“The biggest factor that has propelled our success this year is our confidence. Last season’s successes proved to us that we can compete with the best teams in the country,” defender Tenley Stewart ’26 said. “I think we have leaned into the experiences we had from last season and have used it to focus more on the details this year.”

This season’s efforts showed as . Named to the All-MIAC team were Kate Haug ’26, Nora Stepan ’26, Ella Olson ’27, and Aunna Schulte ’28. Stewart earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors and Marissa Paaske ’26 was named to the eight-player All-MIAC Playoff Team. Stepan also received MIAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row, and head coach Elizabeth Bauer received MIAC Coach of the Year.

“Our coaching staff does a great job reminding us that we’re students first and that balance matters,” forward Haug said. “They’re supportive if we communicate about academic responsibilities and encourage us to manage our time well. That support makes it a lot easier to stay focused both on the ice and in other areas of life.”

Q&A with Elizabeth Bauer, Women’s Hockey Head Coach

Tell us a little about your own hockey career, especially as a coach, and how you came to be the head coach at Augsburg.

I’m in my second year as head coach, having taken over from Michelle McAteer, who’s now the . I got to take over a great program—Coach McAteer was here for 14 seasons and led the Auggies to eight consecutive MIAC playoff appearances.

I always knew I wanted to be in coaching. My dad has coached hockey for over 30 years, and he’s my primary role model for coaching. My siblings are hockey players and figure skaters, so we all grew up around the rink. I played hockey at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire and started professional coaching as soon as I graduated: first at Sports Exceleration in Hudson, Wisconsin, and then at in Blaine, Minnesota.

I loved my experiences as a player. They were very meaningful for my life. So part of coaching for me is definitely giving back to the sport.

How would you characterize the Augsburg women’s hockey program culture, especially this year?

Yes, culture is so important, and it really starts with relationships. We have a team approach that focuses on strong leadership from upperclassmen—which I think is just as important as good coaching—and then setting clear expectations for the whole team. We work on team bonding and building trust on and off the ice. Even if a team doesn’t have all the skills you might want, a good culture can take a team far. Our seven seniors this year have really stepped well into their leadership roles.

In general, Augsburg has a great hockey culture. We co-host an alumni game [where current and former players play each other] almost every season, and host some fundraisers for the program that are well supported by alums. The alums of this program maintain a lot of connections with each other and show up for games. They love to give back, and we really appreciate them. The program wouldn’t be the same without them and all the work they put in as players and now their support as alums.

What’s been the story behind the team’s success this season?

This year’s team is very competitive. They compete with and care for each other. They have a common goal to win and to do it the right way, and they always want ice time. They are happy for others who are succeeding, and that unselfishness is really important in hockey.

How do you help student-athletes maintain balance between athletic, academic, and personal growth?

Being at a smaller university helps, I think. The professors have high expectations and are also willing to support reasonable accommodations for student-athletes. We encourage all of our players to develop strong communications with their professors and to work directly with them on academic matters. Balance is important in life, and hockey is only one aspect. Our players know that missing practice because you’re in class is not a huge deal—it’s part of being a student-athlete. And school really should come first. The team had an aggregate 3.8 GPA last semester. They compete to be good in the classroom and on the ice!

Top image: Augsburg women’s hockey players hold up two fingers, symbolizing their MIAC regular-season championship winning streak. (Photo by Kevin Healy)

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Pictured above: Cece ’29, Carly ’30, Haylee ’30, and Brilee ’30 

“I love my friends because they’re always there to support me no matter what the circumstances are.” —Brilee Nelson ’30

Pictured above: Aidan Wippich ’27, Faye Kelley ’28, Hannah Rust ’28, Emmie Sandifer-Stech ’26, Avery Cheeseman ’26, Paul Ellertson ’26, Diego Perez ’28, and Maxwell Danzel-Lage ’27

“I love that my friends are kind and amusing!” —Faye Kelley ’28 

Pictured above: members
Top row: Dejchia Lor ‘27 and Naw Blu ’26
Middle row: Yan Urrizalqui ’27, Jennifer Vo ’26, and Rachelle Cha ’26
Bottom row: Tommy Lee ’26

