AUGUSTANA SPRING 2021 • VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 2
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T H E M A G A Z I N E F O R A L U M N I , PA R E N T S A N D F R I E N D S O F A U G U S TA N A U N I V E R S I T Y
The Drive Behind Augustana’s Nursing Program AU and Midco Partner for Bold Future Diversity Advocates Pave Pathway to Progress
FEATURES
THE AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, President EDITOR Betsy Mans
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ALUM FEATURE: A CAREER BEYOND THE CUBICLE — ROBB SHURR ‘98
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A SAFE RETURN TO SPORTS
CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Davidson Joel Gackle Ryan Hilgemann D.J. Irwin Greta Stewart Jill Wilson PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Bergeson ‘19 Hunter Chear ‘23 DESIGNERS Kami Gladis Peg Ustad Sustainability is important to Augustana University. The pages within The Augustana are printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Visit the magazine online at augie.edu/magazine. Find more news about Augustana at augie.edu.
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BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPE: SIMULATORS, NCLEX PASS RATES AND HOPE DRIVE AUGUSTANA’S NURSING PROGRAM
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AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY EARNS MORE THAN $670K IN GRANTS FOR PHYSICS RESEARCH
Send correspondence, name changes and address corrections to: The Augustana Magazine 2001 S. Summit Ave. Sioux Falls, SD 57197 or via email at alumni@augie.edu.
OUR MISSION
CONTENTS
SPRING 2021
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PATHWAY OF PROGRESS: An Update on the Diversity Advocate Certification Program
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CREATING CONNECTIONS: Twin Cities Business Advisory Network Provides Support to Augustana Students, Alumni
10 NEW SPORTS COMING TO AU: Beginning in Fall 2021 12 Augustana’s School of Music Forges Ahead with Making Music, New Initiatives to Recruit Students 14 $1.35 Million Gift to Create Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center on Augustana University’s Campus, Increase Athletics Scholarships 20 ‘ENTER TO LEARN, LEAVE TO SERVE’: 100-Year-Old Augustana Alumnus Still Lives by Augustana Motto Nearly 80 Years After Graduation 22 TIME-HONORED TRADITION: Augustana Sermons Shine Through Seniors 24 Alumni’s Love for Building, Teaching and Playing Makes Augustana Pipe Organ Restoration Possible 26 Class Notes/In Memoriam
Inspired by Lutheran scholarly tradition and the liberal arts, Augustana provides an education of enduring worth that challenges the intellect, fosters integrity and integrates faith with learning and service in a diverse world.
OUR VISION Augustana aspires to become one of America’s premier church-related universities.
OUR VALUES Central to the Augustana experience are five core values. The community lives them and honors them, and they infuse the academic curriculum as well as student life: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community and Service.
CONNECT WITH US augie.edu/connect Augustana is an affirmative action, Title IX, equal opportunity institution. ©Augustana University 2021
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e hope this finds you well as you open this latest edition of The Augustana. In the following pages, we are blessed to bring you stories sure to inspire faith in our future. As the new season unfolds, memories of last spring keep us at a heightened state of appreciation for the gift of living and learning in community. Continuing under the Viking Flex Plan, 90 percent of our spring semester courses are being delivered in-person. A steadfast commitment to the Viking Flex Health and Safety Pledge remains essential as we make our way to the successful finish of this academic year and the commencement celebrations of the Augustana Classes of 2020 and 2021. Augustana’s 2020 Outcomes Report brings another reason to celebrate the Class of 2020. They entered a challenging job market with an Augustana degree, bold determination and a strong support system. We are proud to share that 97 percent of the graduates seeking employment found a position related to their major or chosen field. True to our enduring commitments, Augustana continues to make progress
in creating a more equitable, diverse and inclusive community. Last fall, we celebrated our largest class of Diversity Advocate Certification graduates, representing an important milestone in ongoing dialogue and education centered on deepening our intercultural awareness and understanding of individual and group diversity. This semester we are focused on further defining service learning within the model of highimpact practices and also engaged in cross-campus collaboration to better identify, enhance and communicate to students the mental health and wellness services available to them. Relationships are at the heart of Augustana. In 2019, the Twin Cities Business Advisory Network (BAN) was established to strengthen our network of meaningful connections with Minnesota business leaders while also providing support for students and alumni. Members share about the network’s role in building Augustana’s future on page 4. On page 16, you’ll read how a holistic education of care prepares our nursing students to serve the critical needs of patients and public health. The story on page 20 reveals how Pastor Rev. Richard Nelson ‘42 has spent nearly 80 years living out Augustana’s motto of “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” The tradition of senior sermons and the meaningful way they reflect our core value of Christian faith is highlighted on page 22. And, on page 24, you’ll see the image of the beautifully restored tracker pipe organ in the Chapel of Reconciliation. Thank you to all of our alumni and friends who ensured organ music will remain at the heart of worship for years to come. Our student-athletes proved resilient as they focused on a return to
competition, and the day finally came. We give thanks for our coaches and the entire athletic staff as they continue to work so tirelessly in support of studentathletes, their safety and success. Our Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 strategic plan continues to move us forward at a steady pace. Recent success has been fueled by a $1.35 million gift from longtime strategic partner Midco to renew and grow their support of Viking athletics and to create the Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center on Augustana’s campus. This generous investment facilitates the development of the recently approved multimedia entrepreneurship major. And the announcement of our newest additions to Augustana’s sports offerings — men’s swimming & diving and the NCAA emerging sport of women’s acrobatics & tumbling — has generated great enthusiasm from both prospective students and fans. We look forward to welcoming both teams to the Viking family in the next academic year. These are some of the exciting advancements made in recent months, with more underway. We began this academic year with faith and cautious optimism. While there were some bumps along the way, there was nothing we couldn’t overcome, together. Driven by our sense of purpose, we didn’t just get through — we trusted our roadmap and forged on, turning obstacles into opportunities. On behalf of the Augustana community, thank you for your continued support and care. May God grant you peace and keep you and your family safe and well. Warmest regards,
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin President
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An Update on the Diversity Advocate Certification Program | BY BETSY MANS
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n fall of 2019, Willette A. Capers joined campus as the director for diversity, equity and inclusion. Since then, she was promoted to assistant dean and has been blazing trails and fostering change throughout the community. The Diversity Advocate Certification Program launched, providing courses of varying subject matter to further educate faculty, staff and students about diversity, equity and inclusion. “The first year we held it,” Capers commented, “we had 30 participants, but this last year we had 86! People who attended were pioneers in realizing the importance of the change we want to see on campus.” Attendees complete courses as their schedules allow and are certified graduates after completion. Wendy Mamer, assistant director of admission, was one of the program’s first graduates. “Graduating with the first group was really fun and special,” she said. “My background is Guatemalan. I come from a white community and was adopted by white parents. The program had a profound impact on my life, especially being a person of color in a white community. I can’t thank Willette enough for this program. It made me feel like I found a part of myself.”
ALWAYS LEARNING Pamela Miller, chief of staff, received her certification early in the
program’s history as well. “I’ve been a diversity advocate for a long time, but have so much more to learn. The intersectionality course was my favorite because it helped us realize how we are all connected in ways we didn’t realize. “One exercise involved introducing myself without using my name, job, interests or where I was from,” Miller continued. “Those are things that describe me. The struggle you then feel is what someone who is of a different background may feel and doesn’t think they can share everything about themselves without penalty.” Augustana’s core values guide decisions made every day. They include: Christian, liberal arts, excellence, community and service. “In celebrating our Christian heritage,” Miller said, “we are called to be open and understanding about all humanity, faiths, backgrounds and walks of life. This curriculum is designed to move our university forward in diversity, equity and inclusion.” The program provides an open and welcoming environment of learning for anyone who wishes to attend. 2
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“PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED WERE PIONEERS IN REALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE ON CAMPUS.” - Willette A. Capers, Assistant Dean of Students
This past fall, Capers was awarded the Innovative Program Award from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) for her work on the Diversity Advocate Certification Program. “People have been asking to expand the program,” Capers smiled, “and outside agencies and organizations want to be part of it. This is just the appetizer; you need to get the main course.”
LOOKING IN THE MIRROR
Josh Barrows ‘19 is a graduate assistant for track and field pursuing his master’s degree in sports administration and leadership. As a graduate of the program and member of the diversity and inclusion committee within athletics, he encourages others to “take it seriously. Challenge yourself. Hold a mirror up and look at yourself. Most of us are not as inclusive as we would like to be. This program helps us break trends and actions we’ve had for so long and don’t even realize it.” Through this type of growth, more room is “created at the table,” Mamer voiced. “Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) don’t need more help or to become more educated. They are fully capable. It’s like an analogy Willette shared about creating inclusive spaces. BIPOC don’t need to be taught how to dance; they just need an invitation to it.”
LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
Institutions in the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) share the common belief that “we are called and empowered to serve the neighbor so that all may flourish,” as highlighted in “Rooted and Open.” “We ‘Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,’” Barrows remembered. “For example, we have excellent hospital partnerships with students working there and the hospitals benefiting from extra hands. It makes both programs flourish. We all interact with people different than ourselves every day. This program equips us to know them better and to love our neighbors.”
Miller’s sentiments echoed Barrows: “It’s important for students leaving Augustana to engage humanity because they will be working alongside people different from them. For example, if they are leading an organization with diverse backgrounds and aren’t comfortable with that, they will struggle.” From student affinity groups, like the Asian Student Association to the Augustana International Club and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance, arms are open to embrace others and celebrate our differences. “My goal for the future is looking at recruiting more students and staff that are systemically non-dominant. We are figuring out ways to partner with historically Black colleges and universities that offer Ph.D.s and majors that we have here at Augustana,” Capers shared.
GROWTH FROM UNIQUE WALKS OF LIFE
When asked what are some of the biggest challenges in working toward inclusive thinking, Capers shared profound but achievable insight. “People think they already know everything or don’t educate themselves. Everyone has Google! Look things up!” Reflecting, Capers reasoned, “Don’t you want to be able to grow as a human being from your interactions with people from different walks of life? We are all unique and need to respect that fact, because I want people to do the same thing for me.” “A faith-based liberal arts university that is rooted and open takes a good step in developing diversity with this program,” said Barrows. n To read “Rooted and Open”, visit augie.edu/rooted.
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CREATING CONNECTIONS:
TWIN CITIES BUSINESS ADVISORY NETWORK PROVIDES SUPPORT TO AUGUSTANA STUDENTS, ALUMNI
| BY JILL WILSON
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ne-fourth of all undergraduate students at Augustana come from Minnesota. The land of 10,000 lakes ranks second only to South Dakota for best recruiting grounds for the university. While more than half of recent AU graduates reported working in South Dakota, many headed to Minnesota, too — for employment or to continue their education. In 2020, graduates found meaningful employment in places such as the Area Special Education Cooperative (ASEC), University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Loveworks Academy for Visual and Performance Art, as well as YWCA Minneapolis, Twin Cities Orthopedics and the Mayo Clinic. In 2019, the university recognized the need to better connect with alumni and friends of Augustana in the Twin Cities. The university hired a director to build a strong Augustana network in Minnesota. That’s when the Twin Cities Business Advisory Network (BAN) was born. “With more than 4,000 alumni residing in the metro area, the Twin Cities is home to the second largest concentration of Augustana alumni outside of Sioux Falls,” said Paul Rasmussen ‘03, director of development for the Twin Cities area. “We realized that we had this tremendous cohort of business leaders who were eager to explore opportunities to better connect Augustana to this market. That was the primary reason behind the development of the Business Advisory Network, and it’s only grown from there.” The initial goal of the Twin Cities BAN was to have 8-10 members; a year later, the network has grown to 16. Rasmussen, whose wife, mother and brother also went to Augustana, said, “Our alumni base in the Twin Cities is a real asset to Augustana and a rich representation of the liberal arts education. We’ve got alumni here leading America’s largest corporations, directing world-class education, health care and nonprofit organizations, as well as serving in senior government positions, guiding faith communities, launching startups, teaching the next generation of leaders and the list goes on. “While alumni are active in all sectors in the Twin Cities, our common bond is our shared experience at Augustana and the lifelong relationships that we established there. That is the fun part of my work — connecting folks to Augustana and inviting them to be involved in building the university’s future.” Three of the Twin Cities BAN members are also on
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Augustana’s Board of Trustees, and all but two members are alumni. The depth of knowledge is immense, but there’s also fresh perspectives; members’ graduation years vary from the Class of 1965 to the Class of 2012. “It’s wonderful to have alumni and friends here that are extremely excited about the growth plans for Augustana through the Viking Bold plan,” said Rasmussen, who settled into the Twin Cities in 2011. “They are providing Augustana with feedback and insights from this market. They also want to connect students and faculty with research, consulting and experiential opportunities in the Twin Cities, Rochester and beyond.” THE DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE Lois Martin ‘85, a native of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, now lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. She believes so many Minnesotans flock to Augustana because “it’s far enough away for school, but it’s also not so far where you can get back when you want to or need to.” “It’s still a great Midwestern culture between the two, which I think a lot of people look for, but there are different career opportunities in the city,” said Martin. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Mortenson Construction says it helps to have a physical presence in the state she now calls home. “It provides a group of phenomenal talent to Twin Cities employers,” said Martin. “And, I think that’s where the business network comes in. It is helping to make the university more known and more visible, both from a recruiting source, but also be a funnel of new recruits for Augustana.” Martin says the Twin Cities BAN is also helping members connect with other members, opening up resources for everyone. “Networking is just so powerful from a self-development standpoint.” The former Augustana Board of Trustee member of 12 years said, “We all run into different challenges personally and professionally. It’s wonderful if you’ve got a network you can tap into. We all have a common bond back to Augie, but it’s a diverse enough group in the network that it provides each of us access and contact points for different challenges we may run into. To me, our objective is to connect with all Augie grads and open up employers’ understanding here of what a great resource Augustana is.”
