps for major companies, and that鈥檚 when he said he felt like he had the income to give back.

鈥淚t breaks my heart if somebody is kicking butt in math, chemistry, or physics, and they know they want to be an engineer, but the barrier is just that they don鈥檛 have the money,鈥� Grammens said. 鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about giving to STEM programs because those students are working with technologies that are changing our lives, and I want to support that.鈥�

Grammens continues to make a positive impact on the lives of 麻豆区 students with annual donations to STEM programs, and you can too.

Donate to STEM programs and support 麻豆区 students as they conduct research with faculty, attend and present at national conferences, and hear from leading researchers.

Any gift made to any program will automatically count towards your class鈥� total for the Alumni Class Challenge!

Learn more ways to give.

Lewis Nelson 鈥�00 Encourages You to Get Involved with Giving

Posted on December 7, 2022December 7, 2022

Over one thousand miles away Lewis Nelson 鈥�00, a history major, sat in front of a map in his office, which was posted behind him on the wall, meticulously pinned with various places he had visited.

Graduating high school from a small town in Wisconsin, Nelson reflected on why he initially chose 麻豆区鈥揵ecause of the urban environment, sense of community, and football.

But during his freshman year, Nelson, like many freshmen, felt the struggle of adapting to the new environment at first.

鈥淎nd then, I started meeting more people,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淚 began to participate in activities and student organizations, and I just got more involved on campus.鈥�

His pitch rose with excitement, speaking about how he became an orientation leader and joined the 麻豆区 Student Activity Council.

Once he was fully immersed in the culture, Nelson said he was enamored by 麻豆区鈥檚 diversity, and through it he learned that he could get along with anybody from anywhere.

Not long after graduation, Nelson joined the U.S. Army, where his experience at 麻豆区 gave him a leg up on his peers, he said.

鈥溌槎骨� helped me cultivate vital skills such as critical thinking and leadership,鈥� said Nelson. 鈥淪kills that continue to serve me today, and that鈥檚 why I give.鈥�

Nelson鈥檚 giving journey began when he received a call from a student about the 麻豆区 Fund. Since then, Nelson has made a habit of giving.

He said giving to 麻豆区 gives him a sense of pride and keeps the legacy alive, and upholds the value of a degree that has meant so much to all the students that attend 麻豆区.

鈥淭he feeling of giving back to the place that made me who I am today not only gives me personal pleasure, but it brings joy to other people鈥檚 lives鈥�,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥滻 encourage anyone to give what they can.鈥�

You can donate to the 麻豆区 Fund and/or student organizations like the ones that made such an impact on Nelson鈥檚 life by visiting 麻豆区’s giving page.

Any gift made to any program will automatically count towards your class鈥� total for the Alumni Class Challenge!

Experience a life of giving with Wayne Kendrick 鈥�68

Posted on November 28, 2022May 7, 2024

When Wayne Kendrick 鈥�68, a religion and math major, enrolled at 麻豆区 as a junior, he was in the process of change.听

He spent years working towards becoming an actuary, but not long after his adult baptism, Kendrick would hear life calling him in a different direction.听

That鈥檚 when he started searching for Lutheran schools to attend. Kendrick said he wanted one with a different atmosphere than that which he had been accustomed to, mostly growing up in western South Dakota.听

Before even visiting 麻豆区, Kendrick was drawn to the idea of a Lutheran college located in an area with vast cultural diversity and educational opportunities.

