Spring 2016 Archives - �鶹�� Now

Navigating uncharted waters

Kate H. Elliott — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:53:04 +0000

The River Semester was billed as an experiential learning opportunity: engage in a full load of political, environmental, and physical education courses—reinforced by a research project—while canoeing down the Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
But for the 12 �鶹�� College students, two faculty members, teaching assistant, and two guides who completed the first-of-its-kind trek from August to December, it was so much more.

Jump to:
• The gear Auggies couldn’t live without
• River Semester gallery exhibit
• Extended trip timeline

For it was on those waters that the crew learned to appreciate the quiet, to be curious about the world around them, and to seek knowledge. They learned to be prepared, to make friendship a fine art, and most importantly to enjoy the moment. And they didn’t just learn about the river so much as become enamored of it, so much so that many of them feel unsteady back on solid ground.

The Mississippi became their muse, teacher, personal trainer, and confidante. They dreamt alongside its calming waters and paddled through its more turbulent channels. Soon, its problems became their problems: urban stormwater runoff, the economic decay of river towns, and invasive flying carp smacked them—literally—in the face. And so, what started as an interesting, immersive experience has become a sobering call to restore and protect one of the United States’ most iconic natural wonders.

Ricky Taylor ’17, a film and graphic design major, captured the crew’s three-month journey and many of the social, economic, political, and cultural forces gripping the river as he gathered footage for a feature-length documentary. He plans to premiere “Learning to Listen: Our Semester on the River” this summer.

“We learned by living, meeting the people, and witnessing the issues that illustrate the complexities plaguing the river,” Taylor said. “We met Carl, a shrimper who once walked on land that is now six feet beneath water, and we paddled past sediment that was filling in the river’s largest lake (Lake Pepin near Red Wing, Minnesota). We read about levees being ‘big bad wolves’ but then saw them protect families just trying to make their way through life. A portion of Louisiana is being swallowed up by the ocean, a culture disappearing into the Gulf of Mexico, largely due to agricultural practices that help feed our nation.

“Somewhere along the way, I slipped out of the boat and into the Big Muddy. Every day I think about the river—about the paddling, the friends, the food, the learning—longing to be back there. Mud runs through my veins, and the only word I can find to describe the experience is ‘love,’ and that’s not a word I take lightly.”

A gripping odyssey

The trip had all the elements of any good adventure story:

There was a steadfast leader, , who has been engaged in environmental politics for 30 years and had been dreaming about this trip for almost as long; an epic journey paddling nearly 700 miles in 24-foot handmade cedar-strip voyager canoes; and a compelling cast of characters, including the student who’d never camped, the chipper morning person, and a student about to drop out who found his calling en route. There were unexpected moments, including an emergency appendectomy outside Mark Twain’s hometown, an open mic night harmonizing with the locals of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and a visit to the Michael Brown memorial in Ferguson, Missouri. And finally, there were lots of emotions—all of them, really.

Underhill knew the trip would be an odyssey in every sense of the word. The professor of political science, environmental studies, and international relations had been planning and networking for 15 years to realize the River Semester. He tested the waters in 2001 by organizing a three-day field trip from St. Cloud, Minnesota, to St. Paul. Five-day and 10-day excursions followed before he proposed the semester experience in 2012.

“This is where �鶹�� stands out from other institutions,” said Underhill, who has organized interdisciplinary trips throughout the world. “�鶹�� values experiential learning, place-based pedagogy, and innovative approaches so much that it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ we can make this happen but ‘how.’ Yes, we had three years of sorting out logistics, but the College continues to empower and support faculty to engage in this type of work, and you only have to talk with one of these students to grasp the impact.”

Once logistics were in place, Underhill’s years of contacts at organizations such as the National Park Service rushed in to participate—offering guest lectures, exclusive tours of historic sites, hot meals, and lodging. Wilderness Inquiry, a Minneapolis-based outfitter that has partnered with �鶹�� for years, provided logistical expertise and risk management planning as well as guides, food, and equipment. Erik Ophaug, a Wilderness Inquiry program manager, said the outfitter is proud to be at the forefront in creative endeavors that increase students’ access to and connection with the natural world.

“This was the longest expedition we have run, in terms of number of days on the river, in our 40-year history of supporting educational and expeditionary outdoor adventures,” Ophaug said. “It was inspiring to watch these students truly soak up and process all of the little moments that make up the culture, politics, ecosystem, and history of the Mississippi River watershed.”

Guide Emily Knudson ’15 had paddled with Underhill on a 10-day canoe trip as part of a River Politics course her senior year. When she learned the semester-long excursion wouldn’t materialize until after she would graduate, the determined triple major in environmental studies, English literature, and Spanish secured a job with Wilderness Inquiry in hopes of gaining a staff position on the trip, which she did. Charged with almost every logistical task, from planning mileage and booking campsites to grocery shopping and monitoring weather conditions, Knudson also served as a supplemental instructor and intern for �鶹��. She led study sessions and presented lectures in their outdoor classrooms (or the nearest city’s laundromat or public library in bad weather).

“Educational experiences like this are important because they make you think so much more deeply about the course content. Instead of memorizing facts about the lock and dam system for a test, we were paddling through the pools the dams created, hearing stories from locals, and camping on the islands built to replace those flooded out decades earlier. In a couple years, I will forget almost everything I memorized, but I will never forget my learning in action,” said Knudson.

Self-discovery on the riverbanks

Glen Gardner ’17 was considering taking a year off from school when he saw the River Semester publicized in the cafeteria. He signed up, and somewhere along the pilgrimage, the Montana native realized he wants to teach art. Gardner is back at �鶹�� this semester, majoring in studio art and art education.

“Having the time to unplug and reflect about my life helped me realize my passion for art education. I have always been interested in the arts, but I hadn’t really thought about teaching until I discovered that I loved spreading the feelings I find in art to other people as much as I enjoy making art,” Gardner said. “I want to extend my knowledge and passion beyond myself and use art to promote living in a way that is not wasteful to the world.”

Hearing this, Underhill is proud. Provoking self-exploration was not his motivation for organizing the trip, but the sense of vocation students found down river is certainly the journey’s most fulfilling outcome. Admittedly, he took a leap of faith selecting the crew. He didn’t pick a team of students with similar interests, backgrounds, maturity levels, and outdoor experience. He picked a team that reflects �鶹��’s commitment to nurturing a diverse community of resilient, driven, and faith-filled citizens. As you can imagine, the initial weeks included some whining and a few cold stares, but before long, this dynamic group evolved into a harmonious tribe.

Forging lasting bonds

Taylor was nervous about the trip, not because of the physical demands or the elements (he was an Eagle Scout and grew up a “river kid” in north-central Wisconsin). As the crew’s videographer and documentarian, Taylor was most concerned about getting his new Nikon, Sony video camera, and two GoPros wet. But even more so, he was terrified of the quiet—for those moments when people would start sharing information about their lives. He was finishing up his second semester at �鶹�� in the College’s , the nation’s largest residential collegiate recovery community.

Now sober for two years, Taylor said he burned bridges between himself and others before he entered recovery. “My peers on the River Semester were some of my first friends in a long time. It was truly a fresh start,” he said.

“On the trip, I heard things that were strange to my ears: ‘Ricky, you’re a good person,’ ‘You’re kind,’ and ‘I’m amazed by you.’ I always looked around, thinking, ‘Are you sure you’re talking to me?’ It was the first time in years that I felt good, felt worth, and felt confidence. People trusting and caring for me is more precious to me than anything, and I developed everlasting bonds with this crew.”

