More than 400 students participated in the Commencement ceremony at Augsburg College in May 2013. These newly minted graduates join the the Alumni Association which now includes over 28,000 former students.
This year’s graduation ceremony included a speech by former chairman and chief executive officer of Medtronic Bill George who is the author of four best-selling books: 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis, True North, Finding Your True North, and Authentic Leadership and (with co-author Doug Baker) True North Groups.
Representative Jim Ramstad was a Republican member of the Minnesota State Senate from 1981 to 1990 before entering the U.S. Congress. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009. He considers ending discrimination against those suffering from mental health and addiction problems a major part of his legacy, and worked under both Republican and Democratic majorities to pass a Mental Health Parity Bill, which was signed into law in December, 2008.
Both Bill George and Jim Ramstad received honorary degrees.
When an Auggie recently visited the Airlie Winery in Airlie, Oregon, he asked fellow-Auggie and winery owner Mary E. Olson ’74 if the large “A” in the landscaping (carved out of boxwood) stood for “Augsburg.” She just smiled and said, “Sure!” Even though very few of the Auggies she encounters at the winery—or at other wine-tasting events around the country—are acquaintances from her student days, Olson still feels the connection.
On May 7 Ben Krouse-Gagne ’11 helped host an Augsburg Fund Volunteer Night for a small and dedicated group of alumni and parents. The goal of the evening was to say thank you to the generous alumni that have donated to The Augsburg Fund this year, and also to encourage those that haven’t yet donated to give before the end of the fiscal year on May 31. Every gift makes a difference in the lives of today’s students.
Minnesota-based FINNEGANS, owned by Jacquie Berglund ’87, was the first for-profit beer company in the world to give away 100% of its profits, a feat accomplished through the FINNEGANS Community fund—a sustainable business model through which the company can make a difference in the community. Last year alone, FINNEGANS raised over $100,000 that went to support the purchase of fresh produce at local food shelves. This unique beer business intrigued Buffie Blesi ’90 ’97, who had done volunteer work at FINNEGANS over the years, and who turned to Berglund in 2009 for networking advice when she started her business coaching company, KnowledgeSphere, Inc. In turn, Berglund called on Blesi for help in managing FINNEGANS’ future—a mutually beneficial way of reconnecting since their first meeting years ago as Augsburg students.
As a result, FINNEGANS has rebounded nicely (growing by an average of 40% each year), and Blesi continues to help Berglund strategize about its growth—looking at new markets and products, determining who should be on the team and how to engage them in the company’s mission, and earning more profits in order to make a greater impact in the world. Recently, FINNEGANS received two special awards: Social Entrepreneur Award for Minnesota Business, and the Small Business of the Year Award from the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce.