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2001 Alumni Visit Campus … and You Can Too

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In my role as Alumni Director I have the opportunity to meet with amazing Auggies to share their journey and their connection to Augsburg.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to spend some time with some friends from the class of 2001. There is something really special that happened on the 5th floor of Urness in the fall of 1997. A group was formed that has stood the test of time and location. I know that so many of you have similar experiences and groups of friends you still see regularly for brunch or not-regular-enough get-togethers.

One of the things that was important for this group was to spend some of their precious time together at Augsburg visiting and reconnecting with the campus and some of the people that make Augsburg so amazing.

We walked around and saw classrooms, shared memories, remembered others, laughed, and spent some money in the bookstore.

One thing this visit cemented to me is how important it is to visit Augsburg. In this era of social media, we sometimes think that we know what’s going on at Augsburg. But there is something about being here physically, seeing the campus, smelling it … you wouldn’t believe how some things smell just the same (Urness) and how it makes the memories come flying back. As we approach Homecoming, I ask you to remember that it is important to come back and be here, to experience the campus and the activities you enjoyed with your friends and classmates. You don’t have to take my word for it, but I invite you to take theirs.

If you’re looking to tour campus with your favorite classmates, be sure to let me know.

Katie Koch ’01
Auggie Alumni Director

Alumni Gather for Rochester’s First Alumni Family Picnic

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On Sunday, July 17, 45 Augsburg alumni and students from all programs gathered at Soldiers Field Park to spend a beautiful summer afternoon at the first-ever alumni event in Rochester. Alumni families were greeted by alumni director, Katie Koch ‘01, volunteer engagement manager, Katie Radford ‘12, Associate Provost James Gross, and Rochester administrative staff.

Alumni from the Minneapolis and Rochester programs who live in the Rochester area met new friends and reconnected with classmates, co-workers, and neighbors. One of the highlights of the family gathering was to watch so many kids playing together and enjoying new Auggie gear won in the raffle, including mugs, t-shirts, padfolios, and sunglasses.

The Alumni Association looks forward to the next alumni event in Rochester, and is thankful to all who spent the afternoon celebrating summer and our connections to Augsburg.

Auggie Night at the Races is August 12

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Canterbury 2016 Web Banner

It’s time once again to register for the biggest alumni event of the summer … the 12th annual Auggie Night at the Races, happening August 12 at Canterbury Park. Last year, more than 1,000 Auggies attended this event and donated hundreds of pounds of supplies for Health Commons.

Register today for this FREE and fun family event that includes admission into the park and a complimentary picnic buffet. This event is open to all alumni and friends and is hosted by the Alumni Board and Young Alumni Council. We would love to see you there!

What: August 12, 2016
Where: Canterbury Park, Shakopee (map)
When: 5-7 p.m, Auggie social hour and dinner buffet
Races start at 6:30 p.m.
Cost: FREE

When you come to Canterbury, please consider bringing a donation for the Augsburg Central Health Commons. The Health Commons is a nursing-led free drop-in center dedicated to serving those in need. Items in strong demand include socks, diapers, and hygiene supplies. For almost 25 years, the Augsburg College Department of Nursing has operated a free health center for homeless or marginally placed individuals at Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis. Basic supplies are needed to continue to serve the 1,500 people each year.

A full list of items includes: new white or black tube socks, diapers, diaper wipes, soaps, toothpastes, toothbrushes, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, razors, or other hygiene-related items. Your donation allows students to continue this important service-learning experience. Thank you for your strong support of this event each year!

Get Fit with Auggie Alumni

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Auggie Pride fieldMark your calendars for the next great alumni event! On August 6, Auggies Get Fit is a great chance to shape up and explore a new fitness routine, or just get together for a good time with fellow alumni on Nelson Field.

The Young Alumni Council is calling all Auggies to get fit with Augsburg alumni on Saturday, August 6, on campus. If you have not yet registered for Auggies Get Fit, it’s not too late! The first 15 to register get an Auggie collapsible water bottle.