Brian Arvold ’80 witnessed that closeness when he welcomed home his daughter, Hannah, who was one of the first two students to sign up for the trip. When the crew stepped off the train at a welcome home rally in mid-December, Arvold said, the students ran into their families’ arms, and then they all ran back—to each other.

“It was touching for all of us to see,” said Arvold, who was waving a canoe paddle painted with “River Semester” as the train slowed to a halt. “You may want a lot for your child, but lifelong friendships are at the top of the list. Knowing that these students will be there for each other through life’s ups and downs is comforting.

“We’d talk to Hannah along the trip, and we could hear her growing more socially and culturally aware, but we also detected a real sense of confidence. Paddling that entire river empowered our daughter as she was placed in settings where she had to stand up for herself, push through, and create solutions. �鶹�� is truly on the forefront—a small college doing great things. It’s neat to see them embrace learning without four walls.”

Living and learning on the river

The outdoor classroom developed into one of the excursion’s top challenges. Underhill and fellow organizers put a lot of thought into how to best maximize the lecture and classroom portions of the semester while maintaining efficient mileage and travel down river. The team pushed off with a mix of short, medium, and long paddling days that corresponded with short, medium, or long days of lecture and class at campsites, historical points of interest, and local libraries. But within the first few weeks, the team realized that loading and unloading educational gear from the canoes each day cut into class and travel time.

“To give students a break and free up more time for class, we shifted paddling itineraries to canoe two or three very long paddle days in a row, and then have several days in a row off for school,” Underhill said. “This greatly enhanced and focused learning potential so that the group could take advantage of as many experiential opportunities as possible while on the river, and on the off days, maximize reading, lecture, and project work.”

It quickly became clear that the professor had to be protective of time. Friendly community members invited participants into towns for hot meals and enriching experiences. But although they padded their days for unexpected events and impromptu outings, the practical realities of their journey—setting up camp before dark and approaching storms, for instance—required a tight schedule.

“We enjoyed an embarrassment of riches in terms of learning opportunities along the way,” Underhill said. “People would show up and want to talk to us or invite us to partake in amazing cultural, historical, or entertaining events, but we had to fit in hours of education on top of paddling five to eight hours each day. That resulted in some tough choices.”

Underhill and his faculty colleague for the trip Thorpe Halloran, an instructor of fisheries biology and stream ecology, often held classes on the banks under sturdy trees, students swatting at mosquitoes while typing on laptops pulled from waterproof bags. But the professors rarely passed a teachable moment, even between strokes. Hannah Arvold ’18 recalls paddling past colorful boathouse communities near the main channel when conversation veered into the regulation of river towns.

“This experience helped me to decide to pursue a degree in environmental studies,” she said. “It helped me realize my interest in food justice, sustainability, and environmentally conscious agriculture practices.”

Wading through analysis, navigating partnerships

Arvold was able to channel her professional pursuits into a research project focused on nutrition and the environmental impacts of farming. On the first leg of their trip, she calculated the caloric intake and expenditure of her peers, noting which foods provided the best sources of energy. Near the end of their voyage, she recorded the agriculture industry’s negative impacts on the river, including gasoline and pesticides seeping into groundwater. “Caring about the health of your body,” Arvold said, “is just as important as the health of the land it is grown on.

“I created an ‘I the Mississippi’ bumper sticker and gave it out to people along our trip for freewill donations,” Arvold said. “We donated $500 of the money raised to purchase science equipment for the International School of Louisiana where we presented many of our research findings to more than 160 fourth- and sixth-graders.”

Each student conducted a research project, and many of them involved collaborations with external partners throughout the United States. Noah Cameron ’17 worked with Minnesota artist Monica Haller, known for the “Veterans Book Project,” which captures interviews and data from dozens of soldiers, refugees, and journalists affected by wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Cameron used a hydrophone to record underwater noises while on the river and then paired them with social and cultural recordings, which he plans to use for future collaborations with Haller.

“It seems that intense, mindful listening is a difficult task nowadays, and some people have no reason to listen. I was given a reason, and I learned much about the nature of sound, silence, noise, and listening,” the political science major said. “My project acknowledges that the river has something to say, which it certainly does. One thing the river told me was that it is polarized; its waters are either filled with the sounds of mechanical engineering or with quiet ecological or hydrologic characteristics.

“Similarly to how I thoughtfully listen to the systems of the river, I realized that we—as a society—should thoughtfully listen, which is not the same as agreeing, to our government and each other. I viewed the river like our government—this massive, daunting entity that we seem to have little effect on. However, as we moved down that river and as we took classes about both the nature of the river and the nature of democracy, we learned that we do affect that river, and we do affect our government.”

Blair Stewig ’18 connected with the river on a molecular level, studying how the concentrations of various chemicals influence ecosystems. Throughout the trip, she collected water quality data like that of the National Park Service’s “State of the River Report.” She also collaborated with Reuben Heine, a geology professor at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, to gather sonar data about subaqueous dunes, or sediment bed forms at the bottom of the river.

“My main focus was on the accumulation of nitrates in the Mississippi and its effect on the Gulf of Mexico. The molecule, commonly found in fertilizers, seeps into the river system from agricultural and urban runoff, feedlots, sewage treatment plants, and more. This excess results in a ‘Dead Zone’ in the Northern Gulf of Mexico each late spring and summer,” said Stewig, who is majoring in biology and chemistry. “What does that mean? An influx of nutrients results in an algae bloom. When these algae die, they sink to the bottom of the ocean, where they are consumed by bacteria, which depletes the area of oxygen. Some marine life sense the lack of oxygen and leave, but others die as a result. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Dead Zone costs the U.S. seafood and tourism industry $82 million per year.”

Lark Weller, who collaborated with Stewig on behalf of the National Park Service, said Stewig’s data will inform brochures and fact sheets about excess nitrates in a river system that provides water for upwards of 15 million people. The research these students conducted is compelling, Weller said, but their connection to the river is even more impressive.

“I suppose it’s possible to complete a college degree without really ever understanding the broader context of the world around you—but not for River Semester students. It is clear the experience dramatically changed the lives of every single student who accepted the challenge. They have returned with a new and expansive sense of self, place, and world,” said Weller.

What the crew couldn’t live without

Auggies reflect on the comforts that helped them through the wet, gritty journey

Lily Moloney '15

“Being warm at night made a world of difference, so I couldn’t have lived without my sleeping bag.” —Lily Moloney

Hannah Arvold '18

“We learned to survive with pretty much nothing, but I was so thankful for my wool socks on the cool mornings paddling and when nights began to get chilly. My headlamp was also something I was very thankful to have. For studying after dark, building campfires, cooking dinner in the dark, and even the occasional pack-up in the morning before the sun was totally up, my headlamp really camp in handy.” —Hannah Arvold

Glen Gardner '17

“I brought a French press to make coffee, and that definitely helped me get through the days with fast mornings.”—Glen Gardner

Blair Stewig '18

“I couldn’t live without my headlamp or puffy jacket. I also used my rain gear instead of insect repellent so I wouldn’t want to give that up either.”—Blair Stewig

Joe Underhill

“My main takeaway is that I can’t do without the river itself. I think we all got to a point where we needed to be on the river, and now we’re all going through a bit of withdrawal from such a beautiful and challenging experience.” —Joe Underhill

Emily Knudson '15

“I am a minimalist, so I challenged myself to use as little gear as possible. But the two things I couldn’t live without on the trip were coffee and the support of friends. Everyone came together on this trip to form one big family.” —Emily Knudson

Izzie Smith '18

“Clif Builder’s Bars, coffee, my Nalgene bottle, sunscreen, Noah playing his guitar, my Buff, and long talks in the canoe with Emily about my future.” —Izzie Smith

The voyage as art

To share those connections with the �鶹�� community, the crew collaborated with Minneapolis-based graphic design and digital arts professors and students to develop an exhibit featuring sights, sounds, textures, emotions, and artifacts from the trip, including one of the canoes that flew the �鶹�� College flag.

