volume 1, issue 3: the augustana summer 2011

40
Science & Discovery THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF AUGUSTANA COLLEGE Summer 2011 A UGUSTAN A The

Upload: augustana-university

Post on 09-Mar-2016

226 views

Category:

Documents


7 download

DESCRIPTION

The magazine for alumni and friends of Augustana College.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Science & Discovery

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF AUGUSTANA COLLEGE

Summer 2011

AUGUSTANAThe

Page 2: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

As a mom, I often fi nd myself telling my three young children (affectionately dubbed ‘the three musketeers’) that “mistakes happen.” The important thing, I remind them, “is that you own up to what you did wrong and apologize.” Although, in kid-talk, it comes out more like, “say you’re sorry.” Here, now, it’s my turn to own up to an unfortunate mistake that appeared in the Winter issue of The Augustana. And, to apologize. The issue included a piece titled, “The Years of Change,”

which summarized the College’s major developments and highlighted key individuals who left their mark on the campus between 1910 and 1960, including Palmer Eide, class

of 1930 and professor of art from 1931 to 1971. An icon in Augustana’s history, Eide’s artwork is displayed in churches and public places across the region, including on campus. Along with his colleague, Ogden Dalrymple, he created “The Muse” outside the Center for Visual Arts and “Hindsight, Insight and Foresight” (The Owls) near the Morrison Commons, as well as “The Bear” near the Humanities

Center, among a number of other works. Augustana’s Eide/Dalrymple Gallery is named in honor of their accomplishments and contributions to the College. In 1962, Eide deservedly received the Alumni Achievement Award. The many who had the good fortune of calling Eide a teacher, mentor, colleague or friend would most certainly call him “famous.” They would not call him “infamous,” as was mistakenly printed in our article. To our readers, and to Eide’s family, friends and former students, we offer our sincerest apologies for this error.

Kelly SprecherEditor

The great Walt Disney once said: “When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.” Augustana scholars have always believed in the importance of science and embody the very essence of what Disney was talking about. They believe – all the way, implicitly and unquestionably – that advances in science have the power to cure disease, improve health, enhance processes, and yes, even drive healthy economies. Scholars like Dr. Sven Froiland, Dr. Roy Kintner, Dr. Arlen Viste, Dr. Lee Johnson, Dr. V.R. Nelson, Dr. Maureen Diggins, Dr. Margot Nelson and countless others pioneered and set the culture of discovery that continues every day inside the labs and classrooms of the Gilbert Science Center. Over the course of decades, the faculty members of the Natural Sciences Division have dedicated their lives to teaching future scientists and health professionals with one goal in mind: to make tomorrow’s world even better than today’s. We are lucky enough to see the results of their hard work and exceptional dedication in our graduates. In this issue, you’ll learn about members of the class of 2011, including Rachel Hurley and Matt Braithwaite, both of whom are proceeding on to medical school; future Ph.D. student Bethany Jochim, who recently had her fi fth physics research article published; and Spirit Lake, Iowa, native Nicole Lindsey, who found that at Augustana, she could combine her love of art and her passion for biology into a career in scientifi c illustration. You’ll also learn about one of our 1978 graduates, Dr. Tom Braithwaite, a physician with Sanford Health who was recently named one of the Top 10 Hospitalists in the nation. As I think about the countless amazing professionals who got their start inside Gilbert, I can’t help but think about a phrase I used a lot in my former profession. Prior to joining Augustana, I spent the majority of my career as a banker. In the process of helping families and businesses reach their fi nancial goals, I spent a great deal of time analyzing the acronym “ROI,” or return on investment. When GSC was dedicated in 1966, the facility’s total price tag was a bit over $2 million. Forty-fi ve years later, think of the ROI on that investment! Countless healthcare professionals, scientifi c and medical researchers, computer engineers and science educators all working to make a difference on this planet – all are using their God-given gifts in service to others producing a return that is

impossible to calculate – but that we know is huge! As many of you know, we’ve set a goal of $30 million to enhance Augustana’s science programs with new laboratories and a nursing education wing. We’ve seen what $2 million in 1966 can do. Think of what $30 million in 2011 will do for tomorrow!

Enjoy this issue!

Yours for Augustana,Rob OliverPresident

The AUGUSTANA

Message from the PresidentVIEW FROM SUMMIT AVENUE

you did wrong and

d,

ce nge,”

of 1930 an1971. An icoEide’s aand puincludhis cohe cthe“H(TCB

Editor’s Note

Page 3: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

THE AUGUSTANA

The Augustana is published three times per year for alumni and friends of Augustana College by the Offi ce of Marketing and Communications. In 2010, the year of Augustana’s Sesquicentennial, the magazine was named The Augustana, in honor of the College’s fi rst student newspaper, fi rst published in 1908 in Canton, S.D. The Augustana, as it was then, contained essays, news items, humor pages and articles of general interest. It aimed to “develop a healthy school spirit, be a true exponent of school life, and be an interesting medium between the school and its friends.” It remained the offi cial publication of the College until 1918. Send correspondence, name changes and address corrections to: The Augustana, 2001 S. Summit Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. 57197. Telephone: 605-274-4904. Visit the magazine online at augie.edu/magazine. Find more news about Augustana at augie.edu.

Editor: Kelly SprecherClass Notes: Jenny Meiners, Mary Toso, ‘90Contributors: Rob Oliver, president Bob Preloger, vice president for Marketing and Communications Bruce Conley, Sports Information T.J. Nelson, ‘05, Photography Johnny Sundby, ‘90, Photography

Connect with Augustana!augie.edu/connect

MISSION AND VISION 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. The vision of Augustana College is to become one of America’s premier church-related colleges. Augustana is an affi rmative action, Title IX, equal opportunity institution.

© Augustana College 2011

FEATURES4. Like Father, Like SonDr. Tom Braithwaite, class of 1978, and his son, Matt Braithwaite, class of 2011, share a love of running, science and Augustana. and Augustana6. The Path Less TraveledRachel Hurley is among a select group of undergraduates who will begin the prestigious M.D.-Ph.D. Program at Mayo Medical School this fall. On the other side of the rigorous, eight-year program, she will be able to practice medicine and conduct research. And, as she says, ‘Make a diff erence.’

9. Scientifi c DiscoveriesFaculty-led undergraduate scientifi c research is thriving inside Augustana’s Gilbert Science Center.

16. Remembering The SparkThe Sesquicentennial Celebration continues with a look back at The Spark, the gala event to celebrate Augustana at 150. See the photos and read about the Spirit of Augustana Award recipients.

DEPARTMENTSView from Summit Avenue

Notes from the Green

Talk from the Huddle

In the Spotlight

Navy & Gold

Alumni News

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: A fl uorescently stained bacterial biofi lm (600X magnifi cation). Biofi lms, which are ubiquitous in nature, form when bacteria colonize surfaces and grow as nutrients from the environment fl ow past them. Augustana Biology majors Carl Hjelmen, class of 2013, and Ashley Kraetsch, class of 2012, grew this biofi lm by submerging a microscope slide in the water feature in the atrium of the Humanities Center and allowing resident bacteria to colonize its surface. The biofi lm bacteria were stained with fl uorescent DNA stains and the image was collected using Augustana’s confocal scanning laser microscope.

The AUGUSTANA 1

Page 4: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Making his way through the Faculty Gauntlet, Joe Sweets shakes hands with Dr. Reynold Nesiba, associate professor of economics, following the Commencement ceremony. His brothers, Joshua and Johnathan, also members of the class of 2011, were awarded degrees during the ceremony as well.

Page 5: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Sesquicentennial Class Commencement On Saturday, May 21, 340 students participated in Augustana’s commencement ceremony honoring the Sesquicentennial Class – the class of 2011 – at the Sioux Falls Arena. The ceremony’s speakers included Jane Zaloudek, class of 1972, Lowell Stortz, class of 1980, and Trent Anderson, class of 2011. A native of Lake Benton, Minn., Anderson graduated magna cum laude as a triple major in mathematics, physics and chemistry. He is also a Civitas honors graduate. During his time at Augustana, he participated in a number of scientifi c research projects and also spent a summer conducting research at Clemson University. Following the H1N1 pandemic in 2009, he organized and led his own research project that modeled the spread of disease on campus. As a Trustees Scholar, he studied in India during his freshman year. He was a member of the Augustana Choir, Math Club, Society of Physics chapter and the American Chemical Society (ACS) student chapter. He plans to pursue his Ph.D. in chemistry at North Dakota State University in Fargo. His goal is to work in research at a national lab and eventually teach. In addition to conferring undergraduate degrees, two Master of Arts degrees, and one posthumous degree, the College awarded two honorary degrees of Doctor of Humane Letters to alumni Jane Zaloudek and Lowell Stortz. Both Zaloudek and Stortz are former members of the Augustana Board of Trustees. Each also served as Chair of the Board. Dr. Christopher Stanichar, associate professor of music and director of the Augustana Orchestra, was awarded the Jane and Charles Zaloudek Faculty Research Fellowship.

Page 6: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Like Father,Like Son

Dr. Tom Braithwaite, class of 1978, and his son, Matt Braithwaite, class of 2011, share a love of running, science and Augustana.

Page 7: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

In the late 1970s, shaggy-haired kids wear-ing jeans and sandals walked the zigzag of footpaths between Gilbert, the Commons and Humanities as a vinyl Eagles’ album blared from the dorm room of a tall, long-limbed kid named Braithwaite. In 2011, different shaggy-haired kids wearing jeans and sandals walk the same cement zigzag as an Eagles’ tune, ripped from a CD and con-verted to an Mp3 fi le, blares from the dorm room of a different tall, long-limbed kid, also named Braithwaite. More than three decades after Dr. Tom Braithwaite, class of 1978, graduated and left Augustana for the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, his son, Matt Braithwaite, class of 2011, is preparing to follow in his father’s footsteps. But music – and countless hours spent study-ing inside the Gilbert Science Center – aren’t the only things this father and son have in common.

Superheroes His dad remembers Matt, now 22-years old, as a curious kid who loved shooting hoops, tossing a baseball and playing with Power Rangers. “He loved playing superheroes,” he says, smiling at the memory. But for Matt, a biology major, his real hero, he says, was his dad. “As a kid, I always looked up to my dad – I still do. I was exposed to what he was doing professionally because I would visit him at the hospital or the clinic. I knew he was an outstanding physician because time and time again, families would ask me, ‘is Dr. Braith-waite your father? We’re so grateful for him; he helped our family.’” Taking after his father, this fall Matt will be-gin the next phase of his studies as a fi rst year medical student at the Sanford-USD School of Medicine in Vermillion. His decision to pursue a career in medicine, he says, was fueled by watching his dad, and by his interest in science. “It’s been a choice I’ve made for myself. The draw, for me, is the ability to channel my scien-tifi c interests into helping people in need.” Following research experiences in Sioux Falls at the Avera Research lab; in Boston at Harvard University, working under Dr. Mark Larson, assistant professor of biology at Augustana, on platelet formation; and during

a J-Term study abroad course in Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands, Matt’s interest in sci-ence increased exponentially. “Those experiences really fueled my scien-tifi c curiosity and really helped me mature as a student of science. I learned how to ask good questions and, from there, how to go about answering them problematically. They certainly spurred my interest in a health-related career.” While Matt credits some of GSC’s science icons of today – Dr. Mark Larson, Dr. Gary Earl and Dr. Craig Spencer – as great men-tors and affi rming advisors, Tom, a Chemistry major at Augustana and now a hospitalist with Sanford Health in Sioux Falls, had the chance to study under GSC’s scientifi c pioneers of yesterday – Dr. Roy Kintner, Dr. Arlen Viste, Dr. Lee Johnson and Dr. Lansing Prescott. “Those people didn’t just teach science for science’s sake. They understood that science is a tool,” he said. He met his wife, Tacey, class of 1976, at Au-

gustana. The two began dating at USD, while he was in med school and she was studying at the USD School of Law. In addition to Matt, the Braithwaites also have a daughter, Arianne, 26, who is completing seminary in Chicago. After graduating from USD, Tom, 54, completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa. He began his career specializing in Internal Medicine and, in 2003, took on the role of hospitalist, a position that allows him to oversee the medical management of adult in-patients.

Perspectives After more than two decades of practicing medicine, Tom found himself on the other side of the examination room in 2003 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. At the time, Matt was getting set to start high school. He was treated with chemotherapy and went into remission. He thought, he says, he had beaten the disease. “I thought it was done. I ran a half marathon in 2004 to celebrate my recovery.” His journey, he learned, was far from over. In 2008, he relapsed. A year later, he went into remission, only to relapse again in 2010. “When it came back in 2008, I realized that this was going to be my companion.” His time as a patient, he says, has brought a

new perspective to his role as a doctor. “The diagnosis and the disease itself remind me of my own vulnerability. As a doctor, you develop this sort of veneer of invulnerability – over and over again you think, ‘this can’t hap-pen to me.’” “The reality is, it can.” As a doctor, he also carried the burden, and the advantage, of knowledge. “I felt a heavy responsibility to make sure my family understood what was going on every step of the way because ultimately, understand-ing alleviates fear. At the same time, being medically trained was a huge advantage in going through this. The fact that I could un-derstand what was going on helped me to help my family get through it.” Throughout the experience, he also came face to face with the frustration of waiting – waiting for test results, waiting for answers to questions and waiting for guidance on the next step. “Now, I work really hard to ease the agony

of waiting for my patients in any way I can. If it means going to a patient’s room at 8 p.m. to give them the test results I received at 7:30 p.m., then I’ll do that.” In recognition of his excellence in medicine, and in honor of his efforts to help patients, Tom was named one of the Top 10 Hospital-ists in the country by the American College of Physicians earlier this year, an award for which his colleagues nominated him. After spending the better part of three months undergoing a stem cell transplant at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., last sum-mer, today Tom is in complete remission. His prognosis, he says, is good. “I feel good. I’m not back to patient care yet because my immune system is still maturing, but I’m running 20-25 miles each week and I have a good sense of energy.”

Footsteps For Matt, watching his family manage the challenge of sickness added to his interest in science and medicine. “Knowing my dad was sick was a presence that was with me all the time, in the back of my mind. It defi nitely pushed me to become more interested in the science of cancer and maybe, to focus on oncology. At this point

The AUGUSTANA 5

“The draw, for me, is the ability to channel my scientifi c interests

into helping people in need.”– Matt Braithwaite, Class of 2011

CONTINUED ON: Page 36

Page 8: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Rachel Hurley is among a select group of undergraduates who will begin the prestigious M.D.-Ph.D. Program at Mayo Medical School this fall. On the

other side of the rigorous, eight-year program, she will be able to practice medicine and conduct research.

And, as she says, ‘Make a difference.’

