From the Alumni Board president's desk...

I like this job, being president of the Alumni Board. It gives me an excuse to walk up to Auggies—whether friends or strangers—and ask what memories they have of this place. Usually I don't even have to ask, since their memories quickly spill out.

I went to a seminar for alumni of the Master of Arts in Leadership program. My former colleagues were reminiscing about nights when class would end but they would continue their discussion, not wanting the challenging verbal and mental exercises to end.

The evening Maya Angelou spoke in a packed Melby Hall, I was walking through Foss Center with an alumna who paused to point out her picture on the wall near the Green Room. Her memories of Augsburg's theatre productions glimmered in her smile.

I drove to Rochester one Sunday to hear Augsburg's Gospel Praise perform at Bethel Lutheran Church. I asked one of our gifted musicians what he liked best about Augsburg. Without hesitation, he mentioned the names of faculty members. He told me they care, they like to teach, and they do it well.

I listened to Neal Thorpe ’60 when he received a Distinguished Alumnus Award at Homecoming in October. He remembered Peter (P.A.) Strommen ’13, the first of more than 30 Strommen family members to attend Augsburg. Thorpe shared how his life and career were influenced by Strommen's dedication to Augsburg.

My own memories of student teaching flooded back to me as I congratulated Marie McNeff at Homecoming for receiving a Spirit of Augsburg Award. She was my student teaching adviser—and I needed all the advising she could give.

The Augsburg experience has left us with powerful memories that can seem as real today as when we first lived them. However, let's not forget that our alma mater is still creating memorable experiences—and not just for current students. There are opportunities for alumni to build new memories through Augsburg's music, theatre, exhibits, sports, and seminars. See the calendar on the back page or look at our Web site. When you're in the Twin Cities, attend an event. If you now live far from here, help us bring Augsburg to you through a regional alumni gathering.

I like my old Auggie memories, but the new ones I'm creating today at Augsburg are pretty good, too. Please join me.

Jackie (Kniefel) Lind '69, '94 MAL
President, Alumni Board

Alumni Profiles:

Chester Brooks ’42:
Saving the real 'Private Ryan'

Geoffrey Carlson Gage:
Creating his own path

Three alumni honored for outstanding professional contributions

by Lynn Mena

Three Augsburg alumni were recently honored for their extraordinary professional contributions.

Michael W. Walgren ’64 received a Philanthropy Day Award in November from the Minnesota Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). Honored for outstanding professional fundraising, Walgren's 37-year career spans public service as a fundraiser and administrator in a variety of community organizations; he is currently at Children's Hospitals and Clinics Foundation. He was also a staff member at Augsburg for 16 years, serving in various roles, including both director of the annual fund and director of public relations.

Walgren's nomination was supported by several professional fundraisers and AFP members attesting to his generous gifts of time, talent, and treasures, as well as to the funds he has raised to benefit his current and past employers in pursuit of building a better community.

The Rev. Roger Gordon ’61 received a 2001 Tempe Human Relations Commission Diversity Award from the City of Tempe (Ariz.). Since founding Tempe's King of Glory Lutheran Church in 1969, Gordon has preached and modeled a life of acceptance, honoring diversity, embracing inclusiveness, and respecting all people.

Because of his conscious awareness of community issues, Gordon has led King of Glory's involvement in many outreach projects that aid diverse populations, including Habitat for Humanity, La Mesita Family Shelter, and Paz de Cristo Homeless Shelter.

The Rev. James S. Hamre ’53 of Forest City, Iowa, received a Concordia Historical Institute Award of Commendation for his piece, "George Sverdrup's Expression of a Lutheran Restoration in America," which appeared in the spring 2000 issue of Lutheran Quarterly.

A professor emeritus at Waldorf College, Hamre's piece was selected on the basis of specific criteria. Of the great number of nominations, only 12 were chosen for awards. The committee grants awards to congregations, agencies, boards, or individuals for a historical publication, unique contributions to Lutheran literature, or for personal service in the field of Lutheran archival and historical work and support.

Homecoming 2001

Visit the Homecoming Web site to view more photos and
highlights from Homecoming 2001!