Assistant professor of art Chris Houltberg and visiting instructor Julie Longo challenged students in three different courses to create a unified experience on campus that captured the true essence of the River Semester. Art students video chatted with the crew, conducted extensive research on contemporary river issues, and poured over news articles, social media posts, and the blog, .

Some artists focused on gathering and refining content for the interactive display while others developed the exhibit’s look and feel, devising its color palette, graphic elements, and typography scheme. Their semester-long partnership culminated in a display featuring a robust timeline, heartfelt journal entries, dynamic photos, and several other elements.

The exhibit, displayed at the Christensen Center Student Art Gallery, built upon previous collaborations between Underhill and the design faculty. Last spring, they created “Shaping Peace,” an interdisciplinary collaboration among 128 students and six faculty members to visualize and exchange ideas about Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

“We are primarily interested in how design can be used as a catalyst for change,” Houltberg said. “The ideas and issues the River Semester students encountered are really important to our world. We set out to create a platform that encouraged dialogue around the important ideas and issues the participants experienced.”

Memories keep rollin’ along

The next leg of this journey: The documentary. Taylor produced several short videos chronicling the trip, which are at , and he’s looking forward to sharing the experience through his forthcoming feature-length film. For now, the River Semester crew continues to process the issues they know and to reflect upon their moments together: rows of sleeping bags dotting the shore as they looked up at an ebony sky studded with millions of heavenly diamonds; waking at 3 a.m. to paddle from darkness to dawn; and swaying in hammocks tied to the tall willow trees of remote river islands.

So, if you see members of this motley crew sleeping outside, don’t judge. They’re just longing to be back on the water, where they grew stronger and a bit wiser, having realized that the issues gripping the Mississippi River are as sophisticated as its ecosystems. That enlightenment has influenced the way they now see the world, with varying shades of compromise and understanding. They reenter their lives with renewed purpose, fueled by an empowering sense of community, the ability to adapt, and the ache for life’s next adventure.

From trickling headwaters to the��wide and mighty ocean

River Semester participants share memorable events along the river

Beginning in 2003, �鶹�� College Associate Professor Joe Underhill began incorporating short Mississippi River trips—three-, five-, and 10-day excursions—into his environmental politics curriculum. He first presented the idea of a semester-long trip to College leadership in 2012, and then three years of logistical discussions and planning followed. This past fall, Underhill and biology instructor Thorpe Halloran shoved off from St. Paul with 12 students, two guides, and a teaching assistant. Here are a few highlights from their journey.

1. Aug. 28-30:��Held an orientation at the Mississippi River headwaters to introduce courses, review canoeing and water safety basics, and discuss topics such as American Indians’ perspectives on the environment and sustainability.

2. Sept. 1: Chris Coleman, mayor of St. Paul, joined nearly 100 Auggies, family members, and high school students at the launch of the nation’s first-ever River Semester. Dozens of attendees paddled in a flotilla of 24-foot voyageur canoes to South St. Paul.

3. Sept. 5-7: Studied the water quality and impact of farming, including increased sediment load on the river. Sampled water alongside fisheries biologists with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“Without a current and with a brutal head wind, paddling Lake Pepin was probably one of our most challenging days.” —Lily Moloney ’15

[Web extra] Sept. 10-11: Swan Island near Wabasha, Minnesota: The crew’s first extended stay on a relatively wild site, known as Weaver Bottoms. Ironically, it’s an artificial island constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers to recreate islands that were lost when dams were built.

4. Sept. 12-17: Joined faculty and students from Winona State University for stream ecology labs and discussion on the impact of the lock and dam system.

[Web extra] Sept. 22-24: Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa: Explored this picturesque site featuring more than 200 prehistoric earthen mounds, including some shaped like animals. These ceremonial and burial sites, built by American Indians hundreds of years ago, remain sacred to more than 20 culturally associated tribes.

5. Oct. 3: A rough paddle through the pool above Lock and Dam No. 13, one of the widest pools on the upper river. The crew struggled through fierce winds to avoid submerged tree stumps left over from before the dam was built. One of the canoes sustained a bad crack, which the crew repaired at camp.

6. Oct. 7-10: Met with local farmers and a nonprofit environmental group that organizes river cleanups, tree plantings, and other conservation efforts. The crew also engaged a field lab with Reuben Heine, geography professor at Augustana College in Illinois.

7. Oct. 20-21: When the crew paddled into author Mark Twain’s hometown, Izzie Smith ’18 began to suffer from stomach pain. By midnight, she had been diagnosed with appendicitis, and the next morning she had surgery. Two weeks later, Smith rejoined the group in Memphis. Even with all the excitement, the team still engaged in a lively discussion about Huck Finn and literary figures born along the Mississippi.

8. Oct. 29: The last morning of their journey on the upper river, the crew woke up at 3 a.m. to paddle for a few hours in the dark to catch the sun rise over the river. They ended their sunrise paddle on the Mississippi’s banks north of St. Louis, from which vans shuttled the crew past the Chain of Rocks, an exposure of bedrock in the Cuivre River.

9. Nov. 2: As part of Underhill’s course, Democracy in the American Heartland, students traveled to the Michael Brown Memorial—the site of the August 2014 shooting death of a black teenager by a white policeman, which prompted national commentary on racial discrimination and gun control. President Paul Pribbenow joined the group for a tour through the city and discussions with residents.

“Standing at that memorial in the middle of the road was a deeply unsettling experience—there was no way it could or should have been otherwise.” —President Paul Pribbenow

[Web extra] Nov. 7-9: Memphis, Tennessee: Studied music, history, and food before meeting with researchers from the Mississippi River Project at the University of Memphis.

10. Nov. 16: The team paddled past expansive sandbars and islands full of wildlife at the confluence of the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers. Waters in this area can rise and fall as much as 70 feet and swirl around canoes.��

[Web extra] Nov. 22-23: Natchez, Mississippi: Studied bayou country and industry while exploring the Atchafalaya River.

11. Nov. 26: Thanksgiving in New Orleans: The crew enjoyed an abundance of fried turkey and comforting side dishes at their hostel as they visited with fellow travelers from more than a dozen countries.

[Web extra] Dec. 2-7: Gulf of Mexico: Field research studying marine biology and estuarine ecology with the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium.

12. Dec. 11: Travel by train to Chicago.

“The train back to Chicago was spent doing a lot of work on our finals, but it was also a time to reflect on everything we experienced on the trip.” —Blair Stewig ’18

[Web extra] Dec. 12-13: Chicago: Studied urban waterfront developments, sustainability, and arts in the Second City.

13. Dec. 14-15 The crew traveled by train from Chicago to the Twin Cities and joined in a “good-bye” hug upon arrival at Union Depot in St. Paul.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: As part of the River Semester welcome back celebration, �鶹�� graphic design and typography students created an interactive gallery exhibit chronicling the voyage.

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Alumni assist students on their path to physician assistant career

Jen Lowman Day — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:07:48 +0000

In the classroom and in the field, �鶹�� College alumni help today’s physician assistant students gain a glimpse into the professional world they’re preparing to enter. Through clinical work and course instruction, alumni share their experience in a high-demand field.

