Augustana College

4.23.13 - 2010 grad Joe Klumper is leading sixth graders as they research historical figures for Patrick Henry Middle School's second annual Wax Museum "People of the Past" event.

4.22.13 - Beth Ring, class of 1999, will join 49 other middle and high school science, technology, engineering and mathematics educators selected from across the country to participate in the 2013 Siemens STEM Institute this summer.

4.17.13 - Andrew Aspaas '01 is one of four faculty members who received the 2013 Educator of the Year Award from the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.

03.27.13 -  David Lillehaug, class of 1976, a Minneapolis attorney and former U.S. attorney for Minnesota, was appointed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday, March 26, to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Minnesota Supreme Court.

03.19.13 - Gary Addington, class of 1971, will be inducted into the Rochester Quarterbacks Club Hall of Fame on April 15, 2013, during the club's 23rd Annual Hall of Fame banquet. Addington served Rochester John Marshall, Mayo and Century as supervisor of athletics for 17 years (1987-2004). He was in charge of 23 sports, 59 teams and 80 coaches at each school.

03.19.13 - Kara Dirkson '98, owner of Artisia Fine Art Services and founder of Midwest Fine Art Exchange LLC, was featured in a Q&A for Sioux Falls Business Journal.

03.11.12 - Jim Simons, class of 1980, was recently inducted into the South Dakota Physical Therapy Association Hall of Fame. Simons currently is the Custer Regional Hospital director of rehabilitation services, and a physical therapist and orthopedic clinical specialist. Simons was recognized for his years of service and commitment to the field of physical therapy by SDPTA.

3.07.13 - Abby Berger, class of 2010, has spent the past year creating recipes and having an iPad app built to feature those creations. Berger created these recipes after she discovered how much her overall health improved with a diet free of gluten, grains, and soy. Collections of Berger’s recipes are adaptable for a wide range of additional dietary options, including Paleo, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, and low-carb. Learn more at delicion.net.

02.28.13 - Dr. Daniel Petereit, class of 1985, is the principal investigator of  the Walking Forward program which has received a grant from the National Cancer Institute to fund a first-of-its-kind research project among Northern Plains American Indians. The “American Indian mHealth Smoking Dependence Study” is one the first projects in the state to utilize mobile technology to analyze risky behaviors and promote smoking cessation. Read more.

2.24.13 - Stephanie Kruse, class of 1980 and president of KPS3, explains the secrets of her 30 years of success in PR and advertising work in Reno, NV. She's also been active in Western Industrial Nevada, the Nevada Women’s Fund, United Way and Access to Healthcare Network, and serves as a board member of High Sierra Industries. Read more.

2.20.13 - Two Augustana alumni will replace retiring Sanford Executives. Nate White, class of 2000, will succeed Becky Nelson as senior vice president and chief operation officer. Randy Bury, class of 1981, will succeed Nate White as chief operation officer for the health services division in the Sioux Falls region.

1.29.13 - Steven Wolf, class of 1976, recently published the book Comet's Tale. It’s an amazingly true story about himself and how he went from being a successful trial lawyer to losing it all due to a collapsed back AND a greyhound dog that goes from being abandoned and abused in the greyhound racing industry to being the first greyhound service dog in the United States…… and in so doing, saves a man who has hit bottom. Learn more....

1.29.13 - Joe Floyd, class of 1958, joined South Dakota Magazine on SDPB to talk about the history of his 1936 Ford Cabriolet. Listen to the show.

1.25.13 - Ryan Schuetz, who just graduated in December 2012, took the Oath of Office as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on Saturday, January 19 in the Siverson Lounge.  Ryan carefully balanced the demands of the ROTC program and Augustana coursework. Read more....

1.7.13 - Carole Joyce, class of 1983, has been chosen by Lutheran Association of Christian Educators, an independent organization recognized by the ELCA, as 2012 Educator of the Year.

1.3.13 - Steph Judson, class of 1995, is the new president of the South Dakota Community Foundation. Read more....

