Like the rest of our community here in the Twin Cities, Augsburg College and the Alumni Association were saddened to see this week’s devastating announcement about layoffs at Target corporate headquarters. News like this is especially painful when we know that Auggies were affected.

Regardless of your employment status, your alma mater is here to support you through education, mentorship, Auggie connections, and campus events. If you’re looking to further your education, Augsburg Admissions has put together a comprehensive package to support your next steps.

Augsburg College would like to extend its Partnership Grant program discounts to those affected by the recent workforce reduction at Target.

The Partnership discount of $50 per undergraduate credit and $80 per graduate credit will continue to apply to all previous Target employees if they newly enroll in an adult undergraduate or graduate program at Augsburg College in the summer or fall 2015 term.

Additionally, Augsburg has created a new alumni discount of $50 per undergraduate credit and $80 per graduate credit. To receive the alumni discount, a student must have earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree from Augsburg College. Alumni who newly enroll in further studies at Augsburg College will be able to receive this discount. The discount does not apply to CEU credits or workshops.

For maximum affordability, the alumni discount is stackable with one other discount! The alumni discount can be stacked with the military discount, the AmeriCorps/Lutheran Corps discount, or the Augsburg Partnership Grant.

For example, if you are an Augsburg alumna or alumnus that has been newly admitted into a graduate program and your Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant program has been extended for the summer and fall terms, your two discounts may be stacked. Alumni Discount $80/credit + Partnership Grant Discount $80/credit = Total Discount $160/ credit.

Business-Related Programs

Augsburg College offers an and that can be completed in two years and are conveniently scheduled for working adults. A certificate can be earned in Leadership with the completion of three courses in the program. In the adult undergraduate program, among the most popular business majors are accounting, finance, business administration/economics, and management.

Strommen Center for Meaningful Work

The doors of the are open to all Augsburg students and graduates—connect with other Auggies in your field, find a mentor, or prepare for a job search or graduate school.

Strommen Executive Speaker Series

Join campus events dedicated to sharing leadership experience with alumni and students. On Thursday, April 9, at 5 p.m., Augsburg College welcomes , CEO & President of the Wilder Foundation to Sateren Auditorium. This series is an enriching opportunity for the entire campus community. .

* The Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant is not exclusive to Augsburg alumni—please share this information with any friends and colleagues affected by the most recent news.

For more information about the Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant, please visit or call 612-330-1101.

The post Target – Augsburg Partnership Grant Extended for Summer and Fall Terms 2015 appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

On Jan. 22, Diana Pierce MAL ’15  hosted alumni and current students of the Master of Arts in Leadership and Physician Assistant programs in a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the MAL course on Nicaragua on Jan. 22. A student, KARE-11 news anchor, and 2014 Nicaragua trip participant, Pierce welcomed Juan Carlos Lopez, program coordinator for the Center for Global Education and Experience in Nicaragua, and a longtime trip facilitator. The event raised more than $1,000 to benefit NIca HOPE, a nonprofit, based in Managua, that works with communities in Managua to offer long-term solutions to entrenched poverty through education and practical skills training.

The post MAL in Nicaragua: 10 Years of Leadership and Learning appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.

She continued running throughout high school, where she turned in four All-State performances in cross-country and seven All-State performances in track and field. She is the only Oregonian to have won state titles as a high school prep athlete in the 1,500-meter and the 3,000-meter events for three consecutive years. As a college student at the University of Iowa, she was a four-time NCAA Division I All-American and two-time Big Ten Champion. She still holds the school record for the 1,500-meter run (4:17:41).

Though she says it took a few years to move beyond the joy of competition and actually fall in love with the sport, she is now busy making a career of it.

In 2008 she joined Team USA Minnesota, a post-collegiate distance training center that encourages holistic development—that is, in both running and outside interests. This allows her to run professionally while developing strong roots for her future by getting experience as an assistant coach at Augsburg, continuing her education, and working a few hours a week at a pet hospital.

Through Team USA Minnesota, Peyton has competed in numerous running events, representing the U.S. at international events, such as Chiba Ekiden in Japan, and Edinburgh International Cross Country Challenge in Scotland, and even earning a spot to compete in the 2012 USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon.

In 2013, she won the U.S. 20K Championship, which she says was “amazing.” Also, it got her one step closer to achieving her goal of competing in the 2016 Olympics, as well as qualifying to race at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

Peyton has a “trickle-down” theory about encouraging “elite runners” to participate in a variety of marathons (not just elite races). Doing so would inspire sub-elite runners to attain even higher levels of excellence, enrich participation by attracting additional runners who may not otherwise participate, and enhance interest in the sport among participants and spectators alike.

In addition to earning her MA in Leadership at Augsburg, Peyton has been serving as the College’s head men’s and women’s cross country coach and assistant track coach. Augsburg, she says, has opened her eyes in many ways. Before coming to Augsburg, her running pursuits tended to be done primarily for herself, whereas her Augsburg experience has shown her the joy of serving others and becoming a more thoughtful steward and responsible leader. She wants to continue to make a difference in the lives of future Auggie alumni.

Recently, Peyton’s mother in Tennessee challenged herself to a consistent exercise plan, beginning with 15-20 minutes of walking each day. Peyton called her daily to support her, sometimes pushing back at comments like, “No, I didn’t run today; it was raining.” Eventually, however, the answers were, “Yes, and I made it further today,” and she was running three hours at a time. Within the year and a few months shy of her 50th birthday, she was training for the Knoxville Marathon, and just last November, completed the New York City Marathon, a race that Peyton is determined to run someday as well.

Peyton and her high school sweetheart, Cole Peyton, were married in 2010 and live in Richfield with their pets. In addition to running, they enjoy reading, golf, scuba diving, and world travel. You can “track” her successes and find her personal best records at www.meghanpeyton.com.

— Cheryl Crockett

The post Running the Good Race appeared first on Alumni, Parents, and Friends.