Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA, Author at Augsburg Now

Recently published Auggies, Spring–Summer 2021

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:56:50 +0000

Augsburg alumni, faculty, and students have published literature and earned the public’s attention during the past year.

Lowell “A.L. Shane” Ziemann ’60—“Alex, Hank & Hawk: Cowboys, Gunmen & Road Agents: A Novel of the American West”
David Nash ’06—“The Man in the Pines,” a novel and soundtrack
Joshua Phillip Johnson ’17 MFA—“The Forever Sea,” a novel
Robby Steltz ’18 MFA—“Nellie,” a short play that earned second place in the Virginia State One Acts competition
Khadijo “JoJo” Abdi ’19 MFA—One of the main authors that participated in the first Somali Community Book Fair in Burnsville, Minnesota
Tracy Ross ’19 MFA—“James Dean and the Beautiful Machine,” a book of poetry
Kristine Joseph ’20 MFA—“Simply Because We Are Human,” a memoir
Cole Williams ’22 MFA—Poems published in “Intima: A Journal of Narrative Medicine” and “Sh!t Men Say to Me: A Poetry Anthology in Response to Toxic Masculinity”
Faculty member Anika Fajardo—“What if a Fish,” a novel that won the Minnesota Book Award for Middle Grade Literature
“Murphy Square 1975–2020: A Sesquicentennial Sampler of Literature by Augsburg Students”—Professor Emeritus Doug Green said, “More than 40 recent students from 2016 through 2019 served as co-editors, haggling over selections drawn from the entire digital archive of Murphy Square [Augsburg’s student-created literary and visual arts journal]. Megan Johnson ’19 designed the volume.”

and submit your alumni news.

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100 new endowed scholarships for Augsburg students

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:54:48 +0000

As part of Augsburg’s ongoing Great Returns fundraising campaign, the university set an ambitious goal of establishing 150 new endowed scholarships. As of Spring 2021, the university had received 100 new endowed scholarships! Augsburg is presenting water droplet sculptures to the first 150 donors who establish new endowed scholarships. These handmade sculptures represent the impact that donors make in the Augsburg community. When a water droplet hits the surface of a pond, the droplet causes a ripple that continues to expand.

Learn more about establishing a scholarship.

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French House friends

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:52:28 +0000

In 1966, seven women moved into French House, a Minneapolis building adjacent to Augsburg’s campus that housed the remaining incoming first-year women who could not be accommodated in the residential housing on campus. They called themselves “the leftovers” and became fast friends who still get together at least once a year.

The French House Friends traveled twice to Washington, where Linda Larson ’70 lives, and Larson has traveled annually to Minnesota, where the other six women live. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group has gathered monthly via Zoom videoconferencing, and they are eager to gather in Minnesota this fall.

“Augsburg fostered quality friendships that have remained with me today,” said Mary (Loken) Veiseth ’70.

Top image: Pictured in 2018 [front, L to R]: Diane Lempke ’69, Mary (Loken) Veiseth ’70, Linda (Radtke) Karkhoff ’70, Paulette (Olson) Odegaard ’70. [Back, L to R]: Susan (Olson) Williams ’70, Mary Ellen Buss ’70, Linda Larson ’70. (Courtesy photo)

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On The Horizon virtual events strengthen Augsburg community

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:48:18 +0000

Last year, On the Horizon virtual events with President Paul Pribbenow engaged more than 500 Auggies and raised generous support for the Student Emergency Fund, the President’s Strategic Fund, student scholarships, and other key university efforts. This virtual event series was created to keep the Augsburg community up to date with the university’s ongoing work and adjustments during the pandemic. Five more On the Horizon events in the series were hosted during Spring 2021 with specific groups, such as retired faculty, former regents and regents emeriti, and current and former alumni board members.

Find video recordings of the events at .

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:32:05 +0000

In 2020, Augsburg University’s Institutional Advancement staff sponsored a series of virtual financial conversations hosted by Augsburg alumni with expertise in constructing a will and financial planning. The virtual events—called Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way—had such positive engagement from alumni that the events were hosted again this summer.

Want to learn more about making a will and financial plans? Visit Augsburg’s alumni blog.

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In memoriam, Winter 2020–21

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 19:58:24 +0000

Below we recognize the alumni and friends whose notifications of death were received between March 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021.