Path Less TraveledThe

Page 9: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 7

At some point during college, we all choose a path – a direction we push toward to begin our futures. We search our souls; remem-ber our childhood dreams;

consult with trusted friends and advisors; research and investigate; and, in the end, we make decisions about what to do with our lives. The path-fi nding process for biology, chemistry and physics majors works much the same way, ex-cept for one difference. Call it the proverbial fork in the road; the million-dollar question: to pursue a career in healthcare or to pursue a commitment to scholarship. It has to be one or the other, right? Technically, yes. But, there are always exceptions. Meet Rachel Hurley, class of 2011, an excep-tional exception to the rule of path-fi nding. This fall, Hurley, a native of Canton, S.D., will be among the entering class at the prestigious

Mayo Medical School – a select group of 50 students from across the globe who, according to Mayo, “possess superior academic credentials, leadership characteristics and a sincere dedication to service.” Among her medical school class, she is one of six students selected for Mayo’s acclaimed M.D.-Ph.D Program, a curriculum through which she’ll earn her medical degree and her doctoral degree. When she’s fi nished, she will be able to practice medicine and perform medical scientifi c research. It is, as she says, the best path for her. “My goal is to see a specifi c set of patients and do research that correlates [to their conditions],” she said. Her program will involve two years of class-room-based medical school and three-to-fi ve years of work on her Ph.D. From there, she’ll complete her fi nal two years of medical school (which will include hands-on, patient-based work), her residency and her post-doctorate work. “Life is about the journey, not about the des-tination. If it takes eight years to get there, I’m sure those eight years will be exciting.”

Infl uential TeachersAs the oldest of Lynn and Marilyn Hurley’s

four children, Hurley remembers playing “the typical stuff as a kid – house, school, doctor and Barbies.” But she credits taking chemistry from Ruel En-eboe, Augustana class of 1974, at Canton High School, with fueling her interest in science. “[Enebo] really encouraged me. At that point, I decided to major in chemistry and began to think about what I could do with it. From there, I began to explore medicine and the different possibilities.” She was drawn to chemistry, she says, because “it just made sense.” “I think about things very conceptually. [In chemistry,] I can think about things in the larger concept and break them down into pieces.” After arriving at Augustana, Hurley says she was set on majoring in chemistry and was leaning toward a career in physical therapy. But, after

multiple conversations with her advisor, Associ-ate Professor of Chemistry Dr. Jetty Duffy-Matzner, she began to consider her options. Factoring in her love of research, she made the decision to double major in ACS (American Chemical Society) chemistry and biology.

ResearchHurley has participated in research projects

each summer during her time at Augustana. Fol-lowing her freshman and sophomore years, she conducted research alongside Duffy-Matzner that explored greener methods to chemical synthesis. The project was sponsored by the Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN).She spent last summer at the Mayo Clinic re-searching potential treatments for thyroid cancer. She also spent a week shadowing a physician who specialized in thyroid cancer. “The summer at Mayo was a phenomenal expe-rience. It allowed me to take what I was learning and see how it was applied in the clinic and how it mattered to patients. I got to see how closely the patient and research sides were integrated.” Before beginning her program at Mayo this fall,

she’ll spend the summer researching and exploring the cellular basis for the spread of cancer. Hurley says the study of cancer is one area in which she’s extremely interested. As a volunteer at Sanford Children’s Hospital in Sioux Falls, she also developed an interest in pediatrics after watching doctors, patients and families interact. “I’m defi nitely interested in cancer research. I’m leaning toward pediatric oncology, although I have a long time to decide. In pediatrics, there’s a real sense of hope and urgency. [When I think of the opportunity] to see patients and then go back into the lab [and study what’s happening], I feel a real sense of transition. It’s really inspiring and motivating.”

Life at Augustana In addition to the time she spent inside Gilbert Science Center and volunteering at Sanford, Hur-ley was actively involved in student life

activities. She played bass clarinet in the Augustana Band and Wind Ensemble, was a member of the Chapel staff and served on committees for Viking Days, Faith Fest and New Student Orientation (NSO). She served as a chemistry lab assistant and tutor and was also a member of the Student Chemistry Group and the Pre-Med Club. She participated in two study-abroad op-portunities, taking a course in India during her freshman year and performing with the Band – and witnessing a revolution – in Egypt earlier this year. In honor of her achievements, she was awarded the Covenant Award for Excellence this spring. For Hurley, celebrating her graduation along-side her classmates in May was bittersweet – an exciting, but emotional end to four memorable years that led her to the journey she’s about to begin and, to the path she’s confi dent is the right one for her. “Ultimately, this is about using my gifts to help others. To know that I’ll be working to make a difference in someone’s life – that’s a real sense of motivation.”

“Life is about the journey, not about the destination. Ultimately, this is about using my gifts to help others. To know that I’ll be working to make a difference in someone’s life – that’s a real sense of motivation.”

– Rachel Hurley, Class of 2011

Page 10: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

NOTES FROM THE GREEN

Haar Named Interim VP for Academic Affairs, Dean of the College Dr. Murray Haar has been named interim vice president for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College. Dr. Haar succeeds Dr. Mark Braun, who was recently named Pro-vost and Dean of the College for Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. Dr. Haar will assume his new position this summer and will serve in the role through-out the 2011-2012 academic year. Dr. Haar joined Augustana in 1978 and currently serves as professor and chair of the Department of Religion, Philosophy and Classics. He earned his bach-elor’s degree from North Da-kota State Uni-versity in Fargo and his master’s degree from Luther Theo-logical Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. During his time at Augustana, he has served as the Stanley L. Olsen Chair of Moral Values and as the Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Chair in Religion. He received the Frederick C. Kohlmeyer Distin-guished Teaching Professorship from 2000-2002 and earned the Vernon and Mildred Niebuhr Faculty Excellence Award for the 2005-2006 academic year. As a professor, Dr. Haar teaches courses dealing with the Holocaust, Judaism and Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism, Religion and Violence and Courage and Evil. He also teaches Hebrew and Jewish Philosophy and has led student study trips to Israel and India. During his career, Haar has published a number of articles and given a variety of papers dealing with Israel and the Holo-caust. “With more than three decades of experi-ence in higher education, Dr. Haar knows and understands how Augustana’s academic programming works in tandem with the core values of this institution. His ability to successfully collaborate with students, fac-ulty and administrators makes him a perfect choice for this interim position,” said Rob Oliver, president. “I thank Dr. Haar for his willingness to take on this new challenge and I look forward to working with him to continue to lead Augustana forward in our academic programming.”

8 The AUGUSTANA

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has named Augustana to the 2010 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for engaging its students, faculty and staff in meaningful service that achieves measurable results in the community. The CNCS, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 641 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of those, 511 were named to the Honor Roll. “As members of the class of 2011 cross the stage to pick up their diplomas, more and more will be going into the world with a commitment to public service and the knowledge that they can make a diff erence in their communities and their own lives through service to others, thanks to the leadership of these institutions,” said Patrick A. Corvington, chief executive offi cer of CNCS. “Congratulations to Augustana College and its students, faculty and staff for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities. We salute all the Honor Roll awardees for embracing their civic mission and providing opportunities for their students to tackle tough national challenges through service.” At Augustana, in between classes and coursework, students, faculty and staff have worked to give back to their community and help people in need:

• This spring, the Augustana community collected 1,700 pounds of food for Feeding South Dakota.

• During Spring Break, students worked on a construction project at Joy Ranch, a new camp organized by Lutherans Outdoors, in Watertown.

• In May, through a partnership with Trinity Lutheran Church, students participated in a soup kitchen ministry that serves 1,000 homeless people each week on the lower eastside of Manhattan in New York City.

• In April, Augustana Dance Marathon, a student-led group, raised more than $10,000 for Children’s Miracle Network.

• Students and staff assembled aid and school kits for victims of the catastrophic earthquakes in Japan and Haiti and this fall, international students and Serving And Learning Together (SALT), a 30-member student-led group dedicated to service, raised more than $1,000 for Pakistani fl ood relief eff orts.

• Through a SALT-led eff ort, Augustana students and staff donated 1,000 gifts to Children’s Inn, Children’s Home, Heartland House, and LSS Immigration Refugee Services during the 2010 holiday season. They also sponsored and donated gifts to 50 individuals new to the U.S.

• For the past two years, student residents at Hillsboro House, one of Augustana’s 16 Theme Houses, have been serving Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sioux Empire. As “big brothers,” they have served as role models to area youth by organizing trips to the Great Plains Zoo, Washington Pavilion and Skyforce games; helping with home work; and lending a kind ear to talk about life.

• In the fall, students worked with children, visited schools and served food to those in need on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

• In October, 475 student and staff volunteers served 29 local support agencies and service projects and collected 3,049 pounds of groceries for Feeding South Dakota in support of the College’s 16th annual Community Service Day. Among other support activities, volunteers spent time repairing and painting buildings, caring for animals and collecting trash.

• The Augie Garden, a student-led initiative funded through a grant administered by the Augustana Service- Learning Program, donates its harvests to The Banquet, a nonprofi t agency that serves meals and provides food to people in need.

“At Augustana, values such as community and service are central to our culture and serve as the compass that guides our community,” said Rob Oliver, president. “Time and time again, our students, faculty and staff have demonstrated their commitment to making tomorrow’s world even better than today. This award recognizes those who tirelessly give of themselves to improve the lives of others and the community we call home.”

Augustana Receives Presidential Recognition for Community Service

Dr. Murray Haar

Page 11: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Scientific Discoveries

Faculty-led undergraduate scientifi c research is thriving inside Gilbert Science Center.

ABOUT THE IMAGE: A confocal microscope image (1000x magnifi cation) taken by students in BIOL 234 (Cell Biology). A layer of breast cancer cells was stained with a probe that fl uorescently illuminates the location of a cell surface protein called E-cadherin. This protein is necessary for cell to cell adhesion, as illustrated by the fact that there is bright green fl uorescence found in the boundary between cells,

but not in places where the cell is not in contact with another cell (see the upper left space).

Page 12: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Students conduct chemistry lab work inside Gilbert Science Center.

Page 13: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 11

When Dr. Maureen Dig-gins arrived at Augus-tana as a new faculty member in 1979, she made her way through the halls of the Gilbert

Science Center (GSC) with a lump growing in her throat. At a monstrous 85,550 square feet, GSC was widely considered the cutting-edge science facility of the upper Midwest. Offi cially dedi-cated in 1966, it was barely 13 years old when Diggins arrived, and its whopping $2 million price tag was still a much-talked-about fi gure. After fi nding her offi ce, Diggins, at the time the only female tenure-track faculty member within the Natural Sciences Division, made the rounds to meet her new colleagues. Among the fi rst to shake her hand was the legendary Dr. Gil Blankespoor, a biology pro-fessor with thick, dark sideburns and square glasses.

“Welcome, colleague,” Blankespoor said. The rest of “the guys” as Diggins calls them – icons like Dr. Sven Froiland, Dr. Larry Tieszen, Dr. Lee Johnson, Dr. Lansing Prescott, Dr. Milt Hanson, Dr. Arlen Viste, Dr. J.D. Thompson and Dr. Karl Vander Lugt – all provided warm welcomes and valuable guid-ance during her early days on campus. Looking back, Diggins, a professor emerita of biology specializing in human physiology and endocrinology, says that while a lot has changed since 1979, a good number of things haven’t – namely GSC’s dedicated faculty, each of whom are com-mitted to excel-lence in teaching and continued scientifi c discovery through research. “Students have always come fi rst – we’re proud of our open offi ce door policy. We’ve also always believed that faculty members need to be in-volved in research and that we need to involve our students in it as well.”

Momentum In partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), those same “guys,” Dig-gins says, were the pioneers behind some of Augustana’s fi rst research initiatives – fi rst through the Undergraduate Research Par-

ticipation (URP) Program and later through the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program. The framework they built, Diggins said, paved the way for the unprecedented research projects students and faculty members are involved with today. As of late May, 85 students will be partici-pating in summer research projects on- and off-campus – an increase of 44 percent from a year ago. Dr. Mark Larson, assistant professor of biology and the Biomedical Research Infra-structure Network (BRIN) coordinator for Augustana, attributes the increase in research-ers to sheer momentum. “It’s easier for me to make the case for a grant when I can show that I can do the research, that I have the equipment necessary, and that I have skilled and competent students to assist me. When grants are approved, they lead to more discoveries, more equipment, and,

ultimately, more opportunities to make cases for additional grants,” he said. In 2001, in collaboration with the USD San-ford School of Medicine, Diggins helped write the original proposal to the National Institutes of Health for the fi rst BRIN grant, a program designed to draw students into biomedical research. Today, major grants funded through agen-cies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), NSF, the U.S. Department of Agri-culture (USDA), NASA and others have paved the way for the pur-chase of scientifi c equipment and have helped sup-port a number of research projects across the Natural Sciences. In addition to the explosion of research-related grants, Diggins says Augustana’s “seeds of association” with medi-cal staff and scientists at Sanford Research and Avera McKennan Research have paved the way for students to participate in active, cutting-edge scientifi c laboratories while learning valu-able real-world experience. “Many of the physicians and researchers are alumni and/or friends of Augustana. They’re willing and excited to collaborate with us, both on research projects and by providing op-portunities for our students to shadow and/or

work with physicians and researchers.” “Thanks to the BRIN grant, we can go to Sanford or Avera and say, ‘We have some gifted students. We also have a grant that will pay them. Can they research under your mentorship?’”

The ‘Ah Ha’ Moment For Diggins, there’s no greater joy than seeing students at the time of their “ah ha” moment. “It’s when they realize, ‘Hey, this is it for me. I could spend my life doing this.’ It’s incredible to witness that moment of discovery. It’s also why labs are so critical. Students can’t learn science without seeing it happen. It’s the same way an artist can’t really be an artist without an art studio.” Larson agrees. “We’re called to teach. We’re better teach-ers when we’re immersed in our scholarship. I can talk about cell biology because I’ve been

researching it and reading about it myself. I can call upon a bigger bank of knowledge that I’m constantly refreshing,” he said. “I can tell them the raw knowledge, or I can show them ‘here’s how we’ve really come to know this.’ At its core, science is never done. If we don’t continuously come up with more questions, then our conclusion probably isn’t right.” “Ultimately though, it’s fun to be at the fore-front of discovery. It’s fun and exciting to learn something no one has ever known before. It’s an amazing thing to put students in the middle of trying to describe the natural world.” Larson’s own research, which students assist with, has two arms. He’s spent the last fi ve years collaborating with Sanford Health’s Dr. William Harris to study the role omega 3 fatty acids play in heart health. Specifi cally, the two are examining the effects of fatty acids on platelets. He’s also conducting research that examines the factors behind platelet-biogenesis. Ulti-mately, what makes platelets? Both initiatives, Larson says, interface with medicine. “It’s easy to say we’re trying to fi nd and understand what makes us healthier. This research might someday lead doctors to rec-ommend that people factor more omega 3 into their diets.” Prior to her retirement in 2008, Diggins dedicated nearly 20 years studying the links between obesity and infertility. Using the lethal yellow mouse, she collaborated with Dr. Nels

As of late May, 85 students will be participating in summer research projects on- and off-campus.

That’s an increase of 44 percent from a year ago.

Dr. Maureen Diggins Dr. Mark Larson

CONTINUED ON: Page 29

Page 14: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The 22-Year-Old Physicist

In her four years at Augustana, Bethany Jochim has participated in four summer research projects and just had her fi fth research article published in

a national scientifi c journal.

Page 15: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 13

In May, scientists and researchers across the globe read an article titled “Veloc-ity Map Imaging as a Tool for Gaining Mechanistic Insight From Closed-Loop Control Studies of Molecular Fragmentation” in Physical Review A,

a journal published by the American Physical Society. “We report on the use of velocity map imaging to

study the dissociative ionization of CO molecules by optimally-shaped ultrafast laser pulses,” the article’s introduction says. “Furthermore, we demonstrate that the acquisition of two-dimensional velocity map images is rapid enough to incorporate directly into the adaptive control loop.” The article’s lead author is listed as Bethany Jochim. Bethany Jochim is not a widely-known physics researcher – she doesn’t even have her Ph.D. In May, she was a quiet, sneaker-wearing, back-pack-carrying physics major from Pierre, S.D. Yet, at just 22 years old, she has already published fi ve articles in scientifi c journals related to physics research she has conducted at Augustana and at Kansas State University.