�鶹��’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program was the first of its kind in Minnesota and admitted its inaugural class in 1995. The full-time graduate program educates generalist physician assistants oriented toward service to underserved populations in rural and urban settings.

The physician assistant (PA) concept has evolved over time but continues to increase in relevance. In alignment with health care industry demand, the PA’s role continues to expand.

The �鶹�� PA program’s long history in Minnesota is advantageous, according to Jenny Kluznik ’13 MPA, assistant professor of physician assistant studies. PA students spend approximately half of their graduate program in a didactic—or classroom—phase. The latter half of the program is spent in the community where students complete clinical rotations that change every five weeks. �鶹��’s PA alumni serve as educators and lecturers for a course series in clinical medicine and also serve as hosts for the hands-on field work.

Meredith Wold ’07 MPA is a guest lecturer for the program and an adjunct faculty member. She works as a hospitalist PA with an internal medicine team at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

As an undergraduate, Wold was focused almost exclusively on medical school, but during her final year in college she was struck by the teamwork she witnessed between a doctor and a PA in surgery.

Now, after nearly a decade in her profession, Wold values the team-based work of taking care of hospitalized patients.

She weaves clinical episodes from her career into her lectures, which serve to remind students of the whole patient—not just the upcoming exam.

Melissa Oeding ’10 MPA, another guest lecturer, agrees.

“As a recent graduate, I can relate to the student experience, understand how students learn, and provide real-world insight and advice regarding what to expect as a practicing PA,” said Oeding, who works at Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center.

She’s stimulated by the chance to sit on the other side of the lectern.

“It renews an excitement for my work and career and reminds me just why I started out in the program,” she said. “I feel extraordinarily blessed to have been trained and trained well at �鶹��.”

Guest lecturer Olga Trouskova ’13 MPA sought out �鶹��’s PA program in part because of its emphasis on serving the underserved.

“I went into medicine to provide answers and to heal,” Trouskova said. “Now I understand that great medicine cannot happen without building relationships and trust with my patients.”

She also is a hospitalist PA at Regions and, during her weeks off, serves as a family practice PA at Westside Community Health Services/La Clinica, a community clinic.

Trouskova makes a point of including real patient stories in her presentations to remind students that PAs treat patients, not diseases.

For students, there’s no match for hearing these types of lessons from alumni, according to Wold.

“It shows a level of alumni commitment toward the program and the next generation of �鶹�� PAs,” she said. “Early on after graduation I felt a duty, a professional responsibility really, to give that back.”

And teaching is its own kind of gift, according to Trouskova.

“By teaching others, I have learned as well,” she said.

[Top Image L to R]: �鶹�� College alumnus Tom Towle ’14 MPA leads then-students Scott Harder ’15 MPA and Christina Pekoske ’15 MPA through the steps of starting an IV.

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Playing it forward

Christina Haller — Wed, 23 Mar 2016 19:06:18 +0000

Division III athletics is the sweet spot for student-athletes—they compete on teams and nurture deep, meaningful relationships with their coaches and peers, and at the same time have the freedom and time to explore other activities and passions while having a strong focus on academics. These reasons, among others—the competition, camaraderie, discipline, and love of the game—are why more than 500 �鶹�� students participate in varsity and intramural sports every year.

The welcoming and supportive �鶹�� College has had a profound impact on many student-athletes, which in return has sparked a desire in many former players to give back to youth as leaders, mentors, and friends. Here is a glimpse into the lasting influence of Auggie athletics on alumni through the decades.

[Top Image]: Whitney Restemayer ’10 is the first woman in the state of Minnesota to coach a team to a hockey state title, the 2015 Minnesota State High School Girls’ Hockey Tournament Class A Championship.

Van Hong ’11

Enterprise risk analytics consultant at Deloitte & Touche LLP in Minneapolis; youth soccer coach at Park Valley United and co-founder of Spam F.C. College Scholarship Foundation in St. Louis Park, Minnesota

I’ve always enjoyed working with kids, teaching the game, and mentoring players off the field. Being a student-athlete at �鶹�� taught me many valuable lessons and allowed me to strengthen my leadership skills. Many people from my athletic upbringing have influenced the way I teach young men about soccer and life. I must admit, Auggie soccer coaches , , and Nate Hitch had a profound influence on me during college.

The most gratifying thing about coaching is seeing my boys grow into young men and become contributing members of the community. I was a kid who was influenced in so many positive ways by several people in my athletic path. For me to have the opportunity to give back a fraction of my time is the most gratifying thing in the world.

Sue (Meier) Ziegler ’80

Physical education and health and wellness teacher and head volleyball and track coach at Lincoln Lutheran Middle/Senior High School in Lincoln, Nebraska

I was involved with basketball and track as an Auggie. I would credit the whole �鶹�� Health–Physical Education Department and coaches for supporting me—people like longtime athletic director and men’s basketball coach were always looking out for athletes’ best interests. I believe I received a quality education in a Christian environment, and feel blessed to be in a similar situation now. I hope I have had an impact on helping shape young people’s lives through education and athletics, too.

Students teach me life lessons every day. The impact that they have had on my life has been invaluable—on relationships, commitment, and learning. I love seeing where my former students and athletes go on in the next step of their lives—from college�� to starting their families to excelling in their careers.

Whitney Restemayer ’10

Physical education teacher at Challenger Elementary School and assistant girls’ softball coach and head girls’ hockey coach at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Everything I got from sports as a player—the love of the game, the friendships, the teamwork, the cohesion—sparked a desire in me to coach. I started playing sports at a young age and experienced coaches who I really clicked with, and I knew that I wanted to be able to give back to athletes in the same way. I had a great experience at �鶹��. Playing two sports, being a health and physical education major, and working within the Athletics Department allowed me to meet many people who had a great influence on my life.

I have been very lucky to achieve a lot of success in my short coaching career. Being able to be a part of something so great on ice allowed me to also be a part of something great off the ice. The relationships that I have developed with many of the girls I have coached is second to none.

Jamell Tidwell ’05

Assistant administrator, athletic director, and middle school football and track coach at Valley Middle School of STEM, and high school wrestling coach at Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota

I feel like God put athletics in my life to keep me out of trouble so that I could get to where I am today. If I didn’t have wrestling in my life, there’s no way I’d currently be working toward my doctorate. I didn’t have a dad growing up, so when I was a student-athlete at �鶹��, Auggie wrestling coaches Jeff Swenson ’79, Sam Barber, and took me under their wings and taught me how to be a student, how to be an athlete, how to be a man, and how to be successful.

I hope that by being a coach, I can show kids that, through athletics and working hard in school, you can achieve anything. I always tell my players, you have to be a student first and an athlete second.

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In memoriam

�鶹�� — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:12:19 +0000

The “In memoriam” listings in this publication include notifications received before January 10.

Dwight E. Elving ’37, Mercer Island, Washington, age 99, on September 17.

Evelyn B. (Wibeto) Stone ’41, Alexandria, Minnesota, age 98, on November 26.

Maurice “Maury” Erickson ’42, Vermillion, South Dakota, age 95, on September 10.

Helen L. (Fevold) Nelson ’43, Minneapolis, age 94, June 4.

Chester E. Hoversten ’44, Northfield, Minnesota, age 93, on November 16.

Joyce E. (Gronseth) Limburg ’44, Apple Valley, Minnesota, age 93, on October 10.

Elise H. (Hoplin) Anderson ’45, Edina, Minnesota, age 96, on October 13.

Edgar A. Emerson ’46, Perham, Minnesota, age 90, on December 3.

Guilford “Guy” L. Parsons ’47, Minneapolis, age 94, on September 17.