1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970| 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | Faculty

1940s

Fern L. (Hanson) Gudmestad ’41, Minneapolis, age 101, on June 3.

Wayne E. Peterson ’43, Palm City, Florida, age 99, on November 14.

Thelma I. (Erickson) Mckenzie ’44, Hollandale, Wisconsin, age 96, on July 1.

Helen V. (Odden) Pederson ’45, Spooner, Wisconsin, age 96, on May 5.

Doris K. (Larson) Walen ’45, Alamo, North Dakota, age 97, on October 3.

Martha E. Fosse Palmquist ’46, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 96, on November 22.

Lowell O. Larson ’47, Claremont, California, age 95, on May 10.

Arnold J. Oie ’47, Glencoe, Minnesota, age 96, on August 1.

Margery A. (Manger) Torgerson ’47, Circle Pines, Minnesota, age 94, on March 30.

Esther P. (Bakken) Crosby ’48, Moorhead, Minnesota, age 95, on June 19.

John E. Hanson ’48, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 93, on October 1.

Jean A. (Tibke) Vane ’48, Visalia, California, age 93, on October 20.

John F. Anderson ’49, Minneapolis, age 96, on December 22.

June (Carlson) Gustafson ’49, Lincoln, Nebraska, age 92, on September 28.

1950s

Louis L. Ennen ’50, Dublin, Ohio, age 94, on July 7.

Lilian J. (Johnson) Ingersoll ’50, Lexington, South Carolina, age 96, on June 5.

Phillip A. Quanbeck ’50, Maple Grove, Minnesota, age 93, on December 1.

Mary L. (Johnson) Froiland ’50, Iron River, Wisconsin, age 91, on October 22.

Orville E. Meland ’51, River Falls, Wisconsin, age 93, on October 27.

Caroline J. (Borsheim) Melhus’ 51, Minneapolis, age 90, on May 31.

Arvid D. Dixen ’52, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 20.

Harold J. Hansen ’52, Normandy Park, Washington, age 90, on April 17.

Luther J. Larson ’52, Sparta, Wisconsin, age 89, on July 6.

Mildred A. Nelson ’52, Minneapolis, age 91, December 5.

Alvin H. Nygard ’52, Fargo, North Dakota, age 96, on July 31.

Yvonne M. (Bagley) Olson ’52, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 88, on March 16.

Orville L. Olson ’52, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 89, on June 6.

Ronald A. Berge ’53, West Fargo, North Dakota, age 88, on March 15.

Robert O. Bruder ’53, Minneapolis, age 91, on August 9.

Donald V. Dillon ’53, Minneapolis, age 89, on July 17.

Kent B. Quanbeck ’53, McVille, North Dakota, age 90, on April 6.

Gloria M. (Halverson) Boyum ’54, Kenyon, Minnesota, age 88, on December 19.

George W. Fisher ’54, Lexington, South Carolina, age 88, on May 11.

Wallace L. Hafstad ’54, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 88, on March 30.

Janis R. (Larson) Hanson ’54, Canby, Minnesota, age 92, on October 2.

Vivian (Waisanen) Ryden ’54, Northglenn, Colorado, age 87, on May 4.

Richard M. Hagestuen ’55, Bismarck, North Dakota, age 87, on October 28.

Robert M. Herman ’55, Minneapolis, age 86, on June 8.

Vicent Peterson ’55, Hutchinson, Minnesota, age 87, on November 11.

Richard H. Stensrud ’55, Mesa, Arizona, age 87, on August 25.

LeRoy E. Nevin ’56, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, age 86, on June 7.

R. Luther Olson ’56, Tucson, Arizona, age 84, on August 27.

Bruce W. Rorvig ’56, Kalispell, Montana, age 85, on August 18.

Duane J. Solem ’56, Edina, Minnesota, age 91, on May 2.

Elizabeth A. (Mortensen) Swanson ’56, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 86, on November 6.

Robert Jeska ’57, East Grand Forks, Minnesota, age 85, May 21.

Erwin J. Moe ’57, Plymouth, Minnesota, age 88, on April 28.

Robert C. Oslund ’57, Silver Bay, Minnesota, age 89, on December 4.