TWIN CITIES BUSINESS ADVISORY NETWORK MEMBERS PAUL RASMUSSEN ‘03 Director of Development, Twin Cities, Augustana University JODI DEHLI Owner and CEO, Dehli Development, LLC MICHELLE FIELDS ‘95 Chief Marketing Officer, Burwell Enterprises
PAUL LIMBURG, M.D. ‘87 Chief Medical Officer for Screening, Exact Sciences; Gastroenterologist, Mayo Clinic DOUG LOON ‘86 President, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
LISA FLANARY ‘84 THE FRESH PERSPECTIVE SVP and Chief Growth Twin Cities BAN member Jillian Klein ‘03 is now the senior LOIS MARTIN ‘85 Officer, Thrivent vice president of government and regulatory affairs at Strategic CFO, Mortenson Education, Inc., but says she didn’t always know where she wanted Construction FRED JOHNSON ‘84 Senior Portfolio Manager– to land in her career. PAT McADARAGH ‘81 Church and Institutional “I have such great feelings about my college experience,” said President and CEO, Lending, Thrivent Klein, who studied business and religion as an undergraduate at Midco Communications JILLIAN KLEIN ‘01 Augustana. “I felt really lucky to be in a community, especially as a DWIGHT NELSON ‘83 SVP of Government student who came in not knowing at all what I wanted to do, that Principal, Neureux, LLC and Regulatory Affairs, allowed me to explore the million different passions that I had as I Strategic Education, Inc. JIM ODLAND ‘77 worked my way towards graduation. I had such a great experience VP and Managing Counsel, BRIAN KNIGHT ‘12 with a liberal arts education that supported me as I’ve moved Thrivent President, through my career. It equipped me with the knowledge I needed Bullseye Media, LLC to be able to learn how to learn and to say yes to opportunities that MARK RUNKEL ‘99 EVP and Chief Credit Officer, KELSEY KNIGHT ‘11 came my way even if they felt outside the realm of what my current US Bancorp Partner and Director of area of responsibility was.” Communications, That’s why the Eden Prairie, Minnesota, resident says she has a DANIEL SCOTT ‘87 Bullseye Media, LLC Attorney and Entrepreneur “heart for making sure, especially as young alums are moving to MIKE KNIGHT ‘82 Minnesota, that we’re supporting them in the ways they need to be JOHN THOMAS Founder and President, supported as they start their own career journeys.” Retired President and CEO, Alliance Management Arizant Healthcare “When higher education is being questioned in terms of its value STEVE LAWRENCE ‘65 to students more than ever,” Klein says it’s important to ensure that CEO, Lawrence Leasing the “Augustana education stays relevant and continues to be a great credential for students leaving the university in pursuit of their careers.” She says the investment Augustana is making in the Twin Cities is immense. Klein noted, “It’s obvious Augustana is taking seriously its commitment to ensuring that it’s setting students up to be successful in the best way possible.” Meeting three times a year, the group has heard from President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin on Augustana’s strategic plan, Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030, as well as Provost & Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Colin Irvine about the creation of new university programs and the potential for more. The group is looking forward to upcoming presentations from Assistant Professor and Director of the MBA Program Dr. Anissa Goehring and CFO & Executive Vice President Shannan Nelson on campus improvement projects. “We’ve just begun to scratch the surface of student and alumni opportunities in the Twin Cities in the past year. There’s a lot of work left to do. While COVID-19 has limited our in-person networking opportunities, it has accelerated our ability to connect with each other in new and innovative ways,” said Rasmussen. n THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
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ALUM FEATURE
A CAREER BEYOND THE CUBICLE | BY JOEL GACKLE
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e are drawn to a place where we find the balance of energy and inspiration, a place where we feel most alive. Some are drawn to the frenetic hum of the city, of the energy provided by the sights and sounds of places that never rest. Others find freedom in the great outdoors, where spaces are defined by nature, and time is measured by the sun. The most fortunate are those who are able to align their ideal location with a career that feeds on their passions. For Boulder, Colorado, businessman Robb Shurr ‘98, the place where he is most alive is the outdoors, and it has been a lifelong love affair. Growing up on the Mississippi River near St. Cloud, Minnesota, afforded Shurr opportunities to explore and discover. “Racing, cross-country skiing and mountain biking (among many other activities) were a big part of my childhood,” said Shurr. The outdoors not only ignited his sense of competition and adventure, it inspired his imagination and drive. While the outdoors brought him energy, Shurr’s father knew an excellent college education would bring balance to his passions. The college professor told Shurr, and his sister, Sharla ‘93, they needed to attend a university grounded in the liberal arts. Augustana proved to be the ideal place to balance his inquisitive thinking with effective communication and his love of the outdoors. He credits his parents for refining his sense of purpose. Shurr said, “My parents instilled a strong sense of conviction and a strong work ethic.” He began on a pre-med track but was quickly drawn to business communications. “It was such a great multi-disciplined major for me,” said Shurr. After graduation, Shurr pursued a career in advertising, but then realized it didn’t align with his ideals or goals. He decided to pursue a graduate degree in communications, realizing effective storytelling was the only way to capture attention and sustain impact. Following graduate school, he and his wife relocated to California where Shurr worked as a marketing director for two outdoor industry organizations, something he loved. It also brought perks that couldn’t be matched. “We got to do board meetings in Yosemite.” Shurr took a position with another outdoor industry organization in Boulder before he felt the need for a change. “I got the itch to start my own thing,” but the excitement of his first entrepreneurial endeavor quickly faded. “I launched two days before the housing collapse in 2008,” said Shurr. To add to the uncertainty, two of the founding partners decided to forgo building a company, and instead, chose the security of their larger employers. Undeterred, Shurr’s first company was launched. It was a communications firm, specializing in strategy and insights for the outdoor industry. It helped brands build sustainability
into their business plan. This chapter proved to be another time when his passions and his talents merged. He shared an office suite with two longtime professional climbing friends. Those friends went missing while on a climbing expedition in China. “We launched an international rescue, and I ran all communications,” said Shurr. Unfortunately, it was discovered that an avalanche had taken their lives. That loss set the foundation for another endeavor for Shurr. Shurr is now the CEO of Walden Hyde, a strategic creative agency focused on “helping clients make a difference in the world.” Walden Hyde was created a few years after his initial communications company. Shurr works with what he calls “Constructive Brands, those brands that advance profitability without screwing over current or future generations.” Shurr works with organizations ranging from multinational corporations to small businesses in understanding how their companies can look forward — focusing on how sustainability and values will impact their future business and customers. Perhaps the days of childhood exploration and discovery brought other benefits to him. With two companies under his belt, Shurr realized he is most alive when he is taking calculated risks. He added, “I don’t have that voice of fear that prevents me from trying something.” The CEO has gone on to bootstrap two other companies, including one focused on helping school children deal with anxiety through mindfulness. When tragedy struck his friends in China, Shurr experienced crippling anxiety for the first time in his life. He sought professional help and quickly discovered freedom through mindfulness exercises. He wanted others to discover it as well. Shurr’s experience as a founder and an entrepreneur has led to an ever expanding portfolio. His latest company is actually a start-up studio, partnering with investment backing to launch even more companies, with almost 20 currently in building stages. All of the success of the past decade is a result of his education, experience and grit. Augustana helped form foundational relationships, clarity of purpose, and critical thinking that has helped Shurr forge a bold path. He credits Augustana with the most important decision of his life. “The best thing about Augustana is I met my wife,” and it’s evident he means it. With the growth of his companies and the brands he has helped, he quickly lists his greatest success and source of pride: “We have a really great family.” Whether living along the Mississippi River, working in Yosemite or exploring the Rockies, Shurr found that place that brings him life. He has also carved a career to make sure others can experience the same joy in the outdoors he holds dear. When it came down to a career or the outdoors, he married the two, and has been boldly moving forward, loving every step of the journey. n
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VIKING ATHLETICS
OUR DEPARTMENT HAS HAD TO BE FLEXIBLE AND LEARN AS WE GO.” - LUKE GROTH,
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR INTERNAL OPERATIONS
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A SAFE RETURN TO SPORTS | BY RYAN HILGEMANN
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hen the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) shut down sports in the spring of 2020, work immediately began on how to safely resume sports come fall and winter. As the COVID-19 pandemic pushed through the summer, the NSIC canceled its fall sports seasons and fully focused on starting winter sports the first weekend in January 2021. At Augustana University, the focus remained on providing a championship experience while also determining how to best provide a safe environment in which to compete again. “A lot of great teamwork and relying on experts helped us navigate through the process,” Director of Athletics Josh Morton said. “I learned early on in the pandemic that I’m not an epidemiologist, nor a doctor, and luckily, we have experts in health care as part of our team at Augustana. “We leaned heavily on our head athletic trainer, Brian Gerry, and our team physician, Dr. Scott Boyens, to help put safety plans in place.” Those plans paid off to help practices get underway in September, albeit, in non-traditional ways. “We’d come in and scrimmage each other and it was weird getting used to wearing a mask while working out,” women’s basketball player Aislinn Duffy ‘23 said. “Hearing communication on the court is different. You have to be louder because you are wearing a mask.” Although teams had to make changes to the way they were used to competing, they were willing to do whatever it took to play. As the fall turned into winter, the NSIC revised its schedules several times, but the work was full steam ahead to make plans for competition. “The hardest part has been a combination of making plans and then having to change and adapt to CDC, NCAA and NSIC recommendations, as well as the Sport Science Institute (SSI) guidelines,” Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations Luke Groth said. “There is no manual or playbook on how to go through a pandemic and almost no one has ever done it before. Our department has had to be flexible and learn as we go.” Part of Groth’s position was to figure out how to test according to the NCAA SSI guidelines, which included securing nearly 3,000 COVID-19 tests to get through the school year. When practices initially started, testing was done once a week, and when games began, testing moved to three times a week for high-risk sports such as basketball and wrestling. But again, the Augustana administration has been willing to do what it takes to allow for the return to competition. “Our student-athletes deserve it,” Morton said. “They
deserve the opportunity to compete and it’s a big reason why they chose Augustana — competitive excellence. “There’s no question that for all of us in the athletics department — coaches, administration, trainers and especially our athletes — competition is a key component to our well-being.” All the work and effort paid off on January 2, when the men’s basketball team took to the court at Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) — the first competition in the NSIC since the start of the pandemic. The Augustana women hosted MSUM later that same day at the Elmen Center, with only players, coaches and essential workers inside. “One of the moms on our team actually made cutouts of our family to make it feel like we had people there supporting us,” Duffy said. “But it was still strange playing with no fans. The atmosphere is definitely different.” On the second weekend of action at the Sanford Pentagon, Augustana made the decision to allow fans at games in a limited capacity. “Our philosophy on spectators, even going back to fall scrimmages in football, was to slowly open things up if we can do it safely,” Morton added. “Our student-athletes deserved the chance for people to watch them. “Specifically, at the Sanford Pentagon, we are blessed to call that our basketball home. It has been set up for safety since November with pod seating, traffic flow within the building and plexiglass separators throughout.” Duffy immediately noticed a difference when playing in front of the limited crowd. “You could just tell our energy completely shifted,” Duffy said. “We just knew we were lucky because a lot of the schools in the NSIC weren’t allowing fans. “In that first game (in front of fans), you could tell our energy was up. You’d like to say you have total control of your own energy at all times, but you definitely feed off the environment you are in.” Additional safety measures are in place for when teams travel. Coaches assign a seating chart on the bus to help with contact tracing, with your roommate seated closest to you. Roommates have also remained the same on every trip. In the end, all the efforts put forward to have a season have been appreciated. “There were a lot of ups and downs throughout the fall,” Duffy added. “There were times we were pretty pessimistic, but we all agreed we would work hard during preseason and if we get our season, we’ll be super grateful. “Once we knew that we were for sure going to play at least a few games this year, it definitely made the five months of practice even more worth it.” n
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VIKING ATHLETICS 10
NEW SPORTS COMING TO AU
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| BY D.J. IRWIN, GRADUATE ASSISTANT, AUGUSTANA ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
n November of 2020, Augustana University announced the addition of two sports set to begin with the 2021-22 academic year. Men’s swimming & diving and the NCAA emerging sport of women’s acrobatics & tumbling will bring the Vikings’ athletics offerings to 21 sports. “A key part of our strategic plan, Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030, is to provide new opportunities for students that also help fuel enrollment growth,” President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin said. “These two sport additions do just that, and we’re excited about the student-athletes these programs will attract as we continue building momentum here at Augustana.” Augustana Men’s Swimming & Diving will be led by the current Augustana Women’s Swimming & Diving Head Coach Lindsie Micko. Micko started the women’s team from scratch after being hired in 2015.
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Since then, she has coached two student-athletes to three All-America honors, one NSIC Swimmer of the Year and three NSIC Freshmen of the Year, along with 27 All-NSIC honorees. Augustana Men’s Swimming & Diving will be the 10th men’s sport at the university and the only Division II men’s program in South Dakota. The future of the Augustana Men’s Swimming & Diving team is undoubtedly in great hands as it builds its first squad in 2021. The addition, however, will not only benefit future male swimmers and divers, but also the women’s swimming & diving team at the university. “The women are extremely excited to add the men’s team,” Micko said. “Not only does it bring more swimmers and divers to campus, it creates a great training environment for both men and women. “As club swimmers, they swim together and doing the same at the collegiate level will only enhance both programs. It will also open up opportunities for women who only want to look at schools that have swimming and diving as a co-ed sport.” While adding an entire team to an athletics department requires a lot of work behind the scenes, coach Micko is confident that after adding the women’s team just five years ago, the addition of the men’s team will be a little less strenuous. She has a clear vision for men’s swimming & diving at Augustana and is already focused on building team culture, leadership, rules, expectations, travel and competitions. “Adding the men’s team will open up competition opportunities for both teams. Most co-ed teams look to invite other teams that are also co-ed,” added Micko. In addition to the new men’s team, the women’s team officially signed its first diver in the fall of 2020 and is set to begin diving competition in the fall of 2021, after fielding a swimming-only team since 2016. “It’s an important part of the program,” Micko said. “As we build our diving program, we will become more competitive in dual meets, conference championships and NCAA meets. Our team is excited to add divers and see how we can continue to grow as a program.” “Men’s swimming & diving will be a great complement to what coach Micko has been building on the women’s side,” Director of Athletics Josh Morton said. “It’s also exciting to add an NCAA emerging sport for women at the same time.