Ruth E. (Thompson) Larson ’48, Clearbrook, Minnesota, age 92, on December 26.

Allen J. Moe ’48, Dawson, Minnesota, age 88, on October 16.

Paul I. Roth ’49, White Bear Lake, Minnesota, age 90, on November 21.

Arne Simengaard ’49, Fridley, Minnesota, age 88, on November 28.

Harvard E. Larson ’50, Greeley, Colorado, age 86, on September 14.

Wesley N. Paulson ’51, Altoona, Wisconsin, age 88, on December 2.

Walter L. Dilley ’52, Paynesville, Minnesota, age 88, on October 14.

Woodrow W. Wilson ’53, Lincoln, Nebraska, age 97, on September 11.

Erling B. Huglen ’54, Roseau, Minnesota, age 83, on December 19.

Allan J. Kohls ’54, Minneapolis, age 87, on October 4.

Marvin S. Undseth ’54, Salem, Oregon, age 90, on October 12.

Rolf Heng ’55, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, age 81, on September 30.

Elmer Karlstad ’55, Warroad, Minnesota, age 91, on November 14.

Alfred E. Kaupins ’57, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, age 88, on November 25.

Lawrence “Larry” C. Pratt Jr. ’57, St. Anthony, Minnesota, age 81, on July 12.

Eldri R. (Johanson) Salter ’57, Pocatello, Idaho, age 80, on September 8.

Dennis F. Gibson ’59, Edina, Minnesota, age 83, on September 5.

James K. Horn ’59, Lino Lakes, Minnesota, age 83, on November 26.

Eugene “Pete” S. Peterson ’59, Jackson, Minnesota, age 78, on October 17.

Peter M. Locke ’60, South St. Paul, Minnesota, age 82, on November 30.

Gayle J. Arvidson ’61, Newburgh, Indiana, age 84, on December 25.

Harvey L. Jackson ’61, Park River, North Dakota, age 78, on September 28.

John D. Sorenson ’62, Hickory, North Carolina, age 75, on November 2.

Lee E. Keller ’63, San Bernardino, California, age 80, on August 27.

Joyce (Hanson) Holbrook ’65, Lincoln, California, age 72, on December 27.

Edythe “Edie” (Berg) Johnson ’65, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 72, on October 1.

Marilyn J. Larson ’65, Estes Park, Colorado, age 73, on November 3.

Joyce A. (Schuchart) Hagerty ’66, Oneida, Illinois, age 72, on December 4.

Philip “Phil” A. Walen ’70, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 67, on September 9.

Russell “Jeff” J. Quanbeck ’71, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 67, on December 1.

Isabella “Bella” (Frazier) Sanders ’73, Park Rapids, Minnesota, age 85, on October 1.

Gregory J. Semanko ’73, Dassel, Minnesota, age 64, on September 16.

Brent M. Amundson ’78, Colorado Springs, Colorado, age 61, on December 3.

David C. Eitrheim ’79, Menomonie, Wisconsin, age 58, on January 1.

Morgan S. Grant ’82, Willmar, Minnesota, age 55, on August 28.

Kelly M. Williams ’92, Edina, Minnesota, age 45, on August 25.

Thomas D. Orstad ’93, Park River, North Dakota, age 51, on October 13.

Earl R. Kinley III ’94, Eagan, Minnesota, age 55, on December 18.

Christine L. (Quandt) Edinger ’99, Madison, Wisconsin, age 49, on December 19.

Judith A. (Gretz) Roy ’99, Minneapolis, age 68, on September 24.

Traci M. Singher ’12, ’15 MSW, Minnetonka, Minnesota, age 44, on December 1.

Dustyn B. Hessie ’13, Minneapolis, age 27, on June 15.

�鶹�� College Women’s Basketball Head Coach William “Bill” L. McKee, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 62, on August 27.

For news of a death, printed notice is required, e.g., an obituary, funeral notice, or program from a memorial service. Send your news items by mail to: �鶹�� Now Class Notes, �鶹�� College, CB 146, 2211 Riverside Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55454, or email alumni@augsburg.edu. You can also submit news at .

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LeVar Burton encourages the next generation

Christina Haller — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 14:02:23 +0000

Actor, director, writer, producer, and educator LeVar Burton—best known for his roles in “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,”��and “Reading Rainbow”—inspired prospective students to make positive change in the world.��Burton’s presentation took place this winter during Scholarship Weekend, an annual event where prospective students compete��for the President’s and Fine Arts scholarships.

WEB EXTRA: from LeVar Burton’s visit to campus.

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Class Notes

�鶹�� — Tue, 22 Mar 2016 13:52:10 +0000

1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2015 | Graduate Programs

1960

This group of alumni were friends during college but had little contact since graduating. They were reunited at the 2015 Homecoming celebration and barely scratched the surface in terms of catching up. Now retired, the five Auggies plan to get together again soon. [L to R]: The men and their previous careers: Arden Flaten ’60 (science teacher), Myron Carlson ’60 (pastor), Don Gilberg ’60 (band teacher, piano tuner), Iver Christopherson ’60 (high school principal), and Neuman Berger ’60 (attorney).

Lowell “Zeke” Ziemann ’60 continues to write. His newest book, “Gunslingers and Baseball,” is a collection of Western historical fiction, essays, and baseball stories. It is available on Amazon.

1962

This fall, seven Auggies served on the varsity football coaching staff at Osseo (Minnesota) High School and helped lead the team to its first Class 6A state championship. The group of �鶹�� alumni included Jack Osberg ’62, Derrin Lamker ’97, Mark Joseph ’01, Andy Johnson ’04, Jordan Berg ’09, Royce Winford ’09, and David Tilton ’12.

1965

From his time at �鶹��, Allen Anderson ’65 fondly remembers his music professor Leland Sateren ’35, the Burgundy Singers, dorm life, and choir tours. Today, Anderson is still involved with choral music and enjoys golf, woodworking, activities in his community and at his church, travel, and participation in Lutheran Men in Mission. He and wife, Joyce, have two children who graduated from �鶹��. They travel to New Zealand on occasion to visit their son and his family.

Gary Blosberg ’65 says that his current position is “reclined.” He is retired after 26 years as a finance manager at General Electric and 23 years in the U.S. Navy. He thanks chemistry professor Courtland Agre for sharing his wisdom when he said: “You don’t need to know everything; you just need to know where to find the answers.” Blosberg still sings with the Centennial Singers, the Masterworks Chorale, and other groups. He is proud to be a father and grandfather.

Connie (Ekeren) Cameron ’65 teaches at Honors Mentor Connection, is on the Fringe Festival Board, sings in the St. Joan of Arc Choir, and is involved in politics, travel, and the League of Women Voters. Her fondest memories of �鶹�� include the Kappa House girls, professor Anne Pederson’s literature classes, and her roommate of four years Carol (Welch) Langness ’65. Cameron thanks the team behind the Christmas smorgasbords; Ailene Cole, speech professor; Orvald Haugsby, math professor; Leland Sateren ’35, music department head; and Phil Quanbeck Sr. ’50. She and husband, Bill, have three sons and one grandchild.

Eunice (Bergman) Dietrich ’65 thanks home economics faculty Ruth Segolson, Ruth Sonsteng, and Katherine Peterson for being wonderful teachers and role models. Among Dietrich’s most treasured �鶹�� memories are the excellent convocation speakers and the great friendships she made. Today, she and husband, Franklin, enjoy their grandsons, their involvement at Central Lutheran Church, and traveling. She also volunteers with daughter, Kari, at Dakota City, the 1900s village in Farmington, Minnesota. The Dietrichs also have a son, Hans.