“It means support from people who are passionate about the same things. It means having a team who’s excited about building and creating projects/events that are for the community.” —Yan Urrizalqui ’26

Pictured above: members Goldy Moua ’27, GaoNou Vang ’26, and Eli Yang ’27

“It means honesty, teamwork, communication, and having each other’s back. It’s knowing how to have a good time and when to take things seriously” —GaoNou Vang ’26

Pictured above: members Cecelia Dauphine ’28, Maya Miller ’26, Camille Hunte ’26, and Ajulu Otong ’26

“Unity, Black sisterhood” —Camille Hunte ’26

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With a repertoire featuring Chappell Roan, Green Day, and Bruce Channel, the Augsburg University Pep Band returned in Fall 2025 with music for everyone. After about a five-year hiatus, the group reassembled with faculty leadership and a new course structure..

Debuting at the Athletic Hall of Fame procession during Homecoming, the ensemble dusted off the Augsburg Fight Song and learned about 20 additional songs to play throughout the year under the instruction of Director of Bands Kenneth Green. In 2025 the pep band also performed at Taste of Augsburg, men’s and women’s basketball games, and one women’s hockey game.

“Pep band is a great way to make new friends, play an instrument for fun, and get into athletic events for free,” pep band manager William Dolezal ’28 said.

While the pep band—which had about 23 members this fall—is passionate about their music, they are there to support Augsburg athletics and bring energy to the games where they perform. At basketball games, the musicians stand throughout the entirety of the game, performing the National Anthem and playing before the game starts, during timeouts, halftime, and after the game. Between these numbers you’ll find the members doing cheers, invested in the game.

Any student is invited to join pep band without an audition, allowing for the group to be made up of primarily non-music majors. As long as you know how to play, there is a place for you in the group. The ensemble creates a space for everyone to participate and connect, bringing together musicians and connecting them to the greater Augsburg community.

Music education student Emily Gilbert ’27 played in her high school pep band, so she is happy to continue the tradition throughout her time at Augsburg. Gilbert started playing the flute in fourth grade and said that playing pop music and attending sporting events is what drew her to join.

“It doesn’t matter if the team wins or loses, we’re there to support the team,” Green said. “But I must say—everything we played for in the fall, all of our teams won.”

Top image: This year’s Taste of Augsburg featured live music from the Augsburg Pep Band. (Photo by Courtney Perry)

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Classics such as “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Silent Night, Holy Night,” performed by Augsburg’s choirs, orchestra and brass quintet, were woven between prayers and readings throughout the three sections of the event.

“The best part of this year’s event has been the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and students in creating something that reflects the shared values of the Augsburg community,” Augsburg Symphony Orchestra Director Mark Elliot Bergman said. “Working alongside such dedicated artists and educators is always rewarding.”

Preparation for the season

Preparation for Advent Vespers begins in the summer as the Music Department curates their repertoire for the year. Using the artistic and educational goals for each ensemble as a guideline, the directors work to select music that thrives in this balance. As students return to campus in the fall, the Music Department and Campus Ministry teams meet to align visions and finalize selections. The teams work together to craft a theme that reflects “what the Spirit might be guiding us to share,” Augsburg University Pastor Babette Chatman ‘06 said.

The theme

Chatman said that she sees this year’s theme as a prayer, or meditation.

“To be guided by peace in the presence of chaos is an act of resistance to me,” Chatman said. “This Advent Vespers’ theme speaks to the constant need for peace: in our lives, in our communities, in our homes, in our neighborhoods, and, yes, in our world.”

Bergman feels similarly, saying that the theme, and the event, offers a pause and encourages reflection.

“It serves as an invitation to examine our own posture in the world,” he said. “Both as individuals and as a community of learning, scholarship, and service.”

Recordings of previous performances may be accessed via the .

Top image: The 2025 Advent Vespers. Photo by Courtney Perry.

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Greg Holker, head coach of the Augsburg University Men’s Soccer team, is always conscious of his team’s record. But he’s more interested in how each student-athlete on the team approaches their Augsburg experience.

