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More than 400 students participated in the Commencement ceremony at Augsburg College in May 2013. These newly minted graduates join the the Alumni Association which now includes over 28,000 former students.

This year’s graduation ceremony included a speech by former chairman and chief executive officer of Medtronic Bill George who is the author of four best-selling books: 7 Lessons for Leading in Crisis, True North, Finding Your True North, and Authentic Leadership and (with co-author Doug Baker) True North Groups.

Representative Jim Ramstad was a Republican member of the Minnesota State Senate from 1981 to 1990 before entering the U.S. Congress. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1991 to 2009. He considers ending discrimination against those suffering from mental health and addiction problems a major part of his legacy, and worked under both Republican and Democratic majorities to pass a Mental Health Parity Bill, which was signed into law in December, 2008.

Both Bill George and Jim Ramstad received honorary degrees.

A distinctive feature of an Augsburg education is our focus on linking classroom theory with off-campus learning experiences. Augsburg College is one of the few colleges or universities in the United States that intentionally includes an experiential element in our general education program required of all students.

For example, Austin Wagner is聽 a self described “nerdy” student researcher excited about聽 finding the beauty in mathematics.

This summer 51 student researchers will be gaining hands-on experience while working side-by-side with faculty on-campus this summer.聽 In addition, 14 students will be conducting research off-campus this summer including:

Katherine Aleman, Psychology, Research Intern at the Mayo Clinic

Elianna Bier, Physics, National Institute of Standards and Technology

Eric Bowman (McNair Scholar), Biology & Chemistry, University of Nebraska

Emma Capman, Physics, University of Maryland Robotics Center

Haley Diem, Environmental Studies, Field Research in Tanzania on Sustainable Agriculture

Kirubel Gezehegn, Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University and MIT

Ben Grant, Physics, Colorado School of Mines National Renewable Energy Lab

Anna Herauf, Biology & Chemistry, NDSU Program for Research on the Prairies

Dan Kornbaum, Physics, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Geospace Sciences REU at the University of Michigan.

Marie-Aimee Ntawkulityayo, International Relations, Research in Belgium on Ethnic Identity and Conflict in the Kivu Region of Eastern Congo

Promise Okeke, Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Malaria Research

Casey Powell, Biology, University of Minnesota Plant Pathology Lab

Ryan Sullivan, Computational Philosophy, Carnegie-Mellon University Summer Workshop on Cognitive Science and Epistemology

Ashley Waters (McNair), Chemistry, Chemistry Research Fellow at the University of Minnesota

Five Augsburg students were named in national fellowship and scholarship competitions this spring. Students from around the country applied for these programs, and Augsburg is proud to be represented by such dedicated students.

Brianna Noland, Mathematical Economics major, was one of 60 students nationally who was accepted to Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C. Chosen from over 800 applicants, Brianna will have the opportunity to present her research on college loans and first-year retention at the Capitol, and to talk with current legislators. Dr. Stella Hofrenning served as Brianna’s research mentor on the project titled “An Economic Analysis of Financial Factors on Undergraduate Persistence” and will be accompanying Brianna to D.C. and to meetings with MN legislators. Special thanks to Jen Nagorski in Marketing and Communications and Tina Tavera of the McNair Scholars Program for layout and design advice on the poster.

Samantha Cantrall, Communication Studies major, received Honorable Mention for Posters on the Hill in Washington, DC., ranking within the top 80 applicants (out of 800 plus). Dr. Robert Stacke of the Music Department served as Samantha’s research mentor on the project titled “The Influence of Rap in the Arab Spring.”

Joe Buchman, Chemistry and Biology major, received a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship that will provide $40,500 each year for the first three years of his doctoral study in Chemistry. The selection of these fellows is very competitive and is based on the viability of the student’s proposed research. Dr. Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright, Dr. Vivian Feng and Dr. Joan Kunz all wrote letters on Joe’s behalf and helped him shape his research proposal. Joe has been admitted to doctoral programs in chemistry at University of Colorado-Boulder, Iowa State University, University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana and the University of MN-Twin Cities. He has decided to attend the University of MN.

Allison Zank, Chemistry major, received the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a $7,500 award given to students from around the country who excel in STEM and intend to pursue a career in science, math, or engineering. Allison’s enthusiasm for research and its practical application was clear in her application, which was read and reviewed by Augsburg’s Goldwater committee, Dr. David Crowe, Dr. David Murr, Dr. Jody Sorensen, and Dr. David Hanson, as well as by Allison’s recommenders, Dr. Jennifer Bankers-Fulbright, Dr. Michael Wentzel, and Sandra Myers (U of M School of Dentistry). Allison is Augsburg’s first female Goldwater Scholar and one of only eight in the state to receive the award.

Ashley Waters was named Honorable Mention in this year’s Goldwater Scholarship Competition, one of only seven from the state. Ashley’s plans are to become a Chemistry professor to inspire the next generation of chemists. Dr. Michael Wentzel, Dr. Sandra Olmsted, and Dr. Ronald Fedie served as her letter writers with input from Richard Flint. Dr. Wentzel worked closely with Ashley on the writing of her research proposal and Augsburg’s Goldwater committee also read and provided feedback to help her develop a successful application.

Please join us in congratulating these outstanding students!