‘I wanted to learn more.’Scientifi c research requires extensive back-

ground study, precision, patience and dogged stick-to-itiveness. It also requires a high degree of curiosity. For Jochim, class of 2011, a curiosity and fascination with science began when she was in high school. Her physics teacher had spent a class period introducing the Heisenberg Uncertainty Prin-ciple, developed by German Physicist Werner Heisenberg in the late 1920s. “It was all so interesting to me, but I felt like they weren’t telling me enough. It sounded so strange and weird and interesting. I wanted to learn more about it. I started researching it more on my own. From there, I became interested in atoms and molecules and the quantum mechanical principles that govern their behavior.” According to Dr. Eric Wells, associate profes-sor of physics at Augustana, Jochim’s early inter-est in science was a sign of what was to come. “Bethany’s the kind of student who works all the problems in the book, even when they’re not assigned. That’s a sign of a true, born-to-be researcher – someone who has that eternal thirst for knowledge,” he said. After coming to Augustana, Jochim’s interest in physics only amplifi ed. Her hard work and intensity paid off when she was accepted to participate in a summer research project after her freshman year. That summer, and the following one, she worked with Wells researching various pro-cesses by which molecules break up in electric fi elds, either from laser pulses or passing ions. She spent the summer after her junior year at Kansas State University as a member of the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program, an initiative supported by the National Science Foundation. Working in con-junction with Wells and Kansas State research-ers Dr. Matthias Kling, assistant professor

of physics and the leader of the Max Planck Research Group for attosecond imaging at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Germany, and Dr. Itzik Ben-Itzhak, professor of physics and director of the J.R. Macdonald Laboratory, Jochim was part of a team that researched how ultrafast laser pulses fragment molecules. “It’s fundamental research now. The hope is that if we can understand how a molecule breaks up in a laser fi eld, we can create a tailored laser pulse that would help produce a product that could have applications in a variety of fi elds and industries,” Wells said. “Today, chemists try to control chemical reac-tions by manipulat-ing environments. Using a laser, you can manipulate the electrons and do the chemical reac-tion directly. If we could use a laser pulse, it would be a new way of doing chemical synthe-sis.” Her research experiences led her to contribute to and, in many cases lead, the following fi ve articles, which have been published in scientifi c journals. Many of the articles include contribu-tions from other Augustana student researchers as well: • “Examining the Feedback Signals Used in Closed-Loop Control of Intense Laser Fragmentation of CO+,” Physical Review A• “Closed-Loop Control of Vibrational Population in CO2+,” Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics• “Velocity Map Imaging as a Tool for Gaining Mechanistic Insight from Closed- Loop Control Studies of Molecular Fragmentation,” Physical Review A• “Rapid Formation of H3+ from Ammonia and Methane Following 4 MeV Proton Im pact,” Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics”• “Bond Rearrangement Following Collisions Between Fast Ions and Ammonia or Meth ane,” Application of Accelerators in Research and Industry

A Signifi cant Accomplishment Having fi ve articles published as an un-dergraduate is a major achievement. Yet for Jochim, it’s not about the notoriety. It’s about sharing information to improve our lives. “When we’re building the article, we develop an introduction that asks, ‘why is the prob-lem interesting?’ We also outline whether or not other experimenters have encountered similar problems. From there we discuss the experiment and present the data. We talk about any calculations we performed and how we interpreted the data and we wrap up with conclusions and the potential for future work,” she said. Her approach to research and analysis has

left positive impressions on those who have worked with her. “From the interactions I had with her dur-ing the experimental campaigns and the data analysis, I can safely say that she is a very bright and ambitious student,” said Kling. “I am per-sonally not aware of any other undergraduate student who managed to publish fi ve papers, including fi rst-author papers. This clearly is an impressive indication of her skills.” Ben-Itzhak agrees. “Usually undergraduate students, and even beginning graduate students, are hardly in-volved in the writing of their papers. However, Bethany’s ability to express herself so clearly in writing is exceptional,” he said. “[In addi-tion,] Bethany’s self motivation [is] driven by curiosity. During the summer project Bethany conducted last summer with my group, she performed calculations that were needed to interpret the results of our measurements. One late afternoon during a discussion on her calcu-lation, I explained an approach she could apply despite lacking some theoretical information. To my surprise, she showed me the results of this approximation the next morning. This is a good example of her work ethic, her self-mo-tivation and how curious she is to understand the problem at hand – all qualities that will make her an excellent graduate student.” At Augustana, she was named the Rossing Physics Scholar for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, an award named for Dr. Thomas Rossing, an accomplished physics scholar. She was also among a select group of recipients honored by the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Looking AheadThis fall, Jochim will begin her graduate studies at Kansas State University where she’ll work toward her Ph.D. in physics. She’s been granted a research assistantship and was awarded the Timothy Donoghue Fellowship – an honor that speaks to both her skill and the experience she brings to the table, her mentors say. “She’s too modest to tell you this, but she got accepted to every grad school she applied to. At Kansas State though, because of her experiences at Augustana, she’ll come in doing second- or third-year graduate level research during her fi rst year,” Wells said. But before classes begin, she’ll have a busy summer. She’s been invited to give a talk at the annual meeting of the Division of Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics of the Ameri-can Physical Society in Atlanta and, she’ll also be representing with her research collaborators at a meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After graduate school, Jochim hopes to teach at the university level and conduct research. “The research I’ve been part of and the articles we’ve published are a testament to how the faculty here [at Augustana] can get students involved. That’s a really unique and special op-portunity,” Jochim said. “In the future, when I do research as a professional, I’d like to involve students in the same way that my professors here have involved me.”

Dr. Eric Wells

Page 16: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The 2011 Performing & Visual Arts Fall SeriesThe 2011 Performing & Visual Arts Fall SeriesPresenting...

May 31-Aug. 31: Augustana Student Invitational: Juried show of works by Augustana art students, Eide/Dalrymple Gallery. Free and open to the public.

Sept. 9 - Oct. 8: Augustana Faculty & Emeriti Biennial Exhibition, Eide/Dalrymple Gallery. Free and open to the public.

Sept. 9: Faculty Viola Recital, Tyler Sieh, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Sept. 21-24: Theatre Production: “A Lie of the Mind,” 7:30 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre.

Sept. 24-25: Theatre Production: “A Lie of the Mind,” 2:30 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre.

Sept. 23: Faculty Percussion Recital, Dr. John Pennington, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Oct. 7: Faculty Vocal Recital, Russell Svenningsen, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Oct. 8: Augustana Faculty String Quartet Concert, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Oct. 13-16: Viking Varieties, Edith Mortenson Center Theatre.

Oct. 14: Concert: Augustana Orchestra with the band Kansas, 7 p.m., Washington Pavilion. Oct. 14 - Nov. 12: Carrie Ammermann: California-based alumna exhibits her most recent works and graphic design, Eide/Dalrymple Gallery. Free and open to the public.

Oct. 30: Augustana Orchestra Concert, 3 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Nov. 4: Fall Band Concert, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Valley Performing Arts Center.

Nov. 6: Fall Choral Concert, 2:30 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Nov. 12: Band Fest Concert, 6:30 p.m., Washington Pavilion.

Nov. 15: Opera Theatre Workshop, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Nov. 16 -19: Theatre production: “Book of Liz,” 7:30 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre.

Nov. 19-20: Theatre production: “Book of Liz,” 2:30 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre.

Nov. 18 - Dec. 10: Jay Olson Retrospective, Eide/Dalrymple Gallery. Free and open to the public.

Nov. 21: Northlanders Jazz & All-City High School Jazz Concert, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Nov. 30: Percussion Ensemble Recital, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

Dec. 2-3: Christmas Vespers, 8 p.m., Chapel of Reconciliation.

Dec. 3-4: Christmas Choral Celebration with the Augustana Orchestra, 3 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Dec. 8: Christmas Band Extravaganza, 7:30 p.m., Washington Pavilion.

Learn more and purchase tickets at www.augietickets.com

At the Heart of the Arts

Page 17: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 15

TALK FROM THE HUDDLE

The Augustana community walked in pil-grimage in April to celebrate the heritage and gifts of the Augustana experience. Walking through seven stops across campus including, Old Main, Ole, the Owls, the Chapel, the site of the Statues, the Teepee and the Green and GSC, the pilgrims began to discover layers of experience, meaning and insight. Led by Dr. Janet Blank-Libra, associate professor of English/Journalism, and Rev. Paul Rohde, campus pastor, the pilgrimage in-cluded poetry, song, sacrament, and scientifi c experiences to stir refl ection and awareness. “Paul and I said many times this past year that one can never know where a pilgrimage will lead. I realized the full truth of that state-ment near the end of our pilgrimage when I looked up and saw two of our senior women crying. We had just reminded the pilgrims that we often return to the beginning at journey’s end. I thanked the two students later for bringing their tears to the pilgrimage. Theirs is a powerful connection to Augustana and their tears an expression of that connection. They made the experience a richer one for many of us,” Blank-Libra said. “In daily routines,” Rohde said, “we easily

breeze by gifts without noticing. Pilgrimage is an attentive way of walking. Attentiveness will call us to discoveries, insights, and gratitude.” “I think people expected to learn from the

pilgrimage. It was a thrill to have them dis-cover it was also fun — to walk together, and listen, and appreciate the breadth of legacies that are Augustana,” he said.

Campus Pilgrimage Offers Refl ections, Insights

Beginning in June, the Augustana College Bookstore will give students a new lease on their sometimes budget-focused, hectic lives by off ering a new, multi-channel text-book rental program designed to deliver maximum savings and convenience. The textbook rental program will allow students to rent select textbooks for less than 50 percent of the cost of purchasing a new printed textbook. Plus, as an added convenience, students will be able to rent their books either in the store or from the store’s website, www.augiebookstore.com. The Augustana Student Association (ASA) voted unanimously to off er a textbook rental program. “Every college student lives on a budget. Leasing textbooks is an exceptional cost-saving opportunity for students,” said Joel Thompson, class of 2011 and president of the Augustana Student Association. “Stu-dents will be able to rent textbooks for less than 50 percent of the cost of purchasing a new book – that will free up money for other important college-related costs, such as meal plans or parking permits.” Other program features include:• Students can pay the rental fees using any form of tender currently accepted by the bookstore (excluding PayPal). For security purposes, a valid credit card must

also be provided regardless of the tender used for the rental fee.• Students can highlight or mark the rented books just as they would if they puchased a book and planned to sell it back to the bookstore.• Students can convert their rental to a puchase during the fi rst two weeks of class.• The rental period is for the duration of the term/semester. Books are due back by the last day of fi nals. Students can return books in person or mail them to the book store.• Courtesy emails will go out as the end of the term/semester approaches reminding students to return their books. Books not returned (or returned in unusable condition) will be subject to replacement and processing fees.

Textbook Rental Program Coming to Bookstore

The South Dakota Board of Vocational Rehabilitation recently announced that Augus-tana Dining Services has been named a 2011 Governor’s Award winner in the Outstanding Private Employer category. The award celebrates Augustana’s outstand-ing achievement in improving employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Specifi cally, the award recognizes Augustana’s outreach, recruitment, placement and training for employees with disabilities; work-place accommodations; and efforts to promote inclusion in the work-place. Augustana Dining contracts services through Sodexo Education.

Dining Services Named Governor’s Award Winner

Page 18: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

1

3

5

2

6

78

4

Page 19: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 17

1. Emcee Gregg Gohl, ‘93, wore a vintage beanie and letterman’s sweater during the 150th Concert and Celebration. 2. The “Walk Through History,” featured three fl oors of his-toric photo galleries and period-themed food. 3. Dr. Ralph Wagoner, Augustana’s 21st president, celebrates with Augie Doggie. Dr. Wagoner also assisted President Rob Oliver in the presentation of the Spirit of Augustana Award for Advocacy and Humanitarianism. 4. Noah Hoehn, ‘02, performed with the Augustana Percussion Ensemble, led by Dr. John Pennington. 5. Ben Hasche, ‘08, studies the 1970s history gallery. 6. More than 1,200 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends fi lled the Great Hall at the Washington Pavilion. 7. The Sesquicentennial Ball featured music by the Northlanders Jazz Band, led by Dr. Paul Schilf, and the Hegg Brothers’ Band. 8. Bob Elmen, ‘52, left, visits with Rev. Dave Johnson, ‘56.

Members of the Augustana Choir, Ole

and Augie Doggie led the audience in singing

the alma mater.

On Saturday, April 16, more than 1,200 alumni, students, faculty and staff and commu-nity members honored 15 decades of history at The Spark, the gala event to celebrate Augusta-na’s Sesquicentennial. Held at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, the event featured period-themed food, historic photo gal-leries, the premiere of ‘Skol! Augustana at 150,’ a documentary fi lm, live music and dancing. The College also pre-sented the fi rst-ever Spirit of Augustana Awards, honor-ing fi ve area individuals for their efforts to advance humanitarianism, ministry, innovation, leadership and creativity. “In honor of our Ses-quicentennial, we believed it was fi tting to introduce an award that honors indi-viduals who really embody the principals that guide us. It’s a way for Augustana to recognize those in

our community who are committed to mak-ing the world a better place – men and women who are leading the way, driving change and encouraging others to do all they can to ensure a brighter tomorrow,” said Rob Oliver, president. The Spirit of Augustana Award for Advocacy and Hu-manitarianism was awarded to Kevin Kirby in recogni-tion of his efforts to fi ght indifference, intolerance and injustice. This honor celebrates those who work tirelessly and without recognition or remunera-tion to improve the lives of others through selfl ess, courageous and compas-sionate acts. The Spirit of Augus-tana Award for Ministry was awarded to Monsignor James Doyle in recogni-tion of his service to the Church and society by nurturing the search for religious faith in others.

The Spirit of Augustana Award for Innovation and Discovery was awarded to Jeff Scherschligt in rec-ognition of his courage, resilience and passion-ate spirit that is both tenacious and compassion-ate. This honor celebrates those who innovate and discover and, as impor-tantly, who encourage innovation and discovery in others. The Spirit of Augustana Award for Leadership and Philanthropy was awarded to Kelby Krabbenhoft in recognition of his contribu-tions as a visionary leader and his efforts to advance progressive philan-thropic ideals and vital communities, locally and at Augustana This honor celebrates outstanding civic and charitable responsibility. The Spirit of Augustana Award for the Arts was awarded to Charlotte Carver in celebration of her courage to share her artistic originality and God-given talents with others through words, from the stage and on a canvas, and in recogni-tion of her fearless efforts to foster an under-standing of history, culture and the unknown.

Charlotte Carver

More Than 1,200 Attend Gala Event to Celebrate Sesquicentennial

Kevin Kirby Jeff Scherschligt

Kelby KrabbenhoftMonsignor James Doyle

Page 20: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Illustratorscientifi cNicole Lindsey, class of 2011, found a way to combine biology and art

the

“Nicrophorus Stridulatory Structure Illustrations,” graphite drawings by Nicole Lindsey, class of 2011. This piece was displayed at Augustana’s Senior Art Show in May.

