From the Alumni Board president's desk...

As most of us know, educational opportunities did not end when we graduated from Augsburg. Last month, I had the pleasure of attending an Auggie Hour located on the garden patio of a local restaurant on a warm summer evening.

Mr. Zach Curtis ’97 enlightened us with interesting stories concerning what it is like to be a professional actor in the Twin Cities. I learned more behind-the-scenes information about the Minnesota theatre community in one hour than I could ever have imagined.

The Augsburg Alumni Board is dedicated to connecting alumni with their fellow alums and to their program in a manner that is of mutual benefit to both. Accordingly, I highly recommend that when an Auggie Hour is held in your area, you spend a few hours reacquainting yourself with other alumni—and gain some useful and interesting information at the same time.

Vocation Mentoring Teams
Augsburg is the fortunate recipient of the Lilly Endowment Grant entitled "Exploring Our Gifts: Reconnecting Faith, Life, and Vocation." Part of the grant involves creating a program that will bring alumni back to the campus for a mentoring program that includes students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

At the mentoring meetings and retreat, the group participants will discuss what fosters spiritual growth and maturation while reflecting upon vocation. It is anticipated that the mentors' commitment will involve an evening training session; five or six evening gatherings consisting of large group presentations for alumni mentors, students, faculty, and staff; small-group breakout sessions; potential follow-up with students at their place of work; and a final evaluation celebration.

Students will be interested to know how you chose the work you do, how Augsburg prepared you and influenced you in your work, how you face the challenges in balancing your work and family life, and what gives your life meaning and purpose.

If you are interested in participating or learning more about this program, please contact Pastor Sonja Hagander at 612-330-1735 or via e-mail at hagander@augsburg.edu, or visit Augsburg's Lilly Endowment Web site at www.augsburg.edu/lilly.

—Andrew Morrison ’73
President, Alumni Board

Alumni Profiles:

Mike Eayrs ’72:
Titletown's Eayrs an NFL innovator

Darcey Engen ’88 and
Luverne Seifert ’83:
All the world's their stage

Three alumni appointed to Alumni Board

The Augsburg Alumni Board of Directors appointed three new members and elected Andy Morrison ’73 as president and Paul Mueller ’84 as president-elect. The new members are as follows:

Greg Boone ’81
Greg Boone graduated from Augsburg with a B.A. in business administration and a concentration in finance. He works for Northwest Airlines as a business unit manager. He has been a volunteer youth basketball coach in South Minneapolis for seven years. He is also director, treasurer, and member of the South Side Athletic Association, a non-profit organization designed to provide opportunities for youth in the South Minneapolis community to participate in traveling league sports. Boone was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

Jennifer Tome ’99
Jennifer Tome graduated from Augsburg in with a B.A. in communications and business. Tome is a wine representative to local restaurants with Paustis Wine Company in Plymouth. She serves on the Children's Home Society Winemaker's Dinner Planning Committee, and is a member of the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce and Grapevine Wine Club.

Barry Vornbrock ’96 MAL
Barry Vornbrock graduated from Augsburg in 1996 with an M.A. in leadership. He manages IS Ambulatory Patient Care Systems at HealthPartners, Inc., in Minneapolis. His varied professional background includes engineering, computer science, and retail sales. His volunteer work includes service as an election judge and site coordinator, as well as involvement with the United Way campaign and the Minneapolis Youth Diversion Program's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender host home program. This year, Augsburg honored him with a First Decade Award at Homecoming.

New director and associate director join Alumni/Parent Relations

The Office of Alumni/Parent Relations started the 2002-’03 academic year with a new director and associate director.

Amy Sutton joined the staff as director in August. She was previously vice president of Friendship Ventures in Annandale, Minn., a nonprofit organization serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. She has also served both South Dakota State University and Augustana College in positions ranging from admissions counselor, assistant director of admissions, development officer, interim director of annual programs and alumni relations, and director of scholarship administration and development.

Sutton served as dean of counselors for South Dakota Girls State in a voluntary capacity for 16 years and received the South Dakota Girls State service award for her efforts. She has also been recognized as one of the top 20 people under the age of 40 for contributions to the Brookings, S.Dak., community through work, public service, and volunteer efforts.

Sutton graduated with a B.S. in commercial economics from South Dakota State University in 1991 and acquired her Master of Science in Industrial Management in 2000 from South Dakota State University.

"I look forward to becoming a member of the Augsburg community," says Sutton. "It is already obvious to me that there are exceptional people here.

"Our continued priority in Alumni/Parent Relations will be to build and maintain relationships with all of our alumni, students, and parents, and to work with them side-by-side to ensure that Augsburg is always an exceptional place to come home to. We hope to provide additional support to our international and Weekend College students and alumni as well."

In her first recruiting assignment at Augsburg, Sutton hired Heidi Breen as associate director of Alumni/Parent Relations. Breen, who joined the staff Sept. 3, had been associate director of admissions at Augsburg. Over the last 16 years, she handled all aspects of recruiting transfer and international students plus students from North Dakota and Colorado.

Breen has served on the European Council of International School Boards since 1993 and has led two groups to Central and South America for recruiting purposes. She has a B.A. in elementary education from Concordia College-Moorhead, but you'd find it hard to believe she is not an Auggie!

"I have loved my years working in admissions meeting great students and their families," says Breen. "The relationships that I've built with students, families, and counselors while recruiting are amazing. I am very excited to begin my position as associate director of Alumni/Parent Relations. It will be wonderful meeting up with some of my earlier recruits! The alumni office is here for you, so please let us know how we can help you get connected to Augsburg—and for those already connected and volunteering, thank you!"