On November 10, Augsburg will celebrate 40 years of varsity women’s athletics and the 40th anniversary of the passage of Title IX. Lavonne (Mrs. Pete) Peterson ’50 and Joyce Pfaff ’65 will be honored at the celebration with “One of Our Own” plaques for their contributions to Augsburg College and the Athletic Department. In addition, female athletes from each decade will be recognized on All-decade Teams.

Peterson, an instructor, coach, and women’s physical education director, started the Auggiettes basketball team in 1950 and coached the team for 18 years, leading them to an incredible 154-6 record. Pfaff, an Augsburg coach, instructor, and director of women’s athletics, started several women’s teams after the passage of Title IX and served the College for 43 years.

Here we recognize just a few of the leaders and milestones in women’s athletics at Augsburg.

Pre-Title IX

1951 – The Auggiettes basketball team [pictured], coached by Lavonne Peterson

1970s

1971 – In both the floor exercise and balance beam, gymnast Ann Knutson Brovold ’74 is the first Augsburg female athlete to compete in a post-season event — an Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Region 6 tournament.

1972 – Title IX is passed June 23, 1972.

1972-73 – Women’s varsity intercollegiate volleyball, gymnastics, and tennis are founded while basketball is restarted.

1974-75 – The volleyball team places second in the Minnesota Associate for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (MAIAW) state tournament, qualifying to compete in the Region 6 AIAW tournament both years. The Auggies place fourth in the Region 6 tournament in 1974 and fifth in 1975.

1974-75 – Softball is added as a varsity sport.

1975-76 – Women’s track and field is added as a varsity sport.

1979 – The softball team places second at the MAIAW state tournament.

1979-80 – Kathy Korum ’81 [pictured] is the first woman to play and letter on a men’s varsity team (golf).

1980s

1981-82 – The softball team qualifies for its first AIAW national tournament.

1982-83 – Augsburg joins the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).

1985 – Women’s soccer is added as a varsity sport.

1988 – Under coach Paul Grauer, the women’s track and field team earns a third place National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) team finish with Carolyn Ross Isaak ’89 [pictured middle] and Melanie Herrera-Storlie ’88 [right].

1990s

1991 – Women’s cross country is reestablished as part of the varsity athletics program.

1995-96 – Augsburg established the first Midwest varsity women’s hockey team.

1999-00 – The women’s hockey team is the Division III national tournament runner-up in the American Women’s College Hockey Alliance (AWCHA).

2000s

2003-04 – Augsburg establishes the swim and dive program.

2004-07 – Women’s soccer qualifies for the MIAC playoffs

2012 – Augsburg announces that it will establish the first varsity intercollegiate women’s lacrosse program in the state of Minnesota.

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First Decade Award – Brenda Talarico

The First Decade Award is presented to Augsburg graduates of the past 10 years who have made significant progress in their professional achievements and contributions to the community, and in so doing exemplify the mission of the College: to prepare future leaders in service to the world. Graduates from the day, weekend, and graduate programs are eligible.

Brenda has always had a strong connection to Augsburg with four family members and a husband who claim Augsburg as their alma mater. After receiving her Physician Assistant certificate in 1999 from Augsburg, she received a master’s in physician assistant studies from the University of Nebraska and worked as a PA for four years before returning to Augsburg to teach full time. Here, Brenda has developed a program that introduces diverse high school students to the physician assistant profession and provides hands-on learning experiences about health and wellness.

Spirit of Augsburg Award – Jim Haglund

The Spirit of Augsburg Award honors alumni and friends of the College who have given exceptional service that contributes substantially to the well being of Augsburg by furthering its purposes and programs.

Jim Haglund has been involved with Augsburg College as a member of the Board of Regents, as a donor and long-time supporter of the College and its students, including his own daughter, Dawn, who is a 1997 graduate of Augsburg. He is the president and owner of Minneapolis-based Central Container Corporation and is co-owner of Spectrum Screen Printing. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and St. Thomas.

Distinguished Alumni Awards

The Augsburg College Board of Regents and the Augsburg Alumni Association bestow the Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of significant achievement in vocation, for outstanding contribution to church and community, and for a life that exemplifies the ideals and mission of Augsburg College.

Tove Dahl ’84 and Curt Rice ’84 [pictured above]

Despite living and working in Norway, Tove Dahl and Curt Rice have remained closely connected to and involved in the life of Augsburg College since their graduation. In addition to serving as an associate professor of psychology at the University of Troms, and as the dean of Skogfjorden, the Norwegian village of Concordia’s International Villages, Tove also sits on the board of Norway’s Centre for Peace Studies.

