This spring, Augsburg students have received awards and scholarships from some of the top programs across the country, highlighting different disciplines, experiences, locations, and goals. Meet our award winners and explore their areas of interest.Ěý

Goldwater Scholarship

Luke Omodt ’25 has been named a , one of the top STEM awards in the country. The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation provides scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering. Omodt, a physics and chemistry double major, is currently conducting computational materials science research with Assistant Professor of Physics Daniel Hickox-Young, which will continue into the summer thanks to funding from Dean and Amy Sundquist. Previously, Omodt conducted research with Assistant Professor of Physics Moumita Dasgupta, as well as at the University of Minnesota and Cornell University.Ěý

Fulbright Teaching Assistantship

Emma Joswiak-McLaughlin ’24 has been awarded a to Bulgaria. The education major is a member of the National Education Association Aspiring Educators program as well as Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Studies Honor Society. She has worked for Augsburg’s Writing Center and is currently student-teaching at Southwest High School in Minneapolis. To prepare for her Fulbright grant, Joswiak-McLaughlin has been volunteering at a number of animal rescue organizations, learning Bulgarian, and attempting to cook Bulgarian cuisine.Ěý

Critical Language Scholarship Spark

Elizabeth Goff ’25 is majoring in psychology and has a double minor in studio art and religion. She won the , a year-long program designed to help undergraduate students learn languages and enhance their global engagement. Over the summer, Goff will be studying Russian virtually. Only 10% of applicants win the award nationwide. She hopes to use this new knowledge to help her with her research in the future. “With CLS Spark, I will have the ability to expand my knowledge in other countries’ methods in research when it comes to social isolation, loneliness, and accessibility for homebound and at-risk populations,” Goff says.

Peace Scholars

On campus, Augsburg’s Norway Hub recently announced the 2024-25 Peace Scholars. Sara Sirag ’25 and Anna Hudak ’25 will be representing Augsburg University while in Norway this summer. The goal of the Peace Scholars program is to develop student leaders inspired to careers or lifelong interests in world peace issues. While attending University of Oslo International Summer School, these students will deepen their understanding of the central issues and theories regarding conflict, war, and peace.Ěý

Sirag is a social work major and first-generation college student. She was born in Eritrea and raised in Minnesota. Her passion for prison reform and studying mass incarceration informs her interest in Norway and peace studies. She has a strong appreciation for Norway’s welfare systems and their prison systems rooted in rehabilitation and restorative justice. Her goal is to work with diverse populations while challenging and pushing herself to understand different systems. She believes in advocating for change and those enduring injustices across the world.

Hudak is an international relations and history double major, with a minor in music. She’s from Prior Lake, Minnesota. During her time studying abroad in Greece, Anna developed a passion for peace studies and promoting intercultural dialogue, recognizing its power as a catalyst for positive change in an increasingly interconnected world. In addition to teaching English in Greece after graduation, Anna hopes to use her affinity for writing and storytelling to illuminate underrepresented narratives and non-violent conflict resolutions as a peace journalist.

Congratulations to these students on their outstanding achievements!

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Professor Tim Pippert and Madelyne Yang ’26 were recently interviewed by The Imprint about Augsburg Family Scholars, a program to narrow the opportunity gap for students with foster care backgrounds.

Augsburg Family Scholars builds on Minnesota’s Fostering Independence Higher Education Grant. This “last dollar” program provides state funding to cover tuition, fees, room and board and other expenses related to the cost of attending college. Pippert told The Imprint that the state grants are “a game changer,” but aren’t enough on their own.Ěý

To bridge the gap, Augsburg Family Scholars supplements the state grant with comprehensive academic and community support. Last year, a dozen Augsburg students participated in the program, which provides help moving to campus, laptops, access to year-round housing, a dedicated lounge space on campus, community outings, and more. Pippert, the Joel Torstenson endowed professor of sociology, directs the program and serves as an advisor to the participants, helping them strategize how to navigate the demands of higher education.Ěý

“If you’ve made it to college, you’ve overcome so many hurdles already,” he said. “If you’ve made it this far, it’s our responsibility to help students finish the job and get a degree.”

or learn more about Augsburg Family Scholars.Ěý

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Noticing a lack educational access for women in these areas, the ELCA Churchwide Assembly voted in 2013 to raise $4 million over a five-year period in order to provide scholarships for 200 women.

“My religion professor asks what we think about our readings and encourages different points of view. In Suriname schools, what the teacher says goes,” Abendanon explained.

As far as the outdoor climate, Abendanon has prepared for winter by purchasing a large winter coat. “Bring it on!” she said in the article.

Read: on The Lutheran site.

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Augsburg College will host a traditional powwow March 29 in the Si Melby Hall Gymnasium. The event, hosted by the Augsburg Indigenous Student Association and American Indian Student Services, includes two Grand Entries and an Honoring Ceremony to recognize graduating American Indian students.

The (SMSC) also will be honored for recently contributing $250,000 to endowed scholarships* for American Indian students at the College. The gift means the College will award an additional $10,000 per year to enrolled American Indian students.

“We are most appreciative of this generous gift,” said Bonnie Wallace, an Augsburg College Regent and an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. “The SMSC, once again, serves as a shining example of ongoing commitment in the area of ‘cradle to career’ educational opportunities in native communities.”