The faculty members who most influenced David Dyrud ’65 as a student were philosophy professor Paul Sonnack ’42 for his intensity; New Testament Greek and Latin professor Mario Colacci for his flamboyance; professor of English Gerald Thorson ’43 for his Hush Puppies (Dyrud’s favorite shoes); professor of English Anne Pederson, for her affection for literature; and professor of history Carl Chrislock ’37 for his effective use of anecdote to enliven history. Dyrud spends his time reading, golfing, and traveling. He and wife, Marilyn, have three children who are all involved with theater, and they enjoy seeing their children’s work.

Mark Gjerde ’65 retired in 2004 from 3M. He enjoys traveling with wife, Jan (Lunas) Gjerde ’68, and spending time with their grandchildren at a lake home. He remembers Gerald “Jerry” Pryd ’66 and Paul Dahlen ’66, his friends who died in a plane crash while they were �鶹�� students. Gjerde was influenced by professor of math George Soberg ’26 and professor of philosophy Paul Sonnack ’42. The Gjerdes lived in Brussels from 1995-97 while Mark worked for 3M. They have two sons and four grandchildren.

One �鶹�� College memory treasured by Glenn Hamberg ’65 is the teaching style and effectiveness of W. LaMarr Kopp in German class. Other faculty members who influenced Hamberg as a student were Mario Colacci from the department of New Testament Greek and Latin, Courtland Agre from chemistry, Gerald Thorson ’43 from English, and Paul Sonnack ’42. Hamberg’s present interests include crossword puzzles, computers, movies, Jeopardy, volunteering, travel, and spending time with his grandchildren and wife, Sandra (Edstrom) Hamberg ’66.

Jerry Hamlin ’65 works part time. He likes to volunteer and to travel in his free time. He treasures his memories of �鶹�� basketball games, the convocation with Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling, and feeling like every day was a good day. He was most influenced by Donald Gustafson and Carl Chrislock ’37 in history, and Sheldon Fardig in education. Hamlin and wife, Jari, have four children and 10 grandchildren.

James Harbo ’65 has a full-time dental practice in New York. He enjoys visiting his two grandchildren in Pennsylvania, doing church work, reading theology, participating in a book club, and aging well! He fondly remembers his dorm friendships, baseball, �鶹�� Choir concerts, and soaking up the culture of Minneapolis. The past 50 years have heightened his appreciation of his years at �鶹�� where, he says, there was “much goodness and inspiration.” Harbo and wife, Amy, have three children.

Today you can find Peter Jacobson ’65 woodworking, volunteering, or traveling. He and wife, Lynne, have two children and two grandchildren. His fondest memories of �鶹�� include dorm life all four years, �鶹�� basketball, being a resident assistant, and spending afternoons in the physics lab. He was most influenced by physics professor Theodore “Ted” Hanwick.

Sharon (Dittbenner) Klabunde ’65 plays in a mountain dulcimer band, and loves to travel and garden. She remembers chapel time from her days at �鶹�� and also living in a house as a freshman where, she says, there were three women to a room who shared one dinky closet. She enjoyed working in the cafeteria.

Carol (Welch) Langness ’65 and husband, Gary, spend every January to April in the East African city of Iringa, Tanzania, along with their synod partners in the Iringa Diocese. They have two children and three grandchildren.

Julie (Gudmestad) Laudicina ’65 and husband, Joe, love to travel and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a cruise on the Danube River. She also enjoys gardening, reading, leading a book club, and living in New York City. She has been a civil wedding officiant for 10 years and has married more than 300 couples from around the world. Some of her memories of �鶹�� include listening to choir practice, freezing at football games, enjoying her many friends, and participating in student government and chapel. She was most influenced by faculty members Phil Quanbeck Sr. ’50, professor of religion; Anne Pederson, professor of English; and Philip Thompson, professor of art. She also remembers Dean of Students Glen Johnson and Dean of Women Fern Martinson. Laudicina would most like to thank her parents, both �鶹�� alumni, for encouraging her to live and learn with a strong set of values.

Bette (Bodin) Leeney ’65 and husband, Jack, love their home in Florida. They have a pool and use it a lot. She likes to garden and to welcome the family, mostly in the winter! Her treasured memories of �鶹�� focus on the good values she learned and kept with her. She remembers the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and how difficult that was. She admired Dean of Students Peter Armacost, who supported her when her father passed away. Her psychology and social work professors inspired her to get her master’s degree in social work. She and Marie (Bergh) Sandbo ’65 met freshman year and have remained friends for 50 years. They share the same birthday.

As a student, John Luoma ’65 was influenced by Mario Colacci, professor of classical languages; Carl Chrislock ’37, professor of history; and William “Bill” Halverson ’51, professor of religion. He treasures memories of chapel, serving as student body president, and �鶹��’s emphasis on vocation, service, and faith active in love. Luoma is a minister of education at Hope Lutheran, The Villages. He is a Via de Cristo coordinator, a Diaconate teacher, and likes to travel and bowl. He and wife, Gracia (Nydahl) Luoma ’66, have two sons. Their oldest son, Aaron, passed away in January 2015.

LeRoy Martinson ’65 retired in June 1998 after 33 years of teaching math and coaching skiing. Now he stays active with tennis, volleyball, and five grandchildren. He lives with wife, Micki, in Cross Lake, Minnesota. His memories of �鶹�� are of his math teachers, his coaches, and student teaching with Ms. Anderson. He was influenced by professor of math George Soberg ’26, professor of physical education Howard “Howie” Pearson ’53, and Coach Edor Nelson ’38. Martinson is a member of the Minnesota State High School Coaches Hall of Fame.

Dan and Mary (Tildahl) Meyers ’65 met during their freshman year at �鶹��. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary, Dan has worked for AdvisorNet Financial for 50 years, and it’s been 50 years since he graduated from �鶹��. Dan remembers playing basketball and baseball, and he was influenced most by Ernie Anderson ’37 and Edor Nelson ’38. He would thank Milt Kleven ’46, if he could, for funding his scholarship. Dan keeps busy with work, golf, reading, and basketball. Mary enjoys walking, reading, caring for a grandson, and traveling. She treasures the friendships she made at �鶹�� and meeting Dan there. Carl Chrislock ’37 and her world history class helped her realize she wasn’t a history major. Mary says that �鶹�� has been an influence in their lives for 50 years. Whether they return for athletic games, homecoming or concerts, it always feels like coming home. The Meyers have two children and three grandchildren.

Larry Nelson ’65 thanks Theodore “Ted” Hanwick, of the Physics Department, for his challenging and thorough classes. Nelson’s �鶹�� education provided a solid foundation for his career in science education. He enjoyed teaching various areas of biology, in addition to wilderness-based experiential education. His fondest �鶹�� memories are of morning chapel, convocations, studying in the library, concerts, sporting events, and social activities. Nelson says �鶹�� also prepared him for continued spiritual growth. Today, he likes to travel, read, garden, volunteer, do house maintenance, and spend time with his family. He and wife, Marilyn, have two daughters and five grandchildren.

Becky (Walhood) Nielsen ’65 remembers her good friends from Miriam House. She and husband, Steve Nielsen ’64, have three daughters, 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild. Their granddaughter, Morgan Kenny ’17, attends �鶹��.

