bing pixel

Augsburg earns dual national community service honors

Augsburg was the only Minnesota college or university named a finalist on the Corporation for National and Community Service’s 2014 Interfaith Community Service Honor Roll as well as on the Corporation’s General Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction.

Augsburg is one of only four colleges nationwide to be named a finalist in the interfaith category, an honor that recognizes institutions of higher education that support exemplary community service programs and raise the visibility of effective practices in campus community partnerships.

There are four categories for the honor roll: general community service, interfaith community service, economic opportunity, and education. Only four higher education institutions are named recipients of the general President’s Award — a distinction Augsburg held in 2010 — and 16 other schools are named finalists, four in each category.

The Honor Roll recognizes more than 750 colleges and universities for exemplary, innovative, and effective community service programs. Honorees are chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

The interfaith community service category recognized Augsburg for its institution-wide shift toward greater interfaith cooperation and interfaith service. Three project examples connected with this effort include the College’s collaboration with the Interfaith Youth Corps, a group devoted to building the interfaith movement on college campuses; the work of the Augsburg College Interfaith Scholars, of group of Augsburg students who are interested in exploring the religious diversity of the College’s student body, the wider Twin Cities community, and the United States through interreligious dialogue; and an Inclusiveness Reading Circle, a group that supported interfaith intergroup dialogue.

Find additional information on eligibility and the full list of Honor Roll awardees at nationalservice.gov/HonorRoll.

MPR offers readers a glimpse into Augsburg College life

Alex Friedrich, Minnesota Public Radio’s higher education reporter, visited Augsburg College’s campus to experience a day in the life of an Auggie. Friedrich spent Dec. 5 blogging about his experiences and found that Augsburg College has a wide variety of traditions and experiences to offer to its students, faculty, staff and alumni, and also to its neighboring communities, as well.

Read and watch his posts on the “On Campus” blog here:

  • The man leading a changing Augsburg – Meet President Paul C. Pribbenow and his passion for bow ties, commitment to Augsburg students, and vision for the College’s future
  • What an Augsburg apartment looks like – A peak inside Luther Hall

Herb Chilstrom ’54 pens sentimental book

547a2dfec34a1.imageHerb Chilstrom ’54 was highlighted in Arizona’s Green Valley News thanks to his newest book, “My friend Jonah and other dogs I’ve loved.”

Chilstrom, who was the first Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, captured the heart of a Green Valley News editor – Dan Sheare – after he reviewed the book for the news site. The book, Sheare said, “…relates stories that provide plenty of evidence that dogs can be great teachers — if you’re paying attention.”

Read “From the editor: Good for the soul” on the Green Valley news site.

Veterans’ Lounge receives MPCC nod

Vets-Lounge-US-Bank-and-Augsburg-College-3-1024x680Augsburg’s new Veterans’ Lounge was featured in the Minnesota Private College Council newsletter in November.

The lounge, which opened recently as a gathering place for veterans on campus, has become a sanctuary–of sorts–for some student vets and offers a place to escape, relax, talk, and study.

To read the Veterans’ Lounge article, visit the Minnesota Private College Council site.

Learn more about the dedication of the lounge, which was made possible through contributions from U.S. Bank, on the Corporate, Foundation, and Government Relations blog.

MinnPost features StepUP Gala honorees

KevinKevin and Polly Hart and Polly Hart, mentors for Augsburg’s StepUP Program, were honored at the annual StepUP Gala for their avid support of the program.

The Harts, who have volunteered with StepUP for several years and are in recovery from addiction, were presented the Toby Piper LaBelle Award for their dedication to serving students in recovery.

Kevin, who is also a StepUP advisory board member, said working with the program has been inspiring. “Being a fellow addict and knowing firsthand what these kids have come through, to hear their stories and see them succeeding in college was very uplifting,” he said.

To read the Harts’ article, visit the MinnPost news site.

Pioneer Press deems Howling Bird ‘ready to take off’

PioneerPressHowling Bird, a student-run press at Augsburg College, is Minnesota’s newest small publisher. Howling Bird will take flight December 1 with the announcement of the winner of the press’ first National Poetry Prize, according to the Pioneer Press.

The honored poet will receive $1,000 and publication by Howling Bird in a trade paperback. That book will be guided through the publication process, from editing and design to marketing and distribution, by three students in the newly established publishing concentration in Augsburg’s low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. To learn more about the MFA program and its students, read “Augsburg’s Howling Bird press ready to take off” on the Pioneer Press website.

Augsburg draws media coverage as host of debate

Augsburg College and the League of Women Voters Minnesota hosted a Secretary of State debate on Oct. 28.

Candidates Bob Hellend, Bob Odden, Dan Severson, and Steve Simon faced off on such issues as voter identification and improved Secretary of State business services. Augsburg received several media mentions as the venue for the occasion.

To learn more on the debate, visit the following links:

  • MinnPost – The Secretary of State debate showed precisely why the race may be very close
  • MPR – Hear the Secretary of State debate
  • The Uptake – Video Replay: Final MN Secretary of State debate before election

MinnPost features Augsburg, other anchor institutions

MinnPostAugsburg College was one of several Twin Cities anchor institutions named in a recent MinnPost article on the roles these institutions play in strengthening Minnesota neighborhoods.

President Paul C. Pribbenow, who is chair of the Central Corridor Anchor Partnership, was quoted in the article. He described how anchor institutions view the benefits in their partnership work. “This is not just what we give to the community, it’s about our shared interests and mutual benefits,” Pribbenow said.

Fellow member of the Augsburg community Josh Ahrens, food service director for A’viands, also was quoted in the article. Read, “Anchor initiatives: Local food means business for local neighborhoods” to learn how health care, higher education, and other nonprofits are working together to improve the economic vitality of their communities.

Media Advisory: Change your brain chemistry to boost happiness

Leading neuropsychologist Rick Hanson speaks Oct. 16

CCHPimage

Each of us has the power to change the ways we think in manners that will increase our happiness, improve our resilience, and promote inner calm. Attendees of “Hardwiring Happiness: Turning Passing Experiences into Lasting Inner Strength and Peace” at Augsburg College will learn practical tips and proven methods from a leading, national neuropsychologist during a one-hour presentation that includes time for audience questions.

Who

Rick Hanson is a neuropsychologist and senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at University of California, Berkeley. He is an author of numerous books, including the 2013 New York Times bestseller, “Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm, and Confidence.”

When

11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 16

Continue reading “Media Advisory: Change your brain chemistry to boost happiness”

White Bear Lake couple will be honored Oct. 24 for dedication to addiction recovery community

Kevin and Polly HartHarts to be recognized at StepUP® Program Gala

(MINNEAPOLIS) – Two leaders in the addiction recovery community will be recognized for their commitment and generosity to Augsburg College’s StepUP® program for students in addiction recovery. Kevin and Polly Hart of White Bear Lake, Minn., will receive the Toby Piper LaBelle Award at the Augsburg College StepUP Program Gala on Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

“Kevin and Polly have brought so much value to the StepUP program, the students in recovery we serve, and the recovery community as a whole,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow. “We are blessed to call this dedicated couple our friends and are proud to honor them with this award.”

The Harts have given significant time and resources to the College’s program, which is a leader and award-winning model for residential addiction recovery communities at campuses across the nation. Kevin serves on the advisory board for the StepUP Program where he helps guide and shape the program. He also is a board member of The Retreat, a recovery program in Wayzata, Minn. The Harts volunteer countless hours for these programs and also mentor youth in recovery.

Continue reading “White Bear Lake couple will be honored Oct. 24 for dedication to addiction recovery community”