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Empowering the Future of Students through Unrestricted Giving

Patricia and Phil Hoversten
Patricia and Phil Hoversten ’71

The first family member of Phil Hoversten ’71 to graduate from Augsburg was his uncle Knut Holversten in 1930. Since then, four generations and 40+ Hoversten family members have attended Augsburg, including Phil who graduated in 1971 with a degree in biology. “I knew I wanted to go into pre-med and Augsburg gave me a generous financial aid package that first year,” Phil said.

However, Phil’s path to graduation was not without its challenges.  He experienced financial hardship after his first year, but with encouragement from his professor, John Holum, Phil decided to stay at Augsburg. “The caliber of instruction, the smaller class sizes, and the individual attention I received helped me do well,” he reflected. Phil’s experience at Augsburg prepared him for medical school at the University of Minnesota. He had a 24-year career at Allina Health as a Physician in Occupational Medicine until his retirement in 2020.

Throughout the years, Phil has kept in touch with a few fellow students from his time in the choral club, but, Phil’s primary connection to Augsburg is rooted in his family’s enduring legacy. In the 1980s several Hoversten family members contributed to the construction of the Hoversten Chapel. “I’m fortunate that my family listened to what the college needed at the time,” Phil shared as he reflected on the vision for a multi-purpose space. Today, the Hoversten Chapel is a central location for worship, music, and other community-building events. 

The belief in Augsburg as a unifying and dynamic community has been a cornerstone for Phil and his family for generations. Phil said he sees his unrestricted giving as his link to the Hoverstens’ commitment to supporting education centered on service and a connection to the gift his relatives established forty years ago

The concepts of experiential learning and meaningful engagement in local communities, introduced by Augsburg Department of Sociology founder Joel Torstenson have deeply resonated with Phil. “Schools have been faced with great difficulties recently. There was a [time I experienced ] tremendous need here and it motivated my  desire to give back to the place that gave me my education, This is my way of supporting local efforts.”

For Phil, unrestricted giving has the potential to lead to incredible change. “I look at the beautiful buildings like the Hagfors Center that accommodate a modern education and all the programs that support our diverse student body… I understand the difference it makes when universities have the means to be sure critical areas are funded,” he shared. “I encourage others to consider an unrestricted gift”

Through his commitment to giving back, Phil continues to strengthen the legacy of his family at Augsburg, ensuring generations of Auggies have opportunities to thrive in a community that helped shape his life and many others. 

Bruce ’71 and Pam Santerre Believe in Second Chances

Bruce and Pam smile at the camera in formal wear.Bruce ’71 and Pam Santerre believe in second chances, leading them to help others who want to evolve, and that’s why they give to the StepUP Program at Augsburg University.

Bruce, a biology and education major, said growing up in northern Minnesota he felt like there were few career paths if he stayed, but he had other plans.  

Upon visiting Augsburg, Bruce like many “Auggies” fell in love with the campus and city life. He would go on to enroll at the university and join the football team, playing for four years while finishing his studies.

Unlike Bruce, Pam, an English major, was native to the cities. She lived in South Minneapolis, knew people who attended Augsburg, and her church had an affiliation with the school.

Pam said she knew she wanted to go to college, but at the time there weren’t many career opportunities for women. However, Pam would find her opportunity at Augsburg and work for a number of organizations while putting herself through school.

“We [Bruce and her] formed many lifelong friendships at Augsburg,” Pam said. “That’s just one of the reasons why Augsburg is at the forefront of our minds’ when it comes to giving back.”

The Santerres met at Augsburg and were married shortly after Bruce graduated. Six weeks later, he was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, for National Guard training. 

When he arrived back in Minnesota, Bruce began teaching as a substitute teacher for the Minneapolis school system. And Pam was working at the Lutheran Brotherhood, now Thrivent, which started her longtime career in information technology.

Pam received her master’s degree in theology and a certificate in spiritual direction, while working at Andersen Windows, where she later retired from. She continued her spiritual direction practice, companioning people who are exploring a deeper experience of the divine presence.  

“A lot of what we do is at a spiritual level and basis,” Bruce said. “This aligns with a core value in the StepUP program.”

While completing his doctorate degree, Bruce, now a retired high school principal, wrote his dissertation on spirituality and leadership. He said part of that experience helped him understand the impact of spirituality in our [people’s] lives’.

“There’s a soft spot in our hearts for the work that the StepUP program is doing,” they said. “So many of those kids are overcoming some of the most incredible odds, and what we’ve seen from Augsburg, in helping their students, we want to be a part of.”

You too can play an integral part in helping Augsburg University students on their growth and evolution toward a brighter future. Learn more and get involved.