BEGINNING IN FALL 2021 “Acrobatics & tumbling will be a great addition not only for the Augustana community, but for Sioux Falls as well, and we’re proud to be part of a university that is always looking at unique and innovative ways to grow and serve students.” The Augustana Acrobatics & Tumbling team will be the 11th women’s varsity sport at the university. Acrobatics & tumbling was added to the NCAA emerging sports list in August of 2020, after receiving backing from the NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics in 2019. Augustana becomes the 36th institution nationwide to offer the sport, the 25th in NCAA Division II and the first in the region. The closest institution to Augustana offering the sport is 519 miles away. The National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) expects increased interest and program announcements, as well as interest within conferences to add acrobatics & tumbling as a championship sport. Current membership includes 34 NCAA programs across all divisions and two National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) members. To be considered for NCAA Championship status, a sport must have a minimum of 40 NCAA members competing. Acrobatics & tumbling is the evolution of different disciplines of gymnastics, which includes the athletic aspects of competitive cheerleading. Individuals and small groups execute acrobatic lifts, tosses and tumbling. The format was created at the collegiate level to address the interest and abilities of young women competing in this skill set. With little opportunity throughout the country to continue acrobatics & tumbling in college, combined with strong high school gymnastics and cheerleading programs in the region surrounding Augustana, the athletics department sees great opportunity and value in adding a competitive team at the collegiate level for student-athletes and fans in Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. “At Augustana, we are always looking at ways to differentiate ourselves, and acrobatics & tumbling fits that mindset,” said Morton. “It’s a fan-friendly, fast-moving sport that I know will bring even more excitement when they compete at the Elmen Center.” Meets include six events, all of which are held on the floor and in varying group sizes. The team will practice and compete in the aforementioned Elmen Center on Augustana’s campus. Augustana Acrobatics & Tumbling will look to build community relationships with local gymnastics organizations in the Sioux Falls area. “We are thrilled to welcome Augustana to the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association family, and honored to be part of the growth of their athletics department,” NCATA President Dr. Renee Baumgartner said. “During this challenging time, all new opportunities being created for young women to compete at the collegiate level are important and exciting.” Augustana Athletics has begun its search for a head coach. n
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AUGUSTANA’S
SCHOOL OF
MUSIC FORGES AHEAD
WITH MAKING MUSIC, NEW INITIATIVES TO RECRUIT STUDENTS | BY JILL WILSON
A
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ugustana announced the creation of its School of Music in May — its second school developed in the university’s history, following the announcement of the Sharon Lust School of Education a month prior. In the midst of a global pandemic, the announcement came at a time when there were questions about whether music should be made at all. Despite those challenges, Dean of the School of Music Dr. Peter Folliard and his colleagues forged ahead, creating health and safety protocols based on scientific research regarding aerosol emissions. Folliard added, “It’s what we have to do to stay safe – follow the best studies and research related to COVID-19 and the performing arts.” Based on the research, the School of Music is limiting the use of chairs and room capacities, as well as directing traffic within its spaces. The university acquired personal protective equipment (PPE), including customized masks, instrument bell covers and bags, so students can sing and play instruments. With the use of these specially designed masks, Director of Choral Activities Dr. Paul Nesheim says you’re able to hear the choirs surprisingly well. “What has impressed me and blessed me the most is our students; they’re hanging in there and rolling with it as best they can. We’re all in the same boat and they’ve still been digging in and making some beautiful music,” said Nesheim. Because it takes 20 minutes for a fresh outdoor air cycle to filter through each space, students and faculty are moving to a different location every 30 minutes while making music before the spaces are wiped down and used again. Director of Jazz Studies Dr. Brian Hanegan, who supports the guidelines, says unfortunately that also means having to move equipment every half-hour. “I think the students are doing a good job and I think the institution itself has empowered us to be successful. It is challenging and does wear on you some for sure,” said Hanegan.
Typically, this would be a very busy time for the School of Music, filled with robust concerts and performance tours, but those have all been postponed due to the novel coronavirus. One thing that wasn’t cancelled though is the long-standing tradition of Augustana’s annual Christmas Vespers. The School of Music recorded its 2020 production “Risen with Healing in His Wings” using Augustana’s state-of-the-art recording studio. The university’s choirs, band and orchestra are able to record remotely from the Winden Choral Room, Lillehaug Instrumental Room and Hamre Recital Hall — presenting the large scale performance safely and unlike anyone else in the country. “The pandemic has brought so much suffering,” said Folliard about the ability to record Christmas Vespers, “and we need music now more than ever.” In the meantime, as part of the university’s strategic plan — Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 — the School of Music is in the process of developing a new undergraduate program in multimedia entrepreneurship, and exploring the addition of graduate programs in music performance and music education. The school is also finding more efficient and better ways to recruit students. Alongside Admission, the university has partnered with a new recruitment software platform that is helping the School of Music create more targeted and one-on-one recruiting experiences between faculty members and potential students. Folliard said, “It’s really similar to sports. Coaches don’t just seek to recruit a football player, they look for a quarterback. It’s the same for us — say we need a tenor or a baritone saxophone player, we are working to recruit them in that same personal way.” What might be the greatest driver for an increase in enrollment for Augustana’s music programs and students of all majors is the School of Music’s newest initiative. Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Larry Petersen is working with Director of Bands Dr. Christopher Unger and Percussion Instructor Daniel Sailer to bring back the Augustana Marching Band — offering an annual scholarship to first-year students who join. Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands Dr. Larry Petersen, Director of Bands Dr. Christopher Unger and Percussion Instructor Daniel Sailer are working together
to bring back the Augustana Marching Band — now offering an annual scholarship to first-year students who join. The resurrection of the marching band will occur in two phases. The first phase is already underway with the launch of a drumline, which took place in the fall of 2020. Led by Sailer, the drumline has performed several times on campus, receiving an enormous amount of praise from staff, faculty and administrators, with more students interested in the ensemble than there are instruments. “By the time we launch in the fall of 2021, we’re going to have this heartbeat of the ensemble in place and ready to deliver. The drumline is the key to our success in getting the marching band going and it’s all about support and proper personnel, and we have all of that in place,” said Unger. “Our marching band will not only enhance the student experience, but will change the gameday experience and athletics in ways that we don’t even understand yet, so it’s truly an exciting time.” The second phase of resurrecting the Augustana Marching Band will include equipping the band. The School of Music has developed a partnership with Yamaha and local music providers to supply students with the instruments. The marching band uniforms will incorporate the university’s colors and core values. Folliard said proudly, “A marching band is the most visible part of any music program on a collegiate campus and it’s time that Augustana got the band back together.” The first time Augustana’s marching band — The Marching Vikings — was documented was in the 1936 Augustana Yearbook The Edda. For decades, The Marching Vikings provided much of the color and sound for Viking Days parades, leading anywhere from 20 to 40 other area marching bands through the 15-block route in downtown Sioux Falls. In 1964, The Marching Vikings even made national television, performing during halftime for the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions game in Minneapolis. In 1977, Augustana Band Director Leland Lillehaug reported to the Argus Leader that the university had made the decision to “drop marching band some time ago,” reportedly in 1974, and only assembled for Viking Days homecoming festivities, which continued into the ‘90s. Indeed, it’s time Augustana got the band back together. n
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$1.35 MILLION GIFT TO CREATE
&
MIDCO MEDIA CAMPUS MIDCO PRODUCTION CENTER on Augustana University’s Campus, Increase Athletics Sponsorships | BY JILL WILSON
A TECH SANDBOX. That’s what Augustana University and Midco were hoping to create when the idea was born for the Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center. Dean of the School of Music Dr. Peter Folliard said, “...here’s what a tech sandbox looks like: curriculum geared towards audio, video and music production in which we can educate our students and our community. There are opportunities for community members to engage with not only education in their chosen discipline, but also receive training in emerging multimedia hardware and software platforms. This will be a unique project that will put us on the map.” Enhancing its long-standing partnership with Augustana by investing in Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030, Midco has committed $1.35 million to the university to make the Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center a reality, but also to renew and enlarge its athletic sponsorship. “Midco’s ethos is to be a force for good in the communities we serve, and this gift is a testament to that ethos,” said Midco President & CEO Pat McAdaragh ‘81. “We’re proud to partner with Augustana University in support of its visionary Viking Bold strategic plan that will provide more opportunities for its students and graduates to contribute broadly to society, all while making a daily positive impact in the community and region.” The Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center on Augustana’s campus will provide audio, video and music training and programming through the Avid Learning Partner (ALP) program, as well as facilitate the development of a recently approved multimedia entrepreneurship major with the opportunity to combine majors in business, English, journalism, communications, media studies, religion, visual arts and music. The Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center will not only provide opportunities for Augustana students, but will serve as a training hub for K-12 students and aspiring professionals — either in person or virtually — throughout the region. Folliard said, “Higher education can do so much more for musicians because right now, most universities only prepare them to teach or maybe perform for the rest of their lives, and realistically that’s only one piece of the pie. There’s an entire industry of music and art, sound, video, creativity and administration that are all part of the larger pieces. The skills 14
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that are needed to exist and survive as a musician, performer, creative artist in the 21st century, include performance, teaching, composition, as well as the video and audio production. We need to close the gap between where higher education ends and professional employment for musicians begins.” The Midco Media Campus & Midco Production Center will offer state-of-the-art equipment and a centralized production control room that will improve the efficiency and quality of broadcasts from athletics to the arts, and transform the experiential learning for students as they encounter new technology, platforms and emerging ideas. “This is another great example of finding ways to differentiate Augustana from others, and there’s not a better partner to do that with than Midco,” said Director of Athletics Josh Morton. “Once we are up and running, our fans will appreciate the state-of-the-art live production quality and pre-produced content as much as they appreciate the competitive excellence they’ve come to expect from our teams.” “No matter if it’s dynamic teaching happening in the classroom, amazing athletics happening on the field or a beautiful performance that’s happening in the (Hamre) Recital Hall. In that central hub, there will be a team of people that are able to run the whole show, capture it all and create wonderful content to share with a larger audience than just those who can be in person in Sioux Falls at that time,” said Folliard. Because of the new opportunities that will soon be provided by Midco’s leadership gift, Gilbert DeWitte ‘24 chose Augustana over prestigious music conservatories around the nation. The Sioux Falls native started playing the piano at the age of three and taking cello lessons with an Augustana professor in fourth grade. While DeWitte’s mother, a dentist, is an Augustana alumna, he says he also wanted to carve his own path. “It was actually the summer after my sophomore year. I went to Sydney, Australia, and performed at the Sydney Opera House and actually soloed there. That was kind of the switch toward, ‘Ok, I’m doing music full-time now,’” DeWitte said.
DeWitte began declaring Augustana’s new multimedia entrepreneurship program as his major even before it was officially approved and offered to students. “There’s just not many schools that provide these top notch (Avid) certifications that basically allow you to go right out of school with your bachelor’s degree straight to whatever industry you want. You could work in L.A. at one of the big record labels. You could go to Nashville and make whatever music you want. You could go to Atlanta and try to be the next big rap artist,” said DeWitte. “It makes Augustana extremely unique. Only a couple of major conservatories provide all these factors at such a high level.” Already having taken most of the prerequisites, DeWitte will be one of the first students to dive into the new major in the fall of 2021. The freshman says it would be great to be the next big star, but knowing that he has to make money at the end of the day, his dream job is to work as a producer at a production label — something that’s now a possibility after earning an undergraduate degree. And DeWitte has already gotten a taste of the possibilities at the university after helping with the
making of Augustana Christmas Vespers, a long-standing annual tradition at the university, featuring the School of Music’s four choirs, orchestra and band. “If we had just tried to do Vespers as we know it, it’s over. We’ll see you next year. And that’s the last thing that this world needed was one more opportunity that got shut down because of the pandemic,” Folliard said. “Take, for example, the Super Bowl halftime show. Since the 1990s, it has been a lip-synced performance. It’s too large (of a production) and too short of a time to involve all of the equipment needed to happen — to succeed in that physical space, but also on television as it does. Everything there is pre-recorded. So, I took that idea and said we can do this ... and then using the internet as our tool to share this with an even bigger audience. And at the end, we captured the very best of what our students can give and then we mixed that in post-production. Then, we did that ‘Milli Vanilli’ idea of lip-syncing to our own performance in a video recording. From everything that I’ve seen, this is the most progressive effort to perform in the pandemic — it’s
production value at a level of 10. We just switched the model and said, ‘Cool, we’ll just bring it to you.’” But Folliard says these new opportunities aren’t just for music majors. “You’ve got the newest skills and certifications plus the critical thinking component, which is what employers are really looking for. That’s what this program looks to do for all creative fields — communications, media studies, religion. The program teaches students the software skills to share all of what they’re doing with the world so that in a pandemic they can survive, or in fact, even thrive. Now you know how to engage the world, and that’s where we are living now, in a digital space,” said Folliard. Folliard says the goal is to have not only students, but business professionals knocking at Augustana’s door — offering internships; not just any internships though, competitive, paid internships at a level in which the university struggles to keep up with demand. For more information, please visit augie.edu/music. n
“WE’RE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY IN SUPPORT OF ITS VISIONARY VIKING BOLD STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL PROVIDE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ITS STUDENTS AND GRADUATES TO CONTRIBUTE BROADLY TO SOCIETY, ALL WHILE MAKING A DAILY POSITIVE IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY AND REGION.” - Pat McAdaragh, Midco President & CEO
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BEHIND THE STETHOSCOPE: Simulators, NCLEX Pass Rates and Hope Drive Augustana’s Nursing Program | BY BETSY MANS
N
ursing is a challenging career, and COVID-19 is putting it to the test. In a pandemic that is unprecedented in our lifetimes, how do you prepare students to practice in this environment of complex patient care, constantly evolving technologies and high stress which can lead to nurse burnout? Holistic education of care. Dr. Lynn White, associate professor of nursing and chair of the department of nursing, explained that, “We focus on integrating the liberal arts philosophy into our nursing courses so that our graduates provide holistic nursing care. Faculty truly care about the outcome of each student so they become the best they can be, leading to high-quality nurses and better patient outcomes.” How can professors stay on top of developments in COVID-19 and prepare students to enter the workforce in such a trying time? “We are listening to our most recent graduates from last spring, and finding ways to incorporate content into our curriculum that is reflective of the changes in health care as a response to the pandemic,” White explained. “Almost all of the nursing faculty maintain clinical practice in the health care environment, keeping them current on what’s happening in hospitals. Resilience, self-care and stress-management truly are key in health care right now.”