Ronald B. Welde ’57, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, age 86, on September 4.

Ardis H. (Lee) Zunich ’57, Miles City, Montana, age 82, on July 18.

Robert L. Bagley ’58, Cottage Grove, Minnesota, age 84, on November 23.

Bonnie (Sandvig) Erickson ’58, Canton, South Dakota, age 83, on May 9.

Alice M. (Lindell) Lindgren ’58, Bemidji, Minnesota, age 83, on September 11.

Marlene (Hegg) Ridens ’58, Montevideo, Minnesota, age 85, August 19.

Donald J. Hagestuen ’59, Aitkin, Minnesota, age 83, on October 29.

Arlene B. (Selander) Hill ’59, Allegan, Michigan, age 82, on September 11.

Rhoda M. (Monseth) Huglen ’59, Roseau, Minnesota, age 83, on August 19.

Heinrich Kopka ’59, Staples, Minnesota, age 85, on November 28.

Walter W. Lundeen ’59, Minneapolis, age 89, on December 20.

Richard G. Sletten ’59, North Oaks, Minnesota, age 82, on August 13.

Peggy K. (O’Neil) Swensen ’59, Fargo, North Dakota, age 82, on April 11.

Sharon K. (Grodt) West ’59, Chisago City, Minnesota, age 83, on March 16.

1960s

Gordon Grinely ’60, Eau Galle Township, Wisconsin, age 82, on June 25.

Marcia S. (Refsal) Sanders ’60, Chandler, Arizona, age 81, on October 13.

Kermit L. Valleen ’60, Cambridge, Minnesota, age 83, November 16.

Paula J. Bjorkley Carlson ’62, Madras, Oregon, age 80, on December 5.

Allan P. Tveite ’62, Lakeville, Minnesota, age 80, on November 18.

E. Nelvin Botten ’63, Stanwood, Washington, age 91, on September 16.

Bernard E. Debar ’63, Minneapolis, age 89, on May 11.

Helen A. (Anderson) Gildseth ’63, Duluth, Minnesota, age 78, on March 17.

Lois J. (Bailey) Parson ’63, Braham, Minnesota, age 80, August 19.

Clarice A. Staff ’63, Minneapolis, age 84, on April 9.

Patrick J. Sullivan ’63, Miltona, Minnesota, age 79, on June 26.

Lannette Y. (Haire) Reshetar ’64, Andover, Minnesota, age 77, on April 8.

Lesley K. (Schwarten) Schmid ’64, Blaine, Minnesota, age 78, on June 12.

Joyce M. (Nelson) Schrader ’64, Friendswood, Texas, age 77, on June 28.

Susan L. Kyllo ’65, Spring Park, Minnesota, age 78, on December 16.

Sharon (Tofte) Taeger ’65, Camrose, Canada, age 77, on April 4.

Sharon L. (Wagner) Johnson ’66, Atikokan, Canada, age 76, on November 29.

Sandra (Johnson) Kotval ’66, Spring Valley, Wisconsin, age 76, on October 15.

Irene (Seltvedt) Yost ’66, Dickinson, North Dakota, age 77, on July 21.

David E. Sylvester ’67, Cloquet, Minnesota, age 81, on October 29.

Ruthe M. (Tollefson) Enstad ’68, Prior Lake, Minnesota, age 75, on October 15.

Marvin J. Haara ’68, Hutchinson, Minnesota, age 76, on August 26.

Ellen M. (Larson) Johnston ’68, Mankato, Minnesota, age 73, on August 16.

Merrill D. Ronning ’68, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 75, on August 18.

John P. Weinard ’68, Bloomington, Minnesota, age 81, on December 12.

Douglas S. Anderson ’69, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 72, on April 10.

Mervin F. Larson ’69, Excelsior, Minnesota, age 73, on August 30.

1970s

Gloria J. (Wohlers Livingston) Hutchinson ’70, Falcon Heights, Minnesota, age 71, on July 1.

Kathy J. (Kropelin) Cracraft ’71, Minneapolis, age 70, on July 13.

Michael J. Hostetler ’71, Andover, Minnesota, age 71, on August 7.

Joann S. Bell ’72, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 70, on August 9.

Vicki C. (Linder) Lind ’72, Rosemount, Minnesota, age 70, on November 4.