12.19.12 - San Jose Assistant. Police Chief Rikki Goede, class of 1985, has accepted the top job at the Piedmont Police Department. According to the San Jose Police Department, Goede is leaving after 16 years at the department to accept a conditional job offer as Piedmont police chief that begins in January. Read more...

12.10.12 - Ann Kieffer, class of 1958, has published her first whole collection of poetry. It was a collaborative effort with her son Daniel Kieffer, an artist in Raleigh, North Carolina. Although she has had some works published, as well as winning some awards and given some readings, this is the first whole book published. The book is entitled Seeing the Trees.

12.5.12 - Casey Phillips, class of 2005, is the owner of RedPrint Strategy media firm and is among the vanguard of young Republican strategists looking to steer the GOP on a path of electoral success in the 21st century. Read more....

11.27.12 - Nathan Sletten, class of 2008, was presented  with The Golden Apple award for the month of November by WHO-TV 13 and Allied Insurance on November 27. He is a band instructor at Earlham Community School in Earlham, Iowa. Sletten was nominated by four current students for the award.

11.13.12 - Dale Nothdurft, class of 1991, and his brother Dan Nothdurt had their business recognized by Tire Business magazine. Tires Tires Tires of Sioux Falls received a national humanitarian award for its contributions to a program that provides vehicles to families in need of transportation and to another effort to support troops and their families.

11.13.12 - Sioux Falls Business Magazine recently took a peek inside Nyberg Ace hardware store to see how this family owned business has grown over the last 55 years in Sioux Falls. Kevin Nyberg, class of 1979, and his sister Marin (Nyberg) Huber, class of 1989, take a unique and fun approach to advertising their family business. Read more....

11.4.12 - Dr. David Olson, a medical researcher at the University of Alberta and class of 1971, heads an international team that has received $1 million to develop a drug to prevent preterm births. Read more.

10.23.12 - Dr. Loren Tschetter, class of 1964, has received the National Cancer Institute’s 2012 Harry Hynes Award. This prestigious honor recognizes excellence in research within the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) Network, a network for testing and validating medical interventions against cancer and for delivering the benefits of scientific discovery to the public and community physicians.

10.20.12 - The five-year-old Bay Gelding Coconino Slim, owned by Catherine (Carpender) DeCourcy, class of 1966, won the cash prize and bragging rights to this year’s Minnesota Classic Championship. Read more.

10.20.12 - Dr. Robert C. Steensma, professor emeritus of English at the University of Utah and National Advisory Council member for Augustana's Center for Western Studies, is the co-designer of the new Lutheran monument on the Walk of Pioneer Faiths in Salt Lake City's This Is the Place Park.

10.20.12 - For 19 years, Lee Tallakson, class of 1959, has been part of the Minnesota Boys State volunteer staff. This year was highlighted by the presence of his grandson Adam Anderson, who was recently elected mayor of Rochester. Tallakson was included in an article from the Marshall Independent newspaper about family traditions at Boys State. Read more.

10.16.12 - Dr. Keith Jamtgaard, class of 1972, is a research associate and professor in the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA) at the University of Missouri. In 1973, Keith joined the Peace Corp and left South Dakota for Guayaquil, Ecuador. He taught Fortran, a scientific computing language, to students. Read more.

10.10.12 - Stephani (Schmidt) Long, class of 1986, was named one of Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultants in the nation for 2012. She received the honor at a ceremony in June in New York City. As principal with Deloitte Consulting in Sacramento, Calif., Long works with clients in state government, including the California Department of Health Services. Long lives with her husband, Ken, and their three sons in El Dorado Hills, Calif. She is the daughter of Augustana alumni Alan Schmidt ’56 and Clara (Schwemle) Schmidt ’58, also of El Dorado Hills. Read more.

09.26.12 - Dr. Gordon Iseminger, class of 1959, has taught at UND for half a century. He is the longest serving professor on campus and exceeds the tenure of the other longtime professors by a decade or so. With more than 100 semesters under his belt, he has no intention of retiring soon.

09.04.12 - Mark Buyck, class of 2012, prefers small town life and has found a fit in Redwood Falls, Minn. He is teaching fourth-graders at Reede Gray Elementary School this year. Read more.

09.05.12 - Lynae Fisher, class of 2012, was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force on Wednesday, Sept. 5. She became Augustana's first Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program graduate to be commissioned as an Air Force officer.

09.01.12 - Sarah Mismash, class of 2001, will be inducted into the Elk River High School Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 28. Sarah also ran at Augustana College and helped set a 4-by-400 record (3:48.25) that still stands. She is currently a life science teacher and track coach at Camden Hills Regional High School in Maine.

08.27.12 - Paul Mohrman, class of 1972, gave $250,000 in support of Augustana's new science center project. The “Paul Mohrman Family Lab” inside the new facility will focus on ecological research, an initiative alumnus Paul and his wife, Julie, hold close to their hearts.

08.22.12 - Dave Medema, class of 2006, and wife, Cassie Medema, are co-owners of Funky Fresh, which is designing new Sioux Falls park logos and printing on shirts, sweatshirts and prints.

08.22.12 - Becky Moen, class of 1994, was the first intern in Sioux Falls Canaries history. Her book “Down and Inside: The Mostly True Story of a Girl’s Life in the Minors” is a 130-page story that gives a behind-the-scenes look at what it was like being part of a fledgling minor league team from a wide-eyed young woman’s point of view.

08.21.12 - Hannah Miller, class of 2012, and Augustana College President Rob Oliver spoke at the second annual TEDxSiouxFalls on Saturday, August 25.

08.20.12 - Dana (Nielsen) Honner, class of 1993, is being inducted into the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. She was previously inducted into the Augustana Hall of Fame.

08.17.12 - Verna Berg '51, longtime secretary to various Augustana College presidents, died Friday, Aug.10, in Milbank, S.D. She was 82.

08.07.12 - Heidi Meyer, class of 1994, stepped into the role of assistant principal of Prairie Elementary in Worthington, Minn., on Aug. 6. With an undergraduate degree in English and special education, she has been serving as an elementary teacher specializing in emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in District 518 since December 1994. 

08.07.12 - Larry Borgum ‘61, a longtime and beloved Athletics and Financial Aid official for Augustana, died on Monday, Aug. 6, in Sioux Falls. He was 73.

08.06.12 - Megan Erspamer, class of 2012, spent two weeks in July volunteering to help athletes from the United States prepare for participation in the Olympics. She remained in Great Britain to to attend some events in person. The Argus Leader interviewed her regarding her experiences at the Olympics.

08.03.12 - Steven Grell, class of 1973, was recently appointed to the Foundation board of directors for Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI), one of Iowa's largest human services agencies.

07.31.12 - Jim Sorensen, class of 1966, was named the national golf coach of the year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. The award was presented July 25 at the NHSACA national convention in Fargo, N.D.

07.11.12 - For Rachel Kloos, class of 1999, her passion for environmental issues - especially water cleanliness and conservation - was instilled as a young kid growing up in southern California. Her career was recently highlighted in Poet's Vital Magazine Online.

07.06.12 - Steve Carmany, class of 1982, celebrates his 25th anniversary as a Pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

06.21.12 - H. Eugene Hoyme, MD, class of 1972, has received the 2012 Excellence Award from the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS). He currently serves as the chief academic officer for Sanford Health and president of Sanford Research.

06.12.12 - Bridget Beck, class of 2000, was the featured artist on www.local-artist-interviews.com. She is Franconia Sculpture Park's Resident Artist and writes the Franconia Blog.

06.10.12 - Dave Wolter, class of 2004, won the top prize in the animation category at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ 39th Annual Student Academy Awards in Beverly Hills on Saturday June 9, 2012. He won for his short animated film, “Eyrie,” which he made in 2011  during his second year as a character animation student at California Institute of the Arts in Valencia.

06.08.12 - Dr. Jarret Brachman, former CIA Analyst and Augustana class of 2000 alumnus, was featured in the June 5 broadcast of PRI's "The World." Brachman will be a featured speaker at the Augustana Thought Leader Forum in Sioux Falls on March 7, 2013.

06.04.12 - Hannah Miller, class of 2012, was featured in an article by the Argus Leader in on June 4. On August 8th, Hannah will begin her career as a teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School in Sioux Falls.

05.14.12 - Retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Lyle Bien, class of 1967, will speak at this year's commencement ceremonies. After a 31-year career in the military, Bien currently serves as a satellite industry consultant for clients such as Inmarsat of London, Northrop Grumman in Los Angeles and the Missile Defense Agency in Washington, D.C.  The College will confer an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters to alumnus Lyle Bien.

05.10.12 - Greg Guse, class of 1975 and president of Paulsen Marketing, is the 2012 National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) Marketer of the Year, the industry’s highest honor. The award honors outstanding accomplishments in the field of agri-marketing to individuals who offer outstanding contributions to their clients, colleagues and the industry as a whole.

04.30.12 - Lisa (Hoegh) Lunning, class of 2009, has been named the new head volleyball coach at Lincoln High School in Sioux Falls. She will also be teaching 4th grade at Pettigrew elementary in the fall.

04.23.12 - Candace Ruckdashel, class of 1977 and a gifted and talented teacher at Highland Elementary School in Apple Valley, MN, was the recipient of their Outstanding Service Award. She comes from a long line of educators that includes her grandparents, parents, siblings - all of whom graduated from Augustana College.

04.21.12 - Captain Diane Diekman, class of 1972, uses her 32 years of leadership experience in the Navy to start a businesses, write books, and raise 2 teens - all while enjoying her retirement.

04.23.12 - Nate Alfson, who will be graduating this May, was featured in the Dell Rapids Tribune as the new baseball coach for Dell Rapids High School. He is originally from Pipestone, MN.

04.17.12 - Steven Stofferahn, class of 1993, received the Community-Based Learning and Scholarship Award during Indiana State University's annual Faculty Recognition Banquet on April 17, 2012. Steven is an associate professor of history at Indiana State University.

04.13.12 - Rev. Ann Rosendale '04 has been named a campus pastor at Augustana. She will begin her new role with Rev. Dr. Paul Rohde in ministry to the Augustana community on Monday, April 16.

04.11.12 - Nora Johnson, class of 2005 and doctoral student at the University of Kansas, was selected by the US Dept of Energy's Office of Science to attend the 62nd Lindau Meeting of Nobel Laureates in Lindau, Germany. The meeting is dedicated to physics. Nora has been doing research in atomic, molecular and optical physics, specifically studying the reaction dynamics of intense laser light interacting with atoms and molecules.

04.10.12 - Dr. Theo Davidson, class of 2008, and Dr. Josh Schroeder have opened Bridges Chiropractic in Sioux Falls. The unique athletic training environment at Bridges Chiropractic focuses on the running community.

04.10.12 - Dr. Jeff Oakland, class of 2002, was featured in the latest issue of Sioux Falls Woman. Dr. Oakland has brought his passion for the importance of vision therapy to Dakota Vision Center in Sioux Falls where he is helping children who suffer reading difficulties, lack of concentration, and/or developmental delays.

04.03.12 - Jill Bormann, class of 1976 and head of the Department of Nursing and Patient Care at the VA Medical Center in San Diego, has demonstrated an effective combination of using Mantram Repetition along with traditional therapy to treat veterans suffering from PTSD. She has now been granted a million dollars to explore using the Mantram Repetition technique in other VA centers around the country.

03.30.12 - Terryl Cadwell, Augustana class of 1975 and former chief probation officer for U.S. Probation / Pretrial Services, and Jaciel Keltgen, assistant professor of business administration, were honored on Thursday, March 29, at the 2012 Sioux Falls YWCA Tribute to Women Awards.

03.28.12 - Julie Ailts, class of 2010, is fulfilling her childhood dream of teaching first grade. Ailts has returned to her hometown of Worthington, MN and is teaching alongside the same teacher who inspired her many years ago.

03.21.11 - In an article for the Sentinel Tribune, Lee and Phyllis Bakken, both of class of 1964, take a stroll down memory lane as they recall their wedding day on their 50th anniversary. Unlike most weddings today theirs took less than three months to plan!

03.14.12 - Kendra Gottsleben's life is defined by her positive outlook and success in overcoming obstacles, not MPS - the rare genetic condition she was born with. A 2010 Augustana graduate, Kendra works as a special projects coordinator within the Center for Disabilities at the Sanford School of Medicine. Her first book, "Live, Laugh, Lemonade: A Journey of Choosing to Beat the Odds." is currently at the printer.

03.14.12 - Six alumni and one Augustana professor have been nominated for the Sioux Falls YWCA Tribute to Women Awards, honors that recognize local women who have made exemplary contributions in the workplace and in the community.

03.04.12 - Dane Yde, class of 2008, is going the extra mile to make his brother's dream a reality. When Dane's younger brother Jorgen died of leukemia last year, his wish was to create a foundation that would ease others' pain in times of crisis. Now Dane is the CEO of the JY6 Foundation - formed to raise money for pediatric cancer research.

02.25.12 - Pete Sterbick, class of 2003, was recently named Head Football Coach for the Bulldogs of McPherson College. Sterbick has spent the last four seasons as the offensive coordinator at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.


02.24.12 - Andrew Pole, class of 1994, had just started working as a statistician for Target in 2002 when he was tasked with identifying those unique moments in consumers’ lives when their shopping habits become flexible and the right advertisement or coupon could prompt them to spend in new ways. His work is featured in the New York Times Magazine.

02.22.12 - Jeremy Aylward, class of 2007, will be among 70 American Heart Association volunteers invited to a White House “Community Leaders Briefing” on cardiovascular health on Friday, Feb. 24, as part of American Heart Month.

2.20.12 - Sam Wang '64, recipient of the Individual Award, will be recognized and awarded the Elizabeth O'Neil Verner Governor's Award for the Arts at a ceremony on May 3. The award recognizes  outstanding achievement and contributions to the arts in South Carolina.  It is the highest honor the state gives in the arts.

02.17.2012 - Phillip Bruns, Augustana class of 1953, died on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Bruns starred with legendary actor Jackie Gleason on “American Scene Magazine;” played the unforgettable dad, George Shumway, on TV's “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman;” and made more than 40 feature films.

2.14.12 - Rev. Lissa Kahl '94 and her husband Rev. Dan Kahl will be installed as new pastors at the Redeemer  Lutheran Church in Waverly, Iowa.

02.13.2012 - Following an internship in the White House, Dirk Tedmon, a Communications and Government/International Affairs major who graduated at semester of this year, was recently named an analyst for the Office of Presidential Correspondence.

02.06.12 - Ian Malloy, class of 2010, has been recently published in the International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science. His project was funded by NASA and advised by the late Dr. Daniel Swets.

1.30.12 - Lindsey (Schultz) Booth's, class of 2008, created an innovative lesson plan on fiscal responsibility for her 4th and 5th graders at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Prior Lake, MN. Booth's Bucks was featured on KARE 11 news in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.

01.24.12 - Rick Skatula, class of 1979, principal of Southridge Elementary School, was selected as Wyoming’s 2012 National Distinguished Principal.

01.20.12 - Brent Loken, class of 1994, has rediscovered Miller's grizzled langur, a primate many suggested was extinct or on the verge of extinction. Brent Loken is currently a Ph.D. student at Simon Fraser University in Canada.

01.17.12 - Regan Tekavec is the new Assistant Athletic Director at Concordia University.

Augustana College has an opening for the Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations.

1.6.12 - An interview with Les Svendsen, class of 1964, is featured in the Argus Leader in honor of his 43 years of ministry at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls.

12.31.11 - Joey Ryan, class of 2007, and his group Joey Ryan & The Inks' record "Dennis Lane" was the #1 Minnesota release of 2011.

12.19.11 - Dr. Pamela Homan, class of 1981, and Kathy Walsh were recently elected to the Augustana Board of Trustees following the Augustana College Association's annual meeting.

12.14.2011 - Former Augustana baseball standouts Nate Baumann '11 and Drew Heithoff '11 have signed with the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League.