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SIMULATION LAB OFFERS A SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
The simulation lab on campus offers high-quality training in a safe environment. Providing opportunities to learn from mistakes in a non-life-threatening situation, lifelike manikins mimic medical events as the patient’s health status is adjusted remotely from another room. “Students work together to assess what is going on and develop a plan of care. The professor is in another room and their voice can be spoken as the patient’s over the intercom, teaching us patient communication and collaboration skills,” shared Augustana nursing student Rachel Nelson ‘22. “Simulators can give birth, have a collapsed lung and more, teaching you to work under pressure.” Manikins have varying degrees of sophistication and can have sounds such as heart rubs, clicks, murmurs or respiratory sounds like crackles or wheezes. Michael Thury — a student in Augustana’s Accelerated Nursing Program which runs 18 consecutive months — discussed the benefits of practicing care safely in a normally lifethreatening situation. “It makes you think on your feet and at the end, you can do a breakdown of what went well and what could be improved. The resources Augustana provides for success are outstanding. Things are as real as they can be.” However, the amount of use the equipment sees takes a toll on those resources. The main manikin in use is out of warranty, and new models cost $80,000-$100,000. Manikins come in adult and infant models to represent all ages of care. When a warranty runs out, repairs are no longer possible and a new purchase must be made. “Each student goes through 3-4 simulations a semester,” explained White, “giving students a chance to learn about a certain concept that
we can’t guarantee they’ll experience in clinical practice. This type of learning modality, combined with virtual simulations where students are presented a scenario and opportunity to respond, pair well to provide a broader education.” In an effort to kickstart the significant funding needed for ongoing simulation manikin repairs and replacements, Curt ‘69 and Glenda ‘68 Hage established the Nursing Simulation Lab Endowment Fund. “This lays the groundwork for a fund to serve as a collective place for donors to help provide for the ongoing expenses of interactive manikins,” Glenda explained. “As a nursing graduate, I can attest that advancements in medicine and training evolve constantly.” Curt added, “This fund provides Augustana the ability to carry on its legacy of nursing excellence. Our hope is that others will join us in this effort to endow the fund and provide financial support far into the future.”
As a senior, Jansen will be facing a tough climate entering the workforce during the pandemic. She shared, “I know I can’t do everything myself. If I try to, I will burn out and become exhausted. Nursing is a team sport. I will never know everything, but together a team cares for patients the best they can.” Nelson can echo some of Jansen’s thoughts as she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 8, knowing hospitals all too well. Her mother, a nurse and professor at Augustana, inspired her to pursue a career that makes a positive impact on someone’s life. “My clinical last semester was on Sanford’s surgical renal floor. As a nursing student, I cared for a wide variety of patients. My floor ended up being converted into a COVID-19 unit, so we moved over to the rehab floor down the hall. Meeting patients where they are, in the situations they are in, is a rewarding experience,” said Nelson.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCES PROVIDE HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
Students have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by completing clinicals. Augustana has strong relationships with clinical partners throughout the city, leading to success in securing post-graduation employment. Thury completed an adult clinical rotation at Avera’s Brain and Spine Institute in the Neurocritical Care Unit. When asked to share a memorable moment, he responded, “My EVD (external ventricular drain) experience! I had never seen one before. It’s a reservoir that collects fluid from a patient who has increased pressure in the brain. I monitored the neurostatus and intracranial pressure and reported any changes. Critical care fascinates me. I have a job in Avera’s ICU and hope to work there when I’m done with boards. I want to go to CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) school one day.” In choosing Augustana, Thury cited Augustana’s accelerated program graduates’ 100 percent National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate last year, as well as Augustana providing the option to take an NCLEX review course before the test. The state average pass rate is 92 percent, while Augustana’s pass rate is 97 percent for traditional and accelerated programs combined. Whether students are driven by helping others or the ample career choices nursing affords (acute care, intensive care, forensic nursing, education, public health, informatics and ethics to name a few), personal experiences draw individuals as well. Hailey (Korver) Jansen’s ‘21 younger brother was born with a cleft lip and palate, and she saw a lot of hospital time with him. Growing up, she turned into “his nurse with bandaids and more.” Jansen said, “I connected with his nurses and wanted to be there for others in their time of need.” Something Jansen has been working on to further her nursing education is completing an evidence-based project. “Research is something I feel is lacking in health care. I’m learning how research impacts the care we give and to see if the outcome yields results,” said the Orange City, Iowa, native.
“Nurses are intuitive, dealing with the lives of people. Nursing is a science and an art. You’re caring for mind, body and spirit. It’s the use of theory and skill connecting with your patient. Seeing patients in clinical rotations allowed me to practice all of those skills,” Nelson said. She saw joy at work, too. “I helped vaccinate the elderly and groups of essential workers for COVID-19, and it was so rewarding! People cried tears of joy as they hadn’t been out in a year. That is why I’m doing this. I can make a change for the better. Nurses have watched people die without their loved ones there and it’s hard, but someone has to do it. I want to be that person who walks alongside patients. Empathy is a core value of nursing.” Nelson attests her wide skill set to her liberal arts education. “We’re pushed to see all sides of a situation, think in all ways,” said Nelson. “I want to be an ICU nurse for a few years, but that isn’t the end for me. I want to become a nurse anesthetist.”
SUCCESS, STRAIGHT-AHEAD
For those interested in pursuing a nursing degree and beyond, Phase 1 of the Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 strategic plan includes establishing a School of Health Professions. A graduate nursing degree is in development. “Faculty are vested in the outcome of students in providing a rich, diverse education. This translates into developing strong graduates who provide excellent care. That is one of the things that keeps me here, seeing the passion in both our faculty and students for providing holistic care,” shared White. “The need for nurses will only increase in the coming years. We’re here to prepare exceptional nurses to meet the challenge.” With regards to facing the future, pandemic or otherwise, Thury asserted that “the pandemic was new for everyone. We’ve adapted, learned and relayed information. Our patients don’t want to be a statistic. We are helping them beat the odds of this virus. It’s our calling. COVID-19 is an obstacle, yes, but it won’t be here forever. Augustana provides some of the best resources and opportunities to excel not only as a nurse, but as a person as well, and I haven’t looked back.” n
For more information on Augustana’s nursing program, visit augie.edu/nursing.
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AUGUSTANA UNIVERSITY EARNS MORE THAN $670K IN GRANTS FOR
PHYSICS RESEARCH:
DEPARTMENT ATTRIBUTES SUCCESS TO COLLABORATIONS THAT HELP PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ‘CUTTING-EDGE EXPERIENCES’
| BY JILL WILSON
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efore Augustana’s strategic plan Viking Bold: The Journey to 2030 was even put to paper, the physics department had long been putting its goals into action. For more than 15 years, professors in the university’s physics department have been leveraging their connections to form long-standing partnerships with other institutions — structures that sustain excellence, facilitate growth and cultivate innovative and impactful teaching, learning and research to provide an education of enduring worth. “We’re getting recognition for research productivity at a small school. I am somewhat sought out nationally by people who want to know how we manage it. The answer is that we collaborate. Nathan (Grau) does his research at a national lab, I go to a large research university and Drew (Alton) is part of this large consortium that works out of national labs or even internationally,” said Professor of Physics Dr. Eric Wells. “Even if you’re an elite school, if you try to do it all yourself without postdocs and graduate students, you’re somewhat limited. So, we’re taking the model, in terms of Viking Bold, and leveraging the facilities and expertise of our research partners.” Partnerships with other universities and laboratories lead to collaborations that have ultimately earned them funding opportunities year after year. Most recently, the department secured four grants, totaling more than $670,000 from the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium (SDSGC) and National Science Foundation (NSF). The latter funds specific research proposals that have been judged to be the most promising by a rigorous merit-review system. The grant money will contribute to “cutting edge experiences” for undergraduate students participating in physics research on Augustana’s campus and across the nation. In 2020, the university was awarded nearly $218,000 in grants over the next four years through the SDSGC, under the leadership of Professor of Physics Dr. Drew Alton and other university leaders across the state. In an effort to “expand opportunities for South Dakotans through education, research and public service in the fields of aerospace, earth science and STEM disciplines,” the funding provides students with scholarships or fellowships to participate in research opportunities. “This is a collaborative effort. We decide who gets these scholarships and we try to figure out what’s the right way to change things in the state to try to make more people in South Dakota think a career in NASA might be an option,” said Alton. “Students who get to go to a NASA center and get to spend a summer working on the space shuttle, a Mars rover or whatever — this is the kind of event that changes things (for students).”
This past year, eight out of the 11 Augustana students who applied were awarded scholarships from the SDSGC. Wells, who came to Augustana in 2003, was awarded a $192,676 grant entitled “Strong-Field Control of Polyatomic Molecules” from the NSF to continue undergraduate research in Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) Physics. This is the fifth time his grant has been renewed, which will run through 2023. For more than a decade, Augustana students have been engaged in research involving the interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with small molecules. Ultrashort laser pulses have properties that suggest they might be used to directly influence chemical reactions. The precise application of a customized laser pulse to an individual molecule can enable the modification of the molecule in a targeted, desired manner. This basic research helps to lay a foundation that one day might enable laserassisted production of new medicines or specialized materials that cannot be made by conventional chemical techniques. This award will continue a long-standing collaboration between Augustana and Kansas State University. While students develop and analyze experiments on campus, they are carried out at the J.R. Macdonald Laboratory in Manhattan, Kansas. Wells, along with Assistant Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering Dan Steinwand ‘83, also received an NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) award of nearly $127,000. The grant will fund the acquisition of a hybrid silicon pixel detector — also known as the TPX3Cam — to help examine the products resulting from the interactions of molecules with ultrashort laser pulses. Wells likes to say that he uses a “fancy camera” to produce molecular movies. “As a director tells an actor what to do, we use lasers to make a molecule do a certain thing that it wouldn’t normally do. This is interesting because if you can make a molecule do something it wouldn’t normally do, perhaps you can make something new with it,” explained Wells. “How do you know whether you’re changing the molecule or not? You have to take a picture of it — incredibly fast pictures. We then come back home and sort through the footage.” The TPX3 Cam will be used in collaboration with four other institutions, including Michigan State University, Kansas State University, the University of Virginia and University of Mary Washington. Referring to the MRI grant process, Wells said, “These awards are very competitive. Each proposal from a large research university has already had to win an internal
competition to be submitted, so we are not just competing against, for example, a generic CalTech (California Institute of Technology) proposal, which is daunting enough. We are competing against the best proposal CalTech can send in this year. We’re the primary organization on this grant, and I’m the principal investigator. We’re not just tagging along with our research partners in some sense. We’re leading this effort that involves these research-heavy institutions.” “These awards are just an indication that the work we are doing is that level, since the NSF is funding us. We’re competitive with other nationally supported programs,” said Dr. Nathan Grau, assistant professor of physics. Funded by NSF’s experimental Nuclear Physics Program, a $135,000 grant was awarded to Grau to continue the scientific program “Studying the Strong Nuclear Force at Augustana University.” This grant will mark its third renewal. Grau, who came to Augustana in 2010, will use the funds to study the gluon content in the nucleus — which is at the core of every atom — by analyzing high energy nuclear collisions produced at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York. Along with students, Grau will also participate in the building and installation of a next-generation detector, known as the sPHENIX, that will measure the results of these collisions. Grau said, “We use our camera to take pictures of collisions of nuclei; we strip all the electrons off of an atom and accelerate the nucleus to very high energies and then smash them together and start taking pictures. We can’t manipulate the individual nuclei so we have to do it a bunch of times to collect billions of images of these individual collisions to then sort through.” Sorting through what might become important discoveries. Grau says his previous experiment, the PHENIX experiment, briefly held the Guinness Book of World Records for creating the highest temperature on Earth. Grau noted, “These collisions produced temperatures in excess of a few trillion degrees, which hasn’t been seen since microseconds after the beginning of the universe. By doing these collisions of gold nuclei, we can create conditions that have happened a very, very long time ago to understand what the baby universe looked like. It turns out from previous experiments, it was soupy. This new experiment is going to try to help us understand the properties of that liquid universe, rather than the gaseous universe that we expected.” These are the types of things that Grau says led him to the university more than a decade ago and what keeps him here. “This is experiential learning in the sciences. I knew deeply that I wanted to teach at a smaller, private liberal arts-focused place for a long time and it was easy to fall in love with Augustana once I was here. Honestly, can’t imagine teaching anywhere else,” said Grau. “I can teach well. I’m encouraged to teach well. I can do research well. I’m encouraged to do research well. I can interact and get to know the students deeply and help them find their vocation, find their path and be some small part of that.” n
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‘ENTER TO LEARN, LEAVE TO SERVE’:
100-Year-Old Augustana Alumnus Still Lives by Augustana Motto Nearly 80 Years After Graduation | BY JILL WILSON
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ecember 22, 2020, marked Pastor Rev. Richard Nelson’s 100th birthday. There wasn’t a big celebration due to COVID-19, as the 1942 Augustana College graduate lives in an independent/assisted living home in Apple Valley, Minnesota, but it’s a safe bet that the Iowa native was still singing, likely the Augustana Alma Mater. The 1999 Augustana Alumni Achievement Award recipient says the university is in his DNA and he still lives by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,” one that he made his own in 1938. “Augie’s motto has motivated my entire life and ministry. Reaching out in caring and sharing ways — to people both gifted and needy — has blessed my life. It is truly amazing that as well as the professors and courses of 80 years ago, the values and spirit of Augustana have been the resources needed to move onward in a world of change and opportunities, ” said Nelson.