Lois Peterson ’65 would thank Mimi Kingsley, professor of Spanish, for telling her that she had “a gift for language.” Peterson is fluent in Spanish, and she visited Mimi in Chile prior to her death. Today, Peterson enjoys traveling and has been to Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway, and Spain. She remembers being in a class Bill Halverson ’51 taught in Old Main when the news came of President John F. Kennedy’s death, and watching the Beatles for the first time while in The Grill. She loves life in Denver, where her children live nearby. Leland Sateren ’35 most influenced Sharon (Bjugstad) Ronning ’65, and she has spent her life involved in music. She sings in the Masterworks Chorale, directs a church choir, and teaches piano. Other activities include knitting, spending time at her cabin, and enjoying her four children and eight grandchildren. She met husband, Don Ronning ’66, in the �鶹�� Choir. Don passed away in 2000.

Marie (Bergh) Sandbo ’65 and husband, Hans Sandbo ’63, will celebrate 50 years of marriage this year. Marie likes to travel, spend time with grandchildren, and serve on the Heritage Committee at church, all while continuing to run a small business from home. Her treasured memories of �鶹�� include the friendships made and her studies in library science. Don Gustafson, Martha Mattson ’28, Ruth Aaskov ’53, Dick Husfloen ’60, and Pat Parker are the faculty and staff who most influenced Marie. Two of the Sandbos’ three children graduated from �鶹��.

Terry Simonson ’65 and wife, Patricia, live in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where he serves as a half-time chaplain at a residence for seniors. Three generations share their home, and his three granddaughters are the joy of his life. The memories of �鶹�� that he treasures are good times spent with roommates and learning Greek and Latin (his major). Erwin Mickelberg ’54 was influential in Simonson’s decision to attend �鶹��. These days, he is interested in quantum physics and continues to explore the subject.

Win Stiefel ’65 taught school in Alaska and now lives with wife, Gracia (Olson) Stiefel ’66, in Glennallen, Alaska. He spent 10 years teaching at a Bible college and 10 years in Russia helping Evangelical churches. These days he drives a school bus, enjoys 10 grandchildren and a great grandchild, cuts firewood, and volunteers at missions. He remembers traveling with the wrestling team, canoeing on the Mississippi River, and listening to the Basin Streeters. If he could thank someone, it would be the old man outside Cedar Ave. Mission who asked him and others whether or not they were saved.

Steve Strommen ’65 likes to spend his days playing “Old Timer” softball, bird hunting, appreciating winters in San Diego and summers at a Minnesota cabin, performing home renovations, and enjoying his family and grandchildren. He has many memories from athletics at �鶹��, including three championship basketball teams and a championship in baseball. The most influential people during his time at �鶹�� were Carl Chrislock ’37 and coaches Ernie Anderson ’37 and Edor Nelson ’38. He and wife, Chynne, have two children and five grandchildren.

Sharon (Topte) Taeger ’65 and David Taeger ’65 recently moved to Camrose—a city in Alberta, Canada—after living for 19 years in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory. Sharon likes to read, paint, and socialize. David likes to listen, watch, and marvel at the growth and development of children, especially their four grandchildren. He also enjoys reading and being with friends. David received his M.Div. from Northwestern Theological Seminary. He was most influenced by Mario Collacci and Carl Chrislock ’37 while at �鶹��. Sharon and David have two children.

Virg Vagle ’65 would thank Ernie Anderson ’37, Edor Nelson ’38, and Ed Saugestad ’59 for being influential during his time at �鶹��. Vagle enjoys golfing, traveling, and being with his grandchildren. He and wife, Pat, have seven children and 12 grandchildren.

Lyndy West ’65 fondly remembers playing in the concert band and in the Basin Streeters, a group that performed for �鶹�� basketball games. He entered Luther Seminary after graduating from �鶹�� and served parishes in Los Angeles, inner-city Chicago, and Minnesota. He officially retired in 2012. He says the smartest thing he ever did was to marry Diane Haas in 1969. They have four children and four grandchildren. They like to bike, travel, read, participate in music at their church, and lead polka services. He thanks his parents for encouraging him and his siblings to attend �鶹��.

1967

John Schwartz ’67 is in his sixth season with the acclaimed Apollo Chorus of Chicago, which was formed in 1872. Schwartz serves as vice president of its board. Auggie singers in the Chicago area can audition to join this 130-member chorus. Details can be found at Apollochorus.org.

1969

In October, Janis “Matty” Mathison ’69 was honored by the American Planning Association’s Wisconsin Chapter as its Citizen of the Year for her leadership in working with local residents and planners to promote healthy living and active lifestyles in eastern Wisconsin’s Shawano County. Last year was the third year of Bike the Barn Quilts, an area bike tour that she spearheaded.

1974

The National Tile Contractors Association recently honored Janet (Durkee) Hohn ’74 with its Tile Person of the Year award. Hohn was the third woman to receive this honor in the six decades it has been presented. For more than 20 years, Hohn has operated a one-person, high-end residential tile and stone installation company. She has served as president of the Twin Cities Local Tile Contractors Association, as a board member and technical methods and standards committee member for NTCA, and most recently as chairperson of the NTCA training and education committee.

1975

Glen Teske ’75 is enjoying the adjustment to retirement after working for 40 years in the IT department at Hennepin County. Among his treasured memories as a student at �鶹�� are business administration classes, tutoring other students, and the friendships he made. He also remembers playing four years of basketball and winning the MIAC conference title in 1975. He thanks professor of history Khin Khin Jensen, adviser and professor of business Keishiro Matsumoto, mentor Jeroy Carlson ’48, and coaches Butch Raymond ’63 and Erv Inniger for their impact on his life.

1978

For 12 years, David Raether ’78 wrote for TV comedy sitcoms, including “Roseanne.” After building his career, he took a break to focus on his family and found the job market had changed completely when he attempted to return to the field. After struggling and becoming homeless, he says, he discovered that he was far more resourceful and resilient than he had ever dreamed. Raether delivered a TEDxAmherst talk and wrote a book about his experiences titled, “Tell Me Something, She Said.” ��

1979

Laura (Rolfe) Matuska ’79 has been selected as WeCAB’s part-time community outreach fundraiser. WeCAB provides door-to-door supplemental transportation in the Westonka and eastern Carver County service areas for people who are unable to drive to medical appointments, church, social events, the grocery store, or the food shelf. Matuska has significant experience working with seniors and clients, providing case management to support transitions through all levels of senior living. She has launched volunteer programs, developed a hospital-based domestic abuse intervention program, and is a successful grant writer. Matuska also has worked with many volunteers in a variety of positions.

1980

The new Bill Simenson Quintet recently debuted at The Nicollet. Leader Bill Simenson ’80 (trumpet) has been performing professionally in the Twin Cities for nearly 30 years. After earning his degree in music and political science at �鶹��, he attended the University of Trondheim in Norway where he studied music at the graduate level. Catch the Bill Simenson Orchestra, a larger ensemble, once a month at Jazz Central in Minneapolis.

1981

Rob Hubbard ’81 tells the story of the hilarity, irreverence, and imagination of the Brave New Workshop in his new book, “Brave New Workshop: Promiscuous Hostility and Laughs in the Land of Loons.” The book, from The History Press, celebrates the marvelous, unexpected, and absurd history of this one-of-a-kind comedy institution. The owners of Brave New Workshop are John Sweeney and Jenni Lilledahl ’87.

1987

Tammy Jo Rider ’87 received a 2015 Leadership Award from the Southeast Minnesota affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

1991

On October 13, 2015, David Johnson ’91 was promoted to Colonel in the North Dakota Army National Guard. He is a senior Army chaplain for the state. Johnson also is an ELCA pastor serving as a full-time chaplain for the North Dakota Army National Guard. He has been serving in this call for the past 12 years. Previous to this role, he served parishes in central and eastern North Dakota.