12.5.2011 - Kyle Pederson '93 wrote new piano arrangements for Christmas carols -- a new solo piano album of classic Christmas hymns arranged in ways never heard before. The recording is titled 12.25.

12.2.2011 - Denise (Malewicki) Nelson '81 was one of 50 area artists who took part in the juried art exhibit on guardian angels in the Prairie Center on the Avera Mckennan Campus. Nelson's mixed media artwork depicted a figure with arms raised and angel's wings floating over a landscape in the "Guardian Angel: A Devotion."

12.2.2011 - Eastbank Art Gallery is featuring artwork from Carl Grupp '61 on exhibit from Nov 29 - Dec 31.

12.2.2011 - Dr. Clark Scovel '89, a Tennessee anesthesiologist and avid rock and mineral collector who grew up in Rapid City, donated a rare mineral collection to South Dakota School of Mines & Technology's Museum of Geology in August 2011, with his fellow collector, Dr. Stephen Neeley.

12.2.2011 - President emeritus of the Association of American Universities and long-time chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, Bob Berdahl '59, discussed "The Future of U.S. Higher Education" at the Augustana Thought Leader Forum on Thursday, December 1, 2011.

12.01.11 - Matt Moen '80 was recently named to the South Dakota Humanities Council Board of Directors.

11.26.2011 - Mark Ekeland '73, baseball coach, will be inducted into the SD Sports Hall of Fame on April 14, 2012.

11.17.2011 - Gov. Dennis Daugaard recently announced the appointment of Craig A. Pfeifle of Rapid City  to serve as a circuit court judge in South Dakota’s Seventh Circuit Court.

11.1.2011 - Becky Pittenger '81, children's librarian at the Yankton Community Library, was named the South Dakota Library Association's New Librarian of the Year at their annual conference in October.

11.7.2011 - Alyssa Nance '08 stars as Gretel in Opera Omaha's production of Hansel and Gretel.

11.1.2011 - Lee Schoenbeck, class of 1980, is the new outdoors columnist for South Dakota Magazine. They interviewed him in their Take 5 feature.

11.1.2011 - Caryn D. Riswold '93, an associate professor of religion at Illinois College, has been elected to a four-year term on the Lilly Fellows Program National Network Board. The Lilly Fellows Program is based at Valparaiso University in northwest Indiana, and their goal is to strengthen the quality and shape the character of church-related institutions of higher learning in 21st century.

10.24.2011 - Marcella Slater, class of 2009, is the featured artist of the month for November at the Lakeside Artisans Cooperative gallery in Oswego, New York..

11.01.11 - David Jahner, class of 1988, was the recipient of the Florence Steiner Award for Leadership in Foreign Language Education, K-12, the nation’s highest honor in that subject area.

10.27.2011 - Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. John E. Anderson, class of 2004, recently discussed his book, "Jacob and the Divine Trickster: A Theology of Deception and YHWH's Fidelity to the Ancestral Promise in the Jacob Cycle," and reflected on his experiences at Augustana, in an interview with The Daily Republic.

10.14.2011 - During Viking Days, Dr. John Berdahl, class of '99, received the Horizon Award for his great accomplishments in the ophthalmology field so early in his career. Dr. Berdahl shared those accomplishments during the Thought Leader Forum last Friday.

10.14.2011 - Carrie Ammermann's '04 exhibit, "Talking to the Masses," featuring graphic design and advertising works will be on display at Augustana's Eide/Dalrymple Gallery from Friday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Nov. 12.

10.02.2011 - Long time Augustana staff member Brad Heegel, class of 1976, recently began his new position as Coordinator for Arts Development and Marketing. This Q&A with the Sioux Falls Argus Leader gives insight into Brad's years at Augustana.

09.29.2011 - Bethany Jochim, class of 2011, was one of two students who received the LeRoy Apker Award from the American Physical Society.

09.18.2011 - Mark Aspaas, class of 1971, recently was awarded the President's Medal for Distinguished Service by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards for his service to the council and its mission to protect the public's health, safety and welfare.

