The Augsburg College Nursing Department added an innovative, accredited and high-demand track to its Doctor of Nursing Practice to respond to the evolving needs of nurses, communities, and the medical industry. The new forward-looking track, DNP – Family Nurse Practitioner, is geared toward preparing students who already hold their bachelor of science in nursing to apply for certification as FNPs through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The College launched in 2009 the DNP – Transcultural Nursing Leadership program. That program readies nurses who hold a master’s degree in nursing for advanced transcultural nursing in community life and integrates holistic practice modalities that uphold and improve human potential across care settings and care systems. Read more at www.augsburg.edu/dnp-fnp.
Dr. Steven E. Larson '71 creates the Courtland Agre Challenge
Courtland Agre Challenge
Dr. Steven E. Larson, ’71 is CEO of the Riverside Medical Clinic in Riverside CA. Steve believes in the value-based education that Augsburg offered during his Augsburg years, and believes those values still provide the foundation for a great Augsburg education today.
When Steve was introduced to the campaign for the Center for Science, Business and Religion a year ago, he immediately connected to two experiences. One, the same classrooms and laboratories that he studied in are still being used today. As a medical physician, and professor at the UC-Riverside Medical School, Steve knows the importance of creating the finest classrooms and laboratories for students to study in and learn and for faculty to teach effectively.
As important as those facilities, Steve was also reminded of the impact of Professor Courtland Agre on his studies and life. Steve, working with Augsburg development staff, has initiated, and provided the first funding for, the Courtland Agre Challenge.
The Courtland Agre Challenge is designed to raise money to honor Dr. Agre through the naming of the 2nd floor Center for Science, Business, and Religion atrium, as the Courtland Agre Atrium. The 2nd floor of the CSBR will be the location for Chemistry classrooms, laboratories, and faculty offices. The Atrium will be a “main thoroughfare and hub” for students, faculty and staff.
This challenge, started by Steve, has identified and enlisted several of his 1971 Augsburg classmates. Now the opportunity is available to all whose education and lives have been impacted by Dr. Courtland Agre to participate in this Challenge.
For more information, contact:
Doug Scott
Director of Leadership Gifts
612-330-1575
scottd@augbsurg.edu
Dr. Steven Larson, along with several other Auggies, shares his Augsburg experience in a short 5 minute video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F3di3LCwpY
Alumni Leaders from the 1970s Meet with Faculty and Students
During the last weekend of June, Alumni who attended Augsburg in the 1970s were invited to campus to share fellowship and meet with Augsburg’s President, members of the faculty and student researchers. This “Alumni Leadership Summit” was organized by Mike Good ’71 and Wayne Jorgenson ’71 who are both serving as leaders in the campaign to build the Center for Science, Business, and Religion.
If you were not able to attend the Summit but are interested in learning more about how you can help open doors for future Augsburg students, contact Kim Stone at stonek@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1173.
Bob Stacke ’71 Shares his Love for Music with Students and Alumni
After graduating from Augsburg in 1971 with a degree in music education, Robert Stacke wanted to share his love for music with the next generation so he became a music teacher at Jefferson Junior High school for three years before moving on to the Minneapolis Edison High School where he taught for six years. It was that love for music that took him to Venezuela for a year to play in the Maracaibo Symphony before returning to Minnesota to play in the band at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, where he entertained the guests for 13 years. During this time he also taught at Hopkins High School and the University of St Cloud.
In 1990, he returned to Augsburg as a member of the faculty in the Music Department, and since 1998 he has served as the department chair, as well as the director of the Augsburg Concert Band, and the Augsburg Jazz, Instrumental, and Vocal Ensembles (JIVE). Stacke and his classmates developed the Jazz Band when he was a student and he was thrilled to re-energize the group when he returned to Augsburg in a new capacity. Click here to see a video about Augsburg’s JIVE.
“I am very proud of the number of students who have a chance to be involved in Augsburg’s music program. Today, more than 400 Augsburg students participate in the music program in some way. One of the benefits of attending a liberal arts college is having the opportunity to perform even if you are not a music major. All of our students have the chance to benefit from the program,” said Stacke.
The Augsburg community has the opportunity to benefit from the program as well. Stacke’s students perform at commencement, Vespers, and tours around the Twin Cities and beyond. The Augsburg Concert Band travels internationally every four years and recently returned from a trip to Turkey (read blog from trip).
Stacke’s passion for music extends beyond the classroom as well. As a guest conductor, clinician, and percussion soloist, he has traveled extensively, performing and conducting in Ireland, Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, Jamaica, China and Europe. Since 2001, Stacke has been volunteering at a music camp in Haiti every summer, bringing the joy of music to children who otherwise would not be able to experience it.
This fall, Stacke will be developing and directing the Augsburg Alumni Jazz Band. “It is exciting to bring our alumni Jazzers together again, many whom have gone on to graduate school and continue to play at a very high level,” said Stacke. He hopes that the band can play for the Augsburg community and alumni events such as Homecoming. If you are interested in playing in the Alumni Jazz Band and want further information, contact Bob at stacke@augsburg.edu.
Alumni from the 80s Attend Leadership Summit
On June 21 and 22, former Augsburg classmates, roommates and teammates from the 1980s reunited on campus for the 1980s Leadership Summit to learn about the college’s top priority, the Center for Science, Business, and Religion. The Summit began with a warm welcome from Karina Karlén ’83 and an inspirational speech from Chris Ascher ’81 who encouraged his classmates to invest in this new signature facility that will engage future leaders in collaborative inquiry and, through them, shape our world.