The Auggies had an exceptional season on the field—taking an 18-2-2 record and a #2 national ranking into the NCAA tournament—where they made it to the Elite Eight. They also had some tough losses, with two ties after giving up goals late in a game where they had held a lead.

“We live by the model that things happen for you—not to you—in life,” Holker said. “Losing and even playing poorly in a win are opportunities to embrace the challenge of making us better people and players and improving the team. How we respond the next day is the most important thing.”

Learning from mistakes and resetting are core values in Holker’s locker room. “You can dwell on the five seconds where mistakes cost us a result, or you can focus on the hundreds of minutes of playing time over the course of the whole season where we played great. We had this outstanding season because of our commitment to each other and our ability to work through adversity. Reframing a mistake as part of a larger whole is a critical life lesson,” Holker said.

Midfielder Mitchel Munzing ’26 sees the team’s success on the field as a direct result of the culture of learning they cultivate off the field. “Whatever gets said during a practice or game—from a player or coach—we know it’s coming from a place of love where we want to make sure we prioritize the team’s best interest. This lets us have that competitive drive on the field and know that it’s balanced with compassion and clear communication,” Munzing said.

Staying fully committed to soccer, academics, and life’s many other priorities is a challenge faced by all student-athletes. Holker and his coaching staff emphasize balance. “We hold everyone to very high standards, and we’re also empathetic to everyone in their circumstances. We have players with stories in their lives that people don’t know about—a sick family member, for example. Something like that truly is more important than soccer,” Holker said. “We encourage everyone to take care of their personal lives, which might mean missing a practice or game to go home and support your family.”

Holker has served as head coach of the men’s soccer program for over 20 years, and his approach comes from seeing again and again that student-athletes do better at their sport, their academics, and the rest of their life when they are able to take care of themselves. “When players don’t perform well on the field, it doesn’t have anything to do with their ability to play soccer. It has to do with what’s going on in their lives. Our job on the coaching staff is to recognize that and help them figure it out in a safe, healthy way.”

That balanced support from the coaching staff, according to defender Jeffrey Richter ’26, ensures that everyone can focus completely on soccer when the starting whistle blows. “Our coaches understand we are students with academic responsibilities, and they check in frequently about our studies. And when we take care of things in the classroom, we can be more focused and confident when it comes to game time,” Richter said.

Richter prizes the collaborative team culture, noting how the coaching staff insists on critical thinking. “Coach Holker doesn’t just give us answers. He encourages us to think for ourselves and solve problems as they unfold during a game. That allows us to grow as players and as thinkers of the game,” he said.

How does this season compare to other teams that have made a big push into the postseason? “We’ve been rebuilding since the pandemic,” Holker shared. “This year is the culmination of building the program back, guided by coaches but really a credit to the team’s hard work and the collaborative spirit of the players across the roster.”

Win or lose each game, Holker reminds his players that they’re part of something much bigger than this season: “The teams of the 1970s were extremely successful, and many of those alums show up at games and continue to be stewards of the program. Their connection to each other and to the program today means a lot to us, and we want to honor all of that.”

Top image: The 2025 Augsburg University men’s soccer team. Photo by Don Stoner.

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Mohammed Bati ’26 was recently featured in The Minnesota Star Tribune for his success as a cross-country runner at Augsburg University. This year, Bati became the first men’s athlete in MIAC history to while simultaneously , , and being named .

The article highlights Bati’s dedication and hard work. As a full-time student, he balances his class schedule with an overnight job and an intense running regimen, fitting in rest and sleep whenever possible.

Chip Scoggins of The Minnesota Star Tribune writes: “Bati works the overnight shift because he logs 150 miles running per week with the goal of becoming an Olympic marathoner. He would not have time in his day to train otherwise. He dreams of competing for the United States after earning his citizenship through naturalization two years ago.”

Read more about Bati’s story in in The Minnesota Star Tribune.

Top image: With no other runners in sight, Mohammed Bati ’26 comfortably secures first place at the 2024 St. Olaf Invitational. (Photo by Don Stoner)

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Part of Augsburg’s general education curriculum, AugSem is a seminar course required of all first-year students and any transfer student with fewer than 32 credits.