In addition, a blanket dance will be held for Augsburg student Nicholas “Nick” Sam who nearly five months ago contracted a rare illness that has left him hospitalized ever since. The dance will honor Sam and raise funds to be used for his medical care.

Schedule

• 11 a.m.
  • Registration for drums and dancers
  • Campus tour for guests interested in learning about Augsburg’s academic programs
• 1 p.m.
  • Grand Entry
  • Aztec Mexican Dance Presentation by Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue
• 3 p.m.
  • Honoring Ceremony for 2013-14 graduating American Indian students
  • Augsburg College Regent Bonnie Wallace recognizes SMSC
• 6 p.m. – Grand Entry

The event is free and open to the public. American Indian arts and crafts vendors will be selling wares. Community resources vendors also will be present.

Background

* The SMSC gift for an endowed scholarship provides the College with a permanent asset from which American Indian students can receive support. An endowed scholarship fund makes scholarship awards based upon the annual earnings of the fund’s principal. In the case of the SMSC endowed scholarship, that amount is anticipated to generate about $10,000 per year to be awarded as scholarships.

Augsburg College is set in a vibrant neighborhood at the heart of the Twin Cities, and offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to more than 4,000 students of diverse backgrounds. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.ĚýThe Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community that is committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

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Selected annually by the Minneapolis-based Foundation, the scholarships are aimed at furthering the commitment to peace and justice of the late Rev. Vincent L. Hawkinson, who served as pastor of Grace University Lutheran Church in Minneapolis for 30 years. The scholarship program has awarded more than $100,000 to 87 students since 1988, and 20 students are receiving the 2008 scholarship awards.

The Augsburg scholarship recipients are (l to r) Ulises Ayala-Beltran, Maria Alvillar Hinojosa, Ryan Treptow, and Juventino Meza-Rodriguez.

Ulises Ayala-BeltrĂĄn ’11, accounting major, French minor — He has been active in Project Navigate, aimed at increasing the number of immigrant students pursuing higher education in Minnesota. At Augsburg, Ulises is involved with the Spanish Club, Queer and Straight in Unity, and is a member of Allied Latino/a Augsburg Students (ALAS).

Maria Alvillar Hinojosa ’12, biology major with a pre-med emphasis — In 2008, she graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, where she was president and historian of the National Honor Society and took part in student council and yearbook club. At Augsburg she volunteers twice a week with the Augsburg Reads program.

Ryan Treptow ’08, marketing and business administration major, specializing in international business — He served as a teaching assistant in China. While at Augsburg, he was active in the Augsburg model United Nations Committee, participated in the annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, and tutored refugee students in local schools.

Juventino Meza-Rodriguez ’11, sociology and justice and peace studies majors — At Augsburg he is active in student government, Diversity Committee, Allied Latina/os Augsburg Students (ALAS) and other organizations, and volunteers at a community center in the Pillsbury Neighborhood (Waite House). He is an intern with Project NAVIGATE to increase the number of immigrant students pursuing higher education and volunteers with organizations like Admission Possible, which helps promising low-income students obtain admission to college.

In addition to scholarships, the Foundation presents a lifetime achievement award to individuals who have made significant contributions to peace and justice. Receiving the 2008 honorary awards is Augsburg alumni Arvid “Bud” Dixen, ’52, an ordained Lutheran pastor who marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., organized efforts to support farmers during the farm crisis and helped found the Nonviolent Peaceforce.

The honorary award and scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Foundation’s annual program at 4 p.m., November 16, 2008, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2730 East 31st St, Minneapolis. The event is open to the public.

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April 15 is the priority deadline to apply for financial aid at Augsburg. All Day College students must submit their application to the Enrollment Center by this date or risk losing some of the aid that may be available to them.

Junior social work major Karen Thorp has already applied for next year. While some students’ families are able to assist them with tuition and fees, Thorp has paid for college herself with the help of financial aid.

As a high school senior, Thorp wanted to attend Augsburg because of the small campus and its connection with the city, but her mother said, “That’s out of your price range.” After she met with a financial aid counselor, Thorp knew her dream of attending Augsburg could be a reality.Ěý

Thorp’s financial aid package includes federal loans and state grants as well as the Augsburg tuition grant — “free” money she does not have to pay back. She says she could have gone to a state school and graduated without loan debt, but the aid she received helped make an Augsburg education affordable. “If it wasn’t for the Augsburg tuition grant, I probably wouldn’t be here.”

Thorp has continued to meet with financial aid counselor, Liz Bassani, throughout her Augsburg career. “Liz does care,” she says. “We chat at least two times a semester to make sure I’m on track. It motivates me to know I have someone behind me to help me through it.”

Why does Augsburg enforce a priority deadline? Eric Addington, associate director of financial aid, says, “Augsburg runs a lean ship in terms of financial aid.” The college and the state of Minnesota have limited funds, which are awarded to students who demonstrate need and who apply early. “Augsburg has a very limited amount of money to spend on financial aid, and the deadline assures we are equitable with our resources,” he adds.

According to Addington, 85% of all Augsburg students receive some type of financial aid, including institutional grants and scholarships, state grants, and federal or private loans.

Bassani encourages students to come to the Enrollment Center to ask questions about applying for aid. She says, “Students shouldn’t be scared or intimidated by the financial aid counselors. We want to see them succeed.”

Complete instructions and forms are available at .

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