鈥淚 had a saying that I went by when I was in college,鈥� Kendrick said. 鈥淓ducation shouldn’t get in the way of your life’s education.鈥�

Kendrick recounted doing volunteer night patrols with the Way Center on the troubled streets of North Minneapolis and participating in a march for fair housing in Milwaukee with his college roommate and Father Groppi. He attributed these memories to an enriched college and life experience.听

鈥淎lthough I only attended 麻豆区 for two years, it had a real profound impact on my life,鈥� Kendrick said with a look of fondness and appreciation.听

After graduating, his giving journey began when he purchased a life insurance policy with 麻豆区 as the beneficiary. Kendrick would go on to enroll at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul and would later become a pastor.听

Kendrick continues to give back to the community that has influenced his life so immensely with multiple donations to the 厂迟别辫鲍辫庐 program and an annual gift to the 麻豆区 Fund.听

鈥淚 know without our [donor鈥檚] gifts, large or small, 麻豆区 simply wouldn鈥檛 exist,鈥� Kendrick said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just enough to be appreciative, one must also make sure that others can enjoy the benefits that we, ourselves, have enjoyed.鈥�

Join Kendrick and ensure students have an opportunity to receive the educational and life experiences they deserve by making your donation today!听

Any gift made to any program will automatically count towards your class鈥� total for the Alumni Class Challenge!

Learn more ways to give.

ANNE RICHTER SUPPORTS THE TEAMWORK IN GIVING

Posted on November 14, 2022November 18, 2022

Like many 麻豆区 alumni, Anne Richter 鈥�86 said she was thankful to have professors and mentors that were passionate about teaching and giving students opportunities to excel in academics and athletics.听

Now, Richter wants to give present and future students the same opportunities and wonderful experiences she had at 麻豆区.

鈥溌槎骨� helped me grow up and experience the world and was an important next step in my life,鈥� Richter said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a place where you find community, friendship, and a foundation.鈥�

This is the 40th year anniversary from when Richter chose to attend 麻豆区 in 1982 for academics and to play volleyball and softball. She graduated with a degree in psychology and would later go on to be inducted into the 麻豆区 Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012.听听

After graduation, Richter got a graduate assistantship at St. Cloud State as an assistant volleyball coach. A position that her volleyball coach at 麻豆区, Marilyn Pearson Florian, helped her secure.听听

Richter started giving back to 麻豆区 a few years ago when a gift officer approached her about supporting construction for a new volleyball women鈥檚 locker room, a cause that spoke to her.

Since then, Richter has given to the women’s softball and volleyball programs. She also made contributions to the Patricia Piepenburg 鈥�69 Women鈥檚 Locker Room, which recently opened during the Great Returns: We鈥檙e All In 鈥� All School Reunion.

Richter knows that giving is a team effort, that鈥檚 why she reaches out to other 麻豆区 alumni, friends, and athletes and encourages them to give.

One of her favorite giving campaigns is Give to the Max, 麻豆区鈥檚 annual day of giving. Richter said she enjoys seeing all the different opportunities there are to give and is excited to know that 麻豆区 students are receiving help from people who care.

鈥淥ur [donor鈥檚] gifts are critical to the foundation of 麻豆区,鈥� Richter said. 鈥淭hey allow the university to provide the best professors and facilities to support the best students.鈥�

and/or and support 麻豆区 athletes as they strive to excel on and off the field, and any gift made to any program will automatically count towards your class鈥� total for the Alumni Class Challenge!

Learn more ways to give.

Donnie McCarthy 鈥�09 Gives back to URGO

Posted on October 25, 2022May 7, 2024

When it comes to 麻豆区鈥檚 Undergraduate and Graduate Opportunity (URGO) program, things have really come full circle for Donnie McCarthy 鈥�09. One of the program鈥檚 first student researchers, Donnie is now the first URGO alumnus to serve as a sponsor, making the same experience he had as an undergraduate possible for current 麻豆区 students. 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that I can help someone–and hopefully, help a lot of people over the years–get access to that kind of experience,鈥� he says.

Donnie was one of the first 麻豆区 students to participate in URGO in the summer of 2008. It was his first experience undertaking research, working alongside now-retired Biology professor Ralph Butkowski. 鈥淚t was really my first exposure to doing biological research; my first exposure to doing research in a lab setting, and really got me excited about that concept鈥攂eing able to carve into the unknown a little bit,鈥� says Donnie.