Jeffrey P. Ross ’72, Sheburn, Minnesota, age 64, on April 26.

Jean L. (Bridges) Wachs ’73, Minneapolis, age 68, on June 4.

David W. Finson ’75, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 67, on June 17.

Douglas A. Fish ’75, Hastings, Minnesota, age 68, on November 24.

Lois B. Wattman ’76, St. Paul, Minnesota, age 66, on September 28.

Gregory J. Bannon ’77, Albertville, Minnesota, age 66, on August 15.

1980s

Sandra J. Holm-Cyr ’82, Richfield, Minnesota, age 72, on April 15.

Arlene D. Hiles ’86, Stillwater, Minnesota, age 87, on September 11.

1990s

Richard A. Gillitzer ’91, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, age 53, on May 24.

Judith A. Francis ’92, Mound, Minnesota, age 80, on October 12.

John S. Austin ’93, Minneapolis, age 70, on December 1.

Debra J. Clark-Corley ’93, Gary, Indiana, age 65, on April 6.

Nancy C. Sallman ’93, Minneapolis, age 65, on September 14.

Violet E. (Schmitz) Rocek ’94, Minneapolis, age 85, on December 6.

Eileen J. (Bridgeman) Biernat ’98, New Brighton, Minnesota, age 74, on September 4.

2000s

Dylan E. Cook ’00, Christchurch, New Zealand, age 44, on September 7.

Kelly A. (Duncan) Norden ’00, Minneapolis, age 42, on October 3.

Philip R. Johnson ’04, Nisswa, Minnesota, age 56, on April 11.

Michael R. Kuhlmann ’04, Minneapolis, age 39, on August 11.

Christopher R. Hunnicutt ’08, Green Bay, Wisconsin, age 35, on March 27.

Barton M. Lund ’08, Stuart, Florida, age 56, on December 12.

2010s

Quinten P. Bissonette ’12, Spring Valley, Minnesota, age 43, on May 5.

Shane M. Potter ’15, Garrison, Minnesota, age 31, on December 13.

J. Parker Foley ’16, Duxbury, Massachusetts, age 27, on October 21.

Maricio M. Mata-Thelen ’17, Minneapolis, age 26, on October 31.

Kevin J. Baxter ’19, Burnsville, Minnesota, age 29, on November 2.

2020s

Abdirizak A. Abdullahi ’21, Minneapolis, age 21, on April 26.

Faculty

Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience Guatemala Site Director Fidel Xinico Tum, San Lucas Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, age 60, on September 12.

Submit address changes and nominations for remembrances to alumniupdate@augsburg.edu.

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Give to the Max Day recap and sustaining Augsburg’s future

Amanda Symes '09, '15 MFA — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 14:14:53 +0000

This November, Augsburg had a record-breaking Give to the Max Day in terms of donor participation and dollars raised. Here are the highlights:

• $531,704 was raised across 41 projects, setting a new record.

• 1,898 total donors gave, the most we’ve ever seen.

• Gifts came from 41 states.

• 56% of our 41 projects (23 projects) were fully funded, and many others were very close to fully funded.

• One couple gave to 17 projects.

This day continues to energize our students, faculty, and staff every year, and we can’t wait to see what we can accomplish next year.

Make a difference all year round

Each year, 20% of the annual gifts to the Augsburg Fund come during Give to the Max Day. But giving to the Augsburg Fund matters all year round: We use these dollars to make a difference for Auggies right away through scholarships, instruction and academic support, student programs, and other areas of the largest funding needs at Augsburg.

Gifts to the Augsburg Fund touch the life of every student, faculty member, and staff member. More than 1,000 donors contribute to the fund each year, and you can join them.

Giving creates a ripple effect for the future of Augsburg

When a water droplet hits the surface of a pond, it causes a ripple much larger than the original drop. This is how your gift affects Augsburg.

Glass water droplet sculptures, created by Rhode Island artists, represent the expanding effect that donors provide for the Augsburg community. Learn more about these water droplets and how endowed scholarships propel Augsburg’s work into the future.

Lisa Smith and Dave Smith (Courtesy photo)

Sharon Mortrud ’64 (Courtesy photo)

Dennis Meyer ’78 and Bev ’78 Meyer (Courtesy photo)

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