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Education Department Receives New State Funding for East African Teacher Preparation

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Augsburg College will receive nearly $400,000 in new state funding over the next two years to launch a new East African teacher preparation program. The new Augsburg EAST initiative (East African Students to Teachers) will provide scholarships, academic support and service learning opportunities for East African students who are education majors at Augsburg College at our Minneapolis and Rochester locations.

The number of East African students in K-12 public schools is growing in many communities throughout the state. School systems are challenged to meet the needs of these students, many of whom are the first in their family to receive education in the United States. Augsburg’s strong relationships with the Somali and East African community and its successful record of educating East African education majors, both in Minneapolis and at our Rochester location, make it uniquely qualified to lead this initiative.

This new funding is strong recognition of Augsburg’s excellence in preparing teachers.  Since 2004, five Augsburg teacher-education graduates have received the prestigious Milken Award, a national award which provides public recognition and financial awards to elementary and secondary education professionals who further excellence in education. Only 30 Milken Awards are given annually across the nation. In 2009, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation awarded the college more than $400,000 in support of its teacher preparation programming. Augsburg was one of only four Minnesota colleges receiving these grants funds. In addition, Augsburg is one of six private colleges in the Twin Cities collaborating to improve teacher education, made possible by major funding from the Bush Foundation.

In April and May many alumni contacted state legislators to urge their support for this funding which made a very real and positive difference.

Phil Styrlund ’79, Tedx on Four Keys Areas of Lifetime Relevance

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The Oxford English Dictionary defines “relevance” as “the state of being closely connected or appropriate to the matter in hand.” To be relevant is thus to be important, but the term implies more than that. Trivial things—appointments, events, e-mails – that intrude themselves into life can easily become “important,” at least for a time. To be relevant, something must be connected to a larger scheme, a grander plan—the ultimate “matter in hand.”

To be relevant means being an integral part of the new society, of the economy, of the future. It means being the kind of person on whom others depend, whether for leadership, expertise, acumen, or emotional support.

In this video, Philip Styrlund (Augsburg Class of 1979) will briefly discuss the four keys areas of lifetime relevance.

Phil Styrlund is CEO of The Summit Group and a recognized thought leader on strategic selling and business value transformation. His go-to-market strategies have been implemented by some of the world’s premiere organizations, including Cisco Systems, HP, Siemens, Marriott, Xerox, Lockheed, Tetra Pak, Proctor & Gamble, SC Johnson, Kellogg, and the U.S. Federal Government. In addition to his keynote presentations and engaging programs, Styrlund serves as coach, mentor, consultant and advisor to top leaders across a range of industries. He is currently initiating a doctorate program at Middlesex University in London. He is also authoring a new book, Relevance: The Art of Meaning slated for release mid-2013.

2013 Young Alumni Summer Series

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United Kingdom flag2013 Young Alumni Summer Series 
Thursday, May 30
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Brit’s Pub

Augsburg Young Alumni and friends are invited to the first event of the 2013 Young Alumni Summer Series. Be our guest at Brit’s Pub to enjoy reconnecting with fellow Auggies. Your first beverage and appetizers will be provided by the Office of Alumni Relations.

Become a VIP of the Young Alumni Summer Series and enjoy the royal treatment all summer long! Simply donate to The Augsburg Fund, and at each event you attend, you’ll receive special perks including light rail passes, concession vouchers, betting vouchers, and extra drink tickets.  Donate today at www.augsburg.edu/giving!

Brit’s Pub is located at 1100 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, 55403. Register online at augsburg.edu/alumni or by calling 612-330-1178.

Hundreds of Scholarship Donors Honored

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Members of the Kleven Family at the 2013 Scholarship Brunch
Members of the Kleven Family at the 2013 Scholarship Brunch

On Sunday, April 14, members of the Augsburg community gather in the Christensen Center to give thanks to our many scholarship donors and to celebrate the Auggies who are recipients of these named and endowed scholarships. Augsburg alumnae and member of our Board of Regents, Lisa Novotny ’80 welcomed the more than 200 attendees to this annual brunch. Sarah Mathews Saugstad ’13 led the invocation before we enjoyed the meal and the musical number by our own student group “Willie Webb and the 7 Half Trio”.

Following the meal, we enjoyed hearing a college update from President Paul C. Pribbenow as he shared some of the many exciting things that are happening at Augsburg. We listened to Ruth Helland about why she and her late husband, Philip Helland ’42 found such joy in starting a scholarship, followed by two current and grateful Auggies, Helena Kruger ’13 and Maria Shatonova ’13, both recipients of scholarships that made their education at Augsburg possible.
It was definitely an event where we celebrated with gratitude the many people who have been generous to Augsburg College students!