Donnie also went on to undertake asthma research with Biology professor Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright, sparking an interest in pharmacology and immunology. 鈥淢y experiences at URGO were career-influencing and what resulted in me going to graduate school to do basic research. I was fascinated by the idea of asking questions and experimentally answering them. To be at the frontier of our understanding of a biological pathway seemed akin to being an explorer, albeit of the molecular type,鈥� he says.

While a student at 麻豆区, Donnie developed time management skills as he juggled school, a six-day work week, research, and playing on the men鈥檚 soccer team–another pivotal experience for him. 鈥淐oming from Michigan, not really knowing anyone at 麻豆区, getting thrown into the first pre-season training session, you create a family away from your family, and that was super valuable to me, getting really close with the whole team.鈥澨�

Donnie has also been a supporter of the men鈥檚 soccer team over the years and admires head coach Greg Holker鈥檚 dedication to create a strong sense of community among students and alumni. 鈥淸Holker] really requires excellence, has a really strong standard for being a person鈥揾e really does foster a fantastic environment,鈥� says Donnie.

After 麻豆区, Donnie studied at Albany Medical College before receiving his doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of New York. If he hadn鈥檛 participated in URGO, Donnie says, he would have been at a disadvantage with his fellow graduate school classmates. 鈥淗aving an idea of not just the scientific process, but being able to read and interpret scientific literature–there鈥檚 really no other way to get good at it, so having done it before (in URGO) definitely helped,鈥� he says.听

Today, Donnie works at Samsara Biocapital in San Francisco, where he serves as Vice President. In his work at Samsara, Donnie works with both company creation and more traditional investing in life sciences companies, helping companies developing early-stage drugs, take an interesting idea and how it might translate into a therapeutic concept, how it will position relative to things that are already out there. His URGO research provided the skills necessary to thrive in his career鈥撯€渄oing research is an excellent way to learn how to think about something critically.鈥�

Donnie believes that a program like URGO sets 麻豆区 apart. 鈥淚t truly does differentiate from most other small liberal arts schools–it鈥檚 not an opportunity you get at every place, for sure, and enriches the overall experience for students. It was just that impactful for me, and if I can help one person in my lifetime have that same sort of experience, I鈥檒l do it a hundred times over.鈥澨�

URGO is just one of many ways to give back, and any gift made to the program will automatically count towards your class鈥� total for the Alumni Class Challenge.听

Learn more ways to give.听

Dennis 鈥�78 and Bev (Ranum) Meyer 鈥�78 Welcome the Challenge

Posted on October 5, 2022October 5, 2022

Bev (Ranum) Meyer 鈥�78, who graduated with a degree in mathematics, paused to collect her thoughts before recounting memories of when the 麻豆区 Choir practiced in the Old Main Chapel, back when fans took the bus to Parade Stadium to watch Auggie football games, and students lived in the big old houses on campus before they were all torn down.听

鈥淲hen I think of our era at 麻豆区, I think about how much this University has evolved since then,鈥� said Bev. 鈥淎nd even though many aspects have changed, much of what we appreciated about 麻豆区 still remains.鈥�

Dennis Meyer 鈥�78 majored in communications and social work and is the co-chair of the Alumni Class Challenge. He and Bev met each other at 麻豆区 during their undergraduate studies, and both of them experienced the benefits of grants, scholarships, and the power of generosity.听

Dennis and Bev began giving back to 麻豆区 in 1978 when they signed up for the Senior Challenge, which encouraged them to give a small gift every year. They became even more invested in giving when their son chose to attend 麻豆区.听

鈥淭here are many reasons people give,鈥� Dennis said. 鈥淔or us, we want to pay back a place that provided us with many opportunities, experiences, and lifelong friendships.鈥�

They mentioned the importance of paying it forward and their hope that others will have a chance to experience 麻豆区 for themselves and create their own memories.听

The Meyers continued to ensure their dream became a reality by contributing to the Jeroy and Lorraine Carlson Atrium Lounge, a designated space in the Hagfors Center where the 麻豆区 community can gather, foster relationships, and build community. They also gave contributions to the Beverly Durkee Mathematics Scholarship.听

Dennis noted there are multiple ways to give such as endowments, the 麻豆区 Fund, professorships, and numerous other programs.