We will be taking over Edor Nelson Field with a morning of yoga followed by a CrossFit-inspired boot camp. Yoga begins at 9 a.m. and will be led by Auggie alumna Jill Watson ’10 MBA. Boot camp begins at 10:30 a.m., led by Auggie grads Tyler Reiter ’10 and Dane Bates ’11. Come to one or both sessions. All levels of fitness and experience are welcome!

What: Auggies … Get Fit!
When: Saturday, August 6, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Where: Edor Nelson Field, Augsburg campus
Cost: $15, all proceeds support the Augsburg Athletic Fund

Register now at the Alumni Events page.

Homecoming registration is now open

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Homecoming planning is underway for a full weekend of activities on Sept. 22-24, 2016. The Alumni Association looks forward to hosting reunions for the classes of 1966, 1976, 1991, and 2006. If you’re a member of a reunion class, and you’d like to be involved as a reunion leader, you can help coordinate plans and activities for your class. Join your reunion committee by contacting alumni director Katie Koch ’01 at kochk@augsburg.edu.

New events this year increase the fun for everyone, including a host of themed Auggie Talks. Join us for 30-45 minute insightful sessions presented by professors and fellow alumni on topics spearheaded by class reunion groups. Check out the full schedule of events.

In addition, look forward to celebrating the awesome Auggies being honored at Homecoming this year:
•  Karim El-Hibri and Kyle Loven ’06 will receive the First Decade Award.

•  Norm & Evangeline Hagfors and Dr. Robert (Bob) Stacke ‘71 will receive the The Spirit of Augsburg Award.

•  Ron Nelson ’68, Lee Roper-Batker ‘88, and Dr. Ray Yip ’72 will receive the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Register now

Financial Update for Parents

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The Fall 2016 billing statements were electronically sent to all registered students on July 7. To ensure that all financial aid has been applied for, and correct amounts are owed, please make sure your student has turned in all necessary documents to the Student Financial Services Office. Students can see what documents are missing, and their financial aid award letter once it is finalized, by logging into their Augnet account and clicking on ‘Records and Registration’ and then ‘Track My Financial Aid.’

Students are encouraged to give parents/guardians access to view their billing statements. Students must log in to augsburg.edu/studentfinancial/ and select ‘Make a Payment/Account Activity’ on the right hand menu. Click ‘View your online student account’ and follow the instructions under ‘Parent/Third Party Access Instructions – Make a Payment.’

All students are eligible to enroll in Augsburg’s Online Payment Plan; enrollment opened on July 7. Students must log in to augsburg.edu/studentfinancial/ and select ‘Make a Payment/Account Activity’ on the right hand menu. Click ‘Payment Plans and Discounts’ and follow the instructions under ‘Augsburg Online Payment Plan.’ To ensure 5 monthly payments, the application must be completed by July 26.

Students must have completed the online ‘Information Release’ form in order for our office to communicate with anyone besides themselves. The student must log into their Augnet Account at augnet.augsburg.edu or inside.augsburg.edu and click on ‘Records and Registration.’ Under ‘Information Release’ they need to ‘Add an Authorization.’ They will enter the full name and email address of the party/parties they are giving permission for future communication. Next, select ‘Financial Aid/Finances Release’ and then click ‘Save.’ Please note that we will be unable to speak with any parent/guardian that has not been authorized by the student.

Rochester Alumni Gathering is July 17

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Rochester Auggies are EverywhereCalling all Rochester Auggies!
Please join us on Sunday, July 17, from 4-6 p.m. for a first-ever alumni family picnic in Rochester with hot dogs, hamburgers, fix-ins and sides at Soldiers Field Park. We’ve rented a shelter—please bring lawn chairs and lawn games to enjoy! The gathering is free, but please register all guests so we can plan appropriately for food. Hosted by Alumni Relations, the Alumni Board, and Rochester campus staff.
RSVP today!

Auggies Win at the Twins

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Auggie Night at the Twins was a rousing success on June 22. Tickets in the Auggie block above home plate sold out for the event jointly sponsored by the Augsburg Alumni Board and Young Alumni Council.