09.01.2011 - Dave and Jodi Gubbrud, both class of 1989, and their hectic schedule were recently featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The article details how Dave juggles family life with his career as an E.R. doctor and assistant football coach.

08.25.2011 - Kathleen (Abel) Stauffer, Augustana class of 1969, recently published her third book, "All the Rivers Run Into the Sea," published by WestBow. It is a story of love, mystery, and inspiration.

08.25.2011 - Josh Aberson, Augustana class of 2006, will be opening a coworking space this September on Phillips Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls.

08.22.2011 - Dr. Greg Handel, a 1991 graduate of Augustana College, was awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award for the College of Arts, Letters, Research and Graduate Studies at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA.

08.21.2011 - Marie (Craft) Barber, Augustana class of 1969, has been appointed executive director of extended education and outreach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

08.18.2011 - Jill Bormann, Augustana class of 1976, has spent the last eleven years conducting research on “Mantram Repetition” at the San Diego VA in San Diego, Calif. She recently received three major awards for research projects, and she will serve as the Principal Investigator for all three.

08.17.2011 - Mary Hart, '72, was named the national spokesperson for the Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Initiative at a press conference at the Sanford Center in Sioux Falls.

07.31.2011 - Steve Olson, a 1998 Augustana graduate, is the new band director for Pipestone Area Schools. He knows the tradition and history of the local high school band program as well as only a former member of the band could.

07.25.2011 - (Argus Leader) Mike Billeter, Augustana class of 2008, is moving soon to Springfield, Mo., and is using social media to promote himself for employment. One of his websites' addresses simply is hiremikebilleter.com.

07.21.2011 - Pastor Christopher Zuraff, '07, answered the call from Clarkfield Lutheran, a 126-year-old church in Clarkfield, Minn. this June and is ready to serve its nearly 600 parishioners.

07.20.2011 - Pam Peterson-Korn, class of 1976, was recently named School Social Worker of the Year by the Washington Association of School Social Workers (WASSW). School Social Worker of the Year is an honor given to those who are outstanding in their field and recognized by their peers and colleagues.

07.18.2011 - (Argus Leader) Kendra Gottsleben, a 2010 graduate, says her life is defined by her positive outlook and success in overcoming obstacles, not MPS - a rare genetic condition she was born with. Gottsleben works as a special projects coordinator for the Center for Disabilities at the Sanford School of Medicine.

06.20.2011 - Arlen and Barb Selland (Class of '57) were honored on Sunday, June 5th, with the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the 18-Wheel Truck Promotions, LLC., one of the promoters of Wheel Jam. Thirty-five years ago, Barb and Arlan Selland bought out a Letcher trucker and started a trucking business. They now have 20 trucks and haul from coast to coast.


05.27.2011 - Jessica Carter (Class of '07) of Sioux Falls, S.D., has joined Buffalo County Community Partners as community coalition coordinator. The position’s focus is combating substance abuse in Buffalo County. “I look forward to working with community members to reduce the occurrence of underage drinking and substance abuse,” Carter said.

05.26.2011 - Joe Clark (class of '11) is playing professional football in Germany. The former all-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference halfback has been playing for the Marburg Mercenaries of the German Football League, regarded as one of the two top leagues in Europe. Clark, who is based in Marburg, Germany, has been there the last six weeks.

05.10.2011 - Thomas J. Erickson (class of 1984), vice president, Government and Industry Affairs for Bunge North America and a 1987 graduate of the USD School of Law, was the keynote speaker for the University of South Dakota School of Law hooding ceremony.

05.05.2011 - Sandra Dowie (class of '09) was named The Lakeside Artisans’ Featured Artist of the Month. Sandra and her daughter, Marcella Slater (class of '09) have been creating art together for years. "(They) make a vibrant and artistically knowledgeable team. Both are graduates of Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, majoring in Visual Arts."


05.04.2011 - Paul (class of '72) and Barb Halstenson, longtime members of the Augustana Athletic Club, are the recipients of the Noel Olson Volunteer of the Year Award, given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.


