Want to be part of a musical theater about the Augsburg University community, past and present?

The new work, to be performed in spring 2020, is one of the faculty-led projects to celebrate the 150th anniversary. Members of the community are invited to take part in every step of the process, from creating material to performing in the production.

Sonja Thompson, assistant professor of music and university organist, is leading the project. Malick Ceesay ’17, company manager at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis, has signed on as stage director, and Aaron Gabriel ’99 is composing music and lyrics for the production. Meanwhile, team member/writer Leah Cooper of Wonderlust Productions is busy structuring the play around the stories of real Auggies that were gathered in story circles during fall and winter. The Augsburg Music-Theater Club is also contributing to stage direction, musical direction, and choreography, as well as performing in the cast.

Audition dates have not been set, but alumni and friends of Augsburg interested in performing or otherwise being a part of the production can learn more at engage.augsburg.edu/sesquicentennialmusical.

Contact Sonja Thompson, assistant professor of music/university organist at thompso2@augsburg.edu, for questions or comments.

A video celebrating the success of Augsburg’s TRIO McNair Scholars alumni will be released during an event from 3 to 5 p.m. October 23.

More details are to come about the video release event during Augsburg’s sesquicentennial celebration.

The alumni featured are Trevor Rodriguez-Sotelo ’13; Magaly Ortiz Aucapipa ’14, and Diamonique Walker ’16.  Rodriguez-Sotelo went on to complete a Master of Science degree in automotive engineering from Clemson University. Ortiz Aucapipa is pursuing a PhD in Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics at the University of Minnesota.  Walker is pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology Quantitative Methods at the University of Minnesota.

Annually, 26 Augsburg students participate in the McNair Scholars Program, a federal TRIO program funded by the U.S. Department of Education. The goal is to increase graduate degree awards for students from underrepresented segments of society; either first-generation college students with financial need, and/or members of a group underrepresented in graduate education.

McNair participants demonstrate strong academic potential and prepare for graduate study through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. The McNair Scholars Program was created by the U.S. Congress in honor of Dr. Ronald E. McNair, the astronaut and physicist who was among the first African Americans in the space program. McNair lost his life in the Challenger space shuttle disaster.

Augsburg is soliciting at least 150 stories from Auggies for our 150th anniversary next year!

We are hoping for students to share what is means for them to be an Auggie, along with a photo of them on campus (or doing something in the community related to Augsburg).

These stories and photos will be featured at Augsburg’s social media sites throughout the 2019-2020 academic year. To qualify, you must be planning on attending Augsburg at some point next year. Day, AU, and Graduate students are all encouraged to submit stories and photos.

Submissions can be entered through this online form. Submissions are due Friday, May 3.

Faculty, staff, and students are already planning a series of projects that includes an app, videos, and 10-episode podcast to showcase Augsburg’s Sesquicentennial.

View this Inside Augsburg page for descriptions of projects such as Auggie Political Engagement: A History; the Cedar-Riverside Community Partnership; Auggie Athletic Highlights, and many more.

More information will be shared in the coming months.

2019 marks 150 years since Augsburg’s founding in 1869. Starting in September, the Augsburg community will hold a year-long celebration to lift up our founding principles, honor our history, and look to the future.

The celebration kicks off September 27 with the Sesquicentennial Gala. Information about discounted tickets will be available next week and sold for a limited time to Augsburg employees.

Learn more about the Sesquicentennial Gala at Inside Augsburg

The goal of the September 10 and 11 Focused Conversations is for Augsburg faculty and staff to discuss planning for the sesquicentennial celebration starting next fall.

Co-Chairs Darcey Engen ’88 and Jeff Swenson ’79 as well as Project & Event Manager Jodi Collen and Programming & Content Manager Katie (Koch) Code ’01 all shared information.

More details will be available here in the months to come.  Quarterly meetings will be held to share updates, field questions, and facilitate discussion.

View the September 10 and 11 Focused Conversations slides (Google doc)

Meanwhile, submit ideas and questions here