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McNair Scholars present research

mcnair_researchThis Monday, July 13, current McNair Scholars will be presenting their research projects on campus.

McNair Scholars are not finished with their final research papers as their projects span over a 10-week period. This event is in preparation for their presentations next weekend at the McNair Scholars Conference held at the University of New York-Buffalo.

The presentations will be held in OGC 114 from 10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. Feel free to drop in for any session. Evaluation forms will be available to help provide the scholars feedback. Continue reading “McNair Scholars present research”

Getting students into the lab

lsampTwo first-year students, Fadli Mohamed and Makia Jama, spent four weeks in May testing for bacteria in the women’s locker room at Augsburg. They learned a great deal about microbiology from biology professor Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright and whetted their appetite for more research. This project was funded through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP). On Thursday, July 9, the steering committee of the North Star Alliance, which administers the LSAMP program in Minnesota, will meet at Augsburg College. Continue reading “Getting students into the lab”

The best dad in the world

irvine_fatherLast Saturday, English professor Colin Irvine threw out the first pitch at the Twins game versus Houston. It wasn’t because he’s an especially talented pitcher or because he’s thinking of making a career change. He was selected as Father of the Year by the National Center for Fathering and was honored by the Twins prior to the game.

Irvine’s son Caleb, a second grader at St. Dominic School in Northfield, submitted an essay titled “What My Father Means to Me” this past spring. Out of 23,000 essays submitted, Caleb’s was chosen and his dad was eventually named Father of the Year in Minnesota. Colin and Caleb were invited to the Twins game and received a trophy and a $1,200 grand prize. Continue reading “The best dad in the world”

It's never too late to learn something new

rich_osbornRich Osborn had accomplished a lot by the time he retired in 1999.

He served his country during the Vietnam War. He and his wife raised three kids. He flew as a pilot for Northwest Airlines for 33 years, retiring as a 747 pilot.

But he never earned a college degree. That, however, will change on Sunday.

While each of the 167 undergraduate students eligible to go through commencement on Sunday has their own story, the 69-year-old Osborn will certainly be among the oldest Augsburg for Adults students to ever graduate. Continue reading “It's never too late to learn something new”

Center for Democracy and Citizenship moves to Augsburg

cdc_announcementAugsburg College announced Friday that Center for Democracy and Citizenship, an organization with a reputation across the globe for innovative thinking about public engagement, will become affiliated with the College, effective July 1, 2009.

The Executive Committee of the Augsburg College Board of Regents approved the move this morning. Led by co-directors Harry Boyte and Nan Skelton, the Center for Democracy and Citizenship has been part of the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.

The Center for Democracy and Citizenship’s work is grounded in the belief that a healthy democracy requires everyone’s participation, and that each of us has something to contribute. This work builds on a long tradition of people of all ages working together for the common good. Continue reading “Center for Democracy and Citizenship moves to Augsburg”

Future Auggies get an early start

vento_auggiesEarly this spring, some future Auggies started on their path to college when they were adopted by the Augsburg College admissions staff and by Auggie Eagle.

Anne Gardner, a first grade teacher at Bruce F. Vento Elementary in St. Paul, contacted Carrie Carroll, assistant vice president of admissions asking if Augsburg would be a benefactor to her class and adopt her first graders.

“We agreed to sponsor her classroom and the connection has blossomed,” said Carroll.

Last year, each class at Vento Elementary adopted a college or university to represent his or her classroom. Gardner chose Augsburg in part because her son, Sam Smith, is a student at the College. Students learned about Augsburg, including the fight song. Carroll said the students have Augsburg postcards and pictures in their classroom and they each made their own Auggie pennant to take home for the summer. Continue reading “Future Auggies get an early start”

June commencement highlights science

june_commencementOn Sunday, June 28, undergraduate and graduate students from Minneapolis and Rochester will celebrate their graduation from Augsburg College. For a complete listing of events, go to www.augsburg.edu/commencement.

As in the May commencement ceremony, both the featured speaker and honorary degree recipient are well known for their distinguished careers related to science and education.

Augsburg is honored to welcome Eric J. Jolly, PhD, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota, as the June commencement speaker. Jolly is a member of the Augsburg College Board of Regents and is recognized for his commitment to science and mathematics education, striving to educate young people as the future workforce and to create an informed citizenry that engages science in public policy issues. Continue reading “June commencement highlights science”

A summer in London

rostad_abroadUntil a few weeks ago, Grant Rostad had never traveled outside North America and had never lived more than lived 20 miles from his parents’ home. Now the Augsburg senior is “across the pond” doing an internship with Ernst & Young in London.

“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” says Rostad. “If you had asked me about this my freshman year, I wouldn’t have even thought of it.”

An accounting and finance major from Bloomington, Minn., Rostad applied for the internship after a friend recommended he participate in a program abroad. He’s working in Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) doing assurance and auditing for the firm. Continue reading “A summer in London”

Auggies in New Zealand

newzealandThis summer, a group of Augsburg students are exploring the biodiversity and environmental politics of New Zealand and the Cook Islands with biology professor Brian Corner and political science professor Joe Underhill. The professors and students have been keeping detailed accounts of their experiences on two blogs: Augsburg BioLOG and Augsburg New Zealand Trip.

At left is Franz Josef Glacier, and what follows is a posting from the BioLOG by Richmond Appleton. Continue reading “Auggies in New Zealand”

Cycling for progress

pedalersThe four bicycles were fully loaded and leaning against a picnic table in Murphy Park on Thursday morning. There were pannier bags stuffed on the front and back of each of the bikes. And before riding away, Tommy Schlaefer, Nate White, Michael Wethington and Jake Quarstad were saying goodbyes to family and friends.

The four—two recent grads and two who will be Augsburg seniors in the fall—are embarking on what will be an interesting summer journey: Ride their bikes to Portland, Ore. in order to gain a better understanding of why that city is considered to be the most bike-friendly in the United States. Continue reading “Cycling for progress”