 

Physics Alumni Announce Challenge in Honor of Ted Hanwick

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The first chairman of the Physics Department at Augsburg College, Theodore Hanwick Sr. was an influential scientist who was as strong in his Lutheran convictions as he was deep in his knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics.  He touched the lives of many students and established a legacy at Augsburg College that has grown into one of the strongest undergrad physics programs in the country.  When Ted retired in 1978, he was a legend at Augsburg, where his Physics Department achieved high marks. He attended chapel every morning and always argued that science and faith can live side by side.

Now, Ted Hanwick’s students are coming together to honor his work and give back to their alma mater by sponsoring the Intro to Physics Lab in the new Center for Science, Business and Religion (CSBR).  The goal is to raise $500,000 which will name a one of the seven new physics labs that will be built in the new building.  CSBR floor plans and sponsorship opportunities are posted online here.

Former student and current Regent Dan Anderson ’65 has made a $250,000 commitment to this effort and challenges other alumni–especially physics alumni–to join him by making a commitment to the campaign.

Physics Summit Attendees pose by CSBR modelAugsburg boast over 150 Physics alumni whose careers were launched by the education they received on our campus.  Each year many physics alumni return to Augsburg in April to attend the Sverdrup Lecture Series.  This year a group of leaders  (pictured above) extended their stay to  participate in a Campaign Summit for the Center for Science, Business and Religion.

Fundraising for the Hanwick Physics Lab is underway!

Augsburg finishes fiscal year with $1,000,000 in donations to The Augsburg Fund

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On May 31, Augsburg closed another fiscal year, celebrating over $1,000,000 raised in donations to The Augsburg Fund. Thanks to the 2,XXX alumni, parents, and friends who gave generously to provide Auggie students with an education like no other. Donors like these provide scholarships and grants for Augsburg students; one-on-one research opportunities with faculty; and help faculty develop unique new curriculum offerings that take Augsburg students outside of the classroom.

By mail: Augsburg College, 2211 Riverside Avenue, CB 142, Minneapolis, MN 55454

If you have questions please contact Director of Annual Giving Martha Truax at truax@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1652.

Edor Nelson ’38 Welcomes Former Athletes to CSBR Summit

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Over 40 former athletes and alumni leaders met May 8-9 to learn more about the campaign for the Center for Science, Business and Religion (CSBR).  Attendees were welcomed by Edor Nelson ’38 who sent a video greeting and Athletics Director Jeff Swenson ’79 who helped host the event.

Homecoming 2013, September 22-28

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Save the date for Homecoming 2013 which will be held on Augsburg’s Minneapolis campus September 22-28.Reunion Group Photo 2012

Come back to campus to enjoy Homecoming 2013 with alumni, parents,  and friends for a fun-filled week of events and celebration. New events along with traditional favorites make this one of the best times to come back to campus all year. Visit augsburg.edu/homecoming for more information and to get registered.

Tori Bahr ’09 and Paul Sanft ’05 Rein in Sarcoma

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A Letter from Tori Bahr ’09

Four years ago I graduated from Augsburg College with a Biology and Chemistry degree. It was a great four years, but I knew more education was needed to get me to my ultimate career of becoming a physician. In August of 2010 I began medical school across the river at the University of Minnesota.

I was fortunate enough to receive the Rein in Sarcoma Scholarship this past year while at medical school. This foundation was started by Karen Wycoff who while in college was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma. She had never heard of sarcoma before her diagnosis. Shortly before her death Karen conceived and created the Rein in Sarcoma Foundation as a way to raise awareness of sarcoma cancers, to encourage sarcoma research, and to support other sarcoma patients and their loved ones. In the eleven years since its conception Rein in Sarcoma has raised over $1,000,000!

As a scholar I have been blessed to meet many people who have been touched by this awful disease. Unfortunately, sarcoma is too often misdiagnosed and many have stories of doctor after doctor not taking them seriously. While most cancers are diagnosed four months from the onset of symptoms, the average time to diagnosis for sarcoma is 14 months! It is time to change this story! Catching sarcoma early is the best way to improve outcomes.

Over the past three months my fiance, Paul Sanft (also an Auggie, class of 2005) and I have invited survivors and the loved ones of those that sarcoma took too soon to come tell their stories in front of the camera. The goal of this project is to change the sarcoma story from “never heard of it” to “we caught it early.” I am so thankful to have met these wonderful people. I will always carry their stories near my heart as I approach my future patients. Please help us change the sarcoma story by sharing this video with your friends, family, and colleagues!

-A special thanks to Zach Sobiech, a 17 year old from Minnesota, currently fighting osteosarcoma for providing the music.  He also was recently featured in People magazine.

-A special thanks to Paul Sanft at Ideatap Studios for donating the editing and filming.

Thank you for helping change the sarcoma story today!

Tori Bahr
University of Minnesota, MD candidate 2014
Rein in Sarcoma Foundation Scholar
Augsburg College, 2009