“AugSem has existed in many iterations over the years,” said Amanda Case, director of the AugSem program and assistant professor of chemistry. “But at its core, it’s always had two main goals—to support students in their transition from high school to college and to help students explore what it means to study specifically at Augsburg.”

The AugSem requirement was recently reimagined to help students feel a sense of belonging and engagement with the wider academic community and to Augsburg, starting right away in their first semester.

Asking big questions

AugSem activities challenge students to think deeply about their career plans and how they understand the idea of vocation,

“Some students come in with clear ideas about their career plans. Others are less certain about their trajectory,” Case said. “AugSem gives students space and some direct prompts to be thoughtful about how to answer those questions in meaningful ways. Continuing on a path that’s not right for you is unhelpful. AugSem students engage everything available here at the university and think about the many career paths out there that might suit them.”

Engaging Minneapolis

Familiarity with the immediate neighborhood around the university and the city as a whole is another pillar of the AugSem program.

“We want our students to feel grounded,” Case said. “Our location in the city and the way we interact with local communities is a distinctive part of what it means to be an Auggie and to be learning and growing in this place.”

AugSem is comprised of nearly 40 student sections. Each group spends time exploring parts of the city and embracing living in a vibrant community on the edge of a large downtown area.

Integrating academics and everything else

By design, AugSem is part of the university’s larger plan to help students integrate academic life with their whole selves.

In addition to the first-year seminar course, all Augsburg students also complete the Augsburg Experience—an academic experience fulfilled outside the classroom, such as a research project, internship, or study abroad encounter. A Senior Keystone component prepares students for their next step after Augsburg by placing their academic and professional development within the context of their values, including picking the right job and ethical considerations.

Case noted that AugSem is central to ensuring the larger student experience at Augsburg is filled with challenge and support. “Augsburg encourages students not just to learn about the thing itself—a skill, a course, a major—but also to think critically about how these things are positioned in the context of their lives and the communities around them.”

Top image: First-year students kick-off the new academic year, walking together to opening convocation, August 2024. (Photo by Courtney Perry)

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Every year, Auggies near and far are invited to be a part of Augsburg’s vibrant spirit by attending Homecoming, celebrating the community that shaped them, reliving treasured traditions, sharing stories, and making new memories.

Nate Berkas, director of alumni relations and annual giving, says there’s more to Homecoming than simply being back on campus. It’s about reconnecting.

“My favorite part of Homecoming is when we welcome back alumni and they talk about how grateful they are for coming back because it filled them up,” Berkas explains. “The magic of Homecoming is having people remember that there is great joy in being an Auggie, and that they are just as much an Auggie today as they were when they graduated.”

This year’s three-day event series kicked off Thursday with the , honoring the selection of nine former student athletes into the 52nd class of the Athletic Hall of Fame. Inductees included Jess Bakalyar ’98, Felicia (Faison) Krick ’09, Whitney (Holman) Mead ’10, Mike Kennedy ’79, Larry Lamparske ’69, Mike LeDuc ’97, Ryan McIntosh ’01, John Pena ’98, and Shanna (Reed) Reineke ’10. In addition, James See ’09 received the Augsburg Excellence in Coaching Award, while Jeff Swenson ’79 accepted the Legend of Augsburg Athletics Award for his legacy as a former athlete, coach, and athletic director.

On Friday, members of the Class of 1975 gathered on campus to reconnect for their 50th Reunion, enjoying student-led tours of campus, performances from alumni and current students, and a special program in Hoversten Chapel.

Alumni Award recipients were celebrated with a ceremony and lunch, with six alumni honored in 2025. Selected Distinguished Alumni Awardees included Susan Allen ’92, Michele Boyer ’89, and Deacon Ross R. Murray ’00, ’09; the First Decade Award was given to Cristian Baca Perez ’16 and Muna Mohamed ’16; and Mark S. Johnson ’75 received the Spirit of Augsburg Award.