Curt chaired the English department at the University of Tromsø before becoming the Director of the Center for Advanced Study in Theoretical Linguistics (CASTL), which was the first Center of Excellence at the University. Curt is also the co-editor of Linguistic Inquiry and serves on the editorial boards of several linguistics journals. In January 2009 Curt became the Pro-Rector for Research and Development at the University of Tromsø.

Phebe Hanson ’50

A founding member of The Loft Literary Center, Phebe Hanson is a highly respected figure who has used her gifts as a poet and journal keeper, teacher, mentor, and innovator and generator of excellence in Minnesota’s arts community. After graduating from Augsburg in 1950, Phebe taught high school English for two years in rural Minnesota. She married John Hanson ’48 in 1953 and spent the next 12 years raising their three children and a series of foster children, teaching Sunday school, and participating in civil rights and peace organizations.

Richard Thorud ’54

Richard “Dick” Thorud, who attended Augsburg from 1952 to 1954, has achieved excellence in a variety of fields including technology, writing, and the fine arts. He was an engineer in Research and Development at Toro Co. where he conceived or developed 52 patents. Dick has been published in the technical and non-technical fields, and his photography has been exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Walker Art Center, and at the Minnesota State Fair. In 1995, Dick received a personal commendation from Gov. Arne Carlson for his contributions “to the economy and welfare of the State of Minnesota.”

Joyce Pfaff ’65

A teacher, coach, athlete, mentor, advocate, and friend to many, Joyce Pfaff has been a driving force for women’ s athletics at Augsburg her entire career. After graduating from Augsburg in 1965 with an education degree, Joyce accepted a teaching position which led to a 43-year career with the College. She was a pioneer in developing opportunities for women to participate in intercollegiate athletics, starting the first volleyball, gymnastics, tennis, softball, and track and field teams for women and re-establishing the women’s basketball team at Augsburg.

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In the company of current and emeriti faculty, members of the Board of Regents, and guests, members of the faculty were recognized for 35, 25, 20, 15, and 10 years of service at Augsburg. Faculty who received tenure and promotion were also mentioned, including Kristin Anderson, Robert Cowgill, Colin Irvine, M. Elise Marubbio, Michael Schock, and Jody Sorensen.

The faculty who received awards for Distinguished Contributions to Teaching and Learning by the Center for Teaching and Learning were introduced. Tracy Bibelnieks, associate professor of mathematics, received an award for excellence in teaching. Bibelnieks thanked her colleagues, saying “It is truly awesome to be surrounded by experience, innovation, and excellence in teaching.” She also expressed gratitude to the students she has worked with over the years who she said have fueled her passion for teaching. “…you are amazing individuals, you are amazing leaders,” she said.

Susan Nash, who has taught in the Rochester nursing program for 11 years, was awarded for mentoring and advising. Her colleagues noted that Nash advises more than 80 students and has been responsible for bringing back students who had at one time dropped out of the Rochester program. Nash thanked the Augsburg community, noting, “You don’t become a mentor by yourself.”

Dale Pederson, associate professor of biology, also received an award for mentoring and advising. After asking the Dean if this was a good time to ask for a raise, Pederson said, “The work I do is very much part of a team.” He thanked each member of the Academic Advising staff by name, as well as Dixie Shafer of the URGO program, for their support of his work with students.

Joyce Pfaff ’65, retiring associate professor of health and physical education, was acknowledged for her 43 years of teaching, coaching, and leadership with Augsburg. Dean Farley said Pfaff has always inspired her students and colleagues to “get up and move.” She has displayed a dedication beyond teaching, helping to establish a women’s athletics program at Augsburg and serving as the director of that program.

Pfaff talked about the history of women’s athletics at Augsburg, noting that women had to work hard to change attitudes and policies related to female participation in sports. She recalled the determination of athletes and coahces like Marilyn Florian (current assistant athletic director) who personally sewed uniforms for the women’s volleyball team when funding was not available to purchase them.

Pfaff spent one of her last semesters at Augsburg in China. Last fall, she and her husband taught physical education courses at the United International College in Zhuhai, China and helped UIC develop a fitness center and program for faculty and students.