Bill Koschak ’91 was hired as the chief financial officer at YA, which is an industry market leader in delivering omni-channel marketing promotions for the nation’s most respected brands. Before joining YA, Koschak was vice president of finance and CFO for the convenience and foodservice business at General Mills.

2000

Lewis Nelson ’00 joined the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business MBA for Executives. He blogs about the experience at wanderingveteran.com.

2001

Katie Koch ’01 is the new Director of Auggie Engagement at �鶹�� College. Koch comes from a diverse background of performing arts management, having most recently worked at The O’Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University as an event and administrative manager. Koch worked for nearly five years at the Guthrie Theater as an assistant to former director Joe Dowling, where she supported the Guthrie Board of Directors and high-profile visiting artists. During her time at �鶹��, Koch was a member of The �鶹�� Choir, �鶹�� Concert Band, and �鶹�� Jazz and Gospel Praise. She served as an admissions ambassador, a student coordinator for new student orientation in 1999 and 2000, and wrote for the �鶹�� Echo.

2006

Heather (Nystrom) Finholm ’06 and husband, Jeffrey, announce the adoption of their twin sons, Joseph and Matthew, born April 30, 2015, and adopted on July 27, 2015.

2007

Kati (Tweeten) Bergey ’07 married Brandon Bergey on October 18, 2014. Kati teaches sixth grade for Mabel-Canton Public Schools in Mabel, Minnesota.

Lázaro G. Payano Stark was welcomed into this world at home with the help of his midwives on April 3, 2015. He is the son of Jenessa Payano Stark ’07 and Geomar Payano Stark. The family resides in south Minneapolis.��

2008

After graduation, Joshua Harris ’08 moved to Baltimore drawn to the service opportunity of working with Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest inter-collegiate community-service-oriented fraternity founded by African-Americans. Harris serves as managing editor of APA’s journal, “The Sphinx.” He works with other community leaders in Baltimore on many initiatives, including one to build a network of individuals, businesses, and organizations that can provide internships, scholarships, and mentorship opportunities for high school students. He returned to Minneapolis in fall 2015 to speak on a panel at the �鶹�� Young Alumni Council’s networking event at Surly Brewing Co. Harris is running for mayor of Baltimore. Learn about his campaign at harrisforbaltimore.com.

2012

Lauren Grafelman ’12 graduated with her MBA from Hamline University in August 2015.

William “Billy” Hamilton ’12 graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School in May and received news that he passed the Minnesota Bar Exam in July. He began work as a public defender in training at the Hennepin County Public Defender’s Office. He has found his vocation!

2013

Amanda Rowan ’13 and Jordan Lakanen ’14 married August 8, 2015. Auggies in the wedding party included: Eric Lakanen ’02, Stephanie Nelson ’13, Rachel Rixen ’13, and Ashley (Carney) Wolke ’13.

2014

Enrico Barrozo ’14 is pursuing a doctorate in genetics and genomics at the University of Florida, supported by the McKnight Doctoral, UF Graduate School, and Top-Up fellowships. Barrozo is studying the development of novel gene therapy treatments for human diseases caused by persistent viral infections and mutations of the genome. The goal of his research is to develop safe and effective strategies for treating these diseases. He also has worked as a Post-Baccalaureate Research Program Scholar at the University of Georgia.

2015

Top row [L to R]: Tyler Dorn ’15 and Alisha Esselstein ’15 were married on June 20, 2015, at Sugarland Barn in Arena, Wisconsin. Many Auggies participated in and attended the wedding. Bottom row [L to R]: Best man Alex Obanor, �鶹�� Department of Public Safety officer; Dustin Parks ’16; Keisha Barnard ’16; bridesmaid Alia Thorpe ’15; bridesmaid Lily Moloney ’15; maid of honor Rachel Shaheen ’15; ceremony musician Becky Shaheen ’11; and officiant Rev. Mike Matson ’06.

Hannah Frey ’15 has an AmeriCorps position in the Community Technology Empowerment Project, which helps bridge the “digital divide” for new immigrants and low-income communities in Minneapolis and St. Paul. She serves at Roseville (Minnesota) Library as a digital literacy coordinator for adult technology programming and outreach.

Heidi Heller ’15 has accepted a job as a historian and researcher with Hess Roise Historical Consultants.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS

Ava Beilke ’14 MBA formed her own social media consulting business, Paragon Social (paragonsocialco.com or @paragonsocialco on Twitter), with the desire to help individuals and small businesses excel in social media. Beilke studied communications in undergrad and pursued her MBA to round out her business expertise. She now fuses her creative skills with her business savvy to create the most effective social media efforts.

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Share your ideas for �鶹��’s 150th anniversary celebration

Jen Lowman Day — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:27:01 +0000

�鶹�� alumni, parents, friends, faculty, and staff are invited to help celebrate the College’s 150th anniversary in 2019. What aspect of your �鶹�� history would you like to celebrate during the sesquicentennial year? Were you connected to a team, a club, or a department that made a difference? Would you like to see a reunion for your favorite activity—whether it was the Echo newspaper staff, a sport, Lutheran Youth Encounter, the �鶹�� Choir, or theater? How best would you like to honor �鶹��’s past, present, and future?

Visit to submit your ideas and find monthly updates on planning already underway for the sesquicentennial celebration.

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Alumna combines creativity and chemistry through career at 3M

Jen Lowman Day — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:17:37 +0000

After becoming involved with the 3M STEP program as a high school student, Audrey Sherman ’97 [pictured] became an inventor at age 20. Now a scientist with 3M, Sherman is credited with nearly 80 patents, some created with other �鶹�� alumni working at the Minnesota-based company.

is for a versatile material with the potential to improve cosmetics, insulation wrapping, and electronics. Two of her favorite patents involve using pressure-sensitive adhesives to transport light and making a solvent-free duct tape. She also helped discover a new solution for restickable diaper tape. Sherman feels that her �鶹�� minor in art has been an important factor in pursuing her inventions, enabling her to blend creativity with her skills in chemistry. Today she mentors St. Paul high school students interested in science and gives talks to junior-high and middle-school students about careers in science and technology.

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Capstone dinner celebrates successful building campaign

Jen Lowman Day — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:08:57 +0000

This winter, as part of the annual Advent Vespers festivities, �鶹�� College held a dinner to celebrate the successful completion of the largest capital campaign in the institution’s history and to recognize the generosity of all who made the possible. More than 200 donors attended, including members of the Board of Regents and many alumni supporters.

President Paul Pribbenow offered his sincere thanks to Norman and Evangeline Hagfors and all donors to the new building. Chair of the Board of Regents Dr. Paul Mueller ’84 shared his gratitude and recognized the incredible leadership and commitment of Mike Good ’71 [pictured above], who served as national chair for the campaign that exceeded its $50 million goal.

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Uniquely �鶹�� Travel in Thailand and Cambodia

Jen Lowman Day — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 18:02:42 +0000

In January, English Professor and her husband, Jack, will lead an educational trip through Thailand and Cambodia. After arriving in Bangkok, travelers will tour the Grand Palace, visit the temple at Wat Po (the Reclining Buddha), shop for tropical produce, and sample local cuisine cooked on boats at a floating market. From there they will continue to Chiang Mai to ride elephants, perfect their culinary skills with a cooking class, and volunteer at an orphanage. The trip will conclude in Siem Reap, Cambodia, at Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.

This thought-provoking tour has been customized specifically for �鶹�� alumni, parents, and friends, and there’s still time to learn more and participate. Contact , director of Auggie Engagement, at kochk@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1178 if you are interested in learning more about �鶹��’s travel opportunities.

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