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ENTERING TO LEARN
Nelson attended Lakefield High School in Minnesota, where he played basketball and football. He received several scholarship offers to play sports at state colleges, but even during the Great Depression when money was tight, one faith-based college was always in the back of his mind. Nelson says during his early years, he would make trips to Sioux Falls to buy “goods” with his parents and take notice when driving around the Augustana College campus. His father, who was a pastor, would sometimes give devotions at student chapel services. “It was just a little seed that was planted and I discovered how important that seed was growing, and I didn’t look at any other college,” said Nelson. As a first-generation student in his family, Nelson says music was a major interest of his and he sang in the Augustana Choir all four years. He also played trombone in
the pep band. In order to pay for school, Nelson got a job as the head waiter in the dining hall, located in the lower level of the women’s dorm or Ladies Hall, now known as East Hall. The dean of women asked her secretary, Deloris Hanson, a student from Watertown, South Dakota, to help Nelson arrange dinner seating to provide more opportunities for the “gals and guys” to meet. This also created an opportunity for the waiter and secretary’s relationship to grow. With no car or nearby restaurants to frequent, their dates consisted of walks around campus, picnics by the Big Sioux River and ice skating on Covell Lake. Both Nelson and Hanson graduated from Augustana in 1942. Hanson got a job at Augsburg Publishing House in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as a secretary to the editor of “The Lutheran Standard,” a monthly publication sent to Lutheran congregations nationwide. As for Nelson, he liked interacting with people, which led to advanced studies. “Some friends and professors at Augustana said, ‘Why don’t you think about a career in ministry where you can work with people all your life?’ So, I decided to go to St. Paul, to Luther Seminary, and I was there on campus for three years. To earn money so I could afford to return each year, I worked on farms or for a carpenter in the summertime. One year, I got a job working in the salmon industry out of Ketchikan, Alaska.” Still without a car, the couple dated by streetcar. Nelson proposed to his girlfriend on his birthday, and a year later, on February 14, 1945, they got married in Hanson’s home church in Watertown. They eventually had three children, Paul ‘69, Marie and Jean ‘75, two of whom also graduated from Augustana.
LEAVE TO SERVE
Nelson truly began his life of service in 1945 as a pastor at a church in Lennox, South Dakota, while also serving on the Augustana Board of Regents, and as secretary of the South Dakota Lutheran Synod. That was the beginning of his 64-year continuous career serving as a pastor, which also took him to Flandreau, South Dakota, and Europe, St. Paul, Burnsville and Golden Valley in Minnesota. He retired from active ministry on December 31, 2008, at the age of 88. His
wife, Deloris, passed away in 2013, but Nelson says she lives on through the verses she marked in their Bible. At the facility where Nelson now resides, he still makes his own breakfast and lunch, and they provide dinner. He works out with light weights and resistance bands and still has the ability to touch his toes; he only uses a walker when he goes outside, mainly at the request of his family. Remember, that Augustana motto? It’s still his own; he’s still serving others. “I’ve had a couple of funerals. I’ve had a wedding. I’ve done some Advent lessons and lessons for Lent,” said Nelson. “It doesn’t stop. Now, I’m in ‘transition,’ so I’ve used vocation as other ways to reach out to people. I just love people and try to keep in correspondence. I send cards, put out religious materials and I’m still giving as much as I can.” With the ongoing pandemic, Nelson watches services on his laptop, sends emails to friends and family and has a printer to send letters — more than 200 Christmas letters went out this year. He says his largest gift to Augustana is likely spreading the word about the university to others. “Twenty-six (people) from our immediate family — Deloris’s family, my family and their spouses — have gone to Augustana,” Nelson said. “Every parish I served, I tried to encourage many to consider Augustana and many did.” Nelson figures he has convinced around 20 others to attend the college or university throughout his years of service. But he’s given back in other ways too — through a scholarship fund for students to attend a Lutheran seminary, which has been expanded to include other student, staff and campus needs. He and his wife created the fund 20 years ago and he still contributes to this day. He is also responsible for banners on campus, one located outside the chapel, that reads none other than “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” As for his big birthday, the word had gotten out. Nelson received more than 200 cards. He said with all the letters, he had “better keep going because he has more work to do.” “To get a phone call from Augustana encourages me to do even better. If I ever get a chance, I will come back and walk the sacred halls of the place called Augustana,” said Nelson. And we will be right here waiting for you, Richard, with open arms. n
“It is truly amazing that as well as the professors and courses of 80 years ago, the values and spirit of Augustana have been the resources needed to move onward in a world of change and opportunities.”
- PASTOR REV. RICHARD NELSON ‘42 THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
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TIME-HONORED
TRADITION: AUGUSTANA SERMONS SHINE THROUGH SENIORS | BY GRETA STEWART
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t 21 years old, would you have the courage to stand up in front of a group of people and give a sermon and talk about your faith? To say it may put you out of your comfort zone is probably an understatement for many. However, the senior sermon has been an Augustana tradition for more than three decades and one that has become a pillar to the university’s core value of Christian. Campus Pastor Rev. Ann Rosendale ’04 says the senior sermon became a weekly event when former Campus Pastor Rev. Dr. Paul Rohde began his role in 2001. While the senior sermon is not a required part of any class on campus, Rosendale knows firsthand what it feels like to stand at that podium at such a young age and give a sermon to her peers. “I still remember what I preached about and the song that was played. Now looking back, I cringe a bit at what I said and how I said it, but it’s also a chance to see how my theology and preaching has evolved. I was very grateful for the opportunity to practice preaching in a safe and encouraging space. I was thankful to be able to do some working out of my own theology in public, which is a practice that, even now as a more seasoned preacher, I still enjoy because it keeps me both humble and honest,” recalled Rosendale. NO PREREQUISITES REQUIRED Rosendale says it’s important to note that not all students who give a senior sermon go on to seminary. In fact, the vast majority are not pre-seminarians. Most are simply students of deep faith who want to share how their faith informs their life. This is precisely what Augustana hopes to achieve in its mission of “integrating faith with learning and service.” Jack Talcott, a government and international affairs, history and philosophy major, who is also pursuing a minor in Spanish, gave his senior sermon in October 2020 and said, “I remember committing myself to give a sermon after seeing upperclassmen give them when I was a freshman. I started considering it very seriously the summer before my senior year.” The Brandon, South Dakota, native says as a freshman, he looked up to the seniors and thought they had a lot of courage. Talcott said, “I had a solid faith before starting my time at Augie. I was raised in a very strong Christian household and had incredible opportunities to connect with many Christian organizations growing up. However, I have always 22
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had a bit of a fear of public speaking, so it’s safe to say I always considered those who spoke in front of crowds to be brave. I especially thought this about those who were vulnerable enough to share their testimonies in front of their peers.” Elizabeth Yoder, majoring in government and international affairs, religion and classics, also gave her senior sermon in the fall of 2020. “Throughout the last four years, I have leaned into questions and doubts more than I did previously. Before coming to Augie, asking questions about God was synonymous with actively looking for answers and concrete evidence for those answers. Now asking questions means sitting with those questions and sitting in discomfort, knowing that even the idea of an answer is elusive. Any sort of ‘answer’ that I find is now rooted in people’s lived experiences instead of concrete evidence,” said Yoder. TELLING THE STORY OF FAITH If a student is new to public speaking, how should they prepare for their sermon? According to Rosendale, students should root their sermon in a biblical text of their choosing. “Many select the common lectionary text (traditionally used by Lutheran, Catholic and other churches) appointed for the week,” said Rosendale. “Others choose a favorite Bible passage or story, one that feels especially relevant to their lives. It should tell God’s story, their story and the community’s story. A good sermon weaves the three together and makes connections between the biblical narrative, the senior’s life and all of our lives. That’s not an easy task.” The campus pastor then meets with the senior a week or
“I had an idea of what God had put on my heart ... but working these thoughts into a sermon gave me a true understanding of what He was teaching me.” - JACK TALCOTT ‘21
two before the worship service to talk through the service and sermon ideas. “Senior sermons lift up the ability of lay people to proclaim the word of God,” said Rosendale. “You do not need to be an ordained pastor to share the good news or to speak about your faith. God calls us all to integrate faith into our lives and to tell others about it. Senior sermons give students an opportunity to tell the story of their faith out loud. Imagine if more churches adopted this practice of lay people preaching. Imagine the breadth of stories of God at work that we would hear.” Talcott says throughout his last four years of college, his faith has been challenged, but in a good way. “I have engaged in a ton of experiences that, in the past, I may have considered being outside of the comfort zone of my faith,” said the Augustana Student Association (ASA) member and future law student. “I’ve built relationships with students from different faith traditions, traveled to a country (India) rooted in religions completely outside of Christianity and taken classes in which I was presented with ideas that I had never contemplated before. These experiences deepened my faith an incredible amount.” So, when it came time to think about his sermon, Talcott says he decided on two main themes: doubt and childlike faith. “These were two aspects of my faith that I had really wrestled with over the past four years, and they tie together very well,” he said. Talcott says he focused on the Bible passages of Matthew 18:1-5, and Psalm 13 prior to giving his sermon. “In Matthew 18:1-5, Jesus instructs his disciples to become
like little children in their faith and humility. Psalm 13 is a lamentation in which the Psalmist is wrestling with doubt.” Rosendale says Talcott’s message is similar to what a lot of students his age feel. “College is a unique time and opportunity in a person’s life to ask big questions about the world, faith and life. For many, it is time when faith becomes ‘one’s own’ in a way that it was not previously,” she said. “Students have the chance to explore different faith traditions and to get to know their own tradition more deeply. Sometimes this means that students will move away from the practices and beliefs that they knew growing up … they find deeper meaning and relevance in rituals like baptism and communion.” Yoder, a Dickinson, North Dakota, native who has been involved with the Classics Society and the Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Center for New Americans during her time at Augustana, says her sermon was based on Matthew 25:31-46. “I started spending time with Church on the Street my freshman year, a ministry with people experiencing homelessness, and this is the passage the ministry is rooted in,” said Yoder. “My time with Church on the Street has been incredibly influential on my faith journey and on my life in general, so I chose the passage because of how formative it has been for me and as a tribute to Church on the Street for all they have done for me.” Seniors are also asked to plan the entire 30-minute worship service, which includes selecting songs and prayers. The sermon itself is usually about 8-10 minutes long. Most students involve their friends, and even their professors in the service, asking them to lead music, prayers, or other readings. Students always invite their family, friends and favorite faculty members to worship. “It really is a proud moment for everyone to celebrate what God has done in and through the student preacher,” Rosendale said. She even goes on to say some of the best sermons she’s heard in the chapel have been student sermons, “They have offered a perspective on holy scripture that I never would have thought of, and they make connections that are altogether new to me. Every opportunity to hear a senior preach in chapel is an opportunity to be amazed at the work of God in and through our students and the Augustana community.” Yoder said, “You don’t have to be certain or steadfast in your faith to bring a sermon. My favorite sermons have been the ones spoken from places of doubt and uncertainty; the ones that ask God why the world is filled with so much awfulness. These are the sermons I have always most resonated with because they are the sermons that have remained relevant for me after I leave the chapel.” When thinking about what he gained through his senior sermon, Talcott says it was simply an incredible opportunity for reflection. “I had an idea of what God had put on my heart in this season, but working these thoughts into a sermon gave me a true understanding of what He was teaching me.” n
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Building, Teaching and Playing
Alumni’s Love for
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ugustana University’s tracker pipe organ has a storied history, and several Augustana alumni have written long chapters in its book. Last summer, John Nordlie ‘74 renewed his deep connection with the pipe organ when J.F. Nordlie Company was called on to restore the 38-year-old instrument. With some design help from Drs. Merle Pflueger and Mary Helen Schmidt, Nordlie and his crew meticulously hand-crafted the organ, beginning in the summer of 1981. The business administration major says he had hoped to restore the instrument before retiring in 2021, when he’ll turn the majority of his company over to one of his employees. Nordlie says Augustana’s organ, located in the university’s Chapel of Reconciliation, had begun to show its age — inside and out. “We don’t really want to change the sound of the instrument that much; we just want it to have a cleaner, clearer voice,” Nordlie added. After the funds were secured to refurbish the instrument, Nordlie and his team got to work straightening the larger, soft metal pipes that were starting to fatigue and placing support racks to hold them into position. The keyboards were replaced entirely with an updated system; they will be quieter and more precise. The original reverse color keyboards were replaced with more traditional white naturals and ebony sharps. The suspended key system for the manual or Positiv was redesigned and manufactured so any swings in humidity will have less effect on key position. They removed the organ’s pedalboard and replaced the worn maple caps and ebony sharps, and refinished the frame. The company built a new bench, including a new mechanism to set the height. Much of the felt and leather in the organ — worn from years of use — were also replaced. The three reservoirs and blower box, located underneath the organ, were completely rebuilt due to water damage. Nordlie says the reservoirs now settle into the closed position when the organ is turned off, rather than abruptly dropping and making noise, thanks to a new check valve system installed within the reservoirs. The strikers on the Zimbelstern were also replaced so the bells ring a bit more randomly. The organ’s facade has also taken on a fresher appearance with the pipes cleaned and polished, and the solid red oak case work reoiled. The ongoing pandemic helped Nordlie and his crew as they were able to isolate themselves on campus and work on the instrument in the chapel without any disturbance. Augustana Campus Pastor Rev. Ann Rosendale ‘04 noted, “It is quite a thing to see a tracker organ like this dismantled and reassembled. The trade of organ building is truly an artform.” 24
THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
Makes Augustana Pipe Organ Restoration Possible | BY JILL WILSON
THE BUILDER
This marks the second time the pipe organ has been refurbished (the first was in 1987, when the third manual, Positiv, was added) since it was officially dedicated as the John and Agnes Siverson Organ on December 4, 1983. Nordlie says at that time, Augustana had taken a chance on him. The organ was the fifth instrument he had ever built after completing a two-year apprenticeship with the renowned Noack Organ Co. out of Georgetown, Massachusetts. Nordlie said, “We’ve been taking care of the instrument ever since then. If anyone knows anything about mechanical action organs, they will last for many, many years. There are instruments in Europe that are more than 500 years old. But it isn’t that they last without being taken care of. They have to be rebuilt every once in a while, they have to be looked after. That’s what we’ve done here.” While he wasn’t an organist or musician, Nordlie discovered his love for building them while at Augustana through his mentor A. Eugene Doutt. Since then, Nordlie says he has built around 50 new instruments and worked on hundreds of others — throughout not only the region, but some as far away as Japan. “I wouldn’t think that Augie would do anything but invest in the instrument. It’s the tradition of the church and there’s a reason for that. There’s no other instrument that’ll make as much sound as the pipe organ. There’s no other instrument that will lead a congregation in liturgy and singing of hymns as a pipe organ will,” Nordlie said. And it is an investment. To build the same instrument today would cost in excess of a million dollars. According to Nordlie, the initial investment in Augustana’s pipe organ cost around $250,000, and the first renovation project around $100,000. The most recent project cost nearly $180,000, funded by the Organ Endowment Fund and generous gifts of more than 50 Augustana donors. They include current and former Augustana presidents, professors, organ students, campus pastors and alumni — such as Jane (Torness) Rasmussen ‘72. Rasmussen and her husband, John, are members of the Stavig and Granskou families, respectively. “We have an attachment to the chapel,” said Jane. “I have strong memories of attending chapel services in the old gym in the late ‘60s. By the time our sons, Paul ‘03 and Carl ‘06, were at Augustana, the new chapel was deeply embedded in the life of the campus. It’s a beautiful place to congregate, worship and hear music. Having Paul and Carl involved in choirs and campus ministry made our experiences with the chapel extra special.”
