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Brian Krohn Creates a Cell Phone Application to Combat Snoring

Brian Krohn presenting his application, Soundly.
Photo: Glen Stubbe, Star Tribune.

Star Tribune’s Richard Chin refers to Brian Krohn ‘08  as a “Minnesota Genius” in his article. Among Krohn’s creations are surgery tools, wizard staffs, a cycling workout app, and more recently, Soundly, a cell phone application designed to help people who snore by getting them to play a voice-activated game to strengthen their upper airway muscles.

While at Augsburg, Krohn switched majors from film to chemistry, that’s when his interest in becoming a scientist began. His undergraduate research led him to “Good Morning America” where he talked about a process to produce environmentally-friendly fuel, which was later commercialized in the development of a $9 million pilot plant.

“A lot of times I get a little bug about something, I kind of just do things and see where they go,” says Krohn about his ventures.

Read full story at the Star Tribune site.

Sam Graves ’16 quoted in Star Tribune article on technology and education

Minneapolis Star Tribune - logoThe Minneapolis Star Tribune recently included a statement by Sam Graves ’16 in an article covering a large donation to the PACER Center, which specializes in creating technology designed for children and young adults with special needs. The $1 million donation was given by the Otto Bremer Trust.

Graves, a recent Augsburg College graduate who lives with cerebral palsy, credits the Center’s library of software and adaptive devices as part of his educational success. “Without technology, I wouldn’t be able to be independent,” he said.

Graves graduated with honors April 30 and was awarded the first-ever Youth Leadership Award by the Otto Bremer Trust later that evening.

Read PACER Center awarded $1 million by Otto Bremer Trust on the Star Tribune site.

Rachel Kruzel discusses how technology helps students with disabilities at Augsburg

Rachel Kruzel, head of the Augsburg College CLASS Office’s Groves Technology Lab, recently wrote an article for HigherEd Tech Decisions that discusses how Augsburg is embracing technologies that help students with learning disabilities. In the article, “How Augsburg College Helps Students Disabilities Take Better Notes with Technology,” Kruzel states that Augsburg has begun offering a software package that helps students record and organize audio of their lectures in lieu of traditional written notes, which can be difficult for students with dyslexia or ADHD.

Kruzel shares that about 5 percent of students at Augsburg have some type of learning disability. She hopes that this technology will help students perform at a level that more accurately reflects their capacity.

“These students’ level of intelligence may be above average, but because they struggle with the traditional college notetaking format, they may fail to reach their potential,” she writes.

Augsburg receives $600,000 grant for STEM scholarships

stemUpper-division students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) can apply for new academic merit scholarships for as much as $7,000 per year beginning Fall 2012.

The AugSTEM scholarships will be funded by a nearly $600,000 grant recently received from the National Science Foundation. The grant means that as many as 30 students in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics will receive important financial support as they pursue their academic careers. Continue reading “Augsburg receives $600,000 grant for STEM scholarships”

Auggies receive career advice and inspiration at NSBE conference

nsbeconferenceAt the end of March, junior physics majors Gottlieb Uahengo, Mohamed Sheikh-Mohamed, Amir Rose, and Fred Vedasto attended the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. The conference included workshops and programming for grade school, collegiate, graduate, technical professional, and international entities of the Society. Their travel was funded through the NorthStar STEM Alliance, an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) which is intended to double the number of African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Alaska Native and Pacific Islander students receiving baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Continue reading “Auggies receive career advice and inspiration at NSBE conference”

Welcome the new Gage Center for Student Success

gage_centerOver the winter break, several departments moved into the Gage Center on the second floor (link level) of the Lindell Library. This change will provide greater accessibility to services for students and will allow for enhanced communication between departments.

The programs located in the Gage Center are:

CLASS—Regina Hopingardner, Sheila Fox Wassink, Rick Gubash, Barbara Harvey, Rachel Kruzel, Anne Lynch

– Access Center—Sadie Curtis

– TRiO/SSS—Kimberly Bestler, Kevin Cheatham, Melody Martagon-Geiger, Aly Olson, Sherron Reese

– Academic Skills Office/Tutor Center—Annette Carpenter, Debbie Shapiro, Benjy Kent Continue reading “Welcome the new Gage Center for Student Success”

Jazmine Darden '13 receives Tekne Scholarship

darden_tekneAt the Minnesota High Tech Foundation awards ceremony held earlier this month, mathematics and physics major Jazmine Darden ’13 [left] was one of eight Minnesota undergraduate students to receive a Tekne Scholarship. The scholarships are awarded to students seeking careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields or in STEM teaching.

At the ceremony, Darden was able to network with representatives of many of Minnesota’s leading technology companies and make connections for future internship and career opportunities. “It was like the Academy Awards of the technology industry in Minnesota,” she said. “Everyone was there.” Continue reading “Jazmine Darden '13 receives Tekne Scholarship”

Information is not knowledge

pippert_convocationThe following is an excerpt from Sociology professor Tim Pippert’s opening convocation address to students, titled “Information is not knowledge.”

As a sociologist, I am fascinated by social change and lately I have been drawn to the transformations that are taking place in the areas of education and the use of technology.

Because I am interested in how society is adapting to the explosion of internet-based technology, I found this talk very easy to write. I asked myself, “Why not use the available technologies?” I simply Googled “opening college speech” and immediately had hundreds to work with. Continue reading “Information is not knowledge”

For some Auggies, summer means research

mathconferenceWhat would persuade an active young college student to spend eight hours a day for 10 weeks of her summer in a laboratory looking over carbon uptake data? Ask Jazmine Darden, a sophomore mathematics and physics major from Brooklyn Park.

“You learn what a career would be like,” she says. “You can’t sleep until noon because you have to be at work, and it helps you realize what you want to do.” Continue reading “For some Auggies, summer means research”

GEMS and GISE robots roam campus

gems_giseThe Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) and the Guys in Science and Engineering (GISE) are back on the Augsburg campus again this summer. This yearly program, for students in grades 4-12, is designed to develop confidence in and a positive attitude toward math, science, and technology. The students come for the Minneapolis Public School District.

Augsburg students, as well as former GEMS students, serve as mentors. These opportunities not only give the younger students valuable opportunities, but the Augsburg students valuable teaching experience while building their own confidence and knowledge in math and science. Continue reading “GEMS and GISE robots roam campus”