The second day of the Summit provided the attendees with an opportunity to see first-hand how the CSBR will impact the campus and the student experience.
“Saturday’s tour of the current Science building, faculty panel and then break-out discussions really had a positive impact on everyone in attendance. We all left with a greater sense of ownership in the future of our alma mater,” said Chris Ascher ’81.
Click here to see the video that was shared at the Summit. If you were not able to attend the Summit but are interested in learning more about how you can help open doors for future Auggies, contact Kim Stone at 612-330-1173.
Greater Minnesota Meets Darcey Engen ’88
This summer, three Minnesota towns will host “The Visit,” a unique theater production that will immerse each of the historic communities in the question, How far will a town go to save itself? Darcey Engen ’88, chair of the Theater Department at Augsburg, and husband Luverne Seifert ’83, professional actor/director and head of the B.A. Theatre Performance program at the U of M, provided the impetus for creating this adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s original play—an adaptation done by Engen’s colleague, Sarah Myers. After exploring venues in several towns, Engen and Siefert finally decided on East Grand Forks, Albert Lea, and Blue Earth as the sites to feature. The plays will involve community actors from each town in the actual event, as they perform at the historic site, watch scenes unfold, and experience the mounting tension at close range. Check online at www.brownpapertickets.com or Sod House Theater (Facebook) for specific performance times.
In connection with this summer’s unusual productions, Engen and Seifert have formed Sod House Theater, a site-specific Twin Cities-based theater company that travels through Greater Minnesota with a team of professional artists to work with communities to produce classic and relevant works of theater.
While work on “The Visit” was progressing, Engen received a call notifying her that Augsburg’s Theater Department had been singled out by “Backstage” magazine (a premier entertainment publication for theater professionals) as one of the Top 5 U.S. institutions for theater majors who wish to continue their studies professionally. The magazine recommended an Augsburg education for “enterprising, driven students looking to climb the [professional] ladder in double time.” Engen was delighted at the news and attributes the distinction to not only class content, but bringing in professionals as guest artists, commitment to producing a variety of voices and kinds of theater, and providing frequent opportunities backstage and onstage.
In addition to theater, Engen enjoys antiques, gardening, and finding and painting interesting pieces of furniture. She and Seifert live in Northeast Minneapolis with their two teenage sons, Severin and Simon, who love their parents’ actor friends and enjoy working as stage hands, having been in theaters during rehearsals ever since they were in car seats.
Trevor Kvarnlov ’08 Receives the 2013 ACHA Women’s Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award
Trevor Kvarnlov ’08 received the 2013 American Collegiate Hockey Association [ACHA] Women’s Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award, presented by Harrow Sports, as selected by the Head Coaches of ACHA Women’s Division 1.
Kvarnlov was presented his ACHA Women’s Division 1 Coach-of-the-Year Award at the American Hockey Coaches Association Coach-of-the-Year Celebration on Friday, May 3, 2013, at The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Naples, FL.
Kvarnlov is in his sixth season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers ACHA program, and third season as Head Coach. As Head Coach, the Gophers are 48-18-3 with a Runner-up finish in 2012 and their first ACHA National Championship in 2013.
(pictured below (left to right) with his assistant coach Nicholas Hiipakka, longtime women’s hockey coach Jill Pohtilla, and current Augsburg women’s hockey coach Michelle McAteer)
Visit Auggie Eagle at the Minnesota State Fair
Show Auggie Pride at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Wear Augsburg gear to the State Fair, held August 22-September 2, and stop by our booth in the Education Building to receive a coupon for a complimentary lunch at Nabo, our neighborhood cafe in the Oren Gateway Center.
Alumni Association Welcomes 479 New Alumni at June Commencement
The Augsburg College summer commencement ceremony was held June 23 and was an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of our 479 graduate students and undergraduates in the Weekend and Evening College and Rochester programs. June Commencement featured Nancy Cantor, Chancellor and President of Syracuse University, 
who received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during the ceremony.
Augsburg Athletics Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the A-Club Golf Tournament
A total of 148 golfers showed their support for Augsburg College Athletics at the 50th annual Clair Strommen/A-Club Golf Tournament, held on June 24 at the Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater, Minn. Thirty groups of golfers filled the course for the tournament, and later enjoyed a social, dinner and raffle in the clubhouse.
Winners from the tournament were:
Gold Division — Dan Pearson, John Benson, Steve Pearson, Mike Armstrong (61, -11)
Silver Division — Tom Hofflander, Mike Hofflander, John Hofflander, Rick Lyrek (61, -11)
Bronze Division — Aaron Griess, Matt Knoepfle, Chris Brown, Chris Johnson (56, -16)
Platinum Division — Dean Holmes, John Bodin, Bob Herman, Wes Bodin (66, -6)
Mixed Division — Brad Olson, Bart Davidson, Jim Thomson, Joan Thomson (63, -9)
Women’s Division — Donna McLean, Lisa Hawks, Janet Blake, Cheryl Martin (80, +8)
Hole prizes went to: Jon Bryant, Dale Hendrickson, Anne Moore, Joe Thorvig and Meg (Schmidt) Sawyer.
The tournament is one of several held by Augsburg Athletics and individual sports teams during the summer months. For more information, go to athletics.augsburg.edu and select the “Support Auggies with summer golf!” story on the main athletic page.
Photo gallery:http://athletics.augsburg.edu/photo_gallery.aspx?gallery=357