THE MUSIC LOVER
It’s Jane’s mother, Mary Torness, who the Rasmussens wanted their donation to honor. Torness studied music education at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, in the early ‘40s. When her home congregation in Sisseton, South Dakota, built a new church in the mid ‘50s, Torness was instrumental in making sure it had a pipe organ.
John recalled, “There were people in the congregation that wanted a Hammond electric organ and that was good enough, but Mary put her foot down.” And Torness persevered. She helped raise the money for a pipe organ and they report it’s still a wonderful instrument to this day. “Mom loved music. She was an excellent pianist and organist, but more than anything she had a deep life-long appreciation for music. As a young girl, she kept notebooks of the lyrics to her favorite songs. She never missed an opportunity to attend concerts, operas and musicals. Classical music filled our home from morning to night,” said Jane. “But I think her greatest gift was instilling her love of music in her children and grandchildren, always encouraging them to find the beauty and meaning in music that filled her life.” Torness passed away in 2014 at the age of 93. Jane says her mom died peacefully at home — listening to her music.
THE ORGANIST AND TEACHER
Nearly 40 years after the university’s pipe organ was built, it’s also an Augustana alumna who keeps its music in motion. The chapel’s organist has been AU’s organ instructor for two decades. Marilyn Schempp ‘79 says her start with the organ began like many others. Schempp said, “I think that happens with a lot of organists. ‘If you can play the piano, you can play the organ.’” But Schempp says she actually majored in oboe and voice as a student at Augustana. After she graduated, she took a job as a church musician. That’s when she began taking lessons from Dr. Mary Helen Schmidt, who was Augustana’s organist at the time. Schempp claims that’s also when she learned how to correctly play the organ. From there, she got her Master’s of Music in Organ Performance. “Mozart called it the king of instruments and for good reason because you have such a variety of sounds,” said Schempp. “It takes a lot of coordination and focus. I have found that some people just have a natural knack. Sometimes even the good keyboardists have a hard time getting their feet going.” While the history of the instrument dates back hundreds of years and the instrument is an expensive one to preserve, Schempp says she always has a few students who are interested in playing the pipe organ and even majoring in it. The Hurley, South Dakota native says she is a very active participant in the American Guild of Organists, which holds regular regional and national conventions. Schempp said, “We have some young people who are really excited about playing the organ and participating in competitions.” Their excitement gives Schempp confidence that the organ at Augustana will be around for another 40 years. “It’s a gift from God to God.” Rosendale said, “We are excited to hear this instrument enhance worship and support congregational singing.” When the pandemic is behind us, Campus Ministry plans to host an organ concert and rededicate the instrument. n
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CLASS NOTES
Visit augie.edu/alumni for updates, news, events and photos.
ALUMNI: SHARE YOUR NEWS WITH US
Listed on the following pages are news and notes about your fellow alumni. You can also stay in touch with us on social media: Facebook: @Augustana (SD) Alumni | Twitter: @AugieAlumni
THE 2020s CLASS OF 2020
Abigail Malmanger completed her Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry at Oregon Health & Science University in 2020.
Kirtana Krishna Kumar is employed as an associate research specialist at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.
Taylor Reinke married Taylor Tuel on July 11, 2020.
Katie Wright is employed with Sanford Health as a social media strategist.
CLASS OF 2019
Elizabeth (Donelan) Anderson graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science from the University of Washington. She is currently attending the University of Washington working towards a degree in speech-language pathology in 2022.
Malik Sanders welcomed a son, Malcolm Che Kirkley Sanders, in July 2020.
Adam Braun is working as a technical illustrator at PD Instore.
CLASS OF 2018
Margaret (Chernatinski) Pottratz is employed with the Sioux Falls School District as a teacher. She is working on her master’s degree in education at Augustana. She married Braden Pottratz in September 2019.
THE 2010s
Bethany Anderson is employed as a registered nurse at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. Kristen Carlson and Christian Einertson ’16 were married on August 22, 2020. Luke Hurley and Katelyn Graber were married on August 29, 2020. Adam Kirkus is employed as a systems analyst with Sammons Financial Group in Sioux Falls. Michael Kolvek is attending Emory University School of Law with an anticipated graduation date in 2022. Kristen Poepping married Mitchell Popp on September 19, 2020.
CLASS OF 2017 Sarah (Hoh) Hough is employed as a NICU registered nurse at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital.
CLASS OF 2015
CLASS OF 2014 Audrey Burkart earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Colorado State University Global. Kirsten Craft married Stephen Rabent on August 22, 2020.
CLASS OF 2016
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Martina (LaVallie) Brichacek earned a master’s degree in agronomy in 2019 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Chi Ngo received the Chevening Scholarship from the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office in September 2019. She earned her Master of Arts in Digital Media Culture at the University of Brighton, United Kingdom, in August 2020. Ngo and her husband, Duc Nguyen, currently reside in Brighton, United Kingdom. Katie Niesen married Charlie Hoover on July 4, 2020. Anna (Skov) Sorensen and husband, Josh, welcomed a son, Jack Edward, in January 2020. He joins big brother, Max (2). Hunter Winklepleck and Martha Stai ’11 were married on July 18, 2020.
OCTOBER 8-10, 2021
Megan Wencl married Caleb Geary on August 29, 2020.
Visit augie.edu/classnotes and log in to share your news via our online directory.
Yuriy Malashenko married Lexi Ann Anderson on October 19, 2019.
VIKING DAYS
Rachel Nevin married Teryn Solan on November 16, 2019.
Christian Einertson and Kristen Carlson ’18 were married on August 22, 2020.
Jenna (Kuhle) Gassman is a resident physician (University of North Dakota Internal Medicine Residency Program) at Sanford Health in Fargo, North Dakota. Gassman graduated from medical school at AT Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in May of 2020 and earned the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. She married Tucker Gassman in 2017.
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SAVE THE DATE! AUGIE.EDU/VIKINGDAYS
CLASS OF 2013 Jordon Boe and Mary Lenards were married on November 2, 2019. Boe is attending SDSU and plans to graduate in 2021 with a sport and recreation administration degree. He is currently employed with SDSU Jackrabbit Athletics as director of ticket sales and operations. Hannah Gebauer is the director of marketing at Showplace Cabinetry. Natalie (Klevan) Hecht and Tyler Hecht ’11 welcomed a daughter, Freya Ione, in September 2020. She joins big sister, Violet. Taylor (Hrdlichka) Herdman and Andrew Herdman ’12 welcomed a son, Hudson James, in October 2020. Elizabeth (Orris) Nilson and husband, Preston, welcomed a son, Ivan Thomas, in December 2019. Gabrielle (Kachena) Price earned her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in 2018 at South Dakota State University. She is currently employed as a nurse practitioner with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. Thad Titze married Madeleine Ellis on September 6, 2020.
CLASS OF 2012 Anthony Cullen earned his master’s degree in business administration at Augsburg University in 2020. Daniel Eye was named the recipient of the NFHS Outstanding Music Educator Award announced in a press release by the South Dakota High School Activities Association (SDHSAA) on January 11. Bryan Hakeman started his own accounting firm, Dakota C.P.A., in September 2020. Andrew Herdman and Taylor (Hrdlichka) Herdman ’13 welcomed a son, Hudson James, in October 2020. Lauren Marks is attending the NorthShore University HealthSystem School of Nurse Anesthesia in Chicago, Illinois and will graduate with her Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree in 2021. Erik Nyberg has been named Chairman of the City of Sioux Falls Planning Commission. Samantha (Perry) Tesch and husband, Brian, welcomed a son, Wolfgang Theodore, in February 2020.
CLASS OF 2011
Danielle (Versteeg) Kroupa and husband, Jesse, welcomed a daughter, Naomi Jo, in September 2020. Martha Stai and Hunter Winklepleck ’14 were married on July 18, 2020.
THE 2000s CLASS OF 2010 Michael Anderson and wife, Ali, welcomed twin boys, Charles Theodore and Benjamin Edward, in January 2021. Mark Buboltz and wife, Susie, welcomed a daughter, May Lillie, in October 2020. Kim Johnson shared that Smart buildings innovator Igor announced that she, the director of marketing, was named to LEDs Magazine’s inaugural class of 40 Under 40. Johnson was featured in the July/August 2020 issue. Catherine Settje married Michael Hanten on August 1, 2020. Ashley (Brewers) Smallfield and husband, Jesse, welcomed a daughter, Gracie, in March 2020. Michael Stutelberg and wife, Jordyn, welcomed a son, Colin John, in August 2020.
CLASS OF 2009 Stephanie (Johnson) Anderson, who writes on rural life, the environment and agriculture, with a recent emphasis on women’s unacknowledged role in making our food system more resilient and sustainable, has won the 2020 Richard J. Margolis Award. Cory Brandts is employed as a clinical specialist with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. Angela (Shubert) Dejene is the president of Dejene Communications Inc. in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Angela and husband, Jag, have two children, Gabriel (3) and Gianna (1).
CLASS OF 2008 Jeffrey Anderson and wife, Katie, welcomed a daughter, Chloe Frances, in October 2020. Elizabeth (Sauer) Bertrand and husband, Timothy, welcomed a son, Tyler Raymond, in May 2020. He joins siblings, Caelan (10), Abigail (8), Isaac (7), Noah (3) and Matthew (3). Laura (Sova) DePetro was named partner at the law firm Woods Aitken LLP in Denver, Colorado, where she has worked since 2015. DePetro works in the firm’s construction and general litigation practices.
Tyler Hecht and Natalie (Klevan) Hecht ’13 welcomed a daughter, Freya Ione, in September 2020. She joins big sister, Violet.
A state, national and international advocate for individuals with disabilities and rare disorders, Kendra Gottsleben ‘10 received South Dakota’s 2020 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Individual with a Disability. The sought-after speaker and author published her third book, Kendra’s Perfect Dance Routine, in 2019. Gottsleben is the marketing communications specialist at the Center for Disabilities within the Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota.
BryAnn Becker Knecht began a position in June 2020 as communications coordinator for Sioux Falls Mayor Paul TenHaken. In this position, she works on communications and marketing strategy, media relations and public affairs for the mayor’s office.
CLASS OF 2007 Sarah (Kohn) Jonas and husband, Luke, welcomed a son, Oliver, in August 2020. He joins siblings, Sophia (3), Edward (2) and Lydia (2). Jonas is a special education teacher in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Jade (Nelson) Withers and James Withers ’06 welcomed a son, Boden Broocks, in December 2019. He joins big sisters, Kate and Grace.