04.29.2011 - On Friday, May 6, Augustana College alumnus Dr. Matthew L. Leininger, class of 1995, will be the featured speaker at the The John A. Froemke Chemistry Lecture Series. Leininger is the Deputy for Advanced Technology Projects at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

04.28.2011 - Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC is pleased to announce it has elected Sara (Thalacker) Turner, Augustana class of 1999, a new shareholder in its Birmingham, Ala. office.


04.21.2011 - Mary (Krogness) LeBeck, class of 1975, was recently nominated by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the Board of Nursing for the State of Texas. Her nomination was approved earlier this month.

04.15.2011 - Wade Helleson, class of 1998, was notified in October 2010 that he was the recipient of the 2011 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. Earlier this month, he received his award at the 2011 Milken Educator Forum in Los Angeles, CA.

04.12.2011 - Beth Ring, class of 1999, recently received the 2011 Medtronic Science Teaching Award. Given by the Minnesota Science Teachers Association, this award recognizes the "best science teacher in Minnesota."

04.11.2011 - Cheryl Leuning, class of 1972, was recently honored at Augsburg College, receiving the 2011 Distinguished Teaching and Learning Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising.

04.11.2011 - Kyle Jordre, class of 1991, recently donated a very large piece of his own artwork to the Augustana College art collection.

04.10.2011 - Corey Camp, a 1994 graduate of Augustana, is the new Augustana Director of the Augustana Fund and Annual Giving. His new venture was recently featured in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

04.07.2011 - Sonja (Dean) Ferrell, class of 1999, has been named the Ottumwa Public Library’s director in Ottumwa, Iowa. Ferrell formerly worked for U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., at his Washington, D.C., office.

03.25.11 - Janet (Ratliff) Johnson, class of 1969, recently received recognition as a 2010 Distinguished Researcher and Scholar for the College of General Studies at South Dakota State University.

03.24.11 - Andrew Kightlinger, class of 2008, will hold the world premiere of his film You Don't Know Bertha Constantine on Friday, April 15, at the Pavilion, presented by Reel Dakota Film Society.

03.21.11 - In July 2010, Odera Odenyo visited the Augustana campus while finishing his father's memoirs. Odenyo's father Amos Otieno Odenyo attended Augustana from 1961-1965. See the video of Odera's research while on the Augustana campus.

03.21.11 - Amy Stoller Stearns, class of 1989, recently received the Sally Award for Arts Access from the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN.

03.21.11 - Two former Augustana student-athletes Jenny Hill, class of 2001, and Gary Walz, class of 2006, have recently opened an indoor facility for players of all ages.

03.17.2011 - Gary Thalhuber, class of 1974, was recently named to the board of directors for Mutual Trust Financial Group in Oak Brook, IL.

03.14.11 - Melanie (Riddle) Gellhaus and Beth (Hayward) Nelsen, both class of 1979, were recently named among the top 100 Great Iowa Nurses for 2011.

03.12.11 - Betsy Homan, class of 2007, recently found a career in the nonprofit sector at the HelpLine Center in Sioux Falls - the same organization she volunteered at as a Brandon Valley High School student.

03.01.11 - Mandy Sieck-Vavreck, class of 2009, was inspired to open her own bakery for dogs after a search for healthy treats for her long-haired mini dachshund left her empty-handed. 

02.26.11 - Charles D. Lein, class of 1963, recently reigned over festivities of the 59th annual Krewe of Troubadours Ball and Pageant in Lafayette, LA.

01.04.2011 - Nikki (Johannsen) Edwards, '75, recently received the 2010 Care Provider's of Minnesota Adult Volunteer of the Year Award. The award is given to one outstanding volunteer from one of over 500 Care Provider's facilities across Minnesota.

03.07.13 - Abby Berger, class of 2010, has spent the past year creating  recipes and having an iPad app built to feature her creations. Abby Berger created these recipes after she discovered how much her overall health improved with a diet free of gluten, grains, and soy. Abby’s recipes are adaptable for a wide range of dietary options, including gluten free, Paleo, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, and low-carb. You can learn more at http://delicion.net/.