Page 21: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 19

At the Senior Art Show in May, laced between a wall of powerful and poignant paintings, graphic designs and symbolic sculptures, was a graphite drawing of Nicrophorus marginatus, other-wise known as a “Burying Beetle.” The artist was Nicole Lindsey, a 22-year-old from Spirit Lake, Iowa. The piece was one in a series Lindsey created for Dr. Carrie Hall, one of the Biology Department’s newest faculty members. By all accounts, the drawing was a highly scientifi c illustration of the par stridens– the beetle’s mechanism for producing sound. At its core though, it was a complex and beautiful composition of countless fi ne gray lines that together wove an intricate texture and formed the shapes and shadows of the creature’s head, thorax and abdomen. It was, without question, art. It was also science. And for Lindsey, class of 2011, it represented the opportunity to combine two of her greatest passions – art and biology.

Finding Her Way In high school, Lindsey says she was intrigued by science and art and took as many classes of each as she could. From an artistic standpoint, she was drawn to drawing and printmaking; from a scientifi c perspective, she craved lessons in biology, anatomy and physiology. She learned about the possibility of combin-ing the two as a scientifi c illustrator during her college search. “At that point, that’s when I knew that was what I wanted to do. It just clicked.” At Augustana, she got the opportunity to combine her interests during a Science Day ac-tivity for high school students organized by Dr. Daniel Howard, assistant professor of biology. “I knew she liked illustrating and she was interested in helping. We determined that she would set up a station on insect illustration. Essentially, she could show these high school students how to illustrate. She spent a lot of time preparing – doing illustrations with insect samples of hissing cockroaches. I was really im-pressed with what I saw. She has some amazing artistic skill.” “When Science Day arrived, she came in with her art supplies and she showed students the technical aspects of illustration. What’s more though, each student that came to her station walked away with an illustration they had cre-ated,” Howard said. Following Science Day, Howard recommended Lindsey to Dr. Carrie Hall, a conservation biolo-gist who was working on her dissertation – an exploration of the structures on endangered beetle species. “I was looking at how an applied fi eld method to mark the animal affected and impacted their sound. I was also examining how it impacted their reproduction. We determined that that marking technique impacted their ability to reproduce,” Hall said. “I needed detailed drawings of some insects I was working with, so I asked for Nicole’s help. She produced three different drawings for me that illustrated my research. As a result of our fi ndings, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed the policy on the marking technique for

Nicrophorus americanus, otherwise known as the American Burying Beetle.” For Hall, Lindsey’s artwork illustrated elements of her research that photography couldn’t show. “A photograph treats every angle the same way – it really levels the playing fi eld. An illustration can really emphasize what’s important. At the same time, representational drawing is extremely diffi cult. It’s trying to create a three-dimensional form on a two-dimensional surface – it’s really hard to create that dimension. The artist really needs to understand the fundamentals like light, shadows, edges, perspective, overlap and repeti-tion,” said Scott Parsons, assistant professor of Art and Lindsey’s drawing professor for the last four years. Beyond sheer skill and technique, a rich knowl-edge base is also critical, he said. “To do scientifi c illustrations, you need a back-ground in science. To illustrate what’s important, you need to know what’s important.” Howard agrees. “Our founding, most important biologists were illustrators as well. It was a skill that was considered required. Unfortunately, over the last 200 years, most biologists have lost that. Illustration has become kind of a lost art. It’s infrequent that we fi nd a biologist that has the kind of skill Nicole has. She has this classic skill-set – she understands biological principals and she knows how to translate them into something that’s artistic and graphically meaningful.”

Kindred Spirits Parsons calls artists and scientists kindred spirits. “Artists and scientists are both committed to preserving a sense of wonder about the world. They’re both curious. And, they can both see the beauty in it all.” For Lindsey, a biology and art double major, it’s easy to see the connections. “Biology is all about forming a hypothesis,

conducting an experiment, analyzing the results and discussing the next step. It’s the same thing in art, it just all happens on canvas,” she said. While she likes the similarities between the two areas, Lindsey also appreciates their differences. “As a biology major, I like a method and end-point. As an art major, I had to get used to the idea of not having a method or an end point.” In her “Artist’s Statement” Lindsey says: “I love art because it is never wrong. There have been mathematical and naturalistic masters like Michelangelo and Caravaggio, but there have also been abstract and expressionistic masters like Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollack. They presumably created for the joy the process can give, and their belief in it. The fi rst time I expe-rienced that feeling, I knew I had to get it again. Just like a runner’s high, the experience comes few and far between and it may be painful getting there, but it is unforgettable and worth working for. Creating art is both a physical and visual task that requires an artist to be connected totally and devoted to each mark, becoming ingrained into a piece. In the same moment the artist must also be distant enough from it to be open to chance and able to hear constructive criticism from within herself or from others. Eventually I will learn this balance and then I will be making masterful art. Until then, I will enjoy the process. ”

Looking AheadThis summer, Lindsey will work as a research as-sistant and illustrator for a conservation project organized by Howard and Hall on the American Burying Beetle at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve in Pawhuska, Okla. This fall, she’ll begin a number of illustration-specifi c courses at Iowa State University. From there, she’ll decide whether to go on to graduate school or attempt to fi nd a job working as a scientifi c illustrator. Her goal, she says, is to combine research and art. “Right now, I’m drawn to research because I like being able to interact with the sciences and researchers. I am a biologist. I’m also an artist. As an illustrator, I’ll be able to continually learn about science.” Howard is confi dent that with her skill and broad training, Lindsey will have endless op-portunities. “There’s defi nitely a demand for artists who have training in the scientifi c world and the world of art. Think of textbook illustrators, museum curators or historical scientifi c site pres-ervation. There’s defi nitely a niche. There just aren’t that many scientifi c illustrators around,” he said. Dr. Lindsay Twa, assistant professor of art and director of the Eide/Dalrymple Gallery, agrees. “[The show in May] was the fi rst time we had a scientifi c illustration in a Senior Art Show. Her beetle drawings really complemented the other pieces, which were a mix of naturalist and abstract work. It’s fun to see the skill and the care that goes into rendering a living fi gure. Nicole’s one of our hardest workers. She puts in long, long hours and she absolutely has the right attitude.”

Nicole Lindsey, class of 2011

Page 22: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Great Professors; Great AccomplishmentsIN THE SPOTLIGHT

20 The AUGUSTANA

Jaciel Keltgen (Business Administration) pre-sented a paper titled “Gen Y Infuses Healthcare with Generational Angst,” in the Marketing and Management of Health Care track at the 18th annual American Society of Business and Behav-ioral Sciences meeting.

Dr. Barret Eichler (Chemistry) had a paper entitled, “Symmetric diarylacetylenes: one-pot syntheses and solution photoluminescence,” accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Tetrahedron Letters. Dr. Eichler also pre-sented a paper at the National American Chemi-cal Society in Anaheim, Calif., titled “Synthesis and Characterization of Novel pi-Conjugated 2,3,4,5-Tetraarylsiloles via NiCl2(PEt3)2 Catalysis.” The Augustana Chemistry Department had nine students present posters by students mentored by Dr. Eichler, Dr. Jared Mays, Dr. Bijoy Dey and Dr. Jetty Duff y-Matzner.

Dr. Erin Mercer (Chemistry) had a manuscript titled, “Determination of Free Glycerol in Biodies-el via Solid-Phase Extraction and Spectrophoto-metric Analysis,” accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society.

Dr. Mitch Harris (English) was invited to be the respondent to the “Donne at Sermons” Session of the 26th Annual John Donne Society Confer-ence.

Dr. Darcie Rives (English) delivered a paper at the Louisville Conference on Literature and Culture Since 1900 titled, “Psychiatry and Sexual Identity in Natalie Barney’s The One Who is Legion and H.D.’s HERmione.”

Dr. Joe Dondelinger (Government and Inter-national Aff airs) wrote a solicited book review of John R. Pottenger’s “Reaping the Whirlwind: Liberal Democracy and the Religious Axis” for the Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. He also taught a seminar entitled, “From the Balkans to bin Laden, Baghdad and Beyond: Racial, Ethnic, Religious, and Nationalist Identity Confl icts in the 21st Century,” at the Federal Executive In-stitute in Charlottesville (attended by 24 senior U.S. federal executives).

Dr. Andrew Gillham (HPER) co-authored two papers to be published in the June 2011 Interna-tional Journal of Sports Science & Coaching. The fi rst article is entitled, “More Cheers and Fewer Tears: Examining the Impact of Competitive Engineering on Scoring and Attrition in Youth Flag Football.” The second article is entitled, “Competitive Engineering: Structural Climate Modifi cations to Enhance Youth Athletes’ Com-petitive Experience.”

Dr. Harry Thompson (CWS) had a solicited book review published in the Winter 2011 issue of Great Plains Quarterly, a publication of the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Dr. Thompson was also in-vited to present at the Willa Cather International Seminar, to be held at Smith College, Northamp-ton, Mass., in June. The title of his paper is “This Is Not a Plough: Resisting Authenticity in Cather’s My A’ntonia.”

A paper on the antimicrobial properties of bury-ing beetle anal/oral secretions by Dr. Carrie Hall and Dr. Dan Howard (Biology) was accepted for

publication in Environmental Entomology.

Dr. Sheryl Feinstein (Education) had an article accepted for the African Sociological Review titled “The Division of Household Labor in Tanza-nia: Analysis of Gender Norms and the Lan-guage Used for Rationalizing Gender Inequality.”

Dr. Jeff rey Miller (English) presented the paper “All the Publisher’s Men: Journalism, Gender, and Technology in a ‘State of Play’” at the annual conference of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies in March.

Lisa Brunick and Donovan DeJong (Library and ITS) presented on their collaboration recreating the Mikkelsen Library’s web pages in Drupal at the Library Technology Conference held at Macalester College in March. Their pre-sentation was titled “Better Together: Leveraging Strengths to Improve the End User Experience.”

Dr. David O’Hara (Religion, Philosophy & Clas-sics) had a book review of “C.S. Lewis As Philoso-pher” appear in the latest edition of Faith and Philosophy, the Journal for the Society of Christian Philosophers. During the spring semester, O’Hara chaired two sessions on the American Philoso-phy of Religion at the Central Meeting of the American Philosophical Association in Minne-apolis. He also gave an invited talk at SDSU on St Paul’s engagement with Epicurus in Philippians 2; gave an invited keynote address on research with undergraduates at Bryan College in Day-ton, Tenn.; and gave a paper at the Mid-Atlantic Pragmatist conference in Asheville, N.C.

“The Optics of Responsibility,” an article by Dr. Stephen Minister (Religion, Philosophy & Classics), was published in Southwest Philosophy Review. He also presented the paper “From the Divine Wisdom Within to a Weapon of War: the Itinerary of Reason in Levinas’s Early Writings” at the North American Levinas Society conference at Texas A&M in May.

Dr. Laurie Jungling (Religion, Philosophy & Classics) was accepted to the 2011 Lutheran Academy of Scholars Summer Seminar at Har-vard University.

Dr. Bill Swart (Sociology) hosted a roundtable discussion on “Strange Bedfellows: Eff ective Praxis in Consortial Approaches to Short-term Education Abroad” at the annual meeting of the Forum on Education Abroad. He will present his paper, “Integrated Spectacles and Economic Crises,” at the annual meeting of the Midwest Sociological Society, and is off ering a faculty workshop on short term study abroad at Hast-ings College in Hastings, Neb.

Dr. Mike Wanous (Associate Academic Dean)has been invited to participate in the Thrivent Fellows Program. The 12-month leadership development program views the leadership experience through the lens of vocation.

Beth Boyens (English) presented a paper titled “ ’Regions of Fancy’: Mapping Melancholy in Hannah Webster Foster’s The Coquette” to the Society for Early Americanists at the American Literature Association conference. She also presented a paper titled “To Hell and Back:

Death and Resurrection in Ana Castillo’s So Far from God” at the Women’s Research conference at USD in March.

Dr. Daniel Howard (Biology) and Karla Abbott (Nursing) successfully led eff orts to secure a new Augustana chapter of the American Indian Sci-ence and Engineering Society.

Dr. Patrick Hicks (English) had solicited reviews appear in Briar Cliff Review and in Paddlefi sh. He also had a short story titled “The Background Actor” appear in the Beloit Fiction Journal and his interview with Iraq War Poet Brian Turner will be featured in The Missouri Review.

Dr. Drew Alton (Physics) was invited to speak at the Lomonosov Conference on Elementary Particle Physics that will be held at the Moscow State University (Moscow, Russia) in August.

Dr. Olivia Lima (Psychology) presented a paper titled “Expanding our Interdisciplinary Perspec-tives on Development” at the Society for Re-search in Child Development Teaching Institute meeting in Montreal, Canada.

Dr. Martha Gregg and Curt Olson (Math) have formed a team with Patrick Henry Middle School Teachers Sarah Ailts and Ruth Johnson and Middle School Math Instructional Coach Mi-chelle Dykstra to start a “Math Teachers’ Circle.” Their application to attend the workshop, “How to Start a Math Teachers’ Circle,” facilitated by the American Institute of Mathematics has been accepted. All fi ve will be spending a week in Washington, D.C., this July. They will be working together to start their “Teachers’ Circle” begin-ning in the fall.

Scott Parsons (Performing & Visual Arts) com-pleted the terrazzo artwork for the University of Alberta’s new Centennial Centre for Inter-disciplinary Sciences. In his words: “The fl oor is a 10-color epoxy terrazzo design depicting all of the sciences, from a plesiosaur to neurons, fractals, subatomic particles, and stars.”

Dr. Richard Swanson (Religion, Philosophy & Classics) had a solicited article titled “Moving Bodies and Translating Scripture: Incarnation as an Interpretive Discipline” accepted for publica-tion in the summer issue of Word and World.

Dr. Rocki Wentzel (Religion, Philosophy & Clas-sics) had a review of William Harmless’ “Augus-tine in His Own Words” published by Bryn Mawr Classical Review.

Associate Dean of Students Tracy Riddle and Offi ce of Admission Coordinator Marsha Brooks received “Augie Pride” awards at the annual Augustana Service Awards Presentation and Celebration. The “Augie Pride” award recognizes exceptional service. Since assuming her position in 1990, Riddle has been charged with leading the College’s residence life program. She also works with Dining Services, Volunteer Services and Campus Safety (security) programs. Brooks joined Augustana in 1986 and is responsible for coordinating documents and correspondence for students and parents related to the college admission process.

Page 23: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 21

TALK FROM THE HUDDLE

Covenant Award Winners Announced Five students were honored with Covenant Awards during the 2010-2011 academic year. The Augusta-na Covenant Awards were established to recognize students who exhibit the College’s fi ve core values – Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community, Service. Re-cipients are chosen by a committee of faculty and staff. Thomas Alexander, class of 2011, from Belview, Minn., was awarded the Covenant Award for Liberal Arts. A com-munications and physics major, he served as founding president of the newly formed Augustana Society of Physics Students (SPS) and as a member of Lamda Pi Eta. He was a member of the Augustana Band since his freshmen year and was a member of Serving and Learn-ing Together (SALT). He also served as

a peer advisor in Stavig Residence Hall. Kim Hibma, class of 2011, of Worthington, Minn., was awarded the Covenant Award for Christian Faith. An elementary and special educa-tion major, Hibma was described as a caring, responsible and hard-working individual who is both grounded and self-assured. Active in church life, Hibma works with area youth and has been a leader in Augustana’s Campus Outreach Ministries since her freshmen year. She seeks to be a Christian role model for others. Jenny Lockhart, class of 2011, an English and journalism major from New Underwood, S.D., was awarded the Covenant Award for Community. During her senior year, Lock-hart served as editor-in-chief of The Mirror, Augustana’s student newspaper. During her time at Augustana, she served as co-chair of New Student Orientation, chair of the Band Fest Committee, vice president and treasurer for Augie Dems, vice president for the Au-gustana Women’s Association and has worked as a teaching assistant for Civitas, the College’s Honors Program, and as a tutor for the Augustana Writing Center. She has also participated in three interna-tional learning initiatives, studying in London, Glasgow and Northern India. Rachel Hurley, class of 2011, a biology and ACS chemistry major from Canton, S.D., was awarded the Covenant Award for Excellence. While at Augustana, Hurley was involved in numerous activities including the Augustana Band and Wind Ensemble, New Student Orientation, Outreach Ministries, Pre-Med Club and the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society. Kayla Rockwell, class of 2011, a business administration and classics major from Sioux Falls, received the Covenant Award for Service. Rockwell was described by her nominators as someone with a keen sense of social justice “who is always thinking of others, who is always present and eager to help, and whose work goes unnoticed – and that’s the way she likes it.”

Hibma

Lockhart

Alexander

Hurley

Rockwell

Sophomore Thad Titze, a Watertown, S.D., native majoring in government and interna-tional aff airs, and junior Michael Seeley, a native of Spencer, Iowa, majoring in government and international aff airs and classics, have been named the 2011 Peace Prize Forum Scholars. The Peace Prize Forum Schol-ars program is sponsored by the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, a con-sortium comprised of Augus-tana College, Augsburg College, Concordia College (Moorhead), Luther College, and St. Olaf College. Two students from each of the participating colleges will spend seven weeks at the University of Oslo’s International Summer School deepening their understanding of issues related to peace, justice, democracy, and human rights. Some of the major topics covered in their coursework will include the causes of armed confl icts, peace building, peacemaking, humanitarian interventions and aid, peace-keeping operations, gender, civil society and nonviolence and peace movements. In conjunc-tion with their studies, Peace

Prize Scholars will also work on projects they will present at the 2012 Peace Prize Forum and at least two other venues through-out the upcoming year. The Scholars will also visit a number of infl uential institu-tions including, The Interna-tional Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), Nobel Institute, Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights and the Nobel Peace Center. For the fi rst time ever, the program will also include an in-tensive four-day dialogue work-shop at the Nansen Academy in Lillehammer where Peace Prize Forum Scholars will spend time with students from the Balkan and Caucasus regions. Upon returning to their respec-tive campuses, the 10 scholars will continue to communicate and fi nd ways to build on the Oslo experience together. They will also be expected to play a leadership role in peace activities on their campuses, and assist with the upcoming Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Titze is the son of Blair and Nancy Titze. Seeley is the son of Dick and Dawn Seeley.

Titze, Seeley Named 2011Peace Prize Forum Scholars

After spending 20 years as a third-grade teacher, Don Reiffen-berger became the fi rst graduate of the Luther House of Study (LHOS), a collaborative program between Augustana and Sioux Falls Seminary that addresses a shortage of leadership in Luther-an congregations. On Saturday, May 21, Reiffenberger received his Master of Divinity degree from Sioux Falls Seminary. In 2006, LHOS was established to serve congregations and future and existing ministry profes-sionals. In addition to providing advocacy and resources, LHOS also provides opportunities for laypersons who wish to become pastors but are hindered by geo-graphical or fi nancial restraints to

receive a seminary education. Since 2006, the program has experienced signifi cant growth. As Reiffenberger, one of the program’s fi rst students, awaits his fi rst call as an ordained pastor with the South Dakota Synod ELCA, two other LHOS students are completing their internships with tentative plans to graduate in May 2012. “Don’s graduation was a great day because it served as a witness to how the Luther House of Study is meeting the needs of Lutheran congregations in this region,” said Dr. Chris Croghan, director of the Luther House of Study and assistant professor at both Augustana and Sioux Falls Seminary.

Luther House of Study Graduate Awaits First Call as Ordained Pastor

Page 24: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

A Calling FoundFor Dr. Margot Nelson, teaching tomorrow’s nurses

has always been much more than just a job.

Page 25: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 23

Leaning back in her chair, in an offi ce wallpapered by books and papers, Dr. Margot Nelson, class of 1967, says it like it is. And it’s delightful to hear. “It’s about vocatio,”

she says with a smile, emphasizing the “ca” and waiving her hand up toward Heaven. “Life really is about your calling – your vocation. It’s not about money or fame or big houses. It’s about providing healing and comfort to people who are suffering. And, teaching students how to provide that care.” After spending 40 years teaching Augustana nursing students what she calls “the art and science of caring in the human health experi-ence,” Nelson is retiring as professor and chair of the Nursing Department. Over the last four decades, she has worked

to help develop and carry out the depart-ment’s mission: “To prepare students to apply knowledge and Christian values in the under-standing and fostering of health, wholeness and human potential in a changing world.” And, she’s also worked to foster in students genuine caring and concern for others “It’s about genuine caring – caring enough to engage ourselves – caring enough to go to bat for someone. The most important thing nurses bring to the practice of nursing is themselves – their compassion, their ethics and their values. Nursing is learning how to be. Someone can be a brilliant practitioner but, if they can’t empathize or communicate … if they can’t talk to a patient who is dying then, their mere skills are useless.”

Remembering A native of Rapid City, Nelson worked at McKennan Hospital in the medical/surgical area before joining Augustana in 1971. “Dr. Joyce Nelson, professor emerita of Nursing, found me in the unit. She thought I was a good practitioner and she urged me to teach. I kept my foot in both worlds for a long time. For awhile, I was mostly a nurse and doing some teaching on the side. Then, I was more of a teacher and nursing on the side.” She holds two master’s degrees, one from

Texas Woman’s University in Dallas, Texas, and one from the University of South Dakota Medical School. She earned her doctorate in nursing from the University of Minnesota. Looking back, Nelson marvels at how tech-nology has changed the fi eld of nursing and nurse education. “Obviously, our equipment is newer now, and more sophisticated. The high-fi delity mannequins are a great example – these machines can talk to students, exhibit heart and lung sounds and deliver babies. We can even create wounds on their bodies that our students can treat.” “What we teach has also changed because the role of nursing has changed over time. Long ago, paper charts were the custom and we taught students the appropriate way to document their interactions with patients. Today, most facilities use electronic health record systems and, each system is specifi c to the institution. We’ve had to teach students

how to navigate the documentation system.” Dr. Mike Wanous, associate academic dean, said Nelson has been a signifi cant fi gure in Augustana’s history. “Margot has been a wonderful colleague to work with. She is someone who really cares about students and faculty peers as people,” he said. “When I think of Margot, I think of someone who is encouraging, and who gets the big picture of the greater good for Augustana.”

Addressing the Shortage In 2010, the Institute of Medicine released a report on “The Future of Nursing” to address the growing shortage of U.S. nurses. The report called for increasing the num-ber of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the workforce to 80 percent and doubling the population of nurses with doctoral degrees. “As the population ages, the need for nurses continues to increase. However, the supply – even though more and more students choose to pursue careers in nursing – continues to stay fl at. The supply can’t meet the demand,” Nelson said. Augustana, Nelson said, has worked hard to help alleviate the shortage, even increas-ing its cap for a nursing class from 40 to 64 students. “It was a gradual increase over a period of

years, but the student interest has defi nitely been there.” Nelson says because Sioux Falls has become a thriving healthcare center, Augus-tana nursing students have opportunities to conduct their clinical rotations within the city through partnerships with institutions such as Sanford Health, Avera McKennan, the Veteran’s Administration, the Avera Heart Hospital and others. A leadership and clinical practicum course is also offered as a part of the nursing major; during that course students work with nurse preceptors at healthcare facilities locally and nationally. The College also offers a leader-ship and clinical practicum course during which students spend time working with preceptors at healthcare facilities in Norway. Students also have opportunities to study nursing abroad in locations such as Ecuador, Norway, Namibia, the Dominican Republic and Germany.

At the same time, each fall nursing students from Norway spend a semester on Augus-tana’s campus. They’re taught a course in U.S. healthcare where they learn about the U.S. healthcare system, health issues and in-depth health assessment. From there, they take courses from Augustana faculty and have internships with practicing nurses in Sioux Falls.

What’s Next? “It feels like I just got here,” Nelson says, laughing. “When I started at Augustana, I was 26 years old – one of the youngest faculty members here. Time fl ies!” She’s not sure yet what her plans are for retirement. “I’m trying to be patient and let life un-fold,” she said, explaining that she’s consider-ing a number of options, including volunteer-ing to help people who are in hospice care. “People with a shorter life trajectory demand the best of who we are. And, hope – the hope we all have deep down inside – changes in the face of death. Suddenly, the little things matter more – things like attend-ing a wedding or, going home one more time. As nurses, we have the opportunity to help people die well.” “Again, it’s about vocatio – vocation,” she says. “Life is about your calling.”

“The most important thing nurses bring to the practice of nursing is themselves –

their compassion, their ethics and their values.”

– Dr. Margot Nelson

Page 26: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

This fall, Augustana will proudly welcome back our returning students, and members of the class of 2015. They are the thinkers, innovators and leaders of tomorrow. We are honored they made the decision to join us and …

GoViking.

At Augustana, we believe that certain individuals are called to “Go Viking.” Individuals like Sioux Falls native Mo Hurley, a sophomore English and philosophy major, shown here while studying in Athens, Greece, earlier this year.

It’s an idea that means much more than the age-old notion of sailing off in search of trade and plunder. To “Go Viking” means to be venturesome ... to explore, discover, create and pursue bold concepts and important endeavors.

Explore, Discover and Create.

www.augie.edu

Page 27: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The new Earth as Art 3 col-lection will be on display in the Madsen/Nelson/Elmen Galleries of the Center for Western Studies through Saturday, Aug. 27. A re-ception will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, June 30. The Center is partnering with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center to present this exhibit, the third in a series of award-winning USGS and NASA exhibitions. Forty satellite images were se-lected for the exhibit based solely on their aesthetic appeal. Cloud formations, coastlines, mountain ranges, islands, deltas, glaciers and rivers seen from space take on patterns resembling abstract art with their striking textures and brilliant colors. Earth as Art 3 fol-lows the Earth as Art 1 and Earth as Art 2 exhibits, which have been shown in the Library of Con-gress, in the halls of Capitol Hill, and in museums and art centers around the country. Taken from the Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 satellites, Earth as Art 3 depicts an intricate beauty in Earth’s natural patterns. Instead of paint, the medium for this collection is light. Satellite sensors don’t see light as the human eye does; sensors see the Earth in bands of red, green, blue and infrared. As these different bands are combined into a single image, fascinating patterns, colors and shapes emerge.

Accompanying the im-ages of the Earth as Art 3 is art from the earth — handmade art jewelry made by Jim Schoon of Vivian, S.D. Schoon’s jewelry creations are made from fossil-ized ammonites, dinosaur bones, semi-precious stones, and piano

key ivory. The Center for Western Studies is located in the Fantle Building at 2121 S. Summit Ave. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Ad-mission is free. Call 605.274.4007 for more information.

CWS Featuring ‘Earth as Art 3’ Exhibit

“A Harvest of Words: Contem-porary South Dakota Poetry,” an anthology edited by Dr. Patrick Hicks, Augustana’s Writer-in-Res-idence and associate professor of English, and published by the Center for Western Studies, has been named a fi nalist in the po-etry category of the High Plains Book Awards. Established by the Parmly Billings Library Board, the High Plains Book Awards recognize regional authors and/or literary works which examine and refl ect life on the High Plains, including the states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatch-ewan. Winning authors will be announced on Saturday, Oct.15.

‘A Harvest of Words’ Named High Plains Book Award Finalist

The AUGUSTANA 25

Spilled Paint: A montage of landscapes in

Iran’s largest desert, the

Dasht-e Kavir, or Great Salt

Desert.

TALK FROM THE HUDDLE

Johnson Named Principal Conductor of Choral, Instrumental Ensembles at First Lutheran Church

Dr. James Johnson, professor of music and director of the Augustana Choir since 1992, has been named Principal Conductor of Choral and Instrumental Ensembles at First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. Since Dr. Johnson was granted a sabbatical leave for the com-ing academic year, plans were already in place for Dr. Weston Noble, professor emeritus of music at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, to serve as interim Choir director for the 2011 fall semester and 2012 January interim. A search for Johnson’s successor will begin in the fall. “In his 19 years at Augustana, Dr. Johnson made signifi cant contributions to the College and its Music Department. Most importantly though, his leadership impacted thousands of students whose spiritual growth he helped foster through song. Dr. Johnson’s own faith, and his love of sacred music, served as a powerful compass for student members of the Choir. Because of his graceful and passionate

direction, Choir members under-stood the impor-tance of sharing the words of the Gospel through song,” said Rob Oliver, president. “On behalf of Au-gustana, we thank him for sharing his God-given gifts with our faculty and staff, our students, and with countless communities across the globe who have had the pleasure of seeing and hearing his Choirs perform throughout the years. And, we wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors.” Dr. Johnson holds a bachelor’s degree from Luther College, a master’s degree in music from

the University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. During his tenure, the Augustana Choir toured internationally eight times at venues such as the Cathedrals of Notre Dame in Paris, St. Peter’s in Rome, St. Paul’s in London, St. Stephen’s in Vienna, St. Patrick’s in Dublin, Ni-daros in Trondheim, Chartres outside of Paris, as well as performances throughout Tanzania. Dr. Johnson is the fourth conductor of the 90-year-old Augustana Choir, founded in 1921 by Dr. Carl Youngdahl. “At Augustana, we’re committed to teaching our students about the importance of service. Here, now, it is my turn to accept a new oppor-tunity to serve others through sermon in song. My deep and abiding affection for my students, my colleagues and this institution made this an extremely diffi cult decision to make, but my sense of call to work in the church has become too strong to ignore,” said Johnson.

Dr. James Johnson

Page 28: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

SpringHarvestUnprecedented spring performances propelled Augustana to its fi rst Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/US Bank All-Sports Award.

Emily Kvidera, class of 2013, tied for 15th at the NCAA Championship, the highest fi nish for a Viking. She was named to the NSIC All-Tourna-

ment Team after fi nishing third at the NSIC Championship and was the medalist at the Concordia Invite in September 2010.

Page 29: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

It’s Been a Great Year to be a Viking Augustana women won conference championships in golf, softball, tennis, and track. Five of the eight spring teams qualifi ed for NCAA Division II champion-ship play. Gretta Melsted (softball), Peggy Kirby (women’s golf ), Marc Kurtz (women’s tennis), and Tracy Hellman (women’s track) were chosen conference coaches of the year. In 2010-11 Augustana captured seven conference championships and one divi-sion crown. In addition to the spring har-vest, the Vikings won women’s and men’s cross country titles, and football claimed a division title in the fall. The wrestling team prevailed in the winter. Since joining the NSIC in 2008, the Vikings have fi nished no lower than second in the all-sports rank-ings. Kirby’s golf team was especially dominant. The Vikings breezed to conference and region championships by a combined 96 strokes. Leading the way were freshmen Al-lie Ostrander and Maggie Leland. Ostrander was the Central Region medalist, while Leland was named NSIC newcomer of the year. Augustana made its fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Championships fi nishing in a tie for ninth. Behind the success of the spring squads, Augustana won the NSIC/US Bank All-Sports Standing for the fi rst time in school history. The Vikings were also sixth in the Learfi eld Sports Directors’ Cup standings released in late May, and with the softball, baseball and track teams garnering big points at their respective NCAA postseason endeavors, Augustana could likely climb a few spots. Accomplishments also came in the class-room for Augustana. Three Vikings – Dan Schoen, Matt Braithwaite and Jay Sherer – were awarded NCAA Postgraduate Scholar-ships in 2010-11. A total of 116 student-ath-letes were also named Academic All-NSIC.

