(MINNEAPOLIS) — U.S. Representative Martin Olav Sabo ‘59, who passed away at age 78 on March 13, 2016, was a lifelong public servant who exemplified the progressive approach and personal integrity that were modeled in his Lutheran upbringing and education.

His commitment to public service will leave a lasting legacy at Augsburg College through his work to create and guide the , the Sabo Scholars program, and the annual Sabo Symposium. 

One year after graduating cum laude from Augsburg College, at age 22, Sabo was elected to serve in the Minnesota House of Representatives. During Sabo’s tenure in the Minnesota Legislature, he became the first member of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor party to serve as Speaker of the House, a post he held from 1973-78. He went on to serve for 28 years as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, retiring in 2007.

At the same time that Sabo served in Congress, he volunteered 12 years to Augsburg College as a member of the Board of Regents. He was named an Augsburg Distinguished Alumnus and received the first honorary degree ever conferred by the College.

Sabo and his wife, Sylvia, guided Augsburg in the creation of the Martin Olav Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship. The goals of the Center are to create opportunities for civic experiences and skill-building—inside and outside the classroom—for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members—and to carry forward the Sabos’ and the College’s important commitment to public service.

“The creation of the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship gives Augsburg the ongoing opportunity to celebrate the life and work of our dear friend and distinguished alumnus,” said President Paul C. Pribbenow.

“Congressman Sabo’s life-long commitment to public service is an inspiration to all of us. As we live out our mission and vision here at Augsburg, we, of course, are deeply engaged in helping our students to understand the electoral political process, which Congressman Sabo so ably served.”

Congressman Sabo and Sylvia Sabo are parents of Auggies Karin Mantor ‘86 and Julie Sabo ‘90. 

Sabo was distinguished in all he undertook, and in 2006 was appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for outstanding work and dedication to Norwegian-American relations.

Learn about the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship at .

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Harry Boyte

Read, “” on the Huffington Post website.

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In the article, Boyte says that Augsburg College is a school that has gotten it right.

“The Augsburg special education program, dedicated to changing the entire special education profession from an approach which seeks to fix “problem kids” to an empowering pedagogy called Public Achievement which develops their public skills, is an outstanding example,” Boyte wrote in the article.

Read on the Huffington Post news site.

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Harry Boyte

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On Monday, Brian Noy and Mary Laurel True of Augsburg’s Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning sat down and started brainstorming about ways to help—because that is what Auggies do.

“Actually,” True said, “President Pribbenow called and asked what we were going to do for North Minneapolis.” The two decided to organize clean-up groups to go to the area Wednesday and Thursday afternoon (see details below).

The Sabo Center is coordinating two clean-up trips to North Minneapolis, sandwich making on campus, and a donation collection. Noy says they are hoping to find a location to serve meals in the evenings as well. .

Ann Garvey, vice president of student affairs, reported that there are 66 students whose permanent address is in the affected zip codes, and several faculty and staff also live in North Minneapolis. Garvey offered to let displaced residents stay in the on-campus housing if needed.

For more information, “Like” the Campus Kitchen at Augsburg College Facebook page and read the Augsburg Daily A-mail for updates.

Ways to pitch in – UPDATED

Donation drive

Week of May 23

Bring donations of canned food, bottled water, diapers, blankets, clothes, and other household items to the Christensen Center welcome desk

1,000 peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making

Wednesday, May 25 10 a.m.-12 noon

Marshall Room, Christensen Center

Storm clean-up

Wednesday, May 25 12-4 p.m.

Meet in Christensen Center lobby

Storm clean-up

Thursday, May 26 12-4 p.m.

Meet in Christensen Center lobby

Neighborhood check-in

Door-to-door to check in on residents to gather information on service needs

Friday, May 27 12-4 p.m.

Meet in Christensen Center lobby

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Augsburg is grateful to the Strommen family for establishing the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work that will recognize Mr. and Mrs. Strommen’s personal commitment to creating meaning and purpose in work and life. The career services/internship programs currently provided through the Center for Service, Work, and Learning will be moved to the Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work. This change will provide greater visibility for these programs and enhanced services to undergraduate and graduate students.

The Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work will initially have three components:

1) The Clair and Gladys Strommen Internship and Career Center directed by Lois Olson. Heidi Lender, Sandy Tilton, and Erin Koolen will join Lois in this work. This Center will engage students in connecting academic learning with the exploration of vocation and career development.

2) The Clair and Gladys Strommen Faculty Fellow will build curricular offerings in the marketing area, and will collaborate with the Internship and Career Center and other College Centers to maximize synergies, effectiveness, and public outreach. David Schwain, assistant professor of business administration/marketing has accepted an appointment from the Dean of the College to serve in this role.

3) The Clair and Gladys Strommen Executive Leader Speakers Series will strengthen affiliations between the College and Twin Cities business community

The service-learning and community engagement programs provided through the Center for Service, Work, and Learning will be moved to the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning under the direction of Mary Laurel True. Kristin Farrell and Brian Noy will report to Mary in their respective roles with the Bonner Leaders Program and the Campus Kitchen program and community garden.

Other programs that have been named under the expanded umbrella of the Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning are:

— The Center for Democracy and Citizenship, Nan Skelton and Harry Boyte, co-directors and Elaine Eschenbacher, associate director

— Minnesota Urban Debate League, Amy Cram Helwich, executive director

— Minnesota High School Mathematics League, Tracy Bibelnieks, director

— Community Relations (Institutional Advancement), Steve Peacock, director

Garry Hesser, the Sabo Chair for Citizenship and Learning, will continue to focus particular attention on matters of political process, public service, and public policy. He will be joined in guiding the development of the academic vision for the Sabo Center’s broad range of interests by Sabo Senior Fellows who have accepted appointments from the Dean of the College. These Senior Fellows are:

— Lars Christiansen, associate professor of sociology – Senior Fellow for Academic Civic Engagement

— Harry Boyte and Nan Skelton – Senior Fellows for Civic Agency

— Bill Green, associate professor of history and current superintendent of the Minneapolis Public Schools has accepted an appointment to begin when he returns from leave in Fall, 2010 – Senior Fellow for Leadership and Change

The College’s deep and abiding commitments to civic engagement and the theological exploration of vocation have brought international recognition to Augsburg College. Students, staff, faculty, and alumni demonstrate each day how central both commitments are to the College’s identity. These changes are effective November 1. We will be working over the next several months to integrate The Clair and Gladys Strommen Center for Meaningful Work and the expanded Martin Olav Sabo Center for Citizenship and Learning more fully within the Augsburg College community.

Augsburg thanks Martin and Sylvia Sabo and the Strommen family for their important contributions to the College through the creation of these Centers. The lives of students, faculty, and staff will be enriched through their great generosity.

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