To celebrate her retirement, the Augsburg community is invited to “get up and move,” joining Pfaff for a 43-mile bike ride beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 13. In the afternoon, a reception will be held in Christensen Center at 3:30 p.m., with a program beginning at 4:30 p.m.

The luncheon ended with special recognition of Vicki Olson, who has completed her term as faculty senate president, and Diane Pike, who leaves her position as director of the Center for Teaching and Learning after this semester.

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Teaching at UIC — Nov. 19

I am about half way through my teaching experience at UIC and thought this might be a good time to tell everyone a little bit about teaching Chinese college students. For the most part I find my students at UIC very similar to my students at Augsburg. It took longer for us to get to know each other but the students in my 2 fitness classes are finally beginning to open up a bit and all of us are enjoying the classes more. Some are even beginning to understand my humor and much to my surprise and excitement some are even asking what they can do outside of class to help improve their individual fitness and overall health. One gal asked me if I would have a special session for students who may have questions about nutrition. They are going to write down questions in advance and we are going to discuss them. Although I am very interested in nutrition, I am not sure I have a clue about the ingredients of most Chinese meals…but I’m willing to give it a try. It should be fun.

I am running my classes pretty much the same as I did at Augsburg but at a slower pace. Most of my students are female and my 2 classes are 22 and 24 students so they are a nice size. UIC has purchased a lot of fitness equipment so I am hoping my Chinese Teaching Assistant, Jack will be able to teach this class after I leave. For the most part I am finding the students less fit than the students in the US (if you can imagine that). Most of them are not overweight, but they have never had any instruction in what it means to be a physically fit person. Most of their physical education experience has been playing a particular sport or game.

Our time here has been going by very quickly and we continue to enjoy the experience. Doug has been coordinating the Faculty/Staff Fitness program and has 125 members who are exercising on a regular basis and seem to enjoy doing it.

We are going on a hiking adventure to the Tiger Leaping Gorge over Thanksgiving so expect to see a report on this experience in the next blog.

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In addition to teaching, the Pfaffs are setting up a fitness center for UIC staff and faculty and are organizing a “fitness challenge” between Augsburg and UIC. She writes, “The AUGGIES are in trouble since the Chinese do not like to lose. I know Carol Enke (Augsburg’s Faculty/Staff fitness coordinator) does not like to lose either so LET THE CHALLENGE BEGIN!”

The Pfaffs have been exploring the city and areas around Zhuhai. Those who know Joyce will not be surprised to learn that she and her husband are staying very active, biking around the city and hiking with a fellow Minnesotan (carrying sticks to fend off the monkeys) outside of Hong Kong.

Yesterday we ventured out to purchase new bicycles. We decided we could not live here for 4 months without wheels, so we made the big splurge. It cost us less than $100 for both of them. We had plenty of help and ended up with 2 very nice, brand new, single speed, fully loaded (basket, bell, lock and kickstand) bikes that have got to weigh 50 pounds each. We went for a 2-hour ride today and both agree that without our bikes we would never be able to see and explore many of the things our new home city of Zhuhai has to offer.

In an Oct. 12 message to her colleagues, Joyce wrote, “We begin our second week of classes today. We (Doug is my teaching assistant) have 2 Fitness classes. When I introduced Doug as my TA and also my husband all of the students laughed, so at least they understood some of what I was saying. I am working on talking slowly (not easy for me), repeating myself and using very simple terms that are easy to understand. I realized early on that I could not use words like “abdominal muscles” and need to say “stomach” instead. The students were listening very intensely but not understanding me.

The first day of classes my class list was printed in Chinese so I had no clue on how to take attendance. Luckily the only person in PE who can speak some English was free and he came in to help me take attendance. Since most of the students have English names, I was able to write those down so things should become easier. My students are actually very nice and extremely polite (as I had originally expected). There are 25 students in each class so that makes is easy.”

ABOUT UIC (from her blog)

UIC (United International College) is a 4-year liberal arts college founded jointly by Bejing Normal University and Hong Kong Baptist University. It is located in Zhuhai, China (just East of Hong Kong and North of Macau). All classes are taught in English. The school begins its fourth year in the fall of 2008 and will have approximately 3,300 students enrolled. This fall 1,200 new first-year students are expected, and they will be graduating their first class of 270 students in the spring of 2009.

At present, the majority of students come from mainland China, but the intention is to recruit more international students to realize a goal of about 50/50 (international/Chinese). The student body is approximately 60% female and 40% male. Although UIC has 13 different majors, 50% of the students are majoring in business.

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