Donor gifts to The Augsburg Fund increased by 18% in fiscal year 2014

Augsburg’s fiscal year ended on May 31, 2014, with a strong show of donor support to the College’s annual fund, The Augsburg Fund.

More than 2,260 Augsburg alumni, parents and friends gave more than $1,125,000 to The Augsburg Fund in Fiscal Year 2014—and donors gave 18% more than in the previous fiscal year. Thank you to these many generous donors—take a look at what they made possible:

• We welcomed the largest incoming first-year class in Augsburg history—34% of whom are the first generation in their families to pursue a college degree, including Psychology major Cheemoua Vang ’17, named the College’s Emerging Leader of the Year
• More than 100 students participated in faculty-led research across 22 academic disciplines, like Biology major and Sundquist Scholar Michelle Grafelman ‘15, whose research under Biology professor Matt Beckman has prepared her for a summer fellowship in Biomedical Ethics at The Mayo Clinic
• Augsburg was named one of the top 25 schools in the country for service learning by U.S. News and World Report, because of students like Communication Studies major Andrea Batt ’14, a member of the Bonner Leaders program—a service-based, work-study program partnering Augsburg students with nonprofits in the community—and one of six Augsburg students chosen to participate in last year’s Bon Jovi Community Service College Campaign

Thank you to all of the members of the Augsburg community who gave generously to The Augsburg Fund last year!

Support of The Augsburg Fund is vital to the success of the College and our students since donations are unrestricted and can be used wherever the need is greatest. The Augsburg Fund supports each academic department and each student, every day. Gifts to The Augsburg Fund allow Augsburg students to become informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.

To learn more about The Augsburg Fund or to make a gift, visit www.augsburg.edu/giving.

With just a few more days left before the end of Fiscal Year 2014, many alumni, parents, and friends are making their gift to The Augsburg Fund, which supports every student, every day. To learn more about how gifts to The Augsburg Fund are used, check out this infographic and click here to make your gift!

St. John’s Lutheran Church in south Minneapolis is connected to Augsburg’s Music Program in a very special way. Each year a music major and student of color is chosen to receive the John Norris Scholarship Award, which honors the church’s beloved sexton.

The new John Norris Award winner, Mandy Isaacson ‘15, a viola player from Bloomington, met church representative, Joyce Larson, a couple of weeks ago at Augsburg’s annual Chamber Music Recital and High Tea, where she learned the story of this very special man. This event brings scholarship donors and recipients together with the community to recognize scholarship winners for more than 45 endowed and annual scholarship funds given to music students annually.

Mr. John Norris came to St. John’s sometime in the mid 1930’s when the nation was in a major economic depression. He needed a good solid job because he had a family to support. Moreover, he was concerned about the lifestyle and long and late hours required by his job playing drums with a local band. When he came to the congregation there was some controversy about him being a black man; this upset come people. However he made an impact in this all-white congregation because of his friendship  and love; that special Christ-centered quality.

John spent almost fifty years of his career at St. John’s and was a friend of all there. In fact, many thought the church was named for him! He knew all the children and followed their process of growing up. As Sexton, he spent his working days, keeping the church building clean, making minor equipment and facility repairs, mowing the lawn in the summer and shoveling the walks in the winter. “He helped raise our kids, plan our events at Church, understand the needs of the church, keep track of the Minnesota Twins, and bury our dead.” He opened and closed the church for many special services, weddings, baptisms an funerals. However he is honored by this scholarship not so much for what he did, but how he did it.

He is honored for his achievement of a life of friendliness, honesty and love. “John Norris was not a pastor, but he certainly ministered to all. John was not a preacher, but, but he delivered a solid message throughout his life every day. John was not great and accomplished musician, but might have been with some help. John was never a student, but he would have liked to have been. John Norris was very special man and made this world a better place to live. St. John’s Lutheran Church is grateful for his life and for his service.”

-The John Norris Scholarship Award was established in 1986 by money from friends of John Norris to honor his life and perpetuate is exceptional loving spirit. The fund is the result of many contributions given in genuine love by people who felt a need to respond to the life of a special person. St. John’s Lutheran Church is on Nicollet Avenue at 49^th street in Minneapolis.

The Augsburg Associates need your help.  If you enjoy all the coffee you can drink, growing friendships, feeling good about assisting clients and customers, feeling REALLY good about raising funds for Augsburg Student Scholarships, and having WAY too much fun, then you would enjoy the estate sale group.

Volunteers spend one to two weeks in preparation for a sale. The number of hours you wish to volunteer is completely up to you and your schedule. Drawers, closets, cupboards, and storage areas are emptied. All items are sorted and priced for display by an expert team who has done its research and knows its stuff. Everything is arranged for the best sale advantage.

Sales are conducted over a two-day period, typically Friday and Saturday. Again, you may volunteer around your own availability.

These volunteers are friendly, helpful, and caring. The Augsburg College Associates is a service organization with more than 100 active members.

If you feel this is something you would enjoy and a way that you could give back to Augsburg, please call Becky Waggoner at 612-330-1085 for more information.

Author Phillip Formo’s new book Papa: A Life Remembered describes the experiences of his grandfather, Andreas Helland, a Norwegian immigrant and a long-time Augsburg College professor. In the book, Formo shares memories and insights about Helland’s teaching and commitment to the Church. The book was described in a recent News-Record article, which notes that proceeds from the sale of the book will go to an Augsburg student scholarship in Helland’s memory.