{"id":14348,"date":"2026-03-10T13:46:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/?p=14348"},"modified":"2026-03-10T13:46:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:46:00","slug":"what-does-your-friend-group-mean-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/2026\/03\/10\/what-does-your-friend-group-mean-to-you\/","title":{"rendered":"What does your friend group mean to you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While some parts of the college experience are more academically focused\u2014like majors, class schedules, internships, and deadlines\u2014we can\u2019t forget about the friendships made along the way. These relationships tend to last far beyond graduation. We asked the Augsburg community to share photos of their friend groups across <\/span>social media<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>A-mail<\/span><\/a>. Here are some of their responses: <\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”14354″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”14355″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Cynthia Lindsay \u201924<\/strong>, Sarah Runck \u201924<\/strong>, and Sarah Freedland \u201923<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy friend group has provided me a sense of belonging, a support system, and they helped me discover who I am while at college. While being away from home, I was able to connect with others similar to me and formed bonds that will continue after college. They provided me a home away from home and helped create stories I still hold on to today. They will forever be my family.\u201d \u2014Sarah Runck \u201924<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14358″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Cece \u201929<\/strong>, Carly \u201930<\/strong>, Haylee \u201930<\/strong>, and Brilee \u201930\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love my friends because they\u2019re always there to support me no matter what the circumstances are.\u201d \u2014Brilee Nelson \u201930 <\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”14360″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”14361″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”14359″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Julissa Nieto \u201928<\/strong>, Gabriela Acosta \u201928<\/strong>, Jazmin Ortiz \u201928<\/strong>, Johanna Alvarado \u201927<\/strong>, Brenda Jachero \u201928<\/strong>, Marvin Guamanquispe \u201928<\/strong>, and Domenica Taco Proano \u201927\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing I love most about my friends is that we share the same culture, and that they are supportive, genuine, and always encourage me to keep going, even during difficult times.\u201d \u2014Domenica Taco Proano \u201927 <\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14349″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Aidan Wippich ’27<\/strong>, Faye Kelley ’28<\/strong>, Hannah Rust ’28<\/strong>, Emmie Sandifer-Stech ’26<\/strong>, Avery Cheeseman ’26<\/strong>, Paul Ellertson ’26<\/strong>, Diego Perez ’28<\/strong>, and Maxwell Danzel-Lage ’27<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI love that my friends are kind and amusing!\u201d \u2014Faye Kelley \u201928\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14353″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Pan-Asian Peer Mentoring<\/span><\/a> members <\/span>
\n<\/span>Top row: Dejchia Lor \u201827<\/strong> and Naw Blu \u201926<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Middle row: Yan Urrizalqui \u201927<\/strong>, Jennifer Vo \u201926<\/strong>, and Rachelle Cha \u201926<\/strong>
\n<\/span>Bottom row: Tommy Lee \u201926<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“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.” \u2014Yan Urrizalqui \u201926 <\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14350″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Hmong Women Together <\/span><\/a>members Goldy Moua \u201927<\/strong>, GaoNou Vang \u201926<\/strong>, and Eli Yang \u201927<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“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” \u2014GaoNou Vang \u201926<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”14363″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Pictured above: <\/span>Augsburg Black Women Association<\/span><\/a> members Cecelia Dauphine \u201928<\/strong>, Maya Miller \u201926<\/strong>, Camille Hunte ’26<\/strong>, and Ajulu Otong \u201926<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“Unity, Black sisterhood” \u2014Camille Hunte \u201926<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”14352″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”14351″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Pictured above: Andrea Hansen \u201981<\/strong>, Laura Kasdorf \u201981<\/strong>, Julie Moinicken \u201981<\/strong>, Maureen (Webster) Hoeffler \u201981<\/strong>, Linda (Roop) Svendsen \u201981<\/strong>, Janna (Wallin) Haug \u201981<\/strong>, Mary Lou (Schlosser) Suss \u201981<\/strong>, Susan (Dahlgren) Sackrison \u201981<\/strong>, and Mary Beamish \u201981<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur group of friends from the Augsburg Class of 1981\u2014loosely known as \u2018the Sigma women,\u2019 named for the Sigma house many of us lived in during our senior year at Augsburg\u2014has stuck together through thick and thin since graduating from Augsburg. We have gathered for weekends in the woods as well as lunches in the city. We\u2019ve pursued varying paths personally and professionally, but have always drawn strength from the support we\u2019ve found by gathering regularly to share our stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJanna (Wallin) Haug says, \u2018I think it is a rare and valuable opportunity to have a friend group that has met for several decades after college. I treasure the annual weekend trips to the cabin in Wisconsin as well as the occasional meet-ups in between where we can talk about books, food, politics, religion, old friends we have in common, kids, grandkids, and even emerging health concerns as we grow older. We have discovered new restaurants together, museums, libraries, gift shops, gone hiking, and geo-caching. We’ve crafted together, watched movies, baked apple pies, shared recipes, and played games. The value of a group like this is the ability to share memories from the past, experience and learn new things together, and talk about our future.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur community at the Sigma house had a mission of global concerns\u2014organizing programming around world issues on campus\u2014so we learned then to work together on our projects. That group togetherness has endured over the years.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAs Susan (Dahlgren) Sackrison puts it: \u2018Living together in a house as opposed to apartments in our senior year is what makes for our large group of friends. We may not be \u2018besties\u2019 but we have an enduring friendship over 40 years. I think this is because of the values of Augsburg University and urban living.\u2019\u201d \u2014Mary Beamish \u201981<\/strong><\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]For more engagement opportunities, Auggie updates, and event highlights, follow us on social media:<\/span><\/p>\n

@augsburguniversity on <\/span>Instagram\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

@Augsburg University on <\/span>Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

@Augsburg University on <\/span>LinkedIn<\/span><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]While some parts of the college experience are more academically focused\u2014like majors, class schedules, internships, and deadlines\u2014we can\u2019t forget about the friendships made along the way. These relationships tend to last far beyond graduation. We asked the Augsburg community to share photos of their friend groups across social media and A-mail. Here are some of <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":569,"featured_media":14373,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-around-the-quad"],"wps_subtitle":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/569"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14348"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14377,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14348\/revisions\/14377"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.augsburg.edu\/now\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}