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Summer researcher from Breck School places second in international science fair

Taylor McCanna works in the Augsburg College labs. She developed six prototypes of a field mill before creating a device that could measure the global electric circuit.
Taylor McCanna works in the Augsburg College labs. She developed six prototypes of a field mill before creating a device that could measure the global electric circuit.

Success often comes after repeated failure. That’s one of the key messages learned by a young scientist who worked with an Augsburg physics professor to place at the largest international science fair.

Taylor McCanna, a 2012 graduate of Breck School in Minneapolis, worked last summer with David Murr, an Augsburg physics professor, on a high altitude weather ballooning project. She was challenged to design, build, and test easily affordable equipment that ultimately could be built by other students and even the general public.

“Dr. Murr initially gave me projects and experiments that he knew would not work out,” McCanna said. “It was frustrating.”

Continue reading “Summer researcher from Breck School places second in international science fair”

Berglund returns to campus to talk about social entrepreneurship

berglundNext week, Finnegans CEO and co-founder Jacquie Berglund ’87 will return to Augsburg to tell the story of her success to prospective Weekend/Evening College and graduate program students as well as alumni.

This presentation, part of Augsburg’s “In the City” admissions events for prospective students, will be held Wednesday, June 27 in Christensen Center with social hour beginning at 5 p.m.

Berglund, who started Finnegans in 2000, said she loves discovering ways to create community wealth, and she never passes on an opportunity to advise others about how to become social entrepreneurs. She attributes her success to a sound business plan, a lot of hard work, and a little Irish luck. Read more of her story, “Connecting the Dots for Good,” in the Spring 2009 issue of the Augsburg NOW magazine. Continue reading “Berglund returns to campus to talk about social entrepreneurship”

New social work conference allows for international exchange

swkconferenceNearly 100 social workers, professors, and students from Norway, Slovenia, South Africa, and across the U.S. are on campus June 14 and 15 for the first international social work conference sponsored by Augsburg. The program, titled “Global Context: Local Solutions” allows participants to gain a greater awareness of how social work is practiced in other countries.

Lois Bosch, associate professor and director of Augsburg’s master of social work program, said the idea for the conference evolved out of the work of the social work international curriculum committee. Continue reading “New social work conference allows for international exchange”

Celebration of Philanthropy highlights record year

2012philanthropyThe 2011-12 fiscal year has been one of the most successful fundraising years in Augsburg’s history with nearly $14 million raised to support programming, scholarships, buildings, and research. One of the ways the College celebrated this success was by welcoming more than 250 donors and volunteer leaders to campus for the the annual Celebration of Philanthropy on Thursday, June 7.

The interactive donor recognition event recognized annual donors, members of the Sven Oftedal planned giving society, donors who have made substantial cumulative gifts, and those who have given for 15 or more consecutive years. Continue reading “Celebration of Philanthropy highlights record year”

MAL colloquium highlights graduate research

mal_colloquiumThe annual Master of Arts in Leadership Colloquium presents an opportunity to learn about the research MAL students have conducted as part of the final requirement for their graduate studies program. The colloquium will be held Wednesday, June 6 at 5:30 p.m. in Oren Gateway Center.

The colloquium highlights different aspects of leadership from a variety of corporate and nonprofit settings. Students are encouraged to research topics which they themselves have faced in the workplace. A member of the Augsburg faculty advises each student’s project from the creation of the hypothesis to the final paper. Continue reading “MAL colloquium highlights graduate research”

Augsburg receives $600,000 grant for STEM scholarships

stemUpper-division students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) can apply for new academic merit scholarships for as much as $7,000 per year beginning Fall 2012.

The AugSTEM scholarships will be funded by a nearly $600,000 grant recently received from the National Science Foundation. The grant means that as many as 30 students in biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics will receive important financial support as they pursue their academic careers. Continue reading “Augsburg receives $600,000 grant for STEM scholarships”

Augsburg partnership on Urban Scrubs camp wins award

urbanscrubsThe Minnesota Hospital Association recently honored 18 programs for innovation, excellence, volunteerism, and patient safety. Urban Scrubs Camp, a program supported by Augsburg College that provides youths the chance to learn about a range of career options in the health care industry, won the 2012 Health Care Career Promotion Award.

“A few years ago, Augsburg joined neighboring institutions to explore how to leverage our gifts and resources to improve the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood,” said Paul C. Pribbenow, president of Augsburg College. Continue reading “Augsburg partnership on Urban Scrubs camp wins award”

McNair summer researchers to study ADHD, Zen meditation, and more

mcnair_summerSubmitted by Lara Crombie, McNair program assistant

The McNair Scholars Program helps students reach their graduate school goals by offering a unique research experience during their undergraduate education. Participating students spend an average of 400 hours exploring their topics, developing a thesis, collecting and reviewing data, and preparing a formal presentation of their findings. Research provides the opportunity to develop a mentoring relationship by working one-on-one with a faculty member, gain extensive skills and knowledge in a discipline, learn methodological techniques, and practice writing and public speaking by submitting papers to professional conferences and journals. Research also helps prepare students for graduate study and gives them a resource for obtaining strong letters of recommendation. Continue reading “McNair summer researchers to study ADHD, Zen meditation, and more”

Slovenia partnership leads to "The Heart of Europe" travel seminar

sloveniaIn May 2012, education professor Joe Erickson and psychology associate professor Stacy Freiheit traveled to the University of Ljubljana in Ljubljana, Slovenia to begin work on a proposed spring 2014 travel seminar for Augsburg students.

The seminar, called “The Heart of Europe,” would bring together two Augsburg courses, one each from psychology and education, comparing psychological and education traditions of several central European nations with American practices and history. Continue reading “Slovenia partnership leads to "The Heart of Europe" travel seminar”

Auggies abroad in the summer

summer_abroadThough the semester program classes have ended at Augsburg for this academic year, students and faculty are still on the move. Starting on the day after last weekend’s commencement ceremony, groups of Auggies departed both to share their musical talents and to study abroad.

The Augsburg Choir

On May 6, the Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson ’76, departed for a 12-day tour of the Midwest. With stops in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington state, the Choir will perform nine concerts and have opportunities to connect with potential Auggies and their families as well as alumni and friends of the College. Continue reading “Auggies abroad in the summer”