Page 30: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

NAVY & GOLD

TRACK Sophomore Runa Falch was voted NSIC women’s track athlete of the year after her three wins (1500, 5000, 10,000) paced Augustana to its fi rst ever women’s outdoor team title. Kelly Kougl (800), Kyle Blakeslee (steeplechase), and Andrea Whitney (high jump) also notched wins for the women. The men’s team fi nish fourth with Tom Karbo showing the way with two wins (1500, 5000). Hellman’s Vikings left a trail of broken records throughout the spring, including six school marks. Seven Vikings qualifi ed for na-tional competition, with Falch (1500) and Aduo Omot (800) claiming titles.

BASEBALL Augustana advanced to the NCAA Tourna-ment for the fi rst time in school history. Coach Tim Huber directed the Vikings to their fi rst wins in NSIC Tournament play. Senior Nate Bauman set seven career records including home runs and RBIs. Senior Bret Severtson set the school record for saves in a season and career. Augustana fi nished the regular season with a 28-20 record and was fi fth in the NSIC with a 20-12 mark.

WOMEN’S TENNIS Kurtz guided the Vikings to their fi rst ever national championship appearance, where they lost to Concordia (NY) in the round of 16. The Vikings successfully defended their conference title and defeated Nebraska-Kearney to advance to the NCAA Finals. The Vikings have won 29 consecutive conference matches, going unbeaten over the last two seasons. Augustana’s Brittany Gaster was chosen NSIC Senior of the Year.

SOFTBALL Power at the plate distinguished this Viking squad from all others in the program’s illustrious history. The team’s 72 home runs following Su-per Regional play was a single-season mark and four Vikings contributed at least 10 each. Senior

Traci Fransen set the career home run record with 35. The Vikings won the NSIC champion-ship for the second straight season – posting a 22-3 record in league play – and were 50-11 after the Super Regional. Melstad’s Vikings were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally. The Vikings won the NSIC Tournament for the fi rst time and appeared in the NCAA Championships for the 19th time.

Fall 2011 home football games, to be played at Kirkeby-Over Stadium:

Sept. 3: Minnesota Duluth, 1 p.m. Sept. 10: Bemidji State, 1 p.m. Oct. 1: Concordia-St. Paul, 1 p.m. Oct. 15: Winona State,1 p.m. (Viking Days) Oct. 22: Minnesota State Moorhead,1 p.m. *** Oct. 27: Vikings at Minnesota State Mankato will be broadcast at 7 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network Nov. 5: Wayne State,1 p.m.

Fall 2011 home volleyball games, to be played at the Elmen Center:

Sept. 23: U-Mary, 7 p.m. Sept. 24: Northern State, 3 p.m. Oct. 7: Southwest Minnesota State, 7 p.m. Oct. 8: Minnesota State, 3 p.m. Oct. 14: Minnesota State Moorhead, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15: Minnesota, Crookston, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 25: Concordia-St. Paul, 7 p.m. Nov. 4: Upper Iowa, 7 p.m. Nov. 5: Winona State, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12: Wayne State, 3 p.m.

2011 Football, Volleyball Home Schedules Announced

No. 16 Lindsay Spanton, class of 2014, crosses home

plate after hitting a home run against Colorado

School of Mines in the Central 1 Regional tourna-

ment.The Vikings went on to beat Colorado 6-0 and

eventually won the tournament.

Tom Karbo, class of 2011.

28 The AUGUSTANA

Page 31: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 29

Granholm from South Dakota State Univer-sity, conducting experiments to determine why obesity impairs fertility, specifi cally examining the effects of the hormone leptin. For nearly a decade, she also worked closely with Dr. John Brannian, head of the Fertility/In Vi-tro Fertilization Laboratory at Sanford Health. The goal, she says, was to improve quality of life. “The purpose behind bio-medical research is to determine results that could improve some-one’s life – that’s why we do what we do.” Dr. Paul Egland, associate professor of biol-ogy, is also an active researcher. His current project, which students assist with, examines the interactions between bacte-ria on teeth. “It began based on some observations I had as a grad student. I studied interactions between bacteria – one could swim indepen-dently while others were ‘hitchhik-ers,’ riding on the backs of others.” “I wanted to study the result of bacterial interac-tions. Ultimately, how do bacteria of one species communicate with bacteria of another species?” Egland says the ability for students to participate in his lab is priceless. “One of the things that makes Augustana unique is that students get to apply what they learn in class in a hands-on lab – they get to do experiments and test ideas. That hands-on work is what helps students learn – it cements the ideas they learn about in the classroom. They’re being exposed to ideas they haven’t had before. Ultimately, they’re being exposed to being scientists.” Like his colleagues, Dr. Jared Mays, an as-sistant professor of chemistry, is also engaged in research which students assist with. His lab studies how dietary sources can reduce cancer risks. Specifi cally, he’s studying how the mo-lecular system present in broccoli could teach us how to selectively activate drugs in certain tissues within the body. “At some point, this work may provide an-other method to deliver drugs to a site and, in turn, minimize the effects of the drug on the rest of the body.” While real-world experiences are vitally important, Diggins says advisers also play a key role in helping students get to the point where they can experience their “ah ha” moment. “Advising is so essential – it helps students fi nd their right path and, eventually, the right

career. It helps them discover where their gifts are. And, it also really allows a faculty member to get to know a student. I can typically write a two-page letter of recommendation for my advisees.”

By the Numbers The number of students pursuing majors within the Natural Sciences has been steadily on the rise. In 2005, the College reported 169 biology majors, 60 chemistry majors and 26 physics majors. In comparison, for the 2010-2011 academic year, the College reported 265 biology majors (a 36 percent increase); 84 chemistry majors (a 28 percent increase); and 41 physics majors, (a 36 percent increase). While student numbers within the Natural Sciences continue to grow, their professional accomplishments after graduation are also mounting. According to an analysis of 206 students who majored in the Natural Sciences and graduated between 2004 and 2008, 70 reported that they were enrolled in medi-cal school; 26 were enrolled in Ph.D. programs; 31 were working toward a master’s degree; 15 were enrolled in dental school and eight were enrolled in physician’s assistant training programs.

Liberally Educated Scientists In addition to teaching, Egland also serves as Augustana’s chief health professions adviser, providing support to other advisers and serv-ing as the direct adviser for pre-med and pre-dental biology and chemistry majors. Specializing in microbiology, he conducted his post-doctorate work at the National In-stitutes of Health at the National Institute of Dental and Crainofacial Research. Like Larson, Egland is also a proponent of engaging students in scientifi c research. Beyond the labs though, Egland is also an ad-vocate for a foundation in the liberal arts. He calls education in the liberal arts benefi cial for every college student, but says it’s particularly valuable for science majors. “Interesting enough, the American Associa-tion of Medical Colleges (AAMC) is doing a review of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and its preliminary recommendation is that the test should include more humanities. The future reality is that people who are com-petitive for medical school won’t be the most skilled scientists but rather, they’ll be liberally

educated scientists.” “What we learn in college affects how we live our lives. The reality is that liberally educated students approach questions in a different manner; they approach issues differently.” Larson agrees, explaining that Augustana’s liberal arts curriculum empowers students to think broadly and to be discoverers. “Here, we want students to experience more than just science. We want students to learn about language, culture, art and politics so they’ll be poised to understand the implica-tions of their work. We often say to students that ‘we’ll give you the tools to specialize, but we won’t specialize you.’ For medical students in particular that’s so important. They need to have the capacity to appreciate beyond how to fi x the patient. They need to connect with their patients emotionally; they need to be able to understand their patients’ background, their cultures.” For Mays, a foundation in the liberal arts is essential for students pursuing a career within the sciences. “You can learn all the science in the world but, science is only a part of the world – it fi ts into every other aspect of life. Think about the development of drugs. In ad-dition to understanding how they work on the body, so many other factors come into play. Economics – how much will they cost; what are the political ramifi cations; the ethical ramifi -cations? The more students can understand that these ‘divisions’ are only man-made parts of the whole, the more they’ll be able to understand the world and make it better.” Beyond the biology, chemistry and physics labs, Dr. Dan Swets, associate professor of computer science, is also conducting research inside GSC. This summer, he will work with 11 students on computer science-related research, studying effi ciency models to determine how computers can process scientifi c images at faster speeds. Like his colleagues, Swets recognizes the value of a liberal arts education. And, he says, employers within the computer science indus-try recognize it as well. “An employer once said to me, ‘I’d rather hire a computer scientist who knows Shake-speare than one who can build the best computer operating system. The one who knows Shakespeare knows how people think. That understanding will lead to the ability for him or her to build better computers that people will use.’”

Dr. Paul Egland Dr. Jared Mays Dr. Dan Swets

CONTINUED FROM: Page 11

‘That hands-on work is what helps students learn – it cements the ideas they learn about in the classroom.’

Page 32: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

A Class inAdventureIn January, four students completed a J-Term class titled “Colorado Back Country Adventure” where they learned

decision-making and survival skills, leadership methods and terrain management.

Page 33: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

The AUGUSTANA 31

For Mark Greeno, head of Augustana’s Outdoor Club, the ultimate classroom is clear of desks and chairs. It’s sans a wireless network; free of expensive text-books and yellow highlight-

ers; and it’s heated and cooled by Mother Nature herself. For Greeno, nature is the best classroom. Take the snow-covered mountains and towering evergreen trees that were the “classroom” for Greeno’s January Interim Class, rightfully entitled, “Colorado Back Country Adventure.” During the 13-day course, students Sam Smolnisky, ‘11, Matt Braithwaite, ’11, Bridg-er Bjorklund, ‘12 and Torstein Tengsareid, a Norwegian exchange student, honed their downhill skiing skills and received real-life, on-the-job training in terrain management, leadership methods, survival tactics and decision-making. They also learned the value of teamwork, camaraderie and collaboration. “There’s an old cliché that says, “every day is an adventure.” For us, that was an ab-solute true statement during January. Some days we would be starting the day at 10,000 feet and climbing to a 12,000-foot peak. Other days we would be up to our waists in powdery snow searching for rescue beacons. Mornings were spent learning about snow quality and rescue scenarios, and in the afternoons, we would put our knowledge to

the test,” said Smolnisky. The students were based at a hotel in Boulder, Colo., and divided their time between classroom-type instruction on avalanche detection techniques, evaluat-ing weather conditions, reading snow pack reports and identifying escape zones with daily downhill skiing in the back country. The instruction and the fi eld work were led by Greeno and Markus Beck, a native of Switzerland and a certifi ed survival and climate guide. “We’d start at 7 a.m. and get back to the hotel around 8 p.m. each night. These kids pushed themselves physically and mentally yet, so many times throughout the course the guys came up to me and said, ‘Mark, this is the greatest experience of my life.’ Sure they learned how to survive in the back country, but in reality, they learned so much more than that. What they learned about making good, safe decisions can apply to any situation they encounter from here on out – those skills will be with them their entire lives.” Smolnisky agrees. “It is hard to comprehend what it is like to push yourself farther than you ever thought you could go. We did this day in and day out. This was a humbling trip for me because I was able to further my respect for Mother Nature. She is powerful and strong, beauti-ful and magical. I learned that I cannot overcome nature; I can only walk with her. We tread carefully in the mountains, making

sure we respected their sheer magnifi cence. Sometimes we walked on dirt, rocks, snow, and ice that could’ve crumbled beneath our feet at any moment. Our guides taught us how to travel safely on such terrain and manage the inherent risk involved with traveling and skiing in the back country. He taught us how to survey the land, ask the right questions so we can have fun, but most importantly, to be able to do this the next day. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am a small part of this amazing world, and this experience allowed me to see my place, and all that it has to offer.” In addition to teaching health and physi-cal education classes, Greeno, a former physical education teacher and cross country and track coach, leads the Out-door Program as a way to involve students, faculty and staff in outdoor activities. Since the Program’s initial meeting two years ago, attendance has tripled. The Outdoor Club takes participants on a variety of outdoor adventures, depending on the season and the weather, including rock climbing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and hiking. “Fresh air cleanses the soul. When you’re outside, you’re exercising and you don’t even know it. I believe in physical fi tness and mental fi tness – when you’re outdoors, you see things differently, from a different perspective. It leads to an entirely different level of productivity,” Greeno said.

Along with their guide, students Sam Smolnisky, ‘11, Matt Braithwaite, ’11, Bridger Bjorklund, ‘12 and Torstein Tengsareid navigated Colorado’s back country in January.

Page 34: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

A Message from the Alumni Association President

When Making Your Mark, Remember Your RootsMy fellow alumni, The Spark was an event worthy of the 150-year history Augustana has created, as well as a kickoff to the next 150 years. In the early years, the school called fi ve different places home before settling on the current location in Sioux Falls. Augustana’s history is much like the paths many of us

take as we fi rst arrive on campus from communities around the upper Midwest, across the country and sometimes different parts of the globe. From there, we continue to branch out, until we fi nd a place to settle and further our careers. Some of us keep moving, some stay put, as Augustana has, for many years to come. It’s been 15 years since my days as a student ended, and this spring I was fortunate enough to participate in the graduation ceremony for Augustana’s Sesquicentennial class. The celebration of Augustana’s 150th this year has brought back a lot of memories to those of us who have graduated over the years. We leave campus to make our own mark, rooted in the experiences and relationships we’ve built during our time on campus. Yet, wherever we go, we

continue to be a part of the community that shaped us and that we helped mold. As the years pass we look back, and can appreciate the foundation our time on campus gave us. Be proud of the education you earned at Augustana – it sets you apart. Be proud that you are an Augustana Viking. Keep in touch with your fellow classmates; seek out those who graduated before you – we all share that common Augustana bond. We all know that every day is a “Great Day to be an Augustana Viking.” Most importantly, remember those students who follow after you, continuing the legacy we’ve left behind. As alumni, we must ensure that those who follow us will also walk away from this special place with more than a diploma in hand.

Corey HalstensonClass of 1996

32 The AUGUSTANA

ALUMNI NEWS

Class NotesCLASS OF 1931Irene (Rortvedt) Rozich, 99, died Jan. 6, 2011, in Hills, Minn. CLASS OF 1933

Hazel “Jean” (Ulberg) Ingebritson, 99, died Jan. 15, 2011 in Carefree, Ariz. CLASS OF 1934Rev. Dr. George Evenson celebrated his 100th birthday on March 30, 2011. Pastor Evenson served the Lutheran Church in Canada with distinction as a Pastor, Seminary President and Professor. CLASS OF 1939Herbert Shapiro died in Pittsburgh, Pa.

CLASS OF 1940 Kirsten (Svanoe) Hilberg, 92, died March 19, 2011, in Bradenton, Fla.