A full final day of celebration, Saturday served as an occasion of community gathering for both current students and alumni alike. Early risers were welcomed to Homecoming Chapel, while a lunchtime crowd gathered in the Quad for Taste of Augsburg. Featuring live music from the Augsburg Pep Band and over 35 student groups offering food and beverages, current students look forward to leading this segment of Homecoming each year. Alumni and students filled the Edor Nelson Field stands as Augsburg Football secured a comfortable 44–13 victory over St. Olaf. The weekend’s festivities ended with an evening Homecoming music showcase and dessert reception, with the audience observing performances from various students in the Music Department.

Alumni Board President Kristen Opalinski ’03 says it’s never been more important for alumni to celebrate on campus with students, faculty, and staff.

“As alumni, we play an essential role in sustaining Augsburg’s mission,” Opalinski states. “When we gather in community, we not only honor our shared past but also stand together to support Augsburg’s future. Your presence makes a difference.”

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This fall, Augsburg University welcomed 680 self-determined first-year students, prepared for the next step in their academic journey and life.

The second-largest incoming class in the university’s history, the students within the class of 2029 represent 212 high schools, hailing from 23 states and 24 countries. Seventy-six percent of the class identify as BIPOC, with 55% female, 44% male, and about 1% nonbinary students joining the Augsburg community.

One of these newest members to campus is MJ Kinsey ’29, who graduated from North Woods High School in Cook, Minnesota, this spring. An anticipated elementary education major, Kinsey plans to supplement her Augsburg experience by exploring involvement in theater, choir, intramural volleyball, and working on campus.

Heavily involved in her high school’s TRIO Upward Bound program, Kinsey says she instantly found connections and support through TRIO Summer Bridge and TRIO SSS at Augsburg.

“Being a TRIO Upward Bound student truly changed my life, and getting to continue with another TRIO family is such an amazing opportunity that I am so beyond grateful for,” Kinsey says. “Throughout my time on campus for Summer Bridge, I always felt that I had a safety net in case I needed anything. And it wasn’t just the advisors, mentors, and other students supporting me. The CLASS office was there, and I communicated with admissions, financial aid, and my professors for the summer classes. It felt like I had a village supporting me and cheering me on for that entire experience. Augsburg feels like a big family.”

Kinsey’s admissions counselor, Angelina Yang, echoes the first-year student’s feelings of welcome, emphasis of belonging, and embrace of diversity within the Augsburg community. Now in her second year at the university, she says that the recruitment cycle as a whole sparks fulfillment for her.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to witness the relationships I’ve built with students grow throughout the year—from initial high school visits and college fairs to on-campus appointments, and finally, to welcoming them officially to Augsburg.”

Auggie Days 2025

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On the first day of class for the 2025–26 academic year, Campus Ministry invited the Augsburg community to the lawn outside Foss Center for its annual block party. Augsburg University Student Ministry leaders chose “Love Thy Neighbor” as the theme for the event and provided guests with t-shirts and wrist bands that depicted the message.

“I love that the students are mindful of the importance of caring for and welcoming their neighbors in the spirit of love,” says University Pastor Babette Chatman ’06.

Students also enjoyed live music from Kent Goodroad and a band, sweet treats, games, and an opportunity for self-performance during an open mic session. “I love the excitement at the beginning of the new year and seeing students enjoying gathering for games, conversation, and music. There is joy in the smiles and dancing,” says Administrative Assistant Janice Dames.

This event also reminds students that Campus Ministry’s doors are always open to offer support and a place to belong. “The block party embodies for new and returning students what we say all the time in Campus Ministry: You are welcome here; you belong here; and there’s a whole community here that celebrates and supports you,” says University Pastor John Rohde Schwehn. “Campus Ministry is all about creating spaces that cultivate what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called ‘the beloved community.’ We set tables that intentionally gather the amazing diversity of this campus, building relationships based on human dignity and justice, joy, and love.”

Chatman echoes these sentiments as she welcomes students to the new year: “Welcome, Auggies, to your home away from home. Trust and believe—we got you.”

Learn more about Campus Ministry and the Augsburg University Student Ministry leaders. 

Slideshow: Campus Ministry Block Party

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