CLASS OF 2006 Dylan Andersen is the founder and managing partner at Prospectu Marketing, Inc. Lacey (Horkey) Dixon was promoted to vice president of mission advancement and marketing for the YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids in Grand Rapids, Michigan. James Withers and Jade (Nelson) Withers ’07 welcomed a son, Boden Broocks, in December 2019. He joins big sisters, Kate and Grace.
CLASS OF 2005 Jennie (Drewes) Hoefer is employed as an administrative assistant with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls. THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
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CLASS NOTES
Ingrid (Arneson) Rasmussen and Paul Rasmussen ’03 welcomed a son, Lars Anders, in June 2020.
CLASS OF 2004 Sonja (Obermoller) Olson is working as a training consultant at Great Western Bank. Josh Wilcox is the managing director at FTI Consulting. He and his wife, Erin, have three children, Sophie (9), Madeline (7) and Henry (5).
CLASS OF 2003 Elizabeth Nelson was elected as president of the Junior League of Minneapolis for a two-year term, June 2020-May 2022. Paul Rasmussen and Ingrid (Arneson) Rasmussen ’05 welcomed a son, Lars Anders, in June 2020. Miranda (Gasow) Roberts and husband, Garnette, welcomed a son, Bennett Neil, in July 2019. Bennett joins big sisters, Ava and Ella. They live near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and continue to work for the University of Michigan. Jake Wanderscheid was promoted to the role of executive director of the Food Bank of Siouxland. He and his wife, Betsey, and three children, Jensen (11), Harper (8) and Lauren (8), still reside in Sioux City, Iowa.
CLASS OF 2002 Julie Luebke and David Harnisch were married on November 7, 2020. She is employed with KBR working as a program manager.
CLASS OF 2001 Elena Arushanyan is on active duty in the U.S. Air Force, currently serving at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. She leads the flight and operational medicine clinic, taking care of the flying community that make big things happen all over the world! Matthew McAreavey was appointed the Fire Chief of Sioux Falls Fire Rescue in January 2021.
CLASS OF 2000 Alison (Schipper) Pekarek celebrated 20 years with Park Nicollet Health Services. She is currently a supervisor for medical billing, professional services. Dominick Washington was named assistant vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, effective August 1, 2020.
THE 1990s CLASS OF 1992 Shelly Gruhlke married Jacob Brown on March 24, 2020. Vicki Kerkvliet married Alma Stewart on August 1, 2020.
THE 1980s CLASS OF 1989 Amy (Schlotfelt) Benda became the executive director at the Sioux Falls Hope Coalition in late August 2020.
Reed Uthe is the director of theater with Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, Kansas.
CLASS OF 1988 Conrad M. Otterness, Jr. is an epidemiologist in Washington.
CLASS OF 1987 Sharon (Ellis) Cola is the memory care registered nurse manager at Vista Prairie at Copperleaf in Willmar, Minnesota. Karin (Bumgardner) Miller is co-author, along with Patric Richardson, of Laundry Love (Flatiron Books). Miller and Richardson, best known as “the laundry evangelist,” reveal revolutionary methods for cleaning clothes and making laundry loads more fun.
CLASS OF 1986 Steve Matthies recently retired as the sports editor for Klamath Falls Herald and News. He had worked in the media industry for 54 years, including 4-5 years as the sports information director at Augustana.
CLASS OF 1984 Janet Nash earned her Master of Arts in organizational leadership in 2018.
CLASS OF 1983 Jana (Zebill-Bossman) Nady is a senior director of employee health at Sanford Health.
CLASS OF 1982 Mark McKenzie is the executive director of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM). Dorothy (Miller) Rosby is a syndicated humor columnist whose work appears regularly in publications in the West and Midwest. She recently published her third book of humorous essays called Alexa’s a Spy and Other Things to Be Ticked off About, Humorous Essays on the Hassles of Our Time.
CLASS OF 1981 Barbara (Hanson) Johnson is the music director at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls.
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CLASS OF 1980 Jane (Rinehart) Stellar is employed with Disney Productions working as a nurse on television and movie sets. She assists the casts and crew by ensuring they are following COVID-19 protocols.
CLASS NOTES
THE 1970s
AU ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS
CLASS OF 1978 Ed Schaefle retired in June 2020, after teaching orchestra in grades 4-12 for 39 years in Casper, Wyoming, Salem, Oregon, as well as Blaine, Minnesota. One of the highlights of his final year was conducting the opening of a combined school district concert at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in October 2019.
CLASS OF 1977 Cynthia (Dolby) Nollette is being awarded the 2020 Professional of the Year award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota. The award was conducted at the state NAMI conference in November 2020. Nollette has worked as a psychologist in Minnesota for the majority of her career.
CLASS OF 1976 Dave Eitland retired from Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center where he had been employed as a development director. Brad Heegel retired in April 2020 after 42 years of service to our alma mater. Throughout those years, he held a variety of positions including admission, public events, administrator for the arts and, in his last two years, as a member of the advancement team. Heegel and his wife, Melinda, moved to Spokane, Washington, in August, where they plan to explore the Pacific Northwest and spend glorious days with their grandkids (and their parents) who live nearby. If the coronavirus subsides, Heegel will lead a group of Augie alumni to Norway in August, an adventure that was postponed from last year. He looks forward to “coming home” for his 45th reunion year at Viking Days!
CLASS OF 1973 Barbara (Hanson) Schnepf has retired from teaching.
CLASS OF 1972 H. Eugene Hoyme, M.D. is one of 13 precision medicine experts nationwide to be named to the Scientific Review Panel of California Governor Gavin Newsom’s California Initiative to Advance Precision Medicine (CIAPM). The initiative supports patient-focused research demonstration projects and connects health and medicine stakeholders from across California. CIAPM stimulates cross-sector collaborations among the state’s scientists, clinicians, entrepreneurs and patient participants, enabling them to translate available large data sets and technical innovation into better health outcomes.
Academic scholarships above are for new first-year students enrolling in Fall 2021. CLASS OF 1970 Dennis Berkland was involved in social work for 15 years and then he purchased his first motel. He owned and managed motels for 35 years and retired in January 2020. Dale Pommer won prizes for Pop Country Song of the Year, Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the 2020 Tennessee Songwriters Association International.
THE 1960s CLASS OF 1965 Lynda (Gapp) Homa is working part-time as a parent aide at the Children’s Division in Missouri.
CLASS OF 1962 Bonnie (Hoover) Braendlin just published Shakespeare’s Secrets, the second volume in her Caulfield, Sheridan Mystery Series — a romantic cozy mystery set in North Florida. Jean (Sunde) Peterson is the recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Scholar Award by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). This national award honors a scholar who has made significant contributions to the knowledge base regarding the education of gifted and talented individuals, with a continued record of distinguished scholarship recognized by experts in the field.
THE 1950s CLASS OF 1959 Gordon Iseminger (Bachelor of Arts in History), received the Heritage Profile Honor Award from the State Historical Society of North Dakota, at an awards ceremony in August 2020. The award “recognizes individuals who have made a lasting or significant contribution in preserving, interpreting, researching, publishing, promoting or otherwise extending the knowledge and understanding of the history of North Dakota.” Recognition of this honor includes a plaque with the recipient’s name placed in the Hall of Honors at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck.
CLASS OF 1954 John Knudson, 1954 class agent, sent the following news: He received a letter from the widow of Arthur “Ells” Winden letting him know that Arthur passed away on July 24, 2020. He had been put into rehab because his balance wasn’t good. He went to a five-star facility to be cared for. He got the coronavirus from the nursing staff and his wife was not allowed to see him during his brief stay, which was so sad. His funeral was August 19, 2020, at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas.
THE 1940s CLASS OF 1942
Richard Nelson celebrated his 100th birthday on December 22, 2020. THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
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IN MEMORIAM
IN MEMORIAM CLASS OF 2007 Robert Ruf passed away on August 7, 2020.
CLASS OF 2006 Theodore Bolstad, 36, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on July 1, 2020, from adenocarcinoma colon cancer.
CLASS OF 2005 Nicole (Steffl) Fuchs, 37, of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, passed away on December 21, 2020, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
CLASS OF 1996 Mark Erickson passed away in a tragic motor-vehicle accident on January 15. Kristy (Jensen) Waltner, 65, died on January 31, at Oakview Terrace in Freeman, South Dakota.
CLASS OF 1992 Scott Rosene, 50, of Portage, Indiana, formerly of Perry, Indiana, passed away on November 7, 2020.
CLASS OF 1989 Scott Podhradsky, 59, of Wagner, SD, died on November 23, 2020, at his home in Wagner.
CLASS OF 1988
CLASS OF 1980 Gail (Abbott) Nelson, 85, of Sioux Falls, passed away on October 13, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls with her husband at her side. Beverly (Swales) Schoenstedt, 64, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died on September 6, 2020, at Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City. Mary (Trevett) Trapp, 62, of Milbank, South Dakota, passed away on December 11, 2020, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
CLASS OF 1979 Mel Antonen passed away on January 30. Janice (Hosie) Garcia, 71, of White Shield, North Dakota, died on September 29, 2020, at her home. Dalmer Hauff, 83, of Sioux Falls, passed away on July 14, 2020, at Palisade Healthcare Center in Garretson, South Dakota.
CLASS OF 1978 Ronald “Barney” Bernards, of Crooks, South Dakota, passed away on December 8, 2020, after a two-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Jeffrey “JO” Okerlund, 65, passed away on November 6, 2020, surrounded by those he loved after a courageous battle with cancer.
Carol (Klosterbuer) Zwaan, 77, passed away peacefully on January 17.
Danilee (Behm) Schettler, 67, of Valley Springs, South Dakota, passed away suddenly on December 22, 2020.
CLASS OF 1987
CLASS OF 1975
Vera Peterson, 84, passed away on August 20, 2020, at Oakview Terrace Nursing Home in Freeman, South Dakota, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Scott Pearson, 67, of West Fargo, North Dakota, passed away on January 28.
CLASS OF 1974
CLASS OF 1986
Steven Conser, 68, passed away on December 9, 2020.
Sharon (Hooker) Frieler, 79, died on August 24, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, with her family by her side.
Cheryl (Nafziger) Lynch, of Shelton, Washington, passed away at Providence Medical Center in Olympia, Washington, on August 15, 2020.
CLASS OF 1983
CLASS OF 1973
Todd Morgan died on January 29 surrounded by his wife and children.
Curtis Adams, 69, of Yankton, South Dakota, died unexpectedly, with his loving family by his side on July 19, 2020, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.
CLASS OF 1982 Roger A. Johnson, 62, of Sioux Falls, died on December 5, 2020, at Prince of Peace Transitional Unit in Sioux Falls. Mark Munday passed away on October 11, 2020.
CLASS OF 1981 Nancy Klith passed away on November 25, 2015.
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Gayle (Jensen) Canterbury, 69, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away in the presence of her family on October 12, 2020, from a brain aneurysm. William Dull, 70, passed away on December 8, 2020, at ThedaCare Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin.
Augustana alumnus Mel Antonen died at the age of 64 on January 30, 2021, following a hard-fought battle with a rare acute autoimmune disease and complications due to COVID-19. Antonen grew up in Lake Norden, South Dakota, where his love for baseball began at Memorial Park. After graduating from Augustana College in 1979, he went on to write for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Antonen’s career took him to USA Today in 1986, where he became a Major League Baseball (MLB) reporter and columnist; he covered everything from the World Series and professional bowling to figure skating and the Olympics. For the last decade, Antonen was a sports broadcaster for Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (the network that covers the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles), a radio analyst on Sirius-XM as well as a writer for Sports Illustrated. The avid supporter of amateur baseball was inducted into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Never one to forget his roots, in between treatments, Antonen took time for a Viking Views conversation with Augustana’s Director of Alumni Engagement Joel Gackle this past fall. Antonen is survived by his wife, Lisa Nipp, and his son, Emmett, 14, along with three siblings and their families. A number of online visitations took place prior to a Celebration of Life service for Antonen on February 13, in Washington, D.C.
CLASS OF 1972 Donald Immel, M.A., formerly of Sioux Falls, passed away at the age of 92 on October 18, 2020, in Bellingham, Washington. Verna (Habben) Mulder, 86, of Worthington, Minnesota, died on October 1, 2020, at the Sunset Hospice Cottage in Worthington.
IN MEMORIAM
CLASS OF 1971
Shirley (Theel) Ahrendt, 72, passed away on December 14, 2020, in Sioux Falls due to complications from Alzheimer’s and COVID-19. Mark Andersen, 71, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on October 22, 2020, at a Sioux City hospital. Shirley (Galles) Bontje, 85, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Larchwood, Iowa, passed away on November 6, 2020, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls.
CLASS OF 1967 Larry Clark, 77, of Merrill, Iowa, passed away on November 26, 2020, at UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa. Joel Jorgenson, 74, of Brandon, South Dakota, passed away on July 13, 2020, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Opal (Stene) Mark, 75, of Viborg, South Dakota, died on December 10, 2020, at the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home.
Judy Gaalswyk, 71, passed away on October 13, 2020, at Clarkson Mt. View Health Care in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Mary (Call) Sobania, 73, died on July 17, 2019, in Aitkin, Minnesota.
Betty (Thompson) Newberg, M.A., of Sioux Falls, passed away at the age of 89 on November 22, 2020, in home hospice surrounded by her family after a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
Doug Noteboom, 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Sioux Falls on November 12, 2020, with his family by his side.
Paula Rogenes passed away on December 4, 2020. Carolyn (Bjerke) Shepherd, 71, of Sioux Falls, passed away on January 20, at Avera Prince of Peace in Sioux Falls. Harlan Thompson, 72, of Emerson, Nebraska, passed away on January 2, at his home surrounded by his family.