CLASS OF 1942

Dorothy (Reeve) Larson, 93, died Feb. 22, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Floyd “Baldy” Wallace Nelson, 93, died Feb. 7, 2011, in Maplewood, Minn. Roger Oyan, 90, died Feb. 16, 2011, in Water-town, S.D. CLASS OF 1943Lillian (Juul) Honkamp, 89, died March 20, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Helen Sunderson, 89, died April 29, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1944 Charlotte (Isemen) Reaves, 85, died April 17, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1945 Fern Ersland, 88, died March 22, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1946 Merle “Boots” “Digger” Driver, 88, died Jan. 20, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Adelin (Nebelsick) Montgomery, 92, died Jan. 24, 2011, in Greenwood, Ind. CLASS OF 1947Orville Evenson, 91, died March 10, 2011, in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Elizabeth (Gulbraa) Saeger, 92, died March 24, 2011, in Hendricks, Minn. CLASS OF 1948Norman Haugan, 84, died March 23, 2011. CLASS OF 1949Marvin Berkeland died Jan. 26, 2011, in Hast-ings, Minn. Arnold Boyum, 88, died on Dec. 12, 2010, in Des Moines, Iowa.

THE1930s

THE1940s

Visit www.augielink.com for daily updates and photos.

Augustana at 150 tells the history of the College’s 15 decades through never-before-seen images and interviews with iconic faculty members, administrators and students. This limited-edition hardcover memento of Augustana’s Sesquicentennial is available for purchase at www.augie.edu/150book. Published by Lifetouch, copies are $45, including shipping and handling. The 30-minute documentary video, SKOL! Augustana at 150, is also available. Copies are $20, including shipping and handling

Order online at www.augie.edu/150book

Celebrate Augustana at 150

Page 35: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Delores (Dibble) Brown, 83, died March 5, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

CLASS OF 1950Robert “Bob” Burke, 84, died Jan. 11, 2011, in Mason City, Iowa. Roe Giff ord, 83, died March 13,

2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Shirley (Davis) Westerlund, 82, died April 16, 2011, in Burnsville, Minn. CLASS OF 1951 Marion (Bringle) Degelau, 81, died April 3, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Wanda (Severson) Holt, 81, died April 17, 2011, in Gary, S.D. Opie Ter Meer, 83, died Feb. 18, 2011, in San Bernardino, Calif. CLASS OF 1952Evelyn Iverson, 84, died Dec. 30, 2010, in Hendricks, Minn. Rev. Robert Nervig, 80, died March 6, 2011. CLASS OF 1953Fredrick Alfred Carl Eiesland, 80, died April 28, 2011, in Lawerence, Kan.

Winifred Johanna Kildahl, 87, died Nov. 20, 2010. CLASS OF 1954 Rev. Dr. Robert T. Wagner, 78, died Jan. 17, 2010, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1957Cynthia (Grogan) Kielty, 74, died Jan. 20, 2011. Jean (Barry) Nordstrom, 79, died Jan. 22, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Roger Rygh, 76, died April 1, 2011, in Milford, Iowa.

Donalyn (Spilde) Sour, 74, died April 8, 2011, at her daughter’s home in Poplar, Wis.

CLASS OF 1958Jim Eitrheim, 78, died April 16, 2011, in Pequot Lakes, Minn. Kent Malcomb died Dec. 3, 2010, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1959Richard Hopewell, 73, died April 8, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

CLASS OF 1960 Winifred (Webster) Cheever died Jan. 15, 2011.

Will Kuni, 77, died Feb. 4, 2011, in Phoenix, Ariz.

Richard Robinson, 73, died April 13, 2011, in Tulsa, Okla. CLASS OF 1961Kathleen Gehan, 83, died Jan. 25, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Jackie (Sandal) Iseman, 71, died March 13, 2011, in Bellevue, Wash. Kathryn (Hoime) Robinson, 71, died March 18, 2011, in Tulsa, Okla. Elton Wing, 71, died March 10, 2011, in Slay-ton, Minn. CLASS OF 1962 Bernis (Jacobson) Andrew, 70, died April 25, 2011, in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Jean (Sunde) Peterson was promoted to full professor at Purdue University and published her seventh book in 2009. Sandie (Solum) Rice, 70, died April 6, 2011, in Mitchell, S.D. CLASS OF 1963 Jane (Berry) Houck, 69, died April 8, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Judy (Bendixen) Jurrens, 69, died April 6, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Rev. Myron C. Maltz retired from the Holy Ministry of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod after 44 years of service. CLASS OF 1965 Dennis Engel, 67, died Jan. 27, 2011, in Colo-rado Springs, Colo. CLASS OF 1966 Ronald Nesheim, 72, died Jan. 12, 2011, in Overland Park, Kan. Raymond Showalter, 67, died Jan. 31, 2011, in Phoenix, Ariz. CLASS OF 1967 Patricia (Engebretsen) Doi died Feb. 3, 2011, in Denver, Colo. Lee Schneider, 73, died Feb. 6, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1968 Rev. Dr. Marlin Vetter, 64, died Jan. 28, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 1969 Curt Hage, an Augustana Board of Trustees member from 1996 to 2005, was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Janet (Ratliff ) Johnson received recogni-tion as a 2010 Distinguished Researcher and

Scholar for the College of General Studies at SDSU. CLASS OF 1970Carl Miller has had his book “The Presence of God: Living the Empow-

ered Life” published. CLASS OF 1971Nancy (Olsen) Lynch, 59, died Aug. 22, 2010, in New York, N.Y. Robert Zimpfer had his poem “The Fallen War-rior” set to music. It will be performed at the Annual Jacksonville University Composer Fest.

THE1970s

Augustana will recognize the following alumni with Alumni Achievement Awards during Viking Days in October: Dr. Jim Reynolds, class of 1965, is recognized for his contribution to and impact on the development of Sioux Falls as a signifi cant regional medical center. A chemistry major at Augustana, Reynolds went on to study medicine at the University of South Dakota and Johns Hopkins University. In 1981, he became a founding member of the North Central Heart Institute in Sioux Falls. In 2000, Reynolds was the driving force to start The Heart Hospital. Now known as the Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota, this world class heart program was recognized as one of the Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals in the United States in 2011. Now retired, Reynolds performed more than 4,500 open heart procedures in his career. Paul Harmel, class of 1972, is recognized for his leadership and vision as the chairman and CEO of Lifetouch Inc. Harmel was an accounting and business administration major at Au-gustana. A student-athlete, Harmel played both basketball and baseball for the Vikings. In the late 1970s, he joined National School Studios, now known as Lifetouch. Throughout his career

at Lifetouch he held a series of executive management positions until being named CEO in 1997 and Chairman of the Board in 2002. Under his leadership, employee-owned Lifetouch has grown to over a billion dollars in yearly sales and has become the market leader in professional photography. Jayne Meyer, a nursing major from the class of 1974, has described herself as an “impassioned nurse”, dedicating herself to the health profession, starting as a critical care nurse in Dal-las, Texas, moving to solid organ transplant as a transplant co-ordinator, then exploring the fi eld of biotechnology. Currently, Meyer serves as a senior clinical trial associate for clinical aff airs at Dendreon Corporation where she works in the biotechnology research fi eld and has been a part of a team involved with the investigation of a vaccine for the treatment of prostate cancer. Retired Justice Robert Amundson, class of 1961, is recog-nized for his lifetime of service to the citizens of South Dakota as a lawyer and judge. A business administration major, he gradu-ated from the University of South Dakota Law School in 1965. After practicing law in the Black Hills area, Amundson was appointed by Gov. George Mikkelsen to become the 21st Circuit Court Judge in the Second Judicial Circuit in 1987. He served in

this position until 1991, when Mikkelsen appointed him to the Supreme Court of the State of South Dakota. Amundson retired from this position in 2002. Dr. John Berdahl is the recipient of the Augustana Horizon Award, an award recognizing the rising career of a member of our young alumni (less than 15 years after graduation). Berdahl, class of ’99, is an ophthalmologist at Vance Thompson Vision in Sioux Falls. He earned his MD, graduating with honors from Mayo Medical School in Rochester, Minn., and fi nished his internship at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. He completed ophthalmology residency at Duke University where his published work, research, teaching and care of patients brought him many honors including best resident and national recognition as fi rst place winner of the Resident Writers Award. Berdahl pursued additional advanced surgical training at Minnesota Eye Consultants. As a fellow he received the Claes Dohlman Award from Harvard University, given to the top cor-nea fellow in the country. His commitment to those in need is demonstrated by his leadership role in EyeCare America (which provides free eye care to underserved) and the numerous surgi-cal mission trips he continues to participate in worldwide.

THE1950s

THE1960s

The AUGUSTANA 33

Five to Receive Alumni Achievement Awards During Viking Days

Page 36: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

ALUMNI NEWS

34 The AUGUSTANA

CLASS OF 1972Paul Halstenson and his wife, Barb, are the recipients of the Noel Olson Volunteer of the Year Award, given to individuals who have made signifi cant contributions to the North-ern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Cheryl (Andersen) Leuning was recently honored at Augsburg College, receiving the 2011 Distinguished Teaching and Learning Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising. Mark Mandsager, 61, died March 27, 2011, in Charlotte, N.C. Patti (Stoltz) Poling, 86, died March 13, 2011, in Arroyo Grande, Calif. CLASS OF 1973 Maxine (Jungemann) Blanch, 72, died Jan. 5, 2011, in Mountain Ranch, Calif. CLASS OF 1974Susan Anderson, 59, died April 21, 2011, in Sioux Falls, S.D. Deborah Hendricks retired as the Family Health Manager of St. Paul-Ramsey County Public Health after 32 years. She is now the Director of Community Engagement at the University of Minnesota for the National Chil-dren’s Study/Ramsey County Location. Gary Thalhuber was elected to the board of directors of the Mutual Trust Financial Group. CLASS OF 1975Nikki (Johannsen) Edwards received the 2010 Care Provider’s of Minnesota Adult Vol-unteer of the Year Award. Mary (Korgness) LeBeck has been appointed to the Texas Board of Nursing by Gov. Rick Perry. Steve Yelinek retired in May of 2010 from teaching high school social sciences and coaching basketball, softball, and tennis in Lemars, Iowa. CLASS OF 1978 Dana (Broek) Gulbranson, 55, died March 26, 2011, in Boise after a long battle with cancer. Brian Nelsen, 54, died March 23, 2011, in Rock Valley, Iowa. CLASS OF 1979Douglas Heilman retired from the FBI after 20 years of service as a Special Agent. Barbara (Hayward) Nelsen is a nurse at Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, and was recently named one of the “100 Great Nurses in Iowa.”

CLASS OF 1982 Carla (Willard) Kilpatrick, 51, died March 16, 2011.

CLASS OF 1984Linda (Kern) Anderson is the Executive Director of the Black Hills Playhouse. Jean Bareris was ordained by the United Church of Christ on Feb. 27, 2011.

Thomas Erickson, vice president of Govern-ment and Industry Aff airs for Bunge North America, was the keynote speaker for the University of South Dakota School of Law’s hooding ceremony this May. CLASS OF 1985Mark Bergsrud has been named the Senior Vice President of Marketing for United Airlines. The new career means a move to Winnetka, Ill., for Mark and his family. Rev. Paul Hanson joined the Luther Seminary as a Philanthropic Adviser. CLASS OF 1987Betty (Beyer) Assimacopoulos was made the program manager for clinical education with the Yankton Rural Area Health Education Center. Warren Lindquist, 45, died Jan. 19, 2011. Robert Velasco is the Amalga Program Delivery Manager with Dell Perot Systems in Oceanside, Calif. CLASS OF 1988Lynn Arnold has been teaching fi fth grade in Rapid City, S.D. for four years. CLASS OF 1989 Sonja (Olson) Brazell has been teaching Language Arts at Haines Middle School in St. Charles, Ill., for four years. In 2009, Sonja earned her national board certifi cation. Amy (Stoller) Stearns received the Sally Award for Arts Access from the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul, Minn.

CLASS OF 1992Lisa (Van De Wiele) Schenk was nominated for the YWCA Tribute to Women Award for her work with

the Good Samaritan Society. CLASS OF 1993Lucille (Latza) Kelsey, 82, died April 4, 2011, in Sioux Falls. Lisa (Evanson) Miskowiec has begun work-ing on her master’s degree in Secondary Edu-cation. Additionally she owns and operates the Mississippi Valley Athletic Training Center. Teresa (Rehder) Reoloff s works as a vo-cal music accompanist for Lincoln Christian School in Lincoln, Neb.

Fern (Enright) Steff en, 64, died Nov. 7, 2010. CLASS OF 1994Michael and Anita (Miller) Anderson and Michael welcomed twins Rebekah Martha and Micah Ivar on Aug. 24, 2010 Corey Camp is the Director of the Augustana Fund and Annual Giving with the Offi ce of Development at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. Corey and Tara (Sydnes) Camp, ‘98, live in Sioux Falls, S.D. Todd Feustel and Krista Feustel welcomed daughter Mackenna Alicyn Fuestal on March 6, 2011.

Marty Moore has taken a new position as Senior Manager, Lead Optimization & Up-Sell Marketing at Sirius-XM. Marty will be located in the Washington, D.C., area. CLASS OF 1995Karin (Bonde) Borgmann and Michael welcomed son Thomas Michael Borgmann on Oct. 25, 2010.

Jeral Gross and Andrea Fosterling were mar-ried on Aug. 28, 2010. They live in Mitchell, S.D. He works at First National Bank South Dakota in Mitchell as vice president and senior busi-ness banker. Dr. Matthew L. Leininger was the featured speaker at the John A. Froemke Chemistry Lecture Series at Augustana. CLASS OF 1996Brendon and Heidi (Mayer) Sato welcomed son Ethan Ken Sato on Aug. 20, 2010. CLASS OF 1997Paul Krueger was named President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of South Dakota in October 2010. Jonathan McAreavey and his wife, Dot, wel-comed a son, Ian Jon, on April 25, 2011. CLASS OF 1998 Derek Allmendinger accepted a brewer’s po-sition at the August Schell Brewing Company after receiving his Brewing Science degree in November of 2009 from the American Brewers Guild.

Tara (Sydnes) Camp is working as a benefi ts specialist at the Department of Social Services in Sioux Falls, S.D. She and Corey Camp, ’94, live in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Lezlea (Pixley) Dahlke and Chris Dahlke welcomed son Calvin Samuel Pixley on Sept. 1, 2010. Angela (Reiners) Goettertz and Chris Goet-tertz, ‘99, welcomed son Tryg Andrew Goet-tertz on Jan. 19, 2011. Wade Helleson, a K-5 instructional coach based at Lowell Elementary School in Sioux Falls, received a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award in October 2010. Jason Lohrenz recently received his Master’s degree in business administration from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn. Jason, his wife, Stephanie, and their three children currently reside in Lakeville, Minn. Jason is currently the IT Director for Pediatric Home Services in Roseville, Minn. Wade Lone Elk, 37, died on Oct 16, 2010 in Oglala, S.D.

Laurie Melum married Aaron Johnston on Dec. 22, 2010. He is the women’s basketball coach at South Dakota State University and she works as an assistant athletic director for academics. Bradley Meyer is the regional launch man-ager for Thrivent Financial.