Currently, Dennis and Wayne Jorgenson 鈥�71 are on the Board of Regents, and co-chairs of the Alumni Class Challenge, which is a part of 麻豆区鈥檚 Great Returns Campaign. The Almni Class Challenge kicks off at the All-School Reunion on Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, and will last for three months.听

The goal of the larger campaign is to raise $125 million. The Alumni Class Challenge is a competition to see which class will have the highest participation rate with the winning class receiving bragging rights. A gift of any amount is appreciated and counts toward that class鈥� total.听

Learn more ways to give.

A Generous Family

Posted on September 22, 2017September 25, 2017

Jean and Phil Formo

鈥淕o west, young man!鈥� was the mantra guiding the young Philip Formo in his college selection. But after graduating from Pacific Lutheran University in 1968, he must have heeded a different axiom: 鈥淵es, you can go home again.鈥� Home again he came, not only to finish a special education degree at St. Cloud State University and a divinity degree at Luther Seminary, but also to pick up the Formo family legacy where it left off鈥攁t 麻豆区.

Now a retired ELCA pastor, Phil, his wife, Jean, and their niece, Dawn, are the primary Formo forces behind not one, not two, but three separate scholarships honoring various family members and extending generosity to future 麻豆区 students.

鈥淚 was the first person on both sides of the family not to go to 麻豆区,鈥� says Phil. 鈥淢y mother met my father in chemistry class there. She was in nursing and needed help, and he was good in chemistry. They also both sang in the first 麻豆区 choir concert that ever took place, after the men鈥檚 chorus and the women鈥檚 chorus merged.鈥� His parents, Jerome and Winifred, both 鈥�37, were extremely dedicated to 麻豆区 and stayed deeply involved in all things Auggie throughout their lifetimes. Jerome received a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1983 and was also a Regent Emeritus.

In 2009, Phil designated proceeds from their estate to establish the Jerome and Winifred Formo Scholarship for music majors or those with a strong interest in choral music directing. Seven students have already benefited from this fund, but it was not the first Formo scholarship. That distinction belongs to the David J. Formo Scholarship, which was established in 1979 and is awarded annually to a junior or senior student who has successfully overcome adversity to achieve academic and extracurricular excellence.

鈥淢y brother David graduated from 麻豆区 in 1964 and became a U.S. Navy commander whose plane went down in the Mediterranean Sea on November 3, 1979, the same day that Iran took U.S. captives. Before that, he had delivered to the Shah of Iran the gift of a new jet. It鈥檚 really a small world,鈥� mused Phil.

The scholarship to honor his brother was the first for the Formo family, but not the last. When Phil retired in 2011, he decided to write a book about his maternal grandfather, Andreas Helland, who immigrated from Norway in 1889, attended 麻豆区 Seminary, and served there as New Testament professor for 35 years. 鈥淗e was also very involved in fundraising. In those days you did everything, and he was really good at stewardship. One of his daughters, Beatrice, married Norman Anderson, who was the fundraiser for the first science building at 麻豆区, and they were all there for the groundbreaking. My grandfather was the first to give a major gift,鈥� Phil recalls.

Proceeds from Phil鈥檚 book, Papa鈥擜 Life Remembered, along with contributions from his own family and his parents鈥� estate, fund the Andreas Helland Scholarship, established In 2012 for students with financial need and academic achievement. 鈥淓ducation is so important, but we all know how expensive college is,鈥� Phil says. 鈥淚f students can get through in four years instead of five or six, they will have saved the equivalent of two years鈥� salary.鈥�

Phil is sold not only on the value of affordable education, but also on the value of 麻豆区. 鈥淚鈥檝e always been amazed by what 麻豆区, long known as a conservative Lutheran school, has become. What they are today is just awe-inspiring鈥攖heir involvement in the community and openness to everyone is incredible. Culturally, they have really been able to reach out, to take minorities seriously,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or the only ELCA college in the city, what a unique opportunity.鈥