CLASS OF 1966
Michael “Mike” Singsaas, 77, passed away on December 30, 2020, in Anchorage, Alaska, after a decade-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
CLASS OF 1965 Marie (Schotzko) Eidem, longtime Elk Point, South Dakota, area educator, died on November 26, 2020, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
CLASS OF 1970
Glenn Erlandsen passed away on July 20, 2020, from complications caused by COVID-19.
Michael Anderson, 72, passed away on January 15, with family at his side.
Judy (Leonhardt) Lowthian, 77, died on November 21, 2020.
David Hellwig, 74, died on August 28, 2020, at his home.
Franklin Ostby died after a short battle with lung cancer on December 17, 2020, in Winfield, Iowa, with his children by his side.
CLASS OF 1969 James “Jim” Hansen, 73, a longtime resident of Hot Springs, South Dakota, passed away on October 9, 2020, at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Myron “Mike” Perman passed away on October 8, 2020. James Reynolds passed away on November 12, 2020.
On November 12, 2020, Doug
Noteboom ‘66 passed away peacefully at his home in Sioux Falls at the age of 78 with his wife, son and daughter by his side. Noteboom graduated from Arlington High School in 1960 and then enrolled at Augustana College, where he met the love of his life and his forever partner, Frances Halverson ‘63. On June 13, 1964, they were married and were blessed with two wonderful children, Debra ‘88 and Mark. Following graduation, Noteboom began his 35-year career at Augustana, first as an admission counselor and then as the director of the Career Center. His passion for helping college students was always front and center. As an advocate for new teachers and education, he was instrumental in establishing the South Dakota Teacher Job Fair. Health issues prompted an early retirement from Augustana in 2001. A never give up attitude and positive spirit allowed him and Fran to enjoy many years of travel, time with friends and family, as well as lots of hunting and fishing. Memorials in Noteboom’s honor may be directed to the Doug Noteboom Educator Scholarship at Augustana University.
Linda (Victor) Lund, 72, of Sioux Falls, died peacefully after a brief but sudden illness on November 7, 2020, with her husband of 51 years at her side.
Sandra (Knudsen) Richter passed away on August 3, 2020, after battling pancreatic cancer for nine months.
CLASS OF 1963
CLASS OF 1968
CLASS OF 1964 Sylvia (Lee) Aiello, 78, of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully on April 29, 2020.
Karen (Jones) Braaten, 79, died on January 13, at Sanford USD Medical Center ICU in Sioux Falls, with family by her side.
Betty (Quick) Church, 93, passed away peacefully at her home in River Falls, Wisconsin, on July 23, 2020. Cynthia (Unzicker) Hultner, 74, passed away on September 3, 2020, at her home in Chaska, Minnesota. David “Dave” Knudson died peacefully at Dougherty Hospice in Sioux Falls on December 29, 2020. Ronald Roddel, 74, of Sioux Falls, passed away suddenly of natural causes on September 17, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center.
Paul Andersen, 78, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly at home on November 12, 2020, from complications of COVID-19. Julie Bergman passed away peacefully at home in Austin, Texas, on June 27, 2020, just two days shy of her 78th birthday. Robert “Bob” Torkelson, 78, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Hudson, South Dakota, died on July 14, 2020, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
Glenyta (Stalheim) Hanson, 78, of Sioux Falls, passed away on September 17, 2020, at the Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Virginia “Ginger” (Becker) Weisensee died unexpectedly of COVID-19 on July 14, 2020, in Asheville, North Carolina.
CLASS OF 1962 Morna Anderson, 80, of Menno, South Dakota, passed away on October 11, 2020, at the Menno-Olivet Care Center. THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
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IN MEMORIAM
Dean Conklin, formerly of Rollins, Montana, passed away on January 6, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Donald Klostreich, 79, of Elk River, Minnesota, passed away on July 25, 2020. Robert McKay, 80, passed away September 8, 2020, at his home in Rochester, Minnesota. Vernon Stoefen, 83, passed away peacefully at home on January 8, surrounded by his wife and daughter. Kathleen (Ronan) Tomjack, 96, died peacefully from natural causes on December 22, 2020, at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls.
Daryl Vetter, 81, of Holland, Michigan, passed away on October 8, 2020.
Robert Hewes, of Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, died on May 27, 2020.
Karyl (Church) Weishaupl, 81, of Rapid City, South Dakota, passed away on September 23, 2020, at a local health care facility.
Elaine (Gildseth) Strunk, 87, died on October 8, 2020, in Burnsville, Minnesota.
CLASS OF 1960 Gene Brodland, 85, of Springfield, Illinois, died on September 7, 2020, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. Mitzi (Artz) Hausner, 84, passed away surrounded by her family on October 29, 2020.
CLASS OF 1961
A. Irene (Jacobson) Jongeling, 96, of Parker, South Dakota, died on October 15, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
Asborg Hamran, 95, passed away on September 27, 2020, at Fellowship Village in Inwood, Iowa.
John Kinkead, 82, of Sioux Falls, passed away on November 12, 2020, at Avera Heart Hospital following heart valve surgery.
Norma (Peterson) Hofer, 81, of Sioux Falls, passed away on August 4, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
Korinne (Okland) Madsen, 81, formerly of La Grande, Oregon, passed away in her sleep on March 22, 2019, at Guardian Angel Care Home in Vancouver, Washington.
Lloyd Rowland passed away on July 31, 2020, while a resident of Ava’s House in Sioux Falls. Katherine (Neeley) Shelp died with family by her side on January 31. Roland “Rollie” Snuttjer, 81, passed away on August 18, 2020, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Linda (Wells) Thorson, 82, of Groton, South Dakota, formerly of Mitchell, South Dakota, passed away quietly in her sleep on November 16, 2020, surrounded by her children.
CLASS OF 1959 Curtis Benson, 83, of Holstein, Iowa, passed away on August 6, 2020, at UnityPoint Health St. Luke’s of Sioux City, Iowa. Mariann (Hoekman) Haak, 83, of Sioux Center, Iowa, passed away on December 17, 2020, at her home in Sioux Center. Roger D. Hanson passed away on December 5, 2020.
LEAVING A LEGACY can touch the lives of countless others and create a lasting memory. If you are considering leaving a legacy through your estate plan, contact us today at development@augie.edu or 605.274.5521 to LEARN HOW WE CAN HELP. Visit AUGIEGIVING.ORG to get started.
CLASS OF 1958 Thomas Skaff, 89, of Sioux Falls, passed away on October 10, 2020.
CLASS OF 1957 Joyce Byllesby, 87, of Carmel, Indiana, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2020. Charles “Chuck” Chilson, 85, of Webster, South Dakota, passed away on September 14, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Jerry Curren, 87, of Madison, Wisconsin, passed away on February 3. Oliver Erickson, 85, of Chandler, Arizona, passed away on August 15, 2020. Cleone “Coney” (Berdahl) Foster, 85, of Chanhassen, Minnesota, passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on November 30, 2020. Samuel Hasson, a long time educator and college instructor, passed away on December 6, 2020, in Sioux Falls. A.C. Gerald Olsen, 84, of Port Charlotte, Florida, formerly of Sioux City, Iowa, died on August 17, 2020, at the Hospice House in Port Charlotte. Michael Ryan, 89, of Mitchell, South Dakota, passed away on November 22, 2020. Kenneth Sabisch, 90, passed peacefully from natural causes on August 10, 2020, in Austin, Texas.
CLASS OF 1956
Mary (Bue) Fenstermacher, 84, passed away at her home in Seaville, New Jersey, on November 12, 2020, with her son and husband by her side. Phyllis (Eikmeier) Pomerenke, 86, of Okabena, Minnesota, died on November 17, 2020, at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Lakefield, Minnesota. Marjory (Twedt) Thorstenson, 86, of Rapid City, South Dakota, died on August 10, 2020, at Good Samaritan in St. Martin Village.
CLASS OF 1955 Helen (Lewison) Eidem, 87, passed away on July 12, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas.
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Michael Foss, 87, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2020, in Sioux Falls. Helga (Tofteland) Hoffman, 87, died on January 27.
IN MEMORIAM
CLASS OF 1948
Sylvia (Haugse) Miles, of Sioux Falls, passed away on January 11, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls.
George Nielson died on January 1, in Centerville, South Dakota.
Elga (Riesberg) Norgello, 85, passed away on February 27, 2015, at her home in Louisville, Kentucky.
Roger Skophammer, 91, of Bloomington, Minnesota, died peacefully at his home on October 5, 2020, under the care of his family.
Eunice (Hauge) Schwader, 87, died on September 17, 2020, at the Howard Good Samaritan Center in Howard, South Dakota.
Andrew “Andy” Tetzlaff died on January 8, in Georgetown, Indiana.
Ellen (Jurgensen) Tabbert, 87, of Sioux Falls, passed away on August 14, 2020, following a short illness. Ellen (Gaspar) Westhoff, 86, passed away on August 18, 2020, of natural causes at Bethany Home in Brandon, South Dakota. Marcia (Satter) Wicks, a longtime resident of Lompoc, California, died on November 7, 2020.
CLASS OF 1954 Marilyn (Ellingson) Benson, 88, of Lakefield, Minnesota, formerly of Canby, Minnesota, died on September 13, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Gary Carlson, 88, passed away on September 4, 2020, with his family by his side. Charles Ekanger passed away on September 19, 2020, at the Villa Manor Care Center in Lakewood, Colorado. Arthur Winden passed away on July 24, 2020.
CLASS OF 1953 Donald Greenough, 94, of Sioux Falls, died on December 1, 2020, while residing at Bethany Home in Brandon, South Dakota. Joann (Bowles) Park passed away on December 12, 2020, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls. Dale Phillips, 88, of Enid, Oklahoma, passed away on July 2, 2020, at his daughter’s home following a brief illness. Gordon Sunde, 88, retired electrical engineer and farmer of Nixa, Missouri, passed away on July 7, 2020.
CLASS OF 1952 Gene Brenden, 90, passed away with family at his side on January 13, at his home in Phoenix, Arizona. Robert Fedde died on October 20, 2020, after battling dementia with complications from COVID-19. Leila (Soderstrom) Gilman passed away on December 13, 2020, with family at her side. Having battled pulmonary fibrosis for the past several months, her death occurred just 12 days following the passing of her husband. Shirley (Godber) Mickelson passed away on October 8, 2020, at Avera Brady Rehabilitation Center in Mitchell, South Dakota.
CLASS OF 1951 Raymond Gulk, 91, died on January 16, at Monument Health in Rapid City, South Dakota. Myron Jensen, 92, of Sioux Falls, passed away on January 21, at his home in Sioux Falls. Robert Miller, 95, died at his home on December 14, 2020.
Maye (Holmes) Fahlberg, 93, of Beresford, South Dakota, passed away on September 3, 2020. Arlene (Sogge) Gould, 94, of New London, Minnesota, died on November 2, 2020, at GlenOaks Care Center in New London. Betty (Winterton) Johnson, 93, of Sioux Falls, died on November 26, 2020, at Sanford Foundation Hospice Cottage in Sioux Falls. Carmen (Nelson) Murphy passed away on October 10, 2020. Norman Olson passed away peacefully on June 25, 2020, with his wife, Barb, at his side.
CLASS OF 1947
CLASS OF 1950 Richard Gilman, 92, died peacefully at home with family by his side on December 1, 2020, after a three-month diagnosis of cancer. Dorothy (Young) Johnson died on October 2, 2020. Katherine “Cora” (Kositzky) Kuhlman, 87, passed away on July 26, 2020, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
CLASS OF 1949 Eleanor (Udager) Foy, 92, of Brainerd, Minnesota, died on September 12, 2020, at Carefree Living in Brainerd. Joyce (Svalstad) Gebhardt, 90, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, died peacefully on March 12, 2019, at Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.
Bethel (Locke) Iverson passed away on November 11, 2020. Evelyn “Evy” (Christopherson) Lorenz passed away peacefully at Mt. Olivet Careview Home in Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 3, 2020. Gloria (Opdahl) Peterson, 91, died on January 13, 2016, at Oak Park Place in Albert Lea, Minnesota, surrounded by her family.
CLASS OF 1946 Daphne (Gilbertson) Bentson died at Salem Hospital on November 9, 2020, in Salem, Oregon. Joyce (Bell) Olson, 96, of Sioux Falls, died on October 29, 2020, at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls. Marilyn (Stark) Ondell passed away on September 23, 2018.
Frances (Hirschfield) Horwitz passed away on October 24, 2020, at her home in Sioux Falls.
Phyllis (Harum) Smead, 96, of Bartlett, Illinois, died on July 31, 2020.
Arlyce (Anderson) Jacobson, 92, died on January 4, at her home in Forest Lake, Minnesota, with family by her side.
CLASS OF 1945
Wayne L. Larson, 97, peacefully passed away at Essentia Health in Brainerd, Minnesota, on July 20, 2020, surrounded by members of his family. Raymond Lloyd passed away on December 17, 2020. Doris (Miller) Magee passed away on October 8, 2020, in Thornton, Colorado.
Richard Warren Jones, 98, of Spearfish, South Dakota, passed away on September 8, 2020.
CLASS OF 1944 Irene (Herr) Whitmyre passed away on October 24, 2020, at Compassionate Cottage in Willmar, Minnesota.
CLASS OF 1935 Clara (Satrum) Auer, 105, died on September 17, 2018.
Doris (Berg) Pearson passed away on October 28, 2020. Rosemary (Dougherty) Priester passed away on November 13, 2020. Joanne (Willoughby) Sherman, 89, of Howard, South Dakota, died on November 3, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Society in Howard. Marvin Simonsen, 97, of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on October 30, 2020, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.
THE AUGUSTANA | SPRING 2021
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