THE1990s

THE1980s

Page 37: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

CLASS OF 1999Sonja (Dean) Ferrell was named library director of the Ottumwa Public Library in Ottumwa, Iowa. Chris Goettertz and Angela (Reiners) Goet-tertz, ‘98, welcomed son Tryg Andrew on Jan. 19, 2011. Ellyn (Gregory) Hays and Erik welcomed son Luke Allen Hays on Feb. 15, 2011 Dr. Christopher Johnson and Dr. Melanie Klawiter, ‘02, welcomed Ingrid Olivia to their family on April 11, 2011. Sara Yager was married to Troy Junkermeier. She is a physical education and health teacher in the Fairmont School District. Nancy (Drake) Ocampo is working as an offi ce manager and dental assistant for Arthur Stanger, DMD. She and Arthur plan to be mar-ried in summer of 2011. Litchfi eld High School biology teacher Beth Ring received the 2011 Medtronic Science Teaching Award. Sara (Thalacker) Turner was elected as a new shareholder at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC in Birmingham, Ala. CLASS OF 2000

Ann (Puthoff ) Gooley and David Gooley welcomed daughter Colleen Melody on Nov. 21, 2010. Liann Hanson will graduate from

the University of Denver on June 3, 2011, with a Ph.D. in Educational Administra-tion and Policy Studies. Jennifer (Vollmer) Warren and Shane wel-comed daughter Katelyn Anne Warren on Feb. 11, 2011. Emily Winterton is a captain in the United States Air Force. She completed her MD train-ing at Sanford and was a resident with the Uniformed Services Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology of the National Capital Consortium. CLASS OF 2001 Jenny Hill and Gary Walz, ‘06, have opened “Legends,” an indoor hitting and softball train-ing facility, in Sioux Falls. Perry and Michelle (Menke) Snook wel-comed daughter Ava Corinne Snook on Jan. 28, 2011. David Urbaniak started a sports apparel line, Groucho Sports, with his business partners based out of Minneapolis, Minn. He is also work-ing as a product innovation manager for FIS. CLASS OF 2002Aaron Cusher and Julie Giff ord, ‘04, wel-comed son Holden Cusher on Aug. 15, 2010. Helen Henkin was nominated for the YWCA Tribute to Women Award for her work with TLC Corporation. Dr. Melanie Klawiter and Dr. Christopher Johnson, ’99, welcomed Ingrid Olivia to their family on April 11, 2011.

Jerrid Kruse and Shelby (Groen) Kruse wel-comed son Lincoln Wayne on Dec. 23, 2009.

Dr. Jeff Oakland and his wife, Heather, have moved to Sioux Falls. Jeff is an optometrist at Dakota Vision Center. Brytten (Hoefs) Rice and Nick Rice welcomed son Theo on September 1, 2010. Emily (Korthals) Whiting left Augustana College after working for eight years as an Athletic Trainer to pursue a career as a Cancer Registrar at the Avera Cancer Institute. Emily and Jason Whiting, ‘08, live in Sioux Falls, S.D., with their sons, Cade and Brendan. CLASS OF 2003 Janet (Eisfeld) Caven and John Caven wel-comed Luke Jeremiah to their family on April 20, 2011. Joe Evenson and Tresse (Klumper) Even-son have welcomed twin girls to their family. Brynn Michael and Jade Dorothea were born on March 23, 2011. David Joyslin has been made a personal trust relationship manager with the Private Client Reserve of U.S. Bank in Minneapolis.

Joshua Kayser and Kara (Kann) Kayser, ‘05, welcomed daughter Maggie Marie on Novem-ber 12, 2010.

Lindsay (Hovendick) King and Josh King welcomed son Spencer Russell on Jan. 4, 2011. Anna Otis married Josh Thoma in November of 2010. They live in Omaha, Neb. Leah (Kooren) Van Dam was nominated for the YWCA Tribute to Women Award for her work at McGladrey. Pamela (Hatlewick) Wilde and Chris welcomed daughter Elise Joy Wilde on April 24, 2010. CLASS OF 2004 Julie Giff ord and Aaron Cusher, ‘02, wel-comed son, Holden Cusher on Aug. 15, 2010. Geoff Kruse and Jessica (Nelson) Kruse wel-comed Piper Rae Kruse into their family. Elizabeth Cruse married Jeff Tickle on Oct. 2, 2010. They live in St. Paul, Minn. CLASS OF 2005Jill Adams received her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver in June of 2009. She works as a victim/family advocate in Englewood, Colo. Jason Bosley married Lisa Donnay on Oct. 2, 2010. They live in Sioux Falls, S.D. Kara (Kann) Kayser and Joshua Kayser, ‘03, welcomed daughter Maggie Marie on Nov.12, 2010. Megan (Kean) O’Brien and Rick welcomed daughter Brooklyn Hollis on Dec. 11, 2010. Stephanie Kokesh graduated from Creighton University in December of 2009 with a Doctor-ate of Occupational Therapy. She moved to Los Angeles, Calif., in August of 2010 to work with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Katie Rus married James Pehl on Oct. 1, 2010, in Stillwater, Minn. Katie currently works as a Certifi ed Nurse Midwife in the Twin Cities area.

Jacob Quail is a General Surgery Resident at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Calif. Karen (Bell) Varro and Pat welcomed son Nathan James on June 2, 2010. CLASS OF 2006 Andrea (Seefeldt) Begeman and Brook welcomed Shelby Augusta to their family on Nov. 19, 2010. Ginny (Hughes) Garzon welcomed Oscar Enrique into her family on March 8, 2011. Denise (Dunn) Hebert married Mike Hebert on Nov. 30, 2010. They are living in Bellevue, Neb. Amy (Dreke) Larsen and Jarrod Larsen welcomed son Jackson Adam on Sept. 1, 2010. They live in Sioux Falls where Amy is working on a master’s degree in leadership in educa-tion at the University of Sioux Falls. Rena Olsen is a school-based therapist for Orchard Place in Des Moines, Iowa. In January 2011, Laura (Beatty) Sammon completed a Master of Arts degree in Educa-tion from St. Mary’s University.

Gary Walz and Jenny Hill, ‘01, have opened “Legends,” an indoor hitting and softball train-ing facility, in Sioux Falls. CLASS OF 2007 Kyra Berkness is currently living in Seattle, Wash., where she is managing the show “The Twilight Zone: Live!” at the Theater Schmeater. Betsy Homan has taken a position as a re-source development director at the HelpLine Center. Christopher Koopman married Brianna Erickson on January 8, 2011. They live in Sioux Falls, S.D. Elizabeth DeVries married Brent Steven on Oct. 16, 2010, in Alton, Iowa. They live in Boyden, Iowa. CLASS OF 2008Jenae (Andersh) Brighton and Kevin welcomed son Isaac Nathaniel Brighton on October 23, 2010. Kyle Kelly and Margaret Kaff ar, ‘09, were married on Aug. 6, 2010. Andrew Kightlinger premiered his inde-pendent short fi lm, “You Don’t Know Bertha Constantine,” at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls in April. Sarah Mason is a resident services coordina-tor at Mercy Housing in Boulder, Colo.

Arthur Pepper and Emily (Hughes) Pepper, ’02, welcomed son Oliver Dwight. Jason Whiting is a fourth grade teacher at Hayward Elementary in Sioux Falls. He and his wife, Emily (Korthals) Whiting, have two sons who are four- and two-years old. The family lives in Sioux Falls, S.D. CLASS OF 2009 Andrew Christianson is a fi nancial analyst at Ernst Capital Group.

THE2000s

The AUGUSTANA 35

Page 38: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

Whitney Hofer married Shawn Flanagan on Oct. 22, 2010. She is a registered nurse at Avera McKennan Hospital. They live in Hartford, S.D. Kari Hanson is working as a graduate assistant in Athletic Training for Hawaii Pacifi c Uni-versity in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is also pursuing a master’s degree in communications. Margaret Kaff ar and Kyle Kelly, ‘08, were married on Aug. 6, 2010. Elizabeth Stewart has taken a teaching position in Huron, S.D. CLASS OF 2010Julie Ailts is a fi rst grade teacher in Worthington, Minn. Laura Aseltine is working as a fi fth grade teacher at Laura B. Anderson in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Amber Baustian has taken a nursing position in Edgerton, Minn.

Brittney Boogaard is working as a registered nurse in Fargo, N.D. Amanda Schnepel married Tate Brandon on Dec. 11, 2010. They live in Council Bluff s, Iowa. Michael Brusven married Mag-gie VanBockern on April 30, 2011. They live in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Alicia DeHann is working at Sanford Health’s Birthplace.

Elizabeth Dolven-Kolle is working as a nurse with Sanford Healthcare in Fargo, ND. Nina Dukich and Tim Solberg were married on April 1, 2011. Emily Ehlers is working for San-ford Health in Fargo, ND. Miranda Erikson is working in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sanford Health. Gavin Folkestad is an English teacher in Luverne, Minn. Paige Fossum is pursuing a mas-ter’s degree in Social Work at the University of South Dakota. She is also working at the Washington Pavilion and the HelpLine Center while interning at Avera Behav-ioral Health. Andraya Gacke is working for Jane Addams Elementary in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Justina Berkness married Tyler Hayzlett on June 26, 2010. They live in Sioux Falls, S.D. Justina is a teacher at John Harris Elementary. Mauri Becker married Matt Heesch on July 2, 2010. They live in Omaha, Neb. Sarah (Goslinga) Hunt is working at Mayo Clinic. Correction – Amanda Jenson is a collections assistant at the Center for Western Studies. She was mis-

takenly listed as working at the Mikkelsen Library in the Winter 2010 issue of The Augustana.

Jenni Simmons married Ryan Jervik on Dec. 18, 2010. They live in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Nicole Kaplan is working as a teacher at Warroad (Minn.) High School.

Samantha Link is a registered nurse at Rice Memorial Hospital in Wilmar, Minn.

Jessa Menning is a math teacher at Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Tonya (Moser) Metzger is working in early childhood education and special edu-cation in Hills/Beaver Creek, Minn.

Kelsey Ott has taken a job as a registered nurse with Sanford Health.

BreAnna Petersen is working for Sanford Health in Fargo, N.D.

Stephanie Rust is working at Sanford Health as a NICU nurse.

Brittany Schwen-demann is working at Sanford Health in Fargo, N.D.

Sabrina (Kingery) Sowles is working in Cardiology at Sanford Health. Ashley Teunissen is working as a special education teacher in Brandon, S.D. Blake Thompson is a designer with Quality Claims Solutions in Sioux Falls, S.D. Malerie Mertz married Tim Yea-ton on July 17, 2010. Malerie is a K-12 vocal director in Webster, S.D.

ALUMNI NEWS

36 The AUGUSTANA

though, that’s a decision for later.” As his dad, Tom says he’s just happy his son has found his calling. “I’m gratifi ed he found something he’s pas-sionate in – that he’s found his calling and that he’s using his God-given gifts.” While more than 30 years have passed since Tom was a student at Augustana, he says some things haven’t changed. “GSC has certainly been a home away from home for both of us,” he says, smiling. He laughs at the mention of the Eagles (although he contends his roommate was the real fan of the group). “My roommate played the Eagles album in our room all the time. He recently sent me their latest CD. Matt listened to it, burned a copy, and is now playing it in his dorm room. Life really does come full circle.” Tom also understands the emotional ride of the medical school application process. “It’s not de ja vue, but listening to Matt throughout the process certainly feels familiar. It really did conjure up so many memories for

me,” he said. “He has a big process ahead of him – from the rigorous training to learning about the business aspects of medicine.” “My ultimate hope is that he never loses his sense of wonder. At the end of the day, medicine is about people – their suffering; their vulnerable moments; and their well-being. It’s also about life-long education.” For Matt, it’s nice to know that someone’s been in his shoes before. “It’s really comforting to know that he can relate to everything I’m going through,” he said. For Tom, watching Matt grow up from a curious young boy to a curious young scientist and a competitive athlete has been the ultimate gift. A standout on Augustana’s track and cross country teams, Matt has been widely recog-nized for his success as a student-athlete.Most recently, he received the 2011 Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence, an award that recognizes the top male student-athlete within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. He was also named

a 2011 NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship win-ner and was a 2010 NCAA Elite 88 winner at the Division II Men’s Cross Country Cham-pionship, the fi rst Viking in school history to earn the award. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the fi nals site for each of the NCAA’s 88 championships. Matt was an All-American in cross country in 2010. He was named a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches As-sociation All-Academic Team member, earned Academic All-NSIC honors this past season and was presented with the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award from the NSIC this spring. “Parenting is like unwrapping a present in supreme slow motion,” Tom said. “You don’t really know what you’re unwrapping, because your children grow and change every day, but they’re the greatest gift ever. Matt and I are connected in so many ways – through running, through Augie, through our love of science, but mostly because I love him. I couldn’t be more proud of him.”

CONTINUED FROM: Page 5

ger is dhood al edu-

Creek,

a jobwith

s

Celebrating Birthdays and Friendship

Six members of the Class of 1962 gathered in Colo-

rado last fall to celebrate their 70th birthdays. Tandra

(Bottger) Wright, Carol (Nelson) Miedema, Ruth (Be-

atty) O’Neal, Eva (Holtan) Partridge, Caryl (Pederson)

Funk, and Kalley (Georgopoulos) Johnson agree that

Augustana aff orded them the opportunity to make

life-long friendships!

‘At the end of the day, medicine is about people – their suffering; their vulnerable moments; and their well-being.’

Page 39: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011
Page 40: Volume 1, Issue 3: The Augustana Summer 2011

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 5

SIOUX FALLS, SD2001 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUESIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA 57197

Get in “A Viking State of Mind” and join us for Viking Days 2011. All your favorite activities are taking place on campus again this year!

MONDAY, OCT. 10

• Campus picnic and carnival: 5-7 p.m.; Coronation, 7:30 p.m.; Fireworks, 8 p.m., Elmen Center

THURSDAY, OCT. 13

• Viking Varieties: 7 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre

FRIDAY, OCT. 14

• Augustana Honor Guard Reunion: (alumni who have celebrated their 50th class reunion), begins at 9 a.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

• Thought Leader Forum: “Eliminating Blindness in Our World,” featuring Dr. John Berdahl ‘99, 11:30 a.m., Callaway’s

• Career Symposium: Alumni sharing career experiences with current students through panels and discussions

• Honor Guard Reception: 3 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

• Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet: 6 p.m., Holiday Inn City Centre

• Class reunions for classes ending in “1” and “6.” Remember to make your class reunion reservations this summer!

• Honor Guard Banquet: 6 p.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

• Augustana Orchestra with the band Kansas: 7 p.m., Washington Pavilion

• Viking Varieties: 9:15 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre

SATURDAY, OCT. 15

• 5-K Run: registration starts at 7:30 a.m.; race begins at 8:30 a.m.

• Dignitary Breakfast: 8:30-10 a.m., Our Savior’s Lutheran Church

• Parade: 10 a.m., Summit Ave. to 28th St. to Grange Ave.

• Football Game, Vikings vs. Winona State: 1 p.m., Kirkeby-Over Stadium (pre-game gathering begins at 11:30 a.m.)

• Blue & Gold Gala: 6 p.m., Ordal Dining Room, Morrison Commons

• Viking Varieties: 7 p.m. & 9:15 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre

• The Encore! All Class Reunion: 8 p.m., Tre Lounge

SUNDAY, OCT. 16

• Worship: 10:30 a.m., Elmen Center

• Viking Days Brunch: 11:30 a.m., Ordal Dining Room

• Viking Varieties: 2 p.m., Edith Mortenson Center Theatre

For more information, visit www.augie.edu/vikingdays