The annual night out at the ballpark began with a pre-game reception at the nearby Kieran’s, with a short program hosted by Nick Rathmann ’03 and featuring Robert Grace ’98, who operates Be Graceful Bakery, with a concession booth at TCF Bank, Target Field, and the new US Bank Stadium. Then 75 Auggies watched the Minnesota Twins take on the Phillies and WIN. Special thanks to Nik Linde ’15 for taking the photos.

Why Travel with Auggies?

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Thailand-WebDan Cherryhomes, class of ’73, and his wife, Pat, saw promotional material for the Augsburg trip to Thailand and Cambodia in January 2017 and decided to go to the on-campus information session.

Both Dan and Pat had thought about different ways to travel and tour in retirement, had looked at tours, but had never given serious thought to any group package.

“We had  the opportunity to try out the idea in an orientation meeting with some of the people with whom we would likely travel. It was not so surprising to us that as part of the extended Augsburg family, we share the same values and hopes for the trip as a number of the participants. When we met the hosts, English professor Kathy Swanson, and her husband, Jack, we also learned they had spent time as Peace Corps volunteers in Thailand.”

Dan’s parents were missionaries, and he spent his first four years in Thailand. Jack talked with Dan about where he had lived and offered that they could make a brief side-trip one day in Bangkok to the place where Dan had lived.

Dan Cherryhomes '73 in Prague, 2014.
Dan Cherryhomes ’73 in Prague, 2014.

“This was something we didn’t expect  in a group tour—the willingness of our host to help make the experience more personally meaningful to us. We left the orientation and decided that the trip was not only something worthwhile, but that this was the best opportunity we would ever have to travel with people willing to share a similar experience.”

Tour host Kathy Swanson promises a trip that will be Uniquely Augsburg. Travelers will visit sites that appear on most trips to Thailand and Cambodia: the temples, the Grand Palace, the night markets, the floating market, Angkor Wat. The tour will, however, also include items that are uniquely Augsburg such as a visit to an orphanage for Hill Tribe children, Augsburg guides who know the country well and speak some Thai, and a group of travelers who share a common background and interest in being citizens of the world.
Swanson and her husband are already looking forward to the trip. “With all of our trips to Thailand, we most enjoy sharing our love and knowledge of the place with others who are interested in various cultures and new experiences. Each time, we see the familiar through the new eyes of our travelers,” she said.
Who should take this trip? “Anyone who values expanding a world view, learning about a new culture, experiencing beauty (and fun!),” said Kathy Swanson. As Mark Twain wrote:
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” — from Innocents Abroad

The tour is open to all and now accepting reservations—just a dozen spots remain. Find a full itinerary and more details about the Thailand/Cambodia trip here. If you have questions or wish to register, contact Katie Koch at kochk@augsburg.edu.

 

Alumni Teachers May Qualify for Help with Student Loans

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Education_HeaderTeachers working in designated teacher shortage areas in Minnesota may now qualify for help with their student loan payments. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) recently announced an assistance program for teachers with student loans.
The Minnesota Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program, created in 2015, is intended to encourage teachers to teach in Minnesota in designated shortage areas by providing assistance with their student loan repayments.
In general, applicants must currently:
  • Hold a teaching license issued by the licensing division in the Minnesota Department of Education on behalf of the Board of Teaching
  • Be employed by a school district to provide classroom instruction
  • Teach in a designated teacher shortage area; and
  • Have outstanding qualified educational loan debt.
Qualifying teachers who apply by June 30, 2016, may be eligible for repayment assistance of $1,000 per year, up to a total of $5,000. OHE estimates that 194 awards will be made for the 2015-2016 award year, with as many as 1,940 annual awards made through 2019.
The Teacher Shortage Student Loan Repayment Program application is online here.
Please share this information with interested friends or colleagues. For more information, contact Sandy Connolly at 651-259-3902 or by email at sandy.connolly@state.mn.us.